OOC
Name/Alias:Dawn
E-mail:d_coulter@yahoo.com / feybookgirl@aim.com
Messenger: d_coulter (YIM) feybookgirl (AIM)
Timezone: US Central
Past RP experience: Witch Way, RY
Was this character/PB held for you?
How did you find out about the game? playing Patrick Ashford and Libby Bronte
Character.
Character Name: Graham Forrest
Character Journal: graham_cracker
Age/Birthdate: 16
House/Year: Gryffindor 6th Year
Wand: 9 inch ceder with a core of phoenix feathers
Bloodline: Muggle born
Why were they sorted into this House? Graham was sorted Gryffindor for two major reasons: first, he has no fear and second, he's a true idealist. Graham was raised to believe that anyone can change the world and that the only way to truly live is to stand up for one's ideals. Those two traits combined make him the typical Gryffindor though they don't necessarily make him like most of his housemates since he tends to let his ideals lead the way when they tend to focus on the sheer fun of being fearless.
Physical Description. Graham is a sturdy boy. He's just on the tall side of average height an inch or two over six feet tall. He's well built due to years of Quiddich and other sports though he isn't fond of exercise for the sake of making oneself look better, he simply likes the physical aspects of sport. He finds them cleansing to the body and the spirit. When you look at Graham you see his Basque father not his Irish pale mother though you can hear a touch of the lilt of her voice in his speech. He tends to favor casual Muggle clothing and is rarely seen in either uniform or robes outside of classes. His hair is dark and varies in length depending on how long it's been since someone told him to cut it. Without reminders he's been known to let it grow past his shoulders. When long he often pulls it back in a queue when short he does little to style it past the occasional spikey 'do. His brown eyes are expressive and get that brown-eyed twinkle that people with blue eyes just can't manage. People are usually aware that Graham is a good-looking kid but his looks go from merely nice to look at to devistating when he smiles. It transforms his face in a way that is nearly inexplicable.
PB: Steven Strait
http://steven.passionedsoul.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=35&fullsize=1
http://steven.passionedsoul.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=13&pos=47
http://steven.passionedsoul.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=88&fullsize=1
Sexual Orientation: straight
Personality: Graham is difficult to pigeonhole personality wise. He's an idealist in the truest sense of the word, he truly believes in the power of a single person to change the world. Conversely when things seem too slow to change he gets all broody. He was raised on a commune so he's very self reliant because he's been in charge of himself for most of his life and has always been treated as an adult with something of value to contribute therefore he hates being treated like a child. He's a fairly dedicated student because of his sense of responsibility but has been known to blow everything off when he starts on a crusade. Though, to be honest there's really only one crusade in Graham's eyes and it's an extension of the thing that his father was essentially exiled from his homeland for...equality. Things have gotten better in the twenty plus years after the fall of Voldemort but things are still more difficult for Muggle born witches and wizards than they are for those with even the smallest amount of pure blood in their veins.
He's generally a laid back, open minded person though he can be a bit closed-minded when he feels that someone is being prejudiced in even the smallest way. He honestly cannot understand how there is any sense in believing that any one group of people are superior to another. He's self aware enough to see this as a personality flaw but doesn't care enough to really work to change it. Though he's friendly enough he isn't one of the most popular kids in the school because many take his idealism for priggishness. And occasionally they're not far off the mark though he isn't always aware of this fact. But like all idealists he can be very judgemental.
It might seem that he goes around pontificating in a very Percy Weasley-esque way but he rarely reverts to lecturing. He's of the firm belief that his actions are the best representation of his beliefs though this can also rub his classmates the wrong way because sometimes it's hard to tell when they're going to get regular Graham and when they're going to get holier-than-thou Graham. It would probably be easier if there was any consistancy in the behavior but it usually just takes the wrong thing being said and he gets all stiff and short. Not the best way to change the world but he has a bit of a temper under the idealism. Which would explain the fact that he plays the second Beater position in Quiddich.
But the fact of the matter is that Graham loves sports, especially Quiddich and rugby. It's a safe place for him to take out any aggression he feels, which would explain why he chooses such physical sports. Because, the fact of the matter is that much of what other people perceive as being priggish or judgemental is Graham trying his hardest to reign in his temper. Generally, he's a gentle soul who doesn't believe in violence but he's inherited his father's quick Basque temper which pops up at the worst times if he doesn't channel it into something contructive.
If you manage to make it within Graham's small circle of friends you'd better believe that he's loyal to you, nearly to a fault. The one time he's truly lost his temper was when someone made a crack about one of his female friends during his fifth year. The person making the crack ended up in the Hospital Wind with a very broken nose because if Graham attacks it's never with magic, it's always physical. And years of Muggle school taught him how to fight because his parent's lifestyle made him the butt of many jokes. He's learned to control himself most of the time but it's kind of like the Incredible Hulk, you won't like him when he's angry.
Graham's main interests outside of sports are comic books (yes he's a complete comic geek) and movies. He sincerely wishes that the Wizarding world had figured out how to do their own version of films but he just has to get his fill whenever he's home for holidays. It depends on what mood he's in on what his favorite movie is but you can usually count on Star Wars being on the list along with a handful of movies released during the 1940's and 1950's. Comic's however he can indulge whenever he wishes and he's made a deal with his mum to send him that week's releases by Owl each Saturday. You can count on him being holed up with his comics after Quiddich practice each weekend. His favorite series is currently Fables. If you ask him about either subject he becomes very animated, talking about favorites and little pieces of trivia that only the biggest geeks would know.
Graham has dated but only casually. Graham's innate intesity tends to scare the girls away though he never means to do so. Though given how deeply he feels things, from joy to anger, one could venture to guess that he would fall in love fairly quickly. And he would likely be a very attentive boyfriend.
Family:
Talia Forrest was working in a small school in South Africa when she was introduced to another teacher, a young man named Mikel Zubiri who was born in the Basque region of Spain. During their time teaching a bond of friendship grew which eventually deepened to love. When Talia decided to return to England Mikel chose to go with her and they settled into a quiet life on a commune in the British countryside
The unconventional life suited both of them as they had both seen things in their lives that they didn't wish to face and the isolation of the commune managed to heal parts of them that neither really knew were broken. There was no surprise for either of them when Talia became pregnant. There was also no desire to get married since they both believed that they bond they shared was something beyond mere law and words on paper. When their son was born Talia named him after one of her favorite singers, Graham Nash, and vowed that he would be raised to believe in peace. She was mostly successful.
Mother: Talia Forrest Had Talia been born in another era she would have been a hippie or a Suffragette. Her belief in peace and equality is unwavering. These two beliefs were things that she taught Graham from the moment that he was first able to understand the idea that there is right and wrong. Like her son she can be a bit didactic in her approach but no one can ever doubt her sincerity. Graham loves his mum but she's the parent most likely to embarrass him. Though idealistic he finds his mother's hippyish way of doing things a bit embarrassing. Especially when she corners his classmates at the train station and lectures them about the rainforests or peace in the Middle East or something that they really have no concept of since they live in the isolation that is part of being a member of the Wizarding World. She insists that Graham call her Talia though he would prefer to call her Mum.
Father: Mikel Zubiri Mikel left Spain as a young man because he was looking for something to believe in. He found it at twenty-two when he met Talia. Though he shares her views he has a bit more of a practical nature and therefore is more a believer in people being just a little nicer to each other than in a total Utopia. There are times when Mikel regrets a little how his partner has preached Utopia to Graham because he feels that it has created unnessisary internal conflicts in his son. For this reason he's always encourged Graham to come to him whenever he feels overwhelmed and it seems to have helped him some. His son seems less conflicted each time he sees him. Graham feels very close to his father because he sees in him someone who is both true to his ideals and capible of living in the world, he only wishes he could be a bit more like him. It was also from Mikel that Graham leared his love for sport. He spent many evenings growing up kicking a football around with his father and they always watched games together on the telly. Graham calls him either Dad or Papi depending on his mood.
Personal History:
Even as a small child it was clear that Graham had very definate ideas of right and wrong. He decided when he was five that eating animals was wrong and hasn't eaten beef, pork or chicken since. He will eat eggs and seafood though it is rare. It was around the same age that he got in his first fistfight because one of his nursery school classmates was being cruel to a dog who lived on their usual route to school. Talia worked hard to teach Graham to curb his temper though Mikel was much more sensible about it. He saw that Graham's anger was never directed at slights he felt against himself, the other children could taunt him until doomsday and he would remain stoic. It was only when something or someone Graham felt was defenseless was attacked that Graham reacted. And though Mikel like Talia was a peaceful man he saw this protective nature as something positive. Because of this though Graham was taught to curb his temper he was never taught that it was wrong to protect those who couldn't protect themselves.
Throughout Graham's childhood there were small indicators of his magical talent though no one ever really thought much of them so when the Owl came from Hogwarts both Talia and Mikel were convinced that the Scotish school would be a good place for him to be. From the beginning Graham felt like he was someplace that fit. There he could learn what he truly was and explore his own potenial.
Graham showed a natural affinity for defensive magic and strangely, divination but his primary school-based focus has always been Quiddich. He loves the sport, not in the way that Alpha Smith or Lydia Wood do, but as a way to work out the aggression he often feels and to cleanse his soul as odd as it might sound. For these reasons he takes the game as seriously as anything else in his life is taken.
The one thing that truly bothers him about Hogwarts and the Wizarding world in general is their continuing feeling that those with Wizard blood are inherantly superior to those without. Having grown up with constant lessons of the equality of all beings it really rubs Graham the wrong way to be considered a memeber of any minority especially when he can see no ways that the purebloods are superior to him.
Classes: Best: Divination, DADA, Muggle Studies
Worst: Arithmancy, Charms and Astronomy
Plans for character: I want to explore just how far his idealism goes and what will truly set him off. I want to figure out what will make him loosen up and who he would end up running buddies with. A relationship isn't a huge priority though I think it would be interesting with how seriously he takes things to see what he would be like with a girlfriend.
Samples.
Sample RP:
Graham blinked several times, "Blue huh?"
His companion simply smiled, "Well, it seemed like a good idea at the time and it isn't like I'm the first student at Hogwarts with colored hair. Bronte, the seventh year Ravenclaw prefect has had blue streaks in her hair since we came back from summer holds."
"The difference is that she still has nice long girl hair. She doesn't have what looks like a rooster's comb on top of her head," Graham's reaction was moving between horrified and amused.
"It's called a mohawk, I read about them in our Muggle Studies book," came his friend's defensive answer.
"Did that Muggle Studies book tell you that every single person who has ever sported a mohawk has looked absolutely ridiculous? Because they do and you do. And I hope you're not thinking to impress any girls with that thing."
"What makes you think that I was trying to impress someone?"
Graham snorted, "Nobody deliberately makes a fool out of themselves like that unless they're trying to impress someone. Especially at our age. Can you change it back?" he asked.
"No, I didn't use magic," his friend had the good sense to look embarrassed.
"You didn't use magic." Graham's tone was incredulous, "Looks like you'd better start investing in either hats or wigs because it will be a while before you can move through the halls without people pointng and laughing. Peeves will have a heyday."
"That was not reassuring."
Graham snorted, "Nor was it meant to be. If you want sympathy go see the third year who has the boils from the herbology project gone wrong. All I can offer you is ridicule and maybe a hat."
Sample Journal Entry:
Got an owl from Talia today. It seems that the tomatoes I planted are doing well which pleases me because it means that she'll be canning and I love her tomato sauce. She also told me about some new club she joined that's all about protecting this rare species of otter. Seems like she could focus on something a little bigger to me but that's Talia for you. She'll work tirelessly to save an ant not thinking about the fact that none of it matters if people destroy the world in their constant quest to be the best at everything. To dominate every facet of our lives. She maintains that my view is too broad, I suppose it's yet another way we differ.
Papi tacked on a note telling me that he got us football tickets for break, I can't wait. It's been eons since I've seen a live game. He also said that he and Talia will come this year if Gryffindor makes the finals. I can't wait for that. I think that Papi would love Quiddich and maybe being at the school proper will convince Talia that it's a lost cause trying to convince anyone here to worry about saving the Otters.