#khaotun

[chickenstrangers]

Gaipa is a character I cannot think about too much or it hurts but also I have been living in this scene for the last 3 months so I'm going to try.

It means so much to me to see Gaipa and Mrs Hong have such an honest and explicit discussion about Gaipa's queerness. It really shows how comfortable they are with each other, and how much they love each other, and that this isn't the first time they've discussed it. Moments like this one are part of what makes this show feel so queer, and it's something that I don't feel I've seen much of in queer media.

A lot of queer stories are coming of age narratives or stories of discovering queer identity. And that's important! Vital! We also have that in Moonlight Chicken with Li Ming and Heart's budding relationship. It's wonderful to see characters coming into their own with their queer identity, and all of the other things that come along with these stories, including coming out. But it's also so important to see what happens years or even decades after the initial "coming out".

Conversations about identity don't necessarily stop, especially in such a close relationship like the one between Gaipa and his mother. This isn't about questioning his identity or devaluing it, but stating support and love explicitly. Mrs Hong says she always knew that Gaipa was gay, since he was a child. We don't know what his story was growing up, if he sat down with his parents and came out, or if it happened more casually if they already knew. It was an unspoken understanding, but that doesn’t prevent him from wanting to speak it.

Queer coming of age does not stop once you've come out once. Adult queer narratives do not need to avoid explicit discussions of identity just because the characters are more settled and comfortable with their sexuality. This scene really resonated with me for me by showing the continuation of that queer experience.

There's such clear comfort in this conversation and how it shows that Gaipa and his mom truly know each other, how open and loving they are with each other, how they can joke around about it and be playful with each other, but they are still not taking the unspoken words for granted. Gaipa still wants and needs it to be said aloud. Their conversation in this scene is not a revelation that Gaipa is gay, and it's not new information that Mrs Hong loves and accepts him for it. But I can completely understand wanting to hear it said aloud, "Do you regret it…that I'm gay?" And she says unequivocally that no, she has no regrets, she just wants him to be happy, and find the love that he wants.

I talked about this a little bit before but this question of regret is really powerful. Gaipa isn't necessarily very happy at this moment; he's lonely, he clearly wants to find a reciprocated love and hasn't yet. His mother can see that he is sad about this. But does that mean she regrets that he's gay, or wishes he were different than he is? Even if it were easier for him in general to be straight? But as Jim and Wen discuss, being straight is no guarantee of happiness either. Mrs Hong has no regrets about this, and loves Gaipa wholeheartedly.

The relationship between parents and their queer children, whether biological or not, plays a large role in Moonlight Chicken. We see that Jam accepts that her brother is gay but has a much harder time accepting that her son is. We see Jim being upset to learn that Li Ming is gay, for much of the same reason that Gaipa is asking his mom about, his worry that life will be harder for Li Ming because of his sexuality. We see this scene echoed in Wen's conversation with his stepfather, who also fully supports Wen, asking about who he's seeing, and they clearly have a solid relationship, though much of this support is a bit more implicit than in Gaipa's conversation. All these moments together highlight the complexities of these relationships and highlight different queer experiences.

Queerness isn't Gaipa's whole identity, but it's an important part, and it's understandable for him to want to be open about it with his mom. And it is so powerful for me to see him at this stage in his journey and see this sort of conversation on screen.

[amethyst-fiend]

Only Friends + Textposts (15/?)

[bengiyo]

Our Skyy 2 x The Eclipse Ep 2 (Finale) Stray Thoughts

Yesterday, we returned to The Eclipse and saw our student prefect boys and their boyfriends. We got to enjoy Akk and Ayan’s honeymoon camping trip before returning to the world and stumbling over some of their fundamental differences. Kan and Thua are being cute, but Thua would much prefer they engage in activities GMMTV is not brave enough to show. We all got to lament that Akk and Kan are still fantasizing about their boyfriends rather than engaging with them directly about what they want from each other. Wat is that film friend who definitely made a watch list for Akk that included Brokeback Mountain (and which I hope includes Big Eden (2000)). Namo is here, proving that Pawin was the primary scheduling conflict for Our Skyy 2.

On the political front, Golf continued to explore the ideas of the private and the public, and how these two impact each other. We also got to appreciate Golf’s deep love for Thai cinema itself. Finally, Golf continues to voice their frustration for what we might call keyboard warriors.

I’m having a great time, despite my need to voice my own issues with how we talk about these shows earlier.

I can’t listen to this intro anymore. I’m skipping it for the rest of Our Skyy 2.

I don’t want to get flagged, so I’m just gonna say I noticed how flexible Khaotun’s back is.

These two are so fun when they’re being sweet with each other. I hope Akk gets better at telling Ayan that’s what he likes best.

Love Wat and Namo teasing all of them. Ayan’s satisfied smirk at Kan and Thua spending the night together was priceless.

I love how meta Golf can be sometimes. “They’re talking about caring too much about others versus caring only about themselves…but it’s still the same story as before.” Also, Pawin is available. Please hire him.

Khaotun and First are so incredibly expressive, and you can feel how easily the emotions flow between them. You can see Akk and Ayan choosing each other even as they don’t know how to get past this fundamental disagreement they’re having.

“I think people hate or are afraid of something because they don��t really understand it.” “We’re so happy to be a part of your stupid dream.” GOLF IS COMING FOR NECKS!

Love seeing gay people on bicycles.

I’m enjoying the way these two kiss. It’s been satisfying. First and Khaotung follow through on the physicality between their characters after the lips stop touching so you know how they’re feeling.

I kinda like this brown outfit they put Thua in.

I feel like the others maybe know that Ayan has a surprise planned for Akk?

Akk, baby boy, it’s okay for you to tell your boyfriend that you want him around on your special day. So sad that it’ll be years before he stops putting everyone before himself.

Namo said You Can’t Text Message Breakup.

I’m sorry, but there should not be this much discussion at the urinal. Also, don’t touch your friend after using the urinal.

I love that Golf always cameos in their work.

There’s a kid from Niyomsil school here? I now need to investigate the history of Golf’s friendship with Au.

Okay, I cried a bit at Wat’s stunned reaction to winning an award.

I love film festivals so much!!

First is a great crier, but I still don’t like the birthday surprise trope.

Oh good. The friends knew about the surprise.

Sani smiling fondly at the boys also was an excellent choice.

I continue to love the text-level messaging in this show. You have to keep going even if you don’t know if there’s light at the end of the tunnel because you’ve done it before. You can do it again. You will do it again. That felt so honest from Kan.

I like how far along Kan and Thua have come, and I hope Thua gets the relationship he wants from Kan.

I have a lot of hopes for Akk and Ayan. They’re going to deal with long-distance romance and the continued difficulties of their perspectives, but the bond between them feels real.

They really gave us a shower scene and a domestic montage. We eatin’ good today.

Oh, I enjoyed that final “I love you” bed scene into a very suggestive removal of a shirt makeout and purposeful thigh grab. Very excited to see what First and Khaotung deliver in Only Friends.

Vice Versa next week with a secret baby trope. So…I guess that’s happening.

Final Verdict: 9, Recommended. I continued to enjoy what Golf was doing with this cast and characters. I loved how imperfect everyone felt here, but the desire to be more together lands clearly for me. Khaotung and First continue to be two of my favorite GMMTV actors, and I like how well they work together. I’m going to miss seeing Neo and Louis together, but I hope they keep up the good work this year. If you enjoyed The Eclipse, I think you’ll be satisfied by this special.

[cuffs-crew]

the khaotung praise in The Eclipse Special is feeding me rn like thats what ive been saying!!! yall are about to find out just how good he is!!

[kevin-the-bruyne]

Firstkhao and getting drenched while wearing white please!

honestly i have no idea why i cant write firstkhao like a normal person but here is whatever this is - me emoting about Khaotung's beauty in this extremely reductive fashion. Also flipflopping tenses just gotta get used to 'em i guess lol

Pairing: FirstKhao

Rating: G (lol semi NSFW my ass)

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First didn’t think that after five years of being joined at the hip there could be new things to notice about someone.

And yet everyday it feels like all he does is discover Khaotung anew. 

The sharpness of his gaze when he’s Ayan - and the softness of it when he’s not. The tired lines around his eyes that come from long days back to back days of squeezing your soul out for a character. The frustration when he gets takes wrong one too many times. 

And then there are things that he pretends not to notice or else he would have to admit that he thinks about them a little too often.

Like the pink of his lips and how they complement his rosy cheeks whenever Khaotung blushes, or the sweep of his lashes that make him look so delicate. First knows what it feels like to have Khaotung’s body push up against him with intent, eyes holding equal part mischief and fondness.

Thanks to this series, First has to contend with the fact that he knows what Khaotung tastes like now for the rest of his life. He has to think about how Khaotung doesn’t taste different from any of the other people First has kissed, Khaotun doesn’t taste different from what First thought he liked. 

At least not in words Khaotung doesn’t taste different. 

In words, it’s still just tongue and lips and saliva but in an abstract plane of experience it’s also Khaotung and so it’s different. It's weird because it’s not. It’s weird only because he doesn’t know how to describe it other than that it's just lips and tongue and saliva but its also Khaotung and its what First likes.

Then there are things about Khaotung that he vehemently wishes he didn’t know.

Like the time that Khaotung had stared up at the sky when it started raining in the middle of filming. Long moments of quiet contemplation with the clouds and then he’d just stepped out from under the awning they were sheltered under and had spread his arms. It had taken but a second for Khaotung to drench through but First watched it happen as though he could see every drop, one by one weight down his hair, seeping into his clothes, every inch of skin that peeked out as though shy behind the now translucent white of their school uniforms.

First could have lived his entire life without knowing what Khaotung looked like in that moment so small under the force of the universe, a lone figure in the abandoned set, every fragile line of his body highlighted by the way his clothes clung to his body. And yet so large in his joy, in the rays of sunshine no longer visible beyond the clouds but now shining from his face.

First could have lived his entire life happily without that acute feeling of thirst that comes from wanting a warm cup of tea in the sprinkles of errant raindrops that find their way onto him and having his mind zero in on Khaotung’s dusky nipples, until thirst and desire are all but the same.

‘What are you doing?’ First asks because he has to do something before he ends up tackling everyone else who’s looking at Khaotung. He can hear the staff chatter around him. He doesn’t know that they’re talking about Khaotung but how could they not? What else is there in this moment but Khaotung in the rain?

‘You’ll get in trouble for ruining the costumes!’ First continues and Khaotung finally turns his face away from the clouds, brushes the strands of wet hair on his forehead back, ‘what are you on about? We have been sweating in these all day. They’ll wash it before the next Q’ and then before First can continue arguing Khaotung reaches his hand out, ‘Come,’ he says, ‘let’s have fun.’

[bldramagalore]

Podd and Khaotun in the Thonhon Chonlathee trailer.

[amethyst-fiend]

Only Friends + Textposts (14/?)

[amethyst-fiend]

Only Friends + Textposts (9/?)

[amethyst-fiend]

Only Friends + Textposts (11/?)

[amethyst-fiend]

Only Friends + Textposts (10/?)

[amethyst-fiend]

Only Friends + Textposts (16/?)

[amethyst-fiend]

Only Friends + Textposts (13/?)

[amethyst-fiend]

Only Friends + Textposts (12/?)

[amethyst-fiend]

Only Friends + Textposts (17/?)

[bengiyo]

Hello! #15 and #24 for the BL ask game?

Oh, I feel like this person knows me because they are explicitly asking hard questions.

15. favorite premise (even if you didn’t love the actual show)

Bestie is here, and his answers are Bad Buddy because he likes the Romeo and Juliet story and appreciates that they don't die here. He also said Until We Meet Again, because the fated mates across lifetimes is his specific weakness.

I think, for me, it's probably Mr. Unlucky Has No Choice But to Kiss! because I like the idea of two people with unusual levels of luck being drawn to each other, and when they're together they're just like anyone else. There's something magical about that as a queer narrative.

24. dream actor pairing

Bestie tried not to answer, but after pulling a knife, he said, "Earth Pirapat and Apo Nattawin" or "Bible Wichapas and Khaotung Thanawat" and says "I will explain in essay form why I want Bible tying up Khaotun, and NO ONE will sway me."

For me, my answer is Sam Lin (WBL) and Elijah Canlas (Gameboys). Both of them are phenomenally talented and both pull unwritten details out of their characters in tangible way on screen.

Thanks for the ask!

For the bl ask game.