#lab created colored diamonds

[labgrowndiamondsindia]

Colored Diamonds: Are They Worth the Hype?

When we think of diamonds, we often envision the classic clear, brilliant stones that have adorned engagement rings and necklaces for generations. However, a captivating trend is reshaping the diamond market—colored diamonds. From vibrant blues and pinks to deep greens and yellows, these extraordinary gems are garnering attention and raising questions. Are colored diamonds worth the hype? Let’s explore the allure, market dynamics, and investment potential of these stunning gemstones.

The Allure of Colored Diamonds

Colored diamonds, also known as fancy shape lab grown diamonds, are graded based on their hue, tone, and saturation. Unlike traditional diamonds, which are evaluated on the 4Cs—cut, clarity, color, and carat—colored diamonds are classified by their unique colors and how vivid they are. The more intense and pure the color, the more valuable the diamond.

One of the main attractions of colored diamonds is their rarity. For example, blue and pink diamonds are extremely scarce, making them highly sought after. According to the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), fewer than 0.1% of all diamonds mined are colored diamonds. This rarity not only contributes to their allure but also fuels a thriving market.

The Market Dynamics

The market for colored diamonds has seen significant growth over the past few decades. In recent years, they have become a favorite among celebrities and influencers, often spotted in high-profile engagements and red-carpet events. Notable figures like Elizabeth Taylor and Jennifer Lopez have worn stunning colored diamond jewelry, elevating their status and desirability.

In addition to celebrity endorsements, the rise of social media has amplified the visibility of colored diamonds. Platforms like Instagram and Pinterest showcase breathtaking images of these gems, inspiring potential buyers and collectors. As a result, demand for colored diamonds continues to surge, pushing prices higher.

Investment Potential

When considering the worth of colored diamonds, many prospective buyers and investors wonder about their investment potential. Historically, colored diamonds have shown remarkable resilience in value appreciation. According to a report from Sotheby’s, the auction house has seen colored diamonds sell for millions, with some pieces reaching record-breaking prices.

For instance, the Blue Moon Diamond, a 12.03-carat blue diamond, fetched an astonishing $48.4 million at a Sotheby’s auction in 2015. Similarly, a pink diamond known as the Pink Star sold for $71.2 million in 2017, making it one of the most expensive diamonds ever sold. These high-profile sales indicate that colored diamonds can serve as a stable investment, especially for those looking to diversify their portfolios.

The Risks and Considerations

While colored diamonds present intriguing investment opportunities, they also come with risks and considerations. The market can be volatile, with prices fluctuating based on demand and supply dynamics. Furthermore, the rarity of certain colors does not guarantee a consistent return on investment. For instance, while pink and blue diamonds have historically performed well, other colors may not experience the same level of appreciation.

Potential buyers should also be cautious about the authenticity and certification of colored diamonds. As the market grows, so does the risk of encountering counterfeit or misrepresented stones. It is essential to purchase from reputable dealers and ensure that diamonds come with proper certification from recognized organizations like the GIA.

Choosing the Right Colored Diamond

If you’re considering purchasing a colored diamond, there are several factors to keep in mind. First, determine your budget and desired color. Some colors, like blue and pink, can be significantly more expensive than others, such as yellow or brown. Understanding the market prices for different colors will help you make informed decisions.

Second, consider the diamond's quality based on its hue, tone, and saturation. Vivid and deep colors typically command higher prices, so prioritize these qualities when shopping.

Finally, think about the diamond's setting and style. Colored diamonds can be set in various ways, from traditional solitaire designs to more contemporary styles that showcase their unique hues. Choosing a setting that enhances the color and brilliance of the diamond can significantly impact its overall appeal.

Conclusion

In summary, colored diamonds are undoubtedly worth the hype, offering a blend of beauty, rarity, and investment potential. As demand continues to rise, these stunning gemstones have become more than just luxury accessories; they are seen as viable investments that can appreciate over time.

Whether you're drawn to the idea of owning a vibrant piece of jewelry or considering colored diamonds as an investment, it's essential to do your research and make informed decisions. As the world of colored diamonds evolves, so does the opportunity to enjoy and invest in these extraordinary gems.

For those interested in exploring colored diamonds further, Rahi Impex offers a diverse selection of high-quality diamonds, ensuring that you find the perfect piece that suits your taste and investment goals. Embrace the beauty and allure of colored lab grown diamond, and discover how they can enhance your collection today.

[riddhicorporation]

The Future of Diamonds: How HPHT Technology is Changing the Industry

Diamonds have captivated hearts for centuries, their brilliance a symbol of love, commitment, and enduring beauty. But the traditional diamond industry has faced growing scrutiny in recent years. Ethical concerns and environmental impact have led many consumers to question the origin of their stones.

Enter HPHT (High Pressure, High Temperature) technology, a game-changer for the diamond industry. This innovative process mimics the natural diamond formation process under controlled laboratory conditions, creating ethically-sourced, stunning diamonds with the exact same physical and chemical properties as their mined counterparts. 

Here's how HPHT is transforming the future of diamonds:

Ethical Brilliance: HPHT lab diamonds offer a conflict-free alternative. You can be confident your stones haven't fueled environmental damage or social injustice. This resonates with today's socially conscious consumers who value transparency and ethical sourcing.

Sustainable Sparkle: Gone are the days of large-scale mining and its impact on the environment. HPHT lab grown diamonds are created in controlled settings, minimizing the environmental footprint. This aligns perfectly with the growing demand for sustainable practices in the jewelry industry.

Unmatched Beauty: HPHT technology allows for precise control over the diamond's growth process. This results in exceptional clarity, color, and brilliance, rivaling even the most coveted mined diamonds. Your customers can experience the timeless elegance of diamonds without sacrificing quality.

Accessibility for All: HPHT lab made diamonds are often more affordable than mined diamonds of comparable quality. This opens the doors for a wider audience to experience the joy of diamond jewelry, expanding the market and customer base for retailers.

Are you ready to embrace the future of HPHT lab grown diamonds? 

As a leading HPHT lab-grown diamond manufacturer, we offer a wide range of exquisite stones perfect for any design vision. Our commitment to quality, ethical sourcing, and sustainable practices ensures you can confidently provide your customers with the diamonds they deserve.

[thejewelryhut]

For Her Unique Occasion. Vintage Vibes. A Necklace that Shows Her Personality. TheJewelryHut Vintage Inspired Victorian Style Red and White Crystalline Silver Majesty Necklace

Designs Borrowed from past that Appeal to Sophisticated Modern Woman. Steal her Heart with TheJewelryHut Vintage Inspired Style Platinum Plated 925 Sterling Silver 16 inches Her Majesty Necklace Featuring Several Multi-Shape Ruby Red Color Lab Created Crystalline and Accented by Several Multi-Shape White Diamond Color Lab Created Crystalline. Gems Total weight 110 CTTW. The Luxury of Sterling Silver that Captures her Style and Shows her attitude. Submerge Her in the Sparkle of this Elegant Necklace.

Main Stone Choice of Green Emerald, Blue Sapphire, Ruby Red, Color Lab Created Crystalline.

Trust Confidence and Integrity.  Shop TheJewelryHut. Visit the Anna Zuckerman Jewelry Gallery, Buy now and Sparkle all day:  https://www.thejewelryhut.com/?page=search&itemvid=0A31C96B-D767-9920-D9D35381F2A6BFC2

[cubic-zirconia-gem]

https://cubiczirconiagem.com/cubic-zirconia-white-and-color-aaa-round-shape/1/4/gems

[cali-kabi]

~ GSA members with Magical Wings ╰(*´︶`*)╯💫🌟Prepare for lots of headcanons of them on this post hehe here goes :)

🌟Sir Arthur has electric magic he can create magic wings with his magic same with the other GSA members but each of them have a different element ^^ He’s really speedy with them. Arthur is quite strict since he’s leader, he’s also caring as well. But sometimes Meta Knight has trust issues with him after some point after the fall of the war. Meta is the one who mostly disobeys his orders sometimes xD he will most likely listen to Sir Falspar and Sir Dragato cuz they were there for him whenever he needs it ;w; and Sir Arthur wasn’t due to being too busy with being leader, ships, armies and stuff.

💎Sir Nonsurat has diamond/rock based magical wings. Has earth based magic. He has a new visor they make his eyes appear green. Since Nonsurat’s wings are made of rock, Galacta Knight will have a pain fighting him cuz of his heavy rock wings. It doesn’t bother Nonsurat at all. Nonsurat met Arthur since they were little they were close friends ever since. They both found a smol blue puffball, Meta Knight during a dark storm one day. Yes I headcanon Meta Knight being a creation of Nightmare. Arthur, Nonsurat are the ones who find him all lost ;0; Arthur found little Meta near NME’s labs base and decided to take him back to his ship. Meta Knight was well hidden in the GSA base. Nightmare spent a while searching for Meta but than eventually gave up..

🌊Sir Dragato has water magic and water wings. He’s a bit uptight but he’s friendly <3 Dragato knows lots about ships parts and engineering he and Falspar never met until both of them got recruited at the GSA. Dragato is also a fashion designer his favorite thing to design is capes mostly. Their both really close friends. ;w; He and Falspar were the ones who first found out about Meta Knight’s wings.

🔥Sir Falspar he has fire magic and fiery wings. Sometimes his hair changes color like the pink, orange, blue, and yellow flames :) or whenever he’s feeling a lot of emotions. Even tho he looks angy on this drawing he’s the “friendly” one in the group I promise xD Like Dragato he knows lots of spaceships how they work etc.

[nardo-headcanons]

Iwagakure Worldbuilding Headcanon

yes, it is time. i have been planning to do this ever since i wrote the suna ones. what inspired me to write these? my chem analytics lab practical

People and Culture

Iwagakure is a rather densely populated village, with its country having a rather large population. The citizens of Iwa are often times brutally honest with each other and often work as one big union. The language spoken in Iwagakure sounds similar to Konoha's language, but not quite (Almost like Dutch sounds compared to German). There are many different dialects across different valleys, every one sounding slightly different from the other. This sometimes leads to interesting dialoagues, but they manage. Many foreigners think Iwa citizens don't have a sense of humor, but they do. It's just that it's rather dry compared to what most foreigners are used to.

Infrastructure

A lot of the infrastructure in Iwagakure is made of stone and their architecture is very immaculate and they like using earth style to accentuate their homes. Despite their economy not being the strongest, Iwagakure has a homeless rate of 0% since housing is easy to construct there.

Education

In the Iwa academy, genin are not only taught ninja skills, but basic geology and chemistry as well. Despite Iwa nin being regarded as 'stupid' by outsiders due to their funny accents, they have an extensive education system.

Fireworks

Fireworks in Iwagakure are a special good, and they are very proud of the fact that they invented it. No one really knows how, but the story says that one shinobi of Iwagakure's explosion corps added copper sulphate, rubidium acetate, strontiom sulphate and lithium chloride into their explosive clay, creating a prototype of the fireworks they use nowadays. Using their knowledge of the different minerals and their flame test colors, the earth country's pyrotechnicians are able to create elaborate artworks out of thin scraps.

Clothes

Most clothes are dyed with either natural colorants or colorful chemicals. Most older people prefer the natural dyes from plants, such as ube, purple and orange carrots, etc. The youngsters are more adventurous.

Politics

Much like Suna shinobi, Iwa ninjas had more trust in their tsuchikage than in their own daimyo, however this recently changed due to Oonoki, the third tsuchi-kage hiring mercenaries like the Akatsuki to work behind the other big villages backs. Since the economy of Iwagakure was not the strongest, they often relied on imperialism as well as colonialism to build their economy. In the modern era, this has changed, however, since Iwa and the Earth country in general is the biggest exporter of rare minerals such as, diamonds, pottery, glassware and fireworks.

Flora

The Earth country is a cold and rocky place, with many gushes of wind carrying rock and debris throughout the country, even beyond its borders. The winters of Iwagakure are very cold and harsh and the summers are only mild compared to the fire country, where Konoha is located. There is little to no vegetation, and the vegetation that exists is used for agriculture which has led to many native animals being driven out of their natural habitat.

Fauna

The mountains of Iwagakure are populated by ewes, goats and sheep, which, much like in our world, could not care less about gravity. Another animal that can be found in such large heights is the snow leopard, a symbol of bravery and strength to Iwagakure shinobi. Wolves are also native to Iwagakure, however its citizens have an ambiguous relationship to the canines, as they frequently pillage livestock from the people. It would also be a crime to not mention yaks, the national animal of Iwagakure. Their meat, tar and fur are all highly prized and yak meat serves as a protein source to many Iwa shinobi. When looking up into the sky, eagles, kites, vultures and hawks are no rarity, feasting on any small mammal they might find. Fortunately for all arachno- and insectophobes, Iwagakure's insect and spider population is rather small, the only ones that survive living in such high altitudes either minding their own business or even being useful to its citizens, the iwagakure mountain bees, coming to mind.

Food

Tubers and Root vegetables

The main component of any Iwagakure dish are tubers and root vegetables. Iwa nin actually prefer them over grains as their main source of carbohydrates. The most popular ones are potatoes, purple carrots, parsnips and onions. Often times, ube and ube extract is used as a flavoring agent and colorant for food.

Legumes

Another important stable of Iwa cuisine are beans, which are imported from Sunagakure. The most popular variety are kidney beans, mainly due to their color matching the iwagakure shinobi uniform. In the past there used to be many lectin and cyanide poisonings, until the government stepped in and implemented 'how to properly cook beans' into the education system.

Meat

Most meat comes from either yaks, goats, dear or sheep. Unlike their close allies, Sunagakure, Iwa nin rarely dry their meat and prefer it marinated or jarred.

Sweets

Similarly to Kirigakure, not many manufactured sweets can be found here, however, crispy rice cakes (Iwagakure rock mochi) are a specialty. The most popular filling for these rice cakes is, of course, red bean paste.

[andydrysdalerogers]

Cross-Checked ~ Chapter 24

Andy Barber x OFC Leighton "Leia" Andrews

Summary:

Andy Barber is having the best year of his life. His game is on point. It’s gets to play with his best friend and his fiancé just... dumped him?!. 

Reeling from a sudden change in status, Andy decides it’s time to just focus on hockey. Until his best friend's sister comes out with news that rock the entire organizations world., 

Andy has always carried a torch for the untouchable Leighton but in her hour of need, is now the time to shoot and score or risk getting cross - checked again? 

Warnings: Cheating (but not by the MCs); slow burn; friends to lovers eventually; SMUT!; pregnancy; jealousy; handsome goalies, evil exes...

I do NOT give permission for my work to be translated or reposted on here or any other site, even if you give me credit. DO NOT REPOST MY FICS. Reblogs, comments, likes, and feedback ALWAYS appreciated

Dividers by @firefly-graphics

Banners by me!

Previous: Chapter 23 ~ She's Ours

Series Masterlist // Main Masterlist

Andy 

Relationships are hard.  

I know this.  

What I forgot is that proposing is even harder.  

Sure, your relationship is in a constant state of change. You weren’t the same person you were when you started the relationship, and you won’t be the same person when it ends. I get that.  

I’ve even proposed before, but my ex had chosen the ring and told me how she wanted to be proposed. It made doing it very easy.  

(To be honest, that should have been my red flag, but you know, hindsight is twenty/twenty.) 

Leia, however, has not dropped a single hint on how she dreamed of being proposed to or even what her ring looked like. Granted she has changed from girlfriend to mother and the priorities are different but still, I assumed she had talked about it to her friends.  

You know how to spell assume right? 

Now I’m panicking.  I want to have the perfect proposal for my queen.  She deserves something special and spectacular after everything that she has been through. I want it to be something that she tells our grandchildren one day. I want her ring to be something we pass down from mother to daughter (or son). I want it to be the symbol of the infinite love we have for each other.  

No pressure whatsoever.  

But first things first, I must find it.  

You know what else is hard: asking your best friends to go ring shopping with you.  Because your best friends are probably useless in choosing jewelry. Luke has it easier.  While he didn’t have a clue on the how, he did have an idea on the ring. And Miranda loved the ring he picked out.  

But my girl, my queen, hasn’t dropped a hint. Nothing. Zip. Nada. And that is how I find myself in a boutique jewelry store in Boston with five other hulking hockey players.  The salesperson seems overwhelmed with the number of men in one store. I really had only meant to bring Luke. But that somehow turned into bringing Luke, David, Brad, Jeremy and Linus.  The salesperson has a selection on rings out, but nothing seems to catch my eye.  

I know I wanted something that would be classic but unique as well. I see like 30 rings but none of them scream “Leia”. I’m starting to feel defeated when a soft glimmer catches my eye. I move to the case, leaving the others arguing the merits of each ring. “Can I see that one?” I point to the ring.  

(Picture of the ring at the bottom)

“This is an antique,” she starts. “It's a 1.5 karat light blue diamond, lab created. Its set in a halo and surrounded by a half karat of diamonds and along the band set in rose gold. It has a matching double band in smaller blue and white diamonds.” I studied the ring, and I can see it on her hand. The color almost matches Avery’s eyes. My princess has blue green eyes, and the diamond reminds me of them.  

“It’s perfect.” I smile at the salesperson. “I’ll take it.”  

Luke wanders after me as I look at the ring one more time.  “Wow, dude, that’s beautiful. Kinda reminds me of Avery.”  

“Yeah, that’s why I liked it.” I pull out my credit card and handed it to the girl. Now I just need to figure out how I was going to do this.  

It was easier to discuss things on the road. The only problem was I couldn’t get Stella and Jeremy in the same room. The poor guy was exonerated and yet his girl still wasn’t talking to him. I decided to leave Stella out of it because I didn’t want to rub it in her face. I know they will work everything out. Leia said that Stella is dealing with her guilt on how she handled Jeremy’s situation. “She’ll get there,” Leia said with a soft voice. “They’re soulmates.”  

I love how much she loves sometimes.  

I have to plan this proposal.  She needs something more than just asking a question.  She is the queen of my world, and I want everyone to know it. “How about a sky writer?” Brad offers.  

“That’s excessive,” I comment.  

“You could do it at the diner,” Luke offers. “You guys have hung out there a lot, even when we were younger.”  

“True.” I’m thinking it over when Jeremy pipes in.  

“What about after we win the cup?” A couple of hands go to bat at him, and he dodges. “What?” 

“You’re gonna jinx us,” David says. “But he does have a point.  Why not after the season ends, wherever that may happen.”  

“What if we are on the road when it does?” I counter.  

“If we’re to that point, wouldn’t she be in the building anyways?” David smiled. “We can involve our girls to make sure she has help with Avery and pictures and stuff.”  

All the guys agree, and I smile.  “Ok, then that’s when I’ll do it.  But someone has got to carry this ring around.” I hand the box to Linus.  

His eyes go round. “Me?” 

“You are the most responsible out of all of us.  Plus, on that final game, you and Jeremy will know how to find it.”  

He sighs and takes the box. “I’m only doing this because I love Leia, and she deserves this.”  

Leia 

Hockey players are weird.  They are superstitious, grouchy, high-strung men that need a chill pill. Honestly, Andy has been so jumpy that last few weeks that it’s been concerning. I catch him texting all the time and when I ask, he says it's the guys. But he’s acting so shady.  

I’m at lunch with Miranda and Stella. “The way he’s acting is so different from years before. I know hockey players are intense and superstitious, but I think something else is going on.” I take a sip of my ginger ale and then look at Avery in her stroller. She’s awake and her beautiful green eyes are on display, taking in the scenery.  

“Luke has been acting cagey as well,” Miranda said.  She took a bite of food and chewed thoughtfully.  “Do you think he’s cheating?”  

“God, that thought never even crossed my mind.” I buried my face in my hands.  “Why would he make a big production about adopting Avery if he has a side piece?”  

“Whoa!” Stella takes my hands. “She asked if you think he is.  And you think he is not.  That’s good.  That doesn’t mean he is.  And I’m with the team most of the time.  Even if I’m avoid certain players, Andy is always checking in with me. It's the playoffs, trust me.  Andy’s first year as captain and he took them to the playoffs.  That is so stressful it would make anyone loopy.”  

I know she’s right. But now that the seed of doubt has been planted, its starts to grow as the season goes on.  

We travel whenever the guys get to an elimination point. But so far, the guys have been playing fantastic. We celebrate on the ice when we win at home or in the family rooms during away games. Its been a roller coaster but I couldn’t be happier for Andy and my brother.  

Andy 

Game Seven – Stanley Cup Finals 

Here it is. The final game of the season.  Game Seven.  

I might throw up.  

And not because of the game.  

It’s because I know, tonight is the night I ask Leia to be my wife.  

I woke up this morning to the cries of my little girl. I looked over to see Leia still asleep. Avery had been up and down this week and Leia was exhausted.  I grabbed the baby monitor, turned it off and headed into Avery’s room. We had been transitioning her to her crib at three months and it was hard on Leia but a necessary step. I needed to be able to take my girl whenever I needed. And while I understand my baby probably can’t see what I’m doing yet, I know she can hear us, and I don’t need her to hear me violate her mother.  

The thought started to chub up my dick, so I shook the thoughts away.  

I walked into the room and peered over the railing. As soon as Avery spotted me, she quieted to sniffles. “There is my princess.” I reached into the crib and pulled her to my shoulder. Her heavy diaper and the stench that followed alerted me to why she was crying. “Did my princess make a mess?  Yes, she did,” I cooed as I went to change her. As I cleaned her up, I wanted her opinion.  

“Do you think mama would want to be married to daddy?” Avery shook her fist at me and cooed. “Yeah, I think she wants that too. Would you be happy with me marrying your mama?” Avery a shout, startling the both of us.  Her eyes widen and she did it again. Looks like someone found her voice, I chuckled.  “Let’s get some breakfast, princess.” 

This is what I wanted.  Mornings with my girl, letting my queen sleep.  She’s been with Avery 24/7 while I had been on the road but this summer, I would spend all my time with my girls. I made a bottle and sat to feed Avery with some SportsCenter in the background. I felt a delicate hand on my cheek and looked up at Leia smiling. “You should have woken me up.”  

“And miss my morning conversation with my princess?” I scoffed. “Fat chance.” I kissed her palm. “Wanted to let you rest.”  

“Hmm.” She walked into the kitchen and heard her making the coffee.  A few minutes later, she placed a steaming cup on the table in front of me. “Wanted to cuddle this morning.”  

“Well, I’m right here,” opening my arm so she could slide right next to me. “Avery required my attention this morning. For the sake of keeping the house smelling good, I obliged.”  

Leia giggled.  “How are you feeling about tonight?” 

“Optimistic. First Game 7 as Captain. I don’t want to let the boys down, but I know they have it. I just don’t want to screw it up.”  

“Baby, you would never screw up anything up. At least not on purpose.” She gives me a cheeky smile before sipping her coffee.  

“Brat.” I really can’t retaliate as I have my daughter in my arms. I kiss the top of Leia’s head. “Promise, no matter what happens, you’ll stay with me.”  

“Andy...” 

“You’ll still love me even if I lose the cup.”  I stare out the window, the sun beginning to peek between the clouds.  

“Baby, look at me.” I turn to her, and I feel the tears forming behind my eyes. “I haven’t had any doubt about your ability to lead this team. You were named captain for a reason. Don’t doubt that.”  

I kiss Leia softly, but it quickly deepens until Avery lets out a cry. I turn to look and see her bottle is empty. But her eyes are drooping so I kiss her head and stand. I offer a hand to Leia. “Give me 15 and I’ll be back in our bedroom.”  

She gives me a sexy smirk. “Yes, sir, Captain.”  

I still as she sways her hips in front of me and climbs the stairs. I look down at my sleeping daughter. “$1000 if you sleep for the next hour baby girl,” I whisper before I follow her mother up the stairs.  

This game has been tight. The Kings are a great team.  They deserve to be here.  

But my boys are better.  

We made this game 2-1 and there are two minutes left in the game.  Los Angeles pulls their goalie so its but to us to get the puck out and away from Jeremy.  His glove has been on fire. The one he let it, no one would be able to have stopped.  But since then, I don’t think the puck has gotten six inched near the line. 

We set up on the left of Jeremy. This is going to be an all-out fight for the puck. The kings centerman lets one go that Jeremy is able to block but the puck deflects right. He up to block the next shot from the right but his left is wide open.  

“Oh fuck,” I yell as I skate to his left. Another shot after a block comes sailing towards the net.  I dive in front, and it hit me square. I groan as I hit the ice. That one is going to leave a mark.  

“Andy! You ok?” I hear Jeremy yell at me as the rest of the skaters move to the other end of the rink.  

“Yeah, I’m...” and the buzzer sounded.  

Oh my god.  

We did it. We won.  

I rush to Jeremy and launch myself into his arms as we hug. “We did it!” I yell as I feel my other teammates start to crush us.  

“Fuck yeah, we did,” Jeremy says. The team is around us and yelling out. It takes a while to get us to do the traditional handshake and then wait on the official to bring out the cup. I look at Linus and he nods. Gary Bettman, the NHL commission is now up at the mic.  

“First, let me say congratulations to the Los Angeles Kings for a fantastic final. You demonstrated why you are the best in the west.” Applause fills the arena. “Before we bring out the cup, I want to name our MVP for the finals.  With three goals and one hell of a save, your Finals MVP is your captain, #27, Andy Barber.” He starts to clap as the crowd screams.  

I shake his hand before I lift the trophy and stand for pictures. I skate back a little while an assistant takes my new MVP trophy away. The arena fills with more pomp and circumstance as the Stanley Cup is brought out.  “Boston, your team to themselves to the limit to come back home and win it all. Congratulations to the coach and the team.” I skated forward and I lifted the cup with him for photos before I took it in my own hands.  

Its heavy but I think the weight of it being the first cup I’ve held is more. I lift it over my head. “Yes!” I skate around and then head over to David. He smiled. “Thank you, Cap!” 

“You earned it, Pasta!” I hand it over and watch as he skates around.  This goes on for half an hour before we see our families heading to the ice.  I see Leia with Avery in her carrier. I skate over with a big smile. “Hey.”  

“Hey,” she says with a smile. “Did something big happen?” 

“Just won a trophy.” I shrug. “No big deal.”  I grin as I lean down and kiss her hard. “I love you, Leia.” 

“I’m so proud of you Andy.” Avery coos and waves an arm. I feel something in my hand and see Linus wink. I go to move when I hear a scream of “Yes!”  

I look to see one of the rookies proposing to his girlfriend. Everyone is cheering for them, and I try not to scowl. I can’t propose now. I want it to be special. I slip the box behind the bench and look at Linus.  He’s got his little girl in his arms, but he sees what I did and nods.  

I take a break and refocus. Tonight, it's about our team. I can get engaged another day. 

NEXT

@patzammit @texmexdarling @slutforchrisjamalevans @firephotogrl74 @tinkerbelle67 @before-we-get-started @bunnyforhim @alexakeyloveloki @sunnyhummingbee @whiskeytangofoxtrot555 @peaceinourtime82 @saucy-sassy-sparkly @kmc1989 @kandis-mom @lokislady82

[basedhighsenberg]

Alright my man, I am getting into jewelry. I don't wanna know the hacks or secrets, but if you can follow my analogy here of treating jewelry like firearms, what is like the BCM 16" + Holosun class of stuff? The "you can spend better for more performance but this is the sweet spot for good quality to price." Does 24k really matter? What about lab created vs natural stones? Any cuts you'd advise against? Ideally I'd like a nice ring or four, probably a plainer gold band, and maybe emerald, ruby, and sapphire-based rings each. Something for a button down and a jacket or full classy.

Gold is easy- you want 14k as minimum, 18k-20k is cool too but ups the price. 22-24k that is do-able but extremely delicate and shouldn't be an "all the time" piece, and probably shouldn't be a ring.

Lab vs natural stones actually matter more with gemstones than diamonds. Lab rubies and emeralds for example look entirely different than their natural counterparts, lab sapphires can vary but they're very close to natural sapphires. Lab diamonds and natural diamonds are differentiated only by gemscribe #s and price.

The only diamond cut that I can't stand for both aesthetic and durability reasons is heart cut diamonds. They waste a shitload of diamond getting the heart shape and if they crack, they always crack right down the middle.

I personally prefer traditional gold (yellow) over white or rose. White gold is more durable but needs Rhodium re-plating every 1-2 years. Rose gold has a lot of copper added to it's alloy to give it its color, meaning it's less durable and will set off metal allergies in some people. Platinum is a fantastic choice for metal but it's more expensive than gold.

I'm always happy to answer jewelry questions anon, hit me up with anything else you want to know.

[zehglitch]

The Fallen Angel

Ezephr's Backstory

— 1

Content Warnings: Human experimentation, child experimentation, kidnapping, violence, toying with people, mentions of death, mentioned abuse/starvation, mentions of children killing each other, dehumanization

Chapter 1 — The Lab

Computers beeped, vast containers full of strange liquid bubbled, and people scribbled notes. These were the only sounds taking up the research facility, the head doctor there to receive their new supplies. The firm, confident steps of the doctor created a new sound that echoed around the room, all eyes turning to him. His sharp eyes studied the line of ‘products’ they'd just finished gathering. Children. Most were babies hardly old enough to go without their mother’s milk, the majority seeming to be human. He frowned with his distaste of their samples and his eyes skipped to the others. “Humans? You couldn't get us a single dragon? Or even a demon?”

The cloaked team that had stolen the children away stared in silence, knowing better than to speak. Only a single one of them stepped forward. “Sir, we collected as many as we could from each continent. We found an elf child, as well as an angel. That is why--” The man was cut off when the doctor raised a hand for silence.

He quirked a brow. “An angel? Are you certain the parents are nowhere to be found? The last thing we need is a flock.” He wandered down the line again until he found the young angel. Brightly colored hair and the purest wings…it was perfect.

The man bowed. “It was discovered with a single angel present, a woman. They seemed to be fleeing from somewhere.”

“And the woman?”

“She has been disposed of, sir.” Silence fell upon the room, and yet the doctor grinned, reaching out and lightly touching the baby in front of him.

His smile was dark. “Well done. But not good enough. A single gold star among stones is far from the quality of many raw diamonds. The addition of the elf aside from the angel is the only reason you still have your heart.” He sent a glare their way before lightly tapping the edge of the basket. “Now then, transport the items to the nursery. Do we have a nursemaid available? Perhaps one that we can keep away from sharp objects, this time?” He scowled at his staff, watching the cowards flinch away from him with an air of satisfaction.

The cloaked group began to collect the children and followed the guidance of the other doctors and staff. “We do have a girl, sir.” One of the men who had been silent approached the doctor, dropping onto his knee. “There was a young wolf critter that saw us. We judged her wolf nature would assist in taking care of many children at once, we apologize for making a decision without prior approval.”

This made the doctor hum, then immediately strike the man, watching as just his head moved. “Making your own decision deserves punishment, but your judgement was correct. This time. Take her to the room, be certain there are enough supplies. Oh, and, go back out. Scout for the possible targets we can claim in five years.” In five years, these children would graduate from the nursery and move on to the next stage. He wasn't all that pleased with the quality this year, but it was better than not getting enough. The doctor had to pause to look at the number of children. Around twenty…and only two were useful. Despicable.

He turned away, heading to the monitors and studying the data of their current children. “Is there a test subject worth acknowledging?” From the way they all looked away, he doubted it. A frown etched his brow and he sighed, fixing his lab coat. “Very well. I suppose the one I had my eye on has also hit a lull. How disappointing.” He didn't miss how the researchers he hired shivered in unison. Rather, he found a sort of twisted pleasure in having so much sway over someone.

The doctor was a smug man at times, but that wasn't the biggest problem with him. A brilliant man that discovered a way to interfere with magiveins to create new magic and reinforce one’s physical strength. Except he experimented solely on sentient beings, never with animals. He called it animal cruelty while displaying a twisted grin and ordering children be captured instead. The man could be violent every now and then, but most of his energy went into studying his test subjects and determining if the method worked.

Then there was the pit. A child that disappointed him fighting against one he has hopes for? That man reveled in the activity. Currently, he had his eyes on the infant angel, drawing his attention away from the wraith that had begun to show promise. The wraith wasn’t improving anymore, so he no longer cared. He was watching his cloaked men transfer the products to the new room, debating if he should get involved this time as well. The test subject seemed to respond positively if they believed there was a familial relationship…perhaps he should indulge in a game.

☾︎☀︎︎☽︎

This batch of children proved to be both promising and worthless at the same time. The female critter was at least useful. Being of the canis lupus family made her capable of managing so many of them, even providing the bonus she wouldn't resort to suicide. Wolves take care of their pack after all. He was pleased with this, but the best result so far was the angel. The boy, X1, had a knack for healing incantations and he was hardly three years old--not to mention they had never taught these children spells. It was fascinating.

The elf, X4, often huddled in a corner as far from him as possible when he visited to play father. She would always have such a wide eyed stare, as if she already knew his true nature and intentions. Nothing he did convinced her he was friendly…intelligence. That was a bonus and better than the angel. So far the angel had suspicious glances, but would always move on like nothing had happened. Foolish. A habit that would become a weakness to exploit by others…it wasn't perfected yet. He had to create the perfect being.

Or else there was no reason to have targeted the dragons.

☾︎☀︎︎☽︎

No difference. The children were about to turn five and they still behaved in the same manner. Perhaps a wolf wasn't the best suited after all, she kept them too protected. No matter…they were always moved after turning five. His attention left this batch quickly with the lack of improvement, turning back to the wraith. The child was almost ten and had attacked one of the demon children in a brawl over food. They won. He was impressed, though a bit dissatisfied. Why was the demon still alive? They had to go for the kill.

He sat behind the one way glass, observing all rooms at once using the nearby camera monitors. Wrong. All of it was wrong, wrong, wrong, WRONG! The doctor tapped the table, leaning forward and resting his chin in his hand with a rather deep scowl. None of them were satisfactory. He may need to start putting them in the pit again…he had no need for the ones that lose anyway. That demon was useless to him now, no other way to put it. And yet that ridiculous wraith wouldn't kill! He growled to himself and studied the caged areas.

The children were moved to cages often when they weren't good enough for his goal. He had some that were almost adults…if they didn't show results soon, he may need to put them down. That or he could add them to his cloaked men…their gender and race be forgotten, they would simply live to obey him and gather him new subjects. At least that way they actually had a use. The man watched all of them for many hours and still came up with no answer. Very well. He would simply force a result…extreme duress could trigger a response.

Decidedly content with that idea, he searched for someone to apply it to. His eyes landed on the new batch of five year olds. They were used to the comfortable environment of that plain white room, and he never failed to notice that the elf and angel both began to behave differently if he wasn't present in the room. This group…they were young enough to have potential. All he had to do is move them to cages immediately rather than the larger room. Perfect. His grin didn't reach his eyes in the semi-dark room. His plan was set.

☾︎☀︎︎☽︎

It was difficult for the boy, pretending to not notice the creeping chill down his spine whenever ‘father’ came home. The only name he knew was X1, like the strange mark on the back of his neck. ‘Mother’ always fussed over those marks, and he knew he had one too. Why would his siblings have it, and not him? He was always extra careful to keep his wings close to himself so his brothers and sisters wouldn't hurt them again, but it didn't always work. X1 really liked his sister, X4. She was so nice to his wings and mother said she was older too. He liked having a big sister.

X1 was sitting on one of the three couches, watching his siblings play with the soft, harmless toys they were provided. He was ready to help if someone tripped again, but he was otherwise left out when others played. All they wanted to do was play with his wings and got upset if he said no. It…also felt like he thought differently than they did. His siblings were loud, messy, and went wild when father visited. Father…he didn’t like father. Father looked at them funny, it didn't feel the same as how mother did. He wasn't sure why he knew that.

He shifted, wrapping his wings around his body and sighing in thought. This was boring. Movement drew his attention and he watched his mother as she sat beside him. She was smiling. X1 just stared at her when she ruffled his hair, loosening his wings somewhat. “Well? Are you just going to watch them again today?” Idly, he wondered why his mother looked so different from them. She was covered in fur and her face was shaped different…she had a tail and funny ears too. He leaned into her touch anyway, looking around for X4.

“Mother? Why are we different?” Her hand froze momentarily before sliding again as she tried to come up with an answer.

She tilted her head curiously. “I don't think we are? We're the same.” She lightly poked his nose. “We both have a nose.” She waved her finger in front of his eyes, “We both have eyes.” Then she smiled and her hand slipped down his head to his neck, lightly tickling him. He immediately made a strangled noise and squirmed, laughing with a grin--albeit quietly. “We’re both ticklish.” She kept going until he started batting at her and other kids wanted attention too.

He slipped away when they got crowded, flapping his wings awkwardly as he stumbled. X1 had never learned how to fly yet, though his wings were still a bit too soft to fly with. He watched his mother get swarmed, tucking his wings closer to himself at the sight. That would be unpleasant to be in. A hand touched his shoulder and his wings snapped right back out with a yelp. He spun around with wide eyes to see X4 smiling at him. She didn't speak, but she did reach over and poke his nose with one of her characteristic grins.

He blinked, then tried to return a smile, shuffling his wings to keep them safe, wary of the crowd of children nearby. “Hey…” She lightly grabbed his arm, an action she’d done many times before, pulling him away to her usual corner. His wings fluttered when she yanked him to sit down with her, plopping down a tad roughly before crossing his legs. X4 gave him a questioning look and he immediately avoided her gaze. “I'm fine.” Her pointed look definitely doubted him. “It’s just…why are we here? Different? Why does father feel so scary?”

He looked at his hands, then the floor, lost in thought. Her frail hand entered his vision, tapping the floor for his attention before reaching up and setting it on his head. She was always so quiet. As far as X1 had seen, she rarely said anything. She communicated with her eyes and hand gestures. He’d heard his name once or twice from her, but he didn't really need her to speak. All he knew, is that when she gave him her gentle, calming smile, he felt safe. Mother had the same smile, but she only gave it when father visited. He didn't like that.

He hadn't moved, so of course, X4 chose to bend down and look up at him with a pout. X1 flinched back, then smiled. “I’m okay, I promise.” His worrying didn’t do them any good, their home was happy and he only had to help anyone if they fell wrong. He felt her start ruffling his hair and he closed his eyes, shuffling over so lean against his sister. She continued to pet his head, but her hand eventually slipped down to brush through his white feathers. He flexed his wings, but otherwise leaned into the contact happily.

The two of them sat there in a comfortable silence, leaving the wild crowd of their siblings as a fading noise in the background. Even though none of them knew how little they had, or how strange their life was, they felt like this was perfect. They were never hungry, they had toys and friends to play with, a family, and safety. Their mother was playing with the other children, and they both knew that, but neither wanted to move. Why would they? X1 fully relaxed against his older sister, trusting her to protect his delicate wings as he drifted off.

☾︎☀︎︎☽︎

His peace didn't last long. The last thing he knew, he'd been cuddled with his sister, the next he was being woken up by a rough voice and someone clinging to him. What he saw when opening his eyes made him freeze up, stealing his voice while filling him with a new kind of confusion. There were people in dark clothes, their faces hidden, pulling his siblings out of the room without a word. The children were shouting and screaming, his mother was pinned and had something around her mouth. Why was she making a sound he'd never heard before?

The most shocking part was how his gentle sister grabbed his head and shoved it against her chest, pinning him and trying to block his vision. Her voice came out weakly, even holding a strange note as if the language was new to her, “No…X1…” Why was she shaking? Then he finally registered pressure around his wings, causing him to automatically try and pull them free. Pain bloomed through his wings and down his spine, drawing a muffled scream out of him. What happened? Where was he? Why were these people here?

His sister only held him tighter when he tried to squirm free--he wanted to see what was wrong with his wings, but she wasn't letting him. He attempted pushing her away, but before he could, big hands grabbed him and the two were pulled apart harshly. Despite being desperate to look behind him at his wings moments before, his eyes were glued to the tearful face of his favorite sister, watching her resist the strange person even when she was put over their shoulder. He reached a hand towards her, their fingers brushing, but never close enough.

It was too late, as they were fully separated, his wings not moving, and everyone being taken. X1 struggled only briefly, then just went limp when all his movements only caused pain to flare down his back. They were walking somewhere, the walls strangely silver and very long, but the only sounds were these people’s steps and the crying of children. Eventually, he chanced moving calmly to see if he was allowed to look at his wings…and they didn’t stop him. Finding that out, he followed through with it and spared a glance.

His wings were bound by something, a rope stretching across them in just the right way that he couldn't feel it unless he tried to move them. That was better than what he thought happened, actually. As some calm settled over him, he began to process what was going on, observing his surroundings. Alright. So for some reason, all of them were being moved and their mother was still at home. Where was father? Did he do this? Probably. The young angel readjusted in the uncomfortable grip and stared at his crying sister worriedly. What now?

They group walked for a while, stopping when they reached a strange area that nearly made his feathers poof. It smelled weird, as if water went bad here…he didn't know the correct words for it. There were others here, however all of them were older than him and his siblings. Where were they? He stiffed when the dark clothed people began to toss his siblings into these things, separating everyone by a certain number in each one. He kept track of X4 closely, but stayed quiet and obedient. They only got hurt if they resisted anyway.

He yelped when he was finally thrown into one, tumbling over the rough ground and feeling his skin tear from the impact. When it finally stopped he curled into himself, but made no sound. He simply bit his lip, lay there for a minute as he waited for the strange people to leave, and listened. Everyone was getting hurt…he could feel it. They were taken from their home and their mother, but why? Maybe this was why he never felt happy when father was home, he might have done this. Worse, he was pretty sure they weren't going to free his wings.

Finally, their steps faded and it was replaced by the sounds of laughter from their new rough reality. He pushed himself up and began to use healing magic on his own wounds before truly looking around. Already, he could see those older kids messing with his siblings, the other ones visible from his own even though he couldn't possibly reach them. In his, there were…two of the other noisy siblings, and his sister. He stiffened when he realized she wasn't moving, scrambling to get to her and ignoring the older kids that were already messing with the others.

He touched her hesitantly, shaking her while activating his magic. “X4! O-open your eyes!” He was scared, his wings were cramping, and she wasn't responding. At the same time, he could see she was breathing and hear the laughter nearby over his actions. Ignoring all of them, he tried sitting beside her, lifting half her body so he could hold her safely. She was heavy to him, but he didn't even care. He just wanted to keep her away from the weird people in here with them--she didn’t deserve this. Her wounds were healing, but they were still trapped.

—

Masterpost

Backstory Master

Next Chapter

[veinsfullofstars]

hey just wondering, how do you draw daroach? i wanna figure him out for myself but dont feel like i get down how he looks well enough. thanks for the help if you have any, if not then thanks for just answering

Thank you for the question! And, yeah, I totally get it - that rat can be a nightmare to draw sometimes, haha. I definitely struggled with him a lot at first (you can kinda tell if you compare my earlier works to my recent ones). I think it’s because so much of him is obscured by his outfit in official art? The way the brim of his hat dips over his face or how his cape likes to defy physics - all in service of a cooler silhouette, sure, but taking away a lot of readability and foundation to work from in the process. I’ll try to offer some tips that work for me (though I’m hardly an expert on this, and teaching's not exactly my strong suit, so please bear with me if things get muddled, haha).

The main piece of advice I can give is gather and study as much reference as you can. Official art, concept art, promotional stuff, sprite sheets - whatever you can find, just grab ‘em and put ‘em somewhere you can easily pull up when you’re drawing. I get most of mine from Wikirby, Spriter’s Resource, and official sites like the Kirby JP Twitter, as well as screenshots taken directly from the games (a great way to get in-motion poses and back views, I’ve found). Here’s what my ref sheet for Daroach looks like (I also have a separate one for color swatches):

Kind of a mess, yeah, but very worth it, I assure you. The more visuals you have to work off of, the easier it will be to detect consistencies in design. Which brings me to my next point: shapes!

Most Kirby characters are, at their core, just a buncha simple shapes. It can be hard to tell sometimes when they wear clothes (like with our rat buddy here), but they still have similar foundations of circles and other rounded features. A way I've found that helps with this is to try redlining (that is, take a piece of reference and trace over it for the purpose of study, learning where lines connect, how silhouettes look, how different parts overlap, what shapes are used, etc.). Here’s an example:

This is a great way to find those design consistencies I mentioned before. I did these a bit messy for a better sense of movement (and ‘cause I’m practiced enough to sketch a little quicker), but you can always start slower and cleaner if it helps you see the shapes and layers more clearly. You can even do them multiple times to familiarize yourself with the design and eventually try copying them without tracing, like doing gesture drawings or life studies.

In Daroach, I’ve found that his head isn’t a perfect circle shape, but more like a rounded diamond, with his ears connecting at or just above the “points” on the sides. His body is a bit smaller than his head, and his snout smaller still, each having sort of a teardrop-like shape. His eyes are bigger than I expected them to be, half circles tilted down slightly, often cut off by his snout and hat to create a shaper angle (meant to make him look more intimidating perhaps?). His ears are taller than his hat, though they can tilt back to look shorter. There are also a lot of arcs and triangles present in his design, especially in his cape when it sits across his form or flares out, and the brim of his hat pointing down from just past his ears to right over his snout. Also, unlike many Kirby characters, he does in fact have a neck - it's just hidden behind his collar and bell most of the time (don't ask me why I spent so long verifying this, no I don't have ulterior motives, don't look at me).

Of course, these observations aren’t set in stone. Kirby characters rarely stay perfectly on-model (see Dedede for proof of that), and Daroach is clearly no exception. I mean, just look at these official pieces (all collected from Wikirby):

Even the folks at HAL Labs are not immune to style inconsistency. And that’s not a bad thing! We love a little personal flair in this house. There’s nothing wrong with altering the design a bit to fit your own style - in fact, it’ll probably happen naturally the more you practice, especially once you’re comfortable enough to work without a guide. Here’s some studies I did recently, no tracing, just observation (with different colors used to help me figure out layering):

I’ve seen other folks take their own designs even further than this, adding more fur or sharper shapes or even realistic rat features to our favorite thief. Nothing like stretching those creative muscles once you’ve got the basics down! On that note, don’t be afraid to be inspired by unofficial sources as well. If an artist you like draws Daroach (or any character) in a way you find appealing, ask yourself what it is you like about it, study it as you study official works, and find ways to incorporate elements of that into your own art - “steal like an artist” as the saying goes.

Another thing I recommend for Daroach specifically is studying how real top hats and capes look, especially from various angles and poses in motion. I find it helps to see exactly how fabric sits on a figure or what sides show at different positions. It might seem weird to use human reference for a cartoon rat, and it might take some finagling to get proportions right, but it’s surprisingly effective. I do this with fighting and athletic poses all the time to help figure out weight distribution and line of action. Don’t be afraid to expand your art repertoire into other fields - you never know when it might come in handy!

And, of course, the key thing to hammer home here is practice, practice, practice! Do studies, do gestures, draw with and without references, build muscle memory, do sketches you show to no one, draw memes, draw angst, take your time, fill pages with messy doodles or just drop one in a corner and call it a day. The more you draw this smarmy rat, the better you’ll get. That’s the long and short of it with any skill, creative or otherwise. You gotta try in order to get good, you gotta make mistakes in order to improve, you gotta be kind to yourself in order to do what you love.

Anyway, I think that’s all I got for now. Forgive me if this got a bit rambly or incoherent - I have trouble putting my thought process in words sometimes, haha. I sincerely hope this helps, and I wish you the best of luck with your own future rat-creating endeavors!

Sketch started and finished 06/14/24.

[labgrowndiamondsindia]

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[viaphni]

Writing another corrupted colors theme, but this time about the Chromatics

because there is something so FASCINATING to me about their story despite how little we actually know

The Locks of the Ores, the erasure of history, the revenge of the colors

Unhinged analysis time

Until Corrupted Colors, our knowledge of this universe's residents extended only to the existence of the Ores. Weaker, less powerful, lacking some of the key abilities that typically accompany Steves in their energies—because they were locked away. To access one's true potential within them, they had to snap. To break the Lock that lingered in their soul and have the rites of power they were made with

But a Lock is not natural, not native to the normal state of people

For there to be a Lock, somebody had to have placed it there, thrown away the key — but who?

Diamond learned of this Lock through Lapis when they had just met one another, talking in his bedroom. That this energy, the force behind this Lock, drew its origin from a different, unknown type of Steve. But not even Lapis knew who.

Later in the show, in the lab, Professor Red told his tale of the Chromatics to Lapis and Diamond. The story of their origin and of their past.

A story linked to Chaotic.

"Before the Ore Steves, there were Chromatics! Red, Blue, and Yellow. And... some others. Don't ask.

Overall, life was peaceful. Until... The First War. It caused Chaos, Pain, and Destruction.

The Creators of this world who watched over us decided to forsake us. And punish us. For ruining the world.

Now. What happened to them, you may ask?

...Punishment."

And the Chromatics were gone. It's such a vividly awful sight in my mind, the idea of the very gods who formed the world wiping out their own creation in face of their own impurities, washing the world clean with the blood drawn of their people, if there was even time for blood to be drawn

If there is something I think is missing in a lot of Steve shows, it is the viewing of gods and Creators as truly holy beings, beyond the comprehension of the mortal mind, even if in the slightest ways

The idea of such a devastating purge by the hands that held the very power to make this world real in the first place

It is a terrifying sight

And more terrifying to think that this history was erased almost completely. Even Lapis revealed that he believed this "First War" was the Diamond Civil War

History has been rewritten to reflect the will of their Creators. And now, it's being dug up by force.

The Ores were the product of this purge, beings of the blank slate, freshly created. The Lock on their power, to keep away such catastrophes that got the Chromatics killed.

But this is where we get into Chaotic.

From a different analysis:

"It was revealed that Chaotic seemed to be the very essence of Chromatics ("It seems like the pure essence...of Chromatic energy."), seeking vengeance, the betrayals of their people. Chaotic is constantly switching attitudes, constantly contradicting itself, seeking to infect and overtake the Ores. The infection is messy, a swirl of all the colors. It wants to come back."

It wants to come back.

It seems that even in death, the Creators could not erase the stain that Chromatics were on their world. That something was left behind to linger, festering in the long years that followed after the purge, seeking only itself and coming and growing together into the conflicting, colorful amalgamation that is Chaotic.

"I AM NOBODY AND EVERYBODY. WE ARE EVERYONE."

"NO! WE WON'T HURT ANYONE!"

"NO NO NO! SHUT UP!"

"We won't forgive him..."

These are some of Chaotic's first lines in the show. Given its recently revealed motives, it makes everything clearer and clearer.

There seem to be the spirits and souls, at least the consciences, of the Chromatics, melded together and moving as one. There are some who are merciful towards the Ores, seemingly accepting of their fate—but others hold the fury that drives them to infect and overtake, color swirling over the land and across the bodies of the mindless infected

"We won't forgive him."

It appears they will do anything they can to return, crawl out from the abyss they were banished to, claw their way from weakness to dominance once again, clearing their path of recognizable Ores until all that is left is that mass of color, anything to return, anything to be worthy again, to be desired and seen and understood again

"We won't forgive him." and who could he be? I assumed it was Origin but apparently he isnt involved,,,

Not forgiving him for taking their lives and leaving them forgotten. A mistake. A simple screw up. Leave it and move on.

But this is nothing new. We've seen the tendency for memory of the past to never quite fade fully— not only the survival of some Chromatics (Red, Blue, Great Librarian), but the remnants of Diamond's memories from LOTB... flashbacks, hallucinations, familiar feelings, wherever they may have returned from. The Creators seem to always let something slide. You'd think they'd all have been erased from existence. So why are they still alive? Why is Chaotic roaming the world why those who sought to keep its original forms dead—do seemingly nothing about it?

Or perhaps they are, and we cannot see it, or maybe the rage and fear of the Chromatic amalgam is so strong that it even overpowers the gods that made it

Maybe it has grown to an equal match against its oppressors.

This is. fascinating to me

[sunsolii]

Napoleon's Marshals and their Birthstones FINAL part

This is the third and final part of the birthstone saga where I'll cover the remaining four birthstones and their marshals (plus two other non-marshals but I wanted to include anyway). I can't believe I spent half of my winter break researching shiny rocks XD

Part 1 and Part 2 are avaliable here

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*Mineraloid: A mineral-like object that does NOT contain a crystalline structure.

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Sapphire (September)

Marshals- N/A (Honorable mentions: Eugène de Beauharnais & Jean-Andoche Junot)

Type: Mineral

Group: Oxide (Al₂O₃)

Color: Blue, yellow, green, purple

Cleavage: Poor

Fracture: Conchoidal to splintery

Mohs Scale: 9

Luster: Vitreous

Streak: Colorless

Fun Facts: Sapphire is a variety of the mineral corundum and usually comes in the color blue, but it can also come in colors such as yellow, green, and even purple. Its blue hue is due to traces of iron and titanium in its crystal structure. Sapphires, along with the other cardinal gemstones, have a rich history and cultural significance. In ancient Persia and Greece, it was believed that sapphires possessed divine powers and were used in crowns and jewelry of kings and queens. In today’s age, sapphires are used in different objects such as luxury watches, LED lights, and infrared sensor windows used in military aircraft because of their durability (having a hardness of 9, making it the second hardest mineral other than a diamond) and a high melting point of about 3704°F or 2040 °C.

Opal (October)

Marshals- Augereau, Lefebvre, and Grouchy

Type: Mineraloid*

Group: (Hydrated) Silica (SiO₂·nH₂O)

Color: Colorless, white, yellow, blue, green, black, brow, pink

Cleavage: None

Fracture: Conchoidal to uneven

Mohs Scale: 5.5-6

Luster: Waxy

Streak: White

Fun Fact: Opals are formed when water carries pieces of silica inside an open rock or sediment, often found near volcanoes or groundwater. As time passes, the water inside the rock will evaporate, leaving the silica to solidify inside the host rock, which, under specific temperatures and pressure, will begin to form the opal. There are four types of opals: precious, common, matrix, and synthetic opals. Precious opals exhibit what is known as “opalescence,” which happens due to the arrangement of silica inside the opal, creating an array of colorful hues when put under light. Common opals do not possess opalescence; they are either opaque or translucent with one main color present. Matrix opals are opals embedded in their host rock during their formation, and synthetic opals are lab-grown opals that imitate the colorful look of natural opals.

Topaz (November)

Marshals- Berthier and Macdonald

Type: Mineral

Group: Silicate (Al₂SiO₄(F,OH)₂)

Color: Colorless, blue, brown, yellow if impurities are present

Cleavage: Basal (perfect)

Fracture: Subconchoidal to uneven

Mohs Scale: 8

Luster: Vitreous or adamantine

Streak: White

Fun Fact: Topaz gets its name from the Greek word topazion, which refers to the Zabargad Island near the Red Sea, where peridot is also found. Topaz comes in different colors, but the most popular color is blue, the most common color found in jewelry stores [1]. Natural blue topaz is very rare, so to get the color blue, a colorless or pale yellow topaz is heated or irradiated using gamma radiation. Subatomic particles are shot through the topaz at high speeds, which knocks some of the electrons out of orbit, causing the light that travels through the crystal to change and the amount of light absorbed. Due to the color wavelength changing, the human eye perceived the topaz as blue [2]. 

Turquoise (December)

Marshals- Perrin and Sérurier

Type: Mineral

Group: Phospate (CuAl₆(PO₄)₄(OH)₈·4H₂O)

Color: Turquoise, blue, blue-green

Cleavage: Perfect but rarely seen

Fracture: Conchoidal

Mohs Scale: 5-6

Luster: Waxy or dull

Streak: Blue or white

Fun Fact: Turquoise is another mineral that contains water in its structure; this comes in the form of a hydrated phosphate of either copper or aluminum. Turquoise was one of the first gemstones to be mined, with some jewelry dating back to around 5000 BCE. Even though it has been used in jewelry for thousands of years, its value has decreased due to the treatments and synthetic turquoise appearing more often in the market. Even though they are minerals, well-formed crystals are rarely found on their own, with most turquoise growing closely packed around another mineral, causing it to have a higher durability [3]. Due to its lower hardness level, caring for any turquoise jewelry is important, and it is recommended not to use it while doing any sort of manual labor as the gemstone can be easily damaged. Jewelry designers place a durable bezel around the gem to prevent scratches and protect it. However, the bezel can only protect the gemstone to a limited degree since it is still exposed to open air. It is also recommended not to get the gemstone wet as it can absorb liquids due to its low porosity, which can alter its color [4].

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Sources:

Sapphire: MAT, M. (2023, April 24). Sapphire: Properties, formation, occurrence " Geology science. Geology Science. https://geologyscience.com/gemstone/sapphire/?amp

Opal: MAT, M. (2023, September 29). Opal : Properties, formation, uses and deposits " geology science. Geology Science. https://geologyscience.com/gemstone/opal/?amp

Topaz: [1] King, H. M. (n.d.). Blue topaz. Geology. https://geology.com/gemstones/blue-topaz/#treatment

[2] MAT, M. (2023, August 26). Topaz : Gemstone: Properties, formation, occurrence, uses. Geology Science. https://geologyscience.com/minerals/topaz/?amp

Turquoise: [3] MAT, M. (2023, April 23). Turquoise: Mineral properties, uses and occurrence. Geology Science. https://geologyscience.com/gemstone/turquoise/?amp

[4] King, H. M. (n.d.-b). Turquoise. geology. https://geology.com/minerals/turquoise.shtml