He's been called every derogatory name in the book by just about everybody. Clients, people who've seen him dancing naked on that pole, everyone who's seen his movies, randos on the street, all three Vees. He told himself it didn't hurt his feelings anymore because it's who he is, might as well just lean into it, and besides, could you get any more uncreative than "slut" or "whore"? Even the creative ones barely hit anymore.

He doesn't realize how much it did hurt until that night. Husk saves him from getting date raped and Angel completely falls apart in front of him. He hates everything, but he hates himself the most, he just wants to get high and fucked and not have to think about how much he hurts, to ruin himself so Val will lose interest in him.

He doesn't know how to react when Husk calls him a loser, other than to call him an asshole, but then he coaxes Angel into a little dance while he sings.

Angel calls himself a coked-up dick-sucking ho, and Husk says that's "fine by him". No judgment, no oh don't say that about yourself. It's who he is, but Husk doesn't give a shit. I suck at gambling but I did it anyway, ended up losing my soul just to keep my power. The arrows call Angel every name in the book, Husk's arrows diss him for his bad luck.

(Angel's not sure he wants to know about the "no balls" thing, though.)

He's a loser, a slut, way more pathetic than he wants to let on, and Husk doesn't care. You're pathetic, but we're pathetic together. Then those loan sharks from earlier rush them and Angel gets a chance to prove to Husk that he can damn well look after himself.

Husk smiles, and Angel smiles back. They understand each other now, no more acts, no more pushing boundaries.

But baby, that's fine by me echoes softly in his ears hours later. Five words, and Angel is in love.