She reads over Cara's shoulder, frowning at the casual tone. Too chipper. Too many jokes. But... maybe that's what Cara's friends expect from her.

"Fine. Post it." She leans back on her hands, watching Cara work. "And the email to your professor. Get that done too."

She's trying not to think about how normal this feels - sitting on a bed with someone, watching them type on a laptop. Like they're just two students working on homework together.

"Make sure you log out of everything when you're done."

She posts the Q&A to a few different websites, and then opens up her email to write a much less (but nonzero) joking-and-casual version of the same message to Prof Meadows, along with an apology for missing TAing on short notice, again letting Vera see it.

"If I log out of these accounts, we won't be able to log me back in," she says quietly.

She considers that for a moment. Leaving Cara logged in means she could potentially send messages when Vera's not watching. But logging out means losing access entirely, which could be worse if someone needs an urgent response.

"Close the laptop. You don't touch it unless I'm here watching." She rubs her temples. "We'll check for replies tomorrow."

She shifts on the bed, exhausted but wired at the same time. It's past one in the morning now.

"Get changed. We need to sleep."

Fine with her. (Though it wouldn't matter if it wasn't, really,)

She removes Vera's clothes (wincing in pain when they touch her injuries) and pulls on... a pair of basketball shorts and an worn, loose crop top, apparently?

She also pulls out and puts on her sleeping mask, though she doesn't cover her eyes with it yet.

She watches Cara change, noting the wince when fabric touches the bite mark. Good. She should remember what happens when she acts like a person instead of furniture.

She strips down to underwear and a tank top, not bothering with actual pajamas. Too tired. Too done with this day.

"You're sleeping here," she says, getting under the covers. "In the bed. With me."

She doesn't phrase it as a question. They need the contact for guiding, and she's not letting Cara out of arm's reach anyway.

"And take off the sleeping mask. I need to be able to see if you're awake."

She follows those instructions in the order she was given them, climbing under the covers next to Vera and then slipping the mask off her head, dropping it back on top of her backpack.

(She's careful not to initiate any snuggling that might happen, lest she accidentally let slip that she has a preference. Furniture doesn't have preferences, after all.)