Looking after Jentorra

Jentorra nodded smartly. Then she collapsed; Cassie caught her, quickly, careful of how much she touched her newfound roommate, half from respect and half to avoid her own clothes coming into contact with her.

Cassie grimaced. She wanted to make sure Jentorra was lying down safely, but touching her felt awkward when even in her sleep, Jentorra groaned at the touch of Cassie’s shirt.

Quickly looking back over her shoulder, making sure the door was locked, Cassie quickly took off her top. She put it down on the carpet outside the bathroom - then, a second later, reluctantly slipped off her bra, letting her use her arms without any particular worry, to help Jentorra lie down on her side.

“There,” Cassie murmured. She blushed. “No one ever talks about this part of going on an adventure, huh?”

Once Jentorra was laying down, Cassie quietly moved out. She slipped her shirt back on, and wrote a quick note for Jentorra, put her stuff down on her desk, and headed out to check on her housemates.

It was a bit later that she went back inside. She checked Jentorra, guessing that quantum people slept too, and focused on work for as long as she could. Jentorra was still passed out when she was done - she made sure she was breathing, figuring she could never be too sure, before heading out to prepare a quick dinner.

She ate in her room, topless after a few minutes - she kept wanting to check in on Jentorra, which meant not wanting clothes in the way. She slowly adjusted after the first half-hour, not quite forgetting, especially as it got cooler, but not feeling so paranoid.

She could tidy things over with her housemates later, when she had some halfway-decent cover story. As it was, at least they weren’t going to burst in.

Late in the evening, she heard a groan from the bathroom. Still topless, Cassie moved in, kneeling in the doorway.

“Hey,” Cassie said. “You okay?”

Jentorra was slowly sitting up. She groaned again, lifting a hand to her head, before remembering how much of herself was on display.

“Did I… I remember being outside,” Jentorra said.

“Er. Yeah, you were,” Cassie said.

Jentorra faltered. Her eyes went wide.

“Did I… sing?” she said.

“Caught a little,” Cassie said.

Jentorra groaned and leaned forward, head buried in her hands and lap. Cassie tried not to stare.

“Was I dreaming your friends?” Jentorra said.

“No, er, they. Er. They saw everything,” Cassie said. She paused. “Sorry. If it helps, they were appreciative?”

“It doesn’t,” Jentorra said. She paused, looking up. “Is it your world’s custom to have your boobs out?”

Cassie looked down, and flushed, crossing her arms.

“I mean for some people?” Cassie said. “Sorry, yeah, I just wanted to make sure you were comfy. Couldn’t do that if my clothes were touching you any time I checked your pulse.”

“You… oh,” Jentorra said. Her eyes widened; she was quiet for a moment. “Thank you.”

“Any time,” Cassie said. She smiled as encouragingly as she could. “I’m going to be looking out for you, okay? As long as you’re here, anyway.”

“Still, you have my thanks Cassie Lang,” Jentorra said.

Her smile was more faltering, an expression she wasn’t quite as used to as Cassie. Her eyes were unsure, her face less comfortable, but the emotion was genuine enough.

Cassie beamed back.

Then the door was flung open.

“Hey, Cass-” Kate began.

To be greeted by the sight of Cassie topless, and Jentorra perpetually naked, kneeling on the floor with Cassie halfway to a comforting reach for her friend.

“Oh,” Kate said. “Er. Sorry, bad time?”

“Not what it looks like!” Cassie squeaked, blushing. Baffled, Jentorra flushed next to her, crossing her arms.

After a few moments, Kate drew back. Cassie quickly stood up, shutting the door, while Jentorra lingered behind her on the tiled floor. She groaned, again, head aching.

“Really hope every day isn’t going to be like this,” Jentorra said.

“Welcome to college?” Cassie tried.