also thinking about the tiny detail of ray being bored out of his mind while keeping mew company, showing no interest in something mew loves dearly – while, from the very first moment, he's been completely obsessed with any little thing sand has ever shown him; everything sand loves or does fascinates ray
Did you sneak in there to get high? Why don't you love yourself at all, Ray? I told you to quit using drugs. You drink and do drugs. You're gonna die before you turn thirty.
Only Friends (2023) dir. Jojo Tichakorn & Ninew Pinya
So the tattoo scene isn't wiped out it's on the oneD app, so maybe they either forgot to add it in the yt version, or who knows, they just cut it, but a fan noticed on Twitter and posted the clip its deleted now but I was able to screen it before it went poof lol
I just- okay, yes Sand is down bad to the point that he can’t say no to Ray even once after they slept together but… Ray went to a whole ass party serving alcohol and managed to stay SOBER because he wanted to drive Sand home.
God these two are waaay in over their heads. This is gonna hurt
I am lost the hands and the fingers and the music and the longing and the touch and the seeking and what they want and what they fear and the trophy is a heart but can a heart really be a trophy you win? Can Ray really, finally, release Mew from being the his emergency contact and accept a new love into his heart without ripping both of them to pieces first?
I don't think Top putting Mew to bed in EP 8 is overly sexual
Top is not a saint, he is making the most of this moment, but it’s still above board. This is not as sexual as people think. He keeps his arms around Mew's arms, they are not around Mew's waist. The taking off of the pants is a bit iffy granted but I also know that they've slept together (just sleep) multiple times and Top does know how Mew likes to be dressed for bed and what would probably make him most comfortable.
I would say that Sand & Ray also know how each other like to be dressed for bed. And notice that after Ray throws up in EP 1 at Sand's place, Sand also strips down Ray before putting him to bed.
Top usually sleeps shirtless, but he actually stays in his Top Gun costume.
Top knows that unlike him and Ray, Mew is new to coke, he doesn't know how much Mew's had or were it came from and Mew also has alcohol in his system and who knows what else. He also witnessed Mew throwing up, so Mew potentially asphyxiating on his own vomit is a real risk. Remember the first aid skills, Top displayed in EP 2, it doesn’t seem like a logical leap that he would know what to do in this instance too.
Top wants to make sure Mew stays on his side and he's gonna ensure it but being Mew's backpack and holding him in place with his arms just make sure that if Top falls asleep, Mew can't roll away from safety. It could also be a comforting gesture so if Mew feels unsteady while tripping, he'll feel Top's arms and not be scared OR it could be protective for himself because Top knows when Mew wakes up, he's gonna have a SPITTING HELLCAT on his hands.
It could be a combination of all three.
Mew is like this baby bobcat. Looks so cute and unassuming, but could literally rip your face off.
I think Top's trying to make up for not being there for Mew after the last party, the Infamous Pool Party TM at the hostel in EP 3. Remember these famous last words.
“I can take care of Mew.”
This precise moment can be pinpointed to where everything went wrong for Top. When he left drunk Mew by himself and meet up with Boston at a FREAKING second location nonetheless!!! (Coulda told you right there, Top. DO NOT GO to a second location.)
Anywho, Top's stopped fronting that he's the only one who can take care of Mew, but he's going to do it anyway. He feels responsible for the sudden change in Mew, so wouldn't it be even a greater sin if something happened to Mew because of those changes?
There is also Top’s anxious relationship with sleep which I wrote about here and Top’s crippling fear of dying alone.
This is Top's penance, to serve as night's watch over Mew, regardless of the consequences he might suffer.