Empyreal

E M P Y R E A L
inktober adopt from cloud:
She was waiting... and waiting... and waiting.
It was cold
:oh so cold
::shivering down her spines
:::biting in to her scales
::::gripping her bones in its cold embrace
But she wouldn't leave.
She was waiting.
And in this cold, cold, place, she would wait.
No matter how many icicles formed, how the cold was eating her up...
She would wait.
And she would stay until her love came and thawed that frozen heart.
Stunning coding is by Essence!
Empyreal 	Empyreal
 	
Background Information	Background Information
Art By 	☁️
Creator 	✨
Aesthetics 	A forest fire / chemical reactions / sunset / a flickering candle / sparks in a mason jar / golden clouds
Attribute 	Passion
Element 	Flame
Theme Animal 	Booted eagle
Theme Color 	Bright orange
Theme Song 	Make You Feel My Love - original by Bob Dylan, cover by Sleeping at Last
MBTI Personality 	ESTP-A (the Entrepreneur)
Character Information 	Character Information
Age 	16 D.Y.
Gender 	Female
Orientation 	Lesbian
Occupation 	Kingdom diplomat
Tribe 	SkyWing
Other Names 	Empy
Goal 	To live her life, and to live it well (formerly)
To be reunited with her love (presently)
Residence 	Sky Kingdom (formerly)
A large block of ice (presently)
Relatives 	Cider (father)
Gyrfalcon (mother)
Allies 	SkyWings, anyone who's friendly to her
Enemies 	The dragons she's debating against
Likes 	Her job / her loved ones / flying / social gatherings / physical activities / surprises / a fast-paced lifestyle / excitement
Dislikes 	Lectures / sitting for a long time / feeling helpless / being bored / rules / dealing with emotions
Abilities 	Normal SkyWing abilities (fast flight, fire), muscular strength and edurance
Weapons 	A sharp tongue and quick wit
Love Interests 	Apricity
Quote 	So what if she's an IceWing? So what if she's not a guy? I'm in love, and I'm in love with her. And nothing you say can change that.
 
A P P E A R A N C E
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P E R S O N A L I T Y
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H I S T O R Y
Empyreal was a young, fiery SkyWing who worked as a diplomat for her tribe. She was often sent to other kingdoms to negotiate things like treaties or trade affairs, meaning she was quick with her words and logical in her thoughts. Despite being born to two quite rich parents, she chose this path, and she stuck with it. Empy's life progressed fairly normally - that is, until she met her.
Apricity was a chilly looking animus IceWing with the warmest heart Empy had ever encountered. When they first met during a diplomatic mission of Empy's to the Ice Kingdom, they got into a heated debate over [insert something government-ish yet not very important here], and they were sent outside to cool off (hahhaha pun) (Empy wearing an enchanted bracelet, of course).
As soon as they stepped out the door, Apricity turned to Empy and made a joke about how SkyWings debated (fast, furious, and without any pause to think). Empy responded by acting offended and totally making it over-the-top theatrical, which Apricity burst into laughter at. Call her hopeless, but Empy found her eyes tracking Apricity with a little more intensity needed during their conversation.
And converse they did. Although from two completely different backgrounds, the two had incredible chemistry, and they stayed out there chatting for so long that others began to wonder what they were up to. After they returned inside, they continued debating, but Empy's heart wasn't in it anymore. Her gaze wandered to Apricity whenever she sat down, and her stomach fluttered whenever the animus looked at her.
For the next few weeks, Empy dawdled and dragged behind her group whenever they told her they needed to leave the Ice Kingdom. She didn't want to leave Apricity, because some odd, nonsensical part of her told her that... they could have a future together.
Finally, a lovestruck Empy was forced to go back to the Sky Kingdom, where she lived out a few mundane normal months. Yes, they were the same as they had been before, but after feeling the affection that she had felt for Apricity, everything felt... boring. So it was an utter surprise when Apricity turned up on her doorstep, eyes red-rimmed from crying and expression hopeful. Of course, Empy let her in.
Empy managed to force the truth out of Apricity with coaxing, wheedling, and good ol' fashioned bribing. It turned out that the animus had been banished from the kingdom in a rare incident of losing her temper - her relationship with her father had always been rocky, but when he insulted her magic, something possessed her to turn it on him.
Apricity was exiled from her home, her father dead. She had nowhere to go, no one to lean on. So, remembering the only friend she had outside her tribe, she tracked down Empy and turned up on her doorstep and now... here she was.
Empy was dizzied by her story, only able to say "I need to sit down for a second" before collapsing on a chair. Apricity watched her anxiously, but said nothing.
"So, can I stay here?" she finally asked tentatively, two minutes and seven seconds into a tense silence. "I'm sorry to turn up out of the blue, I really am, but... please. Do it for me."
Gingerly, Empy reached over and rested her talon on Apricity's. Ice-blue scales, freezing to the touch, flinched away for a moment, before relaxing into orange ones.
And finally, Apricity, exhausted from her ordeal, collapsed against Empy and sobbed.
Empy sat there quietly, her tail twined with Apricity's and patiently waiting for the downpour to stop. It eventually did, and gentler than a lamb, Empy untangled herself and went to set up a guest bedroom for the IceWing - because she had a feeling Apricity would be here for quite a bit.
As the days passed, Empy began to fall into a familiar rhythm. Go to work, return home, and spend a few blissful hours with Apricity until she went to sleep and waited for the next day to come. Her routine was just as predictable as before, but this time, something had changed - or rather, someone. Despite how her days passed without much happening, Apricity put joy into her life.
But over time, dragons began to whisper. At first, Empy didn't mind. She could shrug off their insults easily, about how the tribe's up-and-coming diplomat shouldn't be consorting with an IceWing, about how Apricity put the whole city in danger. But for Apricity, it was more difficult. The animus was too sensitive to handle all the hate directed toward her.
And soon the whispers turned into a commotion, which turned into a roar. No matter how hard they tried, Empy and Apricity couldn't ignore them anymore. They stayed together locked up in their house for days on end as mobs of protestors surged through the street toward the governor, chanting things like "Justice for Our City" and "No Animi Allowed".
Fortunately, Empy was on good terms with the governor. With her persuasive speaking skills, she managed to convince him to let Apricity stay, as long as she didn't leave Empy's property. When the decision was announced, the public was furious. Riots broke out every day, and police confrontations were not unusual. Slowly, the town began falling into anarchy.
Empy's schedule became normal again, with one exception: her hangouts with Apricity were much gloomier. She spent all her days cooped up in Empy's house, and she put it to her once, "There's only so much knitting you can do." 
One day Empy remarked offhandedly that Apricity could use her magic to entertain herself, which sent the IceWing into a haze of despair. She retreated into her room for almost an entire day and refused to come out. When Empy pressed her ear to the door, she could hear a faint whisper: "Never, never again."
Empy knocked hesitantly on the door. "Apri?" she asked tentatively, using her pet name for the animus. When there was no reply, she opened the door nervously and stepped inside.
Apricity was curled up on her bed, looking very small among the rumpled blankets. Silvery tear tracks stained her beautiful face. Without a word, Empy padded over the thick carpet and laid down next to Apricity in a tangle of wings and limbs. Her scales sent an icy chill through her orange ones, but she didn't care. She deserved it.
"I'm sorry I said that," Empy whispered, her snout barely two inches away from Apricity's. "I really didn't mean it, I'm so, so sorry."
Apricity looked at her soundlessly, tears glistening in her deep blue eyes. And without warning, her ridged talons pulled Empy closer into a kiss.
It lasted for five seconds, or maybe more. Empy's memory fogged over at Apricity's electrifying touch. Fireworks went off in her brain as she wrapped her wings around the IceWing and kissed her back.
After what felt like an eternity, they broke apart, Apricity's cold tears tracing Empy's scales now too. 
"I love you," Apricity told her. A sob interrupted her words. "I love you to the ends of the continent and back. But this town is falling apart because of me. I can't do this anymore. Just please, don't forget me."
"How could I ever forget you?" Empy asked, her talons entangled with Apricity's. Her voice trembled with confusion and pain.
Apricity swept her tail to the right, knocking a pale blue vase to the ground. As it shattered with an ear-piercing crash, Empy jumped back, watching incredulously as Apricity caught one of the shards as it flew toward her. "Enchant this piece of pottery to make Empyreal of the SkyWings immune to any danger," Apricity whispered. "Physical or emotional."
And with one final look back, she leaped at the window and sailed through it into the clear blue sky.
Away from Empy.
A surge of strength swept over Empy's scales, so strong she couldn't breathe for a moment. I have to follow her, I have to bring her back. "Wait!" she screamed and raced after her, pumping her wings as hard as she could. But the IceWing was unnaturally fast, and before she knew it, the love of her life was a ghostly silver specter against the wispy clouds.
 
A B I L I T I E S
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R E L A T I O N S H I P S
C I D E R
father. a little distant. empy never really felt that he truly understood her. seemed to see her as some sort of token child, a symbol of "look i have a family isn't that swell?" they loved each other, even if their bond was more superficial.
G Y R F A L C O N
mother. it's a love hate relationship here. while empy bonded much more closely with gyrfalcon than cider, they argued a lot, gyrfalcon being very conservative and empy being... empy. when they got along, however, they were best of friends.
A P R I C I T Y
tragic sapphics. they loved each other a lot but apri left empy and the latter really felt as if she deserved it. she's waiting for the love of her life to come back to her. she'll wait until the sun freezes over and her scales crumble to nothing but dust.
 
T R I V I A
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G A L L E R Y
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Category:Characters
Category:Work in Progress
Category:SkyWings
Category:Females
Category:Animus Touched
Category:LGBT+
Category:Content (Stardust the IceWing-RainWing)
Category:Occupation (Government)