dr-kliim

[dr-kliim]

[ AKANE ]

“You won’t do it again,” she announced, her head tilted slightly, a satisfied grin gracing her lips. Her hands let go of Sigma’s cheeks shortly, just so she could pull an innocent face at him. Several seconds later, they were back in place. “Because if you do, I’ll consider it an attack on my person, so I will get up from your lap and leave.”

“Do you really want me to go, Sigma? If so, just keep doing it.”

It was safe to assume that the other desired her company still, meaning that her technique (for which it didn’t take a genius to come up with) would yield success. With that in mind, she lifted an eyebrow just like Sigma. Victory.

“You’d really just get up and leave? Just like that?” He wrinkles his nose at her, then forces a heavy and exaggerated sigh from his lips. To be quite honest, he can’t be sure if she’s kidding or not, so he slowly draws his fingers back.

He doesn’t want her to leave.

“Fine. I’ll stop for now.”

Just because he was giving up this time, didn’t mean he wasn’t going to use this new-found information at a later date...

“Unless you want to leave?” A hum follows the question, his eye still on her. “If not, then what do you suppose you’re going to accomplish sitting here?”

[dr-kliim]

[ COPYCAT ]

┠ ▏▔🌟▔▕ ┫

                      ❝… As if I wanted to see you again, Sigma… No. Doctor Klim.❞

A soft tone laced with bitter remorse, pain at the betrayal of someone she had trusted more than she should have. The mimic had learned the harsh truth of the young man she had partnered up with in that horror story that was the Nonary game. He’d been behind the entire setup, had used her for his own benefit.

Even more so, she’d believed in him.

                         ❝What do you want? Why have you found me again?                                    You said you were done with me when I won.❞

“Such a bitter tone, Copy. Never knew you were capable of anything other than sweet.” His own tone remains even, but there’s a hint of something behind it. Something that’s only there for a fleeting second before it disappears completely.

“What makes you think I want anything? Maybe I just want to see what my favorite player has been up to since we last spoke.” He can’t recall when they had last spoken, actually, especially after jumping timelines, but did it really matter?

“How did it feel to go back to your normal life after the Nonary Game?” He’s genuinely curious about how one coped with the aftermath of such an event...

[dr-kliim]

{ AKANE }

“Well, you know–” Lifting her hands to cup his cheeks, which enabled her to force him to look at her, Akane narrowed her eyes and shook her head, amused by his statement even though she was trying to hide that. Upon flicking her fingers against his forehead, like she had mused earlier, the woman mumbled sarcastically, “It’s not like I don’t experience physical sensations like any other human being, is it? Espers don’t do that. You’re a funny one, Doctor.”

“Then again, you didn’t strike me as the type to enjoy this kind of pain, so we’re even.” Oh yes, he did. At this point, she was merely attempting to come up with a come back. Let’s be real, who wouldn’t enjoy her previous actions to at least some degree? “Quite nice, huh… Unlike your tickling…”

“Come on...” There’s a hint of charm in his voice that may or not be intentional. “Admit it, you did like the tickling. At least a little bit.” He doesn’t move away from the hands that have cupped his cheeks, but he doesn’t know why. He really should, right? This was getting into... unprofessional territory.

But did he even care at this point?

The doctor side of him cared, but the Sigma side didn’t. Did that make sense? Leaning forward just slightly, he takes hold of her sides again and raises a challenging eyebrow. 

“I’ll do it again, you know. There’s nothing stopping me.”

His fingers are massaging slightly, but the threat of another tickling lingers in the air...

[dr-kliim]

{ AKANE }

To Akane’s personal misfortune, she was ticklish indeed. As soon as his fingers moved ever so slightly, a gasp slipped her lips and she tensed, leaning forward to bury her face in the crook of his neck. Her arms tightened around his shoulders, clinging to him in an almost desperate attempt to stop him.

“Noooo,” she whined, laughing against his shoulder in agony, “Stop it, Sigma. Stop it!”

“I will make you regret this!” No, she wouldn’t. She would only pout and maybe flick her fingers against his forehead lightly. For now, though, she opted for an even more cruel action – not-so-softly biting his neck. That would definitely leave her mark on him.

A smirk. More agonized laughing.

“Heh. You ticklish, Akane? Didn’t strike me as the type~” She was usually a woman who remained in control at all times, so to see her react in such a funny (and let’s face it, cute) way made his smile widen.

“Hm? Nah. Don’t think I will. Maybe I like seeing you this way.” However, his reply ends in a small exclamation of surprise when the brunette decides that she wants to retaliate by biting him on the neck. Woah, Akane! 

“Was that supposed to make me regret this? Because I don’t think it worked. Felt quite nice, if I’m honest.” He snickers a little even though he wasn’t lying...

[dr-kliim]

{ AKANE }

For the split second during which she assumed his concern was genuine (she let him fool her, oh boy!), Akane blinked and looked at Sigma with real astonishment discernable in her eyes. Since he was feigning it, it sounded somewhat exaggerated, which was making her wonder whether she had broken out in a rash or if her skin had turned blue or anything alike to that. However, as soon as the other finished his sentence, Akane proceeded to shake her head, her subsequent snicker more genuine than anything Sigma had heard of her in a long, long time. Even if her other actions had not been acts, none of her emotional responses could have been that sincere; simply because her emotional side had cooled off so much.

“You’re such an idiot,” she commented, pinching his cheek as though to make up for the lack of slapping. Truth be told, Sigma’s subtle change of topic was brightening the mood noticeably, and Akane was thankful for that. “You know what? There is a vast variety of reasons for the fact that your cheek is unharmed.”

“The first could be that yes, your so-called wooing skills–” She coughed, sarcastically so, “improved. Another possibility is that you simply aged and I like my men older with cybernetic arms and only one eye. Which one it is? We shall never know.”

“Well, doesn’t that make me feel special?” Came his reply, a quiet chuckle following his words. He had definitely matured over these past few years, though, so he couldn’t exactly disagree with the older comment.

“I never would have guessed you were into the whole robot look, though. You continue to surprise me.”

His hand moves around her back so that it can come to a rest on her side. He’s so tempted to tickle her. Is Akane even ticklish? Or would his efforts be all for naught? Deciding to go ahead with the action, Sigma’s fingers begin to wiggle against the material of her shirt.

“Maybe I find that insulting,” He teases. “That you like me better this way than my old way.” A ‘hmph’ sound comes from his throat to further show how “offended” he was.

[dr-kliim]

{ AKANE }

Sigma’s attempt at teasing her didn’t go unnoticed. A hoarse chuckle resonated within her throat thanks to this, and she allowed herself the tiniest hint of a smirk. “You see, I’m a great orator. That’s how I grab the masses and win their support. Or yours.”

A slightly ironic undertone revealed that yes, Akane wasn’t being entirely serious and professional either. Their bickering reminded her of the good ‘ol times that weren’t actually that long ago, which filled her with a certain feeling of– warmth, as simple as it sounded. Their position, her on his lap, his arm wound about her hip and resting on the small of her back, only contributed to the general sensation of not descending into loneliness.

“So you prefer my company to isolation?” Akane directed her gaze to his expression, staring into his eye with her countenance thanking him for his trust on the one, and playfully challenging him on the other hand. “I believe that is a deal I can make.”

“Suppose I do.” He meets her gaze, taking note of how playful it was slowly becoming. Banter and teasing was something he hardly ever indulged in, but right now it was welcome. Anything to lighten the mood and relieve some of his built-up stress.

Arching a brow, Sigma lets his fingertips move again. They don’t wander too far or dip too low - just simply caressing her back. It’s a little odd being in this situation before, since they had never been this close and personal yet... 

He didn’t want to part.

“Is something wrong?” He suddenly asks, his voice taking on feigned concern. “You’re not slapping me.” If the old him had even so much as thought about hitting on her, he would have left with a sore cheek. Then again, Akane had been the one to plonk herself on his lap like this and this embrace of theirs was hardly a suggestive one. Not in this context, anyway.

“Have my “wooing” skills improved?” He jokes, his one eye flickering towards the library door as someone’s footsteps--he assumed Luna--shuffled down the hallway and then faded. 

[dr-kliim]

keycrash:

BACK 2 THE FUTURE WITH JUNPEI MCFLY AND DOCTOR KLIM

[dr-kliim]

{ AKANE }

Akane allowed him to both pull her closer and hug her, resting her chin atop his head with her eyes closed to enjoy his warmth. Sigma’s complaints, the problems he was facing and needed to voice, didn’t bother her, in contrary to what had fazed him in the past (such as being single). In fact, she valued that he not only entrusted her with them, but took the chance to get his worries out in general.

“It might be the isolation,” Akane whispered, burying the tip of her nose in his hair. “And the fact that our situation itself is full of shit.”

“You need to allow yourself breaks. You will complete your work in due time even without locking yourself away or giving parts of your personality up. I know it’s tempting to see all of this in a negative light, but trust me the more you think of who you’re doing this for, the easier it gets. Don’t forget that this is also for yourself.”

“In the end, you will change. It’s inevitable. Accept it, and don’t hate yourself for that. You’ll always be Sigma to me, and a father to Kyle, and also a skilled and knowledgeable man who will have saved us all some day.”

“You can say that again.” He sighs, his shoulders drooping as if an invisible weight had just been lifted from his being. The touch of Akane burrowing into his hair actually fills him with this comfort and security that he hadn’t felt since this ordeal had began. 

He likes the feeling...

His next complaint dies in his throat after he hears everything Akane wants to say. God, even her words managed to make him feel certain things he had long since forgotten. Perhaps it was because she, above all else, was someone he believed in. Someone that made this entire situation just a little bit more bearable...

“You have a way with words. I’m a little impressed.” There’s a slight tone to his voice that expresses his attempt at a tease. He’s not quite at the level of teasing that the old Sigma had once been, but it’s definitely a push in the right direction.

For now, at least.

As a silence falls over them, he’s suddenly aware of where one of his hands had strayed. It’s now settled on the small of her back, his thumb caressing gentle circles. His mind tells him to quit it, to remove his hand, clear his throat, and act professional again. However...

“I’ll try not to isolate myself anymore.” The hand doesn’t move. “As long as you keep me company from time to time...”

[dr-kliim]

"I want the K" //if that's what the meme said. i WASNT ON HERE TO SEND U ONE ok

20: Any of the Above -> your choice of 1, hot, steamy kiss

Sometimes Akane came to wonder how their relationship with each other had grown so special in both a positive and negative sense. Their strange was unique, full of mutual trust and caring about one another, but their strange was also late night fights and crying at each other’s side about issues other people wouldn’t even ponder for a split second. However, whenever situatons like these occured, and by these she meant Sigma and her locking eyes for what felt like an eternity without saying anything, the previous trains of thought were eradicated. Now was one of these. From a purely factual point of view, Sigma’s eyes - or rather his one eye - was not only deep but also mesmerizingly beautiful. Then again, when did beauty change into a statistical issue? 

Akane felt herself clearing her throat, yet she didn’t break the intense gaze they shared. Their exchange was completely silent, and yet the Doctor managed to arouse a deep longing within her chest that wasn’t entirely scientific. Heaving a sigh that was much quieter than the brunette had thought it to be, her eyes closed halfway, the air growing thick with tension. And then, then Akane Kurashiki snapped.

Without leaning in beforehand to indicate her intentions, the woman reduced the gap between them to zero, her their most special number, laying her lips on his. Her arms immediately snaked around his neck so she could pull herself closer into an intimate embrace, and her eyes closed as she deepened their kiss before she could even register Sigma’s response to the action. She had waited too long for this. Too long for something bearing so much importance.

A gasp slipped her as she parted for the blink of an eye, only to resume the kiss by nibbling at his bottom lip. Just this time, Akane desired to let herself go, clinging to Sigma in order to do so (and to continue, of course). Then, as if to ask for his opinion, the woman drew away for no more than a few inches, keeping their embrace, and stared into his eye intently. So? What would it be, Dr. Klim?

[dr-kliim]

[ AKANE ]

His question made her bottle up a sigh. Of course it was of advantage that she seemed to ‘keep it all together’, but the truth was far from that. It really wasn’t so easy. Then again, it wasn’t easy to understand the basics of her mind either, or how all the images of wasted lives, pain, and death influenced Akane. Still, it was precisely that notion which made her direct her gaze towards the floor, the woman silently staring at it for half a minute.

“The truth is, I don’t,” she explained, her voice twitching every now and then due to what could be considered a semblance of nervousness. Discussing her weaknesses was always uncomfortable, even with Sigma. “I just– keep it all inside, waiting until the time to look back and reappraise comes. Someday, I’ll have to account for the past and my psychological issues. But that day won’t come until mankind is saved.”

Upon reaching the library, Akane made short work. She directly followed Sigma to the armchair, seating herself on his lap with her legs dangling off one side, and her arms wrapped around his shoulders for support. She usually wasn’t as starved of physical closeness (or clingy, even), quite the contrary, but today had been exhausting in its most draining form – emotionally – and just as Sigma had said, they needed each other’s company.

“What helps me cope is the thought of my loves ones,” she recommenced, picking the topic they conversed on ealier back up. “I want a better world for my brother, for instance, who gave up so much for me. And then there’s also you– you help me cope as well. You understand more of me than anyone else. The circumstances forced you into that position.”

The truth is, I don’t.

Those words repeat in his head until he feels her weight on his lap. Eyes open to the sight of the brunette clinging to him, her arms welcoming into an embrace he hadn’t known he had needed. Without missing a single beat, Sigma returns it, his cheek resting on Akane’s shoulder.

“That keeps you going-- thinking of your loved ones.”

She had a brother. She had family. He didn’t have that. Not anymore. Well, he had Kyle now. He was his new family, so maybe he could just think of him? Think of a better future for Kyle... Maybe that would help him through.

“I sometimes feel like I’m slipping away. If that makes sense? My, I don’t know--- I feel like what makes me me is disappearing each day.” 

Locking himself away for days on end probably didn’t help with that, but he felt the need to do that sometimes. He had to do that so that he could concentrate on work. The sooner this work was completed, the better...

Right?

“I don’t feel like who I used to be.” His arms are pulling her closer, almost as if she’s suddenly his security blanket or a safety net - a lifeline. “I just didn’t think it would happen so soon.”

He doesn’t care if he’s not making sense. The words are spilling out and there would probably be no stopping them until this conversation finally ceased.

[dr-kliim]

{ AKANE }

Akane hardly had a choice, had she? Then again, Sigma’s wish to surround himself with something calming didn’t sound all too bad, hence no objections on her part. Without so much as giving him a nod, the woman followed him down the hall, wondering where he would lead them. Technically speaking, the entire facility provided no calm places. Of course there was always the garden, but when one reminded oneself that it was created artificially, it lost some of its peacefulness. Even their private quarters, off-limits to the future Nonary Game players, weren’t really all that private in terms of providing an escape from everyday life on Rhizome-9.

“I’m glad you’re allowing yourself to relax,” she suddenly whispered into the silence, mostly because there was nothing else to say and because the rhythmical, recurring clicking of their heels was driving her insane. Monotony was the perfect causility for sinking into the depths of one’s mind. With her current mental state, that was nothing to desire, though. Akane assumed Sigma was feeling the same way about himself.

“You know, if you want to wind down, you only need to say the word and I’ll leave you alone.” It wasn’t like she wanted to. In fact, Akane craved some human company, but she wasn’t really a reminder of how to unwind for Sigma, was she? “I understand, if– If my presence reminds you of work too much. I can’t blame you.” I just don’t want to be a burden.

“Don’t leave.” He’s still heading down the hallway, back turned to her. However, every quiet word that’s spoken through those lips of hers manages to reach his ears. “I think your company is something I need.”

Akane was the only one who understood this draining feeling. She was the only one who understood what it was like to be weighed down by these expectations and the massive responsibility. Yet she seemed to cope better than him? He wondered why that was...

“How do you do it? Keep so calm? So... together.” His stress didn’t usually show on the outside, but he just couldn’t hold it back tonight. There was no point in hiding it anyway, not when Akane knew of what was currently going through that head of his.

He leads her to the library because it’s the only quiet place he can think of at the moment. Plus, the thought of being surrounded with books rather than the usual machines might make him feel slightly more at ease.

Plonking down on a cushy armchair, the doctor releases a lethargic sigh and tilts his head back to rest on the soft upholstery. 

[dr-kliim]

lang95:

AB project founders

[dr-kliim]

{ AKANE }

The two of them had left the room a few fleeting seconds ago and Sigma already seemed to have a hard time calming himself. Akane shook her head lightly, not because she was disappointed in him, but because he really needn’t worry that much. It was unnecessary, it pained him, and she could hardly make it stop.

“It was difficult because you’re so very afraid of bonding with him,” she explained, directing her gaze to the floor whilst roaming the corridors at her co-worker’s side. “You’re afraid of losing and thus hurting. It’s only human.” When she uttered that fact, Akane dragged her gaze upwards, attempting to catch Dr. Klim’s. “You are human, so these feelings are just fine. Don’t get worked up. You did well.”

Akane forced a tender smile onto her dry, dehydrated lips, even if it wasn’t entirely honest. The act itself was genuine, yet not the feeling attached to her expression. She wanted to be gentle with him, but Akane was just so tired. Fatigue was washing over here once more – not physically, emotionally. Being with these two drained her. She felt at ease around them, all while knowing it was only temporary; all while knowing this family of theirs wasn’t meant to exist in a human life sustaining timeline. However, at the moment she was helping Sigma, hence there was no time for her own struggle.

“So, how do you wish to spend our free evening? I’d still want to… talk, I suppose. About casualties.” Maybe even about emotions. Who knows?

He doesn’t reply to her at first because he doesn’t know what else to say. It’s true that he’s afraid of losing his son, but that was something he couldn’t afford to dwell on. This line of work was hard enough due to the massive amount of responsibility weighing on him, so to stress himself out with this Kyle situation would only make things worse.

“I don’t know,” His fingers are stroking through his hair again,  nearly tugging at the locks. “I just need to relax.” He was so wired and tense from his duties, so the thought of discussing casualties only made him want to hide his face in his hands and tell Akane to go away.

“Let’s just go somewhere quiet.” That meant away from the buzz of machines and the fluorescent lights that could easily drive one insane if they lingered around them 24/7. He’s already off down the corridor before Akane can have any input.

[dr-kliim]

amphany:

Siggy sketch page!

[dr-kliim]

{ AKANE }

Akane couldn’t help a pang of sadness washing over her. It was endearing how much Kyle cared about a species he’d never even had contact with, but it was also somewhat painful how naive he seemed to be. Humans even struggled with helping one another, so how would the vast majority of people make time for mulling over suffering polar bears, dying whales, or any other animal at whose expense they live? Then again, Dr. Klim was right; there was always some good in mankind, and one could never abandon one’s faith in that.

Storytime passed within a few more minutes, bedtime approaching at high speed. Kyle’s objections to going to sleep were understandable, but Akane couldn’t cave in to his wishes now – and neither could Sigma!

“Just think of all the beautiful dreams you’ll have,” the woman explained, a finger raised as though she were about to tell another story (which, frankly, she wasn’t). It resulted in the child facing her. “Or keep looking forward to our breakfast tomorrow. Your father promised to read you another, and I’ll make sure he keeps his word, okay?”

Gently, Akane nudged Sigma with her elbow. It was meant to remind him they needed to leave soon, or else the child would keep objecting. “Good night, Kyle. Sleep well.”

He slowly begins to rise after receiving that nudge, but the action is a lot tougher than he could have ever anticipated. Kyle’s staring up at him with his own eyes (sorta) and it makes his chest ache. Did he not believe him? Did he think that his promise of another bedtime story was a false one...?

“Good night, Kyle...”

Hovering awkwardly as his mind jumps between “Should I give him a good night kiss?” and “Just hurry up and leave the room!”, the doctor clears his throat and heads for the door. With each step that’s taken, he feels tiny twinges of guilt inside. Akane would probably advise him to stop allowing himself to get this way, but he can’t exactly help it. He wanted to be a more affectionate person, especially towards his son, but something inside continued to hold him back.

Once outside, he leans against the wall directly to the left of the door. A sigh is released in a quiet puff while he awaits the woman’s presence. Conscious of Kyle’s eavesdropping habit, the male wanders out of range before speaking to his colleague.

“Why was that so-- DIFFICULT? It shouldn’t be that difficult, right?” God, what was wrong with him? Well, he knew the answer to that, but there would be no point in bringing it up again.

[dr-kliim]

{ AKANE }

Akane couldn’t help a gentle chuckle. Somehow this evening made her feel as though they really were a family, even if she knew they could never become what Kyle dearly wished for. They were here right now, raising Dr. Klim’s clone like a child of their own, but some day they would save the world and endure the inevitable pain of losing all for the sake of survival.

By the time she had thought this through, Akane noticed she was digressing again. Shaking her head lightly as to stop herself from overthinking, she scooted closer to the two males, leaning over to glance at the animal in question.

“Oh!” she exclaimed, turning towards Kyle, explaining, “What you can see there is a polar bear. They live across the arctic, a location at the nothernmost part of eart, also called the north pole. Due to a climate change on Earth, its ice surface – on which those bears live – is melting; that’s why they’re about to go extinct. The saddest part about this is that most of the climate change on Earth is caused by human actions, not by nature itself. But that’s a vast topic! Maybe I’ll explain to you some day.”

The look on Kyle’s face shows that he’s very much interested in the facts he’s being told, but as soon as she says that the animals were near extinction, his smile falters.

“Why don’t they help the polar bears? Can’t they stop the ice melting?”

The doctor shakes his head and flicks to the next page. He’s almost sorry that he had brought it up, so he tries to move on to the next subject.

“It’s a little complicated,” He answers. “But there are people trying to help the polar bears, so let’s try not to worry about them, okay?”

The next ten minutes are spent on the animal book with Kyle pointing out various species and telling the adults what his absolute favorite one was (a giraffe). All too soon, though, the book’s finished and it’s supposed to be time for sleep. However...

“But I’m not sleepy anymore! We should read another!”

Uncertain how best to approach this, Daddy Sigma searches his brain for a way to reject the boy without making him upset.

“We can read more tomorrow. I-- I promise.”

[dr-kliim]

{ AKANE }

“Easy there,” Akane replied, her hands raised in defense and the corners of her mouth drawn into a smile that was partially amused and partially baffled at how bad Dr. Klim’s pun was. “The birds are angry, not the player themself. That’s what the adjective before the noun indicates, sweetheart.”

Sassy. Don’t make Kyle ship you, Akane.

The evening progressed slowly. Once Akane noticed Sigma was about to interact with Kyle directly, she leaned back and let the scene unfold in front of her eyes. It was important that these two spent some time together without her intruding, even if she was still sitting right beside them.

"It’s an elephant,” Kyle uttered quietly, still awe-struck by the fact that Miss Akane had managed to get his father here! His eyes had seized him, fixing on the man whose attention he desired deeply, but now his attention was directed towards the picture. “It’s… not a strange creature, as far as I know! I’m not sure, Father.”

He can only shake his head at Akane’s explanation as to why the game is called ‘Angry Birds’. Narrowing his eyes and smiling in a sarcastic way when she calls him ‘sweetheart’, he returns his attention to the book.

Kyle had gotten the question correct just as Sigma knew he would. Still, he feels a sense of pride and nods along, chuckling quietly when his son points out that it isn’t a strange creature at all. Shifting on the bed, he glances to the boy.

“That’s right. It’s not that strange. There are lots of them back where Miss Akane and I are from.”

He knew Kyle was interested in learning about Earth, but he had always ensured to keep certain pieces of information from the youth in case it scared the poor thing. Flicking to the next page, his eye falls on another image. This time it’s a polar bear.

“This one here, though... There aren’t many of them left.” He can feel Kyle trying to inch closer to him. He then smiles and nods towards Akane. “Should we ask Miss Akane why that is?” 

“Yeah!” Kyle exclaims, turning his excited stare to the woman. “Why, Miss Akane? Why are there not many left?”