#Bangkok Health and Wellness

[nonoprojects]

Bangkok Health and Wellness: Top Spots for Rejuvenation

Bangkok, a bustling metropolis known for its vibrant street life and cultural landmarks, also offers a sanctuary for those seeking rejuvenation and wellness. From serene yoga studios to dynamic fitness centers, the city caters to all facets of health and wellness, each space designed to foster well-being and inner peace. Here's a glimpse into some of the top spots where you can unwind, recharge, and reconnect with yourself.

Let's Relax Spa

"Let's Relax Spa" serves as a tranquil retreat amid Bangkok's urban chaos. This boutique chain has carved a niche by blending traditional Thai massage techniques with modern relaxation practices. Designed as a serene getaway, the spa offers a variety of treatments that promise to balance the soul and mend the body, ensuring a refreshing experience that hinges on age-old wisdom and contemporary comfort.

The SPACE by Ener8ie & RYDE

At "The SPACE by Ener8ie & RYDE," fitness meets inspiration. Known for its invigorating Pilates classes, this studio doesn't just challenge the body; it nurtures the spirit. The vibrant and supportive community here provides an ideal environment for growth and perseverance. Classes vary in intensity and style, catering to everyone from beginners to seasoned athletes, all under the guidance of expert instructors who inspire you to reach new heights.

Yogasana Room

"Yogasana Room" offers a sanctuary for those looking to dive deeper into their yoga practice. The studio provides a range of styles, from Vinyasa to Hatha, conducted in an atmosphere of calm and introspection. Designed to be a peaceful retreat, the studio supports a mindful approach to physical fitness, where each session aims to enhance physical flexibility and mental clarity.

BASE Bangkok

"BASE Bangkok" is revolutionizing the fitness landscape with its unique HIIT and strength training blend. The focus here is on achieving tangible results through a scientific approach to fitness. BASE utilizes its in-house technology, BASELINE, to track progress and tailor workouts as effectively as they are exhilarating. The community atmosphere is charged with energy and encouragement, making it an ideal spot for those who thrive in a dynamic group setting.

Peachlates Pilates

"Peachlates Pilates" is all about combining fun with fitness. The studio offers a variety of classes that promise to be as enjoyable as they are beneficial. Whether you're a beginner or a Pilates pro, you'll find a class that matches your needs and challenges you in new ways. The welcoming environment and passionate instructors ensure a rewarding experience that paves the way for physical and mental transformation.

WOLF BKK

"WOLF BKK" presents a fitness regime wrapped in innovation and intensity. This gym doesn't just aim to train your body but to transform your approach to fitness. With various classes that push you to your limits, WOLF encourages you to unleash your inner strength and stamina. The community here is diverse and driven, perfect for those motivated by collective energy and shared goals.

Each of these venues in Bangkok offers a unique approach to health and wellness, providing spaces that are not only about physical health but also about fostering a sense of well-being that resonates on a deeper level. Whether you're a local or a visitor, embracing these experiences can profoundly enhance your journey toward a healthier, more fulfilled self.

[bangkokhealthsvc]

Bangkok Health Service co., ltd.

Bangkok health service is located in the vibrant city of Bangkok, we take immense pride in offering top-tier healthcare services, positioning ourselves as a leading provider in Thailand’s burgeoning medical tourism sector. Renowned for its advanced medical facilities and skilled professionals, Bangkok has become a premier destination for individuals seeking quality medical care combined with the allure of an exotic travel experience. Our comprehensive Bangkok health service is designed to cater to a wide array of medical needs, ensuring that each patient receives personalized and attentive care. Collaborating closely with cutting-edge healthcare centers throughout Thailand, we facilitate access to state-of-the-art medical treatments and procedures. From initial consultations to surgeries and meticulous aftercare, our dedicated team is committed to guiding you through every step of your healthcare journey. Understanding the significance of a seamless and stress-free experience, our team provides extensive support beyond medical services. We meticulously handle logistics, including accommodation arrangements, transportation, and curated activities, to ensure your stay is comfortable and enriching. Whether you're in Bangkok for a minor procedure or a complex surgery, our goal is to create a customized travel experience that aligns with your specific needs and preferences. Our expertise in Bangkok health service means you can trust us to deliver exceptional care in a safe and welcoming environment. We prioritize your well-being and work tirelessly to ensure that your medical travel is not only successful but also enjoyable. Embrace the unique opportunity to combine world-class healthcare with the cultural and scenic wonders of Thailand, making your health journey as enriching and rewarding as possible.

Address : 99/31 Village, Soi Sai Ma, Mueang Nonthaburi District, Nonthaburi, 11120, Thailand

Phone : +66 95 529 1915

Business Email : info@bangkokhealthservice.com

Website : https://bangkokhealthservice.com/

Connect With Us:

Bangkok Health Service co., ltd. On YouTube

[bangkoksextoys]

Thailand's Premier Pleasure Doll Emporium - Exquisite Intimacy

Discover an exclusive pleasure doll store in Thailand, offering a diverse range of lifelike companions designed to fulfill unique desires. Explore a world of intimate possibilities in a discreet and welcoming atmosphere.

WhatsApp: +66853412128

[sextoyinthailand2024]

Spice Up Your Relationship with Exciting Couple's Toys in Bangkok!

Explore a wide range of intimate toys designed to enhance pleasure and intimacy for couples in Bangkok. Discover new ways to connect and create unforgettable experiences together.

WhatsApp: +66948872977

[doublel27]

Only Boo ep 8 was such a lovely close to the second act and to throw us into the fire of act 3. I’m so pleased with this show and it’s current plotting. I’m hoping it stays here, but it’s seeded the upcoming drama so well that I don’t worry about it feeling forced.

They really did a wonderful job of showing how deep in this relationship both Moo and Kang have become before sending them off from their romantic bubble to some larger problems as the tensions of their dreams will come into focus.

In the first episode, Moo’s mom sent him out of Bangkok to focus on his studies, hoping giving him a slower and less distracting setting would force him to buckle down. And in that way we’ve really been in a bubble the first two acts. We have the school, the dormitory which has the restaurant on the first floor, the food cart circle at the park in the evenings and the gazebo as our main settings. All of our main characters aside from Moo have been living in their typical patterns and Moo has been the disrupter.

But now, we are shifting gears and the boys are heading to Bangkok. We are leaving the safety of our bubble and going to the big city. This is Moo’s territory and we are adding in three characters who have lived relatively cyclical lives up to this point.

It’s a huge change and shift that, to the directors point comes with discomfort or as was pointed out by @happypotato48 is better translated to misery and you need to hold on to what makes you happy through it.

As for Moo himself, he’s held onto Kang as his happiness through the change of being sent away to school. Now Moo feels he’s gotten all of his dreams (mostly, but just being in the New Wave competition feels like a win), but the reality is both of his dreams are potentially in conflict with each other, as Neth pointed out this episode.

Now with our new changes, we have Moo, Tae and Yos competing as 3/10 contestants in a reality show which is going to remain a strain on these characters who trained to get here together. They’re not just competing against the other contestants, but each other. And knowing Yos doesn’t want it but is actually incredibly talented…delicious.

Additionally, we have Kang leaving home and moving in with his boyfriend and agreeing/suggesting to keep their relationship a secret for Moo’s benefit. That’s a lot of change for a man whose life up to this point, following his father’s death especially, has mostly contained his mother and Neth and his customers. Even Neth tells Moo very few people have ever been able to see past Kang’s hard exterior and speech. And he’s slowly allowed himself to accept his feelings for Moo and dream again, but it’s going to be a huge shift for him.

There’s likely going to be some stress of being in a new space with new routines, as moving in with a significant other is hard no matter how attached to the other you were before moving in. Then, Moo being involved in the competition as well as Kang going to art school. Being kept a secret in general is also really hard, especially if you’re away from your usual support system as Kang will be. He doesn’t strike me as someone who would push Moo to come out, because of how willing he was to offer to keep it a secret. Not to mention we know his mom has some back issues…which her health could crop up again in the future as an issue that pulls his attention away from school. As @respectthepetty has pointed out, Kang is our bluest boy, and blue boys are often so committed to duty they can martyr themselves for others. I would not be surprised if Kang makes some choices in service of doing what’s best for his mom, Moo, or realistically Both.

I really cannot wait.

[lucas-grey]

Lucas Grey: All Dialogues; Part 1

I guess this is one of the biggest projects I have ever done 😁 I wasn't in a good mood recently because my mental health is kinda low at the moment due to some difficulties in my private life. So I needed a distraction and I thought it might be fun to find every dialogue in all Hitman WOA games done by Grey or about Grey- no matter if directly or indirectly.

So I collected everything I could find for the first game, which was not that hard, since in Sapienza, Marrakesh and Bangkok no one talks about Grey (at least I couldn't find any dialogue referring to him). Colorado was more, of course, since the mercenaries talk a lot about him.

It was a lot of fun collecting all these dialogues 🥹 Some of them I have actually never heard before and they give a nice insight of his personality (and how he behaves as a leader).

If you have any more dialogues in mind, feel free to DM me! I already collected some for part 2 and 3, but I am open for help finding more!

And now, have fun with part 1 🫶

Please note: I wrote down the dialogues from the scenes myself using the subtitles, but it was often hard to follow, so please excuse any mistakes.

Prologue

Cutscene: Call me 47

Grey: You were always the best. Nobody ever came close. You defined the art, and it defines you. Your actions have changed the world. Powerful men have fallen by your hand but by the same token, others have risen. Do you realise what kind of world you've been shaping? Does the ICA? Does your handler? I live in that world. I have seen the consequences. I have felt the cost. That's what defines me.

Paris

Novikov to Philip von Zell

Von Zell: Well it’s confirmed, Sir. The FSB charges against you have all been dropped. No one is mentioning Kamarov’s unfortunate death or his alleged ties to the CIA of course.

Novikov: Good, good. That’s the end of that then. I knew our nameless friend would come through. Very good.

Bodyguard: No, I still don’t like it. This… this worries me. I mean, who is this guy? What kind of man enters a heavily guarded government building, kills an FSB section chief and sets him up as a US spy without even breaking a sweat? Where’d you find this guy anyway?

Novikov: See that’s the thing. He found me. He knew the FSB were investigating my past and he knew about IAGO using models as trojan horses. Everything. Guy like that. Let’s just say you let him do most of the talking.

Von Zell: Still… the whole dossier? Some price for a day’s work.

Novikov: Well I’ll be damned Philip. You and Dalia actually agree on something.

Novikov to his bodyguard

Novikov: I’m going to ask you something, Kurt. Then I want you to answer me honestly, completely honestly.

Kurt: Uh, yes Sir, of course.

Novikov: Do you believe Dalia plans to double cross me? She’s furious that I gave the assassin access to our secrets.

(…)

Novikov to Dalia Margolis

Dalia: Well, this is cozy.

Novikov: Save it, Dalia. It’s simple procedure. We’ll be out of here as soon as the threat is neutralized.

Dalia: Well, let’s just cross our fingers that the half dozen power players, billionaires and borderline supervillains upstairs are still in a spending mood by then.

Novikov:  Can we do this at home?

Dalia: Fine. So, what’s this about anyway?

Novikov: You guess is as good as mine.

Dalia: It wouldn’t have anything to do with the dead-eyed mercenary you hired to murder an FSB section chief now would it?

Novikov: Are you going to bring this up in every fight from now on?

Dalia: Until you do something dumber.

(…)

Novikov to Decker

Novikov: Mr. Decker. How are things at the office?

Decker: That’s ´91 all over again. Kamarov is found dead, gun in hand, office locked from the inside. In his safe, evidence that he was leaking state secrets to Langley. An FSB section chief, Kremlin’s golden boy, a CIA spy. Like I don’t know who you hired to pull this off, but I want his number.

Novikov: Trust me. You don’t.

(…)

Dalia to Sophus Fatalé

Fatalé: So, uh, are you going to tell me about what Viktor did?

Dahlia: Viktor… had a lot of skeletons in his mahagony walk-in closet and sometimes the lock won’t hold. A young ambitious FSB section chief was mounting a case against Viktor for past crimes. He got close. Too close. So Viktor, failing for once to bribe or threaten his way out of trouble made a deal with an assassin. Someone with impossible skills. The price? A copy of the IAGO dossier. Everything we have ever collected. No questions asked. And did Viktor bother to tell me about it? No. He did not.

Fatalé: The clients are in there. Are you saying they’re bidding on used goods?

Dahlia: Viktor is certain this mystery man was looking for something very specific. He won’t be bribing people left and right. Still, it’s the principle.

(…)

Cutscene: The secrets of the global elite

Novikov: How was Moskow?

Grey: Kamarov is gone. I set him up as a Langley spy. It's quite the scandal at the FSB. His death will not be investigated. Your turn.

Novikov: Very well. The secrets of the global elite. Five years of work. Everything we've collected. This thing makes WikiLeaks look like a gossip rag. The pen beats the sword, huh?

Grey: I have found that whoever wields the swords decides who holds the pen. Types: File secure. No loose ends. Leak the names. Smile Viktor. Your reputation is safe. Now, run along. I'm sure you have pretty dresses to attend to. Viktor? Good luck with the show. I have a feeling, it's going the one you'll be remembered for.

Cutscene: The key

Hajun: Ether security is in the dark about the incident, and a few at the company knew about the virus, not even the board. Must have been someone at the lab. I understand. I'll get to the bottom of this.

Grey: Bosses unhappy? I followed you from italy. I guess when you're invisible, you stop looking over your shoulder.

Hajun: You did this?

Grey: IAGO exposed you, ICA did the heavy lifting. I just pulled some strings.

Hajun: You out of your mind? How do you expect...

Grey: I play dirty. That's how you defeat a stronger opponent. You strike from behind. Now give me the key.

Hajun: You have a family? Trust me. If there's a weakness, Providence will find it.

Grey: I'll take my chances. The key.

Hajun: Fine. Won't do you much good.

Grey: It's funny. Cobb said the same thing. Thank you, messenger.

Hajun: Don't. I just killed you.

Grey: Then we're even.

Cutscene: Providence is under attack

Fanin: Compromised? But... I don't understand. There is no sign of forced entry. No alarm. Nothing.

Edwards: One of my people has gone missing in Johannesburg. A key-bearer.

Fanin: I wish I had been informed. Still, the system demands two keys. And the rest are all accounted for.

Edwards: Except for your late predecessor's.

Fanin: Cobb? But... his plane went down over the Pacific. It was an accident.

Edwards: Such was the conclusion at the time, yes. People die, Mr. Fanin. It happens all the time, even to us. If it seems like a conspiracy, it probably isn't. And yet. The failed coup in Morocco. The Ether virus. Someone knows about us. There was a pattern and I failed to see it. Providence is under attack.

Fanin: How much was there?

Edwards: Money? Not money, Mr. Fanin. Information. On all of our assets and operatives. Like you. Dig a trench, director. And make it a deep one. Because none of you are safe anymore.

Colorado

Guards talking

Guard 1: I was providing Berg. He didn’t have a clue either. So who the hell is this guy?

Guard 2: Concerned citizen with a chip on his shoulder?

Guard 1: With skills like that? Come on man.

Guard 2: The boss keeps his past close to his chest. Apart from Olivia Hall, the head of the cyber unit, I don’t think anyone knows who he was before. Including Sean Rose.

Guard 1: Suppose we’re all thinking the same thing. He was one of them, right? How else could he know so much about the enemy?

Guard 2: Only thing that makes sense.

Guard 1: Wonder what they did to him. I mean, we’ve all felt the rage one time or another. The boss didn’t start this out of charity, the hate runs deep.

Guard 2: We all have our reasons mate. Don’t need to know his.

Guard 1: Yeah, what’s your reason?

Guard 2: I do what I’m paid to. Made my peace for that a long time ago. Sill. Pick the right side whenever I can afford to. Righteous money just wrestles out in your pocket.

Guard 1: I hear ya.

Guard 1: So, the boss hires this former Interpol agent to do strategic analysis for us? That’s pretty smooth. If she can be trusted of course.

Guard 2: Bit of a strange one. Not strange like Rose mind you but kind of uh… aloof. I heard from the technicians that she’s a Cambridge graduate, top of her class, thing like that you know. Joining interpol a few years after.

Guard 1: Did you know that her main focus was tracking Rose? I mean how poetic is that?

Guard 2: I don’t know about poetry but it sure is a twisted move by the boss.

Guard 1: Then again, she was supposed to be the best and the boss only hires the best. I guess we’ll see if she can handle things on this side of the fence.

Guard 2: If not, I’m sure Rose has some elaborate retirement plan ready for her.

Guard 1: So, you got your ex-military, your mercenaries, I saw a couple of CICADA guys arrived earlier. Then, there’s freedom fighters, intelligence specialists, cyber criminals, you name it. Half of these people probably fought each other at some point.

Guard 2: Oh man, that’s not even counting the really freaky ones. Left-wing terrorists like Sean Rose, corporate whatevers like Crest. It’s like the united nations of assholes.

Guard 1: And what the hell is an anarcho-primitivist?

Guard 2: You got me and I don’t want to know.

Guard 1: This is a powder keg. How does the boss even hope to unite these freaks?

Guard 2: By the way he always does. Take them all, point them on a common foe.  

Guard 1: That simple huh?

Guard 2: I mean armies are easy enough to deal with when the bullets are flying. It’s all the shit that comes after that you gotta worry about. Peace time when soldier get bored, start getting ideas. That’s when shit get’s dangerous.

Guard 1: Okay, Sun Tzu. Let’s cross that bridge when we get to it.

Guard 1: Rose put you on the Mexico team?

Guard 2: Reykjavik. Security for Olivia Hall on the Hampson Oil operation.

Guard 1: She’s the boss´s protégé, right?

Guard 2: She leads the cyber division. She’s only 24, but apparently some kind of prodigy. She used to operate under the hacker name Delriego. Took down some major corporations while she was in college.

Guard 1: Where’s she from anyway?

Guard 2: Sierra Leone. She met the boss during the war. That’s about all anyone knows about his past. That he was in Sierra Leone around 2002.

Guard 1: Better than nothing.

Guard 2: Save it. Already tried. There’s no record of him anywhere.

Guard 1: I bet she knows. Someone should get her drunk. Maybe she gets chatty.

Guard 2: Bad idea mate. Hall could enter your bank accounts from her smartphone. Those millennials have scary powers. 

Guard 1: The boss? Nah, he fades in and out of here. Never spends long in one place.

Guard 2: Yeah I think I saw him earlier, heading into the tornado shelter. Wonder what goes on in that place.

Guard 1: It’s where the inner circle does their planning. The boss, Sean Rose, Olivia Hall and that accountant. Probably where they keep the files from the New York vault.

Guard 2: No one else been down there?

Guard 1: There’s a biometric lock. Facial recognition thingamajig. Only the boss, Hall and Rose have access.

Guard 2: Getting pretty hierarchical however the fuck you say that for a brotherhood.

Guard 1: A standard precaution. If anyone in the field gets caught, the less they know the better. Don’t get entitled. We all have a part to play.

Guard 2: I know, I just have a thing with closed doors. 

Guard 1: Sean Rose, in charge of operations. I don’t get it. Why’d the boss pick him? Why not Reynard?

Guard 2: The way I see it, Reynard’s a lone wolf. Berg’s too specialized; I mean he’s no strategist. Parvati is, well, Parvati’s Parvati. I think Rose wants to lead, fiercely dedicated, completely ruthless. Did you ever hear his plan to take out Simon Deveraux? The CEO of Biosphere.

Guard 1: I know he’s building a bomb.

Guard 2: Right, right. So Deveraux is, he’s like exactly like Thomas Cross. Totally impossible to get near. But, also a tech geek, and he just ordered this new Link 4 smartwatch. So Rose, crazy bastard, gets the idea to turn the battery unit for a Link 4 into, get this, a bomb, and then swap the watches in delivery. One push of the button. Bye-bye, Deveraux.

Guard 2: That’s pretty extreme. Enemy operative I know, but it just seems so unsportsmanlike.

Guard 1: Yes, and there you have it. Right on the nose. And again, that’s why Rose is the head of operations. To him, the end justifies the means. And I mean there is nothing that dead-eyed psychopath would not do.

Guard 1: Rose? Nasty little prick, if you ask me. Sure, it’s not his fault that he grew up in that crazy collective farm out in the outback. What were they called? Sons of Solidarity? No, they are a bunch of left-wing cultists. But still, some of that stuff he’s done makes my skin crawl. The oil rig I get, but that government office in Auckland? Man, kids died.

Guard 2: Boss seems to trust him.

Guard 1: Yeah of course he does. Rose is the perfect acolyte. He’s smart, he’s ruthless, but like all fanatics, he’s impressionable.

Guard 2: Yeah, he’s an idealist, that’s for sure.

Guard 1: Nah, nah. I’ve met his kind before. Rose yearns for a cause, sure. But any cause will do. Because deep down, the only thing he’s really looking for is justification to blow people up.

Guard 2: Yeah well, guess this time he found one.

Guard 1: Don’t get me wrong. Sean Rose was born for this. The enemy doesn’t expect him. Their cruelty, it’s too, uh… it’s too remote. You know, you sign a document; thousands of people die half a world away. It’s unreal, like drone operators. But Rose and the boss? The enemy doesn’t know how to react. The savagery. That’s how we will win.

Guard 2: Bring a gun to a knife fight, huh?

Guard 1: More like bring an axe to a chess game.  

Sean Rose to Penelope Graves, first conversation

Rose: Ah, Penelope Graves. My very own nemesis. Welcome to HQ.

Graves: Sean Rose. You’re a tough man to find.

Rose: Please. You are Interpol’s best counter-terrorist analyst. You should have tracked me down months ago. No. You didn’t want to catch me. But what happened, Graves? Sympathy for the devil?

Graves: Something like that. Is that why the boss chose me, I wonder? Because of our conflicting past.

Rose: You’re the analyst. But this whole enemy’s united thing? I think he finds poetic. He’s funny like that. Great man though. Not what the world wants, perhaps. But sure as hell what it needs. Anyway. Get yourself up to speed.

(…)

Sean Rose to Penelope Graves, second conversation

Rose: I see you’re studying the boss’s accomplishments.

Graves: Impressive to say the least. Kamarovs suicide was like a work of art.

Rose: Funny to hear you talk like that. You, a straight shooter. A woman of the law. Tell me, Gaves, when did you decide to switch sides?

Graves: I used to think you were a monster. That building in Auckland. And then I met the boss and he… well, you know his ways. He lets you peek behind the curtain and once you know the truth, it changes your perception.

(…)

Sean Rose to Penelope Graves, third conversation

Rose: I know that look. Somethings rubbing you the wrong way.

Graves: Doesn’t add up. So the boss raids the archive in New York. He now has a list of all the enemies operatives. He goes after Thomas Cross first. He needs funding for all of this and Cross is filthy rich. It all makes perfect sense.

Rose: Except?

Graves: Except, he must have known the ICA would figure out the truth once Thomas Cross was grabbed at his sons funeral. It’s almost as if…

Rose: As if the boss wanted them to. Yeah, I know.

Graves: Maybe he made a mistake.

Rose: You really believe that?

Graves: If I did, I wouldn’t be here.

Rose: The boss doesn’t make mistakes, Graves. I have to believe that. This is the most important thing you and I will ever do. The enemy had no mandate, they have no claim. They have no vision. Their only agenda is to maintain the status quo. Our only agenda is to destroy it. So quit worrying and get up to speed on the upcoming operations. Mexico, London, Shanghai.

(…)

Sean Rose on the phone with Grey, first conversation

Rose: Boss. You’re still at the shelter I presume? Quick update. There was a minor setback at the barn. Burgess was hit by the simulated ram. No worries. If he’s not up to par, I’ll find a replacement. This is my operation, my strike team and they will be ready. You can count on that. I won’t let you down. Okay. Means a lot, boss.

Sean Rose on the phone with Grey, second conversation

Rose: Boss. Yeah, so Berg’s at work on our friend. Some kind of interrogation drug. Sodium Pentathol, I think. He won’t. Berg knows his trade. Even if the heralds don’t know jack about upper levels, this one is secretary Torres’ liaison and he might know about the motorcade route. I figured it’d be worth a shot. Sure. As soon as.

Penelope Graves

Graves: It’s actually quite brilliant in all it’s improvised glory. Cobb, the bank director whose plane crashed. The boss killed him for the vault key. How did he knew Cobb was even an enemy operative? Question for later. So, the spy ring. Infamous IAGO. The boss somehow gets access to their dossier of secrets and this is how he learns about the enemies projects in Italy and Morocco. But why kill the IAGO leaders? Novikov and Margolis were unaffiliated. The Russian must have seen the boss´s face. And the enemy has to have known about IAGO.  I probably even used their services from time to time. It was a precaution. Nothing more.

Penelope Graves, Part 2

Graves: Eugene Cobbs plane crash. Spectacular. Flawless in its execution. Clearly the boss is more than capable. But it makes me wonder why involve the ICA at all? Think Graves. This is the age of global surveillance. Anonymity is key, you know this. Why stick your neck out when you can get assassins to do your dirty work? And even have some rich asshole pick up the tab. So the boss orders the hits in Sapienza and Marrakesh. The enemy loses two operatives and he never lifts a finger. But wait, that’s not even the main objective. So what is? Of course, the enemies messengers. The ones we call heralds. The boss knows they will show up at the crime scenes, now all he’s got to do is watch and wait for the second vault key to fall into his lap.  

Penelope Graves, Part 3

Graves: Hm, possible weakness there. Rose won’t listen. I need to take this straight to the boss.

Penelope Graves talks to Ezra Berg

Berg: Penelope it’s Berg.

Graves: Dr. Berg. I didn’t recognise you in your... work clothes.

Berg: No that’s the idea. So, I take it you finally met Rose. Way I hear it you were on the Interpols task force to hunt him down. So what’s the verdict?

Graves: Sean is dedicated, creative, driven.

Berg: You don’t have to sugarcoat it. The man’s an extremist. You’ve seen the Shanghai plan. Kidnapping children, forcing an innocent man to commit murder. It’s distasteful. Rose has no honour, no sense of fair play. The boss asked me here because he wanted to avoid unnecessary cruelty. So why does he tolerate Sean Rose?

Graves: Because the boss is not a monster and right now, well, he needs one.

(...)

Cutscene: The hidden hand

Diana: The plot thickens.

47: Someone left in a hurry.

Diana: Sean Rose was not the Shadow Client. That much is clear. Whoever commands the milita, they got out just in time. Look around 47. We're getting closer.

(...)

47: Someone's done their homework.

Diana: Look how far it dates back. Hayamoto. Beldingford. D'Alvade. The shadow client has been tracking you for decades.

47: Now how is that possible?

Diana: It isn't. Every one of those missions were branded as unsolved or accidents. He must have been looking for a pattern. A certain MO. Which would mean...

47: He knows me.

Diana: Well. At least this shortens the list.

(...)

Cutscene: Old friends

Grey: Rose is gone.

Olivia: It was me, wasn't it? They tracked me. I don't believe it. I took every precaution.

Grey: Rose knew the risks. They all do. You did well Olivia, I am proud of you. Now listen. The ICA knows about you. They kept you alive because they needed you and now they don't. We won't talk again. Not until the storm is over.

Olivia: I don't like it. This man, you know what he's capable of. You need to end this now!

Grey: I ran away as a boy. My friend and I. Away from that... place. We came upon a small farming community, the people were dirtpoor but this woman, she took us in. We were awakened the next morning by the shots. A dozen people lay face down in the snow. Our warden... didn't like to leave witnesses. They shot the woman and her family last and made sure that we watched the whole thing. "This is your gift" the warden told us. "Your gift and your curse. Touching lives only by ending them".

Olivia: You know him

Grey: Better than anyone.

Hokkaido

Yuki Yamazaki to the Director

Director: Miss Yamazaki. I trust your people are satisfied?

Yamazaki: Our people, Director. Don’t forget who put you here.

Director: Of course.

Yamazaki: We appreciate you clearing your operating schedule. It is paramount to our interest that Soders survives. Still, this cannot have been easy.

(…)

Director: If you don’t mind me asking. Who is Eric Soders? His resume says retired big game hunter.

Yamazaki: Amusing. In a way I suppose he was in his day. Mr Soders belonged to an organization involved in the recent attacks against us and we needed a man on the inside.

Director: So it’s true. Someone is targeting Providence.

Yamazaki: Not for much longer.

(…)

Yamazaki on the phone with the constant

Yamazaki: Sir. No, the patient remained stable. I only wanted to… yes, the investigation. Nothing? How can there be nothing? Hajun was killed in a public parking garage in the middle of the afternoon. You are saying there are no witnesses, nothing on the CCTV cameras? What was he even doing in Johannesburg? And don’t tell me I don’t need to know sir, because I… I really need to know. Hajun was… important to me. I feared as much. It has to be the same person. Whoever hoodwinked ICA, whoever abducted Thomas Cross and fried Schaeffer-Moore’s servers- they killed Hajun. As a matter of fact, sir, I do feel better. I thank you for your trust.

Yamazaki on the phone with Mikhail

Yamazaki: Mikhail. Yes, I need another favour. The footage from the carpark in Johannesburg. Yes, the constant already told me they found no trace of Hajuns killer but I need to see for myself. No he doesn’t. I’m too involved to lead the investigation. And he is absolutely right from a purely strategic perspective, as always. Which is why I am talking to you. No you will do this for me, Mikhail. Because… you know what it’s like  to be in love.

Cutscene: Partners, then?

Edwards: Miss Burnwood.

Diana: That's not what my ticket says.

Edwards: We received your message. Loud and clear, I might add. Honestly, you could have just sacked the poor guy.

Diana: I didn't catch your name.

Edwards: No. You didn't. There'll be no retaliations. Not for Soders, nor any other recent fiascos. Someone's been meddling in our affairs, killing our operatives and making the ICA look like fools. I think you got close to that someone. Closer than we've ever been. That's why we're hiring you to take him down.

Diana: I don't think so.

Edwards: Don't rattle our cages Miss Burnwood. You really have no idea.

Diana: You spy on us. Bribe our people. And you have the gall to demand our help? No. You can't be trusted.

Edwards: Even so. We've been around for a long, long time. I think we could help each other. Some twenty years ago, your agency took in a young man with no past and... extraordinary skills. In his own special way he cares about you and vice versa. And ever since that time, you've never stopped wondering where he came from. And who made him what he is.

Diana: There was a doctor. Some depraved experiment. But he's gone now.

Edwards: Well if you believe the questions died with him, we have nothing further to discuss. If not? As I said, I think we could help each other. Partners, then? Cheer up, Miss Burnwood. We... we are the lesser evil. This terrorist? He wants nothing but chaos.

Diana: He is only a terrorist if you win.

Edwards: Miss Burnwood. We won a long time ago. This? This is maintenance.

[waitmyturtles]

THE MORNING AFTER: ONLY FRIENDS, EPISODE 4 (“UHHH, IF I FEEL SOMETHING, DOES IT MEAN I HAVE FEELINGS, WOMP?”) EDITION

That’s how I felt after watching yesterday’s episode. I have NO BUSINESS writing meta in my current life-mental state, but I NEED to get a few words down. Just some list-y thoughts.

Shit’s starting to gel for me. The cast seems like they’ve warmed up to each other by way of actor-ly chemistry. (I know scenes are never shot in order, but there was maybe a little stiffness I felt at the start of the series? At this point, it might just be Lookjun carrying that, but I also don’t think she does “drunk” as well as the others.)

Such good meta that sustained me during my packing yesterday. @ranchthoughts on an ephemerality BREAKDOWN. @respectthepetty Senpai on sluts slutting — and HOW WE AUTOMATICALLY JUDGE AND LABEL SLUTS FOR SLUTTING (more on this in a BIT — go OFF, RTP Senpai). And @slayerkitty on nailing the narrative frameworks, which really struck me this episode, and this goes back to ephemerality again. Can’t believe I’m gonna meta, but let’s boogie, ‘cause I gotta.

@ranchthoughts — Ranch, I’m probably going to repeat some of what you wrote, so please forgive my stress-addled brain. I just lost it at Khaotung this episode, I thought he was just OVERFLOWING with BEST-NESS this episode — and the way we lived with Ray in his past in this episode. It was another play on time. And I love that @slayerkitty nailed that it was the flashbacks that were doing the talking this episode — because especially for Ray, the past is doing HIS talking. His mother didn’t love him in his past. Therefore, because of his past, he is unlovable in his present. (Interrrrgenerationalllll traumaaaa — the past affects your present. The opposite of ephemerality. That shit’ll STICK with you UNTIL you decide to face it head-on, like our beloved PatPran.)

Ooooh, baby. Gosh. The combination of the use of flashbacks, with Ray living in his past, only listening to music his parents listened to. And Sand — falling for Ray! — is holding Ray’s hand and bringing him to the present and the new. Sand’s a figure of change. Ray keeps toeing BACK to the past, to his memories, to his “love” for Mew, and Sand’s like, let me hold you down. (Ray going back and forth — like relapsing.) Ray STILL flashing back to Mew, holding that pendant (THAT LOOKS AN AWFUL LIKE AN ECLIPSE SYMBOL, AMIRITE AMIRITE) — and flashes again back and forward to the record store, where Sand found Ray’s hand.

What will Ray need for Sand to do to pull Ray even closer to the real-time present? How will Sand help Ray face his trauma? Will Sand really hold Ray down?

I am a big believer in the ships sinking, but goddamnit, First and Khao ATE this episode. GAAAHHHH.

Just musing: If Jojo and team started out this series having us think on ephemerality, the general lack of accountability, and the disappearance of time — are we entering the next act of the series where the characters grapple with the impacts of their pasts? That if you’re engaged emotionally and/or sexually with others, that not being accountable for your past and present is NOT an option? (That’s a kind of frame that speaks very closely to Jojo’s devotion to messages of sexual health in his past shows — especially regarding Nat in Gay OK Bangkok, who was HIV positive.)

Also musing: I saw some posts on my dash grappling with Top and Ray using coke. Drug use is obviously common on the partying circuit — their using coke doesn’t surprise me, especially considering that Top and Ray were both shown also being familiar with pills earlier. But I will note that the entire SE Asian region prosecutes the drug trade quite harshly, so to be honest, I was surprised to see Top actually snorting (but not surprised that that would be in a Jojo show). (Some passing links: when I Googled “drug use in Thailand,” this study shows that of a sample of vocational students in Thailand, LGBTQ+ students were more likely to use three or more drugs than heterosexual students, plus more findings. And this article briefly reviews the history of drug prosecution in Thailand.)

Also musing: really loved how Top’s demeanor was SO different with Nick and Sand. Maybe this indicates how much he’s “controlling” himself around Mew (@ranchthoughts , beep beep, control). Especially when Nick was talking with Top — it seemed like Top had been approached for money like this before. And the way he was so forward with Sand, confident to tell Sand that Sand wasn’t up for keeping Boeing — that was a totally different Top than who we see with Mew.

Okay, penultimate point. @respectthepetty says: sluts gonna slut. @bengiyo says: dudes gonna dude.

Cheum calls Boston a ho. Top says Boston is nasty. Nick calls himself nasty. Nick is Boston’s “favorite.” Jojo challenges the viewer to think that Top was gonna sleep with Beam, as RTP Senpai writes. Top’s already slept with Boston while dating Mew. On and on and on.

I wrote in my review of Theory of Love that I related to Khai, and now I relate somewhat to Top by the way that some of the viewership has judged Top. I was VERY often called the slut/ho of my friend groups in my younger years. OFTEN. And this was while I was in my twenties, exploring myself, my boundaries, my sexuality, all of it.

I relate to the struggle of trying to shed labels. Ray is a “burden.” Boston is “nasty.” Mew wants the truth from Top as to if Top has been with anyone else while they were dating. Therefore — Mew is assuming that Top IS sleeping with other people.

Call these people by their labels, and they’ll start believing them. It’s just another kind of trauma, similar to intergenerational trauma.

I wrote in my Theory of Love piece that as a global society — humans don’t really believe that our fellow humans can CHANGE. We don’t accept change well. (Cancel culture rarely allows for someone to be uncancelled — right?) If someone takes on a label — we tend to believe that label, and we have a hard time believing that someone has SHED that label after time. If Ray was called a burden by his mother — what work will it take for Ray to shed that label? And same for our sexually active guys, too.

Think about how you talk about your friends to others. Think about if you use labels to talk about them. Think about how old those labels are, and if they’re accurate in the present. And. Think about how you judge others by their pasts. (“Remember when so-and-so was sleeping around?”) Think about whether or not you use the past to judge and/or justify your FEELINGS about someone.

Now, I don’t even KNOW if these guys WANT to change these paradigms. We get the SLIGHTEST hint that maybe Boston wants to do so with Nick in next week’s preview.

But. I just fucking love that Jojo is playing around with this. If someone is HIV positive — that’s a label, a stigma. If someone is a ho — that’s a label, a stigma.

These dudes are burdened by what everyone else is thinking and saying about them.

And we have Sand, on the other hand, processing his feelings with Nick. We have Nick acting like a damn BASKETCASE, but at least he admitted the wiretapping to Sand (??? lol honey but you gotta stop this now, nervous giggles, put Boston’s phone down). We didn’t see Yo in this episode, but we know Yo believes in accountability.

There’s something about the Ray-Mew-Cheum-Boston friend group that allows things to both slide and fester. We’ll get ever more clarity in the following episodes on this, but — these young folks are having ish dealing with their labels, the labels of their pasts, and what are they gonna do in their presents and futures to deal with changing themselves?

FINALLY, and then I’m done rambling. Is that supposed to be a penis, or something penis-like?!

(What’s good, Ephemerality Squad? Wish me luck with moving today! @slayerkitty @ranchthoughts @lurkingshan @neuroticbookworm @clara-maybe-ontheroad @twig-tea @distant-screaming @chickenstrangers)

[twig-tea]

Hi Twig!

I have a burning thought I needed to share. Aren't T-aras and themes surrounding them in this adaptation of Love in the Big City somewhat similar to the ones for Diary of Tootsies bunch? Or at least I feel like there are some parallels to be drawn here. I don't know if it's the presence of Kylie or like the importance of the support group (and what they do and don't share with each other) but I sense a weird connection. And I know in LITBC we concentrate on one character while in the DoT the focus is distributed rather equally (not to mention the whole tonal difference and the unhinged factor) but it's been running through my mind all day.

Hi Kat! I can totally see why Diary of Tootsies would be brought to mind when watching Love in the Big City, especially around the T-aras and the club scenes and Kylie. Though Bangkok and Seoul are very different cities in very different countries, and these stories take place in very different times in each of their countries' HIV prevention histories (Diary of Tootsies takes place years after PreP was approved and made available in Bangkok though before it was made available at scale across the country, while LitBC takes place before PreP was approved or covered by public health in Korea), there is something about the queer club scenes and found family that feels relatable across many cultures and decades. Other shows that also come to mind include of course GayOK Bangkok (Thailand), Getaway (Singapore), Handsome Stewardess (Taiwan), and films like Himitsu no Nacchan (Japan). Just one of the things I find so relatable to my own queer friend groups and that is in both shows is how we can be so mean to each other, and how knowing where the line is shows how well you know each other.

A non-comprehensive list of some of the other similarities:

Group dancing to choreography

Gossiping about dick sizes, whether or not someone is into you, and whether or not they're worth seeing again

Keeping things light with your friends even when you're having a hard time

Your party friends visiting in hospital and making sure you know they're there for you and love you

Struggling with the closet, the judgment of family members, code switching depending on who you're with and where you are

The comfort of a gay club as a space to relax and unwind

Dating people who are judgmental of the club scene and of the person they're dating (especially of different ages)

Themes of loneliness, searching for love, and not feeling like you're enough

As a card-carrying Club Queer who has dances I would do with friends, I relate to a lot of these things, so I always get excited when this aspect of queerness is depicted in media (it is of course not universal or mandatory, I am also friends with queer folks who never have and never would set foot in a club). An upcoming show that has this vibe (but closer to Diary of Tootsies than LitBC in terms of the comedy/drama ratio based on the trailer), and which I am very excited for, is The Nipple Talk, which starts November 1 on GagaOOLala.

Thanks for dropping this in my ask box, it gave me an excuse to think and chat about some series that don't get a lot of attention! If you want to chat about this more, feel free to DM me, I'm always happy to chat shows.

[lurkingshan]

Gay OK Bangkok

Well, holy shit. I had been planning to watch this ahead of Only Friends because @shortpplfedup named it as one of the Jojo shows that would serve as a good primer for the types of themes we could expect. I didn’t know much about it except it was an Aof/Jojo collab and had openly queer cast members. I expected something like a short Thai Queer as Folk. 

And it kind of is like QaF, in the sense that it’s very much a show about a group of queer friends and their romantic (mis)adventures that features frank discussion of gay sex and sexual health practices, but it’s not really like it at all in terms of its tone. Where QaF is known for its explicit sex, trippy drug sequences, and heavy doses of camp, GOBK is much less smutty and has a thread of deep melancholy running through it (oh hi Aof), and it is primarily interested in doing some serious character work alongside delivering its messages about safe sex. And these characters got their hooks in me much more than I expected.  

I think what I appreciate most about this show is how real the characters feel. They’re wonderfully flawed, fully realized human beings—beautiful and ugly in equal measure, wrong as often as they’re right, and just doing their best to balance their needs and desires with how they want to show up for the people they love. Even the characters I didn’t like much, I still understood and felt some empathy for, and I think that’s a credit to the compassion and care with which this series is written (not a surprise given Aof and Jojo are the ones who wrote it). Everyone gets the benefit of nuance and grace, including the side characters. And to be clear, I wouldn’t consider this a bl. I’d call it a queer slice of life drama that includes romance, but is not about romance—there is no primary romantic relationship that acts as the plot driver and it’s not at all interested in happily ever afters or even firm endings for its relationships.

My only real complaint about this show is I wanted (a lot) more of it. But still, for a show that only had eight hours total runtime over two seasons, it managed to do a lot with it. I am going to avoid getting into spoilers because as usual, I want y’all to watch this! But I really loved seeing a few years in the life of Arm, Pom, Aof, Big, Sathang, and their various friends, family, and lovers. And, crucially, it’s all so very queer. There is so much to unpack here about the nature of loneliness and desire and the guilt and shame that often comes along with them. The show is interested in exploring lots of ways to be in love and in relationship with each other, and it lets the characters fight, fuck up, break up, make up, and express their own confusion and discomfort and dissonance along the way. The only thing it’s interested in being preachy about are safe sex practices; everything else is presented in shades of gray. And it doesn’t limit itself to romance; we see the characters at work and with their families and out living their daily lives in a society that is often actively hostile to them. This show sits squarely at the center of @wen-kexing-apologist’s by/for/about Venn diagram (can’t wait for you to watch this, friend).

I highly recommend this show to anyone who plans to watch Only Friends (which, by my count, is just about everyone I know on here)—homework is of course not required before enjoying a new drama, but I do think familiarity with this work will enhance your experience, and it’s such a quick watch! If you’re interested, the show is available on YouTube here and here. It also has a great and surprising soundtrack which has also been compiled into two playlists. 

Tagging friends @neuroticbookworm, @waitmyturtles, @chickenstrangers, and @lurkingteapot who are all in the midst of their own watches or planning to start soon, and @bengiyo, @so-much-yet-to-learn, and @imminentinertia who saw this awhile back and shared some interesting reflections about it during my watch. 

[giovanni-fiore]

Giovanni had a feeling Nicola was dreading the rapidly approaching work week. After some unforeseen health issues, Gio had taken time off to recover while enjoying his wife’s presence and pregnancy. It had been blissful, but their promised deadline was coming quickly.

Nicola was beautiful even when she sulked. Her curved belly delicately bumped into things while she cleaned the kitchen, her pretty face looking solemn and deep in thought. This sparked an idea in Gio.

The man disappeared into his office for an hour or so, before reemerging to find his wife had moved on to cleaning their primary suite. “Are those non-toxic cleaning supplies?” Gio teased as he found her on her hands and knees in the en-suite. Nicola turned and looked up at him with a sad smile. “Of course. You know I’m ultra careful.”

”I know, baby.” Gio replied before reaching his hand out to her. “Come here. Let’s put a pause on all of this stress cleaning.”

”I’m that transparent, huh?” Nicola asked as she carefully stood to her feet, protectively holding her stomach as the two of them walked towards their bed. They sat on the edge side by side and looked at one another.

”You got used to me being home all the time and now you’re sad I have to go back to work?” Gio guessed, earning a sad nod from his wife. Her big,  brown eyes were enough to make him melt.

”Well. Good news for you.” Giovanni smiled as he pulled out his phone, tapping it a few times before showing Nicola. “I chartered a plane for us to go to Laglio for the week. The week after, we take off for Bangkok. We’re vacationing on a small island off its coast. We can visit my family and have the babymoon we wanted.” 

Giovanni wasn’t sure if the tears in his wife’s eyes were hormones, happiness, or a mixture of both, but he drew her in to press a loving kiss to her forehead. “I love you.” He promised fiercely, hoping his actions reflected his words. There was nothing more he wanted than for Nicola to feel the intensity of his love. “My treasure.”

[intocupid]

┊ ˚➶ ｡˚ BASICS.

STAGE NAME . cupid

BIRTH NAME . virunpat "cupid" rirermkul

KOREAN NAME . aera, meaning love

BIRTHDAY . april 17, 2001

ZODIAC . aries

BIRTHPLACE . bangkok, thailand

HOMETOWN . bangkok, thailand

NATIONALITY . thai

ETHNICITY . thai

┊ ˚➶ ｡˚ CAREER.

YEARS TRAINED . six, 2014 - 2020

DEBUT . november 16, 2020 with black mamba

REDEBUT . december 3, 2022 with 28 reasons

COMPANY . aurora labels

FORMER COMPANY . sm entertainment

FORMER GROUP . aespa

FAN NAME . arrows

┊ ˚➶ ｡˚ PHYSICAL.

FACE CLAIM . natty, kiss of life

HEIGHT . 167 cm, 5'7

BLOOD TYPE . o

┊ ˚➶ ｡˚ HISTORY.

in 2014, a 13 year old virunpat rirermkul, cupid, left bangkok and never looked back. she had previously auditioned for several different companies and went through six different rejections before finally, she was accepted into sm entertainment. her vocals were her strength, and with visuals too match, a solid personality, and plenty of room to improve, sm took her in.

briefly, sm humored the idea of adding her to red velvet alongside yeri in 2015. however, the plan was almost immediately scrapped, with the company deciding she was still much too young and that more training was in order. cupid went through much more rigorous training, and in 2016, she was revealed to the public through the predebut training team, smrookies, alongside her future member ningning.

debut didn't come easy, but eventually, in november 2020, cupid debuted as a member of aespa with their hit single black mamba. throughout their rookie days, cupid described debuting as "a dream come true". despite the hate aespa often received, cupid was happier than ever.

as the group continued with their career, fans were quick to notice cupid's declining health, both mental and physical. fimhers were pointed every which way, with people blaming the company, the fans, the antis. however, nothing was ever confirmed and it's all considered speculation til today.

eventually, in november 2021, a month after the release of savage, sm announced that cupid would be placed on a "professionally advised" health hiatus. some fans considered it abrupt and some said it was bound to happen, but either way, cupid practically disappeared from all content. the girls, however, still mentioned her often. in february of 2022, giselle claimed that cupid was doing healthy and that she would hopefully be back soon. two months later, sm announced that cupid would be departing from both aespa and the company, after they had came to a "mutual agreement".

this shocked both mys and kpop fans alike, considering how it had seemed that cupid truly would be returning to the group soon. fans begged for explanations, theorized what could've happened, blamed everyone they could— but nothing ever came to light. cupid hasn't mentioned sm since leaving, and the company has returned to the favor.

in june of 2022, aurora labels announced that they had signed cupid and that she was currently preparing a solo debut. this was met with mixed reactions— many were happy she was redebuting, others were angry it was so soon, and others wished she hadn't chosen a "nugu company", with only two groups to their name. nonetheless, cupid redebuted a soloist in december of 2022. her mini album twenty-eight was a hit, and she solidified the fact that many were afraid of: she wasn't going anywhere.

cupid has since been met with her fair share of fame and controversy. she's well loved internationally and often considered an it girl, however, in korea, she is often met with criticism for her every step. too childish, too sexual, a pick me, a try hard, a backstabber.

[bangkoksextoys]

This product never leaves you disappointed

This products giving you 100% pleasure and satisfying your needs. Don't hesitate to buy this toy for self-pleasure.

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[assassinus]

BASICS

FULL NAME: YEONG MIREU [ 영미르 ]

GOVERNMENT NAME: IM MIREU [ 임미르 ]

» MEANING: Yeong [From Sino-Korean 英 (yeong) meaning "flower, petal, brave, hero", as well as other hanja characters that are pronounced similarly. It usually occurs in combination with another character, though it is sometimes used as a stand-alone name. This name was borne by Jang Yeong-sil (where Jang is the surname), a 15th-century Korean scientist and inventor.]; Mireu [From native Korean 미르 (mireu) meaning "dragon." It may be either derived from Old Chinese *mroːŋ (龍) or a cognate with 물 (mul) meaning "water."]

NICKNAME: Yeong, his last name, but he is mostly called by his given name, which is Mireu. After his birth, his father named him after his year of birth which is the Dragon.

AGE: 35-years old.

DATE OF BIRTH: 1988 May 29th, Sunday, Year of The Dragon.

PLACE OF BIRTH: Busan.

OCCUPATION: Hacker and Assassin for Im Family.

RELIGION: N/A

ORIENTATION: Bisexual; Biromantic.

GENDER: Cisgender Male.

VERSES: City of Gods.

SPECIES: Human.

POWERS: He's badass.

PERSONALITY

STRENGTHS: Loyal, Adaptable, Strong, Brave, Passionate.

WEAKNESSES: Indecisive, Inconsistent, Proud, Loner, Anti-social [ sometimes. ]

APPEARANCE

FACE CLAIM: Lee Soo-hyuk.

HEIGHT: 6′0″ [183 cm.]

WEIGHT: 149 lbs. [68 kg.]

BUILD: Athletic. Mireu moves like a cat or so he's told.

GAIT: Confident.

HAIR COLOR: Dark brown.

EYE COLOR: Dark brown.

BIRTHMARK: Some.

OVERVIEW:

» SCARS: Various from fights...

» TATTOOS: Im Clan Tattoo like the other members.

BACKGROUND

HOMETOWN: Busan but he grew up in Seoul.

RESIDENCES: Busan, Seoul, Tokyo, New York, Bangkok.

ETHNICITY: Asian.

FINANCIAL STATUS: He makes good money.

EDUCATION LEVEL: University graduate; the Im Clan made sure that he's educated especially after the head of the family realized he has talent in hacking and arms skills as well.

DEGREES: Computer Science Degree from ETH Zürich in Switzerland.

SPOKEN LANGUAGES: Mireu is fluent in his native Hangul. He speaks Japanese, Mandarin, English, Swiss, German, Russian, Arabic, Spanish, and French.

RELATIONSHIPS

PARENTS: Mireu considers Im Su-hyeon-ssi, Shiro's mother and head of the Im Clan as a parent/mother figure. He was told his father was a loyal member of the family who passed right after he was born. His mother was killed soon after. He was adopted by the clan and raised him as their own.

SIBLINGS: None.

CHILDREN: None.

PETS: None.

SIGNIFICANT RELATIONSHIPS: Mireu serves the head of the clan, Im Su-hyeon and he is loyal to the leader's children, including Shiro. He's acquaintances with Choi Mal-chin and Ahn Ji-hoon. He is exceptionally fond of Eun-bin [ Bunnie ] and treats her as a younger sister. He is one of the very few who doesn't call Eun-bin by her nickname. [ He's probably like how Mal-chin is to Eon... ]

» TBA

FAMILY HISTORY: Mireu was an orphan who was taken in by the Im family. He grew up with the Im children. The fact that he was adopted was not hidden from him but he was not treated any different. He is loyal to the family and is legally named IM MIREU but he also uses his father's family name which Im Su-hyeon encouraged him to do.

ROMANTIC HISTORY: No time for relationships. He's serious about work. He's well aware of what happened to his family, especially his mother, and he feared that being romantically involved with another person might put them in danger.

PLATONIC RELATIONSHIPS: Shiro, Mal-chin, Ji-hoon, Percy. If that's okay?

THOUGHTS ON LOVE: ...

HEALTH

PHOBIA(S): Losing someone very important to him.

HANDICAP(S): None.

MENTAL DISORDER: Depression.

PHYSICAL DISEASE(S): None.

PREDISPOSITION(S): Alcoholism.

[beardedmrbean]

British lawyer Simone White has become the fifth tourist to have died in a suspected mass poisoning in Laos, south-east Asia.

The UK's Foreign Office confirmed the 28-year-old's death on Thursday, saying: "We are supporting the family of a British woman who has died in Laos, and we are in contact with the local authorities."

It comes after the family of 19-year-old Australian national Bianca Jones confirmed her death earlier on the same day.

Hours earlier, the US State Department told the media that an American man died in the tourist town of Vang Vieng.

Two Danish women, aged 19 and 20, also died last week in Laos, Danish authorities confirmed, declining to share more due to confidentiality concerns.

The deaths remain under police investigation, but news reports and testimonies online from other tourists suggest they may have consumed drinks laced with methanol, a deadly substance often found in bootleg alcohol.

Vang Vieng is a small, riverside town in central Laos and a hub for young Westerners backpacking across Southeast Asia. It's home to the Banana Pancake Trail - a popular backpacking route spanning Thailand, Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia.

Jones's friend Holly Bowles is in hospital on life support, while a British woman is also reportedly in hospital.

New Zealand's foreign ministry told local media on Thursday that one of its citizens was also unwell from suspected methanol poisoning. And the Netherlands' foreign affairs ministry said that a Dutch tourist was sent to the hospital but is in stable condition. It is unclear how many others have fallen ill.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the department of foreign affairs had confirmed Jones's death.

"Our first thoughts in this moment are with her family and friends who are grieving a terrible and cruel loss," Albanese said on Thursday afternoon.

"This is every parent's very worst fear and a nightmare that no one should have to endure."

He said he hoped Ms Bowles, who is currently at Bangkok Hospital, would recover well.

The US State Department said it was "closely monitoring" the situation with regards to the American victim, adding that it was up to local authorities to determine the cause of death.

Australian, New Zealand and UK authorities have each warned their citizens to be careful of methanol poisoning when consuming alcohol in Laos.

Nana Backpacker Hostel, where the two Australian women stayed in Vang Vieng, told the BBC that it was closed for police investigation.

The hostel’s manager told the Associated Press that the two women were among more than 100 guests who received free shots of Lao vodka from the hostel. The pair then headed out for the night, he said, adding that no other guests reported health issues.

The manager said he hoped the investigation would clear the hostel’s name, but said they have stopped giving free shots for now.

In a statement to Australian newspaper the Herald Sun, Jones’s family expressed their "deepest gratitude for the overwhelming support, love, and prayers we’ve received from across Australia".

"We kindly ask for privacy as we navigate through our grief and begin to heal," the statement said.

Unlike ethanol, the key component of alcoholic beverages, methanol is toxic to humans. Bootleg liquor producers sometimes add it to their drinks, however, as a cheap way to increase alcohol content.

Earlier this year, at least 57 people in India died after consuming methanol-laced liquor. Similar cases of mass poisoning have also been reported across the world, from the Philippines to Peru. It has hospitalised and even killed dozens in Indonesia over the years, but it has rarely affected tourists.

[nomadicrogue]

BASICS

FULL NAME: WACHIRAPHON BUATHONG

» MEANING: Wachiraphon [ วชิรพล m Thai From Thai วชิร (wachira) meaning "diamond, lightning bolt" and พล (phon) meaning "force, strength, power." ]; Buathong [ บัว (bua) meaning "lotus" and ทอง (thong) meaning "gold." ]

VERSES: Paratime.

NICKNAME(S): War.

AGE: 31-years old.

DATE OF BIRTH: 1992 September 13th, Sunday.

PLACE OF BIRTH: Bangkok, Thailand, Earth156.

OCCUPATION: Well known parallel worlds criminal by the Organization - suspected of various crimes; currently employed by the Organization to pose as the late Officer War from Earth001.

RELIGION: Non-practicing.

ORIENTATION: Bisexual; Biromantic.

GENDER: Cisgender male.

PERSONALITY

STRENGTHS: Loyal, Analytical, Hardworking, Practical, Organized.

WEAKNESSES: Stubborn, Restless, Manipulative, Deceitful, Cheater.

APPEARANCE

FACE CLAIM: Zee Pruk Panich.

HEIGHT: 6'0 ft. [182.88 cm]

WEIGHT: 154 lbs. [70 kg.]

BUILD: Lean, toned.

GAIT: Relaxed.

HAIR COLOR: Black.

EYE COLOR: Dark brown.

BIRTHMARK: 

OVERVIEW: » SCARS: Some scars. » TATTOOS: 

BACKGROUND

HOMETOWN: Bangkok, Thailand, Earth156/Earth001.

RESIDENCES: Bangkok and in various countries. Currently, in Germany.

NATIONALITY: Thai.

ETHNICITY: Asian.

FINANCIAL STATUS: Middle Class.

EDUCATION LEVEL: War Earth156 is a high school drop out. His counterpart is a university graduate in Bangkok and was trained by the Organization through their academy in space.

DEGREES: Degree in Forensics.

SPOKEN LANGUAGES: War is fluent in Thai, English, German, Japanese, and French.

RELATIONSHIPS

PARENTS: Deceased.

SIBLINGS: Yes, younger siblings.

CHILDREN: None.

PETS: None.

SIGNIFICANT RELATIONSHIPS: » War from Earth001 work closely with Hari Schütz.

HISTORY

War was born on Earth156, a rather very rough and tougher version of Earth001. He had a challenging life and struggled to survive by working various odd jobs while growing up until he got involved with one of the dangerous gangs in the area where he lived. This group terrorized various businesses and people and as they grew and became powerful, they expanded, posing threat to other parallel worlds.

The Organization began work on disbanding such criminal groups within various Earths however, due to other well-known criminals acquiring ways to travel to other Earths, it became easier to form bigger groups making the Organization's job a bit harder.

War from Earth156 became a prominent figure, almost as successful as his parallel self in Earth001, a parallel worlds officer who hunt down criminals like War Earth156.

Earth156 War was added to the most wanted list of the Organization after skipping multi-Earths and causing imbalance in the parallel worlds. At the same time, Earth001 War who was one of the officers leading a big investigation into these parallel world groups was ambushed and unfortunately killed during a mission. The incident caused a ripple effect in the parallel worlds, pushing War from Earth156 into the lap of the Organization. The Org realized that without their own version of War, the investigation and mission to bring down the parallel world criminal groups won't succeed so they made a deal with War156; in exchange for a lighter sentence, War would pose as War from Earth001 under the control of Lead Investigator Hari Schütz.

War accepted the deal deciding that for now, it's his best chance of staying out of intergalactic prison and began devising a plan to escape...

ROMANTIC HISTORY: There were lovers in the past but none at the moment.

PLATONIC RELATIONSHIPS: To be added.

THOUGHTS ON LOVE: "None."

HEALTH

PHOBIA(S): None.

HANDICAP(S): None.

MENTAL DISEASE(S): Depression, anxiety.

PHYSICAL DISEASE(S): None that he is aware of.

PREDISPOSITION(S): Alcoholism.

[waitmyturtles]

THE MORNING AFTER: ONLY FRIENDS, EPISODE 1 ("MY PHONE'S STILL NOT WORKING?!") META EDITION

(Unless something changes, I'll be letting loose my Only Friends episodic meta a day late from now to October -- mommy duties call on the weekends! Saturday nights'll be for that GMMTV good-good from here on out.)

So, yesterday's episode was great. I totally enjoyed reading everyone's unhinged pleasure at the first episode yesterday, and I reblogged a whole bunch of stuff and picked up on some early theories. Jojo, Ninew, and Den were having a grand time on Twitter, and it was just a lot of fun to track (JOJO).

Before getting into the meta, just to put this on the record: my first expected and/or hoped-for clown checkpoint is a confirmed and committed throuple (NOT the missed threesome we almost got in this episode, but damn it, missed opportunity!). I understand that @respectthepetty and @shortpplfedup have separately originated a murder/manslaughter clown checkpoint (thanks, @slayerkitty, for THAT heads-up, lol) (and see below re: Mew), which tracks with Jojo's previous comparison to 3 Will Be Free -- am I HOPING for murder? Maybe I'm not HOPING for murder, but for what I'm about to muse on, maybe it won't be a surprise?

@cookie-kat777 (here) and @isaksbestpillow (here) and so many more folks out there are positing that something the fuck is UP with Mew, and I agree. I find him to the the most interesting character so far, simply because he's the only one who's not letting his actions fully tell his story -- he's almost fully in charge of his narrative, as opposed to everyone else so far (Ray, obvious pained drunk; Sand, obviously broke and tired of the BS, cc: @neuroticbookworm, etc).

My read on the kitchen scene is that Mew knew beforehand that he would stop Top in his tracks prior to letting Top in. Mew is clearly a game-player, slamming that bell during bar trivia (....... y'all, that was a HELL of a lot of drinking for bar trivia, HA), and it just struck me that there was a "win" in Mew getting Top to move towards commitment before Mew gives up his thang. I smell narcissism on the dude. Mew's not acting like a blushing maiden, quite the opposite, he knew FULL WELL what he was doing when he let Top in -- but I want to know his goal in getting Top to settle down and in first.

And moving towards faen in a week? (A WEEK?!) (UM.) For Top to bag commit to Mew -- a virgin! -- that quickly, particularly in the face of the conversation he had previously had with Boston about getting with Mew in the first place: what's Top's ultimate priority here, as well? Top's going to commit to someone he hasn't slept with yet? Color me surprised. What, to show up Boston? Is that how playas play? I dunno, we'll see. I'm not sure that Boston is a strong enough reason. Maybe there's a male-toxicity-driven shallange that's coloring this narrative, but I'll wait to find out more.

Other quick thoughts: what's the source of Ray's pain that's driving him to multiple and regular black-outs? What's Sand so tired of? (Family strife, poverty, rich kids, etc. -- what's happening there). What's up with Cheum, Mew, and Boston leaving Ray to stumble to his car alone -- especially now that it's clear that he has a pattern of blacking out and showing up to school hungover?

I don't want to project, but I'm gonna: this is a hell of a heavy drinking crew, partying QUITE hard and regularly. If Jojo's previous references to at least Gay OK Bangkok stand, I'm wondering if one overarching commentary/lesson we're going to get out of Only Friends is -- escaping to the bottle is not the best way to mitigate yours or anyone else's issues. We know he's framed shows around health issues before, GOKB and The Warp Effect as the most prominent. Let's see.

Speaking of Gay OK Bangkok, I offer another OF clown checkpoint: in my review of GOKB, I posited that Pom of GOKB and Shin of 3 Will Be Free are avatars of a very similar character style -- virgins, glasses-wearing, and unassumingly wiley in their ability to survive in a competitive world. I think Mew joins that avatar crew, but in a much more insidious fashion. Let's see. I love that Jojo is playing around with this style.

One more clown checkpoint I'm gonna put out there is that Jojo and Ninew do not let the recent Thai political turmoil escape this show. I don't know HOW it'll even work, but I have my eyes sharply peeled, because the political craziness was going down literally as they were filming the show. We'll see -- I'll likely be wrong, but ya never know.

I think that's it! I LOVE Jennie, I can't wait to see Nonnie, and Drake -- welcome back to the boys, my friend. This episode was fantastic, but by FAR the best part about yesterday was seeing the filmmakers go totally insane on social media, hyping their work and their people -- damn. When the artists KNOW what they made is good, then that's just like, it's cookies for us. Jojo and Den are out there replying to fans, and it’s just awesome. What a ride already!