How will you triumph?

[asakiyume]

This was my microfiction for yesterday (prompt was "by," of all words)

"How will you triumph?" the old man asked the opponents.

"By feats of arms," said the knight.
"By hook or by crook," said the con artist.
"By the grace of God," said the cleric.
"By logic," said the philosopher.
"By luck," said the gambler.
"By sleight of hand," said the stage magician.
"By attrition," said the field marshal.
"By default," said the loan shark.
"By consensus," said the negotiator.
"By acclamation," said the populist.

Comments

[sovay]

"By default," said the loan shark.

I know it's the build-up, not the punch line, but this is my favorite.

[sartorias]

"By sleight of hand," said the stage magician.

Heh! Would that be a real triumph then? Or what the audience thinks is one?

[amaebi]

That has real folklore chops.

(I want to add at the end: The farmer didn't speak, but continued to fork muck into the soil.)

[mallorys_camera]

❤️❤️❤️

[rimturse]

Very clever! :)

[nineweaving]

Oh, excellent! It does feel folkloric.

Nine