True, Though It Takes Courage To Stick Around.

Would you like to take a walk and listen to music with me? First Kanaphan as Sand and Khaotung Thanawat as Ray (Only Friends, 2023)

Spy x family headers

Like/reblog if you save or use

© @batgirlbarbg

Its not just firstkhao who needs a romcom, these two need one too.

Only Friends (2023) | Ep.11

But you might be my exception. What are you saying? You don't have to act so sweet. Because I helped you with Atom, you’re returning the favor by becoming my boyfriend? No, you jackass. But it made me realize who really cares about me. No matter how nasty or shitty I am, he always stands right by my side. You are a romantic. You're delusional and get into something too easily. I bet you thought we were boyfriends ever since we first hooked up. No way, you asshole. I'm not that delusional. But you're the one who got my hopes up. I am the way I am. Do you want to be my boyfriend though?

This too.

All the complaining about TSATS just shows, in my opinion, how the older audiences of Rick Riordan expect his books to age WITH them. In reality, Nico is a bit over a year older than the last time we read from his point of view. And in that year his life has changed drastically. A character showing growth and change doesn’t mean they are being written “wrong”. Nicos character, if anything, is such great representation for so many depressed teens a children. Personally, seeing his character finally heal and gain real stability for the first time in YEARS was so emotional for me.

Also, Nico literally called himself The Ghost King when he was like 13/14 and y’all are expecting him to NOT be cringe??? PLEASE 😭

AND WHEN HE SAID PERCY WAS NOT HIS TYPE. Y’all he’s been “cringe” he’s literally a teenager!!!!

All in all, if you thought this book was out of character or cringey, maybe you are just growing out of the genre :) (Like actually, I’m not trying to be mean saying this lmao) If I read this book expecting it to be like a “cutesy” gay YA romance, I would think it was cringe as well. But this book is so unapologetically Rick, and it was enhanced by Mark so well with how Nico and Will interacted.

There are so many important conversations in the book, I could literally write and essay on it. I won’t, but I could.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying this book is absolute perfection… but Nico’s character has been so “fandomized” that I also think his true identity has been so watered down and idealized. To me, this book read as the Nico that Nico should be. Making him any different would be a disservice to who he represents!

Also I want more friends on Good Reads so like add me pls

https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/98271429

I can't deal with this. Fuck it. Give me time to processsss. Who's afraid of little old me, well right now I am

GMMTV BL KISS COUNT TRACKER

So...I'm more of a visual person. I love my graphs, and I love the idea of these GMMTV boys and their floating heads competing for the number one spot. I was inspired by this post to keep a continuous track of all the GMMTV actors and their BL kisses on this fun lil line chart. Please note that any non-BL kisses are not included in this kiss count, and any actor with less than 3 kisses is not included. The chart adds each male kissing partner each actor has had per year.

This is posted as of October 28, 2023 (aka the end of Only Friends)

As always, we have First Kanaphan re-taking the BL Kiss King title with 7 different kissing partners, after sharing it briefly with Mark (for like a week)!

For reference:

First Kanaphan - 7 kisses - Ohm (The Shipper), Gawin (Not Me), Khaotung (The Eclipse & OFTS), Mix (Moonlight Chicken), Mark (OFTS), Mond (OFTS), & Force (OFTS)

Neo Trai - 6 kisses - Louis (FUTS & The Eclipse), Mark (OFTS), Force (FOTS), Drake (OFTS), Title (OFTS), Mond (OFTS),

Khaotung Thanawat - 5 kisses - Podd (Tonhon Chonlatee), First (The Eclipse & OFTS), Pawin (55:15), Book (OFTS), Mond (OFTS)

Mark Pakin - 5 kisses - Ford (MSP Our Skyy 2), Neo (OFTS), Papang (OFTS), First (OFTS), Title (OFTS)

Singto Prachaya - 4 kisses - Krist (SOTUS), Ohm (HCTM), Nat (Friendzone), Plustor (Friendzone)

Fluke Pusit - 4 kisses - Jay (Warp Effect), New (Warp Effect), Thor (Warp Effect), Ohm (ABAAB)

Mond Tanutchai - 4 kisses - Book (OFTS), First (OFTS), Khaotung (OFTS), Neo (OFTS) - BOY CAME INTO THE BL SCENE HOT AND READY TO SURPASS THEM ALL

Ohm Pawat - 3 kisses - Singto (HCTM), First (The Shipper), Nanon (Bad Buddy)

Fluke Gawin - 3 kisses - Podd (DBK), First (Not Me), Krist (BMF)

Krist Perawat - 3 kisses - Singto (SOTUS), Lee (Jungle), Gawin (BMF)

Earth Pirapat - 3 kisses - New (Waterboyy), Mix (ATOTS, CLW, MLC), Papang (MLC)

Book Kasidet - 3 kisses - Force (Enchante, ABAAB, OFTS), Khaotung (OFTS), Mond (OFTS)

Force Jiratchapong - 3 kisses - Book (Enchante, ABAAB, OFTS), Neo (OFTS), First (OFTS)

I was going to wait until the end of the year to post this, but none of these actors have any BL works coming out (that I'm aware of) that could have them surpassing First or adding too much to their kiss count. With the ending of OFTS, I thought it was the perfect time to share!

Huge shout out to Force, Book, Mond, Mark, and Neo, who all destroyed the numbers this year by hoeing it up in Only Friends. We love you guys.

That smirk on Style's face just screamed, "I know you won't kill me. You're under my spell."

This.

My biggest grievance with the people who have nothing good to say about this book is that they’re comparing Solangelo to Percabeth. Percabeth had been best friends for four/five years before they got together, meanwhile Solangelo were friends for a week before Will knew for certain he liked Nico. Obviously they’re not gonna flow as smoothly as Percabeth, who had a relationship for eight books before they fell into Tartarus, because they’re still getting used to being a couple. And an openly queer couple at that, which yes, does make a bit of a difference! They haven’t got each other figured out yet, they haven’t learned the do’s and don’t’s of their relationship. All they know for sure is that they’re ride or die, and part of the story in this book is them learning how and why.

Chen Yi + looking at Ai Di

Thank you.

I saw a lot of people saying that ray wants to buy sand off. Like seriously the more I read the discourse the more I wonder if I am watching the same show.

Did you miss the scene where ray had a meltdown after he thought that sand was using him for his money. And in this episode sand literally tells ray that he will let him treat him if it's rays money. And he happily accepts the gift.

Ray is not trying to buy him off, he is showing love the way he knows, using his wealth. And sand knows it , that's why he accepted the guitar and actually put a boundary regarding the money.

Only Friends | "He took the money because I forced him to. I admired him. He seemed to live a tough life. So I gave him the money. Don't be mad at him."

Over the series, Ray has harboured an obvious complex over whether Sand may be interested in him due to his wealth - a complex which funnily enough he established by offering to pay Sand to spend time with him from the get go. From the morning after they slept together, Sand makes a point of turning down Ray's money as he now deems him a friend.

Episode 11 is proof that Ray has taken to heart what Sand taught him in Episode 4 and what he has more recently come to learn in Episode 10. Ray could easily pay for Sand and all his needs, but that's not the point. Sand wants to earn his own way and to be seen as capable of doing so, without taking advantage of anyone in the process.

Ray is no longer throwing money at Sand as a means to placate or as leverage. Instead he puts his money towards supporting Sand's dreams, his passions. Intentional gifts that prioritise Sand's happiness, rather than as a gesture of frivolity or force of habit.

When Ray says "I'll pay anything for you", it's his way of saying 'this is the least I can do to take care of you when you do so much for me.' Ray may still feel like he doesn't bring much to the table, but what he can offer is his wealth. Rather than this being a point of insecurity, he can now regard it as a privilege that can be extended to Sand as stability, as support, as love. 'I know you don't need my money. But I am happy to provide for you.'