Cynus

And here are Vladimir's. I had two which were rather close, and I thought I'd use both. Number 2:

I guess I tend to think of Viktor as being rather soft, myself. Considering the affiliations of the others, I like having his looks serve as additional contrast to them. Here's Nobuyuki. I only found him recently. I had a different one which might have served for him when he was 14 or so, but this one is much better.

That can be arranged. :) When Dante was created, it wasn't with this picture in mind, but as soon as I came across it I knew it fit him perfectly. Since he is my favorite character, I have to say his picture is also my favorite. :) Here's Viktor. He's actually a Swedish singer named Ulrik Munther, but I like the thought of Viktor having a bit of Swedish ancestry. If you want to think of what Viktor's mother looked like, imagine Viktor but older and female.

Did that come anywhere near what you had in your head, Cole? :)

For anyone who may still be reading this story, here's a picture of what I imagine Dante to look like. :)

Thanks, everyone! :) I hope you'll continue to enjoy it. In my biased opinion, it only gets better from here. Thanks for reading!

"From the Cup of the Worthless" will begin posting soon, but I thought I'd give this new forum a try. :) It is the story of high school student Nobuyuki Sato, an atypical hero with a troubled past, and the troubles he faces in his new home, Vladivostok, the largest city on the Russian Eastern seaboard. As a member of the Yakuza, Nobuyuki is always on the lookout for a new way to gain an advantage for himself and his Yakuza family. When he meets Viktor Karimov, son of the Chief of Police in Vladivostok, he contrives a new plan for increasing his standing within the ranks of the Yakuza, and to make a powerful friend. With interference from the Russian Mafia and American-run Italian Mob, has Nobuyuki received more than he bargained for?

I'm not currently available for editing, unfortunately, though the base concept surrounding your story is interesting to me. My ex girlfriend was biologically male, and I learned a lot about transgender issues and what body dysphoria was like during our time together. I think it's a very interesting subject, and should be explored a lot more often, not only for the benefit of those going through it, but also to promote the understanding of those who have not. And so, with that in mind, I wish you luck on this story and also hope you'll continue to explore it. And on that note, I wanted to address the point you made above, specifically "I cannot write about sex change because it is not in my experience". This is something I think you could work on, as all writers can work on. Many writers are limited in their scope of experience, and this is what research is for. Don't back away from a concept which will make your story stronger (Not saying it will in this case. That's for you to decide as the author), instead, delve into the subject deeper and learn about it. Watch interviews of people who've gone through the experience. Read articles about the science surrounding it. Learn it, so you can write it. You won't lose credibility, you'll end up gaining it, if you really care about the subject. That's my opinion, anyway. :)

Thank you for your kind words. I appreciate that it worked out that way for you. :)

Oh yes, I discovered this some time ago and absolutely adored it!

Thank you, Graeme, Lug, Bruin, and Nigel. I'm glad you all enjoyed it. :) This was a joy to write this year.

If Halloween has anything to do with the devil, then it was the Christians who put it there when they bastardized the holiday.

Thank you to Emperor Roland over at CastleRoland.net for sharing this. This video made my day if not my year. http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=13536127

This was the first Cole Parker story I ever read, and the story which led me to AwesomeDude in the first place. I love this one.

Looks to me as if all three of the Beckham boys are going to grow up to be just as handsome as their father.

Nigel had me look over this story a couple of months ago. I loved it, and eagerly anticipated the reaction here. I'm glad to see that it had the same effect on others as it had on me. :)

I'm sure that many of you have noticed the similar forum topic down below on the Codey's World forums, but I wanted to make sure it was closer to the top of the page. Ryan Bartlett, a former author of AwesomeDude, is no longer with us in this world. He passed away on August 31st at the age of 37. He was a gifted author, and to me he was a great friend. He was not without his faults, and he rubbed many people the wrong way, but at the same time he was a man who fought for what he believed to be right with a passion rarely seen in this world. May he rest in peace. From Dave at Dabeagle, the online contact who knew Ryan best. I have just spoken with Ryan's pastor. Like his characters in Sanitaria Springs, he was a Methodist. I have found out that he initially thought he had food poisoning. When he didn't come to church this past Sunday, he was checked on and found to be unable to stand. He was rushed to the hospital and found to be septic. His heart coded three times. His mom was told that it would be a good idea to disconnect him, his body had taken a lot of abuse. His mother was spared that horrible decision as Ryan coded again and they were unable to revive him. Services will be Saturday the 19th of September. I plan to send flowers with a message that they are from his friends and family in Sanitaria Springs - his pastor approved. I had a long conversation with her. Any of you who have visited our little town, please consider these flowers to be from all of us. http://www.chapelofthelight.com/obituaries/Randy-Brown-5/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=autopost#!/Obituary

This poem is dedicated to the memory of Ryan Bartlett. Another Passage By Cynus What fleeting life and fleeting time, Has rendered me without a friend? For the clock has struck its final chime, And now the pyre burns. I wonder where the time has gone, For my friend journeys with it still, To the end of all and then beyond, This world no longer his concern. I cannot help but reminisce, Through words; the craft we both pursued, Of times which we will not have hence, And memories for which I yearn. Be well, my friend, and journey forth, This is not the ending of your tale. Your words will tarry with their worth, And bring about your oft return.

Don't you come during 69 not after?

I've been watching videos of him all morning now . . . This is my favorite one of Harrison's that I came across.

Thank you to everyone, and I'm glad you enjoyed the tale. I appreciate everyone who stuck through to the end, and Silas and the others appreciate it as well. :) I hope you'll all be around for the sequel, whenever I get around to writing it. ;)

My thoughts are with you and your family. Be at peace, Colin. :)

She was always one to stick her nose in places it shouldn't be. :)

This has been handled. Thank you. :)

Accidental Talmudist Willem Arondeus was a Dutch resistance fighter who gave his life trying to protect his Jewish countrymen from the Nazis. Born in Amsterdam in 1895, Willem was one of six children. From a young age, he was a talented artist and his parents encouraged his creativity, until he came out as homosexual at age 17. In a time when nearly all gay people were in the closet, Willem’s parents could not accept his choice to live openly. Their rejection led Willem to run away from home. On his own, Willem took odd jobs and eventually became a successful visual artist and writer. He was commissioned to paint a mural for Rotterdam’s town hall, in a style that combined modern abstract painting with a traditional Dutch motif. Willem was a well-respected author who published a popular biography of Dutch painter and political activist Matthijs Maris. In 1940, Germany invaded the Netherlands. Willem immediately joined the resistance movement, and urged his fellow artists to fight against the Nazi occupation. WIllem published illegal anti-Nazi pamphlets calling for mass resistance against the Germans. Willem was especially committed to saving Amsterdam’s Jewish community. Bringing in others to the cause, Willem arranged for Dutch Jews to be hidden in people's homes. He used his artistic skills to create false identity papers. In 1943, Willem hatched a brazen plan. Dressed as a German Army captain, and with 15 men behind him, Willem boldly marched into the Public Record Office, where lists identifying people as Jews were kept. Willem drugged the guards and planted a firebomb. The resulting blaze destroyed tens of thousands of documents, and delayed or prevented many Jews from being identified by the Nazis. Unfortunately, Willem was captured by the Germans and sentenced to death. Willem's last words before being executed in July, 1943 were, "Let it be known that homosexuals are not cowards.” In 1986 Yad Vashem recognized Arondeus as Righteous Among the Nations. Because of his sexual orientation, Willem’s story was omitted from Dutch history books. Only in the last 20 years has his courage become widely known. For his efforts to save lives at the expense of his own, we honor Willem Arondeus as this week’s Thursday Hero at Accidental Talmudist.