#prapai/sky

[moriano]

prompted on PaiSky discord server by @prapaiskymissinghours. the prompt was:

after all this time?

always.

it’s a very short drabble, around 300 words :)

after all this time?

Sky observed Prapai who observed him with that goofy smile on his face.

They lay in their bed, waited, a mess of limbs tangled together. Their breathing was slowly calming down after a crazily passionate good morning they’d just had, their hands tracing invisible patterns on each other’s bodies. Rising sun peeking through curtains, placing gentle kisses on Sky’s back, creating a soft halo around him.

Looking at Sky, his skin glowing, hair tousled, Prapai was awestruck, just like he was yesterday and the day before, and all other days for the last twenty years; the only difference was that he felt it stronger than before. Each day it hit him harder: how beautiful Sky was, how ethereally happy their life was, how fulfilled Prapai felt. Simply being able to wake up to his husband next to him and go to sleep cradling him in his arms, eating breakfast with him and their three kids—it was more than enough. It was more than he’d ever wished for.

His small perfect world, with his perfect Sky smiling gently at him. “You look like a love struck teen,” Sky teased with a laugh.

“Maybe I am.”

“You’re too old to be a teen, dummy. And so in love.” Sky rolled his eyes and placed a kiss on Prapai’s lips.

“Being nearly fifty isn’t too old! I’m in my prime!” Prapai pouted. It made him look a couple of years younger. “And I’m still so in love.” He looked at Sky like a hurt puppy. How could his husband even doubt it?

“Are you?”

“Yes.”

“Really?”

“Of course!”

“After all this time?”

“Always.” Prapai pulled him closer and bit his neck playfully. “Forever,” he whispered and peppered Sky with thousands of kisses, relishing in his husband’s happy, blissful laughter.

Always, forever, and beyond.

[smollandkindaannoyed]

writing a fic for a friend and I am just reading through my chapter notes and quick thoughts to figure out what I was planning next. And I just realised I am writing a fic that is so Prapai/Sky coded and I didn't even notice when my friend and I were planning the first drafts. Like I know I have a slight obsession with Prapai/Sky but I did not know it was big enough that it would affect my writing.

[nthngtoseehere-blog]

I finished a couple of dramas this past week and they both left me Feeling Things, and thoughtful, for completely different reasons.

Spoilers for Mystic Pop-Up Bar & Love in the Air:

These people! It’s rare that I really love all of the characters in a show, but I really did in this one.

I love the whole “found family is whoops actual family” thing, and I love that a tree and a rock turned out to be soulmates. The story of a jaded woman spending hundreds or years cursed to ‘live’ and help people settle their grudges while struggling with a grudge of her own etc is superficially identical to Hotel Del Luna, but MPUB takes the story in completely directions.

Also, this show is FUNNY. It’s charming and energetic. I’m about to probably make the characters sound kinda gloomy and melodramatic but - ok, yes, there’s definitely melodrama. But it’s mostly fun melodrama with just enough heart to leaving you feeling soft at the end. And the characters are all a lot of fun to watch.

Early on I thought that Kang Bae was a weirdly nothing sort of character. Like, there wasn’t much depth, almost like he sprang from the void fully formed with “pitiful but sweet” stamped on his head, and not much else. As the story developed, that actually made a lot of sense. We did get a little back story on his childhood, but it was ultimately his actual identity that made me realize that it’s not a plot hole, it’s a plot point. There’s a good reason he’s like that, and it’s very sad while also making his development as a character all the more poignant.

He’s not a pathetic character though. He’s very funny and a great audience stand in for experiencing the bonkers world he finds through the Mystic Pop-Up Bar.

Kang Yeo Rin is a fantastic character, and I loved watching the relationship between her and Kang Bae grow. I am a fan of the soft boyfriend/kick ass girlfriend trend, and she’s a particularly good version of that. She is kick ass, and has a strong moral center, but while she’s also cute, funny, and sassy none of that is saccharine. Like, they don’t over-cutesify her to offset the BAMFness which is awesome.

Any deep thoughts I might have about Weol Ju and Gui - I don’t have any. I could, but for personal reasons I choose not to think too hard about their emotional journeys. They are fun and funny, I love them, and I’m glad Kang Bae found people to care about when he had no one before.

V v good show.

Now for something COMPLETELY different: Thai bl romance!

IMPORTANT TRIGGER WARNING for discussion of dubcon, a character’s past sexual abuse and rape, and sexual assault.

This show reminds me of the trashy romance novels a friend of mine read when we were in high school. IDK if the term is actually used anymore? But when I think about trashy romance novels I think about the two of us sitting in her bedroom reading the books and alternating between “omg this is terrible” and “omg who acts like that” and “omg is that what sex is actually like” and also secretly probably really caring about one or more character.

I actually watched the first seven episodes months back. Possibly last year? The part that focused on Rain and Phayu. It was awful. And Rain - who acts like that???? There were definitely consent issues at least once. But Phayu is 🔥 and okay they were really cute when they got together in the end shut up.

I quit the show at that point though because at that time I could NOT watch another character be a pouty airhead (affectionate) (what is wrong with you Rain you aren’t an infant omg) (still affectionate I swear; I've come around to this character) and the sound quality of the show is abysmal (derogatory).

But now I think I didn’t give it enough of a chance.

Because, I thought that I don’t usually care for trashy romance anymore, but I was suddenly in the mood. So I decided to watch the second story arc, Prapai and Sky and. It was. Good?

I mean, the sound quality was still cringe-inducing. And the cutesiness of the relationship between the boys when things were going well for them was rough. I mean, I was constantly screaming “Sky is not an actual baby girl why is he acting like one” in my head. Argh.

But it handled the sexual abuse/PTSD elements really well. (??? !!!)

The fact that it did so has me a little bit tied in knots.

The relationship starts with dubious consent followed by stalking, which, so far no good. Once we get deeper into the story, the stalking is still 100% right out of trashy romance territory, but I ended up thinking that the dub con was not straightforward. I’m not convinced that Prapai would have pushed for sex if Sky hadn’t concluded that’s what was being requested and offered it up.

I am NOT blaming the victim. Prapai was being a creep, and he shouldn’t have assumed that Sky didn’t feel coerced, he should have made sure of that. Prapai wasn’t expecting to meet someone who is traumatized and expects to be used for sex against his will and most likely agreed immediately to avoid the violence he also expects. But Prapai should not be using ‘veiled threat’ as a cute flirtation tactic. Like, ever, but ESPECIALLY if he’s not going make sure the other person isn’t actually afraid.

It’s absolutely dubcon, and also in retrospect a gut-punch level heartbreaking character moment for Sky.

The stalking: yes, the show did do the thing where Sky eventually fell for Prapai’s stalker behavior; but at the same time he set very firm boundaries and Prapai ended up having to prove that he would not bulldoze over the (unbeknownst to him) critical boundary of not pushing for sex.

It was refreshing for a show to make the playboy stalker grow up and start being a good person before it let the love interest cave.

One thing that I loved while also it also made the stalking look that much worse, was the way Sky’s traumatic past haunts him. I’m so impressed with him insisting on boundaries, because wow. At one point it’s clear that Prapai refusing to stop showing up at his apartment and texting him is triggering the memories of Sky’s abuse and rape, because of course it would but I’ve never seen a story that uses stalking as a cute entre into romance call it out like that.

Kudos to Sky’s actor for how he played Sky’s reaction to trauma nightmares and traumatic encounters with his past abusers. Absolutely ripped my heart out.

The actor who plays Prapai busts out some devastatingly good emoting in the last episode, too. Both actors are excruciatingly cheesy in the cute/romantic moments, but they’re so, so good in the hard emotional moments.

The scenario could have come off as another story that treats sexual assault as a stepping stone to romance. But the two actors make it feel devastating. The scenes are emotionally raw. There’s a moment when Sky is telling Prapai what his ex did to him, and Prapai says “how could he do that to you?” and Sky sort of smiles and says “I’m trash. I’m damaged goods.” And it’s so heartbreaking and you can see Prapai shattering with grief for Sky.

The show doesn’t use Sky’s history of abuse purely as a character beat and excuse for a dramatic climax to the story. I mean, yes, there’s some of that for sure, but the story and the actors do it some real justice.

So yeah. This drama went from the worst trashy romance show I’ve ever seen, to a show I want to watch again despite the flaws. And Prapai/Sky is a new favorite ship.

[loveisonlyforthebrave8]

[theresoneicouldcallking]

love in the air 1x13 (2022) / love sea 1x10 (2024)

[apathetic-tortoise]

Prapai, leaning on the counter: Hey beautiful, come here often?

Sky: Is this the part where I remind you we've been married for four years or do I play along?

Prapai: Play along!

Sky: Alright. Sorry, I'm not interested, I'm married

[prapaiwife]

OK, SO THIS IS THE BETTER QUAILTY OF EPISODE 12 BATHROOM SCENE!!!!!

[another-trans-nerd]

Prapai: *throws his head on sky’s lap* tell me I’m pretty

Sky, lovingly stroking his hair: you’re pretty fucking annoying that’s what you are

[rin-moved]

LOVE IN THE AIR (2023)

[dramas-vs-novels]

What is your favorite NC scene from all BL?

Oh god...

In terms of being perfect for the characters, the tone, and at the exact right moment in the show, MaxNat's cave sex in Two Worlds.

In terms of chemistry and desire, FortPeat on the table in the LITA special episode.

In terms of triggering my auralism hardcore, plus being visually just fully stunning, BossNoeul in BNW when Cirrus takes Phu's virginity

**** The ONLY reason it beats the final episode NC is it's longer.

And I don't have a GIF because I don't think these scenes have ever been GIF'd, but special mention to Lian and Kuea in the bathroom sex NC from the deleted scenes of Cutie Pie.

[theyellowhue]

LITA dynamics will never fail to amuse me

Prapai literally bends over backwards to Sky's every whim like spend all night making little model trees for Sky's project but Sky will still go "I'm sure this is just a phase, P'Pai is gonna wake up and realize that he never liked me after all" and at a distance you can hear Prapai plot how to imbed himself to Sky's life permanently.

Rain on the other hand will point blank say to Phayu's face that, "of course I've been a good boy, I'm the best boy, no one is good-er than me," and thats how Phayu knows that Rain, in fact, has not been a good boy.

[moriano]

Summary:

If you asked most of the kids who Sky was, they wouldn’t tell you because they didn’t really know. They were never interested. Those who knew, knew very little, and the answer to that question would be, “You mean the quiet kid?” or “Ah, that nerd… it’s about that nerd, right?”

It was partly true; Sky was the quiet type, leaning on being shy, that kept to himself and didn’t really have many friends. He preferred books and manga, and the company of his flower and plant friends. But he was always there if you needed help, some tutoring or someone who’d just listen. Sky was good at listening, a bit worse at speaking his mind when it came to his needs and wants.

One of his wants’ name was Prapai.

Or: an AU where Sky and Prapai went to the same high school and then met five years later.

[secriden]

"it's okay": how Prapai makes this true for Sky

in the early parts of Love Sky, we see several instances of Sky trying to comfort himself with this phrase; either after a nightmare/flashback or after something difficult/stressful happens.

Sky is attempting to cheer himself up, but each attempt is largely ineffective because he has no real basis for hope. there's a helplessness and disbelief in the way he says the phrase, like on some level Sky knows that things aren't going to magically get better because he's still being haunted by his past.

but this is one example of how Prapai is genuinely perfect for Sky. Prapai offers Sky the same words in comfort, but he accompanies it with very specific and immediately evidenced reasons why those words are true.

when he tells Sky "it's okay," Prapai isn't offering empty words, but accompanying actions that prove the claim he's making.

it's okay: i'm here - whoever is chasing you in your nightmares, they can't get to you because i'm here. you can rest, because i'm here to defend you.

it's okay: you've finally said it to me - it's out now, there's no more lies and no more misunderstandings. i love you and you love me and we both know this to be the truth. you're not alone in this and your love isn't unrequited. we can be together and you can love me, because i'm already in love with you.

it's okay: you don't need to be with someone else - i will never ask you to give yourself away to someone else. your love is precious; you are precious; and i won't ask you to break off pieces of yourself to give away. it's safe to give yourself fully to me because i will never ask you to give yourself to anyone else.

Prapai actively takes steps to ensure that Sky can begin to trust in these words again because his presence, actions and devotion is what proves them true.

[bird-inacage]

A Prapaisky Gifset | Parallels: First Meeting (LITA EP8) VS Wedding Day (Wedding Plan EP1)

Look at just how far our babies have come🥹 From Prapai callously reaching out to touch Sky without his permission and Sky immediately stopping him - to Prapai gently cradling Sky's hand in his own and kissing it reverently as Sky watches on.

[marshmallord]

me: man i hate it when actors play the same roles over and over again

memindy: peat is deeply traumatized and fort is a brazen playboy that treats him gently and helps him heal

me: peat is deeply traumatized and fort is a brazen playboy that treats him gently and helps him heal 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

[theresoneicouldcallking]

"gosh, you're so darn cute!" (love sea 1x05) "looks like your 'no-strings-attached' life is coming to an end, pai." (love in the air 1x10)