I have a question about the way Sun speaks. He almost always uses polite pronouns, except anytime he's being physically threatened. Not with Jay, though. True, he doesn't use "khrap", but he still uses "pom" and "khun", even after Jay has knocked him to the ground. Is this an early example of him reacting to Jay like he's a Dom? Or is he simply following Jay's example, since Jay sticks to polite pronouns? Though of course the two aren't mutually exclusive. I get Jay using polite pronouns, because it feels like a maturity and dominance thing. It also gives rich person vibes due to his use of "chan" instead of "pom"(which is generally something I've only seen men use when they're high class). But, given how Sun reacts when other people attack him, and he's lower class, him sticking to polite pronouns in this circumstance stands out.
I just wanted to write meta about it, because it's giving instinctive D/s, but I felt that I lacked the necessary cultural and linguistic knowledge to give an accurate analysis, so I thought I'd ask you!
I think it's mainly a class thing.
Okay line by line thoughts:
Sun almost always uses polite pronouns, except anytime he's being physically threatened.
I suspect this has to do with his very reserved nature but also is normal to a socially inferior position (as we have seen him depicted throughout = a gang grunt and then a newbie actor, usually younger). Sun is rarely on equal age/rank footing with anyone around him. Remember guu/mueng can only be used on those the same age or younger/socially inferior. (Even Sky, while younger, is his social superior in the business of acting. Although Sky requests a phi/nong relationship eventually.)
Not with Jay, though. True, he doesn't use "khrap", but he still uses "pom" and "khun", even after Jay has knocked him to the ground.
Pom because it is a formal for Jay as the older. Khun because Sun wishes to be perceived as an adult and not cute in any way. I can not imagine Sun using own name, for example. He is not using polite particles because his is a curt and somewhat rude character. (Dean from UWMA is a good older seme example of this personality and verbal use type. Both these characters use formal but rude language/particles with their partners, but hold opposite social standing in the context of their respective relationships.)
Remember one can be both formal and rude (e.g. Sun, Dean), informal and rude (guu/mueng), informal and polite (phi nong) and formal and polite (khun and, sometimes, chan/nai). (Just as examples, rao/ter and the others also come into play depending in intimacy and cutsieness, and needs of the plot.)
Is this an early example of him reacting to Jay like he's a Dom?
I don't think so, I think it's just his character.
Or is he simply following Jay's example, since Jay sticks to polite pronouns? Though of course the two aren't mutually exclusive. I get Jay using polite pronouns, because it feels like a maturity and dominance thing.
I think it's class, age, and industry experience related.
It also gives rich person vibes due to his use of "chan" instead of "pom"(which is generally something I've only seen men use when they're high class).
Chan/nai is actually more old fashioned than anything. It's also more common outside of Bangkok, so sometimes it's used to indicate a character's otherness/outsider perspective. Also it's more common for use in gangs and organized crime. They might have given these pronouns to Jay to add to his sinister aspect. There is a boss/superior/sternness to chan/nai. (So yes that has a Dom pong to is.)
Jay wouldn't ever use pom with Sun because Jay is older. So him not using pom is entirely normal regardless of anything else.
But, given how Sun reacts when other people attack him, and he's lower class, him sticking to polite pronouns in this circumstance stands out.
It didn't to me. I would call Sun a curt, sharp, reserved person, not necessarily an informal one. To be too relaxed would call too much attention to himself, so he is rude but formal about his rudeness. This allows him to both escape notice and maintain his otherness. Sun doesn't want to be friends with anyone. He is verbally maintaining distance with everyone he encounters.
Sun's formality is weaponized. It's barbed. It's prickly, like his is.
But call is D/s if it pleases you...
