Valentin Ilya Luskotov

Valentin Ilya Luskotov is a sweet, troubled boy. His father, Konstantin, came to America from Russia on a work visa for 6 months. During that time, he met Valentin's mother, Joyce. They fell in love and got married, making Konstantin a citizen of the United States. They were a relatively happy, healthy couple until a few months into her pregnancy. It took a toll on Joyce's mental health and it only got worse as she got closer to her due date. When Valentin was born, she wanted nothing to do with him. Konstantin had to beg her not to put him up for adoption. He named his son since Joyce didn't care enough to. 

As Valentin grew up, the turmoil in their household got worse and worse. Valentin was home schooled and never let out of the house. Joyce hated Valentin and resented Konstantin for making her keep the child. She verbally and mentally abused them both for 9 years before the physical abuse started. Konstantin couldn't divorce her because he would be deported back to Russia and would have to leave his son with her. Valentin ran away when he was 15. His dad packed him a backpack filled with food, a blanket, a prepaid cell phone, and all the money he could get a hold of. He told his son to text him every now and then so he could know he's okay. 

He made his way to a far away town where he explained his situation to the owner of a small coffee shop. There, he was given work "under the table" due to needing parental permission for a legal job. His employer, Jessie, grew to like him and allowed him to rent a room in her house for a low cost. Over the course of a few years, she became a comforting figure that he could rely on, almost like the mother he never had. Seeing him around the house, Jessie’s son, Quinton, and Valentin befriended one another. They grew closer and closer, eventually realizing that they had romantic feelings for one another. Jessie finds out eventually and is upset at first, but accepts it after a deep conversation with her son. She helps them find and move into their own apartment. 

Valentin, being 18, no longer needed permission to get a job, so he applies to a second job to bring in more funds. He's hired as a dishwasher in a local diner. A mother and two kittens took shelter in the small backyard of the apartment. Quinton and Valentin left out food and water for them and tried to keep an eye on them, but one day, the mother didn't return. They waited for her to come back, even leaving out plates of Tuna and making kissy noises to try to attract her if she was nearby, but it was no use. They brought the kittens inside and decided to keep them (unbeknownst to their landlord). 

Valentin still kept in close contact with his father throughout the years. A few months after turning 18, he started meeting with his dad behind his mother's back. One of those times, Konstantin turned on the gas stove on high and pulled the curtain close to the flame before leaving. Unfortunately, Joyce died in a fire that consumed almost all of their estate. Konstantin feigned extreme grief, even setting up a loving funeral service for her. He collected the insurance money and bought a nicely sized 2-story brick house. Ivy lined the sides of the house and wrapped around the wrought iron window grates. Konstantin told Valentin that he's welcome to live in the house, considering that his son is the only reason he survived his late wife. 

Currently, Valentin and Quinton have been officially together for a year. They love to dress their now 4 month old kittens in tiny sweaters and ribbons. Mocha and Chai are sweet little babies. They both love their adoptive dads, but Chai is a little more sweet on Valentin, while Mocha is closer with Quinton. Since they moved in, they adopted two more cats, both of whom love Konstantin. Polina and Moya are Konstantin's babies, though they also love the other occupants of the house. 

Things aren't all good in their lives, of course. Arguments break out, tragedy strikes, and life happens. However, Valentin is finally in a home filled with love, which is all he ever could've hoped for.