#inacage

[bird-inacage]

I never quite knew anger, until I knew fury borne from pain.

He who chose to break you, deserves to hurt the same.

Love, I was late to shield you. But this I now proclaim.

My wrath will destroy any who dare touch you, if you ever cry my name.

---penned by bird-inacage

(A few people have asked, so I thought I’d add a note here. I wrote these lines myself. They’re not taken from any quote/poem).

[thatgirl4815]

Character You Are Currently Obsessed With

I’m really bored today and thought it might be fun to tag some moots and hopefully start some reblog chains. Feel free to elaborate on why you are obsessed with the character or just list them/picture them w/out context.

I’ll start:

Gonna tag a bunch of people but please add additional tags with your own if you so desire…and no pressure at all! @aprilblossomgirl, @nihilisticcondensedmilk , @k-white, @firstyok, @firstkanaphans, @abstractelysium, @gallavichsuperlover, @fuckingcrescendos, @vegasandhishedgehog , @itsmelb, @khaofirsts, @thewayuarent, @ranchthoughts, @insignificantbrandybottle, @waitmyturtles, @autisticbokutoenthusiast, @sandrayy, @fanfictionroxs, @lurkingshan, @invisiblegarters, @sunnenfinster, @frostluvrs, @bird-inacage, @dreamedofyou, @thegalwhorants

[babyangelsky]

Peat's acting is stupendous and it's hurting my feelings

I need to talk about the bedroom scene and the fight that preceded it because it felt like I was having a mirror held up to me and looking at my younger self and in doing, so I've come to love Tongrak as a character even more than I did before.

I talked about the expressions already but I just cannot get past this one. Rak's eyes are so dead and he looks so tired in a way that I understand so deeply. He knows what's about to happen. He screened Prin's call earlier precisely in hopes of avoiding it but she showed up anyway.

I do have to acknowledge that a lot of my interpretation and feelings about him and these scenes are very much a product of my own experiences, but believe me when I tell you that having a family as fucked as his and having to deal with relatives like this drains you. You fight back because you have to, not because you want to. You don't go seeking the bullshit but somehow it always seems to arrive at your door.

I know exactly how he must be feeling because I've felt it. Because I've fought back and made sure my mask was firmly in place for as long as I needed it to only to break the second I could turn my face away.

I'm impressed that Rak didn't run from Mut and that he didn't start crying on the way to his bedroom. That powerwalk he did instead though? I know it all too well.

To Rak's mind, Mut has already witnessed far more than Rak ever intended for him to. That fight was nasty. It poked at so many wounds, touched on so many painful, intimate things about Rak's family and about him. Prin wanted to hurt and humiliate him and she succeeded.

I can confidently say that if someone I cared about witnessed that happening to me, the last thing I would want is to break down in front of them on top of it, so I completely understand why Rak's first instinct was to put distance between him and Mut. You know the breakdown is coming and the only thing you want is to have it in private.

I know people feel some kind of way about Rak's refusal to let Mut into his bedroom and essentially shutting him out but Mook tells us in episode 4 that no one is allowed in Rak's bedroom. This isn't just about Mut. Everything we have learned and seen of Rak so far tells us that he's a person who needs a safe place to hide. A place where he can close the door and know he won't be intruded upon.

Sure, it's his house and ideally he would have the freedom to break down wherever he wants to inside of it but given that Mook comes and goes pretty freely, he doesn't really have that luxury by his standards. There's always a chance she'll walk in. And he certainly doesn't have it now that he's no longer living alone.

So he goes to hide in his bedroom so he can process and feel what he needs to.

And when Mut comes after him, this happens. Mut pushed at that boundary out of genuine care and concern and he's not wrong for that. I've been on his side of this equation too and the impulse to help in whatever way you can is impossible to resist, even if all you can offer is a meal.

But I also understand Rak. God do I understand him. That need to be alone, demanding to be left in peace, lashing out when someone won't despite it being with good intentions. When you've been pushed to your limit and you know a breakdown is coming and that there will be shrapnel when it does, the very last thing you want is for the people you care about to get hit with it.

Like @bird-inacage said in their post, Tongrak is a caged animal at this point. He's feeling vulnerable and defensive and he lashes out. He doesn't want to, he tries to stop it, but it ends up happening anyway.

And he regrets it. He does. The way I see it, he couldn't bring himself to knock on Mut's door both because he'd exhausted all his nerve in the fight with Prin and because a part of him was probably worried that he'd be rejected if he did. When you lash out, especially when you don't mean to, there's always a worry that you've done irreparable damage to your relationship with whoever was on the receiving end and that you won't ever be forgiven.

Sometimes it really is something as simple as a sticky note that brings you to tears and has you sobbing into your dinner in the middle of the night.

The note and the meal are proof that Tongrak hasn't been rejected, that he's still cared for despite the way he reacted after the fight and the things that he said. We know that Mut wasn't going to reject him but Rak needed to know that as well.

And now that they had their moment in the dressing room and the issue of the money has been talked about, we're paving a way forward for Rak to be able to express what he feels without using it as a defense mechanism. He still will, and he will hurt me many more times before we're done, but we're making progress.

[vegasandhishedgehog]

I didn't want to derail this post by @bird-inacage because it was so focused on SandRay and how going into episode 5 would treat them, but reading it struck me with an important realization.

Of our main couples, how much do they really enjoy each other's company?

Starting with Top and Mew, their dynamic is really interesting, because they are desperately trying to enjoy their time together. And there are moments where it's literally visible! They are having a good time! But it quickly gets ruined by the residuals of Top's bad habits and/or Mew's insistence to keep control of a relationship he took as a personal challenge. While Top is enjoying playing at domesticity, he has to either be continuously blue-balled or lie to get it, so any time he spends with Mew is dampened by the fact that he can't be himself (not that he's a great person but it bears to be acknowledged). Mew is so hopelessly trying to convince himself that he's not out of his depth that it's taking all his energy just to prove it, and he is likely mistaking any exhaustion from it as just being new to things. They don't actually enjoy each other's company, though.

Boston and Nick? Golden if they're having sex. The minute they're done, their minds are immediately on the continuous conflict between them: how do they want to keep their status. I think part of what contributes to Nick wanting something more committed is that he has a bit more stability both externally and internally (surprising, I know). He has his tech job, he has at least one friendship that's genuinely supportive (Sand), and he owns being a nasty bitch. Besides his cuckoo-for-cock thing with Boston, he has interests, skills, and a life outside of him and possibly views Boston as another one of those stable facets he always wants to be able to turn to.

But Boston isn't on the same page. When he isn't manwhore-manipulate-manslaughter being a student, Boston kind of doesn't have anything else going for him except his photography hobby which isn't being put to good use. He likely is part of the friend group because at least they're a queer friend group in the same field of study, and everyone else might as well be in and out of a revolving door. Nick is an anomaly for him, but he wouldn't know what to do with something stable let alone be valued for anything outside of sex so Boston dangles boyfriend status like a carrot.

So do they enjoy each other's company? Yes and no. And no and yes. They have a lot of things to work out between each other and unfortunately for both of them things will blow up and cause catastrophic damage. But they couldn't be made for anyone else, IMHO.

Finally we have Sand and Ray. Their relationship has a couple rocky moments in the beginning, but all things considered, it's literally founded on the fact that they like spending time together. Ray says it to Sand multiple times: "You're fun to talk to." He begs him to spend time with him, he offers payment for god's sake. And Sand obliges because he can't help himself. He also likes hanging out with Ray. They have found things outside of any romantic or sexual context that they both enjoy that become the foundation of all their future activities together: a good drink and good music. And the more time they spend together the stronger that will become, even as the strained relationships they have with everyone else threatens to fuck it up.

[rocketturtle4]

Don't mind me I'm just collecting evidence for Ray's complete lack of self-esteem self-anything

(I'm shadowbanned which means that fact that I'm tagging everyone is USELESS (although I may have someone to help me out) but maybe it won't be useless later. Also I also cannot reply to comments, and you will not see in your notes if I reblog your post...fun times) @waitmyturtles should thee wish)

Finally pushed over by this post (@burnsuncomet @dewtu @plantsarepeopletoo) because @thegalwhorants that's right, it is VERY SAD

Because is this scene funny and ironic? Yes!

Do I think people (me, I'm people) are going to swing around in 1-11 weeks time pull out screenshot one and comment not on the irony of this shirt but it's poignancy? ALSO YES. (Screenshots stolen out of this post @chickenstrangers)

So I'm starting my evidence collection now...

Poor Boy Gifs (a selection) (in no particular order)

His t-shirt and reactions @khaotunq

Drunk boy this gifset by @gunsatthaphan

More Drunk Boy this gifset @heretherebedork

This gifset @gunsatthaphan

Also this scene again because it's so awful it deserves to be included twice:

this gifset by @userneos

speaks for itself:

this set by @sunsetandthemoon (whose ENTIRE set here is just good evidence, but I promised myself I'd only steal one gif per post)

Ray's face when he sees Top and Mew dancing

gifset here by @plantsarepeopletoo (multiple parts of this gifset have flashing lights)

this gifset by @nick-nellson

Look how happy he is surrounded by his friends!!!

Oh and I'm sad again...

I gave in and grabbed 2 from this one @raypakorn

Since I already broke my rule I'm grabbing another one from @sunsetandthemoon:

This is clearly just the (shit)icing on the (shit)cake of his (shit)life.

Finally thanks to @plantsarepeopletoo

His pure excitement at the idea of doing this project with his friends help...

verses everyone else...

Other Posts:

You're a burden screenshots (by @heretherebedork)

Information about Ray's subtitle/label "the one who [abandoned/discarded/threw away/cast out] himself" @lurkingteapot

Interesting thoughts on Sand and Ray by @bird-inacage - Ray's Fear of Inadequacy

Someone else who is sad with excellent screenshots @poetry-protest-pornography

I feel like this line might come back to haunt us lol @sparklyeyedhimbo

Trajectory of relationships and sex by @thatgirl4815

also by @thatgirl4815: Ray and apologising

Body language notes @captain-xandis

More random thoughts worth noting (Sand & Ray) @clara-maybe-ontheroad

Tweets

this post by @thatgirl4815

(directly referencing the scene where Ray wakes up and doesn't seem to mind the fact that he thinks he got roofied and kidnapped for sex)

Plus:

originally posted here by @elliebirdwrites

Thoughts

(I'm not really taking it THIS seriously, just apreciating all my feels...also I don't think I've ?EVER actually watched a show from week 1...I normally have 2-3 episodes to obsess over by the time I start. This one ep business is not taking up enough time)

How much of Ray's identity revolves around making his friends (Mew) happy?

How much is he going to break when the ?rich? hotel owner moves into the only space he feels like he has value in?

(and how much is his breaking going to break our best boy Sand?)

Let's see how much Ray(and Sand) can singlehandedly make me cry for the next 11 weeks...It is afterall, a FirstKhao specialty.

(now do I make a similar collection about Sand...or wait till next week hmmmmm....)

I'm going along with the masses and loving the poor boy and his rich (poor) boy.

[kevin-the-bruyne]

YOU CALLED IT YOU FUCKING CALLED IT AAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH

You are so kind to think of me but this was called by bird-inacage eons before me here

Whats interesting to me though is that Sand knows. I mean obviously Sand has always known that Ray loves Sand taking care of him but that it's conflating with his addiction? I wasn't 100% sure but I was leaning towards he didn't make that connection.

I honestly don't know how to feel about Sand, the way he manipulated Ray was so unhinged malicious not just to Ray but to everyone involved and god knows what other than torching Top's relationship out of spite was he hoping to achieve from that. And now he's actively trying to take up this role in Ray's life even after everything Ray said to him? Maybe he's thinking better him than alcohol and he's so desperate to have Ray that, that is not only acceptable but a desirable outcome for him? I mean good for him couldn't be me though Anyway I'm happy to welcome him to the ranks of Clown Mayors of Manipulation Capital along with Nick and Boston

[dream-thief-forever-amen]

Review: Love in the Air - A Masterclass in Kissing

long and media heavy review on Love in the Air... got a bunch of tumblr fandom in there...

https://subtitledreams.com/2022/12/26/review-love-in-the-air/

I tagged everyone I saw, there’s probably a few I missed

@kdrama-mama @shippingcontacts, @prapais, @liyazaki, @scarefox, @bird-inacage, @perths, @endlessly-ranting-antheia, @piningintrovert, @guzhu-furen, @gunsatthaphan, @paisky, @viva-yas-vegas @yeetlegay, @alpha-peen, @akindofemotionaltether, @wahgifs, @dramaism, @pharawee, @djeterg19, @prometheuswelsh @alwayspining, @kwonzoshi , @hecalledhimhyung, @dramabiscuit, @intothealone, @7-starboi, @baijingting, @dreamingsnowflake2013, @cornyonmains, @laurenkmyers, @thefreeblog, @purplenimsicle, @themagnusbane, @theyellowhue, @zhaozi, @hoshinisuzu, @maibpenrai, @iwatchalotofshows, @fortpeat

[moonchildridden]

THE BEACH PICTURE! WE HAVE THE HD VERSION OF THE BEACH PICTURE! LOOK AT PRAPAI BEING SO BABY, THEIR OPENED SHIRTS, THEY BEING BEAUTIFUL.

I NEED MORE OF THEM, IS A MATTER OF SURVIVAL NOW

@bird-inacage @fortpeat @prapaiwife @shipsaremylifesource LOOK AT THEM

[fortpeat]

JUST THESE TWO PARALLELS 😭😭😭

Need I say more 🥹???

All I can focus on is Sky's happiness. My baby is literally glowing and he's sharing things about him coz he wants Pai to know and I am here crying and shaking coz these two have a chock-hold on me that I don't want to get out from.

@bird-inacage Are you planning to write an essay on these two scenes coz if so I can't wait. I need someone to translate all these jumbled up thoughts in my brain and rearrange it to make some sense 😭😭🙏🙏

[lemonfreshlysqueezed]

I’m a bit of an Ray apologist but Ray inviting Boeing over knowing it is making Sand uncomfortable?!

I’m sorry, what?!!!

Ray has a good reason to still feel some type off way about Boeing, wether its good or bad. This man left him for someone else (that shit effects you).

Why would you invite an ex of your partner over knowing that they hurt them? And they are clearly visibly uncomfortable with the situation!

Gif by @bird-inacage

[wen-kexing-apologist]

Reporting for duty, you called my ask fun so 🤸

Is there a character you could see easily fitting into a different show/media that you think could spice things up or maybe even improve it?

Hmmmm this is an interesting question, and if I spent some time thinking about it, I could probably give you some deep, philosophical, and long-winded answer. But instead, I'm going to tell you the first thing that popped in to my head the second that I read your ask.

Ray Pakorn from Only Friends

gif by @bird-inacage

could easily fit in to.......

Euphoria

I'd say you might have to age him down for it to work, but then again they have grown ass adults playing these high schoolers, so it might be just fine.

[bird-inacage]

You’ve said all what I’ve been thinking about Love Sea. I wanted to enjoy this but it hasn’t been hitting for me the same as LITA. I think the show took a nosedive when they left the island. It’ll probably be a rushed ending that they won’t stick the landing but atleast FortPeat have scorching chemistry as always. With a better director/writer they could be even more of a force. I would love to see what they could do with a BOC production. It’s really too bad MMY sticks them in the basement for the most part.

Hello there Anon,

It's certainly reassuring to hear I'm not the only one who has not fully taken to Love Sea as a story.

Fortpeat have great potential as actors. With unmistakable chemistry and a decent range, their talents can definitely be better harnessed. Though I can see there were some interesting ideas at play here - the plot itself has struggled to stand up in support of what they can do. And yes, I completely side-eye the writing as the root cause for the flimsier elements and character trajectories (or lack thereof) in this show. Whilst Fortpeat are doing their best to elevate and add value, there's only so much they can do within the confines of the plot/dialogue given to them, and under the direction of MAME and MeMindY.

I wouldn't say Love Sea is terrible by any stretch. But what is good is largely credit to Fortpeat themselves, which means they'd probably be great in whatever show you put them in. It's not the show itself that's doing an awful amount to bring this to fruition. Which is why I'd advocate for them to be directed/coached by a new team, and how that could be a very positive step in their development as actors.

I'm already noticing a few habits or tendencies they each have that could be moulded with better direction and mentorship.

As mentioned, I will withhold my final conclusion on this series until it's finished airing. But considering we're edging close to the finale, it's unlikely we're suddenly going to see a drastic change in what we've observed thus far.

We'll find out soon enough!

---birdie

[thatgirl4815]

One thing that strikes me about Ray/Sand vs Ray/Mew is that for the life of me I just can't picture the Ray who jumps on Sand and sticks his smelly pits in his face, the Ray who is cheeky and playful and a bit goofy, doing those things or acting that way with Mew. And I don't even mean within the context of any romantic relationship - I find it really hard to imagine their friendship having any such similar moments, where they're just two boys being a bit daft. With Sand Ray can be flirty, sensual, fierce, but he can also be silly, petulant, carefree (whilst sober). I just can't see him exhibiting that duality in his relationship with Mew. In their scenes previous to The Dance of Doom, he's usually been quite serious, heavy, earnest - weighed down, whether by Mew's expectations or his own feelings I don't know (likely both). He just seems so much lighter when he's with Sand (and they're apart from everyone else). I'm not saying it's Mew's fault - maybe it's a result of the pedestal he occupies in Ray's mind, but I just thought it was interesting. Ray often seems like an entirely different person when he's with Sand. And I think that's why those of us rooting for a (healthy) endgame are so invested, because in those interactions we see the person Ray COULD be, and it's pretty clear it's Sand that brings out that potential. Again, not saying he doesn't also require a shitload of soul-searching and professional help, but how could you NOT want him to reach that potential? And I'm almost certain the showrunners would agree. Now that doesn't necessarily mean the only way to get there is a Sand/Ray happy ending or that Sand owes it to Ray to put up with his bullshit in the meantime, but I think Sand wants that for Ray too and I don't think that makes him pathetic. I think Sand is pretty good at spotting when Ray's behaviour is that of someone in crisis vs being a brat/careless. It's probably why he requires an apology for Ray dropping him at the end of ep 3 but not for the insults at the end of ep 6 (well that and the whole near death experience!). No, Sand is under no obligation to keep loving/caring for Ray at his worst, but if he CHOOSES to do so because he's seen him at his best and because he knows the pain that lies beneath it all, well then actually that's something quite remarkable. Not romantic, mind you - remarkable. I'm not romanticising anything. But to me that shows a strength of character and a depth of compassion that's worthy of respect.

Great observations! I also can't really see a teasing, light-hearted RayMew relationship (at least, not when they're both sober), mostly because we haven't seen that dynamic much at all between them as friends. The thing that makes friends-to-lovers plots so successful is the chemistry between friends conjoined with romantic chemistry. And I don't get much of either of those between them (possibly because the vast majority of scenes between Ray and Mew only are about Ray's alcohol/drug problems).

A lot of this goes back to what you said about Ray putting Mew on a pedestal. It's always felt like Mew is in a superior position while Ray is only pining after him. With Ray and Sand, we see Sand acknowledge the dangers of Ray's behavior, but it never comes across as domineering or self-righteous (reminds me of @bird-inacage's analysis here about how Sand and Mew react differently to Ray's addictions).

I definitely think Ray is a better version of himself with Sand. He's noticeably less drunk around him, he opens up about his past, he apologizes and speaks relatively openly about his feelings, he makes an effort to invest in Sand's interests...the list goes on. Those are all signs of a healthy relationship built on mutual interests. For Ray and Mew, I think it's fair to say there are other motivations beyond romantic feelings.

I also admire Sand's depth of compassion. As you said, he is under no obligation to keep coming back to Ray and caring for him the way he does, but the fact that he is doing that despite knowing that he deserves better says a lot about his values. When he cares for someone, he cares for them deeply, despite the pain they might inflict upon him. For someone like Sand who seems so headstrong in other areas of his life, there's something endearing about how soft he is for Ray.

[chocolatecakeandbl]

your top five fave moments in LITA 👀

OMG NONNIE ARE YOU TRYING TO KILL ME? How should find ONLY 5 FAV MOMENTS? AHHH

Okay, alright. Let’s try to be normal and try to answer this like the rational being I should be, ah?

Number 1 (bc I’m such a cheesy romantic at heart it’s unbearable) “I will take care of you for the rest of my life” PROPOSAL

[Source]

Prapai, Sir, please, will you stop coming for my heart?! It’s just perfection. I mean. A real proposal here wouldn’t have worked, and would have somehow destroyed the whole dynamic PrapaiSky made their own. But this? This is them. 100%. Prapai not rushing into things, giving Sky a headup and a security at the same time. ‘I won’t go anywhere. It will always be you for me’. And isn’t that extremely beautiful? Are there any words expressing a deep seated love better than this? I highly doubt it. It’s simply perfect.  And can we talk about Sky’s smile? The ease? The trust, the LOVE we see there? Amazing.  He learned to love, learned what REAL LOVE is all through Prapai. He got to know how it feels to feel secure with someone. To know he want your best, and he wants your happiness.  I can’t express how much that affects me on so many levels I stopped counting. 

Number 2  THE CONFERENCE TABLE SCENE (bc fucking hell YES)

[Source]

This is a war. With Place No1, really. Because… I mean…. You get me, right?  That was beyond hot.  The little game those two were playing? Sky’s side-eyes and him biting his lip when he sees Prapai coming his way? Man was prepared from the start. Man was on a mission the moment he arrived (bc srsly. No shirt? No underwear. Hellllooooo~) Prapai entirely unhinged? The chair turn? The way he attaches himself to Sky’s skin as if he’s an oasis after an endless walk in the desert? THE WAY HE LIFTS SKY FROM THE CHAIR? Also… the hickey’s on Sky’s chest that were surely NOT make up.  Sky’s expressions? On point of how it looks when one gets rawed? I mean… we all know I’m a kinky little beast, but that one got even to me.  Jaw dropping scene. Really

Number 3 TRUTH SCENE

I’m not even close of being capable to express the whole scene as good as @bird-inacage, so please read this post if you wanna go into the feels. For me, personal, this scene means a lot. On a ’funny’ sidenote, Fort’s acting as Prapai single handedly got me out of my own trauma I was wallowing in since seven years. No joke.  It’s the quiet reassurance, the ‘I am here, I am hearing you out, I am not judging you badly for what happened to you, or how you think badly about yourself’. It just got me.  The tears that rolled down Prapai’s face? The pain he was going through knowing what Sky went through? Intense. The acting was intense. The scene was intense. The wounds it had reopened in myself were intense. But also the healing, the way you saw Sky healing just a tad bit. The “Can I love you?” - because let’s be real. This is THE fear if you ever got burned badly. I could ramble about that scene for hours. 

Number 4 RESCUE SCENE

Linking back to @bird-inacage again bc damn did that post do things to me.  (We’re running briefly into sad hours, pls forgive me) For several reasons that scene got to me. I might or might not have re-watched it several times just to see if it still triggers me or if I managed to heal.  I saw myself in Sky SO MUCH it was almost scary (Peat is a hell of an actor. Can we award him?). Not gonna go into detail bc I suspect no one’s ever wants to hear that. So just lemme say the way Prapai reacted was superb. In all those years I always wished for such a reaction, and seeing it on screen did a number on me.  It’s refreshing to see that there is this tiny possibility of hope for finding care in such moments.  The scene holds a special place in my heart and somehow became my comfort zone (as weird as it sounds.)

Number 5  FIRST TIME LOVE MAKING

[Source]

Not to be horny on main (but really, I can’t help it. It’s just the way I tick), but that scene was absolutely beautiful. It’s overflowing with love, tenderness and affection.  This is how love making should look like. The deep connection between them, the kisses, the adoration, the longing and yearning still running through them even though they are as close as two can be.  You get the feeling they want to become one, and honestly, is there anything more beautiful than this?

--

*Claps hand* Soooo. That’s it.

I hope I answered well enough without indulging into the million meta’s in my head that I can’t bring myself to write bc a) they gonna be shitty (I can’t write meta’s for life) and b) supposedly no one’s interested. 

[live-from-flaturn]

send help

Newsies (1992) "Santa Fe", performed by Christian Bale

Call Me By Fire (2023), Jeff Satur & Co.

(thank you to @bird-inacage for making the original Jeff gif)

[halliescomut]

Y'all!!!!!! I just realized something.

Prapai is sort of accidentally following the Mission plan to try and date Sky. 🤯🤯🤯

And then when he can't show up everyday, because he is an adult with a job (and honestly his PA does not deserve that kind of stress) he's sending him food and checking on him.

Realizing this, I think it's a contributing factor to Sky's resistance/denial of Prapai's affection. Sky straight up says this is step 1 to getting a man to date you, and then when Prapai's doing it he's like 'Oh no!"

All screencaps and gifs are from @bird-inacage (except that first pic, which is mine).