he says, "then let's make a deal" (it's not a suggestion. shane's already said yes without needing to) and lays out what will happen if shane wins. "i will blow you, fuck you, whatever you want," he says calm and unbothered. he's laying it all out there! giving shane a chance to win some power here.

except he isn't. he isn't telling shane a single thing about how tonight's going to go.

because here's the thing: shane isn't winning mvp. that's just not happening. ilya won the cup and was (as far as I can tell) the winner of playoffs mvp. we've heard he's been on fire since they came back from the olympics. ilya and shane both know who's winning.

so no, there wont be any 'whatever you want' for shane tonight.

but what will it be then? when ilya wins mvp?

shane wants to know. so he pushes. still doesn't look ilya in the eyes but asks, shyly, "and if you win?"

he's asking 'so what's happening tonight? what are we gonna do, actually?' he dares to look up into ilya's eyes with those big brown bottom eyes

ilya doesn't answer. he just leans in for a kiss, and dominates that too (like usual). grabs his head, tilts it, manhandles him. and when they pull away, ilya gives him a few gentle slaps on his face, tells him good luck.

and when he walks out of that bathroom, shane still has no idea what's going to happen in ilya's hotel room that night. because ilya will win and they never negotiated the second half of the bet (the actual reality of what's going to happen).

ilya's giving shane the illusion of choice, in a way here. he's letting shane pretend there's a chance tonight will go wherever he wants. but it won't and they both know it.

it's just so fucking hot. and such a mean way to keep the power here, to make that dynamic felt.