#kate berne

[dis--parity]

@oceansofrp / @closeknithearts​ | Starter Call

『👿』 “Everyone else, they don't matter now. You're the one I can't lose - no one loves me like you do.”

[dis--parity]

@closeknithearts​​ asked: “Do you want me?” (Kate to Garis bc i love them.......)

『👿』”The better question is whether you’ll have us, even if we said we did”, xe riposted, ever more the one to keep the ones xe thought xe was supposed to love at arm’s length. “Better yet - will you keep us? ‘Cause you’ve seen us at our worst, and at our best. There’s no middle ground with us. You know that, right?” Xe could have been told time and again that Kate was there for all of xem, for Yeong-Hui and Garis both, but... words were superficial. Actions were what mattered, and though they had but a limited window to even emerge at times... xe didn’t know what to make of the way Kate treated xem. Were they so unused to kindness that they had to ask such an upsetting question in response?

“... what do you want from us?” Xe knew what xe wanted from her - but xe was scared out of xir mind to even begin to admit it. “Why are you here? Why are you so... persistent? We don’t-- I don’t get it, I’m-.... fuck...” Xe was scared. But, xe was proud to a fault - too proud to admit it, even to her.

“You’re so fucked, Kate. You’re digging your own grave, trying to love me. I’m warning you.”

[dis--parity]

@closeknithearts​​​ sent: “I want to know more about you.” (Kate to Garis :3)

『👿』 Silence would be the only thing meeting such a request, at least in the first few seconds xe had to consider it. Xir gaze would be cast not upon the person who asked, but to xir arm - the very same that, undernearth that beautifully inked tattoo, was absolutely littered with scars, reminders of xir sordid, shitty past, a life xe never went a day without wishing xe could abandon it entirely. To move past xir past, to be xir own person, to be better than even xe could hope to be, was what xe hoped for... but it was something that xe could never achieve. Not while xe was stuck in a cage, beyond the mind’s eye of xir host.

And, more importantly, to move past xir past... xe had to bury it.

“We’re not gonna put that on you.”, they replied at last, tone ever more blunt and distant as it always had been. “As an authority on ourself, we already know what’s gonna happen the second you start asking this shit. You’ll pretend you care about us at first, that you accept us, or whatever bollocks you want to say to try and make me feel better. But, the day will come where you’ll find some excuse not to hear about it, won’t you? Nobody’s cared about all that shit in years. Our host doesn’t even know we exist, they don’t want to know, and all we want is to bury ourselves, let them live happily - we sure as fuck can’t.”

Xe steps closer now, breathing heavily through xir nose as xe stares Kate down. “You don’t care what our favourite colour is. You won’t bring yourself to ask what music we like, or about our favourite food, our favourite season. You came here for our host, they’re the one who can fucking stomach you, talking to another person, and somehow being okay with... baring their soul to you. And now you’re finding out we’re damaged goods. That they’re not your perfect little beauty, wrapped up in a nice silk bra twenty-four hours a day. Be honest with yourself, Kate; how much longer is it gonna be before you give up this empathetic farce and try to bury us, like we’re supposed to be? Because that’s what you want, isn’t it? A happy life. A carefree life, with them.”, xe spat, venom lacing xir every word, nostrils flaring as xe shot xir last, burning remark through gritted teeth, turning away from her to leave her facing only charcoal locks at the back of xir head.

“Well, good fucking luck finding it while we’re here. Stop pretending you give a shit.”

[dis--parity]

preparation.

A gift drabble for @closeknithearts!

Summary: Martha learns that asking for help is good, actually.

Trigger warnings: None.

“... I’m sorry, but... you did not just say what I think you did.”

The comment doesn’t pass by the other woman without a scowl crossing her features - this was precisely why she didn’t come ask for help. She hated feeling as if she was incapable of handling herself, of doing everything independently of her family as he required, yet... a glimmer in those crimson eyes of hers would do all too much to reveal why she was standing before her eldest sister in the first place - even before she said anything.

“I’m serious,” came Martha’s retort, her arms crossed like usual. Yet, her poise was different this morning - her hands gripped each of her forearms, yet the normal distance and subtle vindiction in her grip was gone, replaced with a coy, vulnerable timidness that she’d have been too proud to let anyone, save Ophelia, see otherwise.

“I know you’ve been getting into modelling, so... I figured you’d be the one to ask. Well- Ophe did, anyway. I just-... I need an outfit for tonight, and it’s... something I’ve never done before. Never thought of it. So, can you-...” A harsh blink left her for a second, her throat gagging for a split second as if she were quite literally choking on her words. Was it really that difficult to say? Had she been so out of touch with her own family that this was proving to be such a challenge to her? Or was it something else? Whatever the case, she’s forced to swallow her pride, gulping as her eyes opened to look back at her sister, hands clenching into a tense fist for a moment as the words finally left as naught more than a whisper.

“Can you help me?”

A smile graces soft azure lips, then, the moment Kate hears those words. It’s a newly familiar expression to Martha, one she’d have been loathe to admit she’d found herself wearing once - one that radiated pride, not in herself, but in someone else. Wordlessly, yet with a little smile, Kate saunters over to her wardrobe to see what kind of thing she has. They were similar enough in height, save for three or four inches, perhaps it was enough to model something on her.

“I’m glad you came to me with this,” Kate hums, carding through the garments without really giving Martha another look. “If not because you decided to trust me a little more, then just because you came to the right lady.” She lets herself have a little smirk, but it still doesn’t seem as if Martha shares the same enthusiasm. She’s doing what has to be done to get her through the evening, she feels, and anything that would have made Kate feel better about the whole thing was merely secondary. Her gaze is cast aside, a gesture of trust, perhaps - or, simply of that same aloof demeanour she always tried to retain.

Deft hands still sifted through the racks of garments until, at last, the more formal wear in her repertoire was reached. In part, her inventory was thanks to her new friend she made in the modelling business - some gifts that, despite the incessent nature of her friend’s need to dole them out, were appreciated nonetheless. With that, Kate spoke up once more.

“I’ve got some dresses here, if you think that-” “NO--” The very mention of the word is enough to snap Martha’s gaze back to her sibling, that characteristic rage present on her first for a good few seconds until Kate’s furrowed brow and wide eyes would remind her of the simple reason she came here to begin with. She needed Kate, whether she liked it or not. “--dresses. Please, no dresses.”, she corrects herself, her foot tapping against the ground anxiously as her tone softens considerably - the tic reminding Kate instantly of the reason behind her outburst.

“Right,” she hums, back turned to Martha once more as more and more clothes were sifted aside. “I forget that not everyone has the same kind of confidence in their prostheses.” “What are you--” Ah, shit. That simple comment is more than enough to shock Martha - her sister sure was a sly one. Did she know, all along? Or, was she just trying to make a point? Whatever the case, the most important thing was that her privacy and comforts were well-respected - and, thank the stars, Kate had no shortage of respect for her family. It wasn’t just that Martha could take a page out of her book, she may as well take the whole book!

Minutes pass, awkward conversations pass through the decreasingly stale air, until they find something that’s just about a perfect fit for her - a hand-me-down at this point, an entourage of a blood-red dress shirt and a black suit., topped off with a silver tie. Red was never really Kate’s colour, anyway. Though her apprehension still masked her face, it was clear that Martha was at least a little excited for what was to come as the two stepped out of the house together. Kate would have offered to do her makeup, too, but something told her Martha was more grateful that she didn’t. Martha’s hands were quick to pick up her motorcycle helmet, raising to conceal her face as if it werre second nature, but...

She hesitated.

She couldn’t - didn’t want to stop herself from turning towards her eldest sibling now seeing her off. No need to catch her attention, no need for any awkward explanation or monologue, just a single word from her would say everything she needed to.

“Thanks.”

And with that, something inside Kate just sang. A sense of sisterly admiration bearing same warmth as a roaring bonfire wrought her lips into a smile, reaching out to pat her younger sibling on the back as she spoke up in return. “Hey, like I said, I’m glad you came to me with this. And, well... I’m more glad I could help you.” She supposed she had two people to thank, now - her friend at the modelling expo for broadening her fashion sense, and the very person Martha was now riding off to greet for enabling her to lower those walls around her heart just a smidge. With a final pat to the back, and a step backwards, Kate’s back would turn to Martha one last time before her helmet slipped on, sending her off with one last turn of phrase before the engine roared.

“Go get ‘em, tiger.”

[dis--parity]

We did alex and martha before last time soooo 🚼 Kate and Yeong-Hui/Garis? :eyes:

So, you are baby? // Accepting!

Hyeon Han-Berne is the child of Yeong-Hui Han and Katelynn Berne - with Yeong-Hui having volunteered to be the surrogate mother, ze naturally took on a few more of their traits. The event, partially post-natally, was particularly emotional for Yeong-Hui, and switches to Garis became more and more frequent. Nonetheless, the two of them were still able to mother the child on their own terms, with Kate to guide them along the way.

Hyeon is transfeminine nonbinary and uses ze/zem/zaer/zemself pronouns, and takes to heart some of the lessons all three of zaer parents taught them growing up - to live freely, independently of the weighty expectations of others. Ze always knows how to make an appearance thanks to the support and tutelage of zaer two model parents - which still came as a rather pleasant surprise when ze came out as nonbinary zemself. Though ze is aware that ze lives in a position of relative privilege, zaer parents don’t tend to utilise this privilege for anything except putting a good and safe roof over zaer head and ensuring that ze’s up to date with the latest fashion trends. Ze also has easy access to hormones thanks to zaer parents’ influence, another thing they’re very much thankful for.

In terms of interest and hobbies, Hyeon is a poet and a musician - the soft tones of zaer kalimba and acoustic guitar being the last thing zaer friends might have expected to hear. Despite this, ze owns an electrical guitar as well - and whenever Garis gets to front, the two of them love to bond over a good death metal jam session. In spite of zaer eccentric appearance that marks zem as the perpetual centre of attention, ze took Kate’s lessons about honest work to heart - though ze agrees with Garis and Yeong-Hui that such work shouldn’t be necessary to eke out a living - and has found a lovely job as a barista in a local coffee shop. As a matter of fact, some people would consider zem the main attraction, for despite zir almost intimidating beauty, ze proves to be quite the sparkling conversationalist, and has taken home... more than a few customers completely entranced by zaer comeliness. Yeong-Hui, being Yeong-Hui, totally supports this, even if it’s just zaer way of seeking out satisfaction until ze can find a partner to properly settle down with.

[dis--parity]

@closeknithearts​ sent:  👀 + What do you think of Kate, Garis? (Always accepting!)

『👿』 “Kate is...” A deep breath is drawn in by xem, xir words still jumbled in their brain, scrambling to form a coherent string of thoughts. But, where would they even begin with Kate...? “We... think we know more about each other than we probably should. Her, about what happened to us, about Haemolife, and us, about her powers, and how she got them. The strongest thing we have in common is our anguish, our pain, and... well...

Maybe that’s why it’s so easy to talk to her. I’ve never been able to confide in anyone as well as I have with Kate. I... might even be able to tell her I love her, but-... does she truly feel that way? Why would she? Is she truly so saintly, so patient in her soul and pristine in her heart to truly be able to take away our pain, willingly? For the longest time, I made the mistake of thinking she looked at us, and saw someone else. Someone better, that she was more familiar with, but... now we’re even more familiar with each other, to the point where... where I don’t want to pull away. Where we want to get to know her, to let her in, to expose myself to her completely and... let her take us along. And not just in a sexual way, either, I mean... I want to know where this is going. I want to know her. She is...

... she confuses us. Vexes us, yet... it’s a high we can’t come down from.”