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shinidamachu · 4 years

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Tale As Old As Time

Summary: InuYasha, Kagome, movie night trope and my Disney obsession walk into a bar... Pre-canon fluff. Word Count: 2.159 Genre: fluff Fandom: InuYasha Pairing: Inukag Format: oneshot AO3 Link: 🌹 Fanfic.Net Link: 🌹

“Time to go to bed, birthday boy.” Mrs. Higurashi planted a kiss to Sota’s forehead and the sleepy child grunted softly.

“I’m not tired.” He protested, immediately yawning and contradicting his already fragile point.

“Yes, you are. Come on, now. It’s late. Grandpa is sleeping and I’d like to rest too.”

InuYasha observed the two of them interacting, as he often did. There was a feeling that always came along with it. He couldn’t quite put a nail on the head of it. Something between the most harmless kind of envy and the saddest type of longing. The sensation of a beautiful dream that escaped him by morning, forever out of reach, no matter how hard he tried to make the pieces of it to rise up again in the horizon of his mind.

He remembered his mother to be just as tender.

But did she ever kiss his forehead that way? Did they ever argue over sleeping time, InuYasha and his boyish stubbornness, she and her heavenly patience? How much of her was truly a memory and how much was his wishful imagination? The longer the years went, the thinner the line separating illusion from reality got. InuYasha feared the day would come, when he couldn’t tell the difference at all.

“Fine.” The boy gave in, fatigue stronger then his will and eyes barely open as he stood up and made his way upstairs. “Good night, everybody!”

“Sleep well!” Kagome replied.

“G’night, kid.”

“InuYasha,” Called Mrs. Higurashi, “I take you’re spending the night?”

“Y-yeah. If that’s alright, I mean.”

“Of course it’s alright, dear! We don’t have a spare room, but we do have extra pillows. Kagome can get you one or two. Do you mind sleeping on the couch?”

InuYasha turned to Kagome, who promptly took his questioning look for what it was. Smiling, she tapped the comfortable surface of the furniture they were currently sitting on, mouthing ‘couch’ to translate her mother’s intentions.

It still caught him off guard, the extent of caring that lady nurtured for his well being. She had absolutely no obligation to. No motivation, other than the pure compassion of her heart. The same compassion he saw in her daughter.

“Oh! No, I don’t mind at all. Thank you.”

When it came to Kagome’s mom, he couldn’t help to be overly-polite. Even if by other people’s standards, that equaled to merely being polite. For reasons he couldn’t comprehend, but that went beyond returning her gentle favors, it was crucial to be in the woman’s good graces. Maybe a small part of him wanted to be reminded how did it feel, getting used to motherly kindness.

“You’re welcome. Now, don’t you two stay up too late. I won’t let you go off to fight demons in the feudal era without a proper breakfast.”

“We won’t.” Kagome assured her. And that appeared to be enough.

Following after her son, Mrs. Higurashi wished them sweet dreams and before he knew it, he was alone with Kagome.

It was Sota’s birthday, which, InuYasha learned, meant that a decade ago, on this exact day, the little guy was born. To celebrate the occasion, his family reserved the whole day so they could share delicious meals and bask on each other’s company. And to InuYasha’s surprise, his presence was requested there as well.

It wouldn’t be the first time he stayed over, but it was the first time her mom was aware of it. More than aware, encouraged him to do it. Even if InuYasha was fluent in the language of affection, even if he found the perfect words to explain it, he doubted one day she’d understand how much he valued her trust and acceptance.

Kagome cuddled up to InuYasha under the blanket they shared, tangling their arms and allowing her head to fall on his shoulder. His entire body stiffened in response. Was she really that oblivious to the effect she had on him or did she know just what she was doing? He was never able to figure it out. Regardless, resisting the sense of serenity that came with every aftershock was an impossible thing to do. As usual, InuYasha quickly surrendered. And as long as white flags consisted on leaning towards her touch, he was no opposed to it.

“She stayed.” and mesmerised, InuYasha stared at the magical box in front of them — a television, Kagome had told him. In her world, it seemed, there was something new to learn whenever he thought he had everything figured out. For the past four or so hours, they had been watching story after story unfold inside the strange device and Kagome had taken advantage of her brother’s crescent exhaustion to play some of her favorites.

“She couldn’t leave him there to die! He just saved her life.”

“Isn’t he a demon of sorts?”

“A beast.”

“Then it would have been fine, either way. He’s clearly stronger than humans.”

“Maybe. But she needed to see it for herself.”

“Why?”

Kagome sighed.

“Because she’s already falling in love with him.”

Frowning, he mentally replayed the scenes, searching his brain for the signals he had so obviously missed.

The beast character was in love. InuYasha had no doubt about it. The girl had his heart the instant she volunteered to take her father’s place as his prisoner. He longed for her presence — despite her refusal to indulge him — and put effort into treating her nicely — despite not extending the same courtesy to anyone else. Everything she said, everything she did, had the power to drag him down or sweep him off his feet. He struggled with expressing the sentiment, his pride and bad temper getting in the way. But it was there. The situation was all too relatable for InuYasha not to recognize it.

The girl, though? The idea of her falling in love with the likes of him was absurd. Why would she? It was to be expected that someone graced with such intelligence and beauty would have known her own value better than to fall for a monster.

And yet, Kagome was right.

The tale went on and the girl took the beast to safety. A life for a life. They were even. She was free to go.

Still, she stayed by his side until he healed and every day after that. Because she could see right through his tough facade and was never being afraid of giving him a piece of her mind. And he saw her in return, welcoming the habits her own village judged her for maintaining. Against all odds, they understood each other like the last two native speakers of a tongue long claimed by oblivion.

Of their own accord, InuYasha’s eyes fell into Kagome.

“The best part is coming up.” She announced, thankfully snapping him out of his treacherous thoughts.

Song started playing, a sweet melody filling the air. All of the sudden, Kagome was moving the furniture around.

“Watcha doin’?”

Rather than responding, the priestess took him by the hand and guided him to the center of the room. Dumbfound, InuYasha watched as she silently raised his arm at shoulders height, placing his free palm firmly on her back right after.

By the time InuYasha picked up her intentions, they were already spinning around, dancing barefoot under the television light.

InuYasha had never learned how to dance. Between a battle for his life and the next, the opportunity didn’t present itself and, to be honest, the notion he was missing out on something hadn’t occurred to him. The whole thing seemed so out of his brutal reality, it was almost futile.

And despite finding himself wishing he had the necessary skills to better follow her movements, InuYasha discovered dancing with Kagome to be a surprisingly easy task. There was something peculiarly natural about the way she rested her head over his chest as they slowly swayed to the rhythm. He wondered if she noticed the inflation of it as he breathed her in, the scent he had grown to love so much overflowed his senses with a hint of corn and butter.

Kagome pulled away from him on cue with the song, using the hand holding hers to whirl away from him without ever breaking contact, only to swirl back to his embrace. The more they repeated the steps, the more his confidence grew and, passed the awkward phase, InuYasha was actually enjoying himself.

Too soon, the tune came to an end.

InuYasha stood there, unsure of what to do. Self awareness manifested itself hot pink on his cheeks. He had just danced with Kagome. And he had liked it. And he wanted to keep going.

She stared at him, a big smile on her face as if he was the one to give her a present and not the other way around.

“I always wanted to do that,” she confessed in a nervous laugh. Her gaze avoided his but her body remained in place, pleasantly close. “Anyway… Thanks for coming today. It meant a lot to Sota.”

“Y-yeah, no problem.”

Belle… Are you… Happy here with me?

Yes!

The distant voices brought the half demon down to Earth. For a second there, he had forgotten all about everything that wasn’t her. Their words sank in and InuYasha felt his curiosity blossom. He had to ask, even if the answer scared the shit out of him.

“Are you?”

“Huh?”

“Happy there with me... Are you?”

“Of course!” Guaranteed Kagome. “Why would you ever doubt that?”

There was an unspoken rule to never talk about it. The subject was too delicate, too painful to discuss. Kagome being Kikyo’s reincarnation and falling down that well was not an unpretentious whim of fate. It carried purpose, and once that purpose was fulfilled… Well, he’d rather fight Naraku over and over than having to face the dreading thought of an after.

Miroku and Sango had their future set. Defeating Naraku meant getting rid of the Wind Tunnel and setting Kohaku free, one way or the other. They could finally get married, start a family. Even Shippo had plans to keep doing those fox demon exams in order to improve his powers. InuYasha seemed to be the only one in the dark. His goal was to become a full demon, but that was then. What he wanted now and who he wanted with, had changed into something way more uncertain.

When they defeat Naraku, Kagome won’t hang out in his era as often. Without any further obligations there, she could dispense as many time she judged appropriate for her school thing and they would only see each other sporadically.

There was also the real possibility the Honekui no Ido would close forever. With their mission done, so was the need to allow their temporal trips, and that meant separation. As far as logic goes, he didn’t belong in her world and she didn’t belong in his.

Yet, she fitted into his life so well.

The prospect of Kagome choosing to live in the past with him was his favorite ‘what if’. But he had no right to ask her such thing of her, nor was he selfish to the point of actually doing it. She was his friend and even if they were something more, it was crazy to think she would drop her friends, family and everything she knows just for him. How could he ever compete with that?

“I dunno, you do run off here a lot. I guess I just thought you didn’t like there as much.”

“I’m sorry I made you feel this way, InuYasha. But it’s not the case at all. It’s just… I have a life here too, you know?”

“Keh. ‘Course I do.”

She smiled fondly

“Aren’t I lucky to have two places to call home?”

Something inside him melted into a smile of his own.

Their tomorrow was a cloudy day. Changeable and blurry. All he could do was hoping it would clear up.

Of one thing, though, InuYasha was certain: if she so wanted, he could leave everything behind and stay in her side of the well as it closes. The place was loud, too crowded for his taste and the smells were overwhelming, but they would be together and for him that was home.

“I suppose.”

“Come on, let’s watch the rest of the movie. It has the perfect ending.”

Doing as he was told, InuYasha walked to the couch, where Kagome nestled against him again.

Maybe it was foolish not telling her how he felt, how he have been feeling for a while now. It sounded insane to ignore the fear of losing her, of losing his home, always there lurking in the shadows. Maybe he was a mad man for keeping all of the things he desperately needed reassurance of at bay in exchange of enjoying that moment with her.

But right then, the hope of another dance was enough.

A/N: THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE 1K OR LESS, THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE 1K OR LESS, THIS WAS S-

Thank you all for reading. Maybe you've noticed I'm writing fluff stories a little more. I feel like it's not my best suit so I'm trying to give it practice. Still have a lot to improve and this wasn't edited, so be nice.

Anyway... Here is something sweet for @sophtin (and my self indulgent ass). Hope you rot your teeth, baby.

#Well you said you needed some fluff #Here ya go #Also unrelated note but this fandom need to chill a little bit #Peace #My writing #Inukag #Inukag fluff #InuYasha #Kagome #Inukag oneshot #Kagome Higurashi #Tale As Old As Time

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saphirafoxgirlspost1 · 5 years

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(Open Rp) Romance, Bendy and The Ink Machine, Autumn and Drama in "The Beauty And Abomination"

If you Were Wondering, Why This Studio was Deserted and abandoned...While Me Into a Deep Slumber Into My Lovely Room where Its No cobwebs Nor Dust..Let me tell you From the Very Beginning About 30 years ago Since Henry Stine Left...I became a Lovely Star Of The Bendy Shows that I adored Since I was a Little Innocent Child..My Name is Saphira Lorraina Fox, But Everyone in the Studio Called Me "Saphy The Lovely Kitsune" I've been Working With Mr. Joey Drew For 4 years and Henry is Like a Sweet Big Brother to me...But When he Left without say good-byes..Its Been Months,, I Saw Mr. Drew Talking to My good Buddy Tom Connor, He Maybe a Grumpy ass Hound But He has a good Soft Spot somewhere..As I entered to my Luxury room..Above over the vault where I Can Hear and See a Lovely View...He Build a Fake garden with lights for me as a Special Gift for a star....Until I hear Voices Coming out from the Filter...It was Like Someone Was Calling my Name... Then I said in the Filter..

Saphira: Here I am...Who are you Down there?

?????: S-s-sApHy...Is..ThAt...YoU?

Saphira: Well.. yes I am.. But Who are you?

?????: BeNdY..

Saphira: Bendy?? THE Bendy??

???:Y-yes...

Saphira: Look.. I'll tell you what. I'll send a Letter For you Every night.. I promise ok??

????: ThAt WiLl bE LoVeLy...SaPhY...

Saphira: And also..You Sounded sweet...Maybe I'll See you when my time is come ok? I Promise

????: ThAnK YoU..SaPhY..

Saphira: Your welcome...Bendy

The Next Morning, I heard Susie Campelle crying as I come and Comfort her and Telling her that It'll Turn out Wonderful..and I said "Alice, No Matter where you come from. Heaven From above and Hell From below But My Dear Alice, you made a Quite of the Show in Town..But Please please.. Don't Feel Down...Will You Put Your Sadness in the Box For your Good friend The Fox?" Then Susie made a Small Smile with a Nod, Knowing that I was Right that Everything Will Turn out Ok..Then..The Next Day came, I emerges from my Room While wearing a Nice Blue Fuzzy Robe with a Good Fox Slippers while holding a Mug of Moontea To my Day better..Then Suddenly I Saw Susie was Literaly Alice angel..I was Shocked and Suprised about it..I knew it turns out ok..But Now..I think She Dyed her hair and Maybe has a Surgary with those two Horns and Boy, She was Wonderful gal in the world. She has her own Studio and I have mine..But Something was off though.....In my Believes that She has a Long day of the Adoring fans too..But then..I began to Sing a Lovely Song on myself too. My Voice Is Like Silk and heavenly..It was So heavenly that..Every Angels was Jealous..and I started to sing after I Pull Out a harp and Play that Instrument..

Saphira: ~Lips ripe as the berries in june Red the rose, red the rose Skin pale as the light of the moon Gently as she goes. Eyes blue like the sea and the sky Water flows, water flows Heart burning like fire in the night Gently as she goes.~

*Vocaling as the Spirit fox Sings too heavenly*

~Lips ripe as the berries in june Red the rose, red the rose Skin pale as the light of the moon Gently as she goes. Eyes blue like the sea and the sky Water flows, water flows Heart burning like fire in the night Gently as she goes. Gently as she goes.~

During my Singing, Everyone Heard it and Came to me..One of them ask Who I am Or so..I told them That I'm Saphy The Lovely Kitsune..Everyone Now Adoring me..But I Saw Alice.. With a Shock and jealousy Look in Her eyes...I told them that.. Me And Alice are hitting a Best Screens..After all this...Joey was Impress But...Alice was Jealoud and Hated Me now...I didn't mean to stole credits..But that night.. I wrote Bendy a Special Letter..

"Dearest Bendy, I Become famous and also Met Alice..Well..She hated me and I didn't mean to hurt her like that..Good thing, I told them that She and I will hit the best screens..But She hates liars...I tried to apoligize For my Singing...I was So Ashamed... I bet you Wouldn't Listen to my Beautiful Singing Voice..But My Big Brothers..Norman and Jack..Told me That never Let a bad Things gets through me and pulling me Down..You Should meet them..They're very Sweet and They always Acting Like a Big Brothers to me..and I love them As they are my Family.. I hope you know about myself..and I really really Love to see you but it's not my time..Love Yours Truely, Saphira"

So I fold a Letter in half and dropped it at the filter and knowing that bendy will read it..Weeks pass.. After I wrote every letter to bendy in That Very Night..I heard a Strange Racket...So I get up with my Pjs on and Open the door and Saw Mr. Drew with Bruises on his face and nose bleed. So I asked..."Mr. Drew?? Are you ok? Whats going on? Where's Big Brother Norman?? Is he Ok?" Then Joey Said with a Weird and Mysterious Smile.....

#Open rp #Romance #Drama #Bendy and the Ink Machine

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iamkatehardy · 5 years

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The Portrait (Alfie Solomons x Reader) - Pt 1

Request: “ Want Alfie requests???” – Oh yes, I freakin’ do! *.* - “How about a bad ass reader (maybe shelby sibling) who's trying to debate with Alfie over something gang related but can’t help noticing how tired and sort of sad he is, and hes intrigued by her and then soft fluffinessssss with two tired souls :')” by @picassho-18

Warnings: Cursing?

A/N: It’s just an introduction about how Alfie and (Y/N) Shelby met, but I haven’t posted in a long time and I was dying to upload something! Altough it might seem a little bit incomplete, Pt 2 will be here tomorrow 😍 Let me know what you think!

Tags: @sparklyreaderx @titty-teetee @but--dear-this-is-not-wonderland @ellar21 @iv-nyc @eap1935 (Wanna be tagged in my next stories? Let me know!)

The Portrait

Shelby, a long-established name when it came to the life of crime; the epitome of power and business, combined with a hint of relentlessness. When you’re one of them, there’s no escaping the gangster life, no matter how hard you try to, and you knew it better than anybody.

You didn’t really take a liking to the idea of being a gangster though, no matter how much your older siblings tried to sugarcoat it, acting as if it was a business like any other. Arts always attracted you more than machineguns and bills, and just like your sister, Ada, you tried to stay away from the family business and live a normal life; only one thing could make you turn into a wild animal, like Tommy and Arthur were by nature, and it was your family. That was the beautiful thing about the Shelbys, and it became even more evident at times of crisis: if you mess with one, you’re in big trouble, because you messed with the whole family.

Tommy called a family meeting; he made it clear that he wanted everyone there, including you. Although you didn’t have a very strong connection to the family business, you were the most cunning and temperamental member of the family, only comparable to Pol, making you one of Tommy’s most reliable advisors, in the few times he actually listened to advisement. During times of war you fight with all your weapons, and you would be a great weapon. You were aware Tommy would probably ask for more than your wise words; he needed help, and you couldn’t deny your own family a helping hand, no matter how much you despised their way of living.

No one wanted this war in the first place, and you had been the first to tell your brothers to back off while there was time. Tommy’s brilliant ideas had put you in a delicate situation again, and alone you wouldn’t get yourselves out.

“We’ll need to resort to Alfie’s help.” – Tommy’s voice was calm as usual, and his hands pressed tightly together.

You looked at Arthur, who gritted his teeth in silent fury, at the mention of Alfie’s name.

“I… I don’t think that’s a good idea. He has proven that he isn’t trustworthy.” – Fidgeting with your hands, you looked down, pensive.

“I’m not goin’ to Camden Town, ever again. If I see that motherfucker, I’ll put a rope around his fuckin’ neck, tie it to the car, and take him for a ride…Until his body is crushed enough to feed it to the fuckin’ dogs.” – Arthur spoke slowly, clenching his fists, as he slowly turned to face Tommy.

“I figured that, that’s why (Y/N) is going…” – Tommy shifted his attention to you.

“I’m sorry?!” - You got up, hands pressed to the table, almost gluing your face to your brother’s. – “He broke you, and fucked you in the ass right after… And look what he did to Arthur! Now you want me to go there?! For him to get a bingo, fucking all the family? After all he did to you?! Fuck off!” – You shook your head, as a negative answer to his request.

“I’m finding it hard to do that too (Y/N)…”

“No you’re not, because you’re trying to send me to do your dirty job!”

“It’s not a request! He’s our only way out!” – Tommy shouted in your face, slamming the table with the flat of his hand, so hard it made you shiver inside.

You wanted to answer, and tell him what you really thought, but you knew there would be no use in trying to dissuade him or go against him; you just bit your tongue in silence and sat down.

“Good, I’ll set up the meeting later this week.”

“Whatever, Thomas…” – You gave him a nasty look.

You had never met Alfie before, but you heard a lot about him, his business, and how he fucked your family in multiple occasions. Although you hadn’t laid your eyes on him yet, you already hated the man.

When you got to the bakery, Ollie made your presence known, but Alfie was expecting one of the Shelby brothers, not an elegant lady that was there to talk to him, according to Ollie’s words, so he made you wait, wait, and wait, while he waited for Tommy to show up. You took your old sketchbook everywhere with you, this time was no exception; as you waited outside the bakery, you took the opportunity to draw your surroundings, but patience has limits, and after a long wait you stormed inside the bakery.

“Miss, wait…” – Ollie desperately tried to stop you before you reached Alfie’s office, grabbing your arm. If there was something he didn’t need, was Alfie’s wrath for letting someone in with no permission.

“Get your fuckin’ hand off me, if you want to have two hands by tomorrow… I set a meeting with a gangster or with the fuckin’ Pope? ”

“Mr. Solomons has an appointment with Mr. Shelby, I’m afraid he can’t receive visitors right now.”

“Do you know who the fuck I am?! I am Miss Shelby, and I’ve been waiting for almost an hour now.”

All the noise outside made Alfie lose the focus on what he was doing, and he peeked through the office door.

“Ollie, what the Hell is going on’ere?” – Huffing loudly, Alfie took his glasses off.

The crook you were seeing was nothing like your brothers described him; he wasn’t that old, and didn’t seem that unpleasant. Alfie Solomons was a bastard, but he was a really good looking bastard, even when he was as pissed as he was in that moment.

“Are you Alfred Solomons?” – Holding your head up high, you acted all mighty.

“Yes…” – He gave Ollie a questioning look.

“Great… I’m (Y/N) Shelby, the one you have a meeting with. And the one you kept waiting for almost an hour.”

“Fuck… I mean, I’m sorry. Come in.” – Alfie gave Ollie a killer look, making him know he’d be in trouble for this, then gestured for you to come in, shutting the door after you both came in. – “I was expecting Tommy, I didn’t even know there were so many Shelbys out there.”

“When it rains, it pours, Mr. Solomons… There are plenty of us, ready to spread the chaos in the world.” – After Alfie pulled the chair out for you, you have him a courtly nod and sat down.

“Please, call me Alfie, a’ight? I’m an old friend of the Shelby family after all, innit?”

An intriguing expression settled upon his heavenly features, and you couldn’t help yourself; you knew you had to try to capture it in your sketchbook. You opened it on a blank page, putting it on your lap and started conceiving the draw, without him noticing.

“Spare me the sweet-talk, Mr. Solomons. I’m here for one thing, and that’s signing a contract, speaking of which…” – You lifted your eyes from the sketch, facing him, and taking advantage of that occasion to study his face once again.

Alfie furrowed his eyebrows as you extended your hand, waiting for him to give you the contract.

“You are not expecting me to sign it without reading it, are you?” – You raised your eyebrows and smirked. – “Sly as a fox… Exactly as you were described to me. But unfortunately for you, I’m the most unfuckwithable in the family. Now, the contract…” – You gave him a cocky smile.

Reluctantly, he delivered you the contract. You stopped drawing for a moment, focusing on the contract.

“Jesus, Alfie, are you nuts or something? Tommy is the one who makes deals with the Devil, not me. I’m pretty sure we were crystal clear about the conditions. These are not the conditions we agreed. This is not offering help, it’s exploiting our misery.” – Fucking greedy man, you thought.

“Well, I figured we could renegotiate the terms of my help, aye Miss Shelby? ” – He sat back, relaxing on the chair and tilting his head, studying you intently. Alfie had the upper hand, and he knew it, he wanted to use that as much as he could.

“I’m a gypsy, we do not negotiate.” – You kept drawing him, so stoic and irresistible. – “Save your sweet-talk and blackmail for Tommy, your threats for Arthur… Those don’t work with me.”

Alfie straightened himself up in the chair, slightly annoyed he couldn’t turn the tables on you, like he did with your brothers; he couldn’t help but notice you were drawing, although he couldn’t figure out what, without the glasses.

“That’s me innit, sweetie?”- He smirked.

“No.” – Your cheeks reddened so much they almost give you away. – “My next assignment is to draw the elderly, but not today.” – You closed the sketchbook, giving him another cocky smile. Hearing you call him old, his smirk vanished. - “Now, Alfie, I suggest you make the appropriate changes to the contract. When you’re done with that, I’ll come back. Until then, we have nothing else to discuss. ” – You got up.

“Wait, how can I even get in touch with you?!” – He got up after you.

“You can’t. As long as we’re talking strictly about business, you can reach me through Tommy, and that’ll do. Have a nice day.” – You shook his hand and turned on your heel, heading to Ada’s.

#short story #alfie solomons #alfie solomons x reader #alfie solomons x oc #alfie solomons fanfic #alfie solomons imagine #alfie solomons x you #alfie solomons peaky blinders #alfie solomons tom hardy #peaky blinders fanfic #peaky blinders imagine #peaky blinders au

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fortheheavenssake · 5 years

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Prayer for Mr. Skippy

Dear Heavenly Father, You are the everlasting God in Heaven and on earth. Skippy & Mr.Skippy and I praise You.

“O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;

To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary.

Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee.

Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name.

My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips:

When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches.

Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice.

‭‭ My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me.

Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice. My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me.

But those that seek my soul, to destroy it, shall go into the lower parts of the earth.

They shall fall by the sword: they shall be a portion for foxes.

But the king shall rejoice in God; every one that sweareth by him shall glory: but the mouth of them that speak lies shall be stopped.” Psalms‬ ‭63:1-11‬ ‭KJV‬‬. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Day 24 - morning

Prayer for Mr. Skippy

Heavenly Father, sanctify me with Your Holy Spirit. Cleanse me with precious blood. Strengthen me with Your mighty power. Justify me with Your righteousness.

I pray for Skippy and Mr. Skippy. Sanctify them and strengthen them with The truth. Make them confident of this, that rheir good work will carry it on to completion until the day You call them into heaven.

“to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.”(Acts 26:18)

“who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance.(I Peter1:2)

“And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.”(I Corinthians 6:11)

“ Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”(II Corinthians 5:17) in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Day 24- evening

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kdram-chjh · 10 months

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Cdrama: Dear Mr. Heavenly Fox (2023)

Dear Mr. Heavenly Fox (2023) #wangyoushuo #cdrama

Watch this video on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/vtgSH68JjAY

#Dear Mr. Heavenly Fox #亲爱的天狐大人 #Qin Ai De Tian Hu Da Ren #Dear Master Tianhu #親愛的天狐大人 #2023 #cdrama #chinese drama #Mango TV #MGTV #MGTV Drama Channel #web series #youtube #shorts #short video #Wang You Shuo #Zhang Yue #Ling Zi

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always-writing · 7 years

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Nefarious Seas chapter 2

“I imagine you have an idea about why I called you here today” Kalliope mused, sipping from a cup of tea, the same colour as her hair.

Kalliope was a real money maker although she didn’t fit into normal beauty standards. Her hair was a deep blood red, and it contrasted greatly with her white porcelain skin that seemed to emit a heavenly light. Her figure was generous in all the right places and she was tall enough to look any man in the eye. Kalliope’s face was similar to the goddess she was named after, it featured a petite upturned nose, full lips, and deep blue eyes framed by lashes long enough to swat flies.

“No Kal we have no idea what you are talking about” Caden replied rolling his eyes “quit being such a drama queen and get to the damn point”

Kalliope’s laugh was deep and rich, It was hard to imagine her as the giggling schoolgirl she once was.

“Well since you’re so anxious” she started, reaching for one of the biscuits on the dish before her, “ word on the street has it that some Nefae are resisting government, and looking for others with similar ideas” she finished fixing both me and Sirius with an accusing gaze, gaging our reactions.

“You don’t seriously think we would get into anything so dangerous” I sputtered, the cookies I had previously been munching on turned to ash in my mouth.

“I’m not worried about you Irina” She sneered “you’re nowhere near ballsey enough to even consider joining the rebels. I’m worried about mr. ‘I hate Oblivya’ over here” She fixed her gaze on Caden, who unlike me refused to squirm. Caden returned her steely gaze with red eyes filled with hellfire.

“I am not with the rebels” Caden whispered, rising from his seat “I do not plan on joining the rebels” he took three steps towards Kalliope and leaned towards, his eyes still blazing “so get out of my face”

The once cozy room had gone ice cold, the birds outside had stopped their chirping, and throughout the city I was sure all the animals had gone utterly still as if readying to attack.

“I didn’t mean it like that” Kalliope counseled, a slight sheen appearing on her noble brow “I just don’t want you to endanger any of the people in this house, okay” she finished tentatively.

Caden went back to his seat and sat down, stuffing a cream filled pastry into his mouth and heaping sugar into his tea. The tensions that had filled the air moments before settled and the birds began to sing again, as if they had never stopped.

I let out a breath I didn’t know was holding. Canden was a powerful Animau, and if he wanted to he could have all the rats in the city eat Kalliope alive. We all sat in silence watching Caden devour biscuits and drink his tea. When he finished he looked up at Kalliope, completely ignoring me.

“Thankyou” he said “for the tea” he walked off to his bedroom without another word. I stood up to leave as well but Kalliope stopped me.

“Sit down Irina” Kal said to me still facing the direction Caden had walked off

“What is it?” I asked she paused, considering what to say next.

“You’re a lot closer to Caden than me” Kalliope said reaching for a shortbread biscuit “I know we have had our skirmishes in the past but I would prefer it if we could work together in this situation” she looked up at me all humour lost in her eyes “I want you to keep an eye on Caden, make sure he doesn’t do anything stupid and I want you to report to me on what you find out”

“Ok” I muttered feeling slightly sick.

“Then we’re done here” Kalliope drained her cup and picked up 8 biscuit stuffing them in her pockets, and walking away head held high.

As she left I heard the sounds of someone stumbling up the stairs, and in entered Katya hair mussed and eyes alight.

“Well, well, well, what do we have here” Katya purred looking at me with lidded eyes.

Katya may act like a cat but she always reminded me of a cunning fox. She was a cousin of Kalliope and it showed in her features an upturned nose, full lips, and high cheeks bones. Her hair was the colour of fox fur and her eyes were brown like melted chocolate. Where Kalliope was generous, Katya had lean build reminiscent of an athlete. I knew she was an acrobat before she joined us.

“Did someone get in trouble with Kal” she mocked stalking towards me.

“No, goodnight Katya” I took the remaining biscuits and walked off. Getting in a conversation was always something I tried to avoid. She had a way with words and was able to twist them, make you say what she wanted. Not to mention I got the feelin she wanted to stick me on a table and dissect me, to figure out the source of my power. As I closed my bedroom door behind me I hear her call out.

“You could have at least left some of the biscuits”

Closing the door behind me I saw Zina lying in a silk robe on her bed, reading one of my books.

“So what’d you get in trouble for” she asked as I plucked the book from her hands

“Nothing go to bed” I blew out the candle on the bedside table, and tucked myself into bed.

I lied staring at the ceiling for what felt like forever listening to Zina shift and squirm under her sheets, the only thing on my mind was the previous conversation. If Caden wanted to join the rebels would I really be able to stop him. If he joined the rebels would I go with him.

“Yeah I can’t do this” I heard Zina throw of her sheets and stagger out of bed “Fuck” she said slipping on an empty bottle and landing on her back side. She groaned and I felt her pull the sheets of my bed.

“C'mon get up” she exclaimed loudly grabbing me and trying to haul me up.

“What are you DOING” I hissed furiously, futilely trying to put my covers back on.

“Let’s go Irina” Zina said grabbing me by my legs, seemingly unperturbed by my resistance.

“I think fucking NOT” I shrieked grabbing onto my bed board for dear life.

Suddenly a shadow appeared in the doorway. A hag with dark red hair and blue eyes

“BOTH OF YOU OUT” Kalliope hollered grabbing me and Zina by the scruffs of our necks. In a show of incredible strength she dragged us down 3 sets of stairs and chucked us out onto the street. The door slammed behind her, and we were left shivering on the doorstep. About a minute later she threw out two heavy fur coats, 2 pairs of fur lined boots, and a thin garland of Rosebane. Zina and I gratefully put the the clothing on, attracting many stares in my coat which was hideously over-sized and Zina’s whose whole forearm was left bare by the too short sleeves.

“Well” Zina laughed “that was easier than expected”

#original content #original story #origonal work #Fantasy Story #fantasy #gay story #lesbian story #LGBT STORY #lgbt+ characters

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aelfwyn · 9 months

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13 episodes in I think it is time to admit I'm invested in Dear Mr Heavenly Fox. Turns out I was in the mood for a fluffy fantasy romcom with terrible subtitles?

I blame it on Wang Youshuo, who is very good at looking like a lost puppy (appropriate, since he's a fox) and also quietly pining.

Also, something feels oddly familiar with a stoic, quiet piner dressed in white paired with a troublemaker who wants to solve puzzles and do the right thing (though they have absolutely nothing in common with Wangxian otherwise).

All because of a cute cabin by a lake! Of which there is nothing new to see after 5 or so episodes!!!

#cdrama #dear mr heavenly fox

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ponpan · 10 months

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#ซีรี่ย์จีน Dear Mr. Heavenly Fox (2023) บ่วงหัวใจนายจิ้งจอกสวรรค์ (พากย์ไทย)

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thefortyeightlawsofpower-blog · 7 years

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LAW # 5 : SO MUCH DEPENDS ON REPUTATION — GUARD IT WITH YOUR LIFE

JUDGEMENT

Reputation is the cornerstone of power. Through reputation alone you can intimidate and win; once it slips, however, you are vulnerable, and will be attacked on all sides. Make your reputation unassailable. Always be alert to potential attacks and thwart them before they happen. Meanwhile, learn to destroy your enemies by opening holes in their own reputations. Then stand aside and let public opinion hang them.

OBSERVANCE OF THE LAW I

During China’s War of the Three Kingdoms (A.D. 207-265), the great general Chuko Liang, leading the forces of the Shu Kingdom, dispatched his vast army to a distant camp while he rested in a small town with a handful of soldiers. Suddenly sentinels hurried in with the alarming news that an enemy force of over 150,000 troops under Sima Yi was approaching. With only a hundred men to defend him, Chuko Liang’s situation was hopeless. The enemy would finally capture this renowned leader.

Without lamenting his fate, or wasting time trying to figure out how he had been caught, Liang ordered his troops to take down their flags, throw open the city gates, and hide. He himself then took a seat on the most visible part of the city’s wall, wearing a Taoist robe. He lit some incense, strummed his lute, and began to chant. Minutes later he could see the vast enemy army approaching, an endless phalanx of soldiers. Pretending not to notice them, he continued to sing and play the lute.

Soon the army stood at the town gates. At its head was Sima Yi, who instantly recognized the man on the wall.

Even so, as his soldiers itched to enter the unguarded town through its open gates, Sima Yi hesitated, held them back, and studied Liang on the wall. Then, he ordered an immediate and speedy retreat.

THE ANIMALS STRICKEN WITH THE PLAGUE

A frightful epidemic sent To earth by Heaven intent to vent Its fury on a sinful world, to call It by its rightful name, the pestilence, That Acheron-filling vial of virulence Had fallen on every animal. Not all were dead, but all lay near to dying, And none was any longer trying To find new fuel to feed life’s flickering fires. No foods excited their desires; No more did wolves and foxes rove In search of harmless, helpless prey; And dove would not consort with dove, For love and joy had flown away. The Lion assumed the chair to say: “Dear friends, I doubt not it’s for heaven’s high ends That on us sinners woe must fall. Let him of us who’s sinned the most Fall victim to the avenging heavenly host, And may he win salvation for us all; For history teaches us that in these crises We must make sacrifices. Undeceived and stern-eyed, let’s inspect Our conscience. As I recollect, To put my greedy appetite to sleep, I’ve banqueted on many a sheep Who’d injured me in no respect, And even in my time been known to try Shepherd pie. If need be, then. I’ll die. Yet I suspect That others also ought to own their sins. It’s only fair that all should do their best To single out the guiltiest.” “Sire, you’re too good a king,“the Fox begins; ”Such scruples are too delicate. My word, To eat sheep, that profane and vulgar herd. That’s sin? Nay. Sire, enough for such a crew To be devoured by such as you; While of the shepherds we may say That they deserved the worst they got. Theirs being the lot that over us beasts plot A flimsy dream-begotten sway.” Thus spake the Fox, and toady cheers rose high, While none dared cast too cold an eye On Tiger‘s, Bear’s, and other eminences Most unpardonable offences Each, of never mind what currish breed, Was really a saint, they all agreed. Then came the Ass, to say: ”I do recall How once I crossed an abbey-mead Where hunger, grass in plenty, and withal, I have no doubt, some imp of greed. Assailed me, and I shaved a tongue’s-breadth wide Where frankly I’d no right to any grass.”All forthwith fell full cry upon the Ass: A Wolf of some book-learning testified That that curst beast must suffer their despite, That gall-skinned author of their piteous plight. They judged him fit for nought but gallows-bait: How vile, another’s grass to sequestrate! His death alone could expiate A crime so heinous, as full well he learns. The court, as you’re of great or poor estate, Will paint you either white or black by turns.

THE BEST FABLES OF LA FONTAINE, JEAN DE LA FONTAINE, 1621-1695

Interpretation

Chuko Liang was commonly known as the “Sleeping Dragon.” His exploits in the War of the Three Kingdoms were legendary. Once a man claiming to be a disaffected enemy lieutenant came to his camp, offering help and information. Liang instantly recognized the situation as a setup; this man was a false deserter, and should be beheaded. At the last minute, though, as the axe was about to fall, Liang stopped the execution and offered to spare the man’s life if he agreed to become a double agent. Grateful and terrified, the man agreed, and began supplying false information to the enemy. Liang won battle after battle.

On another occasion Liang stole a military seal and created false documents dispatching his enemy’s troops to distant locations. Once the troops had dispersed, he was able to capture three cities, so that he controlled an entire corridor of the enemy’s kingdom. He also once tricked the enemy into believing one of its best generals was a traitor, forcing the man to escape and join forces with Liang. The Sleeping Dragon carefully cultivated his reputation of being the cleverest man in China, one who always had a trick up his sleeve. As powerful as any weapon, this reputation struck fear into his enemy.

Sima Yi had fought against Chuko Liang dozens of times and knew him well. When he came on the empty city, with Liang praying on the wall, he was stunned. The Taoist robes, the chanting, the incense—this had to be a game of intimidation. The man was obviously taunting him, daring him to walk into a trap. The game was so obvious that for one moment it crossed Yi’s mind that Liang actually was alone, and desperate. But so great was his fear of Liang that he dared not risk finding out. Such is the power of reputation. It can put a vast army on the defensive, even force them into retreat, without a single arrow being fired.

For, as Cicero says, even those who argue against fame still want the books they write against it to bear their name in the title and hope to become famous for despising it. Everything else is subject to barter: we will let our friends have our goods and our lives if need be; but a case of sharing our fame and making someone else the gift of our reputation is hardly to be found. Montaigne, 1533-1592

OBSERVANCE OF THE LAW II

In 1841 the young P. T. Barnum, trying to establish his reputation as America’s premier showman, decided to purchase the American Museum in Manhattan and turn it into a collection of curiosities that would secure his fame. The problem was that he had no money. The museum’s asking price was $15,000, but Barnum was able to put together a proposal that appealed to the institution’s owners even though it replaced cash up front with dozens of guarantees and references. The owners came to a verbal agreement with Barnum, but at the last minute, the principal partner changed his mind, and the museum and its collection were sold to the directors of Peale’s Museum. Barnum was infuriated, but the partner explained that business was business—the museum had been sold to Peale’s because Peale’s had a reputation and Barnum had none.

Barnum immediately decided that if he had no reputation to bank on, his only recourse was to ruin the reputation of Peale’s. Accordingly he launched a letter-writing campaign in the newspapers, calling the owners a bunch of “broken-down bank directors” who had no idea how to run a museum or entertain people. He warned the public against buying Peale’s stock, since the business’s purchase of another museum would invariably spread its resources thin. The campaign was effective, the stock plummeted, and with no more confidence in Peale’s track record and reputation, the owners of the American Museum reneged on their deal and sold the whole thing to Barnum.

It took years for Peale’s to recover, and they never forgot what Barnum had done. Mr. Peale himself decided to attack Barnum by building a reputation for “high-brow entertainment,” promoting his museum’s programs as more scientific than those of his vulgar competitor. Mesmerism (hypnotism) was one of Peale’s “scientific” attractions, and for a while it drew big crowds and was quite successful. To fight back, Barnum decided to attack Peale’s reputation yet again.

Barnum organized a rival mesmeric performance in which he himself apparently put a little girl into a trance. Once she seemed to have fallen deeply under, he tried to hypnotize members of the audience—but no matter how hard he tried, none of the spectators fell under his spell, and many of them began to laugh. A frustrated Barnum finally announced that to prove the little girl’s trance was real, he would cut off one of her fingers without her noticing. But as he sharpened the knife, the little girl’s eyes popped open and she ran away, to the audience’s delight. He repeated this and other parodies for several weeks. Soon no one could take Peale’s show seriously, and attendance went way down. Within a few weeks, the show closed. Over the next few years Barnum established a reputation for audacity and consummate showmanship that lasted his whole life. Peale’s reputation, on the other hand, never recovered.

Interpretation

Barnum used two different tactics to ruin Peale’s reputation. The first was simple: He sowed doubts about the museum’s stability and solvency. Doubt is a powerful weapon: Once you let it out of the bag with insidious rumors, your opponents are in a horrible dilemma. On the one hand they can deny the rumors, even prove that you have slandered them. But a layer of suspicion will remain: Why are they defending themselves so desperately? Maybe the rumor has some truth to it? If, on the other hand, they take the high road and ignore you, the doubts, unrefuted, will be even stronger. If done correctly, the sowing of rumors can so infuriate and unsettle your rivals that in defending themselves they will make numerous mistakes. This is the perfect weapon for those who have no reputation of their own to work from.

Once Barnum did have a reputation of his own, he used the second, gentler tactic, the fake hypnotism demonstration: He ridiculed his rivals’ reputation. This too was extremely successful. Once you have a solid base of respect, ridiculing your opponent both puts him on the defensive and draws more attention to you, enhancing your own reputation. Outright slander and insult are too strong at this point; they are ugly, and may hurt you more than help you. But gentle barbs and mockery suggest that you have a strong enough sense of your own worth to enjoy a good laugh at your rival’s expense. A humorous front can make you out as a harmless entertainer while poking holes in the reputation of your rival.

It is easier to cope with a bad conscience than with a bad reputation. Friedrich Nietzsche, 1844-1900

KEYS TO POWER

The people around us, even our closest friends, will always to some extent remain mysterious and unfathomable. Their characters have secret recesses that they never reveal. The unknowableness of other people could prove disturbing if we thought about it long enough, since it would make it impossible for us really to judge other people. So we prefer to ignore this fact, and to judge people on their appearances, on what is most visible to our eyes—clothes, gestures, words, actions. In the social realm, appearances are the barometer of almost all of our judgements, and you must never be misled into believing otherwise. One false slip, one awkward or sudden change in your appearance, can prove disastrous.

This is the reason for the supreme importance of making and maintaining a reputation that is of your own creation.

That reputation will protect you in the dangerous game of appearances, distracting the probing eyes of others from knowing what you are really like, and giving you a degree of control over how the world judges you—a powerful position to be in. Reputation has a power like magic: With one stroke of its wand, it can double your strength. It can also send people scurrying away from you. Whether the exact same deeds appear brilliant or dreadful can depend entirely on the reputation of the doer.

In the ancient Chinese court of the Wei kingdom there was a man named Mi Tzu-hsia who had a reputation for supreme civility and graciousness. He became the ruler’s favorite. It was a law in Wei that “whoever rides secretly in the ruler’s coach shall have his feet cut off,” but when Mi Tzu-hsia’s mother fell ill, he used the royal coach to visit her, pretending that the ruler had given him permission. When the ruler found out, he said, “How dutiful is Mi Tzu-hsia! For his mother’s sake he even forgot that he was committing a crime making him liable to lose his feet!”

Another time the two of them took a stroll in an orchard. Mi Tzu-hsia began eating a peach that he could not finish, and he gave the ruler the other half to eat. The ruler remarked, “You love me so much that you would even forget your own saliva taste and let me eat the rest of the peach!”

Later, however, envious fellow courtiers, spreading word that Mi Tzu-hsia was actually devious and arrogant, succeeded in damaging his reputation; the ruler came to see his actions in a new light. “This fellow once rode in my coach under pretense of my order,” he told the courtiers angrily, “and another time he gave me a half-eaten peach.” For the same actions that had charmed the ruler when he was the favorite, Mi Tzu-hsia now had to suffer the penalties. The fate of his feet depended solely on the strength of his reputation.

In the beginning, you must work to establish a reputation for one outstanding quality, whether generosity or honesty or cunning. This quality sets you apart and gets other people to talk about you. You then make your reputation known to as many people as possible (subtly, though; take care to build slowly, and with a firm foundation), and watch as it spreads like wildfire.

A solid reputation increases your presence and exaggerates your strengths without your having to spend much energy. It can also create an aura around you that will instil respect, even fear. In the fighting in the North African desert during World War II, the German general Erwin Rommel had a reputation for cunning and for deceptive maneuvering that struck terror into everyone who faced him. Even when his forces were depleted, and when British tanks outnumbered his by five to one, entire cities would be evacuated at the news of his approach.

As they say, your reputation inevitably precedes you, and if it inspires respect, a lot of your work is done for you before you arrive on the scene, or utter a single word.

Your success seems destined by your past triumphs. Much of the success of Henry Kissinger’s shuttle diplomacy rested on his reputation for ironing out differences; no one wanted to be seen as so unreasonable that Kissinger could not sway him. A peace treaty seemed a fait accompli as soon as Kissinger’s name became involved in the negotiations.

Make your reputation simple and base it on one sterling quality. This single quality—efficiency, say, or seductiveness—becomes a kind of calling card that announces your presence and places others under a spell. A reputation for honesty will allow you to practice all manner of deception. Casanova used his reputation as a great seducer to pave the way for his future conquests; women who had heard of his powers became immensely curious, and wanted to discover for themselves what had made him so romantically successful.

Perhaps you have already stained your reputation, so that you are prevented from establishing a new one. In such cases it is wise to associate with someone whose image counteracts your own, using their good name to whitewash and elevate yours. It is hard, for example, to erase a reputation for dishonesty by yourself; but a paragon of honesty can help. When P. T. Barnum wanted to clean up a reputation for promoting vulgar entertainment, he brought the singer Jenny Lind over from Europe. She had a stellar, high-class reputation, and the American tour Barnum sponsored for her greatly enhanced his own image. Similarly the great robber barons of nineteenth-century America were long unable to rid themselves of a reputation for cruelty and mean-spiritedness. Only when they began collecting art, so that the names of Morgan and Frick became permanently associated with those of da Vinci and Rembrandt, were they able to soften their unpleasant image.

Reputation is a treasure to be carefully collected and hoarded. Especially when you are first establishing it, you must protect it strictly, anticipating all attacks on it. Once it is solid, do not let yourself get angry or defensive at the slanderous comments of your enemies—that reveals insecurity, not confidence in your reputation. Take the high road instead, and never appear desperate in your self-defense. On the other hand, an attack on another man’s reputation is a potent weapon, particularly when you have less power than he does. He has much more to lose in such a battle, and your own thus-far-small reputation gives him a small target when he tries to return your fire. Barnum used such campaigns to great effect in his early career. But this tactic must be practiced with skill; you must not seem to engage in petty vengeance. If you do not break your enemy’s reputation cleverly, you will inadvertently ruin your own.

Thomas Edison, considered the inventor who harnessed electricity, believed that a workable system would have to be based on direct current (DC). When the Serbian scientist Nikola Tesla appeared to have succeeded in creating a system based on alternating current (AC), Edison was furious. He determined to ruin Tesla’s reputation, by making the public believe that the AC system was inherently unsafe, and Tesla irresponsible in promoting it.

To this end he captured all kinds of household pets and electrocuted them to death with an AC current. When this wasn’t enough, in 1890 he got New York State prison authorities to organize the world’s first execution by electrocution, using an AC current. But Edison’s electrocution experiments had all been with small creatures; the charge was too weak, and the man was only half killed. In perhaps the country’s cruelest state-authorized execution, the procedure had to be repeated. It was an awful spectacle.

Although, in the long run, it is Edison’s name that has survived, at the time his campaign damaged his own reputation more than Tesla’s. He backed off. The lesson is simple—never go too far in attacks like these, for that will draw more attention to your own vengefulness than to the person you are slandering. When your own reputation is solid, use subtler tactics, such as satire and ridicule, to weaken your opponent while making you out as a charming rogue. The mighty lion toys with the mouse that crosses his path—any other reaction would mar his fearsome reputation.

Image: A Mine Full of Diamonds and Rubies. You dug for it, you found it, and your wealth is now assured. Guard it with your life. Robbers and thieves will appear from all sides. Never take your wealth for granted, and constantly renew it—time will diminish the jewels’ luster, and bury them from sight.

Authority: Therefore I should wish our courtier to bolster up his inherent worth with skill and cunning, and ensure that whenever he has to go where he is a stranger, he is preceded by a good reputation.... For the fame which appears to rest on the opinions of many fosters a certain unshakeable belief in a man’s worth which is then easily strengthened in minds already thus disposed and prepared. (Baldassare Castiglione, 1478-1529)

REVERSAL

There is no possible Reversal. Reputation is critical; there are no exceptions to this law. Perhaps, not caring what others think of you, you gain a reputation for insolence and arrogance, but that can be a valuable image in itself—Oscar Wilde used it to great advantage. Since we must live in society and must depend on the opinions of others, there is nothing to be gained by neglecting your reputation. By not caring how you are perceived, you let others decide this for you. Be the master of your fate, and also of your reputation.

#power #business #advice #quote #quotes #books #psychology #sociology #philosophy #seduction #dating #life

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