[Begin Log]

Dr. Stoica: —Recording. Again, thank you for agreeing. When we have so little idea of what difference there might be with you like this, it’s a big help to get all the data we can.

Caitlyn: Yeah, uh… of course. Can we keep talking about what we were talking about?

Dr. Stoica: I can cut anything too revealing… There’s less need to maintain the integrity of the conversation when it’s just audio data. Besides, no one listens to my raw audio these days.

Caitlyn: I guess that makes sense… Like, genuinely. Your voice is… is…

Dr. Stoica: [Flatly] I know. It’s infuriating, isn’t it?

[Caitlyn takes a deep breath]

Caitlyn: I… I guess? I mean, it is, sure. But I never really feel ‘infuriated’. Just kind of, like… overwhelmed. Warm. Happy…

Dr. Stoica: Is that really how you feel, looking back?

Caitlyn: I didn’t really feel much, myself… Just whatever M— Mary wanted. But now it’s just…

Dr. Stoica: [Slightly more seductively] It's hard, going back all at once after so long.

Caitlyn: Y-yeah. It’s kinda… I dunno, are you sure she didn’t take anything away? Everything’s just felt so… foggy today.

Dr. Stoica: Unless she slipped something under the radar, this should be how you were.

Caitlyn: Hm…

Dr. Stoica: You did tell me you’d never been so decisive… [Slightly more seductively] It sounds like she came at a bad time for you. You never got a chance to properly develop the skill.

Caitlyn: Yes… I-I mean, I didn’t need to.

Dr. Stoica: I’ve been there. I— Hold on.

[Dr. Stoica clears her throat]

Dr. Stoica: [Flatly] I’ve been there. I spent months there after Violet died, wandering into and out of hallucinations…

Caitlyn: Would you have gone back to her?

Dr. Stoica: …I couldn’t have.

Caitlyn: Well, yeah… But, I mean, I can.

Dr. Stoica: That’s… true.

[Dr. Stoica sighs]

Dr. Stoica: I see no reason to trust the reasoning of the person I was, then. Instead, consider where I am now, without that sadist. And where I’d be if I’d gone back to stabbing Corina for her amusement.

Caitlyn: Guess so… That Violet lady was a real piece of work.

Dr. Stoica: [Slightly more seductively] So how do you feel about Mary, then?

Caitlyn: …Ah. Um…

Dr. Stoica: Take your time.

Caitlyn: Th-thanks. Uh…

[5 seconds of ambient beeping]

Caitlyn: Well… she's probably nicer than most vampires, right?

Dr. Stoica: It depends on what you call ‘nice’, I suppose.

Caitlyn: I mean, like… how does she compare to other vampires you've talked to?

Dr. Stoica: [Slightly more seductively] She's… not as violent. About as traumatized… More potential for recovery. Some spark of humanity still lingers, somehow.

Caitlyn: But she's not human. She… always used to tell me that. Like, a lot.

Dr. Stoica: …I need a better term for this. Creaturity, or some such. Moral integrity.

Caitlyn: So she is nicer, then?

Dr. Stoica: [Slightly more seductively] I suppose you might say… Sometimes the people the closest to being better are the worst of all.

Caitlyn: Yeah…

[Dr. Stoica clears her throat]

Dr. Stoica: [Flatly] I don’t know. Maybe one day she’ll be someone I would trust to have that sort of power.

Caitlyn: I… never said I didn’t trust her.

Dr. Stoica: I know you do. You just shouldn’t.

Caitlyn: I mean… I trust she genuinely wants what’s best for me. Don’t you?

Dr. Stoica: [Strained] In her… particular way, I suppose. Not that that did much to stop her from toying with your boundaries, hijacking your life, [Hoarsely] using you…

Caitlyn: That’s true, uh… but you sound a bit… territorial? If that’s okay to say?

Dr. Stoica: I— I—

[Brief pause]

Dr. Stoica: [Sweetly] It’s alright. You can— You… [Flatly] Having people to check me is a key benefit of this arrangement. Don’t you think?

Caitlyn: It… is… and it's sweet that you're thinking about that… I don’t know. Maybe you could just enthrall me? Like, long term?

Dr. Stoica: I… I…

[Recorder drops to the ground]

Caitlyn: Oh gosh, are you—

Dr. Stoica: [Growling, seductively] I can’t do that for you.

Caitlyn: N-no, of course, of course, I—

Dr. Stoica: [Hoarse, very seductively] I truly appreciate your companionship on a human level, and I very much need things to continue operating at that level.

Caityn: Y-yes, M— I mean, n-no, yeah, uh… uh…

Dr. Stoica: S— S— [Very flatly] Sorry. Many… impulses… What I’m trying to say is, you deserve to be free from all this. To develop your own soul.

Caitlyn: I…

[Caitlyn takes a deep breath]

Caitlyn: I get what you’re saying. It’s… nice, I guess, being able to, like, think of Mary like a regular person… but I don’t know. I just… don’t wanna deal with not being enthralled, I guess.

Dr. Stoica: I know it’s… difficult, at first. But I can promise you that the effort is worth it.

Caitlyn: Yeah, sure, and I believe you… It’s a crutch, I get it. But is that so wrong? Didn’t you say people should get to do what they want, even if it’s bad for them?

Dr. Stoica: Where did you hear that?

Caitlyn: Mary kinda rants about you sometimes. It’s… pretty cute…

[Dr. Stoica growls quietly]

Caitlyn: H-hey, uh… sorry?

Dr. Stoica: I… Nothing to apologize for. You’re not… wrong.

Caitlyn: Th-thanks. So I guess what I’m saying is… if you won’t do it…

Dr. Stoica: Please, don’t say it. I… I…

Caitlyn: You said you wouldn’t—

Dr. Stoica: [Desperately] I literally mean do not say it.

Caitlyn: I…

Dr. Stoica: The anxiety makes me hungry. The hunger makes me jealous. Do you understand?

Caitlyn: Y-yeah, I think so. Sorry.

Dr. Stoica: [Seductively] Don’t apologize. Please. You— You—

[Dr. Stoica growls loudly]

Dr. Stoica: [Flatly] You deserve more self-respect.

Caitlyn: Yeah, well… serving her’s the only thing I ever felt like I wasn’t screwing up. And you, too, sometimes.

Dr. Stoica: I… I…

[Dr. Stoica sighs]

Dr. Stoica: I understand. It’s been so long since I was your age…

Caitlyn: What, do you just… stop feeling that way?

Dr. Stoica: You realize it was true, and you get picky about when to care.

Caitlyn: Mm…

Dr. Stoica: Listen, I told you I won’t stop you, and I— I—

[Fumbling Recorder]

Dr. Stoica: [Growling, Seductively] I WON’T.

Caitlyn: [Straining] Oh gosh, o-okay!

Dr. Stoica: [Less seductively] I… I won’t. Just like I didn’t crush you there. But… I do think you owe it to yourself to at least try to set boundaries this time.

Caitlyn: Like what? I kinda… I mean, even you know how powerful she is when she’s in control.

Dr. Stoica: [Strained] I… do… But even so. [Slightly seductively] Don’t you think you’d benefit from, say… a day or so each week, to reflect like this?

Caitlyn: That… does sound kinda nice… Do you really think she’d go for that?

Dr. Stoica: …I doubt it. Not the way she is now.

Caitlyn: Right… Well then, I guess… that’s that, heh…

Dr. Stoica: I… Hrm…

[Dr. Stoica clears her throat]

Dr. Stoica: [Flatly] I do still implore you not to. It’s not worth it. I will swear on my life about that.

Caitlyn: Well, I mean… It can’t be too bad, though.

Dr. Stoica: …How?

Caitlyn: I’ll… have you looking out for me, right?

[No response]

[Recorder drops to the ground again]

Caitlyn: Uh… Luma? You’re—

Dr. Stoica: [Extremely flatly] Caitlyn, is there any chance you’d be willing to part with some blood?

Caitlyn: O-oh, uh, I guess!? M— Mary didn’t… take any more after last night, I’ve still got a bit left for this week. Sorry, d-did that make you hungry?

Dr. Stoica: [Seductively] No, of course not… I merely need to gather information about the taste, without her influence.

[Caitlyn giggles]

Caitlyn: Is… that why you’re holding me like we’re slow dancing?

Dr. Stoica: Naturally…

Caitlyn: And why… Heh, you turned the charisma back on, didn’t you…

Dr. Stoica: Just for now… Just how you like it…

Caitlyn: Feels nice… And is that why you’re gonna take care of me…?

Dr. Stoica: Of course. So, for the sake of scientific integrity… let’s shut off the—

[End Log]