003.1 - Physical Aspects
General Appearance
Although only one-quarter Japanese, Colette’s general appearance is distinctly East Asian: straight black hair, dark brown, obliquely set eyes and prominent cheek-bones. However, whilst we may assume (or at least admit the possibility) that Colette deliberately enhances some or all of these traits, she can do little about a height and build that would mark her as distinctly unusual in an average Japanese population.
Height
Colette is of slightly below average height for a British AMAB, that being 1,763 mm, somewhat above average for a British female (1632 mm) but really quite a lot taller than the average Japanese female (1573 mm). Colette, though, does not count this amongst the things she dislikes about herself.
(Source for average height information: Our World in Data).Weight
Body Type
Despite being a physically fit and active individual, Colette is never going to be described as “athletic”. Although it would not be unreasonable to say that HRT has been kind to her in its redistribution of body fat and that she does carry her excess weight well, she does not, necessarily, hold this belief herself.
At least one unkind person (and I think we all know who that is) has suggested she would be better suited to sumo than iaido. Now much as it irks Colette that in Japan women are simply not permitted to take part in any aspect of sumo, it would not occur to her that anyone would not know this and so automatically assumes that not only is she being fat shamed but deliberately misgendered into the bargain.
Skin Colour, Texture and Body Hair
Colette has notably pale skin and, whilst not entirely atypical for someone of Japanese lineage, is, in fact a trait of her faerie bloodline.
Colette counts herself fortunate to have never been cursed with noticeable body hair and that HRT has enhanced her naturally smooth skin texture.
Face
Although Colette has undergone some degree of facial feminization surgery, details of it are generally undefined and she never speaks of it or even alludes to the possibility that it ever happened. Following on from the remarks about her general appearance, however, we may assume that changes were made from the perspective of an East Asian aesthetic rather than a European one.
Hair
Colette generally favours wearing her straight, raven black hair in a variety of typically Japanese kawaii styles. During times of stress or overwork, however, visits to the hairdresser become infrequent. We can assume that the hectic time running up to the election will have been one of those periods meaning that, when we see her at the beginning of the story, her hair is probably quite unkempt.
Eyes
Deep brown, almond shaped, obliquely set, Colette’s eyes are most definitely inherited from her grandmother, Takako Miyazaki, rather than the faerie blue or gold-flecked emerald of the Greenwood clan that she might have had otherwise.
Arms and Hands
Genitalia
For the record, Colette underwent gender affirming surgery, some time around 1986, which involved a procedure referred to as vulvoplasty or zero-depth vaginoplasty. Again, she is reticent about discussing the matter; not just for the obvious reasons but in part, at least, because she will barely acknowledge to herself that she was ever configured any differently to how she is now and certainly does not want to admit that to anyone else.
Rather than risk entering into a discourse about it, she would far sooner let people believe what they will about what she has or has not got in her knickers for, when all is said and done, she put herself through the process for her own benefit, not that of anyone else.
Colette’s surgically created clitoris is responsive to sexual stimulation and she is certainly capable of achieving orgasm from it. How often that happened before she went to Calmarendi is difficult to say; we may be sure, however, that it never happened at anyone else’s hands other than her own.
Beyond Unreailty The precise details (the when, where and by whom) of Colette’s gender affirming surgery are generally undefined but there is more to read about some of the choices she has made during her transition in Beyond Unreality - Transgender Colette.
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