#kant's 'BACK OFF BITCH' face nearly got me pregnant

[bird-inacage]

The Heart Killers EP2: Kant's Game of Deception

I'm acutely aware that with each episode, Kant's undercover mission gains momentum and the lie gets bigger and deeper, slowly ramping up the tension towards an eventual and inevitable apex. While Kant is still zeroed in on what will best aid him to get there, we're starting to see just how entangled this web will become.

BEST FRIEND & ACCOMPLICE, BROTHER & SUPPORTER

What really hit home for me this week is that neither Style or Babe have any idea of what Kant's really up to. Style believes Kant is finally pursuing someone seriously, and is willing to wingman for his best friend. Unbeknownst to him, there's considerable risk with his involvement - risk that Kant has not explicitly mentioned. In addition to that, he's also unknowingly become an accomplice.

Babe also oversees Kant flirting with Bison in their courtyard, and innocently presumes his brother is trying to win over the heart of someone he likes, to no avail. Cue little bro's words of wisdom that come from a place of wishing his brother the best in his efforts.

It's a reminder that Bison may be the centre of this deception, but the ripple effect of Kant's mission extends far further. Others will unwittingly wind up in the mix if he is to pull this feat off. The question is what are the possible repercussions to those beyond just him alone?

WINNING BISON'S HEART

As Bison continues to keep himself just out of reach, Kant devises a scenario to earn brownie points - inspired by Babe's advice. He pays a friend to hit on Bison, who he wards off in a show of jealousy and protectiveness, hoping the gesture will prove his sincerity for Bison as a romantic prospect.

Kant's goal is to convince Bison to be his boyfriend, which would allow him the closeness he needs to dig for information. What complicates their interactions is that a mutual connection was established between the two before the mission even began. So this makes it even muddier to distinguish where Kant's lies begin and end, and will only continue to get blurrier as his feelings develop.

Paying for a plant is overtly calculated, whereas divulging things about himself is more ambiguous. This could be perceived as a manipulative tactic to garner Bison's compassion, by appearing upfront and open about himself. Or it could just be Kant's way of getting to know Bison on a personal level because he interests him. The lens in which we interpret his actions depend on if you believe he's acting solely in service of the mission or otherwise.

EARNING BISON'S TRUST

What Kant doesn't know is how enamoured Bison is by his attentions already. The boy is noticeably giddy whenever he thinks and talks about him. He wants to believe that Kant is just a harmless suitor with no other intentions but to date him.

Style inserts further affirmations about his best friend because he's also none the wiser and truly believes in what he is saying. This will only make Kant's intentions appear more favourable in Bison's eyes.

Bison is probably trained to sense danger, hammered in by Fadel's incessant scolding and years of indoctrination by his 'Mother'. But in this instance Bison's concerns lean towards that of any normal person. He's wavering over Kant's proposition because he's unsure if Kant's a player or not, and isn't fully convinced someone would want to be his boyfriend after such a casual fling. What he's not entertaining are any serious suspicions that Kant's a fraud or threat.

He feels sure enough about Kant's integrity (as a person, not a man) that he's willing to consider exposing himself, something that Fadel reacts to with incredulity. Bison seems to feel that if Kant has been honest with him, he would like to reciprocate and be honest about who he is in return. (Little does he know).

FADEL'S WARINESS BACKFIRES

There's no irony lost on the fact that Fadel is right on the nose with his suspicions. But his concerns are having the opposite effect. The more he warns Bison and urges him to tow the line, the more Bison will be compelled to defy and rebel against this restraint on his life, and the more he'll be drawn to Kant as a result.

Bison wants to defend Kant. Bison wants to be proven right that his brother is being overly paranoid and misguided to think in such a way. He wants confirmation that everything he's been told by Fadel and his Mother is simply untrue, and that there's more to live for.

Writing the above already makes my heart die a little inside, because the more Bison defends Kant, the more awful I feel about his impending reaction to finding out he was lied to.

You can keep tabs on bird-inacage’s BL meta directory for my other long-form posts around The Heart Killers, which I’ll be updating in real time as the show airs.