#mens turquoise jewelry

[expobazzar]

Handmade Jewelries styles to rock in 2023.

Looking for unique and stylish handmade jewelry to elevate your fashion game in 2023? Look no further! In this article, we'll explore some of the top handmade jewelry styles that are sure to turn heads and make a statement. From delicate minimalist pieces to bold statement necklaces, we've got you covered. Get ready to add some handmade flair to your wardrobe!

[thurstongrey]

[cbooogie]

[Turquoise Stainless Steel Eagle Pendant]

[markwestus]

[daddysmusicblog]

[n1kk11-blog]

ADD UR FAMILY PHOTO BUTTON

https://www.zazzle.com/z/akrqmnbo?rf=238378723538093137

HI EVERYONE ,CHECK OUT THIS BUTTON

[jewelry142]

Celebrate Father's Day with Exclusive Savings at Mountain of Jewels

Father's Day is just around the corner, and there's no better way to show appreciation for the special men in our lives than with a thoughtful gift. At Mountain of Jewels, we're excited to announce our father's day sale, where you can find the perfect gift at a great price. Shop now and find the perfect expression of love and appreciation for your dad. Contact: 1.888.537.4368

[jaffababe]

Women of Sinai -Al-‘Arish

The Sinai dress is a masterpiece of art. Some dresses are predominantly red and are only worn by married women, while the blue ones are worn by widows. Dresses with a mixture of blue and red are an indication that the wearer has ended her period of mourning and is now ready to marry again.

The number of colors and the geometric designs embroidered by the women of Sinai on their dresses makes the latter a marvelous background for their kind of jewelry. It is the same as the Palestinian dress known as the Bir Sab' dress, with reference to the Palestinian area adiacent to the borders of the Sinai Peninsula.

The burgu', or veil, is an important piece of adornment worn only by the married Bedouin women of Sinai. It can almost be considered a piece of jewelry, for it is covered with quantities of hilyat, or round pieces of silver or white metal, or even gold, and sometimes old metal coins. The burgu is also sometimes adorned with a number of chains attached to both sides of the veil, ending in silver units covered with primitive designs stamped onto them, or ending with units of tube coral.

There are only two types of veil in Sinai, the short one worn by the women of the Akharsa tribe and with it a silver necklace or pendant, and the long veil worn by the women of the Bayyada tribe. Unmarried girls leave their faces uncovered so that young men may see their beauty and seek to marry them.

The Sinai Peninsula is inhabited by a number of Bedouin tribes who migrated to Egypt from the Arab peninsula and Palestine in ancient times. They settled, mixed, and intermarried with the different communities of inhabitants surrounding the peninsula, starting with the people of the Egyptian governorate of Sharqiya to the inhabitants of Bir Sab' in Palestine. The borders were open then and an active trade exchange flourished. Moreover, the Palestinian towns and cities were a market for Egyptian products. As a result of the intermarriages, there is a great resemblance between the jewelry worn in Sinai and the jewelry worn in Palestine, so much so that some jewelry workshops in Cairo specialize in producing the pieces of jewelry sold in Palestinian markets.

- Sinai: Land of turquoise (The Traditional Jewelry of Egypt)

[xxcrystalinerose]

Next up in the Sabzerus designs: Tighnari and Cyno!

I know this is unrendered, but I already committed to not rendering these two until I finish Haitham and Kaveh's designs which, in hindsight, is difficult atm because I have more ideas about Collei's design over them. With the recent release of Sethos, it seems that it would have to wait until I finish his and Collei's designs when I get to them. I'm writing a fic now lol so it the wait is probably quite long.

Tighnari's is relatively easy and I'm so pleased with the results! He finally looks put together and not... odd, palette-wise (to put it mildly). His clothing is based on the traditional dress of the Kabyle people, an Amazigh ethnic group from northern Algeria, with some modernized touches (I used references from modern-day photos of Kabyle dress!). The highlight is the burnous (hooded cloak), originally a symbol of resistance in the Algerian War of Independence and now a garment worn in special occasions such as religious festivals. I think it would be appropriate of Tighnari to wear one for his Sabzerus dress.

Cyno is so far the most difficult one to design. I have 0 references outside of speculative fashion plates and museum pictures of jewelry. I struggled so much with the outfit components, but I persevered and this is the result. His clothing is based on what Ancient Egyptian high priests of the New Kingdom wear. The long shendyt (kilt) and shawl are made from linen, which in higher social classes are woven so finely they appear as though transparent. Not just luxurious, but also airy for comfort against the desert heat.

Previously on: Nahida + Wanderer | Nilou

As usual, close-ups and some more thoughts under the cut:

Tighnari's canon design is incredibly confusing to me, because unlike some other Sumeru characters I have absolutely no idea which part of Algerian (or Arab, but that's a very wide ballpark) dress it's supposed to be based on. Where is that white fabric wrap even from? However, when I looked at his hoodie, I realized that it's probably supposed to be a "modernized equivalent" of a burnous. Probably.

The belt accessory is actually an article I always see on women's robe kabyle, but never men's. I think they look neat and Tighnari wears belt accessories, so I incorporated them. (If any of you seeing this are Kabyle or Amazigh, do tell me more of the nuances. Are they exclusively feminine accessories? I also read that Kabyle women tie their sashes differently depending on marital status, but does this only apply to sashes or does it also apply to these cord belts?)

It's not very obvious, but the burnous has a split back, so Tighnari's tail can poke out comfortably. It's also pretty fun to try and incorporate elements of his official design, such as the paw-print gloves, the boots, and the turtleneck. To me, Tighnari without a turtleneck is unimaginable for some reason.

I've been tentatively calling Cyno's design "the one time Cyno puts some effort into doing his hair". The little braids aside, his hair is actually in a half-up bun. I really should draw these refs from more angles... and this is unimportant in the grand scope of things, but I gave him some beef. My guy deserves more beef (and I apologize for covering his chest regardless).

The wesekh (wide collar) is made from gold and various precious gems/minerals. This one has gold, carnelian, and turquoise. The narrow golden beads on the outermost layer represents beetles, which in turn symbolize resurrection (i.e. Hermanubis' indwelling within Cyno).

I've always been baffled at the fact that Cyno wears mostly black, but would prefer for my design to contain elements from his actual design, so I kept the sash and helmet black. However, I do know that too much dyed linen (and animal fibers) are inappropriate to wear in temples. Unless you are a funeral priest, where you wear a leopard skin as a part of the rites. Then again, Cyno's biggest inspiration is Anubis, so perhaps he could get some leeway here...

To continue with the flower theming, I chose the Sumeru Rose for Cyno and Tighnari wears the yellow flower on his canon clothes once again. It's never mentioned in game, but I'd like to think the Sumeru Rose is among the national flowers of Sumeru along with the Padisarah, so it's appropriate for the General Mahamatra to wear it.

Lastly, I gave them matching double piercings. Tighnari wears them on his right ear (as per his canon design), and Cyno on his left. Another matching set :)

[neechees]

Almost the entire aesthetic of cowboy fashion itself is basically appropriated looks from Native American fashion except a few things that coincidentally also came from somewhere else or were a result of acculturation (like chaps, but the design is startling similar to Plains men's leggings). There's "cowboy fashion" websites that just steal looks & designs from Plains Natives.

The leather clothing? That's Native. The fringe? That's famous in Native fashion, and in some tribe the fringe actually means something. The geometric blanket patterns? That's southwestern Native American & Indigenous Mexican weave. Turquoise and silver jewelry? Navajo have been doing that for thousands of years. Floral shirts and jackets? Also Native American, That's a standard old Native man essential.

It's almost impossible to dress like a cowboy & not be wearing appropriated Native looks

[thurstongrey]

[biteofcherry]

Wetnessday anon here 💦

Your story about how you met king Curtis is awesome! I'd love to meet him like this!

I'm curious how the story would have went if she ended up in king Ari's kingdom though.

(you don't have to write anything of course)

xoxo Wetnessday anon 💦

One of the crew members finds you hiding on the ship, but since they don't know who you really are and you try to sell your story of dream life on golden shores and fishing, they simply tell you that there's no free ride, so you have to do some work on the ship

You mend some clothes and sails, as well get roped into helping with cooking for the crew

Not once do you meet king Ari, you just briefly see him from afar

Once you reach his kingdom the sailor who discovered you, gives you directions to the small fishing village not far from the docks and tells you there are a few fishermen who may look to hire a help

You fall a little in love with the kingdom as you walk down the shore, feeling the warm, golden sand beneath your feet and watching the shades of blue and turquoise of the sea, and the greenery of forests on the other side of the beach

Some of the fishermen shoo you away, but there's one grumpy older man who judges you head to toe, commenting how you don't look much hardworking, but he still agrees to take you under his wing

Duncan lives alone in a house the farthest from any other, but his boat looks really well taken care of.

You're surprised to find out there's a small, lush garden next to his home; but he shrugs and says that his wife used to take care of it, he just lets it grow.

He often sighs and grumbles "What has possessed me to teach stubborn youth again in my old days", especially when you show impatience with some tasks.

What you don't know is that Duncan is a former navy captain who used to be young Prince Ari's teacher and guardian, who retired early to take care of his sick wife who unfortunately passed away a few years ago.

You're also unaware that fond of his old friend, King Ari often visits Duncan.

It's a complete surprise to you when one day you're sitting in front of the house with Duncan, both of you working on the mending the nets and him telling you hilarious story of how he met his wife (it involved being smacked over the head with a paddle), and King Ari arrives unannounced.

The problem is that Ari recognizes you.

He saw you at the feasts when he visited your kingdom, he was introduced to you. So the plainer dress and lack of shiny jewelry don't fool him.

When he reveals the truth to Duncan, the older man just snorts: "She did a better job blending in than you when you tried to join merchants at thirteen springs."

Ari takes you back to his castle and it's non-negotiable.

No matter how much sympathy he feels for you over your story, you are a crown Princess of another kingdom and you're in his lands. If something were to happen to you while here, his kingdom could face a war.

At least he doesn't immediately sail you back to your kingdom, claiming he has to think it all through.

You're given beautiful chambers, even more beautiful gowns and you share dinners with Ari every evening. He likes talking to you and you find him to be a charming, funny companion.

One morning you wake up much earlier than usual and you take the opportunity to roam the castle grounds and nooks while everything is still sleepy and quiet. You don't expect to stumble upon Ari and two of his men returning from who knows what activities - all laughing, shoving each other and being very much wet

You stare at Ari, your eyes unable to stay on his face while his torso is shiny with water.

When you drag your gaze up and meet his blue eyes, there's a hungry spark in them. Also amusement that curves his lips and makes you realize he caught you staring.

You flee with a squeak, running back to your chambers to hide in embarrassment. You almost refuse to meet Ari for dinner later that evening, still mortified.

But it's that very evening that Ari makes you a proposal - he can't keep you here as a guest forever, since at some point someone will report to your brother where you are and it might stir a lot of drama.

He could send you back home, or send an emissary with official request for your hand in marriage; which would also include a false story of how Ari found you were abducted and saved you (a lie to save your reputation as well).

"It may not be your dream life," Ari says when you nervously play with your cup of wine, "but as heirs and rulers we have to also take responsibility. Even if we'd very much prefer to be fishermen and merchants," he winks at you.

"We like each other's company and I'm quite certain the attraction is undeniable." He gives you that hungry look again and your thighs clench involuntarily.

He lists a few more compelling arguments. When you finally say yes, knowing that it's still the best of your options, considering the repercussions if you were to be brought to your brother, Ari stands up and rounds the table to where you're seated.

He kisses you for the first time that evening

his hand moving from sweet, respectful caress on your cheek to gripping the back of your head as he slips his tongue between your lips

you've never been kissed like that and when Ari pulls back you nearly chases his lips with a whine.

[olaqueenbeeofastrology]

#shopping 🛍️

#charity bene🏋️‍♀️fiT

@omegaforums @omegawatches-blog @omega @imax @sirius @youtube @sharktank

collectible ⌚️

#pieplate @rubylane @etsy

Compare

@swatch-blog @swatchus

@bulova @seikowatchpartsenter-blog @seikowatch

@gemstone-network @gemstonesilverjewelryus @gemstones @jewelry @fashion @crystalgems-blog @youtube @google @yahoo @bing @twobigblondes @consignmentcouture @christiesauctions @sothebys-pe-blog @sothebys @qvc @qvcuk @twitter @tv-moments @variety @thr @watchestobuy @watchesparadise @bestbuy @biglots @target @watchrepairlondon @vintage @watchrepair @vintagewatchesdepot @vintagewatchesandjewellery-blog @gemstone-network @gemstonesilverjewelryus @gemstones @jewelry @fashion @crystalgems-blog @youtube @google @yahoo @bing @twobigblondes @consignmentcouture @christiesauctions @sothebys-pe-blog @sothebys @qvc @qvcuk @twitter @tv-moments @variety @thr @taylor13 @lizzo

@youtube @yahoo @google @thr @variety @instagram @yellowtaxi @lyft @twitter @tumblr @yahoofinance @money @fortune @forbes @wsj @dalailama @uscopyrightoffice @wholefoods @olaqueenbee @olatransits @olavay @pinkjonperry on @instagram

@vogue @ebay @thr @variety

[stalkerofthegods]

Athena Pallas/Minerva Deep dive

To the wisest of the wise, to the goddess that tells us the wisdom, may we all cheer for her, like how men and women and all equal in war would cheer after victory.

Herbs • Olive tree, Tiger lilies, geranium, oak, cypress, Hellebore (Christmas and Lenten rose), and citrus tree, walnuts, pears

Animals• owl, snake, rooster, griffins, horses (she taught men how to tame horses), female lambs, doves (as a symbol of victory), rams, eagles, tigers, leopards, and other cats (could not find why but many were in agreement.)

Zodiac • She was mostly celebrated in June/July so I would say, Gemini, Cancer, and Leo.

Colors • gold, orange, yellow, emerald green, and royal blue

Crystal• bronze, metal, gold, silver, Azurite, Iolite, ruby, star sapphire, turquoise, lapis lazuli, ivory, Amazonite, Iolite, Bloodstone, Clear Quarterrtz, onyx.

Symbols• owls, olive trees, snakes, the Gorgoneion, golden shield, and helmet, serpents 

Jewelry you can wear in their honor• you can veil in their honor

Diety of • knowledge, knowledge in war, crafting, inspiration, strategy 

Patron of• Military, justice, skills, close combat, good counsel, prudent restrain and practical insight, weaving, and spinning, crocheting, the defense of towns, heroic endeavor, and protection agriculture, she is known in the arts as well with Hephaestus, protectress of the phratries and houses, authority of the law, the order in the courts and the assembly of the people, mathematics, strength, asexuality, librarians, peace, judges, protests, metalwork, birds (called the goddess of the birds), teachers

Offerings• She was sacrificed bulls, rams cows, all female except a lamb, it must be a male lamb, Locrian maidens or children are said to have been sacrificed to her every year as an atonement for the crime committed by the Locrian Ajax upon Cassandra (do not do, just here for historic offerings.), Olives, Bread, Grains, Olive oil, Cakes, Olive tree branches, Owl figurines or imagery, Silver jewelry, Honey, Milk, Books, Strategy games, Quality chess boards, Snake figurines or imagery, Fountain pens, Handmade objects, Clay items ( ex- plates, bowls, vases), Yellow and/or white candles, Yoghurt, Daggers, Swords (including small decorative versions), Devotional poems, Studying, Learning something new, Using what you learn as a way of growing and developing as a person, Standing up for yourself, Improving yourself, Owl pellets, Owl decoys for gardens,Work out clothes/gear, Fidget toys for when you’re working, Brain imagery, Spider imagery, Crafts you have made, Certificates/degrees/awards for achievements, Favorite books/books on mythos or Greece, Knitting/crocheting/crafting materials, Needles, Your glasses, Coffee/tea, Nice pens/pencils, Journals/notebooks, Voting stickers/cards, Spears/swords/daggers/helmets, Protest signs, pears, walnuts, Garlic bread, Start a small side business.

Devotional• Read a book, become a librarian as a summer job, or simply check out or return a book, join a book club, host a book club, learn Battle strategies, learn Wars and how they were won, learn What led to wars being lost, read The Art of War by Sun Tzu, learn about Politics,  Democracy in Ancient Greece, learn about Armor and weapons, Catch and release spiders in your home, do Pottery, learn about Cross stitching and knitting, Tutor someone/get tutoring for areas you need help in, Watch TED talks/listen to educational podcasts, Plan out your day/keep a planner, Thinking before taking action, controlling our anger,  Learn new vocab words, Make your notes pretty, Learn study techniques, Take appropriate study breaks, Do projects for Her, Challenge yourself, Learn grounding techniques, Do your homework, Give up things that are unhealthy for your brain (ex-  smoking cannabis, drinking.), work out, Learn basic first aid, take CPR classes, Take care of your body, Go to protests/advocate

Ephithets• will post later, postponed due to motivational issues, will come soon. 

Equivalents (alike but not the same)• neith (Egyptian), thrud (Norse), Minerva (roman), Athena (Greek) 

Alter• I would not put her alter near Heaphestus, be tried to violate her in a myth, I would not put her alter near Aphrodite because they are known to not get along in myths, but things could have changed. She does work well with heroes, so if you worship Hercules or Perseus I would put her alter near them, I would not put her near Arachne and keep her alter away from spider areas, etc. Keep her altar clean and orderly. She does not like the giant Pallas, he tried to ruin her chastity.

Signs they are reaching out• Encounters with owls, olive trees, or feelings of wisdom and inspiration, seeing owls in the day, going to the library more often, staying after school. 

Vows/omans• to stay a virgin forever, and to change her name 

Number• 6 or 7 and 5 (I couldn't find a website that could agree.)

Morals• Morally lawful

Personality• Strong, endearing, respected, smart, confident, practical, clever, a master of disguises, and a great warrior. Brings Harvard teachers to shame. 

Home• Mount Olympus 

Mortal or immortal • Immortal 

Fact• Some say she invented the flute, she invented the plow, and the rake, borrows tools from Zeus to do war saves people when fate counts on it, she repels Ares, some say Athena’s full name is Pallas Athena, but they say she added the name Pallas to hers after she accidentally mortally injured her friend Pallas during a practice session in her youth.  Athena was seen naked bathing, she felt bad for the man, she covered his eyes and made him blind, making him an oracle.

Curses• blindness, more spiders, spilling tea, dyslexia getting harder, losing ur glasses, no one knowing who you're dressed as during Halloween, getting into fights, unjust detentions, no one showing up to class, getting fired as a teacher or librarian (unjustly), dropping books and learning stuff all of the sudden, forgetting materials that you learned on your test, your quizzes and tests get lost.

Blessings• remembering test materials, witty replies in arguments, detentions all of the sudden going away, getting into your dream college, getting into a book club, finding ur books, getting a librarian or teacher or tutor job.

Roots• Greek, near the river Triton born after or in the Titanomachy era.

Friends• Pallas (her friend growing up)

Parentage• Some say Poseidon then she went to Zeus after a dispute and became his daughter, and some say metis and Zeus, some say Hepeastus.

Siblings• Artemis, Aphrodite, the Muses, the Graces, Ares, Apollo, Dionysus, Hebe, Hermes, Heracles, Helen of Troy, Hephaestus, Minos, Perseus, and Porus.

Children• She does not have any romantic lovers, but she has adopted children, who are, Erikhthonios/Erichthonius.

Pet• one white and three dark horse and an owl, (she shares a chariot with Artemis) 

Appearance in astral or gen•  a stately woman armed with a shield and spear, and wearing a long robe, crested helm, and the famed aigis with the the Gorgon Medusa on a shield

Festivals • The cleansing Festival/Plynteria and Kallynteria Festival, the threshing festival/Skira Festival, the festival of Minerva/Minor Quinquatrus, The panatheanaea/Athena Festival, The Vintage festivalOschophoria Festival, the artisans Festival/Chalkeia Festival.

Day • she does not have any day of the week, the 23 of each month, and the first day. 

Sacred places• The Parthenon on the Acropolis of Athens is dedicated to her, and Athens.

Status• Wisdom goddess, One of the major theoi and goddesses in Greek mythology 

What angers her • If you stop worshiping her, I would clean up and part respectfully and know she understands, she does not like the sudden removal of an alter and the trashing of one.

The music she likes• classical and lo-fi study music.

Planet• Pallas Athene (minor planet) and the Asteroids 93 Minerva and 2 Pallas

Her Tarot cards• queen of swords, queen of wands, justice card, balance card

Remind me of• the saying “hitting the books” and someone actually throwing books, twilight from My Little Pony, Dead Trees (books)

Scents/Inscene • Patchouli, dragon’s blood, musk, indigo, orange blossom, cinnamon, and cedarwood

My opinion • She's cool.

Prayers• 

Prayer To Athena by Liz “Morning Dove” La Posta

Oh, wise Athena with your spear and shield, protect me and my family from injustice and harm. Council me with your wisdom so that I may make the best decisions. Grant me success in my endeavors, but keep me humble so that I might not become condescending to others. I thank you for the many times you have guided me on my Path. Share with me your mysteries and I will do my best to follow. Athena my Goddess, I pray this in your sacred name, and I vow to always be your faithful dedicant.

Prayer to Athena for Wisdom

Clear-eyed Athena, unrivaled in wisdom, daughter of Zeus and Metis whose craft and wit excelled among the mighty Titans: Athena, I pray to you. Wise in all things you are, goddess; your cunning and guile are well known. In time of war you have no equal in tactics or in strategy; many armies have you guided to victory. In time of peace your blessings fall on those whose work is of the mind–friend of the philosopher, the scientist, the student. Advisor of kings, patron of clever heroes and bold-hearted adventurers, defender of the thinker, mistress of reason and understanding, goddess to whom a strong arm and a sharp sword are nothing without the sense to wield them well and the insight to know when words are worth more than weapons. Athena, grant me a sound mind and steady temper, bless me with good judgment, show me the long view.

Links/websites/sources •seleniangnosis https://www.theoi.com/Cult/AthenaTitles.htmlhttps://www.britannica.com/topic/Athena-Greek-mythology https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Athenahttps://www.perseus.tufts.edu/Herakles/athena.html https://www.theoi.com/Olympios/Athena.html

https://www.worldhistory.org/athena/#google_vignettehttps://greekgodsandgoddesses.net/goddesses/athena/https://olympioi.com/greek-gods/athenahttps://ilfiorello.com/athena-the-importance-of-the-name/https://www.theoi.com/Cult/AthenaTitles.htmlhttp://www.goddess-athena.org/Encyclopedia/Rituals/Festivals/index.htm ATHENA'S BIRTH ON THE NIGHT OF THE DARK MOON - JSTOR 881 Athene - Wikipedia Athena | Olympian Goddess of Wisdom | Born from Zeus SkullGoddess Gift https://www.crystalvaults.com/goddess-athena/#:~:text=Crystals%20such%20as%20Azurite%2C%20Iolite,Athena%20can%20bring%20to%20you.Athena: Greek Goddess Of Wisdom And Craftsmanshiphttps://www.museandmoonstone.com/blogs/blog/crystals-goddess-athenaThoughtCohttps://www.thoughtco.com › what...What Are the Symbols of the Greek Goddess Athena?numeralgame.64g.ruhttp://www.numeralgame.64g.ru › ...Numerology and ancient Greek myths. Pythagorean numerological number 5. Goddess Gifthttps://goddessgift.com › goddessesAthena: Greek Goddess Of Wisdom And Craftsmanship Number Seven Facts, Symbolism & Meaning - Study.com Holy And Unholy Numbers - Street Directory Athena: Greek Goddess Of Wisdom And Craftsmanshipseleniangnosis travelingthief Titanomachy Definition, Myth & Impact - Study.com Athena Siblings - 1379 Words | Internet Public Library - IPL.org Athena Justice, Mythology Tarot Enamel Pin - LitJoy Crate Inner Goddess Tarothttps://innergoddesstarot.com › go...Goddesses in Tarot: Athenahttps://www.hellenion.org/athena/prayer-to-athena/https://www.tumblr.com/tarotbee

I use resources, I do not own the info, and most deep dives have UPG (that I use in my work.) And I only take some information from sources. I am 14, this is my hobby, I am learning but I spent many hours and days on this, and I am always open to criticism. I have been doing worship for 5 years. Please know you can use the info, I do not sue, but I will take action if this work is used without permission and not put as a resource if used in any work. without permisson and not put as a resource if used in any work, for the public.

[shortprince-cos]

Of Pirated Princes

Summary: After he was kidnapped by pirates, Prince Zuko is freed by two Water Tribesmen who don't believe he's the actual Fire Prince.

AO3 Link

(Word Count: 2068)

Chapter One: Of Closets and Chains

~~~~~

Hakoda didn’t like pirates, but he had to admit that they were rather helpful when it came to finding unique specimens.

The boutique was filled with hundreds of antiques, collectables, and knick-knacks, spanning from the entrance to the counter at the back of the boat. An array of weapons to books to clothing lined the shelves and cases. All of it stolen, but some of it at a decent price.

It wasn’t right, buying from pirates, but sometimes the crew of the Ilatka was low on funds, and they needed an affordable place to buy authentic pieces.

“Chief,” Bato called, only to be holding a stone statue of a monkey with jewels for eyes in front of his face, startling the man slightly.

Hakoda sighed at his companion’s shenanigans. “Must you?”

Bato chuckled and put the statue down. “I must.”

He let out a huff, but didn’t bother to hide the smirk on his lips, knowing it would be fruitless. He and Bato had been joking around like this since they were children, mostly playing pranks on the residents of Wolf Cove, but occasionally pulling a stunt or two on each other. Sure, they had grown since then, but they hadn’t really grown up.

“Please be careful with that,” A voice said. “If you break it, you buy it.”

The owner of the voice was a large man with an unsettling grin on his face. An iguana-parrot was perched on his shoulder, and a hat sat atop his silver-haired head. It was the captain, Hakoda realized.

He nodded at the man. “Understood.”

They went back to browsing without another word, Bato getting lost in the clothing section and Hakoda carefully sifting through the weapons. Some were Water Tribe, though it was hard to tell if it was north or south. Still, the thought of these men ‘acquiring’ them left a bitter taste in his mouth. So much of their culture had been taken by the Fire Nation, and they didn’t need some low-life criminals to steal some too.

“Chief,” Bato called again, and Hakoda just shook his head.

“I don’t care what it is, Bato. I’m not buying it just so you can look pretty.”

“Hakoda,” He said, and the name was stressed this time, like something was wrong.

The chief turned then, making his way over to where Bato was shopping at a slow-but-urgent pace. There was a jewelry case that he was pointing to, and it took Hakoda a second to spot what it was he was referencing.

A small necklace with blue ribbon and a turquoise stone attached to it.

Kya’s necklace

Katara’s necklace.

A million thoughts flooded his mind at once, but only one of them stood out.

How?

He had to figure out how.

Hakoda marched to the counter at the back of the boat, careful not to stomp and make a scene. “Excuse me,” He said, voice cold. “Can I ask where you got that Water Tribe necklace?”

The captain smiled - smirked, even. “Nicked it off of a suspicious character. Why? You interested? I do hear that they make great engagement necklaces up north.”

Hakoda smiled back, eyes hard. “You could say that. What did this suspicious character look like?” There was an answer he didn’t want to hear.

This time, he was positive it was a smirk. “I have a feeling you’re much more interested in him, aren’t you?”

Him.

There was a plethora of things to be taken from that one word, but only one mattered.

It wasn’t Katara.

He nodded, fear starting to seep into his pool of rage.

The iguana-parrot squawked, and the captain gestured behind him. “How about I introduce you?”

<><><>

Zuko was having a very bad week.

Not only had the Avatar kept escaping his clutches, but Uncle had insisted on rerouting them into the nearest port so he could buy a new lotus tile. And for what? A stupid Pai Sho game? Ridiculous.

So of course, while Uncle was off doing that, Zuko had decided to explore the port a bit. What a great decision that was.

He couldn’t shake the feeling that there were eyes on him. Like no matter where he turned, someone was always watching him.

He only realized what was happening two seconds after he was cornered.

Zuko fought, really he did, but there were just so many of them all at once, and they all had different weapons and angles and he just wasn’t fast enough.

It was a group of pirates, he noticed as he started to run out of breath. What did they want with him? He didn’t have time to find out, and he was running out of strength and time and-

He was knocked out eventually, a quick blow to the head made that easy. And when he woke up, he was in a small wooden room, empty except for the chains clamped around his hands and feet.

Was he in a closet?

The question was answered when the captain of the pirates came to check in on him a little while later, and he explained that yes, Zuko was now chained up in a closet on a pirate ship so they could sell him on the black market.

So, yeah. Not the greatest time.

A few days had gone by like that, Zuko caged up while the captain kept coming back to feed him and brag about how much money he was going to make. It felt like eternity. Zuko knew it was only a matter of time before he got out of here - he just didn’t know if it was going to be via escape attempt or because the pirates actually sold him. He didn’t like to think about the latter, so he stuck to the former option.

The door opened again, momentarily blinding him as the light shone in. Three figures walked in, the first being the captain, the other two Zuko didn't recognize, but they were larger than most of the pirates, which wasn't exactly a good sign.

Buyers, Zuko horridly realized. The pirates had found buyers.

The man in back looked at him with horror on his face, but the one in front just stared, emotionless. A pang of fear hit him then, though he tried to fight it off. There was no time to be afraid right now.

“Meet Prince Zuko of the Fire Nation.” The captain said, a smirk splitting his face, and dread pooled in the boy’s stomach.

This was really happening. Zuko was kidnapped by pirates and was about to be sold to Agni-knows-who, and there was nothing he could do to stop it.

Zuko wasn’t usually superstitious, but he sent out a prayer to the spirits, just in case.

<><><>

Fire Nation. That was the only thought that occupied Hakoda’s mind. This boy was obviously Fire Nation, and he somehow had Katara’s necklace.

Terror pierced him like a blade cutting through skin. A raid was the only explanation. How else would a Fire Nation boy get his hands on something so distant, so out of reach? How else would a piece of his home, of his family, end up in Fire Nation clutches?

Hakoda couldn’t breathe. The last raid that took place was the one where they lost Kya. If another happened in the time the tribe was gone-

Sokka was the only one protecting the village, Katara was the last waterbender, and her necklace was here.

What happened to his children?

He felt the wound of fear bleeding out, but he knew he couldn’t do anything to stop it except keep on his calculated face. This pirate couldn’t know the heartbreak that Hakoda had just gone through, not if he wanted answers. He just had to play his cards right, no matter how much he wanted to shuffle his deck.

“Meet Prince Zuko of the Fire Nation.” The captain said, and Hakoda tried not to reel.

Prince Zuko? That couldn’t be right. This boy in front of them was just a kid.

His thoughts stopped there. A kid. This boy was just a kid, not a soldier. There’s no way that this- this teenager would’ve been assigned a southern raid.

The pirate had to be bullshitting him. There’s no way this child was Prince Zuko, and there’s no reason he should have this necklace.

“You can’t honestly expect us to believe that you have the Prince Zuko tied up in your lowly pirate boutique, can you?” Hakoda asked, eyebrow raised.

The captain’s smile fell. “You callin’ me a liar?”

A hand on his shoulder. “Tread carefully.” Bato whispered.

He was right. Hakoda couldn't afford to mess this up. Not with so much on the line.

He stood up straighter. “No, I’m just pointing out that it's a bit far-fetched. Is there any way you can prove it?”

The captain huffed, but turned to the boy on the floor, reaching to the cloth tied around his mouth.

The second his lips were free, the boy spat fire. It happened so quickly, the way the room brightened and the way Hakoda could feel the heat of the flame on his arms and face. He’d heard of firebenders breathing fire before, but he’d never gotten the chance to see it in action until now. It seemed like it would be a party trick until he actually saw the way the wood of the ship singed.

The slap happened just as quickly, effectively shutting the boy’s mouth.

The captain gripped the boy’s chin in his hand, drawing Hakoda’s attention to the bruises that littered it; bruises he didn’t notice before because he was so focused on the fact that he was Fire Nation. “You fucking brat!”

The boy flinched, and suddenly Hakoda stopped worrying about if he had hurt his kids and started worrying about this kid being hurt.

The captain was yelling at the kid now, too distracted to notice Hakoda grabbing the club off of his belt. Bato noticed, and backed up to secure the door, knowing there were other pirates aboard this ship. The boy noticed, his good eye widening, and his mouth shut.

One hit was enough to knock the man out.

Hakoda rushed to start unchaining the boy, not missing the way he looked at him in terror and held his breath.

After a minute, the boy was free, and he was eyeing the two men warily, obviously unsure of what was going on.

“Someone’s coming,” Bato warned in a hushed tone.

“Listen to me,” Hakoda started, whispering at the boy. “I know you’re scared, but please just trust us to get you out of here, all right? We’re only trying to help you.”

The boy sucked in a breath. “I’m not scared.”

The door swung open, and a man in a green shirt looked at them with confusion in his eyes.

“Uh-”

The boy shot fire at the man’s feet.

The pirate scrambled out of the way with a shout, leaving just enough room for Hakoda, Bato, and the boy to run past. They quickly made their way back to the store-section of the boat, Hakoda only stopping to break the glass case and grab Kya’s necklace, before bolting out.

Suddenly, about a half dozen men were on their tail, and Hakoda was just starting to realize how much of a bad idea this was.

<><><>

Zuko didn’t know where these men were going, but he did know that he couldn’t fight off all of these pirates by himself, so he just kept following them. Sure, he wasn’t thinking things through, but when did he ever?

Besides, he had bigger, more immediate things to worry about.

By the time they came to a stop, Zuko was on the verge of passing out; hunger, dehydration, and blood loss getting to him more than it should have. He didn’t even know where he was, all he knew was that the world was swaying and the sun was too hot and the voices were just too loud.

His hand went to the cut on his side, one that he’d barely registered he’d gotten as they were running past that pirate in the hall. Of course he was armed, why wouldn’t he be? Zuko was always so, so stupid.

“Well,” One of the men said. “That’s one way to get out of the closet.”

The other laughed, but Zuko didn’t hear since he was already halfway to the ground.

~~~~~

not gonna put much here cause im tired but reblogs are definitely appreciated!!