i got this, i'm truly fine

Shane answers with a concerned look on his face. He's also wearing glasses. Huh. Troy didn't know he wore glasses.

"Barrett, is everything okay?"

"You wear glasses?"

Shane looks confused for a second, removes the glasses and explains they're just for reading. Asks if he's okay again.

It's only now Troy realizes that this might be the first time he's ever called Shane. He's not even sure they have a text string between just the two of them. Roz is usually a part of whatever they could possibly have to talk about. The embarrassment causes him to pause, just for a moment, before he remembers why he called.

"Yeah! Yeah, um— I was wondering if you, if you knew what I should….Harris is sick."

He's trying to explain but obviously doing a bad job of it. Shane scrunches his brow, then briefly nods to someone off camera. Maybe he should have just texted.

"Yeah, I noticed he wasn't at the rink today. Is he doing okay?"

"Yes. Well, actually, I don't know. He didn't tell me, I just heard it from Gen, when I realized he wasn't there." Shane still has a confused look on his face. "What should I bring him? If I want to go see him. Like, medicine and shit. I'm at Shoppers." He turns the camera so the camera captures the florescent aisle he is standing in.

"Oh!" Shane visibly relaxes. "Um, that's really thoughtful of you. I don't know, does he have any allergies to medication?"

"I, um—" Does Harris have any allergies to medicine? Is that something a boyfriend is supposed to know? Troy is trying to remember every conversation they've ever had while also trying not to have a panic attack in a Shoppers Drug Mart.

"That's okay, Barrett, he probably—"

"Heart! Heart issues. He had some heart issues. As a kid. I don't know, is that relevant?"

"Oh, yeah, no, that's good to know. If it's just a cold, I would probably just get him a cough suppressant. Nothing with ibuprofen in it, and you should be fine. Robitussin is a good brand."

Troy scans the shelves, trying to look for something that resembles whatever word Shane just said.

"Black and green box," Shane provides.

Black and green box— there it is. Right in front of him. He holds it up to show Shane, who nods approvingly.

"Okay um…" Troy looks around the store, a bit helplessly. "Is there anything else I should get?"

"You could get some throat lozenges, some tea, maybe some extra tissue boxes? Electrolytes are always important, too." Shane is acting like this is the most normal thing in the world, Troy asking for help on how to take care of his sick boyfriend. Troy is thankful for it.

"There's also this one restaurant that Ilya really loves, I get him chicken noodle soup when he's not feeling well. I can send you the address if you want."

Troy nods his head gratefully. "Yeah, yeah that would be great."

He goes to say something more but then bites his tongue. Thinks he should maybe ask someone else, or at least have Roz come and join the call so it's less awkward. But Shane has been so helpful already, and Troy's been an anxious mess since he realized Harris had called out of work and hadn't told Troy about it.

"You don't think—" He pauses, trying to find the words for what he's asking. "You don't think he's going to be mad, do you?"

Shane scowls in confusion. "About you bringing him food and medicine?"

"Yeah, I guess— like, I don't know if I would want to see anyone if I was sick. Honestly, I'd be a little horrified. And I don't want him to feel like he's a burden, either. I kinda want it to be a surprise or whatever, but what if he just…doesn't want to see me?"

"Well does he usually like surprises?"

Troy shrugs, then nods. Actually, Harris loves surprises. Usually. He's never been sick during any surprises before, though.

"Then you show up, and if he doesn't want you to stay you just drop everything off and leave. You can call him later to make sure he's okay, if you're still worried." Shane says this with a shrug, like it's the most obvious thing in the world. Troy supposes it is.

"Okay. Yeah, okay, sounds good." They're both silent for a second, neither quite sure what to say after that unexpected intimacy. "Anyway. Thanks, Hollander."

"Yeah, of course. Anytime." And he sounds like he means it.

They both stay on the line for a second. Neither of them had technically said goodbye, but there really isn't anymore to say. Finally, Shane just hangs up. With anyone else, that would have been a little awkward, but Troy is so glad for that small kindness he breathes a sigh of relief.

FirstKhaotung on Live House [ 14/07/2026 ]

+ low quality but couldn't not have it included:

https://x.com/i/status/2076997983712030769

And he called him Nong 😭 It really is the cutest thing.

Khaotung: Where is Nong Joong? I miss you.

Joong: Traveling 555

And then two hours later:

Joong: I’m hanging out with P’Gun

Which feels like a siren call directly to Khaotung. I hope they found each other.

Also! Joong shared GMMTV’s post about FirstKhao’s magazine shoot which makes my heart happy. I love their friendship.

Arm: Have you ever been to a mortuary?

Pol: Yea, my grandma lives there

At the very least, it means asking permission before embedding fan art or linking directly to fan fiction in coverage. It means thinking twice before asking actors or artists to react to ships or explicit fan creations. It means considering whether a fan reasonably expected their work to stay within the community it was made for. Most importantly, it means treating fandom spaces like real places inhabited by real people, many of whom seek out these spaces precisely because they offer a sense of belonging they may not find elsewhere.

Fandom does not need to remain in the margins to deserve respect. But if journalists are going to cover this subject, and we should, we have to be willing to approach these spaces with the same care, ethics, and nuance we would bring to any other community. Because behind every fic or piece of fan art is someone saying, 'This mattered to me.' Did it matter to you too?"

troy barrett eating salmon!!!!!