The boy who cried jewels {Scout}

Gold is simply another visual enigma. It shines with the warm of sun rays and the long awaited embrace of a lover. But, when it sits in the skin it is as cold as dull steel. It was altogether pleasant and otherwise. Peregrine had observed that people enjoyed enigmas; thus, business was still booming.

He also observed, however, that the cool metal was warm in his hands. Perhaps his mother was right. She always told him that he had a frozen darkness in his heart. He agreed; so what was a drop of rain of a glacier? She would weep as if she had lost a son to some evil. He smiled, whispering that he was always this.

And how bad could it be?

He was colder than gold, harder than diamonds.

“Can you display me the best from all of these jewels in this shop?”

If he was more inclined to smile, he would’ve at the remark. The young man’s eyes betrayed his confident tone. They were beautiful - his eyes - but they whispered the truth. He was lost.

Lost, but a masterpiece.

“The diamonds are in the back,” Peregrine’s monotonous hum declared. “Follow me, sir.”

Peregrine conveniently had his back turned when the customer’s soft-spoken demand settled on his ears. “There better be striking ones…” He rolled his eyes before turning back again. When he met the boy’s gaze the corners of his lips curled up; not into a smile, but a mask of a thriving capitalist.

“Of course, sir.” Though he tried to add colour into his simple tone, his words seemed as dark as the days of rebellion over seventy years prior. “We only source the best stone here. Even better than certain lower-end Capitol stores, or so I’m told.”

Did it sound like a lie?

He wondered, is a lie still a lie when it wasn’t originally formed by your own lips? In truth, he had heard that the diamonds in his rough palms were clearer than many in the city, but as to whether it was true… He doubted it.

But, sales are sales.

Few of his customers would ever have the chance to examine a true Capitol jewel. This one’s odds were the same as the others’.

Peregrine turned the key and the door to the glass cabinet slid open. His hand hovered over one selection, then as he spoke, he caressed them and moved his gesture to another.

“These are our highest grade clear diamonds.” He declared. Noticing the customer’s glance, which lingered between intrigue and confusion, he reconsidered his choice. “Perhaps something more extravagant. Perhaps a black diamond would interest you more?”