Google Hangouts

2:55 PM

Bram Stoker

I can’t believe you're gone. This house seems empty without you. Even when you were just quietly reading, I still felt your presence.

Harker Westenra

Bram, hi, wow.

Bram Stoker

You're so easy to impress, Harker. :)

I'm not interrupting you, am I?

Harker Westenra

No, I, actually I was reading :)

Bram Stoker

I know how you get when you're reading, so I'm flattered you're up for chatting.

Harker Westenra

I thought…I thought maybe I would never hear from you again.

Bram Stoker

What? No way. Did I give you that impression? I didn't mean to. Maybe I was a bit cold because your friends didn’t approve of me at first.

Harker Westenra

You didn't. I just had this horrible thought that maybe I would wake up, back here, at home, and it would all have been a fantasy. Just a silly story I told myself about a woman who…who loved me?

Bram Stoker

A woman who absolutely loves you.

And let me tell you how I am about things I love, Harker: I don’t give them up without a fight.

Harker Westenra

You are very stubborn. And bad at sharing

Thanks, good. I'm glad.

Bram Stoker

Very, very bad at sharing ;)

Especially things that *shouldn’t* be shared.

Harker Westenra

I want to share everything with you.

Oh god.

I— That came out more…intense than I meant it.

Bram Stoker

Did it?

Harker Westenra

Well. No. But.

Bram Stoker

Harker, if it were up to me, you'd still be here, sharing my life, my shower, my couch, my bed. My everything. But I'm aware you have a life, friends (very…devoted friends ;D), family, and academics to contend with. I don't want to distract you.

Well, I do…

Harker Westenra

I wish I were still there, too. My place doesn't really feel like home anymore. I used to love being here. I…well, I hid here, really. But now I have an urge—an itch at the edge of my mind. And I just want to drive straight back to you.

Bram Stoker

You know where to find me, love. I'm working but of course that isn't anything new. I would love to have you here with me.

Harker Westenra

I don't know…I don't know how to balance anything. I've never had anything to balance. I know I must sound pathetic, I just… *sigh* I just miss you, I guess.

Bram Stoker

You don't sound pathetic. I feel the same. I love coming into the room to find you reading, or hear you talk out loud to yourself as you write.

Harker Westenra

*blushy smile*

I love watching you work too.

You glare at the computer screen like it's offended you. It's adorable.

Bram Stoker

I don't think anyone's ever called me adorable before. I like it.

Harker Westenra

You are. You're so grouchy, but…not at me? So that makes it adorable :)

Bram Stoker

Nope, not at you, love. I save my ire for broken code, restaurants that won’t deliver to rural areas, and Big Data (and the companies that cater to it argh!).

Harker Westenra

Yeah, I know. I do listen when you mutter.

And rant.

And talk to yourself. About all this stuff.

Bram Stoker

I'm…used to being alone.

Harker Westenra

I know. I understand, believe me.

I…uh…sing a lot.

When I'm alone, I mean.

Bram Stoker

I noticed ;)

Harker Westenra

What?

Bram Stoker

And in the shower.

When you're alone in the shower, that is. Without me in there, distracting you.

Harker Westenra

Oh god. I had no idea I did it when I was there!

Bram Stoker

You do. I like that you're comfortable around me to do that. And you have a nice voice.

Harker Westenra

Thanks. I've never sung in front of anyone.

I just like it.

Bram Stoker

Feel free to do it in front of me anytime. Since I definitely won't stop muttering or glaring anytime soon.

Harker Westenra

We're pretty loud for two quiet people, huh?

Bram Stoker

We are. And there are other times you're loud, too, love. Which I VERY much appreciate. ;D

Harker Westenra

Oh god, I don't…you know I'm not good at saying those things. But I don't want you to stop.

It makes me feel like you want me.

Bram Stoker

You just need practice, love. And I do want you. Very much.

Harker Westenra

Bram, I want you so much too.

You know that right? Even though I'm not good at the talking part?

Bram Stoker

I do know that. You might not say it out loud but you act like it, and that matters more to me anyway. Words are cheap and it's so easy to lie.

Harker Westenra

It's not very easy for me to lie. But I know what you mean.

Bram Stoker

Listen, Hark, you’re still on fellowship until September, right?

Harker Westenra

Yes

Bram Stoker

And you can work on your dissertation anywhere, isn't that right?

Harker Westenra

Well…anywhere with the internet and a library that has access to Interlibrary Loan and where I can use my JSTOR subscription, yes.

Bram Stoker

Would you like to come with me to London?

Harker Westenra

On a vacation?

I'd love to!

I've never been.

Bram Stoker

Mmm. A bit longer than that. Several months at least. The whole summer, maybe.

Harker Westenra

Really? I…yes, still yes.

Yes to anything with you.

Bram Stoker

I was hoping you'd say that. Just make sure to tell your sister where you're going this time, mmm? I don't want her showing up in London with that knife. ;)

Harker Westenra

*Groans* God, she is a little bit impulsive, isn't she. I can't believe she rushed at a shadowy figure holding a knife.

Well. I can, actually.

Anyway, what are you doing in London?

Bram Stoker

Demeter is launching Thrall there. The bigger the city, the larger the data pool. They need me on the ground to work out bugs in the local interface. Well…they need *someone*—of course, they thought they were hiring someone who lives in London ;)

Harker Westenra

You create new personas to apply for all of these jobs?

Bram Stoker

I am legion ;)

Harker Westenra

When do we leave for London?

Bram Stoker

<3 Soon