Kaiya Reauvapaux

Origins

Kaiya was born within the eastern spectacle known as Kugane. She was born of an illicit liaison between Sonata Fuyuki, a feared and equally cold Oyabun, and Emil Reauvapaux, a traveling Ishgardian nobleman. Her mother, driven by corrupt ambition, had long dreamed of having hybrid children; children who would be more than just heirs, but symbols of an exotic beauty that could set her apart from the other women in business circles.Emil's feelings for Sonata were real, but he soon realized her true colors. When the actual purpose of the affair came to light, Emil was heartbroken and split things off with the Oyabun. Not only in a sense of betrayal, but realization that this was not fair to his wife, Colleen, in Ishgard. Emil's decision left him ostracized from the elite circles of Kugane, his reputation blackened. He did not care, for he wished to return and make up for his mistakes. Not just for himself, his wife or his other children, but for the newly born from his own shame.

Returning to Ishgard

Emil fled the East with Kaiya to the cold high spires of Ishgard. Ironically, Ishgard was no sanctuary. The frosty climate was but a mirror of the icy reception she received from the locals, who looked upon her with suspicion and disdain. She wasn’t just an outsider, she was a symbol of something different, something feared. Her scales, marking her Raen heritage, reminded them of the savage wyrms from the Dragon Song War, and that was enough for most to judge her as an abomination. The city's higher classes, already conservative and steeped in orthodoxy, made no effort to hide their contempt.Emil and Colleen tried their best to shield their daughter from this cruelty, but the strain was clear. Discrimination was pervasive, coming in subtle forms; a scowl, a whisper, an unkind glance. The very church they attended considered her a threat, a stain upon their purity, and it was only through her father’s persistence that they were allowed to remain in the pews.To protect her heart from the cruel reality outside, Kaiya sought solace in solitude. She spent hours reading old tomes about art, performance, and movement, and soon, she began to teach herself the ancient and graceful art of fan dancing. She would dance in the quiet of her room, spinning with the delicate fans her father had gifted her, watching the way the light reflected off them, finding beauty where others saw nothing but shame.But it wasn’t just the dance that caught her attention, it was the discovery of a hidden gift. Kaiya’s body moved with an unnatural flexibility, bending in ways most would find impossible. A dancer’s grace soon became a fluid acrobat’s skill. She could contort and twist her body, recovering from falls that would have left others bruised or broken. Though the discovery excited her, it was also a curse. Each display of her extraordinary ability only brought more unwanted attention to her and her family. The whispers grew louder, the stares sharper, and the isolation heavier.To silence the whispers, and in the hope of preserving some semblance of normalcy, her parents made a heart-wrenching decision. Kaiya’s tail, a reminder of her Raen heritage, was surgically removed. The pain of that decision was unbearable, not just for her, but for her parents too, who had hoped it would keep their daughter safe. Her scales remained untouched, for two reasons: her parent's empathy toward their daughter's pain and the fact that they could be easily concealed. The young girl was forced to cover herself whenever she left their home, layering herself in thick cloaks and scarves, hiding the very features that made her who she was. Though in the lands as cold as her home, it was a simple task, but for the wrong reasons...

Life with the Cirque

At the age of sixteen, Kaiya took a small fortune and fled, traveling on foot with nothing but a few simple belongings. She followed the winding roads toward Idyllshire. The journey was difficult and uncertain, but she had little else to lose. The shelter she found in Idyllshire wasn’t much, but it was hers, and it was there she planned to begin anew.It was in that small town that her destiny shifted. One evening, while practicing with the ribbons she had used to teach herself dancing, a figure approached her. He was a ring leader of a traveling cirque, a group of performers known for their eccentricity and diversity. They had come to Idyllshire for a short stay, and when the ring leader saw Kaiya, her grace and agility, he knew instantly that she was meant to be a part of his troupe. He didn’t care for her heritage or her past; he only saw potential.Kaiya hesitated at first, unsure if she was ready to leave behind the life she had known. But the offer was tempting, and for the first time, someone saw her for who she truly was, a performer, not an abomination. She accepted, and her life with the cirque began.For the next thirteen years, Kaiya traveled across Eorzea, performing under the big top, dazzling crowds with her flexibility and her breathtaking routines. The cirque became her family, a haven of misfits and outcasts who were all too familiar with the pain of being judged for their differences. Kaiya flourished there, and for the first time, she felt accepted, loved even. She came to know the others intimately; bonding over shared struggles and laughter, their lives intertwined in a way that only those who had suffered could understand.But like many tales, Kaiya’s story took a dark turn. The man who had given her the opportunity to join the cirque, the ring leader, began to grow more insistent, more predatory. Over time, his treatment of her shifted from admiration to coercion. He used her vulnerability against her, blackmailing her into submitting to his desires in exchange for keeping her in the troupe. It was a broken promise of safety, and though Kaiya complied for two painful years, the burden of it weighed heavily on her heart.One fateful night, her heart found the strength to break free. She fled, leaving behind her comrades, though she promised she would write them, keep in touch with the family she had once found among the outcasts. She didn’t want to leave, but she had no other choice.Kaiya returned to Ishgard for a time, taking up work as a hostess to regain her footing, using the wealth she had accumulated in her years with the cirque. She found comfort in knowing that her parents were still there, still waiting for her, their love unconditional. Slowly, she began to heal.

Present Day:

Now, Kaiya works freelance, performing at taverns and venues across Eorzea, never staying in one place for too long. She’s learned to embrace her true self, finding strength in the freedom she now possesses. And though she may wander from city to city, she knows her heart will one day find a place to rest. Until then, she dances; an embodiment of resilience, grace, and the hidden beauty of a heart that has been tested and shaped by both love and pain.

About Kaiya...

Name: Kaiya Reauvapaux (Rew-va-poh)
Race: Biracial (Raen and Wildwood)
Gender: Cis Female (she/her)
Age: 30 summers
Orientation: Heterosexual, Monogamous
Occupation: Contortionist Performer, Hostess
Appearance: Kaiya is very tall and lean, a trait received from Emil. She has luminous, marble-white scales that gleam faintly like moonlight on snow. Her hair is naturally dark brunette (almost black), often adorned with delicate, ornamental hairpins, giving her an air of elegance. Her eyes, a piercing pale blue like her step mother and father. Her eyeshadow tends to contrast against her iris and pale skin tone, typically high pigmented dark and glittery. Kaia has large pointed ears, the one natural feature her family, or neighbors never questioned. Being a descent of elezen and auri blood gives Kaia the striking appearance she possesses.

Personality:

Kaiya's the type of person who immediately stands out in a room, both for her exceptional physical talent as a contortionist and her somewhat aloof, intellectual air. With an air of superiority that often comes off as snobbish, she is quick to demonstrate her sharp wit and vast knowledge on subjects ranging from classic literature to obscure philosophical concepts. Her love for books and intellectual pursuits defines much of her personality, often retreating into the comfort of written words when life feels overwhelming.Her elegance in the art of contortion is a source of pride for her, but it’s not just her ability to twist and bend that captivates those who see her perform, it’s the precision, grace, and disciplined focus she brings to everything she does.
Growing up as a half-elezen and half-aura, she has long struggled with feelings of being an outsider. Both races come with their own sets of prejudices and expectations, and she often felt torn between the two worlds. This deep-seated experience with discrimination has led to a chip on her shoulder and an almost defensive arrogance. She feels the need to prove herself constantly, though she might not always admit it.Her sharp tongue and condescending demeanor often serve as walls that keep others at arm’s length, a defense mechanism built up over the years. However, beneath her haughty exterior, she harbors a deep longing for acceptance and recognition, though she'd never allow herself to show vulnerability so openly.
Despite this, she’s not entirely closed off. Those few who earn her trust are often surprised by the depth of her loyalty, as well as her occasional flashes of dry humor and more tender, empathetic side.