[Begin Recovered Excerpt]

Dr. Stoica: —ever, thank you, Linda. Hopefully this will make a good control, if nothing else.

Dr. Ashford: By all means. Did you see Harold’s proposal for a proper study?

Dr. Stoica: I did. I… fear he overestimates my ability to work with humans at such a scale. We will need a proper sample at some point, but it’s a lot of pressure.

[Dr. Ashford chuckles]

Dr. Ashford: Yes, well, I suppose you must be under a lot of pressure as is! I only hope it won’t be too long before you can finally put something up for peer review.

Dr. Stoica: Of course. I honestly still have trouble believing that definitive claims are even an option now. It’s been so long, banging my head against this wall…

Dr. Ashford: When was it, again, that they first brought you in as a test subject?

Dr. Stoica: It must have been around ‘73. Geisbert had long hair.

Dr. Ashford: Ah, that’s quite the disturbing mental image.

Dr. Stoica: It was stranger than you imagine. Though I was hardly in a position to recognize that… It was the 70s for me, too, after all.

Dr. Ashford: I can’t imagine. Er… literally, I suppose, given I wasn’t born yet.

Dr. Stoica: Hm. No, that— that is the disturbing mental image here, Linda. We’re meant to be the same age.

Dr. Ashford: [Giggly] Yes, yes, I… Ah.

Dr. Stoica: Hm?

Dr. Ashford: You… wouldn’t happen to be slipping on the charisma, would you…?

Dr. Stoica: Oh. I… er…

[Dr. Stoica clears her throat]

Dr. Stoica: [More flatly] I certainly hope not.

Dr. Ashford: Lovely. Best to avoid too much unpleasantness with all that.

Dr. Stoica: [Strained] Mm…

[Dr. Stoica clears her throat again, louder this time]

Dr. Stoica: Yes, certainly. Apologies, it’s easier to tell when it’s affecting someone like Natalie. This new generation… they always wear their hearts on their sleeves, I suppose.

Dr. Ashford: That’s one way to put it.

[Dr. Stoica and Dr. Ashford share a laugh]

Dr. Stoica: I’ve gained a lot of appreciation for it of late, really. It’s odd… this vampire business is poised to render me such a relic, yet at the same time, it leaves me no choice but to keep in touch with the present state of humanity.

Dr. Ashford: Assuming you never participate in that ghastly business of mind scrubbing that Violet left you with.

Dr. Stoica: True. I suppose it’s another benefit of this approach. The power to hide inside one’s shell forever, and the responsibility to stay outside. Openness, friendship, and, er… so on.

[Dr. Ashford snorts]

Dr. Ashford: Such a way with words. Well then, do we have sufficient data for now?

Dr. Stoica: I’d hope so.

Dr. Ashford: Lovely. Do you need me for any further tests? Because if so, I’d rather appreciate more coffee. I’m sure you know the sort of energy it takes to properly resist you this late at night.

Dr. Stoica: I… I…

[Dr. Stoica takes a deep breath]

Dr. Stoica: [Flatly, strained] Yes, it’s quite the rush to be free of that particular burden. I hope I haven’t made it too difficult.

Dr. Ashford: Tonight has been lovely so far, Luma, but I appreciate the concern.

Dr. Stoica: Thank you. And no, you shouldn’t be needed for anything further just now.

[Fumbling sounds against the microphone]

Dr. Ashford: Alright, I’ll be taking my leave, then. Thank you as ever, Luma, and do let me know if you need anything else.

Dr. Stoica: [Unintelligible]

Dr. Ashford: Hm?

Dr. Stoica: [Flatly] Might I… ask something else, as well?

Dr. Ashford: …Yes?

Dr. Stoica: It's just, er… regarding what I said. With the youth, I've had to be more open. And last night I tried to… er, flirt. And it went poorly.

Dr. Ashford: Ah, that’s… unfortunate to hear. It must be difficult for you after so long.

Dr. Stoica: Yes, and I… It's forced me to reckon with certain… feelings.

Dr. Ashford: [Strained] What… feelings?

Dr. Stoica: N-nothing bad, I assure you! It's just… well… I suppose I’ve… always had a certain…fondness for you, Linda, one I've kept hidden. And as I branch out from Mary's— from… the people Mary enthralled, I must expand my… retinue, so to speak, so…

[Dr. Stoica clears her throat]

Dr. Stoica: [Flatly] I suppose what I'm asking is… Linda, may I have some of your blood?

Dr. Ashford: …Ah. I see.

Dr. Stoica: I apologize for asking in such a roundabout manner. I've been… nervous.

Dr. Ashford: I can see that…

[Dr. Ashford sighs]

Dr. Ashford: I'd… be worried about the optics of such a situation. We both know your tenure is on shaky ground with the dean as-is, I wouldn’t want to… compromise that.

Dr. Stoica: That is… fair… but it would not have to be public. Gwendolyn certainly would not have to know.

Dr. Ashford: I'd be more concerned with hiding it, frankly. That's the sort of impropriety that could get us both fired.

Dr. Stoica: [Slightly more seductively] Yes, that is true… Perhaps we might ask for Gwendolyn's blessing tomorrow, then? I do not believe she would have concerned herself with such a situation before I was turned.

Dr. Ashford: No, I… Alright, I suppose you have a point. But there's also the matter of my recent breakthroughs in werewolf research. At such a sensitive time, I… don't know if… it would be a good idea.

Dr. Stoica: I'm… not sure I understand what the conflict would be. If anything, that would just be more valuable… er… data…

[Dr. Stoica chuckles, more seductively]

Dr. Ashford: I… I suppose… so…

Dr. Stoica: Wait…

[Dr. Stoica clears her throat]

Dr. Stoica: [Flatly] Apologies. I didn't… er…

[Dr. Ashford sucks in a breath]

Dr. Ashford: It's alright. I just… Am I talking to you right now, or your bloodlust?

Dr. Stoica: It's me. I know it takes an… unusual shape now, but I swear, the affection has always been with me. The… the cheerful curiosity behind your every thought, the way you smile, the—

Dr. Ashford: Don't. P-please don't.

Dr. Stoica: What?

Dr. Ashford: I can't trust any attempt to convince me. Not when the charisma could be shaping my thoughts. You know that.

Dr. Stoica: Y-you mean…

[Dr. Ashford groans]

Dr. Ashford: I’m sorry to keep dodging the point… I’m flattered, Luma, really. But I just… don’t feel the same. I never have.

Dr. Stoica: I… I…

[Dr. Stoica's breathing quickens. Faint growling can be heard underneath.]

Dr. Stoica: I can’t… You don’t…

Dr. Ashford: I care for you, Luma, I really do. But you're my friend. Nothing more.

Dr. Stoica: [Strained] Th-then let’s do it as friends! I p-promise, this can be as little or as much as you want it to be, just—

Dr. Ashford: No. Please, I— I don't want to be in your… retinue, just because I'm here. That's not how I feel about you.

[Growling grows louder]

Dr. Stoica: I— but— but why…?

Dr. Ashford: Luma…

[Dr. Ashford sighs]

Dr. Ashford: I… thought we were on the same side of this thing. We could both see what your… condition was trying to do to us, and we were both working together to resist it.

Dr. Stoica: [Under breath] Too… too good for [Unintelligible] not even [Unintelligible] humans [Unintelligible]

Dr. Ashford: Even now, you’re— you’re fighting it! You understand, don’t you? You… you…

Dr. Stoica: [Unintelligible] b-better than [Unintelligible] without…

Dr. Ashford: Please, you… You gave me brain damage, Luma. I still think about that horrible, horrible song sometimes, the song of your voice, and— and your eyes. But it's all alright, it's truly alright, as long as you… I just… Please tell me you understand.

Dr. Stoica: [Out loud] Of course I— I— I under… under… [Under breath] wait… wait to [Unintelligible] can get her… get her… later…

Dr. Ashford: P-please…

Dr. Stoica: C-can’t… can’t [Unintelligible]

Dr. Ashford: I’m… leaving, Luma. I’ll talk to you—

Dr. Stoica: [Seductively] NO!

[Recorder drops to the ground]

Dr. Ashford: L-Luma!

[Sounds of struggle]

Dr. Stoica: [Unintelligible] ANY IDEA HOW GOOD YOU [Unintelligible] CAN’T!

Dr. Ashford: Get off of me!

[Dr. Stoica laughs madly]

Dr. Stoica: [Unintelligible] S-STOP ME [Unintelligible] MYSELF? NO! [Unintelligible] T-T-TOO WEAK TO [Unintelligible]

[Dr. Ashford grunts]

Dr. Stoica: AAAGH!

[Dr. Stoica hisses]

[Stumbling noises]

Dr. Stoica: SILVER?

[Dr. Ashford groans]

Dr. Ashford: [In ragged breaths] I’ve been… dreading the day… I'd have to use it.

Dr. Stoica: I… I… n-no, I…

Dr. Ashford: I’m leaving now, Luma.

Dr. Stoica: N-no, please, I… I…

Dr. Ashford: Please don’t make me tell the dean about this.

Dr. Stoica: I…

[Door opens]

[Dr. Stoica chokes up]

Dr. Stoica: [Flatly] I’m sorry.

[Dr. Ashford sighs]

Dr. Ashford: Me too.

[Door closes]

[Dr. Stoica sobs, then laughs, then sobs again]

[Tape recorder picked up]

[Dr. Stoica sobs louder, between giggles]

[Audio distorted]

Dr. Stoica: L… la naiba… la naiba… l-la

[Audio distortion intensifies]

[Dr. Stoica starts growling]

Dr. Stoica: LA NAIB—

[End Recovered Excerpt]