Shizu

I remember your lullaby as we danced beneath the moonlightBut I can no longer hear your voice as I sing this songYou were a shooting star that lit up my whole skyNow I'm hoping you're looking down at me amidst the starlight
base by fizzy, click to open
shizu - they / them - leafwing - - bard
background credit - pixabay
shizu
The songs of bards traveling the world often speak of great tales. It didn't matter if they were stories long enough to be written into scrolls, or stories that you would tell your dragonets to sleep - all of them could be conveyed in a simple tune and sometimes even simpler words. Most would think that the nature of a bard's music is a reflection of their life.
That, however, isn't the case for this one.
Just by listening to Shizu's voice, you would never be able to tell the notes of tragedy hidden behind their lovely, mellow songs, the years of pain and sadness that carries with each melody they play, the tears that they have shed behind the smile they wear while performing, the burden that they have known with their carefree nature.
Some bards play for their passion, some do so just to earn a living, but Shizu only has one wish: for a long, lost, yet ever loved soul to hear their music once more.
♪ ♪ ♪
this character was made for Copper's palette contest. i was assigned the word “breath” along with the palette in the gallery.
shizu 	shizu
 	
Background Information	Background Information
Art By 	radar
Creator 	essence
Aesthetics 	calm forests, misty mornings, fallen bird feathers, sprouts, spring rain, string instruments, still waters
Attribute 	sorrow, grief, longing
Element 	nature, air
Theme Animal 	lark
Theme Color 	forest green
Theme Song 	
Breathless - Shirfine
MBTI 	ISFP-A
Character Information 	Character Information
Age 	15 D.Y. / 27.5 H.Y.
Gender 	agender (biologically female)
Pronouns 	they / them
Orientation 	demisexual pan
Occupation 	bard
Tribe 	leafwings
Other Names 	Voice Of The Trees
Goal 	to one day reunite with their loved one again, to express their sorrow through music
Residence 	pantala (formerly), wanders in pyrrhia now (hangs out a lot near Hikari)
Relatives 	parsley (father), creeper (mother)
Allies 	herb, electrical
Enemies 	no one, really
Likes 	playing music, cool and misty mornings, forest landscapes, singing, affection, simplicity, boar meat, mimicking bird calls, companionship, silly games, playing chase, sweet food
Dislikes 	reminders of their past, emotional pain, loneliness, death, the thought of their loved ones leaving, darkness, lightning, deliberate mean and hurtful comments, the feeling of missing someone, nightmares, the idea of falling, anything bitter tasting
Abilities 	normal LeafWing abilities (excluding leafspeak), agility and quickness, musicality, quick reflexes
Weapons 	pacifist
Love Interests 	herb (formerly)
Quote 	no matter in which world, i hope my voice finds its way safely to you.
appearance
Their presence lives up to the title that they have been given - this dragon's exotic colors, coupled with their often alluring voice, would most likely leave a fleeting memory in your mind, a memory filled with the song of the trees.
Shizu is an average LeafWing in terms of physique, not really being larger or smaller than any of their peers. They have a more slender and lithe build, and can often be seen gliding through the air or weaving themselves between forest trees as they perform their tunes. Because of frequent usage, they have a healthy amount of muscle, although they don't remotely look large or threatening in any way. Apart from that, they don't have any striking features, resembling any other dragon of their tribe. 
Their colors, however, might just turn a few heads. Instead of earthy tones of browns or fresh, leafy greens, Shizu's main scales are soft, slight grayish pale peach, making them stand out amidst their own natural habitat. They have a pale sandy underbelly, the color of beaches, and their chloroplast-like scales are medium chocolate brown, a rather unusual color on the earth tone spectrum as well. The LeafWing webbing on Shizu's back are a very light, faded jade green, and they have moss-green colored claws that are typically trimmed to be blunt and harmless.
The one thing that truly makes them different is their wings. Shizu is a “seasonal LeafWing”, which means that their leaf-like wings shift in coloration as the seasons change in a year. Their wings and leaf-shaped tail stays a medium emerald mixed with jade green in spring, while shifting to a much brighter chartreuse in summer. Orange and gold accents take over during fall season, and during the cold winters, Shizu wears a dull, muted grayish sheen of green. The rest of their appearance remains unchanged with time, but their dynamic wing colors have been known to attract attention.
Like any other LeafWing, Shizu's horns appear to be an extension of the top of their head rather than a separate appendage, sharing their main scale color and covered with the same chocolate colored extra scales. Their eyes are a stunning, bright orange, like the core of the rising sun at early dawn. They rarely show any emotion besides a serene, sometimes playful smile, but if one were to gaze into their eyes, they might sense a deep well of repressed feelings within.
Shizu moves in an almost carefree way, waltzing through their steps as their talons pluck the lyre they carry with them, their soft, light voice flowing with the breeze. Their gentle demeanor betrays none of the sadness and heartbreak they have known, making everyone believe that those were simply non-existent.
personality
You might perceive Shizu as someone who's easy to understand. They are, after all, almost like any other bard - someone with a breezy, easygoing personality that never stays in one place for too long. Yet, there are so many more layers deep down that they might never reveal to the world, only subtly through the music they play.
The LeafWing appears to have a playful nature, one that doesn't take anything seriously. Shizu often goes about life with a carefree attitude and takes things as they come, and they rarely appear to be stressed about unforeseen circumstances. They don't seem to have a plan for many things, and are seen to be very flexible about things. As such, their thoughts also seem to change on a whim, and nothing is ever set in stone for them. 
Many would agree that Shizu's acts are centered around their affectionate tendencies. They are not shy with physical contact and are often flirtatious in various exchanges with strangers, and they often express their liking of another dragon with small, kind gestures. They value close companionship and are often concerned about those they feel close to. However, those dragons that have truly won over their heart are extremely scarce in number, causing most to see them as someone with no strings attached, and not a dragon serious enough to uphold a steady relationship. That couldn't be farther from the truth - Shizu treasures bonds that they believe are worth keeping, and they would never betray that for anything else in the world, quite the opposite, they would go to the ends of the world to see their loved ones happy and safe. While they are able to carry conversations with ease and charm others with their voice, Shizu prefers to keep to themselves and their own thoughts.
Not many have seen the darker sides of their personality - something that Shizu is glad to know. Deep down, they feel like no dragon understands them, as they have been through pain and felt the emptiness of their hopes being crushed right before them. They have experienced loss before and thus they fear death, and the ending most things, believing that they herald sadness and misfortune. They are not verbally expressive with their emotional pain and scars, but occasionally they let their songs and music expose their damaged interior. Shizu is deathly afraid of losing anyone they end up loving, thus they keep their distance, afraid to commit themselves to things. Because of this, they often feel lonely and estranged, no matter how hard they try to connect to others through their singing. Shizu hates the thought of being left alone, and they dread the day they would be left with no one to love and no one who understands them.
They are a little bit of an enigma - appearing careless and forgetful in mundane everyday life, yet having an extremely extensive long term memory, finding it hard to let things in the past go, especially events that closely involved them. Shizu sometimes gives the impression of a dragon much older than they actually are, and while not being the sage that you would look to every time you had a problem, they are surprisingly wise and offer good advice. They are empathetic and understanding, and despite their unwillingness to acknowledge or openly share their own emotions, they would never ignore those of others, especially dragons who are in pain.
Only few dragons ever fully know Shizu for who they are, beyond the cheerful, lighthearted persona that loves music. It is only themselves and these few dragons, those that they are deathly afraid of losing, that truly understand the effect that grief has had on them.
history
For their entire life, Shizu wished that the endings they've seen could have been as sweet as their beginnings.
They were born to two LeafWings, in an average family, in a time where peace had been established on Pantala. They never had to grow up in fear of surprise night raids, guerilla attacks, and they have never known the dangers of war. Shizu had a happy dragonethood, playing with other LeafWings of their age in the Poison Jungle, chasing one another and roaming about the wilderness for hours at times. At home, their parents loved them, and being their only dragonet, it was even sufficient to say they were spoiled a little. 
However, their parents' attitudes towards them had a drastic change once they grew up. It wasn't because they disappointed them when they started attending school - quite the opposite, actually, since Shizu quickly developed their interest in music and was recognized as a rather talented young dragonet, but the discovery of their identity. Shizu was born a female - and that was all their parents saw them as. When they finally realized that they felt comfortable using neutral pronouns and titles and confronted their parents about it, their reactions were... unpleasant, to say the least. Shizu's parents didn't straight up kick them out of their home, but they spoke condescendingly to them, claiming such things were “unnatural” and that they should “get it together”. 
This torn the young LeafWing a lot - as no matter how much they loved their parents, living under the same roof with two dragons who disrespected their identity and continued to misgender them on purpose was too much. When they turned seven and finally finished school, Shizu packed their things and left their old home with tears in their eyes, knowing that they've set themselves on a lonely, and maybe even dangerous path ahead.
Or so they thought.
As Shizu set foot in another village, they bumped into another LeafWing just like them as their attention drifted off. They apologized profusely at first, but instead of being mad at them, the stranger greeted them cheerfully and voluntarily helped them with their belongings. He introduced himself as Herb, and quickly revealed his passion for music, something that delighted Shizu a lot. In turn, they opened up about their situation and the fact that they were left homeless, and the understanding dragon offered them a refuge in his own little treehouse. 
However, it took a long time for Shizu to truly feel comfortable in the village. After all, they were still a stranger, no matter how much Herb insisted that he took a liking to them really quickly. They couldn't find the courage to reveal that they could sing or perform because they were afraid of the pointed looks the other villagers were shooting their way. Despite having been introduced to a few of Herb's acquaintances, Shizu still felt disconnected and distant from them.
Days quickly passed by in their new home, and despite not being social with other dragons there, Shizu found themselves growing closer and closer to Herb. He turned out to be an orphan, who was raised by willing caretakers until he was old enough to fend for himself, even though they still check in on him from time to time. Shizu also found out that his talent was his ability to write and compose tunes, and he told them that he often did so for a local band to earn his living. Herb also showed Shizu a lyre that he claimed his late father had left for him, admitting that he didn't have the skill to play it despite being a genius at musical theory.
However, Shizu had the talent that Herb was lacking, and when they first plucked the strings of the lyre and played music again, Herb was astonished and astounded as their ability. He excitedly complimented them (something that made their heart flutter), and suggested that they form a duo to make the best use of both their talents. Shizu was quick to agree, something that they didn't understand at that time. They found themselves quickly growing attached to Herb, maybe even a little too much - sure, he was kind and respectful of their identity, and he offered them his help without expecting anything from them, but he was just, still, a random dragon they met on the streets. Why did they trust him so much, so much that they forgot all their insecurities about performing in a village that they felt like they didn't belong in?
Throughout the year, Shizu spent their time playing the lyre and performing Herb's written tunes for audiences that clapped louder each time, and eventually adding both their own voice and Herb's to their gigs, much to the delight of their audience. With him by their side, they built up their confidence and unlocked their free spirit, turning into quite the charming and flirtatious dragon that won a lot of dragons' hearts. It also took this entire year for Shizu to realize that their feelings towards their musical sidekick wasn't platonic anymore. They successfully made a few friends in the village he lived in, including several of his older caretakers, but no one else could make them feel warm, safe and most importantly, never alone as Herb did when they were together. 
They had fallen in love with the dragon that had been the light when their life had been cast into darkness.
Shizu danced around these feelings, not knowing how to act on them, until one day, tragedy struck them - or rather, struck the one dragon they had grown to adore so much. 
Herb fell ill, and it wasn't a simple cold or a nasty allergy - everyone knew it was a deadly, withering disease that had claimed thousands of lives. As their traveling partner was bedridden and in the process of receiving medical attention, Shizu sank into a state of depression, unable to sing or hear music in anything, for the second time in their life. They were devastated - how could anyone not be when they knew that the love of their life was at risk of leaving them at any moment?
However, things turned out to be somewhat hopeful for Herb - the healers said that he wasn't doing as bad as previous victims, and his chances of survival were definitely high. Despite this, Shizu kept by his side almost all the time, every day, just to see his smile and keep their heart from bursting out of their chest from worry alone. Herb himself seemed to be less concerned about his condition and more about keeping Shizu happy, telling them to not get upset and still smile for him. As he showed more and more signs of healing, Shizu started feeling lighthearted enough to play the lyre again, and he told them that it now belonged to them, as a gift. On one moonlit night they spent together, Shizu, out of a moment of elation and happiness, confessed their love to Herb, and much to their delight, he returned the feelings. The following week after their confession was probably the best times of their life, as they spent each waking moment near their boyfriend (who was strong enough to at least sing simple tunes again), making wonderful memories as they eagerly await the day Herb fully recovers and they could go back to being traveling bards again.
Their dreams, however, were sadly crushed as life dropped them from cloud nine.
Unexpectedly, Herb died one night in his sleep, a deadly sneak attack from the disease that was known to be unpredictable. The news shattered Shizu completely, and once they got past the stage of denial that the worst has happened, they felt their entire world sink into a gaping darkness, their heart filled with an emptiness that they never knew was possible to feel. They had spent almost two whole months believing that Herb would survive, filled with hopes and dreams that they would soon be able to resume their journey as an official couple, before life had mercilessly crushed all of those before their own eyes.
Once more, Shizu was alone - this time, they truly felt like they've been left behind. 
The grief took its toll on them, both physically, as their complexion dulled and they lost their weight, as well as going through long nights without sleep. It took a long time for them to resume a normal routine of life again, but even then, the unspoken truth hung heavy in the air - they would never feel the same again. Deep down, Shizu knew that Herb meant a lot to so many other dragons as well - his absence had been painful for all their mutual friends, caretakers, and even the regular villagers who frequently listened to their performances. They knew they should probably reach out to those dragons who held him close to their heart.
But they didn't want to.
Call them selfish, but the village was no longer their true home without Herb in it. Without him, they would have never felt comfortable enough to use their voice so openly, never would have lived a peaceful day without hearing whispers about them being a foreigner, never would have felt the warmth and love you would associate with home. Every single bit of happiness they felt in Herb's old home was gone as soon as he took his last breath.
In the end, they simply chose to leave.
Shizu packed as many things as they could carry with them, mostly the musical scores of the tunes that Herb wrote, as well as the one gift they still remember him by - the lyre. On a particular windy day where the air currents blew towards Pyrrhia, the young LeafWing followed the wind, as well as the remaining shards of their broken heart, and journeyed to a continent that was far, far away from where they once called their home.
When they arrived, things didn't become easier at all. Shizu wandered the grassy plains and glided through the treetops in any dense forests they could find, clinging to the backgrounds that still reminded them of Pantala. Everything felt so... different, from the sights, sounds and smells, and even the warmth of the sun on their scales felt distant, odd somehow. They were homesick, and they knew it - but it wasn't the surroundings that they missed, it was the familiar sound of laughter that came from a dragon that was no longer by their side.
Without Herb, Shizu felt like their life has lost its purpose. They spent weeks, maybe even months just wandering like a lost puppy, searching for a scintilla of reason to feel joy again. They couldn't even muster up the energy to perform in front of crowds again, and the rhythm they once felt in playing the music was oddly dulled. The only time Shizu felt real emotion was during the silent nights, where they would strum the notes to the songs they used to perform together, losing themselves in their tears and the gentle melodies, keeping their memory of Herb alive no matter how painful it was to remember him.
Until a certain NightWing came along and made them see the light of life again.
It was another silent night in the forests nearby the Sky Kingdom mountain ranges, with moonlight veiled behind the clouds. Shizu's talons found themselves plucking away at a particularly heart-wrenching tune, and the music continued even as they spotted a silvery dragon wandering into the clearing they were in. Some of their instincts told them to be on guard, but as soon as they saw the deep, intense sorrow in the other dragon's bright blue eyes, they said nothing but continued their impromptu performance. As soon as the song ended, the other dragon simply pleaded for them to play another one with tears in her eyes.
Shizu complied without giving a response. While neither of them talked that night, they felt an odd connection, as if the dragoness they'd just met in the dead of night was a kindred spirit. In a way, perhaps they were, connected by a pain that felt so familiar yet started so differently.
When the sun finally rose on the next day, the stranger simply thanked the LeafWing with a small smile, wearing an expression clouded by mixed emotions. Feeling such a strong, yet no less strange force compelling them, Shizu asked the dragoness for her name, and told her that she could come back anytime if she wanted to hear the music again. Much to their surprised, the NightWing - Electrical, as she introduced herself, nodded in gratitude and told them that she would definitely see them again.
And she did.
Sometimes, Electrical would return in the state she was in when they first met - a broken, lost and hurting soul, crying desperately for help and comfort. On less depressing days, she would approach Shizu as you would an old friend, bringing small baskets of food that the two would share as they started chatting, opening up to each other more than Shizu had expected either of them would. The NightWing revealed the truth of her past entangled with another dragoness who had been trapping her in a toxic relationship for almost four years, while the LeafWing in turn explained how they left their parents, found their true love, only for life to cruelly take him away from them, which led to them fleeing to Pyrrhia. Surprisingly, for both of them, sharing these mutual feelings that had brought them so much pain lessened the burden they felt in their heart, and Shizu found the strength to actually smile again.
As Shizu helped the troubled NightWing through their soothing music, she in turn encouraged them to play again, assuring them that there would always be an audience waiting for them. Eventually, they caved in, following their new friend to nearby towns and small villages, finally feeling the joy of playing the lyre for a crowd and captivating others with their voice again. When Shizu found out that Electrical came from a small town far to the southwest named Hikari, they agreed to accompany her back to her old home with no hesitation, and was by her side as they witnessed her reconcile with her estranged remaining parent.
Sure, their life isn't perfect, still, and their wounds haven't completely closed up yet. They might have felt better, but they certainly haven't fully mended their heart. But neither has Electrical - both of them still heavily relied on each other to relieve their pain when old memories do strike back. She would never be able to fill the hole left behind by Herb's departure - no other dragon could do it like him, but Shizu's heart definitely has a place for her now, someone that they trusted to never leave their side. After all, they could finally feel the breath of fresh air ever since meeting her, and she needed them to help her catch her own once in a while.
Shizu's home had never been in any place. It was always by another dragon's side. While they have lost Herb, the home they had in Pantala, they are quickly finding Electrical to be their new home on Pyrrhia.
Surprisingly, they are fine with that.
abilities
Shizu's tribal abilities do not differ from any other LeafWing. They are able to rely mostly on sunlight for their daily energy supply, thus enabling them to go for quite a long while without actually eating. They have a semi-decent knowledge of plants, although they don't possess the leafspeak that some members of their tribe boasts.
In terms of physical prowess, Shizu is quite adept at using both their wings and four legs to their advantage, able to speed through forests and glide through small, narrower spaces with ease. They are agile and have quick reflexes, something that assists them in fleeing unpleasant confrontations. The LeafWing can also be particularly stealthy when they want to be, and they have a much larger reserve of stamina compared to most dragons their age. 
Their most obvious strength is their musicality and almost flawless sense of rhythm. Shizu also has perfect pitch, something that enables them to easily translate notes by ear. They have a very strong creative streak and their mind constantly melds what their senses pick up from their surroundings into music, and their talons are very mechanically quick at playing their instrument. Shizu's calm nature makes it easier for them to be observant and pick up on little details, and they are also in tune with emotions of dragons around them. 
weaknesses
Shizu, being born in a rather peaceful time, has almost no knowledge of combat that older LeafWings are familiar with. They are apprehensive and almost disgusted by the prospect of violence, leaving them in a clueless spot when it comes to tribal strengths and weaknesses. 
Besides that, you can clearly see they aren't fit for physical combat - they might not be the weakest dragon around, but they certainly won't last long in a fight, with their blunt claws and low brute strength. This usually isn't a problem for the LeafWing since they are a pacifist, but they don't have a lot of knowledge of self-defense at their disposal, and anyone who knows of this weakness could easily exploit it. 
While incredibly perceptive to their surroundings and the feelings of those they encounter, Shizu seems to hit a roadblock when dealing with their own feelings. They are very secretive about this and often need help and support from others to reveal their emotional vulnerability. They are not very good at sorting out matters of the heart when logic and reality gets into the mix as well, and harsh truths could a lot of times shatter them. Shizu also has only a very limited set of abilities when it comes to handling numbers and figures, and they don't have extremely good reading or writing skills due to a lack of usage.
relationships
parents
Shizu has a complicated opinion on their parents. While they are grateful for how they were treated as a young dragonet, they also feel bitter about the fact that they had instantly rejected their own dragonet's identity the moment Shizu decided to come out. They were the reason why they had spent almost their entire life as an adult homeless, but they also couldn't deny that they miss the good times their family had together.
They don't exactly hold a grudge on this matter, since it was Shizu's own decision to leave their old home after all, but to this day they still feel upset and disappointed towards the fact that they were practically forced to go due to their parents' inability to accept their gender identity. They sometimes still wonder if there is a possibility that they would meet their parents again, but since they've settled down in Pyrrhia, they consider this unlikely and doesn't regret it much.
mixed feelings / neutral / negative
herb
When he was still around, Herb meant the world to Shizu. Maybe deep down, even before he was their official boyfriend, they knew he was their soulmate, the only dragon who can make them feel like they're complete, warm, and safe on the inside. Herb always supported them in everything they did and was never stingy with his compliments, and their musical talents complement each other and made them one of the most iconic duos in the village they met. 
Shizu's life fell apart with his death, and even if they have started to rebuild it, step by step, they would never forget him - no one in this world can replace the sweet, loving dragon that had stole their heart since the day they met him, and they miss him greatly, everything from his voice to his affectionate gestures. They believe that they've never stopped loving him, and there isn't one day that passes by where Shizu goes without seeing him in their memory. 
very positive
electrical
Two dragons who met each other in their darkest times, Shizu considers Electrical as their best, and possibly only true friend left on the world, since Herb had passed away. They had gotten so used to keeping their own grief to themselves, until they met this NightWing who understands exactly how it feels to go through this kind of pain. Together, they had overcome the demons life had given them and formed an affectionate relationship - to the point where Shizu values her as much they did with Herb.
They do not hold the same romantic feelings towards Electrical as they did with Herb - she cannot fill the empty space that he once occupied in their heart, but Shizu has an equally special place for her as well. They often hang out, whether if its sitting in the forest clearing listening to Shizu playing music quietly, or paying their favorite dessert shop a visit. Of course, the NightWing sometimes rely on Shizu to take away some of her pain with their lyre playing, and likewise, Electrical is the only dragon they feel comfortable enough around to let themself cry, lessening their sorrows with each passing day.
very positive
trivia
*Shizu's name comes from the term 静けさ (Shizukesa) in Japanese, meaning “serenity”
*their concept relation to the word “breath” is rather ironic, as they often encourage others to “stop in life and catch your breath”, yet their entire life was changed the moment the most important dragon in their life took their last breath
*they are affectionate but only reveals their soft moments to Herb, and now Electrical
*Electrical has once invited them to live alongside her in Hikari but they declined, saying that their soul still belonged to the woods
*hates bitter food and despises both coffee and tea
*has a special fondness for desserts and sweet food, and often hangs out with Electrical at one of Hikari's local dessert shops
*their favorite season is fall and they enjoy their own wing color the most during those months
*doesn't eat much but greatly loves the taste of wild boar meat
*early dawn is their favorite time of the day
*they love the taste of almonds and most nuts
*enjoys rainy weather, but despises lightning and general unexpected flashing lights 
gallery
Shizu Palette.png|the palette i was assigned for the contest
Bard in the woods.png|by radar
Category:Content (Light Fairy)
Category:Characters
Category:LeafWings
Category:Non-binary
Category:LGBT+
Category:Occupation (Performer)