Flavie

Flavie has 2 heads, 4 arms and 5 breasts (arranged in an X shape). Both tzeir hands and feet are polydactyl (6 fingers/toes).

Instead of human ears, tzey have cat ears on top of tzeir heads. Tzey also have 2 cat tails. The fur of these feline elements, like tzeir hair, is white.

Tzeir hair is arranged almost identically for both heads, with seemingly messy (but actually carefully positioned) fringes and a ponytail. Tzey also wear large, round glasses on both heads.

Tzey often wear clothes that look fancy, but are made of fairly cheap fabric. Tzey favor long sleeves, long socks and short pants. It is rare to see tzem without ribbons, rings or other ornaments on tzeir tails.

Flavie D'Arjane, assigned male and named Florian Darasquin at birth, was born in the Matriand Barony; a state specialised in industrial technologies. Florian's mother, Estel, died in childbirth, and so he was raised by his father, Oskar.

Florian had a rough childhood. He was a shy kid bullied by his classmates and his father, as a major magitek engineer, had little free time to spend with him. Florian's only friend at the time was his father's Elven assistant Danton (he), who took care of him whenever his father was busy.

When he was by himself, Florian also "hanged out" with a bunch of stray cats that lived near his father's house. He enjoyed reading books, drawing and doing all kinds of activities surrounded by these cats, and often snatched some food from the house's pantry for them.

From a young age, Florian was pushed to learn magitek engineering like his father. Though he was a promising student, he lost all interest in it when he discovered music. At 11, he was offered a violin, an instrument that most of his family played as a side activity; but Florian couldn't stop playing it, and decided to devote his life to music.

Florian started neglecting his studies. Tension grew between him and his father, who deemed music was an unworthy occupation for his son. After many heated disputes, he eventually agreed to let Florian enter a conservatory, though under the condition he should have nothing but perfect grades.

Florian kept his promise, and his studies went great. He learned to play the piano, the flute, and many other instruments with next to no difficulty, and his teachers praised his performances. Here, at the conservatory, Florian would also meet his first school friend: an Asralim girl named Silat. At the time, she was the polar opposite of Florian; as confident as he was shy, as vocal as he was quiet, as flamboyant as he was discrete.

Silat was kind; seeing Florian struggling to fit in, she decided she'd help him and lift his spirits. Silat and Florian quickly became best friends, spending most of their time together, both at school and outside of it. They shared stories, hopes and fears, without shame.

The one thing Florian kept to himself was his increasing discomfort with his body, as he entered his teenage years. Many adults told him "growing up was weird and hard for everyone", and so he refrained from telling Silat, even though it led to frequent depressive episodes. He felt barely connected to his physical self, but couldn't explain why; and so he carried on, trying to ignore this strange pain.

Before the finals of his 3rd year at the conservatory Silat took a few days off, for reasons unknown to Florian. When she returned and greeted him, Florian was surprised by her new physical features; he had never heard of Somatem nor seen Asralim that had gone through it. Seeing Silat with a second head made him doubt his own eyes for a solid minute.

Confused, Florian asked Silat what happened to her. She took the time to explain him what Somatem is, and how only Asralim undergo it. But about halfway through her explanation, she stopped, realising Florian had burst into tears. He finally understood where his pain came from, and what he wished for; only to learn that he couldn't never obtain it.

The following weeks, Florian was unable to talk and gave up his studies entirely. He just didn't have the heart to go on. One her end, Silat passed the finals and moved abroad. As promised, Florian returned to his engineering studies, which pleased his father, but he felt even more miserable than before.

Someday, Florian told Danton everything; how he wanted not only to change genders, but also desired features he couldn't acquire. Unexpectedly, Danton told Florian there might be some way to help him, though with some risk; he knew a researcher that studied Somatem as a biological process, and who was searching specifically for voluntary non-Asralim test subjects.

Florian was thus introduced to Dr. Joaño Vimer (he/they), who explained to him he'd gladly accept him as a test subject, but he had to be aware of several risks. First, his research was controversial, as it contradicted the religious nature of Somatem. Second, the process didn't work on everyone. Finally, when it did work, it proved both long and painful, with gradual body changes over the course of several weeks.

Florian, though intimidated by these risks, accepted: better fail than never try, right? When Dr. Vimer asked him what form he wished for, Florian took a long time to think about what he truly wanted and would be comfortable as. After a full week of intense introspection, he finally reached a decision. Dr. Vimer then started the treatment, after Florian and Danton arranged a suitable lie to tell Oskar.

Flavie's "Somatem" was all but enjoyable. Whereas Asralim bodies change while they're unconscious, Flavie was awake for most of the process from sheer pain. Tzeir head, arms and fingers slowly split, as tzeir breasts and feline features gradually appeared. When the process was finally complete, tzey were so exhausted tzey slept for 3 days straight.

When Flavie was finally awake, Dr. Vimer took several days to help tzem get accustomed to tzeir new body. Tzey first were surprised by all of these new physical sensations, but quickly learned to use tzeir many new parts independently. When Flavie was finally ready to leave, tzey thanked Dr. Vimer from the bottom of tzeir heart, and were truly happy to finally have the kind of body tzey desired.

However, when tzey returned home with Danton, Oskar not just shocked, but angry and disgusted. He, who perceived his child as no more than an extension of himself and the legacy of his late wife, couldn't conceive Flavie having the right to become anyone else than who he envisioned. Refusing to say anything else, he ordered Flavie to pack tzeir personal belongings, and not to return.

Heartbroken, Flavie obeyed and left home. Danton, appalled by Oskar's behavior, resigned on the spot and left the engineer's home as well.

Danton wasn't personally worried about finding a new job, and so he gave Flavie some of his savings, encouraging tzem to get in touch with a friend in Dantegyr who might help tzem get a place to live. Though Dantegyr was on the other end of Erza, tzey didn't have much a choice; tzey left tzeir home continent by boat, and promptly journeyed to Ajamin.

On the way, Flavie began to realise the cost of tzeir transformation. People were anything by Asralim sporting extra body parts, but a Human? And with cat features on top of it all? Flavie interacted with as few people as possible, unable to meet the inquisitive gazes nearly everyone gave tzem.

When tzey finally arrived in Ajamin and met Danton's friend, Flavie settled down in a small apartment with barely enough space for one person. The transition from a large home to such a place, all alone, was difficult. Had Danton given Flavie any less money, it might've been entirely impossible.

Flavie briefly considered joining the Imperial Panharmonic Orchestra, a prestigious group of musicians in the city; but since tzey hadn't completed tzeir studies, tzey were effectively no more than an amateur and didn't have any chance. So instead, Flavie searched for smaller jobs. Eventually, tzey managed to get hired as a composer for mechanical pianos, used in taverns and stores for ambient music. Flavie initially wanted to perform live, but tzeir employer refused, arguing tzeir unusual appearance might unsettle clients.

Though Flavie now had a job to live from, tzey were anything but happy. Tzey would never get the chance to join an actual orchestra. Tzey were alone. Tzey had obtained the body tzey wished for, but at what cost? How stupid of tzem.

A few months later, when Flavie's depression became unbearable, tzey decided to end it all. Tzey bought a strong anesthetic drug, poured all of it into a glass of cheap alcohol at home, and drank the mixture in one sitting.

Flavie remembers a vivid vision tzey had after falling asleep. Tzey were in some sort of plain, on a cloudy day, surrounded by dense fog. Tzey were walking, with the certainty of reaching the "end" if they tzey kept going straight ahead.

Eventually, Flavie noticed a feminine figure in the fog. So did the figure in return, before approaching tzem. Flavie was paralysed from surprise. As the figure approached, tzey recognised it.

Estel.

When tzeir mother was close enough, Flavie started crying. Tzey were ashamed. She probably wouldn't recognise tzem. That would be understandable. Tzey used to be a good boy, tzey could've done things right; but tzey didn't.

In response, Estel tightly hugged Flavie, resting her head between tzeirs. She whispered "My sweetheart. You've grown so much."

Flavie didn't know what to say. Tzey just returned the hug. Tzey felt at peace, for a moment that seemed to stretch forever.

And then, tzey woke up.

Flavie was on the floor, coughing, barely able to move. A 2-headed figure was bent over tzem, obscuring the small lamp in the room, asking if tzey were alright. Flavie could barely open tzeir eyes. Could that be..? But before tzey could take a guess, tzey fainted again.

For a whole week, Silat took care of Flavie, helping tzem recover. She explained tzem how after completing her studies, she had moved to Ajamin, and joined the Imperial Panharmonic Orchestra. While dining in town with friends, she had heard some of Flavie's mechanical piano music, and thought this unknown composer would make a fine addition to the orchestra personnel. Talking to the owners, she was finally given Flavie's address. She seemingly had arrived just in time to notice Flavie was unconscious, and get a healer to take care of tzem.

In her own words, the timing of her visit was "nothing short of a miracle". Flavie thought about this dream tzey had while tzey were unconscious. Tzey didn't know what to think of it. Tzey wouldn't tell Silat about it for a long, long time.

As Flavie recovered, tzey eventually moved in with Silat, and ended up joining the Imperial Panharmonic Orchestra with her support. Some more time later, the two of them would finally confess their feelings for each other.

At long last, Flavie's life had truly begun.

Flavie regularly produces symphonies, concertos and other pieces for the Imperial Panharmonic Orchestra, both for regular entertainment and special occasions. Tzey still produce pieces for mechanical pianos, and donate them to the taverns far and wide.

Flavie has a plush cat named Scruffles, which tzey were offered in tzeir childhood, and still sleeps with to this day.

The small whisker-shaped marks on Flavie's cheeks are makeup, that tzey meticulously apply every morning.

Flavie can meow and purr. The former comes entirely from voice training, but tzey acquired the latter with tzeir other feline features.