decisions, decisions

A significant jewel -- I already know that it's going to be an opal, and be magical, and a plot device.

So there I am fussing about whether it should be a black opal or a fire opal. (Does it matter in the slightest? No. I'm just fussing.)

Then I remember that I had already made the heroine a red-head even before I decided this necklace would exist, and a fire opal would definitely give several characters things to think about and talk about, and it makes a useful metaphor. So fire opal it is.