#pran telling his mom hes different because of her

[thegayneurodivergentagenda]

Heaven (by Troye Sivan) × Bad Buddy The Series

The truth runs wild

Like a tear down a cheek

Trying to save face, and daddy heart break

I'm lying through my teeth

This voice inside

Has been eating at me

Trying to replace the love that I fake

With what we both need

The truth runs wild

Like kids on concrete

Trying to sedate, my mind in its cage

And numb what I see

Awake, wide-eyed

I'm screaming at me

Trying to keep faith and picture his face

Staring up at me

-

The truth runs wild

Like the rain to the sea

Trying to set straight the lines that I trace

To find some relief

This voice inside

Has been eating at me

Trying to embrace the picture I paint

And colour me free

Without losing a piece of me

How do I get to heaven?

Without changing a part of me

How do I get to heaven?

All my time is wasted

Feeling like my heart's mistaken,

So if I'm losing a piece of me

Maybe I don't want heaven

(We know we can't change the world, but the world can't change us either)

Heaven (by Troye Sivan) × Bad Buddy The Series

BadBuddy× my Playlist 6/n

[lurkingshan]

I've been thinking a lot about the depictions of generational trauma and parental accountability being presented in dramas lately. Since you've watched way more than me, especially outside of BLs, what are some shows that present or include parental accountability?

This is such a good question and one I have been thinking about a lot since Last Twilight episode 10 aired. Westerners often assume that because of Asian cultural norms around filial piety, parental authority, and respect for elders, we can never expect satisfying parental accountability in our Asian drama narratives. But that's not true! It's been done and done well. It’s because these values are so deeply embedded in most Asian cultures that Asian creators are the best positioned to speak on the harms they can cause, and will often embed these themes in their work.

Now, there is an important distinction to make here: the difference between what characters do, and what the story communicates. A character may choose to abide by honoring their parents at all costs, but the story can still communicate how harmful that is. A character may never apologize for something they have done wrong, but the story can still make it clear they have fucked up and hold them accountable for that via tangible consequences. Here are a few examples from bl to illustrate what I mean, and the different ways this can show up in dramas.

Bad Buddy

One of the most obvious examples of parental accountability in genre, and also a pretty full metal version of it. This entire story is about the damage Ming and Dissaya did their sons with their decades-long feud and insistence on pushing that trauma down on their children, and we got some extremely cathartic scenes of Pat and Pran telling their parents exactly what they thought about that. Of course, even though they raged at their parents, they never got the apologies they deserved (and likely never will) and still had to hide their relationship to appease their parents going forward. But that doesn't mean there was no accountability here. The entire narrative held these parents accountable by showing us how they were harming their sons, forcing them to reckon with it, and ultimately showing them settling into a form of resigned acceptance.

Until We Meet Again

This entire show is about Korn and In's reincarnated souls healing from the trauma of their tragic ending, which was brought upon by the familial pressure and rejection they experienced from their fathers. We not only saw Dean and Pharm work through this trauma and forge new bonds with family members, we saw the direct aftermath of their first deaths, the despair and regret their families felt, and the ceremony that tied their souls together as a result. It's big karmic accountability on a grand scale, and the show never flinched from letting us see exactly how much harm was caused by these parents, or how the tenets of filial piety resulted in Korn's despair that he couldn't be what his father wanted. Even more crucially, we were shown, not just told, the counterpoint impact of good parenting, when Dean and Pharm were accepted by their families in their second life.

Blueming

A rare example of an Asian parent being called to the carpet, feeling the wrongness of their actions, and actually apologizing for it. This does in fact happen in drama! Si Won's mom raised him to hate himself, to be ashamed of his body, to fake his way through life so people would like him, and boy did it do a lot of damage. The story showed us how this affected Si Won and his relationships deeply, and brought him to the point where it finally burst out of him. And his mom, to her credit, was dismayed to understand what she had done to her son. This show also gets bonus points for Da Un standing up to his own mother after she interferes in the film contest.

Bed Friend

Uea's mother's sins against him are numerous, and I will not go into them all in detail to spare my own sanity. She is an abusive parent so horrific that she can never be forgiven, and doesn't need to be. An apology from her would be utterly meaningless. Instead, the drama holds her to account via showing us what she's done to Uea and the work he has to do to heal from the trauma she caused, and ultimately having her son cut her out of his life. It's the biggest consequence she can ever face for her choices and that Uea finds the courage to do it is the story's biggest triumph.

What Did You Eat Yesterday?

On the subtler end of the scale, we have our beloved KNT, which weaves parental accountability through its story in the long, slow journey for Shiro's mother to accept who he is and the partner he has chosen in life. What I love most about this particular depiction is that it's not at all linear in nature. We see her make strides by finally acknowledging Kenji and inviting him to her home, and then backtrack by rescinding the offer due to her own discomfort, and then include him in her family planning to ensure he will be cared for after her death. She’s homophobic and traditional, but she loves her son and sees how much happier he is with Kenji in his life. She is constantly reckoning with that tension. And Shiro and Kenji, being of an older generation themselves, don't hold it against her, even as the show makes sure we understand how much it hurts them. They are not okay with it, but they do understand why she's like this, so they take what she can give and forgive the rest. It's a really touching portrayal of this kind of impasse in a family.

Moonlight Chicken

There are several different vectors of parental accountability in MLC. There is Heart confronting his parents over their neglect and abuse and finally demanding to be treated with dignity. There is Li Ming directly calling out his mother for how her life choices have affected him. And there is Li Ming and his surrogate dad, Jim, working out their issues so that they can communicate better, and so that Jim can learn to stop pushing his own fears and anxiety down onto the next generation. All of it handled with deftness, with care, and with clear purpose to examine the ways intergenerational trauma can perpetuate in the absence of accountability.

[shortpplfedup]

Horrite time to get cancelled...

I loved Our Skyy x Bad Buddy x A Tale of Thousand Stars from start to finish. Yes, even the third episode. In fact, especially the third episode. And that's because Aof may have a flair for the dramatic, and he and his room might sometimes write themselves a little bit into a corner, but it's always in service of a point that he feels compelled to make. Aof doesn't go in for 'right' he goes in for 'real' and it can be hard to accept sometimes the ideas he treats with optimism vs the ones he treats with realism. Aof is very deliberate and specific in the stories he wants to tell, and they're not always satisfying. And nowhere has he leaned into that dissatisfaction more than in Bad Buddy. Pat and Pran are caught in a frustrating situation, and Aof has consistently refused to shy away from that for the sake of a traditional happy ending. Aof's major thesis with these two has always been 'love, despite everything'.

The big 'everything' in the Bad Buddy story refers to the parents, but things with the parents have offshoots and consequences for how Pat and Pran's relationship functions, both in the macro sense, in the continued need to hide, and in the micro sense, in the fact that really, truly, only one of them is hiding. Because Pat? Does not give a shit about Ming. Like TRULY. We see here that Ming is not one of his considerations, and even when asked to consider him, the distance that has grown in their relationship is such that where Ming previously was all up in Pat's business, now he doesn't even look because he doesn't want to know. In a way, Ming has accepted Pat and Pran's relationship by resolutely looking away from them. He has lost face entirely and the only solution to that is to pretend it isn't happening, which suits Pat just fine.

Dissaya though...well that's different isn't it. They are really in this closet, Pat is really in this closet for the sake of Pran's relationship with his mother. Pat and Pran's relationship is inherently unbalanced, because the compromise that Pat has made, the sacrifice he has made, is something Pran can never really make up to him. As I said to the clowns: Pran could give in to Pat every day, on everything, for the rest of their lives, and those scales would still never balance out. All Pran can do is accept Pat's sacrifice for the love it is, and love Pat back as hard as he can and hope they never regret it. And so, are they really going to fight about this? Is this really going to be an issue for them? Well...no. Are they going to get into their feelings about it from time to time? Absolutely. And then they're gonna fuck their way through that, because they're them, and they decided when they got into this that it was going to be for life, and there's really nothing else to be done in this situation but get over it.

Also I consider that this particular spat that Pat and Pran are having is only notionally about their relationship, but largely about Pran coming to a resolution about how large he wants to let Dissaya loom in his life, and thus will only scratch the surface because it's the beginning of a story we won't really see that ends up with Pran in Singapore. Pran is deeply contemplating Pat's oddly piercing words about his ability to stand on his own. Because one of the reasons that Pat has to make this compromise and stay in the closet is that Pran depends, in so many ways, on his mom. Dissaya is at the centre of his life. And I think this trip, and this fight, gets Pran to start the process of moving Pat into that spot instead. In the fourth episode, him saying that Dissaya is ok with the play because she knows it's just a play... I highly doubt that, but really, what is she going to do about it at this point? What can she do? Pran's too grown to send him away, and she knows what happened last time she tried to intervene, she nearly lost her kid. She'll tell herself what she needs to, and Pran will continue to shift the balance of his priorities from her needs to Pat's. It's that thing about leaving your parents and cleaving to your partner. If Pran can get to a place where he is independent, then he can give Pat back the openness that makes him happy, and maybe that can finally bring some balance. But we know that day is far off for them, beyond even what we've seen. All Pran can give Pat now is the promise that 'I can't live without you either'.

When it comes to these two, Aof is never going to give us the ease in the heart that we crave, because they don't have that ease either. Instead, we will get snatched moments, because that's what they get. We will get uncomfortable compromises, because that's what they get. We will get occasionally hurt feelings, because that's what they get. And we will get love, despite everything, because that's what they do. Yes it's unsatisfying. But I'd argue it's meant to be. The thing is here again: are you here for a ship or a story? And if you're here for a story, are you prepared for it to be an inherently sad and frustrating one, but that still has joy threaded throughout?

Man that leads me to so many thoughts about why juxtaposing this story with Tian and Phupha's works gangbusters, but I think that's a separate post.

[aroceu]

above water (bad buddy ficlet)

(crossposted here!)

When Pat was five, his dad had taught him how to swim.

When Pat was five, his dad had taught him how to swim. His mom hadn't been the biggest fan, but Pat knew the rule by now - what his father wanted was usually what the rest of them got. It made sense though, because his dad was so confident, and smart, and right.

"It's just as easy as this," his dad used to tell him, paddling his hands in the water as Pat held onto the edge and tried to mimic the movement. It wasn't easy when he didn't have anyone to hold him steady - but then, Pat had to hold himself steady, didn't he?

"No," his dad said, "like this," and repeated it again and again until by some miracle Pat did it. "There you go! There's my brilliant son!"

Pat lived for moments like this - that he was his dad's favorite and was the only person he ever had to impress. His dad knew he was well-liked and talented and expected more, because he knew Pat was capable of more. Pat wanted to meet his expectations. And for a long time, he wanted to surpass them.

He wouldn't ever forget that day - when Paa was crying in the water, and Pat was frozen in shock. It wasn't him but Pran who came to the rescue, who helped Paa out of the water, who soothed her and told her it was going to be okay. Pat was supposed to be her dependable big brother - but in that moment he felt like nothing but a huge idiot who had to have the dumb boy next door come to his rescue.

He told Paa they wouldn't tell their parents, but it wasn't because he didn't want Paa to get in trouble. It was because he didn't want to see the look on his dad's face, his voice when he would say to Pat, Didn't I teach you how to swim? Pat ran through the scenarios a million times in his head, hearing his dad say different things - Since when do you let the boy next door outdo you? Why couldn't you react sooner? Did I raise a failure? No, Pat vowed to himself, at all of twelve years old. He was taking this to the grave.

Several years later he would plead to his dad, "I had to hate Pran because of you?" barely able to see past his own tears, feeling like he was drowning. But he had it right when he was five - his dad was never going to be the one to hold him steady. He couldn't depend on his dad for help, he had to depend on himself.

And maybe the boy next door, too.

[mejomonster]

Behold, the patpran Guardian au prologue! Featuring Pa as Da Qing, Pat as future Guardian, candy instead of a sentimental watch (so far), Pran as the mysterious Hero, and as usual a very sucky dad. Also angst, mention of character death (go figure):

Twenty years ago, a stranger saved Pa.

Pat was eight. Pa was always at his side, sometimes as a person, sometimes as a cat. Around a lot more than his dad, and yet his dad's shadow was always looming. There was no fully escaping it.

Maybe that's why the stranger had run away.

Because the stranger, he was a shadow. Or something equally strange and indescribable.

Pa had been in her cat form, listening to him venting heaps of nonsense about his father, being nice to him for once and not telling Pat how dad was all he had left. That maybe he should be a little gentler. That maybe it wasn't his dad's fault, but--

Pat just wanted to hug his mom again.

Dad hadn't said much, about what had happened. Like everything else, his dad had blamed some dixingren. A monster that got too close to mom.

But why had dad let a monster near her in the first place? How could he be a Guardian, and fail to protect one of the most important people in the world?

Pat had been walking on the ledge of a bridge. Reckless. Childish. Maybe some part deep inside him hoping to make trouble for his dad, hoping to make the man feel how hopeless Pat did. It had rained earlier, and the stone ledge was slippery. In the midst of talking, he slipped.

Pa had been walking behind him, with the superior balance of a cat, and rammed into him, her weight managing to get him to tumble down into the stone road instead of the roaring river below.

But the force of it had sent her falling down to the water instead.

Pat had shouted, rushing to try and grab her, moving far too slow, grasping too late, catching hold of nothing but empty air.

An awful sort of scream coming from Pa--and then darkness had swelled around her small body, engulfing her. Like a fog suddenly moving in, but quicker, denser, like something alive. Pat was screaming for her, even though there was nothing he could do to help.

Then that living darkness had surged up, a column rushing up right in front of Pat's small face, and then it retreated. Gentle, like a lazy ocean wave slowly backing away after coming in, leaving Pa's body laying safely on the road in front of him.

"Pa!" He'd crouched down and scooped her into his arms, cradling her. His lifeline, his guardian and friend and sister and the only person that he really had left that mattered. He held her close, feeling her little heartbeat and the warmth of her body and finally feeling the panic unwind inside him.

Looking up, the conscious darkness had hovered nearby, a shadow without a source, an opaque unknown he couldn't even begin to understand.

Sticking around, almost as if it was somehow concerned about Pa as well.

"Thank you," Pat said to it, not feeling at all silly for speaking to such a thing, in that moment.

The darkness laid in wait, as if watching him. As if it heard, and understood.

Then it disappeared as quickly as it had arrived.

That was the year one monster took away his mom, and another gave Pa back to him.

---

He never told his father. Pat knew he'd never understand.

But for weeks, he'd go back to that bridge--refusing to bring Pa, so she couldn't fall again. Promising her that he wouldn't walk on bridge ledges anymore. And that really was Pat, wasn't it? Always learning things the hard way. Because he wouldn't follow anyone's orders until he'd experienced things for himself.

Like with anything else, he hadn't learned the most important "wisdom" of his father: to stay away from monsters.

How could he? Pat didn't understand them. He didn't understand why someone would attack his mom just because they were different. And he didn't understand why if the difference was so impassable, another person like that would help him and Pa.

He needed to understand.

No one needed to know.

Although he's sure Pa figured out what he kept getting out to. His little guard cat wasn't going to get involved unless things got dangerous. She was still milking her near death experience, getting him to buy all the most expensive foods wuth his allowance, tucking her into her own lush expensive bed, kneeling and praising her as Cat Queen of the Universe whenever he got too annoying for her to tolerate humans anymore.

So for weeks, with the little savings he had after everything Pa was eating through, he'd get some candy and go to the bridge. And leave a few pieces. Some offering to an unknowable god.

To the stranger made of darkness, that had been looking out for him and Pa when there was no reason.

For anyone to care if they lived or died. Because the world was a cruel, cold, lonely place. And if people killed each other just because of things they didn't understand--if people like his dad attacked monsters until the monsters whispered about men like him as the Biggest Monster of all? Then why would a stranger so afraid of Pat's family's legacy on the world, bother helping.

It must be a really nice person, this monster he met on the bridge.

Each time Pat left candy on the bridge, the last week's candy was gone. He smiled to himself, hoping somehow the Hero of Darkness had found the offering and enjoyed it. Pretending for a while that it wasn't more likely some squirrel or bird who'd made away with his little offerings.

He never saw the living shadow again, though.

[p3l0k3n]

MSP 5

After my last post I noticed something in Ep. 4 that this episode didn't address.

To paraphrase Gun to Win: It's a long story; I'll tell you later.

Promise? Hopefully Gun will do just that.

I find this episode to be the weakest one we've seen so far. The stakes are ill defined, and I don't understand where key characters are going from here.

Gun is fortunate enough that his parents' interests match his own, and that they nurture that interest. He wants to follow in his father's footsteps; they're not forcing him to. His mom ends up reassuring him that he can follow his heart no matter what.

It is unfortunate that the milk bar employee is taking maternity leave at this critical time for Gun's plan for New Wave.

Gun's mon says the he wants to go into the Faculty of Music. Won't he need to study for that faculty just like any other?

Then there's Tinn. He's fully under his mom's thumb. She wants him to be a doctor, and he never asks himself if he really wants to be one. Instead, he tries to find meaning and purpose within her expectations. Does mother know best all of a sudden?

Por actually has to confront his mother with what he wants to do; something he manages to do with Tiw's encouragement. She is okay with him being in the Music Club and the New Wave competition. That doesn't come as a complete suprise as they have a grand piano in their living room. I don't know if he want to pursue music after high school or not.

Win is still in defiance of his father's plan for him. We've barely scratched the surface between him being in the band, his desire to break into the rap scene, and his father's expectations. Sound helps him take the first steps, and the two of them end up back in the club room.

I haven't been able to get a good reading on what is going on with either Yo or Pat, but they are there in the club room with the rest of them.

Back to Gun, he has been focusing on keeping his club alive and winning New Wave. He looks like he has spared little thought about what happens next, win or lose.

Step 2: Win New Wave

.

.

.

Step ?: Success

While the song in Ep. 2 is in my #1 position, the song in Ep. 3 is in #2. Despite the fact that neither Tinn nor Gun are willing to outright admit it (even when the other one pushes), I believe they understand that they will face whatever obstacles come together.

Throughout the series so far, we have watched reality crash through Tinn's daydreams, but he has the connections and resources to deal with what is thrown at him. The song in this episode steps away from reality. It counters the guidance councilor who is a little too zealous in his role at the beginning of the episode.

I hope that Ep. 6 gets back on track.

Side note:

Bad Buddy was really good at keeping things grounded in its reality. We watched Pat and Pran work together to overcome obstacles while developing a pretty solid relationship. After watching them bringing their warring faculties together, I had envisioned them getting their families together as well. At the very end, the young men must face the fact that they have met an obstacle they can't remove. They come to terms with the notion that a not-so-secret relationship is better than no relationship at all.

I was dumbfounded by this ending. It was worse than finding out the reason why the families fueded in the first place. To me, finding out about the scholarship was the beginning of the end. I figured that this was because the US and Thailand are very different culturally. At the same time I realized I wouldn't be able to enjoy another watch of the comple series again.

[functionalasfuck]

That was a lovely episode of fluff (thanks P’Aof) but can we talk about Pat’s family?

Pran’s family this episode was shown to be very open and accepting on everything bar the neighbors next door (what the fuck did they do?). And that’s something we’ve actually seen. When Pran told them about his Class President election, they were more concerned for his workload then the prestige and bragging rights that come with the title.

But Pat’s family? Pat’s family seems entirely different. And this is why I think it’s going to be Pat’s father who is the main antagonist among the families.

I think Pran was able to figure out his feelings much sooner than Pat because his family isn’t as stifling, despite what the aesthetics say. He probably was aware of his sexuality cause he felt that that wouldn’t be a problem with his parents. The only problem his parents cared about was being better then the kid next door.

Pat’s dad on the other hand? Pat’s dad is subtly terrifying. He is clearly incredibly Misogynistic and the picture of toxic masculinity. And you can see this in his treatment of his daughter. His daughter has to do her brothers laundry. His daughter should go to her brother’s dorm and clean up after him because he doesn’t have a girlfriend to do so yet. When Pa was talking about Pat eating all the food, the father brushed her off saying Pat needed it so just let him have it.

This episode we got even more. When Pat got the car, Pa made a comment on how nice it must be to be the son. When the dad FaceTimed Pa, he asked to speak to his son and then asked his son to come home for free food. Pat had to be the one to extend the invitation to Pa by saying he’d bring her with him. Even though she is the one leaving home for the first time.

But more so than that, we see Pat’s father’s obsession with reputation. It’s been a consistent theme over the show. But it got a lot more obvious in this episode. Pat specifically said he didn’t want to play rugby, but his father bulldozed over him saying that his son must protect his reputation. It was the same thing he did with the music concert (and was how Pat got his professor to let them back in. Because his father’s reputation was on the line).

And looking at that, it’s kind of telling that Pat is the one who constantly talks about the pressure of needing to compare himself to Pran. Knowing his GPA and what sports he is involved in. Pran mostly talks about the pressure of having to hate someone he doesn’t actually hate. As if Pat’s father forced Pat to compete, and hatred was a byproduct, and Pran’s mom forced him to hate, and competing came along with it.

And when we met Pat in episode one, he was probably just a carbon copy of his father. Harping about how he needs to save his reputation and having an icy heart towards everyone. “Don’t mess with him. He’ll fight anyone who so much as looks as him funny”. Without Pran there to rise and meet him on his level, to force himself to be treated as an equal, or at least an equal rival, Pat totally devolved. His life was more peaceful, but the lack someone who would keep him on his toes, challenge him, made him go on autopilot and let his dad take the wheel.

All of this added up and I don’t think we will leave this show without homophobia. I cannot see how Pat’s father, with his toxic machismo and his need for his son to be a mini me, would be accepting of Pat dating a guy.

Anyways, this was long. Feel free to ignore.

[captainstarkky]

"Family is not always right”: Bad Buddy The Series Episode 10 - A Letter

Okay, first and foremost, hi everyone! This isn’t a part of my weekly posts about my Bad Buddy Episode Recaps. This discourse focuses on the last few scenes alone and not the whole episode.

DISCLAIMER: The views and opinions writen below contains rants about the latest episode, if we have different views about the situation or you become uncomfortable in any part of the essay, you’re free to go. Thank you very much!

So to start, I’ve actually watched the whole episode last night and I had the whole day to really think about what to write. I just finished writing my Episode 9 recap last night as well and I just posted it a few hours ago - I haven’t even edited it yet, I wasn’t able to add some photos and GIFs -, but I really had a compulsion that I should write something about Episode 10 right away (before the hype dies down). I felt like I needed to take this out of my chest to be able to write a proper recap and review later.

The scene where both Pat and Pran confronted both of their families are  very emotional, alright. They showed us the acting prowess of both Ohm and Nanon. However, what I want to talk about is the issue behind it.

So turns out, Pat’s dad - I guess his name was Ming? - and Pran’s mom - her mom’s name was Dissaya - were both acquaintances in high school. Not just acquaintances, they probably got along really well to the point of having a romantic relationship in a given period of time. According to Ms. Payao (?), both Ming and Dissaya were the best of their classes - basically just like their sons - and would oftentimes compete together in school-wide and even local competitions. 

However they had a falling out before their graduation and Ms. Payao didn’t know what the real reason was. They just thought Dissaya, even being too brilliant, disappeared.

The reason was revealed in a confrontation between Dissaya and Ming in the later part of the episode. Turns out, it was because of Ming stealing  Dissaya’s scholarship from the university.

Now that we get the story straight, let’s try to dive in!

First, I would like to tell everyone that during the whole episode I was in Dissaya’s side. Because who wouldn’t? If they were fighting over business matters alone, I would’ve dismissed it as a nonsense fight to begin with. But it wasn’t and Dissaya’s anger towards Ming was completely called for. Her feelings are validated and we don’t have the right to tell her otherwise.

I could only imagine her despair when she’d known that Ming - her friend - stole her scholarship - her whole future ahead of her - and to think he just ended up inheriting his family’s business? That probably devastated her. I mean, Ming stole the whole future ahead of her just to continue the legacy of his family. HE COULD’VE JUST WENT TO SCHOOL NORMALLY.

Ugh, frustrating.

But yeah, that wasn’t the real problem in the present. Instead, the problem is that, why did they pass this feeling of hater to their next generations in the first place?

I was extremely disappointed, to be honest. I’ve always believed that problems from the previous generations should never be shouldered by the next generations and that’s what exactly happened here.

No child should ever be subjected to such experience. 

I feel so strongly compelled that I felt for Pat and Pran so much to the point that  I was literally prepared to throw hands last night. Because of their parents, Pat and Pran missed the best of their lives. They grew up with each other without even being friends and that left a huge scar in the both of them. And when they did get closer, both of them were separated not because of their own circumstances but their parents. How shitty is that?!

They are forced to compete with each other because of the issue they never even started in the first place. They were forced to hate one another because of a reason which turned out to be a big fat lie.

God knows how they wanted to be with one another. Their personalities clicked, their hobbies were basically similar, they were both intelligent - they could’ve been best friends or even lovers while still in high school. They could’ve lived the best of their lives together, but because of something they’re not even involved in, they ended up feeling the exact opposite.

But what hurts me (as a psychology major) the most is the fact that their parents knew this. They knew that their sons were getting along but instead of supporting it, they literally broke them apart propagating more hate between them. I mean what is the reason? Because they hate each other? Well, surprise surprise everyone, your sons aren’t YOU so even if you’re their parents, you literally don’t have the right to choose whom your sons get along with.

I was really disappointed with Ming though. Dissaya’s hatred was validated. But whatever Ming did to Pat is beyond forgivable. He literally brainwashed the child to hate Pran to the point that Pat was confused as to what to really feel when he saw Pran’s goodness and was able to get closer to the guy. I mean, I understand. We’re Asian and we know how our parents put pressure into our shoulders (I’ve experienced that too because I was once an engineering student myself, born in the family of engineers). But, really, does that give him the right to lie to his son in hating the family next door? More than anything, Ming should teach them to be apologetic.

I mean, if Ming didn’t steal Dissaya’s scholarship to begin with, then none of everything would probably happen. But instead of apologizing, or even being apologetic, he added fuel to the fire and started to lie about the family next door TO THEIR OWN SON AND DAUGHTER, fabricating absurd tales on how that family wronged them in any way horrible possible, how amazing is that? No wonder Pat was really angry and disappointed when he found out. I mean, he have the right to. He literally thought the innocent, silent guy next door who just wanted to play his guitar and draw, was his nemesis his entire life when the real enemy here is his dad.

Pat and Pran are innocent. They should never have been involved with everything in the first place. But what happened was, they’ve been entangled with the curse that bind them off to move forward - the hatred their families have with each other. I mean, giving the circumstances, if they weren’t found out from the start, they’re families would’ve forced them to hate each other until the day they died, you know.

But that’s also probably the reason why they’re so drawn out to each other in the first place. They were trying so hard to correct the mistakes their parents did in the past that they got along really well, even ending up with one another. They even thought of ways for their parents to get along.

Too bad, they didn’t know that at that time, the problem was more harrowing than expected.

But but but... What’s good was, even after everything, Pat still went for Pran - still choosing him even after what he discovered - and Pran still choosing Pat to be his comfort person even after what happened.

THAT’S THE RIGHT THING Y’ALL! 

Just because people around you never got along, doesn’t mean you too should also not get along. Pat and Pran already lost three years because of this toxic hatred that they never even want to take part in in the first place, so I think the decision of being together is well validated enough.

There will come a time that they will be asked to choose, and I think, given the mental and emotional torture they’ve been through, I will always support them choosing their own happiness over others. And if that happiness lies with them being with each another, so be it. I approve.

[trilliastra]

love that makes me tear up

[pat x pran. POV outsider. just pran’s mom having thoughts and a glimpse into the future of pat and pran.]

-

Every time Dissaya sees one of Ming’s family members around town, she always dreads the awful coincidences of life. It is a big town, so it shouldn't be this easy to see one of them at her favorite grocery store or at the market buying fish. 

When it isn’t Ming or his wife, it’s one of the kids and Dissaya never knows if it’s better or worse. When their eyes happen to meet, the girl is quick to turn around and avoid crossing paths, the boy - he is defiant. His eyes always shine with questions, accusations that make a fire burn inside her.

The more he grows, the more she sees Ming in his stance. Not the adult, but the boy she grew up with, loud and bright, a man she thought she could trust, a friend who became a traitor.

When Pran told her about their relationship, she remembered being seventeen and bright and full of expectations, and she wanted to take her son and run away. Because Ming’s falseness, though devastating, could never be as tragic as a lover’s betrayal.

-

She sees him at the mall, six months after Pran’s graduation. The girl walking with him is beautiful and when she fumbles with her bags, he offers to carry them for her. They laugh together as she shows him something on her phone and he throws an arm over her shoulders as Dissaya watches them walk away.

She thinks about Pran, locked in his room at home, working on his resume because he’s thinking about applying for a job in Singapore, remembers him coming home at the weekends alone and always avoiding her questions about a new love interest.

Dissaya might not know Pran as well as she thought she did, and that is a feeling she’s still struggling with, but she knows one thing - a love like he felt, a love so strong he’d risk lying to her, that love does not easily go away.

-

The next time she sees him at the mall, he’s having a meal with his sister and the girl she saw with him all those months ago. Sitting outside the restaurant near one of Dissaya’s favorite shoe stores, they don’t notice her watching them curiously, gasping softly when the girl and Pat’s sister share a soft kiss.

Surprised, Dissaya finds herself staring at the empty spot next to Pat and imagining it should’ve been occupied by another man, a man who reminds her a lot of her own son.

It does not make sense, she tells herself. It shouldn’t feel like this, she shouldn’t feel guilty or - or sad that Pat is alone. She shouldn’t regret not giving them a chance. It is too late now, more than a year has gone by, Pran is about to move to another country, they - they could have been and yet -

They aren’t.

-

This time, she hears his voice before she sees him.

“You’ve been in Singapore for two months and you miss our snacks?” The voice asks. “I feel betrayed.”

When she peeks from behind the shelf, he sees Pat stuffing his shopping cart with extra hot Tao Kae Noi. The person he’s with on the phone says something and Pat laughs softly, reaching for a different flavor. “Alright, alright.” He says. “I will send them today.” The whispered I love you, too, is fond and Dissaya’s heart squeezes painfully inside her chest.

It’s not as surprising as it should be and though she feels deceived by the lie, the hurt is quickly replaced by a deep regret and an uncertainty about the future and her relationship with Pran. Their lives have always revolved around a lie and with a shaky breath she realizes she doesn’t know how to have an honest relationship with her own son.

-

They don’t talk about it and she spends a long time wondering how long it has been. Months? Years? Have they ever actually broken up?

“Does it matter?” Her husband asks and she concedes the unexpected truth.

It doesn’t.

-

She tells herself Pran is an adult, his love life doesn’t concern her anymore. Pran comes home for Christmas and she pretends to be imagining the soft moans that come from his bedroom late at night.

Before he leaves, she hugs him tightly and makes him promise he is happy. His eyes shine with unshed tears, but he hugs her back just as tightly. “I am.” He says.

Dissaya notices him watching the neighbor’s house sadly as the taxi takes him away, and when she looks up, Pat is by the window, watching the car disappear in the distance.

As she brings a hand up to wipe her own tears, she notices Pat doing the same.

-

“Will you ever be able to forgive him?” Her husband asked one night.

“I don’t know.” She answered.

“Ah,” he chuckled. Upon her curious stare, he kissed her softly and added, “a few years ago you would’ve said no.”

-

Pran has been back in Thailand for the entirety of two months when Dissaya walks into the store and stops next to him.

Another coincidence, she thinks. All she wanted was to buy a gift for her mother and here he is again.

“Do you need help?” She asks, holding back a smile when Pat startles, eyes widening. She holds his gaze, defiant. 

“I -” he tries, clearing his throat, ears burning red before finally admitting defeat, “yes?”

“Good.” She declares, expression softening when she notices the rings he chose. “Are you getting them engraved?”

-

*Tao Kae Noi is that seaweed snack they advertise at the beginning of the episodes. Pat and Pran also had it at the beach on the 11th ep.

[patmycheek]

Pat fell first

I’ve been rewatching certain parts of Bad Buddy and thinking about when P’Aof said that Pat and Pran probably fell for each other around the same time, but Pran acknowledged his feelings first.

But like what if Pat fell first? Throughout his childhood, he was taught to hate the kid next door, but Pat’s perspective and feelings towards Pran probably shifted after he saved Pa. I bet he’s the one who initiated their friendship by using the tin can telephone.

Growing up, Pat always noticed Pran, even through the corner of his eye, like how Pran used to look at him when he was being punished. There must’ve been countless moments when Pat treated Pran differently than he would a friend that made Pran start liking him. But at the time, Pat didn’t think he could ever like a guy, he didn’t know he had that option. So, when there’s a new pretty girl in class, it’s natural for him to like her. 

Even so, there’s always something about Pran that made him do silly things like cutting out his student ID to make Pran a guitar pick. When Pran’s parents transferred him, Pat chased after him with his guitar, and when it’s too late, he kept the guitar. He hid it from his parents, maintained its condition, cleaned it, probably tuned it too. How else would an abandoned guitar look new? You’d think that with Pran out of the picture, he’d try to get together with Ink, bc that’s what kids his age would do. But he didn’t, because when Pran’s away, it was so depressingly lonely for him. 

When Pat met Pran again in college, he promised Pa he wouldn’t hurt him. That’s it. But he didn’t just do that, he always took it further, he always went the extra mile. He gave Pran a clean shirt, his shirt, to make sure he didn’t get in trouble with his mom. He also remembered small things about Pran, like how picky he was with food and his thing with matching chopsticks.

What’s that look, Pat?

Then, despite insisting he had nothing to do with it, Pat continuously tried to get Pran to talk to him after their friends destroyed the bus stop. He also made sure his friends took responsibility for bullying Wai. He scolded them, apologized for them, and manipulated them to help rebuild the bus stop.

Yes, Pat, why are you frustrated for them?

Like the extra boi that he is, he also gave Pran the idea to find sponsors and insisted on going with him to meet the investors. Then, when the company declined their request, Pat jumped in to pitch a new idea that the company approved.

What’s that look, Pat? (2)

Not to mention, he also begged his professor to allow both bands back in the Freshy Music Contest bc he knew how much Pran loved music. He also returned his guitar in pristine condition, patted his head, and did the jaw thing.

Yes, this very questionable cute jaw thing. Also look at how Pran is staring at his universe, his eyes literally sparkle.

Oh also, can’t leave this one out.

What’s that look, Pat? (3)

After helping Pran secure some funding, he role played in the middle of the night to help Pran design the bus stop. He stayed up with him and encouraged him too, telling him everyone’ll like the bus stop bc he likes them.

Of course he’s clingy too. I love how Pat knew exactly where Pran would be if he’s not in his dorm. If he didn’t, I can also imagine him walking around campus until he finally found him.

Yes, Pat, what the hell are you looking at?

When Pat’s dad badmouthed Pran’s family, he tried to comfort him. He texted and called multiple times, before finally finding him in an empty dorm room. Then, he offered to move instead out of debt. But after a tickling battle, he considered them even and decided not to move. So, I don’t think Pat’s been giving Pran the special treatment bc he felt indebted to him, but rather bc he just felt like it.

What’s that look, Pat? (4)

Then, we arrive to episode 5, when he finally realize he’s jealous of Wai and he’s been in love with Pran all his life. I think the fifth episode is just Pat realizing that his sadness, guilt, and loneliness actually meant something. That these feelings he’s been feeling for Pran actually mean something. 

I love that. I love Bad Buddy. 

[gb-patch]

Ask Answers: June 6th, 2021

I’m back with more ask responses! You can also check our Frequently Asked Question sheet if there’s something you’re wondering that’s not answered here.

FAQ   Also, if you prefer to just see the main posts without all the asks/reblogs, feel free to follow our side account instead: GB Patch Updates Blog

Thank you for the patience with these questions  ♡

Hey in very beginning of step 3 in the scene where Mr.Holden had a thought dancing on the tip of his tongue but he kept it to himself after MC and Cove were being cute (idk if it makes a difference but this is when they're dating)... Can we know what he was thinking/ wanted to say? It's been bugging me lol 

He would’ve gone into a “look how much you’ve grown”, “your dad is so proud of you”, “I’m so glad things worked out with the MC”, and etc spiel, haha. But he resisted the urge to fawn on his baby boy, at least for that scene.

If we planned to move away for college/future plans in step 3, is it implied that MC and Cove would have a long distance relationship for sure? Could MC have convinced Cove to come with them? How is the dynamic of their relationship going to be addressed in Step 4, if that makes sense? 

Cove is willing to follow the MC where they went after everything is settled for them there, and if they’re sure they want him to come! You’ll get to decide how things shook out during those transitional years just by making choices about it during the opening prologue of Step 4.

Hi! First off, how does it feel to have created one of the best games when it comes to inclusion for lbtq+ peeps? I've never felt as validated with my identity and sexuality when playing a game and I'm seemingly not alone ♥ Second, and this might be a little too specific, but what kinds of drinks does Cove like as well as dislike? Thank you, you're the best ♥

Thank you for very much! It’s really nice to hear the game felt inclusive. Cove likes regular water and fruit juices/smoothies most! He dislikes coffee and cola, and he’s not super into most teas either.

Hi, may i ask what gb patch stands for? Specifically the gb part lol

It stands for my old, silly username I used in places like Neopets as a kid, aha. The company name wasn’t super thought out since it was originally just me making VNs as a hobby. Luckily, “GB Patch” kind of seems like it could mean something reasonable, so I didn’t have to rebrand when it did become a more serious, commercial group.

If we chose to not propose to cove in the step 3 dlc would he propose or would the mc propose in step 4 or the wedding dlc? 

Yeah, you or Cove can propose in Step 4 if you’re not already engaged! The Wedding DLC takes place after the engagement so the proposal scenes aren’t there.

will you guys announce if the early access for the new game is out on patreon ? 

When beta builds of Step 4 or whatever start coming out on the Patreon we will mention it here on social media too.

Heyy I just had a quick question about Baxter if that’s okay :)?

I saw in an ask+answer that it’s possible to casually date Baxter In step 3, but what leads up to that? I have the step 3 dlc and I’ve tried playing them In a different orders and ways but it doesn’t seem to get anywhere ^^;

The Step 3 DLC is Cove-based because he’s the default guy. There’s a separate Baxter romance DLC that’s not out yet. That’s where you can get him to date you. I’m sorry for the confusion!

Will we ever get any LI's or side characters with physical disabilities or deformities? I think your games would be a great place to have them in since they're always so accepting and safe! 

Yeah, we do hope to have representation for that in future projects ^^. Thank you for the confidence in us.

Is it possible to get Cove to take the bed and MC to sleep on the floor? 

Not in Step 3, I’m afraid.

So, I have played the prologue of Our Life countless times and I haven't gotten the [Your Life] achievement, why is that? 

Steam sometimes isn’t connected properly when an achievement unlocks and so it remains locked on your account. If that happens, unfortunately getting the scene again won’t unlock it. The achievement becomes inaccessible because the game thinks you already have it. Playing with the same Steam account on a different device or fully deleting your game data (more than the only the save files) are the only work arounds we’ve found.

Since when you talk with Jeremy in step 3 it's mentioned he goes on dates with someone (which assume is JB because who else would take this boy on dates) that makes him happy, does that sort of make JB and Jeremy the canon relationship in the first game?

The default for XOXO Droplets is that JB casually goes on dates with each of the jerks! Shiloh would’ve been harsher if Jeremy was the only guy getting her attention, haha. But the player can change that default by dating just one person the whole game for their own story and who she ends up with for real has no default.

Hi, hello! Huge OL fan, thank you so much for the wholesome content, it was very much needed during these times. Managed to get several people to join team Cove, so that's very exciting, I always have people to fawn over him with. I have a little question and I'm sorry if it was asked before, but does it ever come up in the game what Cove has told his mom about us? (who knows, with so many options, one can miss it) Or, alternatively, will it come up in the Step 4 DLC? 

Thank you very much for sharing the game with people <3. It’s really great to hear people are liking it. Right now that doesn’t come up in game. Kyra is willing to keep her mouth shut and Cove isn’t gonna have that conversation either. At least not when he’s younger, but yes, perhaps when he’s a fully grown big boy in Step 4 you can ask him about it.

I’ve been thinking about this ever since it has been confirmed that there would be two love interests for OL2, would there be the possibility of forming a polyamorous relationship with both love interests? I’m sorry if you answered this previously, I’m just curious. 

We are considering it, but it’s not a guarantee yet. It’d be really great to have but it’d add so many extra alterations that’d need to made, aha.

Hello! You mentioned how Cove would be uncomfortable with kids at 23, but how old would he be when he’s comfortable with having/adopting kids? (Same goes for the other LI’s.) btw, love your game!! 

He’d want to be at least 25, but even older would be good. Derek would want to have kids when he and his partner could reasonably support them, the age itself wouldn’t matter. If they were doing good at 22 and wanted kids, he’d be up for it. Or they could wait until their 30s or whatever. Baxter is also more of a “when it feels right” guy rather than having a specific age requirement. Cove is just especially wary of being a young parent because of his own parents. I’m happy you like the game!

does step 4 immediately play after you press "end summer" in step 3? or is there another button/transition (like the story text thingy) before the epilogue begins? what happens after the epilogue? roll credits? 😂 

Step 4 will have transition section always and there will be an extra button, if you own the Derek or Baxter DLC. By default the Cove-based version of Step 4 just plays once Step 3 is over. However, having the other guys’ storylines will mean you get to pick which version of Step 4 plays; Cove Step 4 (the basic one), Derek Step 4, or Baxter Step 4.

Happy pride, thank you for all you do for us🥰

I have a quick question though, I recently got a MacBook after my old windows computer broke, and now steam says I cannot download it, but it has no issues with other games, what can I do to download it?? I’m sorry if my English is bad

Happy pride month! Unfortunately, Our Life isn’t available for Mac on Steam right now. To be an approval application Apple requires having special notarization and we as a small group haven’t gotten that. Itch doesn’t care and lets us release the game for Mac there anyway, Steam does care so we’re locked out of putting the Mac build up on their storefront. Feel free to email us and we can try to help the situation out further!

support@gbpatchgames.com

Hello! I was jus wondering if the Baxter and Derek DLCs are still happening? I haven’t heard anything about them on here or patreon in a while so I just wanted to make sure ^^

They’re still coming and we just released a new sprite sketch on the Patreon for the Derek DLC c:. But right now Step 4 is still much more of a priority. Once that’s closer to being done we’ll focus way more on sharing previews for the other guys.

is it possible to tell cove you love him (platonically) at step 3 fondness/selecting him as basically family? i just love the mc and liz sibling interactions and it got me wondering about it (especially if you've selected that option)

You and Cove can be as close as family, but there’s not a specific scene in Step 3 where you say “I love you” in a family context. But there’s always Step 4~

do you intend on ever adding a collectors mode to Our Life? Like a way to collect achievements and CGs for the gallery without it effecting any save files? 

We weren’t considering it before. But if a lot of players would find that helpful, we could start thinking on that!

Sorry if it's a silly question haha, but (in crush/love) is Cove really aware of how cute and cuddly he seems to MC? If so, what does he think or do about it? Or does he just ignore it? 

He isn’t particular aware. Cove never truly stops being surprised that the MC is interested in/attracted to him, haha.

Would you say that the alone ending of xoxo droplets is worth playing again to get? 

Nope, haha. The goal is to make friends/get a boyfriend and so the alone ending is kind of the bad ending for the game. Though there is a consolation prize if you get it by accident.

Is there any possible situation which would ever prompt Pran to bake for his girlfriend? Like I know it's unlikely I mean even if JB broke her leg somehow I'm pretty sure he'd still be like "I considered baking you a cake and doing the frosting the way I think looks interesting but you don't deserve a cake, no one does." right but also ahhh it would be super nice if some day he just surprised her with baked goods one day out of nowhere. JB would be so shocked it would be cute. So is there any possible situation where that could/would be a thing that he would do? 

He might bake out of spite, like if he felt he had to prove her wrong on something. Or if JB used some good reverse psychology on him. Or he might do it in a relatively nice way if he could make his GF so shocked by the kind gesture that his amusement with that overrode his insistence on not being sweet. Pran is very difficult in high school, aha.

Is the "one route (where) it can be seen that Everett will drop his seemingly eternal waging with Jeremy pretty easily and can start getting along without thinking much on it" the Lucas route? I'm curious! 

Yep! Everett will side with Jeremy if it’s between him and Lucas.

Hi I hope you guys are having a great day :) I just had to ask how Cliff would feel about Cove's partner/fiancé Mc calling them dad whether it be accidental or otherwise and secondly I also wanted to ask how he would feel about being asked to be the one to give the mc away at their wedding. 

He would be very touched and excited! I hope you have a good day too :D

Hello! I saw an ask relating to whether Cliff "moves on" after Cove's grown up and stuff (and he stays single), but what about Kyra? Will she be with anyone else or will she stay single? 

She does start dating again, but she takes it slow.

Hi! I absolutely love the art for characters in OL and I wonder is this fine to draw my MC in same drawing style and upload online later? Is this something artists would be okay with? Thank you! 

Yeah, you can certainly do that C:

Hey there!

I wonder if I'm just being stupid here.. Is Step 4 a DLC? And if so, where can I find it? I can't seem to find it on Steam :< Thank you!

Step 4 is a free epilogue! It’s not done yet, but once it is finished you’ll just update your game file and Step 4 will be there after Step 3 ends.

hi! are step 4 and the wedding dlc two different things?

They are. Step 4 is a free epilogue that’ll be a default part of the game once it’s done, the wedding DLC is an optional paid expansion that takes place after Step 4.

Why did Baxter not receive a step 2 sprite seeing how he shows up later

Sprites are time consuming to draw and take money out of the budget that could’ve gone to other things. His tiny appearance in Step 2 wasn’t worth all the effort to make a sprite, aha.

I just realized, what happens if if you get the patreon exclusive moment but at a later date, when you don't have the membership anymore, it's updated (like a bugs fix update for example)? Would you have to get the membership again? 

You would have to get the membership again to redownload the build. But there’s very little chance there’s going to be an update once it’s been out for over a month. If a build gets released with errors, players catch/report them within the first few days. So by the time the first subscription period ends, any problems that were noticeable would already have been fixed. And we’re certainly not gonna be adding new content to it once it’s been released for a long time. There’s no need to worry about missing out on something worthwhile in the future if you cancel your membership. It’s being made with the idea in mind that many players are gonna be getting it and then going.

Hello! Wanted to ask about gaming choice in step 3? Once upon a playthorugh I got the option to buy Cove a bracelet for his graduation present. I played the same basic character again and that option wasn't there anymore. I'm not sure where I went wrong. My Cove wears a bracelet on each hand and my MC is into fashion and jewelry. Do I need to put an earring on him or? Sorry, love your game so much. 

He also needs to have liked bracelets in Step 2 for that to be considered a good gift option for him. Sorry for the confusion! I’m happy you love the game :)

Is Step 4 being released at the same time as the Wedding DLC or will the first come before the latter? Thank you! 

I’m not sure. Ideally they’ll come out at the same time, but the wedding DLC has a lot of art to get done and we may have to release it after Step 4.

Can mc still get confession from Cove at the end of step 3 even if mc casually dates Baxter in step 3? Such as in crush mode? 

I don’t think so. Maybe that’ll change, but generally there’s differences to the Step 3 ending if you were dating Baxter and those differences likely will conflict with getting the Cove confession.

For the patreon moments/dlcs, will it be available for all tiers? 

It’ll be available for tier 2 (Fans) and up!

[frenchie-fallen-angel]

the whole episode was a big fat proof why the break up was the only real and logical solution for them right now

There are some clues leading to the fact that they won't leave eachother's side, BUT there are way more clues about them having to go back to their parents (mostly for their future on Pat's side and for his own feeling of guilt leaving his mom for Pran). How to go back to them when their parents don't accept their relationship ? You have to end this said relationship.

I don't start with "but screw their parents ! Why do they take 2 steps back after making one step forward in ep 10?!" because this is bullshit. Don't tell me in their situation you would have stayed away with your lover leaving everything behind, I won't believed it.

I saw a lot of people saying "that's asian culture" but I don't agree with that neither (I'm a white european and I understand fully the logical situation happening here, I would have done the same as PatPran, go back to my toxic parents sacrificing myself). I think it's just a realistic POV and we are all just too brainwashed by American romanticized POV from movies since our childhood. In those rom-com movies and series, love always triumph, characters follow their dreams, them against the world and won thanks to the power of love/friendship. But you know that's just fiction right ? BBS took a more realistic POV. They are not heroic lovers, they are just two young men trying to leave their life and give their hearts the love it want while surviving in this world. You have to make sacrifice and compromise in this world, our world.

Just to be clear, whoever you are, from wherever you are. In this situation:

Your parents don't accept your life choice/love life/ect... So you run away for some time by anger.

But in the end, you need financial support from your parents to study in college, to get to do the job you want in the future (of course if your parents are toxic and don't even support you financially or emotionnally it's not the same situation). To get to have a comfortable life in the future, you need your parents. Or you will end up having a difficult life as a fisherman, having your body broken by life at a younger age ect...

Also, those people are still your parents, and in this situation you can't say that Pran's mother don't love him. He knows that she did all that thinking she was protecting him. You would feel guilty too, leaving her without information overnight, knowing how she must be suffering right now. If you don't feel guilty (in this scenario obviously), maybe you are not such a great human yourself.

It would mean leaving so many people behind. Erasing your memories with the rest of your family (you really see Pat never talk to Paa ever again ?!) and your friends too. Forget the rest of your world just for one person ? You will be loved yeah, but their love would never fulfill entirely the void left by the parents and the friends, believe me.

You would also choose to go back to your parents, sacrificing your love for a better future and a stable life. It's only logical.

Their parents are toxic but they aren't persecutors. They offered them a beautiful childhood, with money and opportunities. So I don't forgive what they have done, it's still fucked up. BUT it would be stupid to abandon everything. And it's in this situation, I mean they aren't homophobic parents "just" patphobic/pranphobic. So they don't hate their kids for what they are, just what they did (been starting a relation with their nemesis' kid). And that makes a big difference.

I'm making another post about why I think it's not even a full break up. Just a physical break up, but not a mental one.

[shortpplfedup]

A plague o' both your houses! Bad Buddy Episode 10

Where are the vile beginners of this fray?

Welcome to the Romeo and Juliet AU, where Tybalt and Mercutio live, Romeo is wounded instead, and things start playing out the way they could have been if people hadn't been waving weapons around instead of talking to each other. In this episode the kinsmen squash the beef for the sake of love, Ink and Paa have a lightbulb moment in a darkroom, and Pat and Pran get to the bottom of the family feud and oh man is it a doozy.

WE'RE ALL KINSMEN NOW!

...He shall be endured: What, goodman boy! I say, he shall: go to; Am I the master here, or you?

Pran has come so FAR. Pat said 'say you like me in 4K' back on the rooftop in episode 7 and Pran did it WITH Dolby 5.1 surround sound! The extraness of the whole confession and claiming setup is the most romantic thing Pran has done for Pat yet. Quiet Pran staged such a massive public grand gesture (and what must it have taken to make that happen?) because he knew Pat wanted it so badly, and also that Pat would want to be the dramatic romantic hero, and I HAVE SOMETHING IN MY EYE OKAY! And then later on he actually sings him the song he's been struggling to write since episode 1 and I...

Listen, I usually hate public declarations, just like I hate people singing to each other, but Aof has managed to make me love an execution of BOTH tropes in a single episode, and it's because in both instances the object of the action has ASKED for it. My director is BASED I tell you.

BENVOLIO AND...ROSALINE?

Alas, that love, whose view is muffled still, Should, without eyes, see pathways to his will!

I've been hanging the Friar Lawrence character on different people, because I think at different points different characters have embodied his spirit. I last bestowed the title on Ink, but I think that now she has returned to being Rosaline. Rosaline's role in the play is as an avatar of love, she exists to allow Romeo to understand and recognise what love truly is when he actually finds it, to understand that it needs reciprocity to be real. Ink helped Pat discover who he REALLY loves, and she is now doing the same for Paa. But here she has also been made flesh and blood with feelings of her own and so is also working on her own behalf. The reciprocity Pat didn't have with her, Paa does. Paa and Ink in the darkroom is just one of the sweetest things I've ever seen, and continues the throughline where miscommunication between the actual couples is not ever the source of any drama.

LADY CAPULET V. LORD MONTAGUE

See, what a scourge is laid upon your hate, That heaven finds means to kill your joys with love.

It's the HURT in Pat's eyes when he looks at his dad. Pran's mom broke Pran's heart long ago but for Pat this kind of pain is a fresh new hell. The first time your parents look small to you is a moment you never forget, and Pat's dad is about an inch tall in his view right now. The way he has tried to paper over his guilt over what he did with bluster, bravado and dismissal of Pran's mom's feelings about it all is one manifestation of toxic masculinity in a nutshell: never apologise, ever. And so, Pran's mom's bitterness and Pat's dad's guilt lingered, festered and hardened over decades into daggers they then aimed at their children's hearts. Pran's mom thought she was shielding and protecting her son and instead turned Pran into a ball of anxiety and repression. Pat's dad thought he was making his son stronger and smarter than him but he just dumped all the pressure his own dad put on him onto Pat. They hurt their children because they never resolved their own hurts. It's sick and twisted and tragic and delicious storytelling.

ROMEO AND JULIET SAY 'SCREW YOU ALL'

...heaven is here, Where Juliet lives...

Pat and Pran have been choosing each other, and choosing each other, and choosing each other, over and over and over again. It shouldn't be a surprise that they choose each other once the real choice, the choice of whether they would defy their parents, had to be made. And I suppose it isn't quite a surprise but it's still somehow unexpected, especially from Pran. But then, our little Pran has really come SUCH a long way. Where Pran has given Pat the softness Pat hasn't had much of in his own life, Pat has given Pran the courage to live out loud and stand up for himself. And so, when the chips are down, they don't turn inward but they turn toward the person who has shown them that unconditional love, toward each other. Because nobody understands what they've been through BUT them. They don't need to explain to each other what's happened or how they feel; they know, instinctively. When the dam holding back Pran's years of pain and anger finally breaks, he reaches for Pat, and Pat is there, and nothing needs to be said, he just holds him, because he KNOWS. When Pran says 'I can't do this anymore', Pat KNOWS what he means, he doesn't misunderstand.

And now they're running away to Mantua, just like Romeo and Juliet should have in the first place.

Commentary from the Chorus

Pat and Paa have the absolute best conversations and the best sibling relationship.

Pran's peer mentor is a fifth year student and if he's the embodiment of the architecture seniors no wonder they have a stupid inter-faculty beef.

Ink shooting eye lasers at Wai is the bare minimum of consequences but I'll take whatever I can get here.

I've finally decided that Chai is an amalgam of Friar Lawrence and Juliet's nurse.

Aof really said 'there is no homophobia anywhere in this universe, not even from the avatar of patriarchal toxic masculinity'.

Just back to episode 9 for a second, Korn is definitely Mercutio with the dirty jokes.

[snake-and-mouse]

YAAAAS TO PRAN FINALLY SAYING TO HIS MOM "BECAUSE THE WAY YOU RAISED ME I DON'T FEEL LIKE OTHER KIDS."

YAAAAASS TO HIM FINALLY ACKNOWLEDGING THE WAY HE WAS RAISED WAS FUCKED AND HAS MADE HIM DIFFERENT FROM EVERYONE ELSE HIS AGE WHO JUST GETS TO BE HAPPY KIDS IN COLLEGE

YAAASSS TO HIM CONFRONTING HER AND TELLING HER SHE PUT SOOO MANY THINGS ON HIM THAT SHE HAD NO RIGHT TO

FUUUCCKK HER FOR SLAPPING HIM CUZ SHE COULDN'T HANDLE HEARING THE TRUTH

[ohmybitna]

I think you’re right about the scene that was basically the breakup in disguise, and I think it’s too clever by half. That conversation still works entirely if it’s NOT a breakup - if the context is just them realizing they can’t hide and have to go face their parents together. The episode shouldn’t end with your audience stunned and confused by a preview because the breakup within the episode was so subtle we didn’t notice it!

hello anon, thank you for your ask!

this was not a happy episode, it had the word "breakup" written all over it from start to finish.

but i do like the way they did the breakup. i'm a sucker for episodes/shows/movies where they throw in a little "twist" (for lack of a better word) at the end that makes you look at the entire thing differently. i watched the episode with a pit in my stomach and the ending and preview really showed why it was there. i've never cried watching a bl before but i did cry here multiple times without knowing why until the ending.

if they had to bring in the episode 11 curse i actually thought this was a beautiful way to do it. it was bittersweet, romantic and mutual. i would say that without two actors as brilliant as nanon and ohm this episode wouldn't have portrayed this as well as it did. they looked so in love but even when they on the surface looked happy you could see the sadness lying underneath. because they both knew since the hug on the rooftop that once they go back to their families they would have to separate. they could never be happy in the way that they wanted to with their families at each others' throats. it was always there. in the entire conversation on the beach about what they each want to do after graduation and pat's answer about why he likes pran. in pran missing his mom and pat talking about continuing the family business. they always talked about it without talking about it. they always knew they had to go back, they just wanted at least a little bit of time to themselves.

i was wondering while watching why pran wouldn't just simply tell pat that he misses his mom and wants to see her. because they never hide anything from each other ever, they communicate so well. but it all makes sense now. because that would mean breaking up with pat. and he wanted to prolong that for as long as possible.

[thisisasupergoodidea]

i rewatched the episode. and i’ll be honest, i dont really think the side plot of junior and his mother was necessarily about guilt tripping the kid into crawling back to mom. long attempt at an analysis ahead

to me it felt like the point was that running away and avoiding the issue is the childish thing to do. it isnt a good/permanent solution. it solves nothing and only prolongs the trouble. when we’re first introduced to junior’s plot, pran says ‘hes a kid, he’ll get over it eventually’ and pat says ‘i was just like him when i was a kid too’. and later in the episode pat tells pran that he knows they cant stay forever. they’ve both known this the whole time. but they just wanted to indulge for a while, to be childish and free for a while

and when junior runs away from his mom, pat and pran split up to approach the conflict from each side. pran almost goes after junior but pat insists it should be him instead, leaving pran to get the mom’s side of the story. this conversation was all about a child’s perspective versus the mother’s. pran asks things like ‘what if he wants to stay? what if you had stayed as a kid and became a pirate like you wanted? do you feel lonely when he isnt around?’ which are all so youthful and reaching and searching

but junior’s mom has answers to all of them that kill the illusion that it could be so easy. ‘junior isnt thinking about his future, he wouldnt even exist if i hadnt been taught the same hard truth by my mom, and of course i miss him’. we don’t get to see junior come to terms with his perspective- but that’s because we’re already getting it… since it’s exactly what pat and pran are going through themselves

dont get me wrong, i really disliked how callous she sounded to her son’s wishes. like it would be so shitty if the point was that mothers know better and pran deserves to feel bad. rather, i think him feeling bad was a consequence of lashing out, running away, and trying to avoid the problems instead of talking through them... but yeah honestly im still unsure if ‘listen to your parents’ really was also an implied point or if it just unfortunately came across that way, just like the issue with wai exposing patpran got brushed aside as something that wasnt a big deal when it really really should have been. its hard to tell what this show is trying to say sometimes!! and that will be eternally frustrating to me!!

anyway. it hurts for me to think about pran in particular listening to this. yes, running away is a childish response, but for adults to kill the dream is also far too harsh. for adulthood to come and take you away from your comfort and fun and innocence and idealism… this is the very thing pat and pran are struggling with, being on the cusp of adulthood (i think theyre about 19 at this point?). i really want to believe that it doesnt have to be one versus the other, that we can carry our hopes and dreams into adulthood. i really want to believe that the show isnt just trying to say that adults are right in the end because the childish way is bad. after all, adults ARENT always right. pat literally says that! and uncle tong says ‘even if you cant change the world, dont let the world change you either’, so what does it all mean!!!

you know what else struck me about this plot? that it ends with junior being given a choice. they ask him: what is your decision? and he CHOOSES to go back with his mom. if it was about the mom being unquestionably right, she might have just dragged him by the arm or something. but she gives him some space and he goes back to her willingly. just as pat and pran understand that what they needed was some space to think about things and be themselves. and then they choose to go back together. i admit its very different since junior and patpran are at different life stages/levels of autonomy, but the parallel still works because their parents all definitely still view them as children

and call me a fool, but i dont think it means they‘ve given up. junior runs back to patpran and uncle tong for another hug, another few moments of clinging to that happy escape. he expresses a desire to see them again. he gets a souvenir (the scarf) that he can carry with him to wherever he’s going next in life. its not hopeless. and personally, i dont think the ending of episode 11 was altogether hopeless either. pat and pran HAVE to go back home because it’s the responsible thing to do. but they have their memories and souvenirs and love songs, symbols of their happy times together, to cling to for whatever happens next. my wish is for the finale to show us that its possible for youthful hope and mature practicality to coexist

long post i know! im just being flooded with thoughts now that the stunned speechless phase is over haha