Harlo's Jewelers was tucked away on Cedar Avenue, an offshoot of 7th Street that saw little motor traffic but was popular with pedestrians. Harlo Politsky was the sole proprietor and jeweler, though his wife often helped him man the counter and handle orders. Sherri had a better sense of organization and monetary skill, allowing Harlo to simply focus on his craft. Mrs. Politsky had taken the afternoon off in order to go run some errands that culminated in a wondrously relaxing facial from her favorite spa, leaving Harlo to sit behind the largest glass display case and fiddle with a new pendant design he was sketching up.<br/><br/>His large head lifted as two young men entered the shop, a dark haired man with a scruffy face and a hard stare followed closely by a small blonde with an exasperated look marring his handsome features. Beneath a mound of silver whiskers, Harlo smiled. He had seen both expressions more times than he could possibly count. It wasn't uncommon for the more standard jewelers around town to send him their more discerning customers; individuals who didn't know what precisely they were looking for but knew it wasn't gold or diamonds. He kept his focus on his sketching and allowed the two men to wander silently for a moment, taking in the atypical pieces and admiring Harlo's unique design choices.<br/><br/>After about five minutes of tense investigation, the dark haired man had found himself in front of a small display of rings protected by a glass case. Harlo couldn't help but watch as the young man glared intensely at the display, his brows knit together as he contemplated. “Those are just examples of what I offer,” Harlo explained, lifting himself up from his stool and slowly making his way over to where his potential customer stood. The silver haired Harlo had a significant limp, though it did not seem to deter him all that much as he weaved behind the displays. “Each ring is custom made. While I do use usual precious metals such as silver and gold like standard jewelers, I also dabble in a variety of unique materials.”<br/><br/>Harlo pulled out a small key ring, isolating a jagged bronze colored key and unlocking the display case from behind. He carefully pulled out an unusual ring, holding it out so his client could get a closer look. “This one has a band made from 14k yellow gold with a meteorite overlay. That's what gives it that unique silvery texture. This one here,” he continued, pulling out another ring as the first was returned to its setting, “has a titanium sleeve with three separate bands: deer antler, meteorite, and animal bone.” His eyes scanned the dark male's face, hoping to catch some sign of interest but only seeing that same hard glare. “I believe utilizing unusual natural materials gives jewelry a unique look, far more special than your typical gemstones. While I do incorporate gems—this here's a black diamond,” he added, showing off another ring, “I strive to ensure each ring is distinct, one of a kind.”<br/><br/>The severity of the male's face didn't seem to lessen as Harlo continued to speak of the jewelry. Decades in the business had given him his fair share of tough customers, but he could sense the man wasn't here on a whim. He chuckled to himself, pulling another stool from the wall behind him so he could relax his bad leg and rest his hands on his protruding belly. “I've been doing this a long time. I've seen a lot of people come through my door, and none of 'em have looked as hard as you, sir. Excuse me for presuming, but I get the feeling you're buying this for someone special? Why don't you tell me about them? I can make you whatever you like, but I think knowing a bit about the person will help. Their personality will help determine whether we should go bone, antler, wood, meteorite, gold, silver, whether we go with a gem or sans gem. I can even do mokume-gane, which is a metalworking technique that layers metal to give it a 'wood grain-like' pattern. Very beautiful, not something you're gonna see at a normal jeweler.<br/><br/>“So tell me, son, this one you're looking for, they got a name?”