Nothing is true, Everything is permitted
I shall go out on a limb here and twist that lovely saying for my own purposes. Nothing that follows is true, but all of it is permitted anyway as it's now become some sort of KHR AU.
Following Hibari's and Mukuro's raiding of a crypt while on a honeymoon holiday in Italy, therainshark decided to introduce a new set of rings used by the Assassins (just like in the game Assassin's Creed [except without rings]). Hibari found the first one which had a band of black metal and a red gem inset. The next was platinum. And then she allowed me to continue naming the rest of the metals these rings were made of.
After thinking about it, I got a brainwave. Why not make rings of the night? Related to the sky but..inversed (why does Firefox say that's not a word...). So instead of the Sky, you have the Night Sky (or perhaps just 'Night', still working that out). Unoriginal, maybe, yet Assassins' work takes place in the literal shadows while the Mafia works in the metaphorical shadows. While the Mafia operate openly but concealed amongst all the complicated legalities of our world, fake identities and such, Assassins aren't bound by anything and work as they must. I guess you could say they're like the Varia, only less flashy. They don't bandy about their names or faces like mafiosi; they need to remain nameless and faceless because it interferes with their work, whilst mafiosi need the recognition to keep order.
...The more I write this out, the more silly it seems. It makes sense in my mind though. Somehow.
I researched metals potentially suitable to take the place of the elements of the Sky. Some were good but couldn't be worn normally on one's finger, being either too brittle or toxic. Admittedly, I was considering arsenic, but, er, one of its compounds is quite soluble in water and the most common forms it's found in are brittle or dangerous in some way. Yep, un idiota è qui.
In the end I had to use the common, standard metals you'd expect to see used in rings, cheap or expensive...with one exception (also excluding the Night one as that's just special). All of them have a red gemstone set into them (the colour of the Assassins) and it must be noted that they did indeed use the flames of the Sky; they simply called the elements something different which suited their line of work better. And ALL rings can channel all seven flames equally but that did not mean their users could. The metal each is made from is more symbolic of their position than anything. The story I'm considering is that Giotto discovered this power and managed to split the flames apart into separate separate coloured stones as befitting each one's colour which he then designated to his Guardians. Obviously he changed the natures of the originals to make them seem more...friendly.
Night (black composite metal)
Watching overhead from behind its veil of darkness, the night seeks not to colour but to conceal.
Uniformity rather than harmony. Become one with your surroundings and be not noticed.
Weapon: Fist
Eclipse (pure gold)
The sun that hides behind the moon, drawing attention away from the night that it brings.
Corruption rather than healing. Prize not material wealth yourself but stimulate the greed of those around you.
Weapon: Poison
Why gold? Because it is one precious metal we covet above all else. So much so that we forget danger in giving into temptation. It's not the most expensive metal but humans still place a high value on it culturally.
Zephyr (impure iron)
Everywhere and yet nowhere, the wind passes by unseen in the heart of crowds.
Patience rather than impulse. Hasten destruction and it will only turn on you.
Weapon: Bow & arrow
Why iron? Because it's one metal we use more than any other, whether in alloys with other metals or on its own, and it's the most common metal in our Earth. It's also an important part of our biology (namely, our blood), so you see: iron, like the storm or tempest or wind, is literally in the heart of everything.
Who says Shaun is the only one who can make bad jokes about these things?
Rain (pure silver)
Falling from the heavens above, the rain leaves behind no trace of blood spilt.
Disturbance rather than tranquillity. Create a ripple that grows to become a wave which engulfs all.
Weapon: Snake (and other venomous creatures)
Why silver? Because in ancient times it was thought to be a pure metal, able to be used against creatures of darkness. This 'purity' equates to cleansing, which is what rain does. It is not very different to the Rain which Vongola adopts. It washes away the blood spilt, except the Assassins take this much more literally. And kills which do not leave blood as evidence create unrest and panic.
Lightning (copper)
Appearing only in times of great unrest, lightning carries the burden of fear.
Mercy rather than antipathy. Strike the guilty without hesitation but spare the innocent.
Weapon: Sword
Why copper? Because it's one of the best conductors of electricity. It's also highly ductile and not hard at all (contrary to the property of Vongola Lightning being 'hard' *cough*) which translates into the rather metaphorical notion of mercy.
Cloud (platinum)
Often seen, rarely thought of, clouds are the harbingers of change.
Influential rather than aloof. Work from afar and let nothing impede you.
Weapon: Dagger
Why platinum? Because it is THE most precious metal that can be found in Earth. Rare, hard to obtain, platinum is also highly resistant to just about anything: heat, corrosion, hydrochloric/nitric acid, and has little electrical conductivity. It's malleable and ductile, which figuratively fits in with this attribute's need to adapt and mould to the situation. Appropriate, yes?
Fog (liquid mercury contained within a clear, non-reactive, non-metal casing)
Taking form in the darkness before the dawn, fog confuses and misleads the unwary.
Renowned rather than unknown. Emerge from the shadows only to strike.
Weapon: Hidden blade
Why mercury? Because it is a toxic substance and the metal itself is liquid at room temperature so it is constantly changing and shifting form. Not to mention that just looking at it as it rolls around is mind-boggling. People used to have direct contact with it until they realised just how dangerous it was. Death in disguise, just like the mist (or fog)...
The case, of course, is to keep the wearer safe from its effects. What? You thought there was more to it? ;P
So, why metals at all? Because the Assassins must go to ground after high-profile killings then re-emerge later to blend into the rest of society. Metals are such a part of our lives that we forget about them most of the time. It should be noted these seven attributes were assigned to people based on their specialities. There may certainly have been a special seven who excelled at one of these seven tactics each, like the Vongola's Guardians, but we may never know for sure~
Following Hibari's and Mukuro's raiding of a crypt while on a honeymoon holiday in Italy, therainshark decided to introduce a new set of rings used by the Assassins (just like in the game Assassin's Creed [except without rings]). Hibari found the first one which had a band of black metal and a red gem inset. The next was platinum. And then she allowed me to continue naming the rest of the metals these rings were made of.
After thinking about it, I got a brainwave. Why not make rings of the night? Related to the sky but..inversed (why does Firefox say that's not a word...). So instead of the Sky, you have the Night Sky (or perhaps just 'Night', still working that out). Unoriginal, maybe, yet Assassins' work takes place in the literal shadows while the Mafia works in the metaphorical shadows. While the Mafia operate openly but concealed amongst all the complicated legalities of our world, fake identities and such, Assassins aren't bound by anything and work as they must. I guess you could say they're like the Varia, only less flashy. They don't bandy about their names or faces like mafiosi; they need to remain nameless and faceless because it interferes with their work, whilst mafiosi need the recognition to keep order.
...The more I write this out, the more silly it seems. It makes sense in my mind though. Somehow.
I researched metals potentially suitable to take the place of the elements of the Sky. Some were good but couldn't be worn normally on one's finger, being either too brittle or toxic. Admittedly, I was considering arsenic, but, er, one of its compounds is quite soluble in water and the most common forms it's found in are brittle or dangerous in some way. Yep, un idiota è qui.
In the end I had to use the common, standard metals you'd expect to see used in rings, cheap or expensive...with one exception (also excluding the Night one as that's just special). All of them have a red gemstone set into them (the colour of the Assassins) and it must be noted that they did indeed use the flames of the Sky; they simply called the elements something different which suited their line of work better. And ALL rings can channel all seven flames equally but that did not mean their users could. The metal each is made from is more symbolic of their position than anything. The story I'm considering is that Giotto discovered this power and managed to split the flames apart into separate separate coloured stones as befitting each one's colour which he then designated to his Guardians. Obviously he changed the natures of the originals to make them seem more...friendly.
Night (black composite metal)
Watching overhead from behind its veil of darkness, the night seeks not to colour but to conceal.
Uniformity rather than harmony. Become one with your surroundings and be not noticed.
Weapon: Fist
Eclipse (pure gold)
The sun that hides behind the moon, drawing attention away from the night that it brings.
Corruption rather than healing. Prize not material wealth yourself but stimulate the greed of those around you.
Weapon: Poison
Why gold? Because it is one precious metal we covet above all else. So much so that we forget danger in giving into temptation. It's not the most expensive metal but humans still place a high value on it culturally.
Zephyr (impure iron)
Everywhere and yet nowhere, the wind passes by unseen in the heart of crowds.
Patience rather than impulse. Hasten destruction and it will only turn on you.
Weapon: Bow & arrow
Why iron? Because it's one metal we use more than any other, whether in alloys with other metals or on its own, and it's the most common metal in our Earth. It's also an important part of our biology (namely, our blood), so you see: iron, like the storm or tempest or wind, is literally in the heart of everything.
Who says Shaun is the only one who can make bad jokes about these things?
Rain (pure silver)
Falling from the heavens above, the rain leaves behind no trace of blood spilt.
Disturbance rather than tranquillity. Create a ripple that grows to become a wave which engulfs all.
Weapon: Snake (and other venomous creatures)
Why silver? Because in ancient times it was thought to be a pure metal, able to be used against creatures of darkness. This 'purity' equates to cleansing, which is what rain does. It is not very different to the Rain which Vongola adopts. It washes away the blood spilt, except the Assassins take this much more literally. And kills which do not leave blood as evidence create unrest and panic.
Lightning (copper)
Appearing only in times of great unrest, lightning carries the burden of fear.
Mercy rather than antipathy. Strike the guilty without hesitation but spare the innocent.
Weapon: Sword
Why copper? Because it's one of the best conductors of electricity. It's also highly ductile and not hard at all (contrary to the property of Vongola Lightning being 'hard' *cough*) which translates into the rather metaphorical notion of mercy.
Cloud (platinum)
Often seen, rarely thought of, clouds are the harbingers of change.
Influential rather than aloof. Work from afar and let nothing impede you.
Weapon: Dagger
Why platinum? Because it is THE most precious metal that can be found in Earth. Rare, hard to obtain, platinum is also highly resistant to just about anything: heat, corrosion, hydrochloric/nitric acid, and has little electrical conductivity. It's malleable and ductile, which figuratively fits in with this attribute's need to adapt and mould to the situation. Appropriate, yes?
Fog (liquid mercury contained within a clear, non-reactive, non-metal casing)
Taking form in the darkness before the dawn, fog confuses and misleads the unwary.
Renowned rather than unknown. Emerge from the shadows only to strike.
Weapon: Hidden blade
Why mercury? Because it is a toxic substance and the metal itself is liquid at room temperature so it is constantly changing and shifting form. Not to mention that just looking at it as it rolls around is mind-boggling. People used to have direct contact with it until they realised just how dangerous it was. Death in disguise, just like the mist (or fog)...
The case, of course, is to keep the wearer safe from its effects. What? You thought there was more to it? ;P
So, why metals at all? Because the Assassins must go to ground after high-profile killings then re-emerge later to blend into the rest of society. Metals are such a part of our lives that we forget about them most of the time. It should be noted these seven attributes were assigned to people based on their specialities. There may certainly have been a special seven who excelled at one of these seven tactics each, like the Vongola's Guardians, but we may never know for sure~