Lea Pipkin

Gentlebun, scholar, and prankster extraordinaire.

Thirty-one cycles (and still young for a bun!).Born of a troupe of actors, comedians, bards, and dancers, never had a place to call home that wasn't a wagon or a pillion.Found a home in Eorzea, the icy lands of Ishgard, on the cliffs of Empyreum, in the twenty third ward at the thirty-third plot, called The Den.A sprightly six fonz six ilms, yet never one to use height as leverage.210 ponzes of pure bunny muscle, in a compacted package.A soft voice, gentle like the breeeze, amusing when excited, and firm when serious.Of an average build, if average is a rather tall speciment of a bun. All natural where it counts.Easily seen by the clash of black and pink, the feature of a kit who never got to reach the world.A naturally curious bun, wanting to find a place in the world.

The Ballad Of Lea

"No matter life, nor death, nor the space inbetween, be still, and know I have always loved you."-Lea, to his late wife Ilysian

The Kit Years

Lea as born to Terzien and Elresa Pipkin, a very quiet child of once-forest-born now turned worldly wanderers. Lea did not stay quiet, however, for as a kit he showed signs of being far different than a typical Viera. Even before his gender was evident, Lea possessed fangs. While normally Viera were known to occasionally possess slightly more animal features, the presence of fangs was a trait so rare it had been spoken of only in stories. It was said they were the most animal trait a Viera could have, one symbolising the pure aggression and power the ancestors were said to have, the ability to transcend a Mist rage into a more pure and powerful form of berserker.This made his childhood difficult, as he could not control the deep Viera emotions within him coupled with this bloodlust, and even before he could speak, he often had to be soothed with great effort by his mother and father. Many nights there were his mother was unable to let him go as his father, a bard and singer of stories by trade, would play music and sign epics to lull his child and the demon within to sleep.When Lea was able to finally speak, his mother and father both taught him Viis, the language of their forest. Even when able to convey his emotions, Lea still often resorted to unhinged displays, sometimes damaging the pillon his family would use to travel, or in one case, accidentally striking his own mother in his raw frustration.Only when he was around the age of six did his parents try to teach him inner peace, through meditatation and connecting with the aether around him. Despite difficulty, since he could not feel the flow of aether around him as well as his parents, he came to relish the sensation of balance it would bring him. He knew now by calming his mind and releasing his worldly cares, he could reach a space where he felt safe, calm, and in control.It was around this time he began to pay more attention to the people involved in his lives the most. His father, a bard, and mother, a dancer, would travel the world without destination, finding stops here and there, using their skills to earn them food, shelter, and fame. Lea would stay up, even fighting the throes of sleep, to listen to his father storytell and his mother act it out through dance.Once Lea began to become more distinguishable as a male, he began to understand his parent's teachings, on how he must maintain balance within himself if he were to ever survive on his own. Many mistook this as a quiet and shy boy, which he was, but really it was to maintain the beast inside. By this time, he had resolved to follow in his family's footsteps, and take the roles they had played in his life, to be both bard and dancer.

Going Solo

Once Lea was fully grown, his parents told him it was time for him to create his own story, and visit the world like they did. They parted ways, still keeping in touch by moogle mail regularly, as Lea travelled the world by himself, a quiet, solitary creature whom had finally conquered his demons, or so he had quietly hoped.Eventually Lea found his way to Eorzea, having hitched a ride on a quiet pillon through the outlands, keeping his head down. For some time, he wandered the lands as a nomad, coming to learn more about the place he would soon call home. Time passed, and the Viera boy reached the Shroud. Something within him was thrilled to be here, as he had wondered from his kit days what the forest would have been like his family had come from, despite being the child of once-forestborn whom could never return.When he first saw Gridania, he was convinced this is the place he was meant to be. He visited the Archer's Guild and took up a role as an apprentice, quiet but not mute, deliberate yet gentle, and trained quite easily the hardest of all his colleageus.His first harp was his best companion, as he'd stay up late and find a nice high spot in Gridania, playing his heart out, a natural from having heard his father for so many years. His first true love, however, was a violin he restored after finding in the field, broken, but well played. The first sound he heard out of those new strings was it, and now it is easily the instrument everyone hears him playing, almost no matter the song.After wandering the city states, learning what he could and playing where he thought best, he discovered the populace of Gridania tended to stop and listen more. It was through daily diligence he assembled his own crowd of followers, eager to listen to his music whenever he stood at the aetheryte plaza and added color to the world through the notes on the wind.Several days passed, then several weeks, with him content and without a care in the world, forgetting his need for a journey, until one day, a passerby stopped. Her name was Ilysian Revner.

Ilysian Revner

Every single day Lea was out playing, Illy would stop by and converse, commenting on how his songs were so beautiful, and how he could command such attention as to make others stop and listen along. From bright of day to dark of night, even in the pouring rains Gridania is so well known for, she was there, listening. He came to look forward to seeing her stop, as at the time, she was one of his best fans.After some time, and on a rather rainy evening, he invited her to come visit his favorite place to spend an evening, the Kitty Twister, an authentic honkytonk right here in the middle of Eorzea. A friend, Sakata, had introduced him to this place and the notion of a 'honky tonk' (Of which he always pronounced incorrectly). Illy's first night there was memorable for them both, as they bonded over a love of lavender vodka, of which Lea enjoyed, and then regretted the next morning.To his surprise, she sent him a message on his tomestone asking when he were next going, for she wanted to come with again. He told her there was a local spa, Elysian, he frequented, and offered for her to come along. She happily accepted. There, they spoke of their lives, their thoughts, their hopes and dreams.They visited several venues together after this, enjoying one another's company, until Lea finally garnered the courage to ask Illy on a true and proper date. She laughed, and asked what the other times they visited venues were. Shocked, Lea blubbered and realized he hadn't planned on her saying yes, which only made her laugh more.

The Ballad of Two

After struggling to find an adequate venue for their date, the duo stumbled upon Abbioco, a formal dining restaurant. While this was the first time she had been asked out to dinner, Illy had no nerves with Lea by her side. They enjoyed a lovely three course meal, talking about their pasts, their histories, and where to go from here for the future - together.What really set things in motion was the party they attended at a friend's house, and even then not the party, but the walk home through Mist. They both decided to stop at the beach and look up at the stars, talking about the things which brought them to this place and to this time, and how their lives played out. Lea asked Illy if she regretted anything up to this point, and after a long hard thought, she said she didn't, because if she did she wouldn't have met him. Lea was taken aback by this response, as he hadn't expected it.The response was the one they recall the most clearly, as they both shared their first kiss with one another, there on the sand under the moonlight, with a promise she would teach Lea how to swim, and not just tread water because he was terrified of getting his ears wet.

The Proposal

There's a Viera saying about love and companionship...The distance betwixt two bodies is not the same as the distance betwixt two souls.Except, Lea added a few words.But I cannot bear the distance. Illysian Revner...will you be my mate?She said yes to the roaring applause and excited prism use of the Kitty Twister audience, a place they had come to associate as home, and be as much a part of as those who worked there. Promptly, their good friends Teagan Hale and Rem Rems promptly started planning their wedding for them, with the newly bethrothed duo barely having time to answer yes.A grand affair was planned, for all who could attend, and a new space was made in the venue they both loved to call home for them to have a smaller gathering for those who found themselves unable to attend. Within the next few days, the preparations commenced, with the duo handing out their invitations and the company eagerly preparing for their part in the ceremony.Lea and Illy spent as much time together as they could, talking about their plans, the future, the love of their friends, and how nervous the both of them were to be experiencing this together. Anxious, yet excited, they both kept moving forward, until the fateful day came.

Until Death...

The bells rang loud and friends cheered just as loudly the day the duo became officially wed. The chapel was near bursting full as the duo managed to completely fill it, and the sheer amount of prisms and crackers exploding forth was reassuring to the both they had made the right choice in marrying one another.A short time later, they had the small, personal ceremony at the Kitty Twister's new chapel, the Kitty Risker, made just as they wanted it to be. Here they gave a different set of vows...Illy spoke hers first.“You once told me that I was your compass to guide you home. And like all things, it had a second meaning. ‘For I am lost without you.’ This I believe was true of not just yourself, but of me. For the longest time, I was alone. And then that one night on the beach, I decided to let you in.""Ms. Vyna was correct, in that everything that has happened has led to this very moment, and I wouldn’t change a thing, because it led me to you… to here, our very own bonding. If I were the earth then let there be no sun without you. You are radiant, my love. And I promise to cherish this radiance, to protect my sun, with everything in my being, and love you forever and always.""You are my home I have never had before. The love that has never run through me until I met you. The joy that I have come to feel constantly. The flutter in my heart that makes me want to live. The completeness that I have never felt that makes me whole… You are all of these things, and more. If I was to sit here and describe them all we would be here all day.”"And I will tell you everyday how much I love you. How much you have impacted my life. How grateful I am for you, and to have you, as my husband. This I vow to you. Forever and Always."Lea was absolutely struck by the honesty of these words, and decided to completely discard his own vows, and speak from the heart."I cannot live without you.""...if, you had asked me, several months ago now, if I had seen myself here, in this very moment, with you, I would have thought you misguided. But...here I stand. I still recall the first sun you stopped to listen to my music...it was nearly nine bells long. Do you recall this?""I could not forget it. It was a whole moon you came to visit after this. From commencement to cessation, you were there, Ilysian. A constant while others around me would change. Regardless of this having been at the aetheryte.""Do you recall, not long ago, when you first visited this place? You remarked it was such a considerable departure from what you expected I would be interested in, and you were right. But what I found was the people here did not come to make good time with their lives...they came to have a good time. And this is the soul of what the bard encompasses. I came there for the sense of family, and the wonderful music, despite it at times being quirky.""I came to associate this family with you. And when we would go to the spa...the casino...the club...everything. I came to greatly anticipate your stopping and listening during my playing. And I must confess that when I asked if you would accompany me on a date, I was not prepared for you to say yes.""But you did.""...do you recall the night on the beach? Where you told me your life story? It was right after the party...I recall every word you said. This was the moment...the moment where I truly realized I had loved you from the moment I had met you. And I wanted...no. I deeply desired being around you.""...do you recall the mission at the manor? And the mission in the glen? I...hesitate to recall these, but shall so that history does not repeat itself. The glen-...I recall carrying you out in my arms, fatigued from trying to find a healer, thinking my own hubris had caused this, concerned naught for myself, but for you. It was the moment I realized my life revolves around you.""...Do you recall the precious moments? The small ones, in front of the fire? Where you were the first to believe I am not an animal but a man? This is...something I still come to grips with. And the moment when I had to tell you that your life was no lesser than mine...that we were one already. And that you...grant me an inner peace I have not ever known.""0ei uho kxo semfujj r0 nxasx A um wiatot xemo, veh A um cejk nakxeik 0ei. Kxo tajkudso roknood kne retaoj teoj dek taskuko kxo tajkudso roknood kne jeicj...but I cannot bear the distance.""...I cannot make the vows we have come to associate with a bonding. Because...you have already been there for me, for it all. You have been there for better, and for worse. For wealth, and for poverty. For sickness, and for health.""For this, I do not fear returning to the aether, as I know you shall await, even while you have been long gone, and I have wandered the world without you next to me. Under the old gods and the new, I pledge myself to you.""This is my unbreakable vow. The measure of my faith. The depth of my love."At this moment, their orator even wondered "who was cuttin' onions" in the chapel, as she couldn't see a dry eye.The deepest moment Lea can ever recall, though, happened just during their reception, coinciding with the open hours for the Kitty Twister. Illy quietly pulled him aside and informed him he was to be a father, words forever etched into his memory. He experienced almost all the emotions at once as he pulled her close, hugging her tight, vowing to never let anything happen to her or his future kit.Sometimes, though, life has other plans.

...Do Us Part

What was only meant to be a routine mission ended up being the most shattering point of Lea's life.Normally, Illy and Lea would regularly communicate during their missions, both to assure one another they were okay, and to hear each other's voice even from far away.This latest mission, though, Illy reassured Lea she would be okay, and she'd see him again when it was over.These words, and her smile, were the last he would rememember her being happy.He tried to reach her on the third day. No response. The fourth brought none either. He began to get worried, and after a week passed, resolved to use his ring to reach her.To his abject horror, he found himself teleported into a Garlean research encampment, surrounded by Garlean researchers huddled over a table with a bloody and battered Illy. She wailed his name, a sound he never hoped to hear, and from then on he barely recalls much.What really happened, though, was the immediate termination of living of the Garlean researchers. Lea then destroyed the table and collected his dying wife in his arms, only for her to share the kit was already gone, and she would be soon.She died, right there, in his arms, causing him to immediately and willingly succumb to his own blood rage, killing every single Garlean in the facility and destroying it in a firey inferno seen throughout Eorzea.A broken and battered Lea limped through the Black Shroud, carrying his wife's lifeless body in his arms, trampling through the rain and cold only to find himself standing under Everschade, the Guardian Tree of the Black Shroud. His mind flooded with what felt like memories of her, recalling how she wanted to show him this tree, and yet never got to. He laid her against the tree, and began to dig right at its roots, but his claws were not sharp enough to get deep, and he quickly hit water.Unsure now, he simply collapsed and sobbed, and to this day is unsure if what he saw happened, or if it was a grand hallucination. The Bole glowed in the sky with a brightness Lea had never seen, and down from it descended a great light, landing in front of him as a seed nymph. Illy's body began to glow, and was slowly turned into aether, absorbed into the nymph, then cast back into the Everschade, the tree glowing a bright blue-green with aether before fading and leaving him alone in the darkness.He is unsure if he hallucinated hearing the nymph say "She will be remembered by the lands as well as your heart."Lea to this day is unsure if this really happened, but when he woke up Illy was already gone, and he felt an inexplicable connection to the Everschade, something he has never been able to shake.

Spirited Away

Ever since, Lea's presence in society has considerably waned, and though others may see him in the world, he tends to be more withdrawn and stay away from society. He since considered the hallucination (or not, he's still not sure) from the Everschade as a sign, one saying he were not meant to live as those who live in the cities do.Having returned to the woods, Lea has adopted with open arms his more naturalist lifestyle due to both his traits and his being accustomed to being with little anyway. While he prefers to be withdrawn, and hide at his hovel in the deep Shroud, he does still have a home in society as a sort of safe house if his duties require him to stay in the cities for a time. However, such time is limited, and he will always return to the woods whenever given the opportunity.Though Lea couldn't bring himself to stay much longer in society, every once and a while he makes long visits, to see old friends, and to make new ones, though only a select few now get to learn more about the gentle giant.

The Wanderer

Lea's personality has evolved considerably over the many seasons he's been on the star.

Generation I
(dark navy hair with white highlights, red eyes, and red cheek hair)The original form and personality of Lea.His demeanor during this time would have been one of substantial caution, staggered speech, and considerable timidness. His brief time in Eorzea as well as trying to learn the language and not let the blood rage consume him took up most of his mind's power, thereby leaving him rather nervous and shy around others. He didn't tend to associate with anyone and prefered to be a lone operator, not making waves and not impressing anyone too much.Ilysian helped him come out of his shell some, helping Lea learn how to be more friendly and guiding him in the manner of being social in Eorzean. After some time, he was perhaps too social a butterfly, sharing things Illy had to remind him not to share, and being confused by the notions of Eorzean social customs.Illy's loss caused him untenable agony, despite his trying to maintain a candor about his situation. It was obvious from friends' observations he was doing poorly, having gone back to surviving rather than thriving. This changed considerably after the soul collection of his late wife and kit.

Generation II
(Black hair with pink highlights and amethyst eyes)The current iteration of Lea.
This personality of Lea is a little more easygoing now, and without shame or the ability to lie. He is very earnest about his words and has what has been remarked by a friend as "adorable honesty", in that he hides nothing and wears what he is thinking rather plainly.One might be cautious around this Lea, as he may be rather blunt when in conversation through no fault of his own.

Jack of All Trades

Lea is, quite literally, a jack of all trades, thanks to his experience, earned and learned, through his various generations.

The Viera Virtuoso

Lea is a particularly skilled bard!This one comes largely from my own personal skill at playing the piano. When I learned about how barding worked in FFXIV, I went about desiging my own solution to barding which, by all technicality, does not violate the T&C of the game.Essentially, it is a spare FPGA from when I was doing electrical engineering hooked up to an old Casio ToneBank via MIDI, and interfaces with the game by otherwise normal keystroke casting. Looks and smells like a standard PC-compatible keyboard, but isn't.I haven't shared this with anyone for good reason, because as it stands what I've created is a second-party hardware-based solution, which in essence is no different than any other human-interface device used to play the game. (Also because setting it up made make a Franken-keyboard, and I'm not an electrical engineer so I'm not terribly proud of the looks results!)Everyone says it's impressive, but I really don't think it's all that impressive, I'm more disappointed I put in all that work only to find out it's easier to be a software jukebox!

Hot On His Feet

Lea is also a dancer-in-learning, as his mother was a dancer much in the same vein his father was a bard. He enjoys dancing to convey story, particularly to music if available, and doesn't much care doing it for other's pleasure or entertainment, as he views that as demeaning to the art.

Bohemian Cook

Lea learned a large amount of his cooking from the camp cook in his troupe, and has learned how to be a fine chef. He's even mastered his own recipes, ones he's proud to make for others."The Pizza" is Lea's favorite and the one he first learned. It's a pizza that has cinnamon baked into the crust and is served with hot frosting after everyone has finished everything but."The Cocoa" is a three-chocolate hot chocolate with plenty of mint added, making it a fine drink to have on a cold and rainy day."The Star Burger" is a hamburger of Lea's own design, having honed years of cooking into a secret recipe patty and cucumbers on a hamburger. He's turned this one into its own venue, at Star Burger.

Strong and Travelled Hands

Lea is a skilled masseur as well, having learned many a style from various bathhouses and discussions with courtesans.His preference is hot stone mixed with a sort of shiatsu, something that helps break up even the most inflamed of muscles.In addition, Lea's also a courier of his own make, using his considerable strength as well as his dexerity to move packages which cannot be simply transported through the nets of aether throughout Eorzea.

All Ears

And of course, last but not least, Lea is very spiritual and charismatic, and is often sought for advice, to the extent where he's had to remind others he is not a therapist. Yet still friends come to confide in him and seek his advice, something while he would prefer they seek a professional, he is still grateful for his friends this level of trust.

Jack of All Trades

Like many in Eorzea, Lea is employed! Though he works at a variety of eclectic places as well.

Star Burger

Star Burger is Lea's home-grown luncheonette. Serving up a variety of homecooked meals, Star Burger has something for everyone's pallete.

Bards and Brews

What started off as a casual conversation with a friend became a venue idea which slowly grew into a full size venue, catering to bards and those who love to listen to them. Bards & Brews is a premier barding, roleplay, and tavern venue which brings a large crowd near-regularly with its popularity.Lea is honored to be considered as manager for the venue, despite most of the ideas having come from his business partner Freyja. A small staff is kept due to both the size of the venue and the want to maintain the small, cozy feeling, where staff know one's name and vice versa.

Naraku Mercantile

Occasionally stopping in as a helpful hand, Lea tends to do private courier service for a certain affluent geiko at the Naraku Mercantile.When he's not stopping in to see what the current doll selection is or to get patched up by the local doctor.

Rocky Paths

Lea's favorite weekend place to work, the Rocky Paths is a cafe, library, and relax room catering to those whom seek a warm refuge from the Empyreum cold.Suffice to say though, it's quite hot inside, with enough warmth for you to enjoy the space and the people...however you might like.

Striking Up A Chat

Lea's a very social butterfly, and is always keen to converse! There's a few subjects, though, he holds quite near and dear to him.

Seaborn

Though Lea has a mother and father both born in the forest, Lea was born in the belly of a carrack on the high seas, in the midst of a storm. As such, he has a very strong bond with the sea which in many ways is stronger than his natural Viera bond with the forest. He's just as home with seafarers as he is his fellow denizens of the woods.

Carnie Kid

Lea was born into a terribly impoverished traveling carnival troupe, and is more accustomed to being on the road than he is staying in one place. He quite enjoys a good festival, and is just as willing to gamble or play games as any other festivalgoer.

Naturalist

Lea, while maintaining a home in society, prefers to live off the land outside of the cities. For the few who he finds trustworthy, he invites them to his hovel, a quiet, secluded space in the woods to enjoy.

Gastronomy

Having fondly remembered getting a loaf of bread for one of his namedays, Lea is very much an appreciator of good food and drink. He likes learning new recipes and enjoying the art of a fine meal just as much as he does learning how to make it.

Music

Lea's mother was a dancer and his father was a bard. Coupled with having grown up in the troupe, Lea has a particular fondness for most kinds of music, whether it shreds or flows.

Travel

One of Lea's many jobs involves him being a rather hardy courier, and coupled with his inability to use the aetherytes, leads to him enjoying the long walks he takes to make his deliveries. He even sometimes travels for leisure.