#he's such a SMART manipulator when he isn't pushing his fucking luck i love to see it

[kissporsche]

this moment was so smart for Vegas

at this point the audience (and Porsche) expect him to say "would you do it?" because that just sounds like what the second half of that sentence should be. You're fighting with Kinn and have forgiven me, if it was life and death and you had to choose, what would it be?

so this

takes us (and Porsche) offguard.

it's the perfect set up. he once again catches Porsche when he's vulnerable, sets the scene (he wanted to see his friend/crush because he's worried about rumours), digs into that (the minor family is always blamed for everything), gives evidence (Kinn is having him followed), then drops "If Kinn ordered you to kill me..."

almost every time Vegas has had Porsche in this situation he's pushed it too far and ended up backfiring on him (knowing about the dream bar, kissing him), so naturally we expect him to push too far again: trying to make Porsche choose between him and Kinn.

but he doesn't. "If one day Kinn orders you to kill me, could you not let me suffer?" it's sad, quiet resignation. "there's no point asking you to choose, because I know you'll choose him. so can you show me this small mercy?" and Porsche feels that

his eyes are darting around all over the place here in that way he does, searching for something in Vegas's face, dropping down to contemplate. this projects like a Vegas that has given up on pursuing Porsche, and is instead confiding in him as a friend. he can sow distrust for Kinn and compassion for himself all at once: the minor family will be blamed whether it's fair or not, Porsche will choose Kinn and Vegas accepts that, he is resigned to this fate and only dares ask his friend for the most pathetic of assurances that in the end he won't needlessly suffer.

it's fantastic. I love it. I love it especially because whatever Porsche is searching for in Vegas's face the audience also doesn't get to see. when Vegas tells Porsche about Tawan the audience can see him smirking as he walks away, or his chilling gaze on Pete when Pete isn't looking at him. in this scene, we just see

we get no such insight. we are left guessing how much of what Vegas has said is true or not. how much is an act and how much is real insecurities. is it all still manipulation to drive Porsche and Kinn apart? yes! but maybe not entirely. maybe it's also dragging up bits of Vegas that he's working into this character he puts on for Porsche, but they're coming from somewhere true.

we don't know, and neither does Porsche. hell, maybe neither does Vegas.