Poker Face Card #3: Tall Tale
I struggled with this one the most. I must have contemplated 6 or 7 ideas, but got stuck and wasn't sure if it really fit the theme. I'm of the conclusion that my stories are a little bit exaggerated to begin with and hard for me to exaggerate more. lol Or maybe I'm not being creative enough with specifics. This is what I settled on. I hope it fits well enough.
Card: Tall Tale
Sapphira was without contest, the single most beautiful woman in the land. With eyes like sapphires, deep blue rivaling the deep blue sea, jet black hair, and porcelain skin she seemed to glow. Wherever she went she was the focus of all male attentions (and women's too, albeit often for very different reasons.)
Her origins were not especially notable. She was the daughter of a less than average set of parents. Rumors swirled about her "true" origins. Surely a woman as exceptional as she must be of special birth. She seemed not of mere mortals but of a goddess come to earth. With her exceptional beauty and ability to charm perhaps she was a daughter of Aphrodite herself. Who else could send men's hearts racing with a single indifferent glance?
A man of low means, her father hoped to benefit from a well made match of his notable daughter. Surely with charms such as hers she could have her pick of any man, and he, by extension, his pick of a son-in-law with the most to offer.
Sapphira was fully aware of this herself. A shrewd woman from a young age, she was not going to settle for anything less than what she wanted. Anyone else, including her father, be damned.
Most of the men she met did not suit her fancy, but she was not above getting from them whatever she could get. Her mere presence made crowds part to give her way to pass. A simple shift of her eyes and men would lay gifts at her feet. A smile in ones direction would nearly do a man in.
Word of her beauty spread and suitors would come from miles around, bearing promises of gifts, of devotion, of love, of status, and of wealth. But she was a woman who knew her own mind and had her own purpose. One by one she would turn them down. A simple shake of her head or wave of her hand and she would leave them devastated, their hopes and dreams dashed, hearts shattered to pieces.
Not everyone was completely immune to her charms. Her parents were growing impatient with her and anxious. So many good offers, better than their circumstances normally would have allowed, had been so easily dismissed. As beautiful as she was the offers could not be infinite. Eventually, they would slow and stop. Eventually even her beauty would fade with age.
One day, on a whim, she had decided she was bored of this life and decided to set out and see what the world held beyond her own village. She went to visit and aunt in the nearby village of Amphidelphos. Out in the village she didn't even take note of the usual stares and men falling at her feet. She happened to hear the public speeches of men on the village council and did take notice.
The prominent speakers were important men in the village and she could sense their rivalry and struggle for dominance and power. The drive for power was intoxicating and she knew she wanted to move up and up and up. She just needed the right partner by her side.
Both of the prominent speakers just happened to each have an unmarried son that caught her eye. One was strong and impulsive, the other was kind but determined. Both were quite handsome. Both immediately fell under her charms with only a glance. A smile and a few words from her and they were both hopelessly devoted to her. All she had to do was wait and see who would come out on top of the village politics as the tables shifted from one side to the other.
Unfortunately, she was unable to bide her time forever as the two men eventually discovered they were both vying for her attentions. Their rivalry was threatening to become a fight to the death, but as public opinion was swaying towards the side of the family of the stronger, harder man, she made her choice before blood could be shed. The second man, broken and heart and spirit left the village and wandered the lands to attempt to heal this broken heart.
The first man, having won his prize, began to make plans for their future together, plans that were never to be as a more influential, more powerful man came along and caught Sapphira's eye. He was forgotten as she moved on to bigger and better goals.
Card: Tall Tale
Sapphira was without contest, the single most beautiful woman in the land. With eyes like sapphires, deep blue rivaling the deep blue sea, jet black hair, and porcelain skin she seemed to glow. Wherever she went she was the focus of all male attentions (and women's too, albeit often for very different reasons.)
Her origins were not especially notable. She was the daughter of a less than average set of parents. Rumors swirled about her "true" origins. Surely a woman as exceptional as she must be of special birth. She seemed not of mere mortals but of a goddess come to earth. With her exceptional beauty and ability to charm perhaps she was a daughter of Aphrodite herself. Who else could send men's hearts racing with a single indifferent glance?
A man of low means, her father hoped to benefit from a well made match of his notable daughter. Surely with charms such as hers she could have her pick of any man, and he, by extension, his pick of a son-in-law with the most to offer.
Sapphira was fully aware of this herself. A shrewd woman from a young age, she was not going to settle for anything less than what she wanted. Anyone else, including her father, be damned.
Most of the men she met did not suit her fancy, but she was not above getting from them whatever she could get. Her mere presence made crowds part to give her way to pass. A simple shift of her eyes and men would lay gifts at her feet. A smile in ones direction would nearly do a man in.
Word of her beauty spread and suitors would come from miles around, bearing promises of gifts, of devotion, of love, of status, and of wealth. But she was a woman who knew her own mind and had her own purpose. One by one she would turn them down. A simple shake of her head or wave of her hand and she would leave them devastated, their hopes and dreams dashed, hearts shattered to pieces.
Not everyone was completely immune to her charms. Her parents were growing impatient with her and anxious. So many good offers, better than their circumstances normally would have allowed, had been so easily dismissed. As beautiful as she was the offers could not be infinite. Eventually, they would slow and stop. Eventually even her beauty would fade with age.
One day, on a whim, she had decided she was bored of this life and decided to set out and see what the world held beyond her own village. She went to visit and aunt in the nearby village of Amphidelphos. Out in the village she didn't even take note of the usual stares and men falling at her feet. She happened to hear the public speeches of men on the village council and did take notice.
The prominent speakers were important men in the village and she could sense their rivalry and struggle for dominance and power. The drive for power was intoxicating and she knew she wanted to move up and up and up. She just needed the right partner by her side.
Both of the prominent speakers just happened to each have an unmarried son that caught her eye. One was strong and impulsive, the other was kind but determined. Both were quite handsome. Both immediately fell under her charms with only a glance. A smile and a few words from her and they were both hopelessly devoted to her. All she had to do was wait and see who would come out on top of the village politics as the tables shifted from one side to the other.
Unfortunately, she was unable to bide her time forever as the two men eventually discovered they were both vying for her attentions. Their rivalry was threatening to become a fight to the death, but as public opinion was swaying towards the side of the family of the stronger, harder man, she made her choice before blood could be shed. The second man, broken and heart and spirit left the village and wandered the lands to attempt to heal this broken heart.
The first man, having won his prize, began to make plans for their future together, plans that were never to be as a more influential, more powerful man came along and caught Sapphira's eye. He was forgotten as she moved on to bigger and better goals.