After months of street demonstrations that have shaken Thailand's establishment, the best-known figures of a movement that drew tactics and inspiration from protests in Hong Kong said they are at a critical juncture.
There are disagreements over strategy, fatigue, scores of charges brought in a royalist backlash and now a coronavirus outbreak that could make mass gatherings hard.
"I think most people are exhausted," said Parit "Penguin" Chiwarak, 22, who helped lead a controversial protest, noting that exams at the end of the university term made it hard for students to join. "We'll try again next year. We won't stop no matter what."
Government spokeswoman Rachada Dhnadirek said authorities were not against protesters expressing their views, but a rise in coronavirus cases meant there should be no large gatherings for any reason at the moment.
"We fought during the pandemic and did it without spreading the virus," said Mr Parit. "We can do more online."
Warong Dechgitvigrom, 59, of the royalist group Thai Pakdee, said "The protests are weakening."
"The government can just let the movement die on its own," he said.
The royalists are behind a surge of lese majeste charges against protest leaders -- with a coordinated effort described by Dr Warong to bring complaints to police on charges that can lead to up to 15 years in prison.
The activists who paraded through a Bangkok shopping mall mocking His Majesty the King, however, showed just how far the discussion has shifted.
But divisions between protesters have become more evident as they discuss how best to maintain their push next year to unseat Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, rewrite the constitution and curb the King's powers.
The main factions are student protesters linked to the Thammasat University, including Mr Parit and Panusaya "Rung" Sithijirawattanakul, and the Free Youth group.
Both have been allied, calling themselves the "People" movement.
But Mr Parit and Ms Panusaya, 22, have distanced themselves from the launch of Free Youth's Restart Thailand movement, with a logo whose RT letters resemble a hammer and sickle.
Critics say it risks putting some people off with apparent communist symbolism in a Southeast Asian country where a two-decade-long communist insurgency ended in the 1980s.
"A lot of people are confused," said protester Kent Ruqsapram, who brought a sign to one event that said "We fight for democracy, not communism" to make his point.
Free Youth's Jutatip Sirikhan, 22, said it will focus on its own campaign next year despite the earlier alliance.
"We want to create more participation from all groups, whether they are labourers, farmers or those without access to social welfare," Ms Jutatip said.