[Begin Log]

Luminita: I hope you don’t mind if I record this, so I can listen back and analyze it later?

Mary: Go ahead! But I get to listen to it too, okay?

Luminita: I’m not even going to ask why you want that.

Mary: For fun, I guess? Whatever, you gotta stop questioning ‘why’ so much, y’know?

Luminita: That is literally my job.

Mary: Well, then maybe your job’s for nerds? But whatever, I know you’re gonna complain if I ramble too long, so let’s just get into it.

Luminita: Thank you.

Mary: Yeah yeah, sure. Okay, so, um… I guess if you wanna control your charisma, we should probably start with what charisma actually is, right? So, what do you think it is?

Luminita: Hm. That’s a better opening question than I’d expected, to be honest.

Mary: Wow, it’s almost like I know what I’m talking about or something~

Luminita: I never claimed you didn’t, it’s just appreciated. Charisma is… well, the best theories we have suggest it is a form of subtle hypnosis. Particular patterns in the voice and body exploiting poorly understood weaknesses in the human mind… but the tests with Linda would also suggest an additional—

[Mary mimics an extremely loud ‘incorrect’ buzzer]

Luminita: What?

Mary: Cute, but no. Charisma isn’t all this nerd shit you love going on about.

Luminita: And… what’s your theory?

Mary: I— Okay, like, maybe it is whatever that thing you said was, like, technically, or whatever, but you’re trying to get good at Smash by learning to code.

Luminita: ‘Smash’? Is that jargon, or…

Mary: Oh my Lilith, Luma… Look, the point is, none of that shit is what you actually need to think about controlling.

Luminita: Then what is?

Mary: That! That little wave you just did with your hand, you know? And the way your voice sorta like… swerved?

Luminita: …Hm. I didn’t notice that at all.

Mary: You did it again! I mean without the hand thing that time, but your finger, like… I dunno, it pulled on something?

Luminita: It… did, didn’t it? I suppose that was flirtier than normal.

Mary: Aw, you’re flirting with me? So you really do love me?

Luminita: Don’t push it. So how can I actually… Ah, I did it again, didn’t I? With my lips…

Mary: Yeah, see, you’re getting it! So basically, you know how all that stuff feels, like… seductive, or something? If you wanna tone it down, you just sort of… don’t do that? You basically just talk like a bored nerd or something.

Luminita: [In a droning, calm voice] I tried that, though. It only barely helped.

[Mary scoffs]

Mary: Well yeah, duh! Now you look all aloof, like you’re a total cool kid who doesn’t even go to school. Also you did the hand thing again. Pull it back.

Luminita: [In a nasally, quivering voice] What about this?

Mary: No, that way you’re just gonna make them pity you.

Luminita: [In her usual voice] Well then… what can I do, exactly? Is there anything that can get me somewhere passable, quickly?

Mary: Well, like… I mean, honestly, the pity angle is kind of a personal fave of mine. Maybe you should just give it up? Like, seriously, with the kinds of cougar vibes you’re giving you’d probably—

Luminta: Bad girl.

Mary: Wha— I— Why? Just ‘cuz I told you the truth!? Why won’t you just—

Luminita: Bad. Girl.

Mary: N-NO! You can’t say that! I’m… I’m a good girl, HER good girl, so—

Luminita: Bad.

Mary: No, you’re— this is all so mixed up! Stop twisting her words!

Luminita: Stop going back on your promises.

Mary: Oh, come on! I’ve already given you so much here, and you said you'd get that hiker girl, but you just— just let her walk away like she’s not even yours?

Luminita: She is mine. She—

[Luminita takes a few breaths]

Luminita: She’s under my protection. And she’s… taking some time to think about things. And she deserves that.

Mary: Oh, come on, like you’re gonna take no for an answer.

Luminita: I don’t want to, but that’s just going to be too bad for me. There are other humans.

Mary: But there’s only one her, isn’t there~

Luminita: I…

[Luminita chokes up]

Luminita: I have to control this, Mary, or else she won’t trust me, and then there’s no chance with her. And if there’s no chance with her, I… don’t want to think about it. I need to be trustworthy. And I need to earn that.

Mary: No, you don’t. Trust isn’t so special that you can’t make her feel it. You just have to get over yourself.

Luminita: If I didn’t earn it, I… I wouldn’t be myself, anymore. There would be no point. So yes, I do need to earn it.

[Mary sighs]

Mary: Alright, fine. I’m not a bad girl, but… like, sorry, or whatever. I guess.

Luminita: Thank you.

Mary: …Yeah. I, uh… so… I mean, um…

[Luminita giggles]

Luminita: Good girl, also.

Mary: I— I— I—

Luminita: Yes?

Mary: C-cool. I guess. Whatever. Anyway, look, just… just give it your best shot now.

Luminita: [In an aggressively flat voice] …How is this?

Mary: Hm, not bad. A little too wavy, but we’ll get there.

Luminita: I’ll start a new recording, then.

Mary: Yeah, sure, whatever.

Luminita: Alright, I’ll just—

Mary: Uh…

Luminita: What’s that?

Mary: I… you're not gonna record over this one, are you?

Luminita: What do you… Oh.

Mary: Don’t start.

Luminita: Of course not. Don't worry, you'll still be able to listen to this one.

Mary: …Thanks.

[End Log]