I've Never Felt More Like Part Of A Family When I Check To See If Ao3 Is Down, And See How We All Gnaw

Only Friends: Sand's Reaction to Ray VS Boeing

I know some people will be annoyed that Sand wasn't more forceful in telling Boeing to leave him alone. In my opinion, this isn't really surprising. Sand's biggest strength and weakness is his kindness. He'll make concessions for people, even those who hurt him. Ray is a prime example. Why would his ex be any different?

Boeing's Dubious Intentions

It's glaringly obvious just how uncomfortable, stiff and exasperated Sand's body language is during their second exchange. This is someone he shared his ultimate dreams and passions with, which must have made the betrayal even more devastating. We still don't have the full context as to how this all went down, but I'm sure Sand hasn't forgotten that Boeing chose to leave him. Compared to their first re-encounter where Sand appears rattled and somewhat flustered, here he seems to display a more resolute lack of patience, possibly after reminding himself of Boeing's true colours.

This doesn't erase the fact that Sand had feelings for him once, cared about him once. Sand didn't choose to end the relationship, Boeing did. So there would have been unresolved feelings that Sand had to process alone in the aftermath. For Boeing to have the audacity to swan back in rightly warrants a less than lukewarm response.

Even so, Sand shows Boeing an incredible amount of grace when he certainly doesn't have to. He tries to calmly but firmly ward Boeing off. "State your business". "Just forget it. I don't think I'll go." "Just friendship. That I can give you." He makes it very clear that Boeing can find him at the bar but nowhere else. He's trying to establish a distinct boundary, which Boeing swiftly disregards.

Sand's Unease: Where Past & Present Collide

The way Sand is reacting says to me he desperately doesn't want Ray involved. He seems eager to keep him well away from Boeing. Sand could have chosen not to mention his ex's sudden reappearance, but decides to be upfront with Ray about it. I think Sand's turmoil is a sign of worry over what Boeing may do, rather than an indication of indecisiveness over his own feelings. The reason I say this is because Sand doesn't show any warmth, residual affection or happiness in seeing Boeing again. He looks mostly wary, unnerved even.

I can also see why Sand would try to refrain from openly displaying his feelings for Ray in Boeing's presence. If he exhibits just how much he cares about Ray, whose to say whether Boeing may pull another stunt like he did with Mew/Top and try to pursue Ray instead just to be messy. The way Sand looks at Boeing is laden with suspicion and uneasiness, particularly when Ray is around. This is really noticeable when Boeing first addresses Ray - Sand's whole demeanour gets much colder and standoffish.

We don't know precisely what Sand is afraid of - that Boeing may target any ill will at Ray? Or that Ray may be affected by his ex flaunting details about their history which could cause jealousy? Things are going really well between Ray and Sand right now but it's possible Boeing could try to stir up a misunderstanding or create conflict between them.

Ray's Protectiveness: "Deal with him or I'll do it."

Ray knows better than ever what Sand is like. He's all too aware of just how painfully kind and caring his boyfriend can be, often to his own detriment. Boeing is keen to exploit this very fact by trying to appear imploring towards Sand, "You never yell at me." Ray is also acutely familiar with how Sand struggles to say no to those he cares about.

Whilst Ray observes angrily, I like to think this comes from a place of being mad for Sand more than anything. If he's seen their entire interaction play out, he'll notice that Sand has not once initiated physical contact with Boeing. He doesn't shirk him off, but he certainly doesn't respond either. He keeps his arms firmly planted at his sides, and yet Boeing keeps trying his luck. Something about the way Boeing behaves with Sand feels like he treats him as a plaything - someone he used to have wrapped around his finger. Perhaps he thinks that the power he used to have over Sand still remains.

Sand's expressions also feel loaded with shame, as if he's repeatedly chiding himself for being foolish enough to love someone like Boeing, who so cruelly tossed him aside. That somehow he feels partly to blame. Maybe this is a Sand he doesn't want Ray to see. Yet here Ray is, on the side-lines, taking all this in.

From their very first interaction, Boeing is trying to undermine Ray. You can see Ray's growth as he doesn't confront or make a fuss, but chooses to respect Sand's wishes and instead stays quietly hidden to keep watch. He looks to Sand for confirmation he'll be okay on his own before leaving. Though he can detect something isn't right, he allows Sand the opportunity to handle this first.

As soon as he sees Boeing trying to cross a line, he steps in. He's not going to permit Boeing trying to drag Sand off somewhere alone, he'd rather keep the enemy directly under his nose.

What I'm hoping to see in Episode 12 is protective Ray to come out full force. I've said this before but the entire series has been Sand looking after Ray. Whereas this would be a great opportunity for Ray to look out for Sand, and to teach Boeing a lesson at the same time.

That eye contact in the last scene was so loaded. Ray's gaze is a silent threat- 'That's my man you're looking at, don't get used to it. If you're really stupid enough to try anything on my watch, I'll tear your neck out.' Don't ever underestimate Ray, he's small but feisty.

Regarding the discourse on only friends, I think the fandom has to throw out the idea of who's the villain?.

There's no villain. There's no psycopath or evil mastermind. This is just a show a about 20 something students messing up their life's intentionally or unintentionally , making mistakes and learning from them. No one is right or wrong they are messy and that's the point.

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.

✩ Spy x Family 2nd Cour Episode Key Visuals ✩

Rewatching Apothecary Diaries and remembering how much I love these dorks

God I'll miss watching this show. It wasn't perfect but it was exciting. Now I need to find another show to hyperfixate on.

Imagine all the people that will start Only Friends after Saturday... They'll never experience the weeks of agony, the Mixbait™, the euphoria in social media when Mew found out about the cheating, the uprising for the missing tattoo scene — and all the deleted scenes tbh, the Mond as Boeing reveal, the Twitter spaces with the cast and crew... It really was something else!

Exactly. And I was crying so much.

Ok the sun and the star is cringe (in a ‘this is definitely written for middle schoolers and not for me’ way), but it is also very endearing. The idea of slowly unraveling the strings of pain, heartache, anger, isolation and grief that you’ve wound deep in your chest after enduring so much trauma and figuring out the balance of light and dark that can and does coincide within you and the the realization that you do not have to carry the weight of all of it alone is just … excruciatingly beautiful and powerful

This is canon now.

I'm pretty sure Style is the neighborhood darling otherwise there was no way he could get away with the jogging and market shenanigans in ep2