#sell my gemstone jewellery

[webuydiamond]

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[buymydiamond]

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[flowerandblood]

The Pearl and the Sapphire 

[ modern! • Aemond x Baratheon! • female ]

[ warnings: sexual tension, obsession, angst ]

[ description: As a representative of a large family-owned gemstone business, Aemond is attending a major jewellery event where jewellery makers from all over the world are exhibiting. One of them is the Baratheon family. Aemond is tasked with focusing on attracting new customers, but his attention is diverted by the youngest daughter of the eminent maker Borros Baratheon. Slow burn, bitchy, possessive and obsessive Aemond, lots of dark angst and sexual tension. ]

A story which is an alternative universe of The Impossbile Choice taking place in modern times. The characters are all the same as in the main series, however, for obvious reasons they will behave differently and experience things differently from medieval times. You can read this without having to delve into the main series.

Series moodboard: Aemond & Miss Baratheon

* English is not my first language. Please, do not repost. Enjoy! *

Previous and next chapters: Masterlist

______

Crystal EXPO was their company's most important annual event. The Targaryen family had been trading and selling precious ores and stones for decades, supplying major jewellery houses. Companies from all over the world flocked to this festival, traders like them looking for new customers and connoisseurs of exquisite jewellery looking around for outstanding makers and their creations.

That year Otto, as the head of their company's management, was to be accompanied by Aemond. Otto insisted that he should also represent the family business physically and wear a sapphire exchanger instead of the artificial eye he wore every day.

He felt that he would have made himself look ridiculous and attracted widespread attention, but his grandfather said he had to put it on and stop acting like a little baby.

He was furious and frustrated, but he managed to at least take Alys with him as his assistant. With her, he was able to vent his anger in different ways like when he fucked her so hard on the hotel bed, while strangling her at her request, that he felt like he was going to pierce her stomach.

Alys loved the environment she was surrounded by – she loved his gifts, the sapphire earrings and necklaces she wore whenever she went out somewhere with him, to his satisfaction.

She was much older than him and he knew that their relation was her feeling that she could still please a younger man – even after the first time he fucked her on the desk in his office, he had already specified to her what this acquaintance would be like.

She was to ask no questions and expect nothing from him.

This was not a relationship.

It was an exchange of mutual benefits that suited him and her too, apparently.

His grandfather pretended not to see what was going on, nor did he say anything about it to his mother.

He did, however, warn him not to be a fool and fall in love, because this woman would squeeze all the money out of him – he involuntarily burst out laughing at his words, his smile, however, did not reach his eye.

"Don't be ridiculous." He said with an amusement that elicited a grimace of embarrassment on his grandfather's face.

He felt a sense of satisfaction at the thought that it depended on his whim to decide what would happen to her, how many gifts and money she would get, whether she would feel beautiful or ugly, smart or stupid.

She was a witty and bright woman, but not as much as she thought.

She knew how to fuck well, though, and she fulfilled his every whim without a word of objection.

Her presence was comfortable for him.

As always, there were jewellers exhibiting at the Crystal EXPO – they also often had the kind of shows where models presented their jewellery, which could then be admired up close at their big stands. These shows were often very elaborate and themed, with the audience sitting in a circle around them watching.

He grew tired of these, usually boring and exaggerated, but his grandfather pressed him to go and see how their clients presented themselves and whether it was worth investing in someone new.

The Targaryen company worked most closely with the Lannisters, a company that mainly made jewellery from gold, which was their domain. Their small works of art cost crores, often reached for by big stars going on the red carpet or to some important events.

Their show was pompous and, for him, downright embarrassing – baroque overkill hurt his eye as models dressed in gold glittering gowns walked in front of him, the reflections from the columns of light falling on them making him have to turn his face away and close his eyelids once in a while.

In addition to them, the company that used the precious stones they bought from them were the Hightowers, who specialised in handling emeralds. Green was their dominant colour and, although the theme changed every year, this colour was their trademark.

After them it was time for the Baratheon family show – they were a small family business with centuries of tradition, specialising in making high-end jewellery reminiscent of the Victorian era.

Their works were a treat for connoisseurs, and although business-wise they had no interest in their family, he had to admit that the pieces by Borros Baratheon and his son were some of the most beautiful he had ever seen.

He was surprised when the lights dimmed a little, changing to a warm colour, large vases of flowers placed all around. He leaned back comfortably in his chair and watched with interest as young models of essentially portrait beauty strolled around in exceptionally finely tailored attires from different eras, wearing jewellery that matched their colours, with calm music playing in the background that made him think of medieval royal feasts.

He thought it was a very good marketing move on their part – he wasn't the only one impressed, the other guests were talking to each other about what they had seen with interest.

After a while, the music changed – it sounded like something suitable for a court dance. After a moment, a couple emerged from the entrance dressed in renaissance costumes sewn with incredible for him details.

The attire of the young dark-haired, bearded and well-built men consisted of an elaborate black tunic over which was superimposed a chain with animal head motifs.

He, however, could not take his eye off the girl who walked next to him, holding his hand.

Her gown was phenomenal, a brownish-blue, its bodice only beginning below her breasts, which were covered only by a thin white undershirt – her buff-coloured sleeves were slit and tied with ribbons, with white fabric sticking out from underneath.

He had the impression that the whole thing was made up of coloured stripes.

Around her neck hung a beautiful, delicate gold necklace of three teardrop-shaped pearls, complementing her sun-shaped earrings. Her dark hair was woven into an elegant braid, with the netting at the back of her head, characteristic of renaissance hairstyles, also interspersed with pearls.

There was something about her appearance, the way she gazed softly and warmly at the men standing before her, her barely perceptible smile, the glint in her eye, the lightness of her movement made him hold his breath.

He swallowed loudly when they suddenly began to dance – he felt as if he had been transported back in time and was in an italian renaissance mansion at a feast of one of the great princes of Florence or Milan, their movements unforced, fluid, graceful and respectful.

They made motions to the rhythm of the music moving in a circle so that everyone could see up close what they wore around their necks and hands – only then did he see that there were beautiful rings on her tiny fingers, one of which had a sapphire wrapped in a gold leaf border.

The whole time he was looking at them his throat was squeezed, his heart pounding hard for some reason.

He wasn't sure he had ever been so enamoured of anything or anyone as he was of this young girl he had just seen before him.

Unlike the other models her facial expression was not indifferent or neutral, she was smiling all the time just as was her partner.

There was something noble, at the same time proud and tender beaming from her person, something inviting, a kind of openness that by his nature was completely unknown to him.

He wondered who she was.

Was she simply a model, or perhaps a dancer hired for a show?

Despite the fact that Alys was sitting next to him, he thought hard about what to do to make her end up with him in his bed.

He imagined how sweetly she would moan beneath him, how warm her gaze and touch would be, how much reassurance and tenderness he would have to put into caressing her body to win her trust and let him devour her.

He licked his lower lip at the thought, Alys' voice leaning towards him snapping him out of his reverie.

"Beautiful costumes, don't you think?" She asked softly.

"Mmm." He muttered in reply, his eye did not leave her for a moment.

And then suddenly it happened.

At one of their turns, as they shifted position and both turned their faces sideways from each other, she looked up at him.

He was sure their gazes met for a second and a great shudder went through him.

He thought she must have seen the flash of his sapphire artificial eye and swallowed loudly at the thought.

Do it again, he thought.

Look at me again, give me assurance that this was no accident.

The music ended and there was thunderous applause all around him, even Alys showed her admiration in this way.

He didn't clap, he just looked at her intensely, playing with his fingers extended on his armrest.

The men she was dancing with kissed her hand while saying something quickly to her, and she laughed and nodded, a lively joy on her face from which he felt discomfort.

Were they together?

And suddenly it happened again.

The men were speaking to her as they went to bow before the audience, and she froze in mid-answer when she saw his gaze from afar. She turned her head away, a microexpression of embarrassment passed across her face, through which she pressed her lips together and immediately went back to continuing her answer.

He felt with shame that his thoughts were reflected in what was going on his trousers.

For all the shows that followed, he couldn't concentrate, staring blankly ahead, tense – he never looked forward to the opening banquet, finding it a tiring event that required talking to many people he hated.

This time he awaited it with eager anticipation.

When it was all over Otto told him about the shows he had enjoyed and surprisingly they appeared to have similar feelings.

"I think the Baratheons' idea was exceptionally apt and brilliantly executed. I'm sure a lot of their goods will sell out this year even before the event is over. His children did a great job at the end, you can see they are very supportive of their father every step of the way." He said with some kind of admiration, taking a sip of the coffee the waitress had brought him. He lifted his gaze at him, confused.

"What?"

Otto raised his eyebrow, clearly amused.

"That couple who danced at the end were his youngest daughter and only son. You can see right away, they resemble him, although this girl has more of her mother." He said lightly, but he was no longer listening to him, looking dully at the coffee table in front of him.

She was not a model.

She was his daughter.

Fuck.

He pressed his lips together at the thought, feeling a squeeze in his stomach.

He couldn't just fuck Borros Baratheon's youngest daughter.

"I have to say that their collection this year has made a special impression on me. I am considering whether to speak to Borros. He turned down my generous offer a few years ago, but I know he is conflicted with his current supplier. I admit that, despite our company policy, I would like to include him in our patronage. It would greatly enhance our prestige in the eyes of other clients." He said thoughtfully, and he raised his eye at him.

He answered him before he had time to think about what was coming out of his mouth.

"I'll talk to him." He said dryly in a tone his grandfather hated. He saw his disgruntled expression and continued, wondering in the back of his mind what he was actually doing.

"Since you haven't succeeded it's worth having someone else to try. I'll just talk to him and present him with options without any pressure." He explained quickly, taking a sip of coffee between his words in an attempt to somehow alleviate the sudden dryness in his throat.

Otto pondered his words silently, looking at him suspiciously, his brow raised in indecision.

He knew he found his behaviour strange; his grandson always took after the big shots and didn't deal with the lesser customers deeming them unworthy of attention.

After a moment, however, he nodded, letting out a quiet breath as he reached for his cup.

"Fine, but you can't insult him even if he refuses outright. Borros has an impulsive temper, but even if he is not our client we must remain on good terms with him." He said, looking at him knowingly, and he nodded.

He was tense during the banquet. He tried to concentrate on what Alys was saying to him, dressed in a long, golden evening gown with a thigh-high cut-out, emphasising well her large, firm breasts which he had suckled so often, between them the sapphire necklace he had given her.

He couldn't enjoy the view, his gaze turned to the entrance all the time in suspense. He took a sip of the whisky he had ordered moments earlier to calm himself down – he nodded and answered mhm, swallowing hard when he saw her, she walked into the room with her father and brother.

He was fascinated that she as well as her brother were still dressed in their costumes from the show, walking together arm-in-arm.

He thought they were still fulfilling a marketing role for their father – there was no way they could show off his artwork better than on her long neck and fingers.

He watched as people came up to her and her family congratulating them on their success and wonderful performance, praising her dancing and her looks for sure. She looked around the room and met his gaze – she didn't look away this time.

She smiled.

So warmly, friendly, lightly, as if they had known each other for ages, as if they had seen each other for the hundredth time.

There was comfort in that smile, some promise of solace and understanding, of peace.

He felt uncomfortable and this time he looked away, taking a sip from his glass, realising how hard his heart was pounding, his erection betraying against his will what he thought of her.

He thought he should stop.

That he would hurt her.

He would use her, get bored and leave her.

That didn't stop him, after he'd fucked Alys in her hotel room, imagining her lying beneath him, from finding her on every social media possible.

He had ghost accounts there, anonymous and without a profile picture, needed sometimes for private dealings. Now he felt like a regular stalker, but he decided he didn't give a shit.

He needed to find out more about her.

He easily found her on Facebook but, not being friends with her, he could see almost nothing. Apart from being relieved to learn that she was of legal age he found out very little – frustrated, he tried on Instagram and pressed his lips together with a smirk seeing the hit.

Her account was very deliberate, consisting of photos of her figure, but usually backwards. There were also photos of her sewing and a whole host of historical gowns in which she herself posed.

He got curious and began to look through her photos reading the descriptions as well.

There she sometimes described her days, ideas or projects she was working on – it turned out that she designed and sewed costumes for producers of TV series and historical films at their request. Her father's money certainly helped her, but there was no denying that she had talent.

Her profile was satisfyingly aesthetic and thoughtful, dominated by blues, whites and pinks. As someone who read books on history and ancient kingdoms in his spare time, her interest seemed extremely intriguing to him.

Like when she danced in her beautiful costume, he had the impression that she was transporting him skilfully to a particular era.

He couldn't stop thinking about her.

The next day, sitting at the hotel breakfast table, talking to Alys about the day's plan and where she could squeeze his meeting with Borros in, he spotted her standing by the coffee machine.

Now he no longer had a sapphire in his eye socket, but his usual prosthetic eye, which, if it were not for the long scar on half of his face, at first glance was no different from the real one. He felt more confident with this thought.

"I'll make myself a coffee." He said suddenly, rising, Alys furrowed her brow.

"I asked you if you wanted coffee when I made mine for myself." She said in surprise, but he sidestepped her and walked over to the table.

She didn't notice him at first.

She was leaning over an open box of various teas, part of her hair tied back with a blue ribbon, her body framed by a pretty, navy blue fitted strapless dress with small white flowers.

He wondered if she had sewn it herself.

Involuntarily, he reached for the free cup and set it under the machine. She twitched as she heard the clatter of dishes beside her and glanced up at him. He looked at her out of the corner of his eye and saw the same warm smile on her face as when he had seen her at the banquet.

"Good morning." She said softly, noncommittally, looking down at her mug again, her choice was Earl Grey.

He lowered his gaze to the coffee machine, looking at it dispassionately, pressing the double espresso button. He felt a tightening in his chest at the sound of her voice, pleasant and smooth.

"Good morning." He replied dispassionately, feeling as if it was obvious from his tense face that all night he had been browsing her Instagram account, reading and looking at all her posts several times each.

He glanced at her out of the corner of his eye and saw that she had poured two teaspoons of sugar into her cup.

For some reason this didn't surprise him.

She looked at him and he pressed his lips together feeling as if she had caught him in the act. He thought he should say something, that watching her like that for no reason was strange to say the least, and she looked at him expectantly.

He'd been thinking about her for hours, and now that she was standing in front of him, he couldn't get anything out.

She dropped her gaze and smiled softly – he felt embarrassed at the thought that she had seen his inner struggle, that she had noticed that she had gained his interest.

He felt like a fool.

He took his cup and wanted to walk away, but her voice stopped him.

"Your sapphire eye. It's beautiful."

He looked at her in disbelief, feeling a twist in his stomach at the thought of her taking notice, of her thinking about him, his scar, the fact that he had no eye.

That he was a fucking cripple.

He wanted to see pity and sympathy in her face, something by which he could look down on her or walk away, but her face was gentle and content, her gaze warm.

She cocked her head and set her cup under an automaton, taking a few steps closer to him, his nostrils struck by her floral scent.

"Who made these for you?" She deepened her question, and he watched her alertly, coolly, wondering if he should tell her.

Did he even want to go into it.

He hadn't even told Alys about it, and she was a stranger to him.

"The Hightowers." He replied cautiously after a moment. The gaze of her bright eyes lifted to him again with curiosity, her dark lashes enveloping her irises like a fan.

She nodded and did not speak again, evidently thinking she had exhausted the subject. He stared at her with clenched lips, watching as her cup filled with water, the liquid beginning to colour into shades of tea.

She would be going in no time.

He will never speak to her again.

"The jewellery you were wearing at the show. Will it be possible to see it up close?" He asked dispassionately and she looked at him surprised. She nodded with a light, contented smile.

"Yes, of course. At our stand, they will be on display along with other works of my father and brother worn yesterday by me and my sisters." She said softly, and he blinked, wrinkling his brow.

Were the other models her sisters too?

They both picked up their mugs seeing that another person had stood down in line to make their coffee and moved aside. He looked down at her and only then was struck by the height difference between them.

She was so little.

So gentle.

It seemed to him that her skin must have been softer than velvet.

She looked up at him and smiled.

"See you later." She said lightly and he nodded almost invisibly.

She walked away towards the table where the rest of her family was already seated, and he swallowed loudly, only now feeling his throat dry up, his heart pounding like mad.

Their exchange had lasted less than three minutes and he was in a complete mess.

He returned to his table, Alys' gaze betraying that she had noticed their conversation.

"Are you being chatted up by little girls? I think she likes you." She said feigning indifference, the amusement in her voice on the edge of mockery from which he threw her a warning glance.

"What is your problem? Is menopause slowly getting to you?" He asked coolly and ironically – he didn't even have to look at her to notice how she froze.

Their age difference was the cause of her biggest complexes even though she pretended it didn't matter.

He saw how she chose her make-up to cover the wrinkles that were appearing, how she chose her dresses and outfits to make her breasts distract from her neck.

Whenever she frustrated him, whenever she crossed the line he had set for her, he showed her no mercy.

He knew she clung to him to make herself feel better, to have the satisfaction of keeping a young, rich, high-powered men with her to boast about.

She swallowed his words with difficulty, taking a bite of her sandwich, her cheeks red with rage and shame.

"I see she's carried you out of balance." She said inadvertently, and he set his cup down with a loud clack on the table, standing up, a cool displeasure mixed with a kind of disgust on his face.

"Send me my schedule to my email." He said and moved ahead without even turning around.

Stupid bitch.

Despite meeting clients and strolling around the stands with his grandfather, he kept looking around him nervously wondering if he would see her again.

Their conversation this morning had brought him out of his thoughts – he felt ashamed at the memory of not being able to get anything out of him, silent like a complete idiot.

When they reached their stand he was tense. He spotted her immediately – she was discussing something with some older woman showing her one of the rich ruby necklaces.

He thought he could reward her for how good and gentle she was, for the way she affected him, that when he looked at her he felt a tickling in his fingertips.

He thought he would love to visit her in her room and kneel between her thighs, see if she tasted there as sweet as she smiled.

He would drive her crazy just as she did him.

He didn't understand what was happening to him.

Why this desperation, this rush.

He stood with his hands folded behind his back looking at the showcases of rich, almost regal jewellery created with such detail that he had to consider them little works of art.

He glanced at her nervously, hearing her brother with whom she had danced the day before mention her and say something to her quickly. She answered him something and he nodded – he froze when he saw that she had moved towards him, the warmth and contentment on her face.

"Come with me." She said softly as she walked past him. His legs spontaneously moved behind her.

They entered a dark small room in the middle of which stood a large illuminated table, on which lay her pearl necklace, earrings, apart form that tiaras, rings and a few other things decorated with sapphires.

She prepared a whole display for him.

"I heard that you wanted to talk to my father. He sent me away to discuss the matter with you." She said with surprising lightness as she walked around the table, looking at its contents thoughtfully.

He looked at her from a distance disbelieving what he had heard.

Was he supposed to set possible business terms with her?

The girl looked at him apparently anticipating his answer, but seeing his reaction she laughed heartily.

"Believe me, you'd rather talk to me than my father." She said amused.

His gaze escaped to the table and for a moment he wondered if they would be very audible if he sat her on it, slipped her panties off and simply fucked her.

Would he have to press his mouth against her full, pink lips to silence her mewls as he stretched her tight, hot walls with his swollen cock again and again.

He grunted, wondering what was happening to him, how he could think about such things right now.

"We'll talk on my terms." He said cooler than he wanted it to sound. He lifted a look of tension to her and met her uncertain, surprised gaze.

She waited to see what he would say.

"Tonight at 7 p.m. You, me, wine and a hotel restaurant."

_____

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[ga-yuu]

Angels, Demons and Jewels of Love ~ THE NINE CURSED MARKS

Sneak Peak of the PROLOGUE ~ Introduction of MC

When someone gives a piece of jewellery to a loved one.

Both the recipient and the giver are blessed and glorified by those around them.

The road ahead for those two was sure to be full of light-----

MC: "Welcome. Please feel free to look around."

This is the jewellery department in the Lunaschente department store.

Jewellery, a symbol of happiness.

I am proud to be in the business of selling it.

(Giving a piece of jewellery to a loved one...)

(I hope one day I will have the opportunity to do so as well...)

Male customer: "Excuse me?"

While polishing a glass case at the counter, a couple approached me.

MC: "Yes. How can I help you?"

Female customer: "I want to buy a necklace, but I can't make up my mind...."

The couple, who are probably in their 20s is already wearing matching rings.

MC: "I'll be happy to recommend you some necklaces that would suit you both."

Female customer: "Wow. Thank you! ......Ah! Miss."

MC: "Yes?"

Female customer: "The brooch on your chest is so beautiful."

Female customer: "Is that a product here?"

MC: "Oh no no.....this one is my personal belonging."

Female customer: "Oh really!?"

After glancing at the brooch I always wear,

I turned to the couple and started showing our products with a smile.

(It was this 'brooch' that made me fall in love with jewellery itself)

This 'brooch' was brought from a jeweller in my grandparents' generation and passed on to my mother.

When I turned 20, my parents gave it to me as a birthday present.

(This 'brooch' has the power to make wishes come true)

(Is what my grandma used to say)

(I don't believe in such magic but....)

Still, I held onto it and always wore it as a lucky charm.

Female customer: "Ah! I love this one! The design and the colour of the gemstones are so beautiful."

Male customer: "If you like it, then let's buy that.....excuse me, Miss?"

(I believe that every piece of jewellery has the power to make people happy)

MC: "Thank you for your purchase."

MC: "I wish you both all the happiness in the world."

The couple who purchased the necklaces looked very happy from behind.

(The path you two are on must be filled with happiness...)

..........

On my way home.

(Today is late than usual)

I was walking down a somewhat unsafe road, which I would never normally choose.

(This road is darker than I thought, but it's a shortcut to get home faster)

While praying for nothing to go wrong, and fast-tracking my way, when I turned around the corner.

Thug: "Coming home from work? I've seen you somewhere. You're the woman from that department store, right?"

A man in dirty clothes, reeks of alcohol.

My path was blocked by the man with an unpleasant aura and I can't help but look away.

MC: "Please move..."

I unconsciously held my bag in my arms as if to protect myself and the man grinned.

Thug: "You have that nice brooch, right? How much is it?"

MC: "It's a gift from my parents....it's not for sale..."

Thug: "Really? Can I see it?"

MC: "Hey! Let go!"

As I was trying to shake off his tight grip.

Suddenly the thug in front of me was blown away by some force.

??? (Stephen): "........Tch, how unsightly."

(....Wha? W-What was that?)

A tall man emerges from the darkness and looked like he simply punched the guy.

MC: "T-Thank you very much...."

But my saviour takes one look at me and sighs.

??? (Stephen): ".....*sighs* He who has no desire to live in dark places..."

??? (Stephen): "Must not sneak into one."

His eyes seemed to say that I asked to be attacked.

He shooes me away and disappeared into the darkness, while dragging the thug with him.

(....At least, my brooch is safe)

Just in case, I took off my brooch and kept it my bag.

??? (Gabriel): ".....Hey you!"

I hear another voice and looked up to another strange man appearing before me.

??? (Gabriel): "I'm looking for a man. Have you seen anyone around here?"

??? (Gabriel): "Maybe a dirty drunkard, who doesn't seem to have anything to with noble-looking man like me."

MC: "Oh. I just saw another man taking him away. Just now, over there."

??? (Gabriel): "Hmmm...I see...."

When I pointed at the direction into the darkness, where the two of them disappeared, the 3rd man went into the darkness without giving me a second glance.

??? (Gabriel): "This country is still in such a dark place...."

The only words heard were grunts that were not directed at anyone.

(....Is he a police officer or something? He has a strangely scary atmosphere)

Some of the main streets in this country have developed spectacularly such as the department stores where I work.

But one step into the back alleys and one will find remnants of the 'darkness' of a previous era.

I decided to turn around to escape and take the well-lit road back.

I thought I'd made up my mind not to go near that alleyway again------

Sneak Peek of the PROLOGUE ~ The two mafia gang

The members of Sheol stood behind me and the members of Elysium stood in front of me.

Surrounded by the two mafia gang, I was panicking and had no way of escape.

(Is there nothing I can do right now.......?)

How should I protect the brooch in such a desperate situation?

Mikhail: "Hey boss, there's a report."

One of the Elysium members looked impatient and calls out to Mr. Gabriel.

Gabriel: "Hmm, okay..."

After nodding a several times, Mr. Gabriel then looks at me.

His usual mocking smile is slapped on his face.

Gabriel: "The brooch isn't in your room....."

Gabriel: "Which means, you have it with you right now. Am I correct?"

(.....You searched my house!?)

There was no words for how insolent it is.

(What should I do now....!? They'll find out soon.....)

Without paying attention to my shocked expression, Mr. Gabriel continued talking.

Gabriel: "From now on, Elysium will take custody of you."

Gabriel: "Oswal."

Oswal: "Yes. Come here, miss."

Mr. Gabriel gave orders while looking at me.

Then a man named Oswal approached me.

MC: "Don't come near me....!"

Stephen: ".....Is that what you call 'justice'? Searching civilians' houses?"

Gabriel: "It takes a lot of heavy-handedness to do the right thing, sometimes."

With me in between, the mafia bosses glared at each other.

Stephen: "I was on my way to get the jewel...."

Stephen: "But, shall we end this long-running feud now?"

Gabriel: "Haa....sure, why not? We're going to win anyways."

Stephen: "Keep saying that. I'll make you regret your words."

Gabriel: "Sure sure.....keep dreaming."

Mr. Gabriel also looked ready to fight Mr. Stephen's provocation.

Marcus: "Boss, I'm always ready to go!"

Berhard: ".....I let you get away with it earlier, but I'm going to get you this time."

Mikhail: "Where does your confidence come from, Berhard?"

Raphael: "You're so belligerent. I don't really care either way to be honest."

Oswal: "....Stephen had made it harder for us to get close to her."

The story starts progressing in a strange direction.

For them, this probably a normal thing.

(Everyone here is serious.....even if it means committing a murder)

(If that's the case, I will never give my precious brooch to them!)

(I will protect this brooch....!)

I tightly gripped the brooch inside my pocket, strongly wishing for it.

Suddenly, a strong light overflows from inside my pocket.

Stephen: "What the...!?"

Gabriel: "That light....Quick! Somebody take the brooch from her!"

At Gabriel's command, Oswal and the others extended their arms towards me.

Marcus: "That's ours...!"

Marcus and the other members of Sheol also reached out to me.

However, the light grew stronger and stronger, not only enveloping me but also my surroundings.

[kassandras-one-braincell]

ugh when is it my turn to have an irl kassandra i would do anything for her .

anyways what kinds of clothing styles, jobs, or just general day-to-day life (like their houses) do you think modern!kassie/eivor/soma would have?

Pssh, it's not like I've given this any extensive thought in the past or anything... That would be weird... Who would do that haha

I would let's go

Kassandra dresses like a dad who lost his passport in Tenerife on holiday and has been stuck cycling between the same 4 hawaiian shirts since three Tuesdays ago, but owns a few casual suits for work.

She's a historian and museum curator. Specialises in the history of weaponry, occasionally giving guest lectures on ancient swords at universities. Mention any type of weapon and she will not be able to stop herself from rambling about its evolution over the centuries.

Has a pottery wheel. You know that scene from Ghost (1990)? Yeah. Very reliable with the ladies.

Ikaros is her pet eagle, do not ask her how she manages to get him pet insurance because she may have lied about his species.

She has a vegetable garden (her pride and joy, this might as well be her child with how well she takes care of it) and a briki to make coffee with. Kassie always starts her day off with freshly brewed coffee the traditional Greek way, some bread and some fruit, which she always plates too much of because Ikaros likes to steal it.

She's a great cook.

Dozens of books on old weapons are dotted about her home and some (so many. so fucking many holy shit) model replicas because she's a fucking nerd.

You cannot turn a corner inside her home without seeing at least three family photos. Family includes Myrrine, Alexios, Barnabas, Herodotos, Markos, Alkibiades and Phoibe. Nikolaos is in prison for trying to yeet his stepchildren off a cliff.

Phoibe is her goddaughter who calls her "auntie" and Auntie Kass absolutely gives her the world.

━━━( ͡ಠ ͜ʖ ͡ಠ)━━━

Eivor serves lumberjack realness. Flannels, cargo pants, work jeans, yes she has a tool belt, yes she looks a damn treat in it. All she's missing is the hard hat and the protective visor. The axe is in her workshop.

She wears glasses. This isn't up for debate.

Tattoo artist by trade and has a degree in literature. Her love for poetry knows no bounds. She specialises in black and grey realism and her pieces are breathtaking.

Speaking of poetry, her colleagues bully her mercilessly for being a "big old sap". She has fancy paper to write her poems up on, and a wax sealing kit for handwritten letters. She's old fashioned like that.

Technology is a demon she would rather not trifle with. 100% complains about the need for there to be an app for everything, but she does appreciate video calls so she can see her people.

As a hobby, she pursues woodworking and blacksmithing, sometimes selling her creations. She'd make the engagement ring she proposes to you with herself

Dwolfg (or Chewy, or Mouse) Nali and Dandelion Puff are all beloved members of her household. The neighbours' kids named them all; sometimes she babysits Knud and Sylvi, and of course Eira has to tag along.

Her fridge is full of boring meal prep (you better wife her up and cook for her) but her pantry? Brimming with baking supplies. Ma'am loves to bake. Sure, she eats a lot of grrr protein big strong macro gym buzzword meals, but she loves bread and cake. Big muscles but she likes to eat, so she isn't lean, I'm gonna stop before this gets unreasonably gay

━━━( ͡ಠ ͜ʖ ͡ಠ)━━━

Soma, look, this is gonna be specific, but there's foundations for this in game (her metric fuck ton of rugs in the longhouse). She evidently likes fancy things. Her modern!AU occupation: owner and ceo of a sustainable luxury jewellery brand. Recycled metals, gemstones that are sourced/synthesised sustainably, everything is ethically manufactured and her employees are paid well.

She's from humble beginnings, so she does loads for charity and really enjoys quiet domesticated tasks.

Waistcoats and tie when she's attending businessy things, simple t-shirt or jumper and joggers when working from home. Outside, she wears a few rings that she designed.

Not a particularly great cook, but she's a mean pastry chef. She has a massive sweet tooth. Loves to start her mornings with a homemade croissant and a cappuccino.

There is a post-it note above her desk to reminder her to straighten her posture because she tends to sit like a fucking goblin.

Her home is pretty eclectic, which takes people by surprise given her organised manner. Lots of blankets strewn over the couch, lots of knickknacks she collected over the years, some sentimental ones from Lif and some ruder ones from Birna. A few sketchbooks are scattered about with designs for work.

She has a record player and an ungodly collection of country vinyls. It's okay. Nobody's perfect. It's what makes her human.

Also needs to wear glasses, but wears contacts usually because she insists the specs make her look "old", oblivious to the distant sounds of feral lesbian screaming whenever she puts them on.

[dropbear-sims]

Welcome to Mt. Cavaro! Pt. 1

This mountain plateau was once nothing but a small seasonal hunting town. Over the last 50 years however, developers took notice of the potential of this location and now, it is a bustling upcoming town. Families and sims have moved in droves to start business opportunities or to take advantage of those who are. Some however, are just enjoying the quiet scenic views and good people.

Simply explaining and showing the Community lots in each of my districts. Business, Entertainment & Residential. I will be showing the Families in Detail in Pt. 2

The Business District

Businesses:

Flast Luxury Dealership | The dealership for those who want to impress their neighbours. Fancy, reliable and with the Flast signature of quality. The Luxury Dealership is for those who only want the very best automotives.

'New You' Salon & Spa | The luxurious Salon & Spa on the edge of Byrn Street. Need a haircut? A new makeup look? A massage? Maybe you just want to spend some time relaxing in the sauna, It's here at the 'New You' Salon & Spa

Gemstone Gallery Jewellery | Need a gift for a lover? Want to buy yourself something nice? Gemstone Gallery has a wide selection of the top-quality jewellery, with options to fit any budget.

Great Times Party Supplies | Everything you need for your next big bash of a party! Weddings, birthdays or when the parents are out for the weekend!

Polar Caps Creamery | In need of a tasty cold treat on a hot day? Or a cold treat on a cold day? (We wont judge). Come down to Polar Caps to get a delicious gourmet icecream! Or serve yourself to a nice, overly processed soft serve!

Mt. Cavaro Real Estate | The main (and only) spot to purchase your new home in the lovely Mt. Cavaro. Owned by Mr. Rodney Flast, its where many suspect the majority of his fortune originated.

Mountain Rescue Pet Centre | A sanctuary for all pets in need of a loving home and Sims who need supplies for their furry friends! Opened and funded solely by Velma Aster.

Hobby Land | Muhammad and Siti Saad love their creative endeavours, and thought they should share that with the rest of Mt. Cavaro. There's a large variety of hobby items ready for purchase!

Health Plus Pharmacy | Dr. Sato's very own pharmacy that has everything you need for your ailments.

Flast Furniture | This massive warehouse holds every new and in-style piece of furniture you could ever want. Come take a stroll through our kitchen and bathroom sets, you'll leave wishing it was your home! Have a chat with our friendly staff and discuss possible home renovations.

Cavaro Family Grocery | A new development built by Ahan and Navya Bhatt, a massive gamble that paid off- its now the 'One Stop Shop' for all things your household needs regularly!… to the dismay of the local monopoly, Rodney Flast.

Speedway Motors | Ahan and Navya Bhatt's first dip into the world of business owning, buying an old rundown shed and turning it into a Car Dealership! It only has cheaper locomotives but they still run fine!… most of the time.

Spark Electronics | Need a Phone? Computer? Speaker? Spark Electronics has everything a Sim in need of a good electronic item!

'The Look' Clothing Superstore | The most popular department store for clothing in Mt. Cavaro! So popular it's run all of the small indie boutiques and rival brands out of town. I guess having great prices and a wide selection does that!

Reel N' Sons Fish Market | For the past 20 years the Reel family have been catching and selling their fresh fish here every Sunday.

Cavaro Natural Arrangements | A small shutdown florist that has been recently revamped by Velma Aster, her once buried love for plants and flowers reignited.

Bub N' Co Children's Superstore | The absolute hub for all essential baby, toddler and children's items. Everything you could need is right here!

Misc:

Community Lots that aren't a business inside the business district:

Cavaro Community Centre | The newly renovated community centre is now open! The once old and dingy town library is stocked with new books, a new computer lab has been opened and with government funding, the employment office has been revamped. All with a new cafeteria on the second floor!

Fit & Fast | Fit & Fast is the best spot to get your workout on! There's a wide variety of machines and amenities.

Cavaro Garden & Parklands | This quaint little park has a community garden run by the local gardening association, if you ever want to grab some delicious fresh veggies and fruit it's all completely free! Too the side theres also a quaint wedding area, the perfect setting to say 'I do'.

The Entertainment District

Activities:

The Colosseum Casino | Feeling lucky? The Colleseum Casino is for both the casual evening and the (habitual) high rollers, try a game of cards, or perhaps the slots?

Cavaro Performance Lounge | Think you've got the guts to go on stage? This cozy lounge is for anyone who wants to watch or be a local talent! No need to bring your own equipment, the lounge is already stocked with all instruments and microphones!

Valley Fine Dining | The Valley is newly revamped! Don't worry however, we still keep our 5 star rating for quality, cuisine and service! The dining spot for sims with cash to spare! I downloaded this lot from:

I changed quite a bit about this lot to make it fit the vibe and aesthetic of my hood, but this is a great remodel!

Cavaro National Museum | Have a love for history? Want a day out activity? The National Museum is full of historic relics from the past. Current open exhibits: Ancient Sculptures & Fossils

Cavaro National Gallery | An Extension of the National Museum, this location has Art Pieces from all over the globe, featuring some of the best and upcoming artists of the past 5 years!

Bowling Time! | Who doesn't love a game of bowling? This colourful alley is great for a night out or afterschool activity! Competitions each Sunday!

Boxing Roo | Go the Roos! Go the Roos! Want to have a drink, watch the game and show your sporting pride? Boxing Roo is a cozy little bar for all sport lovers!

Cavaro Community Pool | For all those hot summer days or practicing for that big competition coming up. Free entry on weekends and toddler swimming lessons available all week.

In Motion Dance Studio | Dance lessons on wednesday and thursday from 5pm. Recruitments for the dance troop on Saturday 10am. The best spot to practice or perfect your next routine.

Game On! Internet Cafe | Internet being shoddy? Want to group up with some friends, drink some coffee, eat snacks and play your favourite games? This is the place! PC's loaded with SSX3, The Sims: Bustin Out, FIFA 08 and Spore!

Film House Cinema | Watch the biggest current blockbusters on the big screen! Help yourself to the concessions (for a horribly expensive price) and relax in the comfy new recliner seats!

8-bit Arcade | Nerd sims unite! The best spot to play games until your curfew, all new arcade and pinball machines have been installed, all machines set to 1 simoleon!

District Basketball Court | The best spot to shoot some hoops and vs your friends.

The Hare's Foot | I wouldn't exactly call the Hare's Foot the fanciest (or cleanest) Bar in town. Happy hour is 8pm! Also… make sure to wipe down the photobooth seats before sitting.

Lil' Putter Minigolf | Wanna Impress 'The Boss'? Wanna 'impress' your friends? 6 Holes included each with their own theme and decor!

The Drip - Retro Beanclub | Are you an absolute coffee snob? An alternative music snob? Well The Drip is for 'real fans', no normies allowed! Now selling our own Beans!

Svensson Homestyle Bistro | Opened by Lars Svensson, this bistro is for all those casual nights out with the family or a modest meal with the one you love. Featuring homely recipes you'll remember without having ever tasted! 'Homestyle' is in the name!

The Rhythm - Disco Skating | The Rhytm is the best spot for a nice family activity, or a cute date idea. Listen to the 70's disco and skate away! New Skaters welcome aswell, classes each tuesday!

The Pink Flamingo | The Pink Flamingo is the hottest spot in Mt. Cavaro, new music, good drinks and open pretty much 24/7. If you want to dance and drink the night (or day) away, the pink flamingo is your spot.

Sky High Park | A VERY normal park… for very unsuspicious bubble blowing- Nothing else, juuuust "bubble blowing".

School of Art Creative Studio | Want to practice your creative skills with a bunch of like-minded sims? The SOA Creative Studio is the spot to be, there are pottery, music and painting classes!

Lasting Connections Courthouse | If the weather isn't on your side, or you just want an indoor wedding: the Lasting Connections Courthouse will be your first choice. Stocked with everything you need to throw an awesome wedding party.

Misc:

Community lots that aren't entertainment/activities in the Entertainment District:

Empty Lot | Simply an Empty lot I have no idea what to fill with, will put in something when I get an idea.

The Residential District

Cavaro Residential Sports Oval | Soccer games each Friday at 5pm! Ages 6+ teams available!

Lil' Ones Family Playground | Simply a small playground for children.

Misc Lots

(Lots that are not in any district)

Mt. Cavaro Fishing Club | The Mt. Cavaro Fishing Club has been around since this place was simply a small hunting town. There's also a cozy little campsite if you want to spend the night outdoors! Or a cabin if you do not.

'The Tip' | Simply the garbage tip for all of Cavaro. No trespassing!.. Unless you're good at tresspassing. (Who knows, there might be some good stuff to scavenge).

(I dont know why the ground is pink, it is normal grass lol)

Cavaro Memorial Cemetary | A place to remember the Sims of the past. You may not want to visit after dark, there have been rumors of people seeing the sims who should've been long gone. I downloaded this lot from:

I changed a few things, such as swapping out the trees and adding more pavement.

Apologies for not taking Screenshots of the exterior/Interior of each lot, I didn't want to bog down this post TO much (Even though I believe its already pretty beefy. I simply wanted to share what community lots are in my hood. I will be playing this town rotationally and posting what happens, if that interests you I'd love for you to follow this blog and join me on this journey :)

[siennaditbot]

I've seen others share their Sonic AU and headcanon stuff so I thought I could share mine!

It's kind of a career focused thing, everyone has a job cuz they need money now. It's kind of in the IDW continuity but has AU stuff and other Sonic comic characters. The location is Seaside City from IDW, and everyone is a bit older than in the canon.

Team Chaotix has a café. Vector owns it, Espio is the assistant manager, and Charmy, Mighty and Ray work there part-time (my oc, Slushie, works there as well, for self indulgent fluff and shipping with Espio :3)

Vector and Vanilla are married and laid the groundwork for the café together before Vector found the staff members and randomly picked them off the streets. He plays the piano at the café

Espio isn't a ninja but does come from a family that's big on judo. Likes to paint in his free time (maybe also play the shamisen or koto, idk)

Mighty works as a personal trainer and does gym videos. Gym buds with Knuckles

Ray does "MeTube", both parkour and gaming videos

Charmy helps Silver with gardening around the city. He might not be adopted by Vector but he sees Cream as his sister and the guys as his brothers

Silver is the local gardener, keeps the city plants looking fresh and tidy (shipping with another oc)

Sonic is a really popular MeTuber (imagine MrBeast), he travels around the world, helps others while making fun and entertaining content. He takes Mighty and Ray along sometimes

Shadow owns a clothing store called 'Maria's'. He does the paperwork and keeps it running for the others (Amy, Honey, Blaze and Omega)

Amy works at Maria's, sews and sells the clothes. A casual writer outside work? (Unofficially a thing with Shadow?)

Honey has her own line that Shadow is willing to have and sell at the store. She comes and goes as she pleases

Blaze is the store's model, but also helps make and sell them

Zero (Infinite) is Shadow's competitive neighbour, creator of the 'Jackal Squad' brand (expensive but plain), has a crush on Blaze lol

Omega is an old campus robot (created by Robotnik) who wanted more from life. Shadow gave him a job, he's basically a living sewing machine lol. (Needles can be used in a threatening way, though)

Robotnik (Eggman) teaches robotics etc at a local university, students love him. Basically Mr Tinker from IDW

Metal Sonic is another campus robot who's willing to stay with his creator and help him. Based on the famous MeTuber

Tails is an intern studying under Robotnik at the university

Cosmo is most likely going to appear just for some Tailsmo fluff, not sure yet

Rouge has a jewellery store (and is married to Knuckles?)

Knuckles is a guard at Rouge's store. His calling is guarding gemstones lol

Big is still himself, just fishing

Cream works at a daycare with the other oc, Briar

Bean, Nack/Fang, Bark, Sally, Bunnie, Antoine, Rotor and maybe others are the kids at the daycare

Not everyone has appeared yet but at least these peeps are gonna be in the fic. I'm also kinda working on a comic of it but gotta rework some of it.

It's most likely gonna be a series on AO3, rn I only have a ship-heavy fic of Espio and Slushie going. Probably gonna write about what the others are doing soon.

Anyway, here's the link if anyone wants to read some Slushie x Espio (Sluspio) fluff lol:

[daughter-of-mamuna]

After long time of not really seeing my mother (her work, and my parents trips) I enter my parents house. My mom sees my nacklace - the one with wolves and raven skull - and goes "well, are you wearing this style?" And I go "well, yeah. I did it from upcycling two bracelets." And her reply just kinda shocked me since it was: "well, we make a lot of trips close to a historical reconstruction site of Vikings. They sell quite a lot of this style jewellery there. Maybe we can bring you some next time?" Me, looking quite astonished "Well, you don't have to. I would really appreciate it if you did but there is no need".

Me looking all the gemstone jewellery I am wearing in my head: they often have real minerals and gemstones on those sites. And if they decide to get something one day, that piece would be dedicated to Cernunnos. No other way around it.

[laeorinel]

FFXIV Write 2023 - day 6 - Ring

Shameless fluff

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

By the Twelve, was he really doing this? Was he, Thancred Waters, wooer of women the world over, really looking at eternity rings? 

Laid over in Kugane for the evening after a fierce storm out at sea suspended most of the day's sailings, he found himself idly wandering the markets. After a while, he was drawn towards one of the stores selling jewellery of various kinds and designs. While most were of Eastern designs, he noticed a few stylings typical of Ul'dahn crafters. At first, it was just an idle fancy, his eyes drawn to the glimmering gemstones and shining metals; old habits from his youth were hard to shake even after all these years, but his attention kept returning to the rings. 

It was not the first time his attention had been drawn to rings in recent months. He didn't quite know when it started. He was used to wandering around the markets of various lands. They were among the best places to pick up rumours and other interesting information. Not to mention, it was easy to blend in among the teeming crowds. Usually, he would only pay attention to what wares were being sold if he needed to find something in particular, which was admittedly rare. He tried to be as self-sufficient as possible when travelling around and carry as little on him as needed. Non-essential purchases were very rare. Jewellery? Even less so. What coin he had would be better put elsewhere. 

Then again, if he were to purchase a ring, it would not be for himself alone...

Maybe that was the reason. It had been many months since Thancred had last seen Samara. They each had their own tasks to keep themselves busy, but it didn't make the ache of longing any easier to deal with. What sparse contact they had with each other helped but was nowhere near enough. Whereas in the past, he would be content to wander the world alone or with very select people, these days, he just wanted to wander it with her. 

Wrapped up in his thoughts, he failed to notice until much too late for his liking that Urianger had walked up beside him. 

"Once again, I find thee perusing the markets. One would think thee would hath found a ring to thine liking by now."

Thancred did his best not to react, trying to sound completely clueless as he still glanced over the rings. "I have no idea what you are talking about. Better to act like the crowd than stand out like a sore thumb standing on the corner like a certain someone."

Urianger let out a faint chuckle. "You are not so subtle that you can hide your intentions from I, my friend. Were this a one-off occurrence, I would believe your words, yet I remember you perusing the markets in Limsa Lominsa, Thavnair, Doma...I recall you even cast a glance at the stalls when we were last in Sharlayan after meeting with a certain paramour."

With a roll of his eyes, Thancred moved away from the stall, his hands in his pockets as he returned down the path towards the docks. Urianger followed after him, the pair remaining quiet as they made their way through the crowd. The elezen, however, could not ignore the look on his friend's face. It had been some time since he had seen him look quite so uncertain. 

"What troubles you so, Thancred? What thou art undertaking is something joyous, is it not?" Urianger asked as the pair stopped by the docks. 

Thancred leaned heavily against the railing overlooking the ruby sea as he carefully chose his words. He sighed deeply, lifting a hand to pinch the bridge of his nose. "If your assumptions about my intentions are correct...I have no idea how things like this are done among her people. Exchanging of rings is a largely Eorzean tradition, no? Would she understand the meaning of it? Or see it as me giving her a rather impractical gift given our work?" 

Crossing his arms, Urianger could not stop himself from shaking his head. "While I can understand thine concerns, our dear friend is neither a staunch traditionalist nor connected to her people's culture any more than our own. She is a nomad like the rest of her kin, yet her own customs and traditions shift and change as much as the seasons."

"Then what if...what if she says no?" Thancred sounded so quiet and uncertain—a shadow of the normal silver-tongued rogue who was rarely lost for words. 

"If I may speak plainly?" Urianger asked before Thancred gave a faint shrug of his shoulders. 

"The Steppe has not been her home in many moons. Her home is among those she cares deeply for, and there is none in this world she cares for more than thee."

Urianger rested a hand on his friend's shoulder. "She would see this token as it is intended. A promise betwixt two souls." As he let the words set in, he took a pouch of coins from his travel bag, a hefty one, before placing it down in front of Thancred on the railing.   

Thancred raised an eyebrow at the pouch, quickly picking it up and putting it away in one of his many pockets; he knew a bunch of street urchins were lurking in the docks, watching for easy marks. He stared at Urianger, clearly expecting an explanation. "A gift. From all of the Scions."

"I don't follow?"

"Is it not plain for you to see? We wish for you and Samara to be happy. Yet we are also well aware neither of you will willingly spend coin on yourselves for items you deem unnecessary. Is the cost of the rings not part of the reason you keep hesitating? Your heart is already decided, is it not?" Thancred opened and closed his mouth a few times, for once genuinely speechless. 

Thancred pinched the bridge of his nose again, trying to centre himself and stop the sudden swell of emotion he felt. "Maybe you are getting better with subterfuge to keep all this hidden from me...or maybe I am just getting old..." 

"I did have a good teacher. Regardless, tis our wish that you use this coin to start upon a new path for the both of you. I will leave it to you to decide what to do with it." With one last faint smile, Urianger bowed deeply before moving to walk away. 

As soon as the elezen was out of earshot, Thancred released the breath he had been holding, "Thank you...all of you." Though none of his companions were here beside him, he hoped the currents of the Ruby Sea would carry his thoughts to them. After a few moments of gathering himself, Thancred turned back towards the market district. He had a ring to get, after all. 

[just-here-with-my-thoughts]

Yay for spodumene! Spodumene varieties are lesser known in the gem trade than many of the more famous gem species (I admit I'd never seen it before studying my diploma) and kunzite and hiddenite are probably the most desirable.

(@theproblemwithstardust I know you probably know more about this than me but here's the breakdown for anyone who is interested...) Oh but also below a keep-reading because I also rambled ^^;

pure spodumene without any impurities is clear Many gemstones would be colourless if they were completely chemically pure. Their colour comes from trace amounts of other chemical elements which are not intrinsic to the chemical crystal structure of the mineral itself - these are called allochromatic or 'other-coloured' gems!

For example, pure corundum (aluminium oxide) is colourless (we'd call it white sapphire! If it contains traces of iron and titanium this colours it blue, and we call it sapphire. If it has impurities of chromium it is coloured red, and we call it ruby!

Gemstones where the colour is caused by an element intrinsic to the crystal structure are called idiochromatic or 'self-coloured'. Examples include peridot (magnesium iron silicate) and pyrope-almandine garnet (iron aluminium silicate)

pink/purple gem varieties [of spodumene] are called kunzite and the color is caused by trace amounts of Mn Manganese as a colouring element in gemstones often produces a pink to orange colour palette depending on the surrounding crystal environment. It causes the pink of spodumene var. kunzite and beryl var. morganite as an impurity (allochromatic gems), and the orange of spessartine garnet and pink of rhodonite and rhodochrosite as an intrinsic chemical element (idiochromatic gems)

the color is very prone to fading in uv light A great tip for any pink or light purple stones is to keep them away from strong light! Their colour can fade from prolonged exposure to ultraviolet radiation, and you wouldn't want to spoil your beautiful gem collection - so tidy your jewellery away nicely and maybe stop keeping your rose quartz crystals on the windowsill in full sun :')

Fun fact I did my own experiment with zircon based on a paper I'd read about reversing the colour degredation caused by UV exposure. I was so excited I forgot to take before and after photos! The great news is (in zircon at least) you can reverse the colour change by exposing the stone to incandescent light (which is typically accompanied by infra-red radiation - ie/ the kind of light bulb that emits heat!) But I'm getting distracted from spodumene...

The dark green variety is hiddenite, NOT kunzite like it is labeled here and the color is due to trace amounts of Cr and possibly V My memory hack for learning this gem variety was that hiddensite is like Hiddleston like Tom Hiddleston who wore green as Loki in the Marvel films :P So yes the chromium-coloured green variety of spodumene is called hiddenite!

Many lesser known gem colour varieties get referred to as 'colour famous-cousin' for ease of explanation - it's not gemmologically correct but it often happens particularly when it comes to trying to sell these things! Lots of people wouldn't know prasiolite, but they can imagine what you mean when you say 'green amethyst'.

That said, there are times it is correct to do this! Sapphire occurs in every colour except red (because if it's red, we call it ruby), but any other colour is referred to as 'colour sapphire'. So it is correct to say pink sapphire, yellow sapphire, purple sapphire! If you just say 'sapphire' we assume you mean blue :)

the pale green/yellow gem variety of spodumene [is] called triphane Oh exciting! I didn't know this! ^_^

Not spod related but we also learned in mineralogy that bixbite is an outdated term since it’s so close to bixbyite. we just call it ‘red beryl’ but I’m not sure what it is like in the gem world!) The proper way to refer to it would be beryl var. red beryl, but if you said bixbite we'd still know what you meant! :) This is also a gem which would be misnomered as 'red emerald'...

Naturally occuring red beryl is very rare, and typically occurs in small sizes not suitable for faceting as gemstones. That said, these things can be created synthetically and synthetic hydrothemal red beryl is another stone which shows FAB orange/pink pleochroism!

ps. I think a lot of the pictures in the original post are colour enhanced, it's a fun guide but maybe go speak to your friendly neighbourhood gemmologist if you want to know if they're actually representing the colour correctly!

By LabradoriteKing on Pinterest

[heritage-kl]

How Can Exploring a Jewellery Shop in Kuala Lumpur Connect You to Malaysia’s Artistic Legacy?

A Journey Through Heritage Jewellery in Kuala Lumpur

Once upon a time in the bustling heart of Kuala Lumpur, where modern skyscrapers brushed the clouds, there existed a world steeped in rich tradition and artistry—the enchanting realm of heritage jewellery.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a golden hue over the city, a curious traveler named Maya found herself wandering through the vibrant streets. She had heard whispers of a magical place, a jewellery shop in Malaysia known for its exquisite craftsmanship and stories woven into each piece. Intrigued, she followed the glow of shopfronts until she arrived at an inviting boutique, the sign above it gleaming like a treasure chest waiting to be opened.

Inside, Maya was captivated by the array of stunning ornaments, each one more beautiful than the last. The shopkeeper, an elderly artisan with hands that told tales of their own, welcomed her with a warm smile. “Welcome to the best jewellery shop in Malaysia,” he said, his voice rich with pride. “Here, we don’t just sell jewellery; we preserve our heritage.”

As she moved from display to display, Maya marveled at the intricate designs, each piece echoing the diverse cultures that shaped Malaysia’s history. There were delicate gold bangles reminiscent of ancient traditions and intricately carved silver pendants that whispered stories of love and legacy. It felt as though the very essence of the country was captured in these creations.

“What about the gemstones in Kuala Lumpur?” Maya asked, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. The artisan gestured to a beautiful showcase filled with vibrant sapphires, emeralds, and rubies. “Ah, the gemstones in Kuala Lumpur,” he replied. “They are the heart of our craftsmanship. Each gem has a story, a journey before it finds a home in our jewellery.”

As Maya listened, she learned that many of these gemstones had traveled from distant lands, handpicked for their beauty and significance. She felt a deep connection to the artistry around her, realizing that every piece she touched was not just an accessory but a piece of history waiting to be cherished.

Inspired, Maya chose a stunning emerald pendant that caught her eye—a symbol of hope and renewal. As she made her purchase, the artisan carefully wrapped the pendant, imparting a final piece of wisdom: “Remember, my dear, this is not just a jewel. It carries the spirit of our heritage with it.”

Leaving the shop, the pendant nestled safely in her bag, Maya stepped back into the vibrant streets of Kuala Lumpur, her heart full of stories and traditions. She knew she would return, not just for the jewellery but for the connections and memories woven into every piece.

And so, her journey through the world of heritage jewellery in Kuala Lumpur continued, a tale that intertwined her own story with the rich tapestry of Malaysia’s artistic legacy. Each visit to this jewellery shop in Kuala Lumpur was not just about adornments but a celebration of culture and craftsmanship that would forever remain close to her heart.

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YOU TASTE THE SILVER - IvanTill WIP (Part 2)

Part two of the streamer/sugar daddy AU! This is Ivan's POV, and we get to see a little more of Till's chat. For reasons unknown I ended up coming with a little backstory info on all of Till's regular chatters.

part one

Ivan has a day off, finally, and normally he wouldn't be awake at this time on his day off.

But today is also a Till Streaming Day (capital letters required), so he's awake and drinking coffee his assistant bought him, Till's waiting screen mirrored into his TV as he reads over his newest script. Of course, the moment Till's face comes into view, Ivan gives up any pretence of working.

"Hey, everyone." He says, waving to the camera. Ivan checks the chat on his phone, something warm in his chest as greetings pour in. Is it a little ridiculous that he's proud of someone who doesn't know he exists? Probably, but Ivan was one of the first 100 subscribers, he's allowed to feel proud of the hundreds of viewers actively chatting.

Till does his usual routine, greeting viewers and talking about his day, no fake enthusiasm or playing into the chat's taste; he talks as if they're all friends, as if there's no need to pamper his viewers.

He talks about how he ate a very weird coconut muffin for breakfast, about how his brother is home today and made a frappuccino for them both, comments on a few viewers' chatter.

Finally, he claps his hands, as if he needs to call attention back to him.

"So, today I'm going to unbox everything you guys sent for my PO box. There was so much! Thank you. It's closed for now, but I'll probably do this again someday, if you guys want me to." He looks off to the side, rolling his eyes at someone else. Ivan barely has the time to get curious and jealous before he looks back at the camera. "My brother wanted to make sure everything was safe to show on stream, and that all the snacks were safe to keep out of the fridge, so he already checked everything. I've no idea what it is, though."

The chat seems to have no problem with it, the majority of it talking about how thoughtful he is, how they want a brother like that. Ivan quickly reports the members being bitchy with a few clicks before the realization hits that Till's brother saw his package.

That is quickly followed by the realization that Till is not using his usual double auricle studs. No, today he has on two simple hoops, shining new and silver.

He has Ivan's gift on.

Ivan may be having a heart attack.

(Truth be told, he'd almost forgotten he bought those. He was listening to Till's stream as he strolled a mall in Switzerland, on break from filming, and Till commented he wished he could switch his piercings, since they were so old. He didn't comment on what he wanted, instead helping a viewer decide between a helix or a spider bites.

Ivan took a detour from his clothes shopping, spent far too long looking at the selection on the jewellery store, and picked the prettiest ones he could find before heading back to his hotel room and collapsing for four hours before filming began at 5am the other day.

He only remembered them a month later, when Till said he'd be opening his PO box. He didn't have piercings, his agency would kill him, so he might as well send them along.)

He hadn't thought Till would actually use them, was the thing. Maybe he'd sell them, make some money off the diamonds. But now Ivan wanted to see Till with all of them, the delicate diamonds shining in a darkened room, the halo of Till's hair reflecting light just as well as the gemstones would.

He watched in a daze as Till opened the packages, thanking viewers and commenting how the items could fit on his set-up, his brother's hand occasionally appearing in-frame to hand over a box or examine something closer.

Ivan almost had his heartbeat under control, back to leaning against his couch, when Till's brother pushed forward a big box. A big box with Ivan's handwriting.

Oh, god.

"And this is from… Navi!" Till says, and if Ivan can trick himself into thinking it's a blush on his face, that's his business. He chanced a glance at the chat.

KIRBY ✔️: of course the big box is from navi. MIZI'S BOOT: look it's the oil tycoon!! TillStepOnMe: OMG WHAT'S ON THAT jiejiehere: ooh rich noona strikes again fiieldofroses: girl are you insisting navi's a girl jiejieshere: no self-respecting boy would send that much money to a male streamer, obvs shes using hyung to deflect KIRBY ✔️: girlie don't make me click this ban button for homophobia

Ivan shakes his head, smiling a little as the chat bickers on. He doesn't really care what people say about him, but he appreciates Kirby's quickly shutting it down. Ivan has no time to be a mod, but Kirby reached out to him in private to reassure Ivan can talk in chat without donations, and that they'd "cut a bitch" if they made Ivan uncomfortable.

NAVI (TILL'S ATM) DONATED $100: Hope you enjoy it, hyung!

On-screen, Till shakes his head. "Navi, you know you don't need to send me anything, right? Thank you, I'm sure I'll like it." He says, apparently absent-mindedly touching the two hoops. Ivan feels butterflies on his stomach. His brother probably took the earrings out of the box so Till could see it in private, which makes Ivan… grateful. He hadn't even thought about the pressure Till would feel to thank him live for such an expensive gift.

Till opens the box, and the first thing out is a series of snacks Ivan collected from all over the world as he travelled for his newest movie. Till makes really, incredibly cute 'ooh' noises, piling them all on his lap.

"Wow, Navi, that's a lot of food. We also got some from other people, do you guys think I should do a mukbang next live?" He asks, tilting his head at the camera.

If Ivan has to watch Till eat for a whole live he thinks he's going to die.

NAVI (TILL'S ATM) DONATED $25: Hyung, you should eat them all on stream and rate them!

KIRBY ✔️: navi buddy that's a great idea sirenren ✔️: ooh mukbang!! do one with fried chicken!! LUKAmysavior: till when are you posting another cover

"Alright, then I'll save them for next live." He grins to the side, and Ivan's heart is about to beat out of his chest, Till looks so good grinning. "Then we can invite my brother's boyfriend and they can help me eat it all."

jiejieshere: oh ew is he gay???? KIRBY ✔️: GIRLIE YOU'RE TESTING ME hyunhyun-ssi: ban 'em kirbs woonie: ooh that's nice!! more people on a mukbang makes it a lot better! bonbon ✔️: sharing food always gives me a good feeling! can't wait for the mukbang! KIRBY ✔️: banned ;)

"Let's see what else is here." He says, rummaging on the box until he comes up with a folded piece of cloth. Till shakes it out, showing off a white pullover sweater. Ivan knows by experience it's very, very soft, and knitted by hand, because he bought it himself. Selfishly, he measured it so it would be more or less his size, in the feeble hope Till would put it on and Ivan could at least have a good idea of what Till would look like with Ivan's clothes.

"Oh wow, this is soft…" He says, wonderingly, running one hand over it.

KIRBY ✔️: do you guys think navi will die if till puts it on woonie: LMAO RIP fiieldofroses: till put it on! bonbon ✔️: Oh that looks knitted! Is it custom? bulletcase: oppa is always cold, that's thoughtful!

"Let's see how it looks." Till says, and pulls off his usual jacket to pull the sweater over his head. Ivan feels his soul leaving his body. "Oh, it feels good." He says, standing up to adjust it.

The sweater isn't big enough that it would give off any sorts of 'boyfriend's clothes' vibes, but Till's shoulders are narrower than Ivan's, and the collar is a little too big, sliding to the side to expose his t-shirt.

Ivan picks his phone on autopilot.

NAVI (TILL'S ATM) DONATED $50: hyung looks good

KIRBY ✔️: LMAO NAVI YOU GOOD? hyunhyun-ssi: GOODBYE NAVI'S GRAMMAR fiieldofroses: till looks so cute <3

Till smiles at the camera, rubbing his fingers over the sweater over and over again. "This is really soft, thank you Navi!"

Ivan's possibly losing his mind.

"Okay, let's see what else is there." He says, sitting back down to pull the last thing from the box; a custom neon sign with Till's channel name, custom-made so it changes colors. Till thanks him again, smiling excitedly about it, and keeps the sweater on for the rest of the stream.

Ivan doesn't send anything else, fixated on how good Till looks, on how happy he is, on how much Ivan wants to make him happier.

The stream goes on for 6 hours, Till opening every package and reading every letter, and even starting to move some things into his setup. The first decoration he puts up is Ivan's neon sign. Ivan has to contain himself from buying a new keyboard when Till shows off his computer and comments how he wishes he'd gotten one with RBGs in it.

He goes to bed that night on cloud nine, warm and relaxed and content.

(He also jerks off into a white sweater he has. It's not the same thing, but he does picture Till beneath him, diamond piercings shining on the moonlight, silver hair a halo around his head.

God, Ivan is so pathetic.)

part three

[armilauk]

Check out my profile on Wattpad, I'm beryll66 https://www.wattpad.com/beryll66?utm_source=web&utm_medium=tumblr&utm_content=share_profile I an online Armila Gift Shop owner. We sell products in categories like gemstone jewellery, handmade gemstone bracelets, home decor to a kitchen, living room or bedroom. We offer plenty of bathroom accessories and natural cosmetics for body care. You can find in this gift shop esoteric gift ideas f...