Post by Lori on Jan 26, 2018 1:19:33 GMT
Birth Name
Graham Scott Blackstone
Full Name
Inara Nyx Cole
Nickname
None
Age/Birthday
15/May 27
Zodiac
Gemini
Reputation
Inara is still pretty new to Salem High so she doesn't think she has much of a reputation yet. Maybe just the new girl? Although, if she's being completely honest, she'd be fine if she just stayed as another face in the crowd for the rest of high school.
Job
None
Class
Sophomore at Salem High
Grades
Inara is basically your average, run of the mill student. She may not get straight A's, but her grades are in no danger of failing.
Friends
Tempest Everhart was one of the first people Inara got along with when starting at Salem High. They both enjoy being outdoors and will sometimes go on nature hikes. Inara likes that Tempest isn't one of those stuck-up popular girls and actually takes interest in people around her. Plus, Inara loves learning all about Germany. She thinks Tempest's accent is so cool! Inara will typically be one of the students towards the front row of soccer games; while it seems like most of Tempest's other friends are cheering loudly and being oddly energetic, Inara's the one who's yelling about how much the other team sucks and that they'll get their butts handed to them.
Through Tempest Inara also became friends with Athena Schneider. Inara enjoys learning about mythology in general, but it's especially fun to have someone to actually talk about it with. Someone actually understands where her interest in it all comes from and sees them as more than just stories! Both Athena and Tempest are attempting to convince Inara to try out for the soccer team, which Inara really wants to do. Even though everyone knows the team and she wouldn't just be able to be a face in the crowd anymore.
Enemies
TBD
Interested in
Inara is a biromantic grey-asexual. She is romantically interested in both boys and girls, however she's not particularly interested in being intimate with anyone. With everything that's been going on with her, certain things is just best kept to herself.
Relationship Status
Single
Body
Inara's body isn't like most girls' her age. She will, at times, go a bit more the distance to show herself as a female. Her breasts are still in the process of developing so Inara will attempt to accentuate them at times. While it's not that she's fully uncomfortable, it does still feel a bit weird for her to not be in the same place as other girls her age no matter how badly she wants to. Her hair grows like a weed as well, so shaving her legs can be a pain in the butt, even if she's wearing pants. Inara is pretty short, around 5'2 or 5'3, but she doesn't feel the need to wear heels to make herself look taller. It's not growing taller she's concerned with as much as other aspects of her body. Overall she thinks she's pretty healthy; she just has to make sure she stays on the right track!
Eye Color
Dark Brown
Hair
Inara's hair is long, black and gorgeous. She absolutely despised it when it was short. There was nothing she could do with it, she couldn't feel it blow against her back or shoulders or anything. Now that it's grown out it has a nice, natural wave to it. Maybe Inara will as her stepmom to straighten it sometimes, but overall she's very content with it. While she loves having the option now of tying it back, Inara would rather just let it flow in the breeze.
Style
Inara probably leans more towards the hipster style. To her, it's basically the idea of combining strips or plaid with a color; kind of like a less is more concept. The only difference is, she feels the patterns add a little more dimension to her body. She likes when the strips give her the appearance of being maybe a little wider than she is or how the designs can help aid the appearance of her curves. While not really any type of clothing in particular Inara will avoid, she does gravitate more towards earthy tones. Greens, browns, tans, etc, are what she feels most comfortable in.
Playby
Jazz Jennings
Positives
Opinionated; Liberal; Outspoken; Peaceful; Calm; Polished
Negatives
Stubborn; Dependent; Assertive; Envious; "Broken"; Sarcastic; Messy
Likes
Earth tones; Mythology; Descendants; Kim Possible; Mermaids; Firefly; Country music; Nighttime; Patterns; Noodles; Outdoors; Picnics; Sandwiches; Traveling; Opportunities; Learning about other cultures
Dislikes
Family Guy; Cowards; Bullies; Dramas; Not having a voice; Small-minded people; Cinnamon; Waking up early; Flying; Twitter; Short hair; Restrictions; Bacon; Cleaning
Family
Father - Elliott Willard Blackstone, Estranged - Elliott was one of those born into the good life. A well-off family, a trust fund, private schools, large house...you name it and Elliott had it. He received the best schooling until it was time to take over his father's company. After spending years learning the business and getting in with the right people, Elliott left the comfort of his New Haven home to expand his family's company and properties. He started out simple, in a small Midwestern town. That was where he met his first wife, Inez. She didn't come from much. She was one of eleven kids, her family was poor and she barely even finished high school. The headlines all spun a wonderful love story about how a well-bred businessman swooped a poor girl off her feet to give her everything she deserved. While Elliott would never say he didn't love Inez, it more than likely wasn't the one true love everyone talks about. However his feelings for her did change when she found out she was pregnant. He saw her in a different light, not just as someone who made him look better and who did in fact deserve more, but as the mother of his child. During her pregnancy he treated her like the queen the papers always said he did. Unfortunately, things didn't end the way they should have. It began with a minor case of preeclampsia; not necessarily anything to worry about so long as they could keep it in control and the baby safe. But when Inez' water broke suddenly she had to be rushed to the hospital. Everything between then and the birth of their son was a blur. The baby made it, but Inez did not. Elliott was left to be a single father.Having already opened his heart, Elliott approached his new role as another business venture. He trained Graham to be the best person he could be for the company; raised him to be polished, punctual, smart, logical...anything and everything the heir to his company should be. But even Elliott knew that he could only do so much. Graham still need a maternal figure in his life. That was where Lanesse came in. Another 'love story', this time an assistant turned wife. But with Lanesse there came an unexpected factor - she actually paid attention to Graham and noticed things that Elliott had closed himself off to. At first they just seemed minimal, like favorite TV shows. But when that seemed to go zero to sixty and suddenly his son wanted to wear dresses and be a girl, Elliott had heard enough. The answer was essentially therapy or nothing at all. Since being disowned and cutting off all ties with Elliott, Graham, now as Inara, is happy living with her stepmother and feels much freer to be herself without any judgment or expectations. Although there will always be resentment there about why her father couldn't love and accept her for all of who she was, Inara just has to tell herself that she's better off. She doesn't need a father - or his money - to have a good life. Although, admittedly, the money would help with treatments.
Stepmother - Lanesse Cole, Bus Driver - Although Lanesse has no biological connection to Inara at all, she couldn't imagine calling any other woman mom. Since Inara never got to meet hers, Lanesse had essentially been the mother Inara never had. Unlike her birth mother, however, Lanesse did come from a more middle class family. She was one of three kids, was an overall good student, graduated towards the top of her class, and worked a few different retail and temp jobs post-college. Lanesse was someone who always had a strong work ethic but not necessarily a desire to be a mother. She never felt the powerful need to carry her own child and felt that if the time came, it would either be with someone else's child or through adoption. Such an opportunity presented itself when she was contacted through her temp agency about working for Elliott Blackstone. The new chain in the Midwest he opened was doing very well and he was going to need someone to help him with desk work as well as be by his side when he would eventually look into expanding again. They got along very well, although his then-son Graham was a bit quiet and off putting. Lanesse was unsure how to feel about that, but for the most part she attributed that to the strict and pressured environment he was being raised in. She had hoped things would change after she and Elliott got married; that Graham would open up to her more and accept her more as a mother figure. However there was a bit of sneaking and secrets. It started with a simple show - Lanesse had caught Graham watching reruns of Kim Possible. At first she didn't think anything of it, because anyone can enjoy any show. Although there had been a point where Graham admitted he wanted to be more like Kim, Lanesse thought he'd meant it personality-wise. She had no idea he meant like Kim Possible. Slowly but surely Graham allowed himself to share with Lanesse more of his interests. He enjoyed being outside rather than cooped in a building with homework and numbers, but he was also fascinated with mermaids. And when they went to the store he could never stop his eyes from scanning towards the girls' section. Throughout that entire time, Lanesse never once judged Graham based on what he liked or looked at him any differently. As soon as she put two and two together, Lanesse had all the information she needed. That Graham was a girl and he wanted to present himself - rather herself - as such. It was only a shame Elliott could not see it that way. To say that this was what destroyed the marriage was a severe understatement. But Lanesse does not blame Inara; she knows that's all on Elliott. Hell, he was going to be the one to let an innocent girl get thrown into the system and end up who knows where just for being born in the wrong body. When the final statements came, Lanesse had full custody of Inara and petitioned for a revised birth certificate with her name only. Things have admittedly been more difficult since leaving Elliott. Lanesse had to take Inara somewhere where the Blackstone name wouldn't follow them and she returned to retail and temp jobs to cover anything and everything they needed. Lanesse is hoping with them settling in Salem, it's a small and nice enough area where Inara can grow up to become the woman she actually wants to be.
Backstory
Blackstone was a well-known name in New Haven, Connecticut, and Elliott made sure that name would slowly but surely be known across the states when he began expanding the family business in the Midwest. It was pressure and stress that Elliott had grown up with all his life and knew very well how to handle. He was sure any child of his would be able to deal with it the same way he always had. To say he had high expectations for his son was an understatement. Financially, no expensive may have been spared; however when it came to emotionally, there was much left to be desired. Graham was always a very quiet kid. Reserved. A bit off. Most people took that to mean he was well brought-up, polished and behaved. Looking at him no one would ever think it had to do with discomfort in his own body.
Graham tried his best to live up to his father's extreme expectations. He focused on his studies, was quiet when he was supposed to be, spoke only when being spoken to, and attempted to learn everything about the business he needed to. It was expected for him to one day take over anyway, so he had to be well-versed in math, negotiations, how to deal with people, and the like. He kept his personal life personal and out of the spotlight for fear of being judged. He didn't tell people he liked being outside or that he enjoyed picnics. That his favorite show was Kim Possible or that he liked movies with mermaids. Aside from the fact that they were not necessarily things most boys liked, they were not things Graham should not like.
Being a boy involved so much extra pressure. It was as if, if Graham had been born a girl it would have made things more difficult for Elliott. When most people said they couldn't imagine it, they were most likely referring to looking at a daughter and always seeing Inez. But if Graham ever heard it, he would be looked at as less than. Like he wouldn't be able to handle it. Like he'd be weaker somehow. That was one of the reasons he enjoyed Kim Possible so much. She was a girl. She was a cheerleader. She could fight. She could stand up for herself. She was smart. She could do anything - it was literally her motto. Graham wanted to be liked that. Like her.
When Lanesse came into the picture, things became slightly easier. She found out Graham enjoyed Kim Possible and would watch it with him, because she didn't see it as meaning anything. She didn't think there was anything wrong with a boy admiring a strong, capable woman. Graham often thought he wanted to be like Kim Possible. He admired her so much. But the female character he came most to admire was Inara Serra from the show Firefly. The show itself was an interesting topic; a future space western show that blended the Eastern and Western worlds together. Compared to Kim Possible anyway, that was a show Elliott would be happy to say his son enjoyed. But Graham became completely enamored by Inara. She was, in a way, a sex worker, but in the future the official title was a Companion - someone who was desired, trained, admired, and was actually an important member of society. Albeit high society, but still society. But Inara was also a woman with beliefs and morals. Though she was part of a resistance, she was able to use her status to take her comrades places. She had a strong enough reputation for herself that even if she screwed up, she didn't lose her title. She treated people with respect but was also unafraid to speak her mind or fight when she needed to. She was, to Graham, the epitome of a strong and powerful woman.
One year, in middle school, Graham had been assisting with a school play. He was doing his part, essentially, it was for 'charity' or whatever excuse the private school had been using to raise money. He was in charge of the costumes. One of the outfits resembled something he thought Inara would wear. When he thought no one was home, he took the outfit into his closet to try on. When he put it on, he felt so much happier. For about an hour he had stood there in front of his mirror staring at his reflection. He moved his hands across the costume. He twirled in it. He ran his fingers through his hair, wishing that he could have the same kind of long and flowing hair that Inara did. He moved his hands over his chest, like he wanted to push it up to give him something extra. He felt more at home but like something was still missing. But when Lanesse walked in and saw what was going on, Graham broke down. He begged her not to tell his father. He tried to apologize, although the words specifically could not come out of his mouth. When she asked what he was trying to do, all he could really say was that he was trying to be Inara.
Fortunately for Graham, that was a week his father was away on business. Lanesse saw an opportunity to further bond with Graham. She offered to do their nails. Graham's eyes had lit up when she put the sparkly blue nail polish on his fingers. They looked so much prettier. They watched an episode of Firefly and then one of the Kim Possible movies. It was one of the happiest nights Graham had in his childhood. It lasted until two days later when his father came home early. Elliott demanded to know what his son was doing with color on his fingers. Lanesse tried to cover it up at first, saying that she was doing her nails and Graham was trying to be a good son. That he wanted to just do something with her. Graham was unhappy with the answer, but what else was he supposed to say? The only saving grace was that the cover worked. For the time being. When Graham brought the costume back to school and tried it on, it was stretched out. It wasn't much, but it was obvious that someone else had been wearing her outfit. Within the hour, everything came back to Graham. There were fingers. There were names. There was yelling. It all essentially became a huge blur to him, like a flash mob coming after him to say what a horrible person he was for not being happy with his body. As if that wasn't all hell breaking loose, it became worse when news got back to Elliott. He demanded an answer. Why was his son like that? He wasn't some girl. Did his reputation mean nothing? Graham broke down and apologized profusely. He wanted to make things better. He said he would do anything. Elliott's only suggestion was therapy. That with many intense sessions, Graham could get himself fixed and start going back to the way he was supposed to be. Graham had been so close to saying yes.
Lanesse was the one that stood in the way. She said it wasn't the answer. Her original suggestion was simple; they go away, somewhere secluded, for a weekend with Graham dressing as a girl. See what the difference would be. Elliott would hear nothing of it. He refused to acknowledge that he was merely supposed to have a daughter instead of a son. His words even were, "I don't have a daughter, I have a son!" That was the beginning of the end. For the marriage and for the Blackstone family in general. For what felt like months Graham isolated himself, locking himself in his room. He kept himself away from as many people as possible. He tried to avoid going out in public. To school. Anywhere, really. All he knew was that there was a lot of fighting and it was all his fault. That none of it would have happened if he kept quiet in the first place. When Lanesse finally came to get him, she showed him all of the paperwork. Divorce papers. His original birth certificate. A first-draft custody agreement. Adoption papers. She said she just wasn't sure what name to put on the paper. She needed to know what to call Graham. Though the story in its entirety was more complex than just paperwork and a few questions, it was those little, simple moments that really stuck out. The ones that made all the difference. Graham asked if he could be Inara. That was the name she'd gone by ever since.
The next two years were essentially a waiting period. After everything was finalized, Lanesse and Inara moved to Colorado. The idea was merely to get away, go somewhere that Elliott wouldn't be interested in investing in. A small, secluded albeit slightly conservative town, up near the mountains sounded like a simple enough place to get started. Inara started presenting herself as a girl there, filling and doing everything as if she'd been a girl her whole life. There were only two problems. One was the issue most trans kids and teens are faced with all the time, which was the bathroom. Either Inara would use a 'handicapped' bathroom at school or not at all. The other issue was that she could not start on anything right away. As much as she wanted the full body of a girl and to be able to develop like one, money was tight. Lanesse only got so much out of her divorce from Elliott and her insurance plan was basic at best. There was no way they'd be able to afford estrogen treatments for Inara yet. For an eighth grader who just wanted to be like her peers, it was a lot to ask for. But Inara had no choice but to wait. Things became more heated when parents actually started to find out that Inara was born in a boy's body. To this day neither she or Lanesse have any clue how it was found out. The bullying started again and, as soon as the year was over, the two of them relocated. They ended up in Carson City, Nevada, where it was much faster-paced and a lot easier to just become a face in the crowd. Inara kind of preferred it that way. No one really asked questions and it essentially felt like most people were more concerned with gambling than personal lives. Lanesse got a job at a casino with better health care coverage. At the very least, she was able to start saving up to get the treatments Inara needed.
That move, however, turned out to be as short as the one to Colorado. The casino Lanesse was employed by was not doing as well as others, and she was laid off as a result. She began looking into areas that would be good to actually settle down in, and a town or city with a great hospital that would be able to work with her and Inara. That was how she discovered Salem, California. It wasn't huge and it wasn't without its drama. However the hospital had great reviews and there was a doctor a couple of hours away who could perform the treatments that accepted Lanesse's coverage. The two of them packed up and moved, hopefully for the last time. They met with the doctor almost as soon as they relocated and Inara was able to start her first treatment within the month. Though she had not been on estrogen long, it appears to be taking nicely and Inara is starting to develop her own breasts. Though she still can't help but compare hers to other girls', she does what she can to prove she's all girl. Nothing wrong with a little help, after all! Since she has been at Salem High less than a year, however, the goal is to stay there at least until she graduates. As tempting as it is to try and get more involved, Inara knows it's probably better to keep a low profile for the time being. With any luck, one year of being a face in the crowd won't make any difference. It's only a matter of time before everyone does know who Inara is, anyway. She's outdoorsy. She's outspoken. She wants to travel. She enjoys picnics and looking up at the stars. She likes to dream about being a mermaid. She wears skirts, nail polish, ribbons, sweaters, anything that she wants. Inara is proud to say she is a high school girl. She just also happens to be trans.
Random
☽Inara chose her name because of the character on the show Firefly. While the series didn't last very long, Inara became enamored with the idea of Eastern and Western society tied together as well as the characters. She loved the idea of someone working in a generally questionable industry who was actually strong, desirable and amounted to so much more than simply pleasing people. This was a character who stood up for herself, others and her beliefs and had so much credibility to her name. It was the kind of woman that Inara had always hoped she would one day grow into, and now there is actually a chance of that happening.
☽She chose her middle name, Nyx, because it is the goddess of the night. Having always been more of a night owl, Inara feels that suits her perfectly!
☽There are moments where Inara can have a bigger mouth than she intends to. After spending so many years of hiding herself and keeping quiet, she's tired of holding back.
☽Since she's still pretty new to the school, Inara hasn't really considered trying out for a sport. Yet. But she's definitely open to the idea!
☽Much as she'd love to travel and visit other cities and countries, Inara HATES flying! If she's going to go anywhere, it's going to be by car, train or ship. Preferably ship, where there'll always be something to do and she won't just have to sit still for hours at a time!
☽Not that it's anyone's business, but Inara hasn't had bottom surgery yet. Between her body dealing with puberty and the whole money thing, that's something that's going to wait a number of years. While she isn't exactly open about being trans, and fortunately it's not the most obvious thing ever, Inara doesn't think it's her business to disclose what she was assigned at at birth. All anyone needs to know is that she's a girl and she's just trying to make sure she always presents herself as one.
Music
☽Just a Girl - No Doubt
☽Here I Am - Camp Rock
☽Set it Off - Descendants
☽Stupid Boy - Keith Urban
☽Who Says - Selena Gomez
☽Beautiful Life - Nick Fradiani
☽Feeling Good - Michael Bublé
☽Piece by Piece - Kelly Clarkson
☽Life is a Highway - Rascal Flatts
☽Welcome to My Life - Simple Plan