Nervous agreement

"I-I just want my c-clothes back," Jo said, still huddled against the wall. She stared at the back of her knees, too flushed to look at River.

"Which we'll only do if we work together," River said.

"O-ok," Jo said. "B-but can you not look at me?"

Jo jumped as River put a hand on each of her shoulders; she glanced up, cheeks managing to go even redder as she took in the woman now no longer bothering to hide herself.

"Look at me," River said.

Jo squeaked and looked down, away from the nude woman.

"Look at me," River said, more insistent. "I'm in the same boat as you; I'm not judging, And look at Zoe."

"Hey!" Zoe said, the petite woman hurriedly adjusting her own hands, trying to hide the parts of her River apparently didn't mind displaying.

"I'm trying to make her feel better," River said, looking back. "She has nothing to feel embarassed about. We're all trapped here; we can work on finding a way out of the tunnels, but only if we get up and walk, and if we can look at each other. Right?"

"R-right," Zoe said.

"So drop your hands," River said.

Zoe squeaked. Jo sobbed again.

"One moment," River said to Jo.

Then she stood up, striding over to where Zoe was pressed to the wall near the entrance of the room. She didn't raised her voice, her tone sympathetic if a little short.

"She's obviously not comfortable with this," River said. "You need to show her there's nothing to be embarassed about."

"It is e-embarassing!" Zoe squeaked back, still trying to keep her voice down to a whisper.

"Do you think I don't know that?" River said. Was that a flush in her cheeks. "But this is what's best. So drop your hands, let her feel comfortable rather than signalling that she needs to be ashamed. We're stuck like this either way, isn't it better to be comfortable with it?"

Zoe hesitated.

At least it wasn't like River was a hypocrite; even if she was embarassed by the situation she did a good job of hiding it, happily striding around with her boobs and bush exposed.

Nervously, Zoe moved her hands to her sides, shaking slightly. Pleased, River turned back and started speaking at a normal volume again. She crouched by the kneeling Jo.

"See? Look at Zoe," River said. "It's ok. You're ok."

Jo's sobs softened slightly. She looked up, taking in the calm face of River, and Zoe's much redder face that was at least attempting a supportive smile. Zoe's fingers twitched, **** to cover herself again.

Slowly, Jo shifted. She swallowed, crossing her arms over her chest but at least sitting up straighter.

"You're right," Jo said. "We- we should be doing something, not just... I'm sorry, it's-" she squeaked. "I'll walk behind you, if you know where we're going."