March 6th Creative Challenge Manipulation

[Tehya]

This week's challenge will be on Manipulation, feel free to post Art, Stories and Poems on the subject...be it physical or mental manipulation have fun with it.

[mozenwrathe]

*To manipulate something means to move it or shape it. That could easily mean to dismantle it and put it back together in a way that few would recognize it. And not all things manipulated can be seen. Relationships, opinions, magical auras... anything that exists can be manipulated in one way or another. The dark elves love to consider themselves the masters (or mistresses, really) of manipulation. Though there are numerous other races that would insist they have a claim to such a dubious honour, those who live under the earth refuse to accept there are ones whom are better...*

Not Available To Contest Or Concern
by Nápoldë Númenessë, high elven jeweler of Valencia

seasons themselves condemn me
to face facts of my age and my hands
in comparison to what have I made
with these fingers of mine still delicate
not gnarled and worn like those of others
humans and lesser-lived races like them
so as so many ask me about my beauty
tall tale tell spill forth from my tongue
all the while lacing vinegar with honey
until truth is no better than fiction
and anything I speak with soft voice
will they just accept and smile with
unsure of if I'm trying to stave off question
or just someone who loves naught more
than to sow chaos in another's fields

after completing another charmed bracelet
or carefully etching out an engraving
do I think of what I have done once more
creating something of magnificence
which almost without question
shall be used to sway another's opinion
making one care more for another
or at least the size of their coinpurse
and while the lust for status rises in some
their reasoning drips from their pores
like the fat from a roasted pig on a spit
the same drool they have for such prizes
giving away their base nature's win
over what could have them heartache
or fates worse than mere disappointment

my eyes do not betray me often
and my tongue wishes to lead others
down some myriad paths and roads
just to see where they end up in time
while I would remain safely in my shoppe
reaping benefits of their misfortunes
though not for personal amusement
more to experiment with their fates
without risking my own providence
understanding well they could fall
into traps not of their own making
and become one with their past
while future mine remained quietly hale
with gemstones falling into my palms
and silver sliding over my shoulder

my bosom is not so great to be
focus of the attentions of many
need I drag no more undo gazes
downwards to my woman's wiles
unless am I advertising something
to be bought that is not myself
then will pendant dip down that low
knowing many men and not a few women
shall follow the chain downwards
until are they dazzled by the merchandise
and not just by my form itself
which allows me to quote almost any price
given scale and reason and shine
accepting no favours and only mehrial
to hold to my bosom in return

shall I tell no lies without reason
nor give away truths that will harm me
as I know far too well the laws of this land
are only there to keep those the Emperor
has favoured in line with his own desires
such is the fated way of all such places
but need I not be completely dishonest
in order to insure grand living for
those whom I love and adore here
need I only dance around the edges
of what people chose to believe as fact
and their own minds will give to them
whatever I choose not to when I speak
just as it would anyway I remember
for no man listens to all I will ever say fully
and the women would never be much better
so it is best I direct their imaginations
to the places that work best for myself

[Stormbringer]

No surprise there!

[Ehlanna]

My attempt:


"You are a slut, you are not worthy to wear panties, cat girls are good ..."