Succubus on Top CHAPTER 16

I rang Bastien's doorbell for the third time and then glared peevishly at the house. Where the hell was he? I was a little earlier than our agreed meeting time but not significantly. I gave the door a petulant kick as I imagined Bastien â€Å"held up† in the arms of some panting housewife. â€Å"He's not here,† said a cool voice nearby. I looked over and saw Dana standing there, a small leashed dog by her feet. It looked like the product of a tragic accident at the cottonball factory. â€Å"Nice dog,† I said. â€Å"My sister's. I'm taking care of him for a few days. You want to walk with us?† No, but I had promised myself the other day that I would pick Dana's brain to figure out how I might aid Bastien, and this seemed as good an opportunity as any. Besides, he'd kill me if he knew I'd passed up a chance for â€Å"reconnaissance.† I fell into step beside Dana and the fluff ball, congratulating myself for the hundredth time on being smart enough to choose cats over dogs. Tutu – yes, that was his name – pranced along daintily, small tongue hanging out. His beady black eyes peered everywhere as he trotted merrily, but otherwise seemed oblivious to the wet sidewalk dirtying his tiny white feet. â€Å"How's your rally going?† I asked after we'd exhausted dog topics. â€Å"Excellent. I'm surprised you haven't heard about it in the news. We're getting a lot of press.† â€Å"Haven't paid that much attention to the news.† She told me the date and time. â€Å"Think you can make it?† â€Å"I think I'm working that day,† I said automatically. Dana gave me a knowing look. â€Å"Tabitha, I get the impression you're not entirely settled on that issue.† You think? I looked away, again fighting the mental battle of speaking my mind versus causing trouble for Bastien. I finally opted for something that sounded vaguely like the truth. â€Å"I just think†¦there's a lot of different ways to look at it, that's all.† â€Å"It's okay to be unsure, you know.† That was astonishing, coming from her. â€Å"Is it?† â€Å"Of course. That's why groups like the CPFV exist. To help you see the truth of an issue.† I repressed a snort. I'd thought for a moment she might startle me with a display of open-mindedness. I let the silence collect again. â€Å"So,† she began after a moment, â€Å"what do you believe then?† â€Å"Er, on what? Homosexuality? Or homosexual marriage?† â€Å"Either.† My opinion was simply that people wanted who they wanted, end of story. There was no regulating love or saying it was wrong. But Dana's views on that were religiously based, and I of all people knew better than to argue the right or wrong of faith. â€Å"I'm just not sure people choose who they're attracted to,† I explained, not exactly attacking her question head-on. â€Å"So, I guess, it seems weird to me to talk about ‘helping' or ‘changing' people who can't really do anything about their natures, regardless of whether that nature is right or wrong.† â€Å"So you think homosexuality is inborn?† That sweet voice couldn't entirely hide her scornful surprise. â€Å"For some people. I think there are those who engage in†¦uh, same-sex activities for the fun of it, but for others, it's biological.† I had a feeling Dana wouldn't describe same-sex activities as fun, but I still felt better at having voiced my opinions. â€Å"You express yourself very well,† she admitted. â€Å"Even if I don't necessarily agree with you.† I laughed out loud, and she looked at me strangely. â€Å"No, I didn't think you would.† We grew quiet again, and I remembered I was supposed to be sounding her out on what she found romantic for Bastien. â€Å"I wish I could choose who I was attracted to,† I said out of the blue, bringing up personal matters in a manner that was out of character for both Tabitha Hunter and Georgina Kincaid. Dana seemed appropriately startled. â€Å"Things aren't going so well with your boyfriend? What was his name? Sven?† â€Å"Seth,† I corrected, feeling only a little bad at dragging him into the cover story. Things with Seth were actually beautiful at the moment, but for the sake of appearances, I kept lying. â€Å"He's okay, I guess, and I like him†¦but he's not very, you know, romantic. â€Å" â€Å"Ah,† she said neutrally. â€Å"Am I crazy? Is that too much to ask? Maybe I should focus on other things.† â€Å"What do you consider romantic?† â€Å"I don't know. Little touches and flourishes here and there. Gestures to show how important you are, how much the other person cares about you.† Irises, smiley-face pancakes. â€Å"What do you think it is?† She shrugged. We were rounding the corner back to Bastien's now. â€Å"I've come to see romance as not quite so important anymore,† she admitted. â€Å"Neither Bill nor I have time for it.† â€Å"Oh.† â€Å"That's not a bad thing. I'd say, more important than superficial flourishes is being able to connect with someone. To talk openly with them and share yourself. To know they're feeling what you're feeling.† â€Å"Oh,† I said again, surprised. Her comments almost made sense. In some ways, they were a variation of Seth's views on honesty in a relationship. Biting my lip, I plunged on. â€Å"And what about†¦you know, attraction and sex appeal?† She gave me a sidelong glance. â€Å"What about it?† I shrugged. â€Å"I don't always feel it around him.† Liar, liar, pants on fire. â€Å"Do I have the wrong ideas about it? What do you think is sexy?† Her answer took a long time in coming. â€Å"I don't know.† Bastien stood by his front door as we approached. He waved a hand in greeting. â€Å"Hello, ladies.† He looked pleasantly astonished to see us together – and getting along. Dana thanked me for the company and returned to her own home after refusing Bastien's automatic invitation to come inside and stay a while. Once she was gone and we were in the car headed to my photo shoot, I gave him the scoop on our talk. â€Å"She doesn't know what's sexy?† he exclaimed. â€Å"She's practically begging for me to ravage her. Hmph. And Bill's not romantic. Well, no surprise there. You think she was lying about saying it wasn't important? Sort of a defense mechanism?† â€Å"I don't know. Possibly. But even if she does miss romance, I think too many over-the-top gestures would throw up a flag. She isn't stupid. Profound conversation might be the way to go.† â€Å"Then the cooking thing is a good idea. Lots of talking there.† â€Å"I guess.† I didn't tell him that I had doubts about the efficacy of that method. Honestly, I wasn't sure what he could do anymore. We'd decided to pull out all the stops for my pictures. He drove us downtown to the Hotel Andra, one of the nicest local spreads, despite its plain exterior. Through some charm I didn't know about, he'd even managed to book us the hotel's one-of-a-kind Monarch Suite on practically no notice. It had more room than we could possibly need, but its true selling point – for me – was an utterly sumptuous, utterly sexy bed. Enclosed in its own romantically lit alcove, it had a deep, royal purple spread and a headboard of gleaming, black wood. The whole effect was dark and sensuous. We shape-shifted out of Mitch and Tabitha upon clearing the door. â€Å"This bed alone,† declared Bastien, â€Å"will sell these pictures. Well, that and your naked flesh. But really, it's a tough call.† He raided the mini-bar and made us improvised Grand Marnier martinis, which I gulped down with surprising eagerness. Suddenly, facing these pictures seemed a lot more daunting than I'd originally believed. â€Å"Nothing to it,† he said, sensing my nervousness. â€Å"Put on something sexy and sprawl on the bed.† I hadn't brought anything in particular to wear, for once willingly opting for shape-shifting. I started with a basic black nightgown. Super short, super low-cut. It seemed like a safe bet. Bastien positioned me on the bed, lying back in a sort of languid pose. He mussed my hair and requested a lazy pout. â€Å"The point here, Fleur ,is to make it look like if you don't get fucked again soon, you're going to be very, very upset. Men go for that.† My apprehension melted away as Bastien took over, directing my postures and expressions, snapping away with his digital camera. We ran the gamut. Some shots I did completely naked, hiding nothing. For others, we found the suggestion of nudity could almost be more provocative. The way the slipped strap of a chemise could nearly reveal a breast. The way a sheer bra and panty set could cover and yet not cover. Nor did we give all of them the just-got-fucked look. In some, I was very elegant, unbelievably perfect in every possible way, not a strand of hair out of place. In others, however, we played up the messy, wild look – â€Å"unplanned,† as Seth would say. We also didn't limit ourselves to the bed, as gorgeous as it was. I posed by windows, by a sofa, by the bathtub, in the bathtub. Both of us, as was requisite for our jobs, had pretty good imaginations for what was sexy and alluring. Nonetheless, we had brought along a few lingerie catalogs and adult magazines for inspiration. We would take breaks to plan, both of us frowning and giving each new pose serious thought. All in all, it was an exhausting endeavor, but Bastien's energy never flagged as he guided me through it all with a professional ease. And honestly, after a certain point, I didn't need his coaching. I knew I was sexy, and it was easy to play that up, especially knowing that Seth would view all of this. When the incubus had filled up the memory card, we finally called it quits. Sprawling on the bed beside me, he called room service and ordered us some professional martinis, since we'd run out of Grand Marnier. They arrived, and we luxuriated in a well-deserved rest, sipping our drinks. â€Å"Thanks Bas,† I told him, touching his arm. â€Å"You're a good friend.† â€Å"Easy to be one when the subject matter is so nice to look at. You're going to have a bitch of a time getting these printed, though. Take them to a store, and you won't get them back.† I'd already thought of that. â€Å"Hugh has a snazzy, state-of-the-art printer. I'll do it there.† I considered. â€Å"Although, he might keep a few too.† â€Å"I wouldn't blame him.† Bastien set his drink down and rolled over to regard me affectionately, face almost serious for a change. â€Å"You're a beautiful woman, Fleur ,and that means something when you can perfectly control your appearance. It's not your physical side – as nice as it is. It's something in here.† He tapped my breastbone. â€Å"Something warm and sensual and lovely that shines out. I'd know you in any body, in any place. â€Å" I curled up against him, happy. â€Å"I'm glad you're here. Even if it's because of the Barton and Dana mess. We're going to fix that for you, you know. I promise. I'm not letting them ship you off somewhere horrible.† A faint, playful smile curled his lips. Affection shone in his dark eyes, affection that was no doubt mirrored in my face. Suddenly, he leaned over and kissed me. Whoa. It wasn't a friendly kiss either, not the kind we so regularly planted on each other's lips in a careless way. This was a deep kiss, an erotic kiss. His lips felt like velvet, his tongue slowly sliding over mine. I was so floored by what was happening that for a moment I couldn't do anything except sink into that kiss and let it send shockwaves through my body. My senses returned to me, and I broke away, sitting up. â€Å"What the hell are you doing?† He sat up as well, as surprised by my reaction as I had been by what triggered it. â€Å"What do you mean?† â€Å"You kissed me. I mean, really kissed me.† He grinned, sensual and provocative. I shivered. When incubi targeted you with that charm, it was bewildering, even for a succubus. â€Å"What's wrong with it? You mean more to me than anyone else in the world. This is a natural step for us. We should have been doing it a long time ago.† I shook my head, backing away. â€Å"I like the way we've always been.† â€Å"Only because you haven't tried anything else. Look, I'm not asking you to run off into the sunset here. We're friends. I know that, and I like that. But you've said it yourself – sleeping with people you don't care about is wearying.† â€Å"Yeah, but†¦I don't think this is necessarily the answer.† â€Å"Then what is the answer?† he demanded. â€Å"Sleeping – or rather not sleeping – with a mortal you do care about?† I climbed out of bed. â€Å"That was harsh. And it's unrelated. I don't want us to be anything more than friends, Bastien. Sex,ll mess things up.† He stayed on the bed, watching me pace. â€Å"Sex will fix a lot of things. It's about time we got some satisfaction that wasn't all business. It'll be therapeutic for both of us. We need it.† I turned away, staring out the window without seeing. â€Å"I don't need it.† â€Å"Don't you?† Only the voice that asked me that wasn't Bastien's. It was Seth's. I spun around, eyes wide. â€Å"Stop that! Change back right now!† Bastien – as Seth – lay back easily against the pillows. He wore jeans and a Whitesnake T-shirt, just as Seth might have. His hair was unkempt. He'd even perfected that cute, distracted smile. â€Å"What's the problem, Thetis?† I stormed up to the bed, wanting to give him the full force of my fury even as I longed to run away. â€Å"This isn't funny! Change back now.† Sitting up again, he slid to the edge of the bed. â€Å"Come on, how have you not seen this coming? This is the perfect solution to all your problems.† â€Å"No, it's not. It's really not.† He stood up and walked toward me, not touching me but coming close enough to make my heart race. I stood rooted, unable to move. â€Å"Of course it is. If you ever want to get Seth out of your system, this is the way to do it. You spend all this time pining for him, wondering what it'd be like to touch him and be with him. Well, this is your chance. This is the only safe way, your chance to do everything you want without hurting him. Do this now, and you could save yourself a lot of grief in the future. â€Å" I shook my head, as my mouth apparently couldn't move now either. Too many conflicting feelings. The entire scene was unreal. Mind blowing. I was still shocked by Bastien's audacity in doing it in the first place. I knew he was rash and bold, but this was crossing the line, even for him. On the other hand, Bastien had mimicked Seth down to the last detail, and seeing him had the effect it always did on me. Everything was the same. Cute and flawless. More intoxicating still was the truth of Bastien's offer. I really could do what I wanted here. It was wrong on so many levels, but I couldn't deny the pull. The perfect temptation. â€Å"I won't cheat on Seth.† â€Å"What's cheating between you guys? You do it all the time.† â€Å"Then I'm not going to be one of your conquests,† I snapped. â€Å"Fine.† He shape-shifted the shirt away so I saw only lovely, bare chest now. He drew my hands forward, resting them on his skin. I discovered it was almost entirely smooth; there were just a few soft and silky golden hairs. â€Å"You do the conquering.† â€Å"I'm not doing any conquering.† â€Å"All right. Then take your hands away.† I stared at where my hands lay on his chest. On Seth's chest. He was warm. My hands matched him almost perfectly. We both had light, barely tanned, golden skin. Take your hands away. That's all I had to do. I just had to move my hands, step away, and leave this ridiculous game behind. I was only a hair's breadth from normality†¦yet I couldn't seem to move away. I knew it wasn't Seth, but the illusion was so powerful, I could easily imagine that this was exactly how it would feel to touch him. Without thinking, I ran my fingers down his chest, down to his stomach. Seth was no bodybuilder, but he was lean and trim from swimming and running. I had seen him in boxers before; the strong muscles were firm and exactly where they should be. Again, a perfect illusion. My hands had brushed this same part of Seth in bed before, but I never allowed myself to sensually explore him, the way I could now. I moved my fingers further, tracing the lines and contours. For his part, he didn't say or do anything. But whenever I looked up, those brown eyes were on me, brimming with heat. They made my body respond with a heat of its own. Would Seth look at me the same way if we were together like this? Somehow, I expected the answer would be yes. I knew Seth viewed sex as a serious matter, despite his characters' casual attitudes. He would treat such an encounter seriously. Also – although I had no proof – I thought Seth would be just as cautious as Bastien was being now, letting me take the lead. Nothing aggressive. My hands slid farther, down to the edge of his jeans where blue flannel boxers barely peeped out. I ran my fingers under the edge, arousing myself further with this dangerous game. Being this close to hitherto forbidden territory was heady. My scouting fingers started to tremble. Never, never would I have let things reach this point with Seth. Not with both of us pressed together. Not with both of us in so little clothing. My common sense would have long since kicked in before something dangerous might happen. But Bastien was right: nothing dangerous could happen tonight. At least not physically. I looked back up. His own breath had quickened. The space between us sizzled. He was so like Seth, I realized. So very much like him. It would be so easy. Easy to pretend. I leaned up and kissed him, again tasting those soft lips, pushing my tongue past them so I could fully savor him. His hands moved around my back, touching silk and bare skin. I was in the same outfit I wore for the last picture: another chemise, this time with a revealing top of ivory lace and a rose-pink silk skirt. I pushed into that kiss, letting it burn me. He kept his hands carefully neutral the whole time, not taking liberties, instead letting me dictate the terms. Reaching around, I grabbed a hold of his hands and moved them over me. I wanted to know what it was like to have him – Seth – touching me. I moved them down to my backside, then over to the sides of my thighs, urging him to push the chemise up. He did, letting silk gather up in his fingers as it slid up, up over my breasts and then over my head. I exhaled as those hands traveled up my body, every part of my skin electric and alive as I stood completely naked now. â€Å"Lay down,† I said, surprised at the rough note in my voice. He obliged, and I crawled onto the bed after him, straddling his hips with my legs so I leaned over him, letting my hair brush his chest as it had that night at Terry and Andrea's. Seth. I had Seth. And I could do anything I wanted. I kissed him again, harder than I had before, as if my mouth realized this could stop at any moment and had to get as much as it could right now. Pulling back slightly, I placed his hands back on me. â€Å"Don't stop touching me.† I returned to his lips, crushing his in return, letting my teeth nibble that soft flesh. All the while his hands roved over me as I'd commanded, coming to rest under my breasts so that he could cup them and stroke them. His fingers trailed to the nipples, which were already standing erect, brushing them lightly at first and then squeezing with greater intensity. I cried out, my own savage urges stoked, and I moved my lips to his neck. My mouth worked fiercely against that tender skin, pressing and biting, as though by leaving a mark I could somehow brand Seth as mine forever. Breaking away at last, I raised myself up slightly on my knees and moved his hand between my legs. He stroked me without being told to, letting his fingers slide over my clitoris, building up the mounting, scorching sensation in my lower body. His fingers moved easily, aided by my own wetness. Greater and greater that swelling ecstasy grew until it was almost agony, but I stopped him before I peaked and could find release. Frantically, I tore at his jeans and boxers, getting them off as fast as I could. I sighed shakily, looking at that long, perfect hardness as though it could keep me alive when nothing else could. I moved myself back down and ground myself against him, rubbing myself against that hardness, letting it finish the job his fingers had started. I came almost instantly, having been already on the edge, and before those spasms could even begin fading, I slid him inside of me, letting him fill me up entirely until it seemed there was nothing left of me in my own body, only him. He was still letting me take charge here, but he wasn't unaffected. His breath came heavy and hard now, his own lips parting slightly with desire, eyes begging me to do more. As for me†¦I was losing myself. I didn't care about anything else but him inside me, as close as I'd ever been able to get to Seth. It still seemed like something had to give, something had to stop us. But it didn't. I became more than a conqueror. I was a ravager, taking what I wanted with no thought of the consequences. I rode on top of him, bringing myself down hard each time, willing him to pierce right through me. My hands held him down as I thrust, not that he was trying to get away. My breasts shook as our bodies moved together, the nipples still hard and sensitive. I heard the slap of skin on skin each time I moved down, forming a rhythm with our ragged breathing. I was drowning in Seth, in his sweat and in his touch. I was liquid and golden, merged into him. My body ached, unable to get enough of him, and I moved harder still. I knew exactly which angle I needed to make myself come, and I didn't even try to hold back the waves and waves of pulsing bliss that racked my body. Small crackles of energy passed between us occasionally – not the usual absorption that occurred with a victim, but the inevitable sharing that happened between an incubus and succubus, two creatures whose bodies were made to collect the power of life. I needed to consume Seth, take as much of him as I could. I had no other purpose. Time passed. My body took its pleasure greedily and often. I said his name over and over, sometimes whispering it, sometimes screaming it, until finally exhausted, I couldn't move anymore. I stopped, nearly collapsing against him. Barely able to work my lungs anymore, I struggled to get the air I needed. He was still inside me, still ready, but I had nearly rubbed myself raw. My throat was dry and painful. Sweat formed a slick coating on me, and I hung over him panting and desperate, an animal who had just sated her hunger with no concern for who lay beneath. He watched me intently, running a careful hand over my damp cheek. Then, at some unspoken signal between us, he flipped me over onto my back to at last finish himself off. Gripping my ankles and putting them over his shoulders, he knelt before me and pushed back inside. A soft whimper passed over my lips. I was jelly now, unable to do anything but lay there and let him have his way with me. My arms spread out carelessly over my head, fingers brushing the black headboard, and I closed my eyes, just letting myself feel Seth taking me now. I was weak and spent, but it still felt wonderful. I opened my eyes and watched him working hard against my body, at last able to give in to his own pleasure. He'd held back for so long for my benefit, waiting until I had satiated my lust. Now he was the greedy one, ravaging me in the way he wanted. At last, he climaxed with a small groan, closing his eyes briefly, holding himself against me as he came into me. When he finished, he slumped forward and pulled out, lying beside me. We stayed like that for several moments, and then he pulled me roughly to him so we spooned, the back of my body pressed against the front of him. Both of us still breathed in heavy, torn gasps as our hearts gradually slowed. I let my cheek rest against his arm. I still shook all over from sex with Seth, with the feel of Seth inside of me and the way he had broken my body with that devastating ecstasy. Then, as one hand tightened on me and his other ran gently over my hair, I noticed something. He didn't smell right. I don't mean to imply that he smelled bad. He didn't. He just didn't smell like Seth. The sweat wasn't the same. There was no fleeting smell of apple, leather, and musk, no unique Seth scent. He smelled like Bastien. He was Bastien, I reminded myself sternly, and with that, the illusion shattered, the spell broke. I wasn't with Seth, no matter how perfect the shape. I was with my friend the incubus. â€Å"Change back,† I whispered. â€Å"What?† â€Å"Change back to yourself.† He didn't ask why, and a moment later, I rested in Bastien's arms. It wasn't Seth, I realized with a dull and terrible emptiness, but it was the truth. We said no more after that, staying in bed together for the rest of the night. Sleep never came for me, however. I lay awake the whole time, staring off into the shadows.

Devotion of Love

Love is unreasonable. It makes us suffer and leads us to unexpected decisions. Love gives us enough power to fight, making us powerless against our desire to produce an impression on others. Whether we love our parents or our friends, we nevertheless feel the need to prove the relevance of our feelings to others. James Joyce’s Araby and D. H. Lawrence’s The Rocking Horse Winner teach us to be more attentive to what we usually call love.The two stories shape the two different visions of love: while Joyce’s love borders on arrogance, Lawrence’s feelings border on insanity, both leading to spiritual frustration and physical self-destruction. Love is always surrounded by illusions. In both Araby and The Rocking Horse Winner, love is associated with frustration, which comes as a result of dreams which never come true. â€Å"Every morning I lay on the floor in the front parlour watching her door. The blind was pulled down to within an inch of the sash so that I could not be seen.When she came out on the doorstep my heart leaped† (Joyce). Really, is there anything better than seeing a wonderful girl across the street and dreaming about her beauty? These dreams however, are shaped in ways that do not provide the protagonist with a single chance to make them true. The situation is similar with Lawrence’s boy Paul, who vainly tries to protect his mother from financial problems. â€Å"He went off by himself, vaguely, in a childish way, seeking for the clue to ‘luck’.Absorbed, taking no heed of other people, he went about with a sort of stealth, seeking inwardly for luck. He wanted luck, he wanted it, he wanted it† (Lawrence). In his trying to find consolation in gambling, Paul looks very similar to Joyce’s character. In the bazaar or during a horse race, both position love as the object of trade, and the success of their spiritual strivings depends on their ability to earn or purchase a certain amount of material values. That these materialistic strivings are initially doomed to failure neither Joyce, nor Lawrence can conceal.They turn these material sensations into an effective literary instrument with the aim to prove and confirm the eternal truth: love cannot be bought; nor can it be sold. The tragic mistake which Joyce’s impersonal character and Lawrence’s boy Paul make on their way to love is replacing the value of true feelings with the value of money. Their failures are not in that they cannot earn or buy enough to satisfy the material needs of others. Their failure is in that they initially agree to play this material game and silently accept the rules set by others.Their love makes them blind, and they obviously overestimate their strengths, efforts, and abilities to realize their dreams and hidden desires. â€Å"Paul’s mother touched the whole five thousand. Then something very curious happened. The voices in the house suddenly went mad, like a choru s of frogs on a spring evening. There were certain new furnishings and Paul had a tutor† (Lawrence). Not the tutor and not the new furnishings, but the inner voice was telling Paul that something was wrong – the voice which Paul consciously refused to hear.The same unknown voice might have been telling Joyce’s character to keep from making an unnecessary purchase. There, in the middle of the bazaar, the young boy is gradually realizing that love does have its limits – the social and material limits, which society has imposed on him against his will. Joyce and Lawrence are similar in a sense that they re-evaluate simple human feelings through the prism of social complexities. The latter make love impossible and unachievable to those, who do not have financial capital.Both characters are the victims of their own feelings. Regardless whether these feelings border on arrogance or on material insanity, they inevitably lead to moral or physical self-destruction. Conclusion For years and centuries, love was the source of literary inspiration. In case of Joyce and Lawrence however, love has become the mirror of the major society’s flaws. Limited and decreased to an object of social trade, in both stories love appears as the instrument of one’s spiritual and physical self-destruction.Both stories position love as the object of gambling, and those who love do not have any other choice, but to accept the rules of this tragic materialistic game. The two stories form the two different pictures of one feeling and teach us a good lesson: when replaced with materialism and combined with arrogance or material insanity, our feelings turn us into the prisoners of our own unbelievably unrealistic desires; and how virtuous these desires may seem, they do not give us a single chance to be loved.

I Am Experiencing Through Self Assessment - 1674 Words

Presently, I am experiencing through self – assessment which is continuous procedure that will lead me to choice settling on in my decisions Career. I accept profession fulfillment should come with a career where I will pursue and utilize my skills, that fits with my interests and identity in accordance with my values. I will like to see myself setting up businesses as entrepreneur, beginning with family farm own business by restoring it with experience gained over the course of studied and ongoing research from time to time. I will likewise like to see some of my invented items on display in different retail outlet. IDENTIFY THREE STRENGTH I WILL BRING TO AN ORGANIZATION AS A LEADER ï  ¶ Team building ï  ¶ Strategizing ï  ¶ Influencing †¢ Team†¦show more content†¦In some work arenas, like airplane cockpits, communication can be a matter of life and death. For leaders and organizations, poor communication costs money and wastes time. Good communication can also help a company retain its star employees. Surveys find that when employees think their organization do a good job of keeping them informed about matters that affect them and they have access to the information they need to do their jobs, they are more satisfied with their employers. ‘’When you foster ongoing communications internally, you will have more satisfied employees who will be better equipped to effectively communicate with your customers,’’ says Susan Meisinger, President/CEO of the society for Human Resource Management. Creating Team Norm using Communication Team members develop particular ways of interacting and accomplishing work. They fall into habits and patterns around behaviors such as keeping commitment, meeting deadlines, planning next steps, and decision making. †¢ Strategic – one of my strength is strategizing and I will clearly define the purpose of the organization and to establish realistic goals and objectives consistent with that film mission in a defined time frame within the organization’s capacity for implementation. It requires taking a board view, involving the right people, with important information and perspectives, asking probing questions and facilitating

The One Thing to Do for World History Argumentative Essay Topics

The One Thing to Do for World History Argumentative Essay Topics How to Choose World History Argumentative Essay Topics When the writer gets familiar with the topic they can piece together their findings which best represent the intention of the paper. Afterwards, the greatest action to do is to narrow the subject down according to the guidelines offered by your professor. You may start with an introductory paragraph. If you wish to compose the essay yourself, we believe it would be best to pick a universal subject or issue. Think of the subject of the history essay you've already written before. If you would like to compose a superior history essay you'd better pick a topic that is familiar to you. The topic ought to be quite controversial once you are writing an argumentative write up. It is the most important thing for an essay. Now you can get genuine college essay online, one that is going to fit your financial plan and get your work done also. Following that, writers would need to have the ability to take a very clear stand on what they think is right regarding the issue till they begin writing their arguments. Once you receive a task done from us you will return again if you need assistance with another one of your essays. Every time you demand quick assistance by means of your task, contact on-line expert writing service which could prepare an argumentative essay on the subject you prefer. If you are feeling unsure at any time, you should go for low-cost essay writing services readily available online as opposed to risking for any error. There are a lot of reasons why you must prefer our services. The actual individuals highly praise our essay help site. The Appeal of World History Argumentative Essay Topics There are lots of assortments of topics based on the subject you would decide to compose a paper. You need to be quite sure in regards to the notion that you would like to expand on. Your topic idea ought to be something you'll be able to complete in a timely matter and offer interesting information for readers. Your very first idea is nearly always very likely to be too large. Perhaps you still must understand more about the way to compose a history paper. It is an impossible task to write a fantastic history paper if you write about something you find boring and don't care about in any way. From time to time, however, it can be a bit difficult to locate a topic and even more interesting sub-topic to investigate and compose a whole paper on. If you are searching for some controversial topics for research paper, you've reached the appropriate page. New Ideas Into World History Argumentative Essay Topics Never Before Revealed The function of the USA has been integral in the evolution of the digitally advanced connected world. Some say that it's Germany due to their invasion of Belgium. Some historians feel that Japan was on the brink of surrender even though others argue an invasion of Japan would have been an inevitable bloodbath. World History Research Papers involve an amazing quantity of information. World History Argumentative Essay Topics - Dead or Alive? Your language selection will be contingent on this issue. In case it means doing a couple of revisions, don't hesitate to achieve that. Below, it is possible to also locate a list of good topics that you are able to use if you like them. Write a list of ideas you've got or a list of things you're interested in. You may easily buy unique college essays and don't neglect to tell friends and family about it. While it's true that there are a few excellent writers in college some find it extremely tough to write. Doing sports in college ought to be mandatory. You might need to search on the internet or check out magazines that announce such contests from time to time.

Deal Book Essay - 1524 Words

Deal Book Critique Liberty University Summary This book gives single parents an ideal of what to expect when dating. When a person has children sometimes it difficult to find a date, even to find time to date someone. Ron L. Deal has come up with different guidelines to help a single person find love in all the right places. Getting Past Butterflies and Warm Fuzzies God made people to be loved. Some people have the longing desire to be loved and married one day while others do not have the desire to have a marriage. When a parent wants again to find love many questions go threw there head according to Deal. How do I introduce my children to a new friend How is dating or a marriage going to affect my children How do I know if my†¦show more content†¦It is not important to move on fast, but to examine how the past has made an impact on you and your children. A person that has been divorce should see if the relationship with spouse could be reconciled. Deal recommends tha t you should prep yourself and the kids for dating. The family should conquer fears of what they have. Adult fears can consist of losing kid connection, causing kid pain, not blending, choosing a mate poorly, ex-spouse fear, fearing spiritual judgment. The person should rate their fear between 1-10. Single parents should pray to God and ask him to help you overcome your fears and help you have successful dating relationship. Parents should commit to each other fully to love one another. Help children overcome their fears by telling them that you will always love them no matter what. Children are very smart and they want to know what is going on. Have conversations with them about how things might change with you dating. Remain patient with your children and do not force them to love your partner like you love them. This will take time and do not give up. Gone Fishing Not every relationship is going to work and it is important to notice certain signs that the relationship will not work. The first and most important sign is not sharing the same spiritual beliefs. IF he is pressuring you to get married with a relationship with God, then a person should rethink theirShow MoreRelated Homosexuality, Suicide and Feminism in Cunninghams, The Hours611 Words   |  3 PagesPeople magazine, Michael Cunningham describes The Hours as essentially an optimistic book that deals with the terrible things that happen to people(105). More precisely, the book is about three women living in different eras and addresses several issues, among them homosexuality, suicide, and feminism. Much Cunninghams portrayal of Virginia, who is working on her famous novel Mrs. Dalloway as the story opens, deals with her feelings about life in the suburbs, a life in which her husband dictatesRead MoreThe Pros And Cons Of Books976 Words   |  4 PagesThe books that are banned are the ones that define our past. Book censorship is when the government or a school bans a book because of its depiction to the reader. Book banning is becoming more prevalent as the years have gone by because there are more parents that want to protect their children. Book banning is an extremely important topic because it is shielding young people’s knowledge of what the world truly is. This is a problem because when kids are finally on their own they might not be readyRead MoreAnalyble Themes In The Calculus Diaries By Jennifer Ouellette978 Words   |  4 Pagesviewpoint can change the entire meaning of the story. Finally, the most interesting point made in the book was the brachistochrone, wh ich is the problem of finding the fastest way to travel between two fixed points where one is higher than the other. The answer is a cycloid, â€Å"which is the curve created by a point on the rim of a wheel along a straight line† (Ouellette,212). Next, the main challenge this book covers is the idea that calculus is impossible, and that people don’t understand how useful itRead MoreWhat Makes A Book Great?1446 Words   |  6 PagesWhat makes a book great? Is it the book’s ability to relate to your past, to impress you with its dynamic characters, or another reason that may be only understood by the reader? There are many things that factor into the greatness of a novel. The characteristics which define a novel as being â€Å"great† can differ depending on the person, organization, or other collective which has chosen to read that selected literature. 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Public Enforcement Institutional Investors - Myassignmenthelp.Com

Question: Discuss About The Public Enforcement Institutional Investors? Answer: Introduction: The impairment reviewing of goodwill by organization is done at level of cash generating unit and the impairment testing of goodwill as per the IAS 136 are performed at level that does not exceed operating segments. Allocation of goodwill acquired in business combination is done at cash generating unit. It is essential for organization to alter the composition of one or more acquired cash generating unit to which the allocation of goodwill as been done. One of the basic principles of impairment as per IAS 136 is that the carrying value of assets should not be more than their recoverable amount that is higher of value in use and fair value of assets less costs. In this regard, it is required by entities to tests all the assets that are in the scope for potential impairment for goodwill and intangible assets having indefinite useful lives. It is required by the standard that recognition of any impairment loss should be done as an expense in profit or loss that are carried out at costs. Impairment loss is first recorded against revaluation gains that are recognized previously if the revaluations of affected assets are done in accordance to IAS 16 property, plant and equipment (Avallone and Quagli 2015). For the assets other than goodwill, recognition of impairment loss in prior period is required to be reversed. This reversal should be done when there are any alterations in the estimates for determining recoverable amount of assets. Th ere should be extensive disclosures regarding the recognition of impairment loss and carrying out impairment testing. Discussion: Recognition of loss related to impairment is done to the extent that assets recoverable amount is less than their carrying amount. Losses resulting from impairment for the assets that are carried historical costs are recognized immediately as an expense in the statement of profit and loss. If under IAS 16 or 38, recognition of impairment loss is done as a decrease in revaluation if the revalued assets are impaired assets. Such decrease in revaluation is immediately recognized in the comprehensive income. This has the impact in terms of declining value that reduces revaluation surplus of assets. Recognition of impairment loss is done immediately in the statement of profit and loss as an expense and this is done to the extent that revaluation surplus is less than impairment loss. Impaired assets carrying amount after the recognition of impairment loss will never be decreased to below the higher of recoverable amount of individual assets an zero (Chen et al. 2014). When the group of cash generating unit (CGU) or a CGU where the allocation of goodwill done is tested for the purpose of impairment, then firstly allocation of loss arising from impairment is performed to reduce the carrying amount of goodwill. Allocation of any existed remaining loss is attributed on pro rata to the other assets of CGU based on carrying amount each asset in CGU. Nonetheless, assets carrying value in this regard is never reduced to below of higher of recoverable amount of individual assets and zero. Allocation of impairment loss for a group of CGU will have the identical process as that of single CGU (Knauer and Whrmann 2016). Recognition of impairment loss for an asset other than goodwill is done by gathering information from external and internal sources and such loss have decreased or they no longer exist. Some internal indicators indicating recognition of impairment loss incorporates favorable and positive changes in the performance and use of assets. Market conditions and considerable favorable changes in the value of assets are some of the external indicators indicating impairment loss (Johansson et al. 2016). Consequently, reversal of assets other than goodwill is completed if there is improvement in estimates for determining recoverable amount of CGU and assets. It was done since the last recognition of impairment loss. However, change or improvement in general market scenario and passing of time cannot form the basis of recognition of impairment reversal. Assets carrying amount should not be less than their adjusted carrying amount when impairment reversal has been recognized, as it would have det ermined there are no impairment losses. However, even if there is no reversal of impairment loss and there is no indication of impairment existence, organizations are required to adjust or review the residual value, depreciation methods and remaining useful life of assets. Reversal of impairment losses for goodwill is specifically prohibited by IAS 136 (Glaum et al. 2017). Any losses arising from impairment at the date of transition are recorded by adjusting retained earnings. Goodwill that is acquired in business combinations is allocated to CGU acquirer. Impairment testing of goodwill under IAS 136, Impairment of Assets is performed at level that should not be more than operating segments. Recoverable amount of individual assets are same as that of CGU. Assets carrying amount involves assets that are exclusively and directly attributable to the CGU and assets allocation that are not directly attributable on consistent and reasonable to CGU (Glaum et al. 2015). When computing disposal of profit and loss, goodwill that are incorporated in the carrying amount of operations and are attributable to disposition. Assets carrying amount within CGU s required to be reduced below the highest of value in use, fair value minus cost to sell and zero when impairment loss is allocated to CGU (Bepari et al. 2017). Impairment that has not be allocated should be reall ocated to other assets of CGU and it is subjected to same limits (accaglobal.com 2018). Until, there is full allocation of impairment loss, this process would continue. Impairment loss recognition should not lead to liability recognition unless the definition of liability is met under reporting standard. Conclusion: Impairment loss allocation as per IFRS 3, Business combinations brings in new opportunities when dealing with goodwill. Goodwill that involves CGU is tested annually for the impairment purpose. Impairment is calculated by comparing recoverable amount of CGU with the grossed up amount. Only, the share of impairment loss of holing company is recognized in the statement of profit and loss. Entities electing the employment of fair value method and using the full goodwill method, impairment loss that is charged to loss and profit is higher. Under the standard IAS 136, losses arising from impairment are allocated to goodwill in first stage and subsequently it is done to identifiable assets using pro rata basis. References list: Avallone, F. and Quagli, A., 2015. Insight into the variables used to manage the goodwill impairment test under IAS 36.Advances in Accounting,31(1), pp.107-114. Bepari, M.K., Bepari, M.K., Mollik, A.T. and Mollik, A.T., 2017. Regime change in the accounting for goodwill: Goodwill write-offs and the value relevance of older goodwill.International Journal of Accounting Information Management,25(1), pp.43-69. Chen, W., Shroff, P.K. and Zhang, I., 2014. Fair Value Accounting: Consequences of Booking Market-driven Goodwill Impairment. Glaum, M., Landsman, W. and Wyrwa, S., 2017. Goodwill Impairment: The Effects of Public Enforcement and Monitoring by Institutional Investors. Glaum, M., Landsman, W.R. and Wyrwa, S., 2015. Determinants of Goodwill Impairment: International Evidence. Glaum, M., Landsman, W.R. and Wyrwa, S., 2015.Determinants of Goodwill Impairment under IFRS: International Evidence. Working Paper, available at: https://ssrn. com/abstract= 2608425. Johansson, S.E., Hjelstrm, T. and Hellman, N., 2016. Accounting for goodwill under IFRS: A critical analysis.Journal of International Accounting, Auditing and Taxation,27, pp.13-25. Knauer, T. and Whrmann, A., 2016. Market reaction to goodwill impairments.European Accounting Review,25(3), pp.421-449. www.accaglobal.com, A. (2018).Impairment of goodwill and CGUs | ACCA Global. [online] Accaglobal.com. Available at: https://www.accaglobal.com/in/en/member/discover/cpd-articles/corporate-reporting/goodwill-cgus.html [Accessed 17 Jan. 2018].

Sleepy Time Gal Essay Example

Sleepy Time Gal Essay The stories Sleepy Time Gal by Gary Gildner and Happy Endings by Margaret Atwood have an array of interesting characters that are portrayed using many devices such as actions, words, reputation, other characters and direct comment. The first story Sleepy Time Gal by Gary Gildner is about a man named Phil, his girlfriend and how they did not end up together. Two characters will be discussed from this story due to their relevance in the portrayal of the other. They are the narrator’s mother and father. The narrator’s father was is a practical person. This was first made known by the narrator to the readers when he described his father â€Å"gentle, but practical†[1] to forewarn the readers of the type of observations his father will contribute to the story. This direct comment helped in emphasizing this characteristic which, without it, will not be easily be noticeable. Moreover, while the claim that his father is gentle and practical comes from the narrator alone, it may be claimed that such comment is the general reputation of the father based on the way it was written. The text reads, â€Å"I have to break in here and say that my father, a gentle but practical man†¦Ã¢â‚¬ [2]. The description was stated as a matter of fact, and not of a personal opinion, as if people around them will not disagree to the fact of such description. We will write a custom essay sample on Sleepy Time Gal specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Sleepy Time Gal specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Sleepy Time Gal specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer However, the portrayal of the father’s characteristic did not stop here. It further used words by the father and comparison with other characters to prove and highlight the fact of such characteristics. As regards words, the narrator emphasized the fact that the father tend to focus more of facts and practical matters such as the great Depression. This fact was shown further later on in the story. While the story the father was telling his son is about his friend’s life and love, an account that is supposed to be emotional to some extent, the focus of his observations are not the emotions, but the events. This point will be made clearer with the discussion of how the character of the father is portrayed through other characters. At this point, it will be necessary to introduce the second character from the story. She is the mother of the narrator. It is her through her contributions in the story that she portrayed. She is also portrayed through her use of words and narration. She uses words that are more poetic such as â€Å"got tears in her eyes† instead of crying and â€Å"see it in their eyes†[3]. Even the narrator seems to find his father incapable of such words that when the words â€Å"see it in their eyes† were used in the story, he found it important to note that such was not â€Å"in [his] father’s telling†[4]. Contrary to what the father is, the mother is less practical and is rather more romantic and emotional. She sees the emotional parts of the story that the father tends to skip. Therefore, while the father is remarking on how â€Å"Phil spent his week’s pay on a new shirt and tie, the first one he ever owned†¦.† the night before Philâ€℠¢s girlfriend left for college, his mother is talking about how â€Å"[t]he women got tears in their eyes when Phil played her song†¦Ã¢â‚¬ [5]   Oftentimes, their statements come one after the others’, thus making the difference between their perspectives more marked and noticeable, making each of them a perfect tool to portray the other. This brings us to the second story Happy Endings, which is about happy endings that are not endings because they turn sour again for the characters in the story until they die. In this story, the most interesting character to discuss is the narrator. There are many characters used in the story. There are John, Mary, Madge, John, James and Fred. However, they are not portrayed in the story in the sense that they are not relevant as characters. They are merely tools to portray the narrator. Again, they were just â€Å"used†. They were only used to portray the narrator’s view about happy endings. There is no happy ending. Just when the characters finally have a happy ending of their own, the narrator will twist it to make it sour, sad and complicated. This change may still end in another happy ending, but that second happy ending will again be made sour, sad and complicated. This cycle continues until the character dies. Such belief shows cynicism on the part of the narrator and portrays him to be an unhappy person. He is one who believes that what happy ending he may have will not last because he does not believe in happy endings. The only true ending is death and all the others are fakes. For him, happy endings are j ust fake endings â€Å"either deliberately fake, with malicious intent to deceive, or just motivated by excessive optimism if not by downright sentimentality†[6]. Her character is also portrayed by the words he used in telling John, Mary, Madge, John, James and Fred. Their stories were told through a series of events as if these events ordinarily happen in everyone’s lives, devoid of any emotion and sentimentality. They are just facts about certain people’s lives. Each story ends with a happy ending, at least before they turn sour again, but these happy endings are not told in a happy way unlike how other happy endings would be told.