Cynus

Thanks, Richard. It was easy to include Baba Yaga, as she's stuck out from my childhood as well. I don't remember where I first learned about her, but I always found the concept of a with that chases you by a walking house to be a frightening thing. It's a good thing Viktor's chemistry teacher really isn't a witch! I look forward to your thoughts as you get futher into the story. Thank you for the review!

I have three best friends in the world. We've been through hell together. We've had great times as well, and have supported each other more times than I can count. I've known them all for a decade and a half and one of them for two decades. Through all of that, we've become like brothers. But we still appreciate the formalities. We love our little rituals, and they've brought us closer together. I think our four protagonists feel the same way, and they wanted to ensure Vladimir felt like part of the group. I love that comment about the dual nakedness. I honestly hadn't thought of the physical vulnerability in that scene, only the emotional side. To me, a bathhouse is just a bathhouse, but now that you point out the comparison . . . I love it! Viktor is a closet exhibitionist. His initial reluctance was born predominantly from his wariness over loving a boy in the first place. Now that he's over that, you'll see him going down the exhibitionist route a little more often. Thank you for the review, and thank you for all your participation on the forums as well. I appreciate everything you do.

It is just book 1 in a series. I have several planned, though I've only begun working on the second. You'll see it around September, more likely than not. I'm grateful for your response, and that the story was able to evoke all of those emotions within you. I hope you'll enjoy my next story, "Fearless", as well. Thank you for reading, and thank you for the review! If you have a moment, stop by the forum topic for favorite characters from the story and vote. D

There is a reason, and it's already being addressed. The sequel will be out around September unless some unforeseen circumstances interfere. I have two chapters of it written already, and I'm well into chapter 3. Until then, I'll have a new story posting in two weeks titled "Fearless". I hope you'll check it out. Thank you for reading, and thank you for the review! If you have a moment, stop by the forum topic for favorite characters from the story and vote.

Thanks! I'm glad you enjoyed the ending. At this point in the story, I considered Dante the hero (with Nobuyuki still being a bit of an antihero) and I wanted him to confess his feelings to everyone. This scene was born from that, and I loved every second of writing it. I think it's probably the section which flowed the easiest throughout the entire process. Thank you for reading, and thank you for the review! If you have a moment, stop by the forum topic for favorite characters from the story and vote.

I trust that you liked it, then?

They're about even for me. I prefer an interesting story with interesting characters. The person below me is excited for summer (or winter if you're in the Southern Hemisphere).

“I can’t believe we’re coming back here,” Vladimir grumbled as he looked up at the Horizons hotel. Not only was he going to the place where Alexi had been tortured, but the weather was ruining his mood just as much. It was cold and rainy, and it made the thin line of his fresh scar itch. “Well, believe it, ‘cause we’re here,” Dante said as they turned along the side of the building toward the service door. He grinned at Vladimir to take the sting out of his sass, but Vladimir just stuck

Probably the time I invited all of my friends over, including the older boy I was infatuated with (I'd still drop everything for him if he gave me a chance). He came, despite how he initially grumbled about hanging out with all of the young guys. He and I ended up becoming even closer after that. (Though never as close as I wanted to be...) Same Q

Haunted Same Q I positively love your answer!

The sequel "Ghosts Leave No Footprints" is already in the works. I have a chapter and a half done, but I won't be posting it until September at the earliest. I don't start posting a story until it's finished being written. I think I deliver a better product that way. Thank you for the feedback and letting me know how and why you voted this way.

Hey everyone! I'm hoping for some feedback on the characters in "From The Cup of The Worthless" as a means of improving my own ability at writing character development. I'd love to hear your thoughts and not just the poll results, but I'll take what I can get! Thanks. -Cynus

In a mountain temple just above the timberline of a tropical rain forest, with a cool rain enveloping everything. I'd sit there on the edge of the temple wall, sipping tea and enjoying the weather . . . *sigh* New Question: What emotion exists at the core of your being?

I used to, but I've given it up recently (for the most part) because it's begun making me sick . . . The person below me adores coffee.

In inherited a Korean cookbook this week, does that count? The person below me would travel anywhere in the world if the trip were paid for, even somewhere dangerous.

I would if I lived in a house instead of a small apartment. There's not a lot of room to host anything in here. The person below me loves the sound of rain.

I can't believe it's going to be finished on Wednesday... But it's liberating in a sense, as well. I think that's why I'm able to work on the sequel now. By the way . . . there's a sequel on the way. Look for it in September! Until then, I hope all of you will check out my new story which will post in approximately two weeks. "Fearless", the tale of a gay high school student who wants nothing more than to come out to his class, but for some reason it never quite works out. But what do you do when life gives you lemons? Shove them down the throat of the asshole who gave them to you...

Welcome, Brady!

Despite all the great advice from all of you, it seems that I'll actually be writing the sequel to "From The Cup of The Worthless" because chapter one is writing like a dream. Thank you all for your support, and I think you've all made some excellent points. I do need to trust my muse and write what comes to me, instead of playing to the audience. As for your advice, Ron, my muse has taken me down such paths before, and I've loved it every time I've stepped outside my comfort zone, though it was certainly daunting. I wrote my first historical fiction that way, and I joined my first writing contest that way, and both are experiences I'll never forget and I learned from. It's great advice, so thank you.

Welcome, Taquin!

I hear a rumor that might be in the works.

Elliot immediately reminded me of one I've recently created. That sarcastic way of thinking combined with a flair for the profane . . . it warms my roguish teenage heart. I loved the back and forth between the parents and Elliot. I'm a sucker for green eyes. Hopefully this "AJ" turns out to be as wonderful as his eye color. My favorite line in this chapter: Need I tell you that this is probably why I was still a virgin… this godforsaken nuttiness I like where this is headed. I'll give you some more constructive criticism by PM.

I thought about claiming this as my favorite chapter, but then I knew tim would give me shit about it. (PS. Love you, tim) I planned Mikhail's affair with Luca from near the beginning, believe it or not. It's one of the few things about the ending I had actually predetermined, despite changing the ending several times while writing this. He's always been this wounded man who was trying to protects his children from a harsh world. A common theme in this story, actually. Masahiro did have a lot to deal with, didn't he? What an unfortunate turn for him all around. But he's a strong man, and he'll be able to come back from it. He's lost people before, though this is certainly a blow to everything he believed in. Thank you for the review. I'm excited to see you on the other end of the epilogue.

Yes, there are a couple of things missing, though there have to be some things left for the sequel. Pretend I didn't just say that. The fun thing about your protagonists and antagonists both being criminals is that you get to humanize everyone. It's a perk of the subject matter, I think. Most criminals are in the life out of necessity. Could Masahiro do something different with his life? He could probably run a legitimate casino somewhere, now, where it's not illegal, but it's his years in the Yakuza which gave him that experience. Nobuyuki has a chance to get out of the life, but will he ever take it? Masahiro would support that decision, but he's also grooming Nobuyuki to replace him, so what would be the outcome? I honestly have no idea, because I haven't written that. (Spoiler alert: Nobuyuki doesn't leave the Yakuza in the epilogue) Thank you for the review!

The problem with Daisuke, and why he had to die anyway, was that his actions directly led to the deaths of six other Yakuza operatives. The betrayal of Masahiro aside, that's something which could not be left unpunished. But Satoshi knew this as well as Daisuke did, and also knew Daisuke deserved a chance at honor in the end (which is the purpose of seppuku). Masahiro didn't want to do it, but he was going to order Daisuke's execution anyway, but at least he didn't have to kill his own son. Thank you for reading, and reviewing. I look forward to your thoughts on the epilogue as well.