#but it was only fifty cents and i have a pouch full of spare change

[fictionadventurer]

The more I learn about Civil War politics, the more I'm convinced that Lincoln's most impressive and useful leadership trait was that he never let his pride get in the way of doing his job.

Other people in Lincoln's position would have come to Washington with something to prove. They'd have resented the insults and tried to disprove them. They'd have tried to seize power and credit, rejected help, spent a lot of time trying to reach a certain level of respect.

Lincoln's response to, "You're just a backwoods lawyer with no executive experience who makes too many dumb jokes," was pretty much always, "Yeah. And?" He had no interest in petty personal power plays. He had a country to run. There was a war on. It didn't matter what people thought of him so long as the job got done.

He was aware of his personal shortcomings and was always willing to accept advice and help from people who had more knowledge and experience in certain areas. He presided over a chaotic Cabinet full of abrasive personalities who thought they were better and smarter than him, but he kept working with them because they could get the job done. For example: Stanton was absolutely horrible to him when they were both working as lawyers. Just incredibly mean on a personal level. But when Lincoln needed someone to replace Cameron, he swallowed his pride and appointed Stanton as Secretary of War, where Stanton proceeded to be mean to everyone in the world, but he whipped that department into shape and kept it running efficiently through a very chaotic war. Pretty much no one except Lincoln would have been able to put up with that. He could put up with people who were personally difficult if they could do the job he needed them to do--which he was only able to do because his own ego didn't get in the way.

Lincoln's example is a prime demonstration of how humility isn't underrating yourself--it's being so secure in your own abilities and identity that you don't need to attack anyone or defend yourself to prove your worth. He knew his shortcomings, but he also knew his strengths. He was willing to give other people credit for successes and take blame upon himself for failures if it kept things running smoothly. He was secure enough in his own power that he could deal generously--but firmly--with people who tried to undermine him. In a city full of huge egos, in a profession that rewards puffed-up pride, that levelheaded humility is an extremely rare trait--which is what made it so impressive and effective.

[talesofraali]

Tales of Ra’ali: Chapter 0: Quand la mort viente

An old man was slowly walking toward a journal in a wooden desk. around the desk there were various books and a small candle dimly that dimly lit the room. the old man looked frail and delicate like a sheet of paper, he has seen many things in his lifetime and he was close to death door possibly in a year or two more or less, he began slowly sitting down and looked up to painting a portrait of group of people who he knew and cared for, he had a knowing smile that he will soon see them in the next life before frowning knowing that he would have to leave those behind him. 

‘honey, do you want some of your special coffee?’ a delicate and feminine voice says outside of the room as he laughs a little and voice out his denial. ‘no thanks my sweet angel, give it to one of the kids’ ‘honey, I have told you not to give your grandkids coffee…… you know half-dragons can’t stay awake for so long’

‘1/3 honey 1/3’

‘hardy har har’ the woman says as the old man laughs a little and looks at an outfit, he had in a display cabinet ; blue and black musketeer outfit with noticeable changes the cape was resting on the right connected to a black leather shoulder armor and special straps so the cape could be removed and an arm guard on the right side, the pants were tactical pants with a holster and an old unused custom made musket on the right leg, the shirt had less frilly and more straighten with the royal cross with a strap with two to three throwing daggers leaning on the display was a large rifle with various runes written on it, if checked behind the uniform they would see a small pouch and a small musket on the lower back and the upper back they would see a lone dagger that was blending with the shirt to hide that it was there.

The man sighs and smiles a little before realizing what he was going to do and moved to grab a feather pen and an ink bottle, he took a deep breath and opened the journal, the journal was untouched since he bought it a few months back and he finally decided to write down on it, he began dipping the tip of the pen in the ink before he started to write down the first though that came to his mind.

This is the tale of a group of people who were forced to save a world who they weren’t from with their new companion but this is the tale of the leader of the royal guard, d’Artagnan, known as the quiet sage who had the soul of a dragon, the wisdom of a hermit, the skills of a spider, the power of an orc, the cunning of a fox and the intelligence of a dwarf; the story begins in a dark and stormy night.

A young man was waiting patiently at the entrance of a convenience store as the rain was pouring hard. he began to sigh remembering that the news said the rain would be three days long and regretting having left his umbrella at home, he held gently his bag with a can of spaghetti and meatballs, apple flavored beer and a small pack of gummy worms. ‘So much for late night streaming….’ he muttered to himself and, taking a deep breath, he squat down waiting patiently. He knew that it was going to be a downpour but not this insane. ‘e-excuse…… me…… young man….’ the young man hears an elderly voice coughing a bit, he turned his face toward the voice, the elderly man was holding a worn-down umbrella. The old man was dirty, stank like he hasn’t showered for months, his skin had a tanned colored thanks to how much sun he has taken, hair and beard un-kept, his expression was one of exhaustion and defeat although in his eyes he had a glint of hope. ‘sorry…. For bothering you…. b-but do you have a bit of spare change in hand…… f-fifty cents would be enough….’ The old man asked the young man nearly begging, the young man didn’t look disgusted or anything do the scent made him blow a bit of hair from his nostrils. ‘sorry…. don’t have spare change with me….’ ‘o-oh… its fine….’ ‘………...’ the young man looked at the saddened old man who turned around and was slowly walking toward the alley at a snail pace. The young man simply sighed and looked at his bag, he checked his phone deciding to check his back account maybe he could help the old man, he thought to himself. ’30 bucks….’ He mutters to himself, it wasn’t enough for him to survive this week he would stream next week to get the money. ‘hey…… mister….’ The young man said calmly as the old man look confused not knowing what the young man wanted. ‘if we share the umbrella I can get you something’ ‘w…… what?’ ‘come on….’ The old man was confused as the young man got under the old man umbrella and grabs it, the situation for him was a bit confusing but decided the young lad to wherever. Meanwhile a car was cruising on the street near the two people, the music was loud and booming it been it rap or reggaetón, a presence was sitting on the back seat seeing the two thugs smoking drugs and talking in Spanish. ‘………’ the presence or thing simply though of the cruel fun he would get once they die in a fated car accident, it began slowly wrap its hands around the driver the fingers were more like tentacles of a blue ringed octopus glowing with each circle glowing a purplish color contrasting with the dark midnight skin of his hands. Seeing the “face” of the creature wasn’t something human the closest comparison would be a mixture of a bee face and fish scale instead of an exoskeleton with large fish eyes, the eyes looking soulless, unmoving and white with a red dot on each of them, the creatures “face” formed something that could be called a smile knowing fully well they wouldn’t see him thanks to the plain of existing he existed. It made a gargling noise like it was talking to itself getting ready to finally strike before it stops and turns its “face” toward the two person who were walking on the rain then looked up like it was hearing something. It simply growled a bit and decided to do whatever it was hearing controlling the mind of the driver ordering to follow them slowly making the passenger confused.

The young man and old man stopped at a store called Tsammy super center, the store had a logo of a blue kittenpuppy who was holding in his hand many types of items. The old man simply stared at the young man not understanding, the young man took him to a bench that had cover of the rain.   ‘give me fifteen to half an hour…’ before the old man could ask the young man already left entering the store. the old man waited for the young man as he held a locket and opens it, it was a photo of himself and his wife at a happier moment before her death and his family kicked him out of his home, he has survived on the street with a bit of luck, survival and his fragile sanity. A half hour pass and the old man was slowly becoming restless thinking the young man pulled a prank on him, people began to stare at him with disgust and caution as per usual in this cruel world. He slowly began standing up if not he would break his hip until a hand was on his shoulder. ‘where you’re going?’ the voice of the young man ringed in his ear and looked at him, he had four plaster boxes and two large sodas, he gives him two of them and sits down with the old man sitting down again confused and worried what the young man gave him, he began to slowly open one of the containers and his eyes widen seeing so familiar but was a long time since he ate a burger two buns, tomato, lettuce, onion and let’s not forget the quarter pound meat between the bun and fries around the burger. The man started at it for five minutes for a few minutes without saying anything. ‘sorry this was late, and the line was long.’ He bluntly said ‘you should eat before it gets colds.’ The young man said breaking the old man trance and looks at him then at the burger again, he began chowing down the food like he though the young man was going to steal it from him, the only reaction he got from the young man was a chuckle as started eating his own burger. There were sniffing noises coming from the old man as drops of tears went down his face eating eagerly nonstop before choking on the burger, the young man gave him the large soda and began chugging it before sighing relieved then looks at the young man examining him now, the young man skin was pale like he hasn’t seen the sun for a days or months, his medium length messy hair was of a dark brown color just like his eyes with bag under his eyes, the shape of his face was fine and weak for a young man of his age, his body was skinny and delicate like he didn’t get his meal or wasn’t able to eat much even his height showed it been 5’6” tall. The old man felt a bit bad for letting the young man waste his own money on him. He began slowly checking the container seeing it was hotdog and more fries. ‘y-you should have……’ ‘it was only 8 bucks the two boxes so don’t worry….’ ‘but I….’ ‘it fine you need it more than me.’ The old man simply looked shocked since the young man was simply so kind with him for no apparent reason making him feel even worse. ‘you got a name mister?’ ‘ah…. Virgilio……. Yours?’ ‘………….’ Virgilio was curious about the young man who was so kind with him ‘Tuteur’ he simply said not wanting to say his late name as the old man nods a bit and sips a bit of his soda and began eating a bit of his fries. ‘….. why you helped me?’ ‘because it looked like you needed it and I was bored……’ ‘……’ Virgilio noticed that Tuteur was lying since no one would simply “help” someone because they were bored. ‘that is, it?’ ‘yup……’ ‘well……. Thank you…’ Tuteur slowly turned his face a bit shocked since usually people would act so humble or calm when someone say that, he stared at his straw and sips a bit having a slight smile thinking it was nice someone said thank you. ‘you’re welcome………’ he says thinking his soda taste better now as he kept eating with the old man beside him. He sighs rubbing his stomach and began looking at the bag as Virgilio was the same enjoying been so full for a long time. ‘I think this is where we part ways….’ Tuteur says as he began standing up and began noticing a car rolling by with loud Mexican music and sees another one with rap music, his eyes widen realizing what was going to happen and they were so close. ‘ah shit……’ he mutters to himself with Virgilio looked confused to the young man again. ‘get down now!’ the windows of the cars slowly went down the moment Tuteur shouts and pushes the old man down and ducks down as the sounds of submachine guns rang in the air with people screaming and panicking trying to protect themselves or their loved ones with some of the noise was been slightly muted thanks to the heavy rain. ‘those damn delinquents and their unholy things’ Virgilio shouts as the two cars drive away as fast as they could from each out and the possible cops with one of them crashing into a lake near the place. Tuteur was panting and began to feel a stinging feeling on his chest and neck, he touched the area and realized that he well got shot, it didn’t amaze him thanks to the situation, but it had to hurt so much? He falls on the ground Virgilio was confused until he realized what has happen. He didn’t know what to do blood was coming out at a fast rate. ‘help someone call an ambulance!’ he shouts but his voice was muffled by the rain as Tuteur slowly grabbed the old man hand shaking a bit, Virgilio only though was to hold his as the young man coughed a bit of blood.   ‘don’t worry………… old man…… I deserved this…’ ‘don’t say that just save your energy…. help is on the way….’ ‘it’s the end…….so don’t…. wo…rry... abo…ut me’ Virgilio noticed that tuteur words didn’t align with what his hand was doing, he was holding it tightly not wanting to let go of the old man the fear of death was something that hunted his mind for many years. ‘I only…. Helped you… out of pity….’ ‘……..’ Virgilio was always a man who noticed many things and after some thinking a bit more his old wise mind clicked everything, the young man was alone and didn’t want to be so alone even if he was going to die. ‘I’m here….’ Those were the only word that Virgilio said making Tuteur eyes look at him with fear, his other hand moved to get his house keys, a note with his address and put it in his bag then pull the bag weakly before giving it to him. ‘t….th…ank……you….’ those were the last words of Tuteur who hugged the old man gently before his last breath, the ambulance got there, and the old man was moved away with his new bag. They tried to save him, but the bullets wound hit two vital parts. They declared his death and said the time before getting the bag, the asked Virgilio a few questions and he explained what he could after that he was left alone with his own thoughts. He began walking toward the address with a determined look, he would help other like the young man did for him, but he needed to first have a better life and he was determined to get it back even if he was in his seventies. Back in the crashed car the creature was slowly getting out with its mouth eating what would be called organs taking its sweet time with it, the creature only hunted people who used drug for the only reason other eldritch creatures in the cosmos did it because the weakened body and the mixture of endorphins, adrenaline and oxygen was an extreme delicacy, the slowly rotten part of the living creatures gave it that extra spice it wanted compared to some of his brethren who hated the taste. ‘did you do your job?’  the creature’s succulent dinner was stopped by a fellow brother, the new creature body couldn’t be discerned by the human mind the closest thing that could be compared was a “cloud” that was mixture of wasps, flies and mosquitos in the shape of a cloaked human. The creature gargles as it spoke. ‘it is my job to send the chosen to the next life’ it simply said as it dived into the water enjoying bathing in the blood and water. The “cloud” was staring into the heavens trying to think why the gods chose this child but this was simply a decision of the other half of the coin. ‘whoever you are child…. May the Daemon Sultan be with you’ the creature said in its own language and began drifting with wind.