For the first time since 2017, Ponzu finally has a proper reference sheet!

I’ve decided over the years that she’s an ambassador from her deep-water realm to the inland domain. She’s based on a Chimaera monstrosa, aka rabbitfish or ratfish, and they regularly swim into shallower waters at night, so I figured by extension she’s more suited than some of her fellows to be doing ambassador work. Her formal wear reflects her status as an ambassador, fancier than the average citizen but distinct from royal garb in color and adornments. She doesn’t like to be dressed up if she doesn’t have to be.

Outside of the professional setting, Ponzu is very introverted. In her realm, she’s “normal”, or rather there’s enough variation amongst everyone that she doesn’t feel too outlandish. In the inland domain, she sticks out amongst the zora with all their brighter colors and their more uniform morphology. The idea of being perceived when not on her own terms is off-putting for her.

Ponzu is almost like a cryptid when she’s out and about in the inland domain - often goes out in the dead of night (she’s also very nocturnal, doesn’t like to be up during the day too much, the light can be hard on her eyes) to do her own thing, and with how extremely reflective her eyes are all you might see is a vague dark shape and glowing eyes in the distance if you spot her.

She and Sidon originally bonded from a diplomatic perspective, getting to know the other’s cultures and differences and similarities, but as time went things got a little more involved. More than a little. She’s a little shy about their relationship on a public level as she’s not royalty, and is a little intimidated by his fan-club, but Sidon doesn’t care at all and will happily parade around with her. He does his best to respect her comfort levels though.