#and why is Phaya bleeding?

[maxescheibechlinichacheli]

[bunnakit]

"I'm glad you're alright." Tharn said as if he hadn't just had a knife buried in his stomach.

Fear and dread pooled in Phaya's stomach, a subtle tremor rolling through his body at the gentle touch to his cheek. Only a few hours ago he'd struck Tharn, accidentally sure, but he'd still done it and now here he was cradling Tharn's tired, bleeding body to his own after being rescued by him once again. How many more times would the cycle repeat itself? Why couldn't Tharn understand he wanted to keep him safe too?

As Tharn's thumb stroked further over his cheek a swell of emotion in his chest threatened to break down the barriers of his ribs. His touch was impossibly gentle and Phaya could almost feel the concern in the soft glide of his fingertips.

Phaya lingered in the moment just slightly, grounding himself as he took in the gentle pressure of Tharn's hand against his hip, traced his eyes over the droplets of sweat clinging to Tharn's brow, tried to ignore the scent of iron in the air. The adrenaline still thrummed in his veins but he no longer felt like he was going to vibrate out of his skin from it.

Instead of speaking he hugged Tharn closer, keeping the pressure off his side but gently grasping the back of his neck and pulling him to his shoulder. He just wanted to feel Tharn against him for a moment, feel the rise and fall of his chest against his own and know that he still drew breath. He closed his eyes tight once he was sure Tharn could no longer see him, swallowing down the choking lump in his throat. The idea of Tharn dying to protect him brought a physical pain to his body, a sharp sensation that ran from fingertip to fingertip and head to toe.

Phaya felt him return the embrace, his fingers curling into the back of his shirt, and he felt himself force down a soft sound that threatened to crawl forth. He knew they were dancing around things, knew Tharn was holding back for some reason, but relationship or no he loved Tharn. He'd suspected for some time, but this drove the final nail home like a jagged stake through his heart. He only hoped his embrace comforted Tharn half as much as the reverse did for him.

"Phaya! Tharn!"

Phaya glanced up, curling his fingers tight in Tharn's shirt before they each pulled back slightly, never severing the connection between them. He felt Tharn's fingers against his elbow, curled his own fingers around Tharn's shoulder, and found comfort that neither of them seemed inclined to separate anytime soon. He felt like his entire being was tethered to Tharn in the moment, like if he let go for just a second either Tharn or he would cease to exist. He wasn't sure which he was more afraid of.

His eyes finally focused enough to identify the new arrivals.

Yai.

Yai was safe, Yai loved Tharn, Yai would protect them. They were safe now; he should let go of Tharn, explain the situation, and help Yai and the others. Instead, he offered the smallest nod to assure Yai they were both alright before he pulled Tharn closer and buried his face against his neck. He took solace in the moment of relative peace, in the sound of Tharn's gentle breaths and the warmth of his body molded against his front.

Phaya couldn't let this happen again, couldn't let this feeling of holding his entire world between his palms slip from his grasp.

(disclaimer: none of this is from the novel, i haven't read the novel, i just like doing character studies of them and rotating them in my head like a skyrim loading screen)

[the-wayside]

You know what sits with me?

Phaya is clearly bleeding the lines between himself and his past life (lives) and you can see that innate and somewhat irrational fear that Tharn will walk away as we know Wansarut tried to protect everyone involved.

Does Tharn, in his own way, feel the fear Wansarut felt in all their lifetimes? The inexplicable pain of losing Phaya, amplifying every time he has lost someone in his life? Does he know the weight of his grief isn't entirely his own?

This last episode more than the others felt like a step towards that recurring fate. Yes, Art and Kao's love exposed things that they maybe weren't ready to talk about or couldn't talk about otherwise but in a larger sense, it felt more inevitable than anything else. Unavoidable.

There were clear choices and then there weren't. Tharn outlining his fear makes it seem like he's choosing to walk away from Phaya at that moment, but he doesn't. He can't. That's why the eyes at the end are so creepy. Dr C is trying to control every moment to stop this from happening but he can't. They're set in stone.

I just see it in my head. Over and over, every time, Phaya confessing and Tharn being unable and unwilling to deny this man, not in their first life, not in any life.

I suppose my question is, how much is them and how much is *them* Lord Garuda and Wansarut? Is there any division, should there be? I don't know.

[timotey]

Ficlet: One Torture, Spared

The Sign. Phaya/Tharn. Non-con. Unbeta'd.

He never tells Tharn. He promised to tell him everything, always, but not this.

(This is short and VERY DARK. I'm NOT joking. It's the darkest fic I've written in a while. Yes, from time to time, I go REALLY dark in my fics. And this is the case. If you can't handle stuff like that, don't read.)

He never tells Tharn. He promised to tell him everything, always, but not this. Never.

Chalothon takes Tharn - and Phaya brings him back.

It’s not that easy, of course, and it doesn’t happen overnight but Phaya finds his way into the Naga realm and rips Tharn out of that disgusting lizard’s hands. He brings Tharn home and he makes damn sure that Chalothon will never, ever pose a threat to Tharn again. If he could, he would erase him from Tharn’s memory completely.

Because that’s not the end of it. That bastard left a mark, dug his claws deep, made it hurt, made it fester, made it bleed.

It takes a while for Tharn to tell Phaya the truth. About what the man did to him, back there, in the Naga realm, over the days and days when he tried to turn Tharn back into his Naga self from lifetimes ago, when he kept failing and losing himself more and more in his rage and in the monster that resided within him.

It takes a while and it breaks Tharn a little more, but he needs Phaya to know why he sometimes flinches away from him, why he sometimes freezes when Phaya touches him, why it takes him a moment to relax into Phaya’s kisses these days, why he always needs to make sure first, before, that it’s Phaya, his Phaya, the real Phaya.

He needs Phaya to know that it isn't his fault.

And Phaya holds him, and he strokes Tharn's face, and he cries for him, and he keeps repeating, over and over again, till his voice turns hoarse, that it’s over, it’s over, it’s over, he can’t hurt you anymore, I promise, I’m here, shhh, I’m here and he will never touch you again.

But not even then does he tell.

Phaya doesn’t tell Tharn that he knows. That he's already known what Chalothon did to him, what he forced Tharn to do, what he forced him to endure. 

He doesn’t tell Tharn that Chalothon made him watch, that he entered Phaya’s dreams and made Phaya watch while he hurt Tharn, that he thrived on Phaya’s fury and his pain and his despair for his lover, on Phaya’s helplessness to save Tharn. On his heartbreak.

No, Phaya doesn’t tell Tharn. Until his dying breath he will keep it a secret. It’s the only thing he can do for Tharn. At least one torture spared.

[djeterg19]

Chapter 20...this one is a mix of work and personal

They have to do it? Tharn thinks as Phaya yells to watch out. He barely dodges a knife. He's unprepared for a roundhouse kick. The guy tried to stab him again. Tharn dodges and grabs his wrist. Phaya arrives and kicked him in the stomach. Tharn gets in a kick and Phaya grabs his wrists and pull them behind his back. They thought he was subdued but he fought back. Phaya shoots towards the villagers that were running off.

The main villager says get them and there's a sudden whirlwind. Phaya tries to walk forward but it's like he's blocked by something. Tharn is also unable to move. The guy they were fighting searches Tharn for the flashdrive. He finds it, kicks Tharn in the knee, and walks away. Phaya remembers the item the monk gave him and concentrated on it. The wind suddenly died down. Phaya rushes to Tharn who says he's ok.

They chase after the criminal who took the flashdrive. Phaya yells no it's dangerous but Tharn won't stop. Tharn chases him and shoots at him until they arrive at the edge of a cliff. Tharn tells him to drop his weapon and turn around. Tharn thinks he has him under control and Phaya tries again to cuff him. He fights back again and eventually Phaya falls off the cliff and grabs a rock to stop his fall. Tharn also falls off. Phaya decides if they are going to die they'll die together. He's about to let go when a thunderstorm starts.

The scientists escaped. The villagers came back and confessed. Yai and Singh questioned them. They wondered why Phaya and Tharn didn't return. The villagers said the forest deity didn't harm them but protected them. The villagers insist they had to do what they did. Yai says if it's true they will prove it. They tell Chalotorn to get inside the tent to get out of the rain but he says he needs a moment. He can sense Phaya and Tharn's lives are holding on by a thread.

Phaya and Tharn find a cave to hide in. Phaya is worried about Tharn's wound. Phaya has a lighter and starts a fire. Tharn was shot and Phaya tries to stop the bleeding. Tharn is cold and Phaya lies next to him to generate warmth. Tharn tries to tell him to leave if he won't make it but Phaya refuses. Phaya tells him he'll be ok. And to not go to sleep. Tharn suggests they have sex but Phaya is shocked. Tharn filps him over and straddles him. Phaya points out again that he's injured but Tharn takes him in his mouth. Phaya protests some more that Tharn is hurt and eventually flips them so he's on top. He rolls Tharn over and kisses his neck and wipes away his sweat. He notices a mark on Tharn's lower back. Neither recognize it but Phaya realizes it looks like a snake scale. Tharn says its probably from wrinkled pants and Phaya kisses and sucks on it. Annnnnnd omg they are gonna have anal sex for the first time in this cave WITHOUT lube when the whole reason Tharn's been delaying it is he's afraid it would hurt?!?!?!?!

Anyways Phaya is fingering him and Tharn is into it. Phaya tells him that Tharn belongs to him and only him and Tharn agrees. When Phaya thinks Tharn is ready he rolls them onto their sides and thrusts until he's fully inside. Phaya is gentle because he knows Tharn is injured. Tharn says that it hurts(DUH) and Phaya tells him he'll be gentle. Tharn relaxes and it magically doesn't hurt anymore. Phaya tries to stay gentle and kisses him. They kiss and declare their love for each other. They finish and cuddle together. Chalotorn has maybe been mentally spying on them? It's vague but that's what it sounds like.

In the morning, Chalotorn has wandered off by himself because there's a coldness seeping into his core. Yai comes to find him and says he's worried since he wandered off. Chalotorn says he's pondering something. Yai guesses it's about Tharn. They head back and Chalotorn mentions the atmosphere is strange today. He motions to Yai's gun. They enter the tent and everyone is in one corner. Singh tries to send a message with his eyes. Suddenly both of them are on their knees and feeling heavy. Yai suspects it's the villager but he swears it's not him. They did steal the card with the video on it but only because village children were being held hostage.

The monk gets up and tells them where everything is in the bags. The masked man has a tattoo that Yai recognizes. It's the same one the person who killed Tharn's dad had. More masked men come into the tent and take the samples they had collected. Yai figures out the monk is the one behind the moms sickness. The villagers realize the monk is the one that helped the children get kidnapped. The masked gunman shows Yai the gun he has and asks if it looks familiar saying that Phaya and Tharn are probably dead at the bottom of the cliff. He says that if they don't stop butting in the children and the families in the village would pay the price.

The gunmen leave but everyone is still under the spell. Except Chalotorn who stands up without issue. He doesn't have time to explain so he just unties everyone. The old villager asks him to break the spell for everyone. He can see a luminous light around Chalotorn and senses he's blessed. They get untied and the spell is broken.

They start searching for Tharn and Phaya. Chalotorn senses where they are. He wants to take Tharn back but is afraid he has an incomplete spirit. Phaya is awake and taking care of the sick Tharn. They find him and Yai and Singh rush over asking where Tharn is. Chalotorn is angry and pushes Phaya his eyes turning red again. Chalotorn says Phaya isn't able to protect Tharn. Chalotorn apparently controlled the current and helped get them to shore.

Yai comes in and tells Singh to take Phaya away so Chalotorn can take care of Tharn. Phaya refuses to leave and wants Chalotorn to only touch Tharn if he's there. Yai and Singh figure out what they did the night before. Yai helps clean and bandage Tharn. Singh is shocked they would get it on in the wild like this.

[theflagscene]

A last warning? Dude, if you have the ability to stop them then why haven’t you?

Yes, give him the amulet, finally! Okay Dao you’re annoying me, don’t grab at Tharn.

He’s awake!!!

Ha ha, you suck Dr Snakey.

Oh Akk is pissed!!! Tharn stop throwing yourself in the grenade please!

Phaya is remembering everything now, which means he needs to tell Tharn asap. Time for a sneaky sneaky escape plan. You know, it actually is surprisingly easy to sneak out of a hospital but he would bleed like a bitch if he yanked out an IV like that, ngl.

Phaya, you really rang the doorbell!?!?

Sex, really!? He can barely stand!

THAT’S how it ends!?!? Omg, come on! He doesn’t even tell Tharn who ‘that man’ is!? And Tharn just goes along with it? Dude, think with your top brain not your lower one! I wanted Phaya to explain about their past lives at the very least, ugh!

Listen, I’m not mad, I’m just disappointed lol.

[keepthetension]

for the prompt game, here's my character list:

1 ten (cooking crush) 2 xue yang (the untamed) 3 top (only friends) 4 wen (moonlight chicken) 5 phaya (the sign) 6 cher (a boss and a babe) 7 guy (bake me please) 8 mhok (last twilight) 9 xie lian (heaven official's blessing) 10 babe (pit babe)

numbers i rolled in blue, prompts in pink

2 3 - the actors or characters are put together in a serious show. what's the plot/setting/vibe?

haoxuan and force in a serious show together????? goodness! THOSE CHEEKBONES AND EYELASHES IN ONE FRAME NOBODY WOULD SURVIVE

i am, always have been, always will be, an absolute SUCKER for monster of the week/mystery of the week type shows. i think the x files, buffy, and xena did something to my brain chemistry as a child. so you know what i want?

force as the i'm just a dude trying to pay my bills and WHAT DO YOU MEAN THERE'S MONSTERS AND I HAVE TO FIGHT THEM??? guy. he wears glasses. because i said so

and haoxuan as the punch first ask questions later monster hunter guy

and if there's erotically charged fight training sequences, maybe a we're-bleeding-and-covered-in-monster-guts-but-we're-alive makeout or two, i'm 10000% on board for that

7 1 10 - the actors or characters are put together in a fluffy show. what's the plot/setting/vibe?

guy, ten, and babe in a fluffy show together! hmm!

you know what, i was thinking earlier about the pottery throw down, SO i'm going to say: they're in the pottery clubs at rival universities

and they all have VERY different styles. ten is very precise, and likes making delicate things. guy likes making very finely detailed things, especially tea sets but there's some asshole in the club who makes better tea sets and guy has a complex about it. and babe makes whatever the fuck he feels like making, and it never looks like it's going to work out, but it somehow always comes out perfect

and they all think the things the other two make are very shitty. but they're forced to work together for plot reasons, and learn to appreciate each other's techniques and style, etc etc, and fall in love along the way~

look, i just want them all to do that scene from ghost, okay?

8 2 10 - mhok, xue yang, and babe hanging out but one of them feels left out. why?

wheezing

ngl i kinda love these three together. not up to date with pit babe, but i feel like mhok is the least shady of these three somehow. maybe mhok and xue yang compare notes on their prison time and babe can't join in? maybe mhok talks about rung and babe talks about way, and xue yang's like… wait, you guys had supportive relationships?

seriously, though, i adore the idea of these three as drinking buddies! also they all need more friends

9 6 5 - xie lian, phaya, and cher doing a sport/activity together

man, i would pay to see this. phaya and cher bring the competitiveness, xie lian and phaya bring the physical prowess, all of them bring the Here To Have A Good Time! vibe. tempted to put them in something like an egg and spoon race, tbh, because it would be very funny to see them take it incredibly seriously

5 4 - each of them has a crush on a character from the other show/s. who is it?

phaya and wen??? honestly, i could see it for them. mix and billy are both SO GODDAMN GOOD at doing flirty face, can you imagine them making bedroom eyes at each other??? plus, if they made out i would like to see it

[the-wayside]

The spicy need to write fic and/or meta about how Phaya's obligation to Tharn isn't physical protection, Tharn isn't in need of saving like that. His heart is in need of saving. To keep him believing that love will overcome adversity because of how much has been taken from him in life. Phaya's obligation is to protect Tharn's soul by loving him. To ensure that what happened to his soul in his first life never happens again. He never fractures or bleeds from the very essence of himself. It's really beautiful to me that part of their love is to truly save the core of a person, what makes them human, what gives them the ability to love.

So he has to keep showing up for Tharn, rewarding that faith that has been placed in him, which is why he was so adamant about leaving the hospital. The desperation in him was the physical need to press his soul into Tharn's, to show him the best way he can that he is loved. Words aren't enough. Words can falter and fail. Phaya never wants there to be any doubt of how he feels. "I will protect you" isn't I won't stop you from getting hurt. It's I will always be here to support you and protect you as much as I can, but if I can't, I will hold you while you heal because you're my everything.

[fishy-lava]

ik im late as hell to this but im here to scream now anyways :)

Fear and dread pooled in Phaya's stomach, a subtle tremor rolling through his body at the gentle touch to his cheek. Only a few hours ago he'd struck Tharn, accidentally sure, but he'd still done it and now here he was cradling Tharn's tired, bleeding body to his own after being rescued by him once again. How many more times would the cycle repeat itself? Why couldn't Tharn understand he wanted to keep him safe too?

The idea of Tharn dying to protect him brought a physical pain to his body, a sharp sensation that ran from fingertip to fingertip and head to toe.

^me reading that line after only just having watched ep 8 yesterday

Yai. Yai was safe, Yai loved Tharn, Yai would protect them. They were safe now; he should let go of Tharn, explain the situation, and help Yai and the others. Instead, he offered the smallest nod to assure Yai they were both alright before he pulled Tharn closer and buried his face against his neck. He took solace in the moment of relative peace, in the sound of Tharn's gentle breaths and the warmth of his body molded against his front.

yai my beloved

Phaya couldn't let this happen again, couldn't let this feeling of holding his entire world between his palms slip from his grasp.

hey actually fuck you (said with love)

oat you sending these to me is like telling me youre gonna kill me and me just gleefully going "Okay!" and following after you xkjhfbkvsdbfv

"I'm glad you're alright." Tharn said as if he hadn't just had a knife buried in his stomach.

Fear and dread pooled in Phaya's stomach, a subtle tremor rolling through his body at the gentle touch to his cheek. Only a few hours ago he'd struck Tharn, accidentally sure, but he'd still done it and now here he was cradling Tharn's tired, bleeding body to his own after being rescued by him once again. How many more times would the cycle repeat itself? Why couldn't Tharn understand he wanted to keep him safe too?

As Tharn's thumb stroked further over his cheek a swell of emotion in his chest threatened to break down the barriers of his ribs. His touch was impossibly gentle and Phaya could almost feel the concern in the soft glide of his fingertips.

Phaya lingered in the moment just slightly, grounding himself as he took in the gentle pressure of Tharn's hand against his hip, traced his eyes over the droplets of sweat clinging to Tharn's brow, tried to ignore the scent of iron in the air. The adrenaline still thrummed in his veins but he no longer felt like he was going to vibrate out of his skin from it.

Instead of speaking he hugged Tharn closer, keeping the pressure off his side but gently grasping the back of his neck and pulling him to his shoulder. He just wanted to feel Tharn against him for a moment, feel the rise and fall of his chest against his own and know that he still drew breath. He closed his eyes tight once he was sure Tharn could no longer see him, swallowing down the choking lump in his throat. The idea of Tharn dying to protect him brought a physical pain to his body, a sharp sensation that ran from fingertip to fingertip and head to toe.

Phaya felt him return the embrace, his fingers curling into the back of his shirt, and he felt himself force down a soft sound that threatened to crawl forth. He knew they were dancing around things, knew Tharn was holding back for some reason, but relationship or no he loved Tharn. He'd suspected for some time, but this drove the final nail home like a jagged stake through his heart. He only hoped his embrace comforted Tharn half as much as the reverse did for him.

"Phaya! Tharn!"

Phaya glanced up, curling his fingers tight in Tharn's shirt before they each pulled back slightly, never severing the connection between them. He felt Tharn's fingers against his elbow, curled his own fingers around Tharn's shoulder, and found comfort that neither of them seemed inclined to separate anytime soon. He felt like his entire being was tethered to Tharn in the moment, like if he let go for just a second either Tharn or he would cease to exist. He wasn't sure which he was more afraid of.

His eyes finally focused enough to identify the new arrivals.

Yai.

Yai was safe, Yai loved Tharn, Yai would protect them. They were safe now; he should let go of Tharn, explain the situation, and help Yai and the others. Instead, he offered the smallest nod to assure Yai they were both alright before he pulled Tharn closer and buried his face against his neck. He took solace in the moment of relative peace, in the sound of Tharn's gentle breaths and the warmth of his body molded against his front.

Phaya couldn't let this happen again, couldn't let this feeling of holding his entire world between his palms slip from his grasp.

(disclaimer: none of this is from the novel, i haven't read the novel, i just like doing character studies of them and rotating them in my head like a skyrim loading screen)