[IC] Be my Sanctuary

[LuckyBlackCat]

Jessamyn "Jess" Bailey

The song Roxy picked wasn't exactly what Jess had expected. Instead of classic rock, or anything rough and heavy, a bouncy pop tune pulsed from the earphones. Not what the anchor had hinted at liking, but people couldn't assume everything about someone they'd known for a short time, empaths least of all.

As the secondhand stress eased ever so slightly, Jess nodded her head to the rhythm. It wasn't just the song that lifted her spirits, but the fact that such music had the same effect on Roxy as on her. "Pretty catchy," she commented. "Well, there you go, it seems we both like feel-good stuff. That's... something, I guess." It wasn't much in the way of common ground, but knowing each other's sources of comfort went some way towards bridging the rift.

Quicker to decide this time when her turn came around, she chose a lively pop-rock track. "This ok?" she asked, all too aware of the miasma of fear and hate Roxy tried to tamp down. How long would the music keep it at bay?

[KatherinWinter]

The calm wouldn't last long. Once Jess' song was done Roxy pulled up another song. There was time for one more song before they arrived at her father's house. She picked a power ballot. Something that helped her remember she wasn't powerless anymore. She had proven herself to the only person that mattered. She now knew she could stand on her own. She didn't need anyone else. She was fine on her own.

Her song ended just as they pulled up to an iron gate. One couldn't see the estate yet. Just the large impressive gate and fence around the house. The driver rolled down his window and leaned out. The gate opened and he drove inside. A tuscan style mansion appeared. Roxy didn't move. The driver got out and opened the door. As she slide out of the door an older man opened the door and stepped out. He wasn't very tall. Maybe five foot ten or so. He had dark grey hair and wore a suit. He smiled but his eyes were cold as he offered Jess his hand. "Welcome you must be Jess. It's a pleasure to met you."

[LuckyBlackCat]

Jessamyn "Jess" Bailey

Feeling the music bolster Roxy's courage, Jess gave her what she hoped was a resolute look. This was just the song for the situation. A reminder that they could both get through this.

Distractions and encouragements, however, could only last so long. As the song ended and an iron gate came into view, Jess' stomach knotted. The mansion ahead, had it belonged to anyone else, would have looked inviting with its elaborate architecture. Instead, all Jess could see was stony, steely artifice. A respectable facade hiding goings-on that were anything but.

The man who emerged gave off a similar air. Jess tensed as she got out of the car with Roxy, and step by wary step, approached him. Even if she weren't an empath, she'd be able to tell his smile was fake. As it was, the lack of affection to back it up made him all the more unsettling. Instead, a cold, calculating feeling hung around him like a chill.

She hesitated, then shook his hand, her own grip as stiff as the nod she gave. "Hi," was all she said.

[KatherinWinter]

"Come inside. Roxanna hasn't told me much about you. I'm eager to get to know you." Roxy ground her teeth to keep herself from lashing out. If she lashed out she would look petty. Her father hadn't done anything that anyone see as condescending except ignore her request not to use her full name. Her father knew she hated her full name. He only used it when he wanted to remind her that she was female and therefore less.

"I'm sorry that her brother couldn't join us. It's his mother's weekend." Which was a complete lie. Reginald Jr's mother died shortly after he was born. There was no way Reginald Sr would risk losing his heir. The only way to guarantee that he would have full custody of his son was by making sure that there was no one to take the boy. He didn't see Roxy as a threat in that area since she had never shown any interest in the boy.

"I would love to met your mom sometime. Your both going to be a large part of my daughter's life so I would like to make you a large part of yours." He suggested. Most people would see him as a kind father looking out for his daughter. People saw only what Reginald wanted them to see. He was a respected businessman who had been in many articles. He knew how to make people see what he wanted them to see.

[LuckyBlackCat]

Jessamyn "Jess" Bailey

Despite the warmth the man showed, little hints reminded Jess that it was just that - a show. That sudden flare of anger from Roxy at the mention of her full name made Jess' own jaw clench. Roxy's father probably knew full well she hated it. As he went on to explain her brother's absence, his excuse rang false.

"It's ok," Jess simply said, although she wondered what the real reason must be. She didn't want to follow, but shuffled forward out of sheer obligation. The closer she drew to the house, the more it seemed like a prison rather than a mansion - Roxy's sentiment, without a doubt.

The businessman's next words almost made her stop in her tracks. Her lips flattened as she fought the urge to shake her head. No, she couldn't drag her mom into this. Even if he just wanted to gain her trust, it was too big a risk - and if she saw through the facade, getting the authorities involved could make things worse. Some people got away with their crimes all too easily.

Jess racked her mind for a reply that wouldn't provoke him, wouldn't make him want to get back at her and Roxy in some sly way. "That's... kind of you," she muttered, each word too flat to be sincere. There was nothing kind about this man, that much was clear already.

[KatherinWinter]

"I'll contact her on Monday." Reginald replied. He wasn't taking any chances. The more the more interwoven Jess and her family were with Roxy the more his daughter would try to protect them. Her attempts to keep them out of danger would compromise her which Jess would no doubt respond to. He was sure that the empath would do what he wanted to protect her mother and anchor. With an empath in his control his empire would be untouchable.

"I'll have the servants take your things up to your rooms. Roxanna will show you around. I expect you both to join me in no less than an hour. We will have lunch and talk some more." Roxy rolled her eyes. She hated the way her father was trying to woo Jess. She knew he would try kindness first. If the empath saw through that he would resort to other methods but he would get what he wanted one way or another.

"Come on let's get this over with." Roxy snapped. She didn't want to do this but there was no way to avoid it. Not without finding a way to take her father down. Something that she had been trying to do since she left home.

[LuckyBlackCat]

Jessamyn "Jess" Bailey

Monday? Jess felt like she'd swallowed a shard of ice. "She's, uh, busy on Mondays," she blurted. "And weekdays in general." It wasn't a lie, her mother did keep herself busier than ever with work these days, but she could tell the man's offer wasn't one of friendliness. He gave off the same cold satisfaction the watchers had. The satisfaction of predators cornering prey, leaving them helpless.

Her fist clenched around the suitcase handle as she stuck by Roxy. She knew the attempt to keep her mother out of this wouldn't work. Even if this guy didn't call on Monday evening, which he likely would, he'd still contact her sooner or later. Jess' thoughts whirled. Was there a warning she could give that this guy was all airs and graces, without letting on just what lay under them?

With a nod, she set down her suitcase once inside. She glimpsed Roxy's eye roll, caught the accompanying swell of disgust. "It's ok... Roxy and I will keep an eye on the time," Jess replied, putting a touch of emphasis on the anchor's name. It seemed like the only way to defy him right now.

She faced the anchor, whose reluctance trickled through to her, even stronger than her own. Best to make this tour a quick one. "So... Where to first?"

[KatherinWinter]

Roxy smirked when Jess used the nickname she preferred. It wasn't much but it made her feel like the empath might be on her side. Which would be a first. No one had ever taken her side. Everyone feel under Reginald's charm. She was sure that would change in time but it was nice the think that wasn't alone. Even if it was only until her father won Jess over or the empath was strong enough to move on.

"I suppose we start with the bedrooms." Roxy suggested as she headed down the hall. The servants would bring the bags. She hated the idea of anyone touching her things but there was nothing she could do about it. It was just how things were done.

A maid stood outside her old room. The young woman curtsied which made Roxy roll her eyes. "Mr. Black asked me to make sure your room and the one next to it were in order. Please let me know if you need anything." The emotions coming off the maid were all positive. All the staff bought Reginald's act. None of them saw his darker side. They thought he was a good father with a disrespectful daughter and nothing more.

[LuckyBlackCat]

Jessamyn "Jess" Bailey

Jess trailed behind Roxy, down the meticulously kept hallway. It all looked as different as could be to the simplicity and down-to-earth atmosphere of the garage. This was fake. Wrong. A reflection of Mr Black's superficial charm.

By one of the doors, a maid stood, smiling and curtseying when she saw them. Something about her gave Jess' mood a slight lift. It didn't take long to realise why - this wasn't her own joy, but the maid's. She clearly thought this a happy family reunion, a chance for a father and daughter to reconnect.

Despite the dawning realisation that nobody would be on her and Roxy's side, Jess returned the genuine smile with a forced one. "Thanks," she mumbled, before mentally kicking herself. She couldn't act jittery around people who trusted Mr Black. If she did, she knew the conclusion they'd jump to. They wouldn't blame the businessman, but Roxy. Straightening her back, she took on a brighter tone, or at least tried to. "And yep, we will."

[KatherinWinter]

"I'm not sure what else you want to see. There is a library. It's got a decent collection of books." If one liked nonfiction. Wouldn't want to have anything fun or creative in a library that belonged to an upper crust businessman. "There is a pool." A place she had gone to before leaving home. Swimming had help her vent. It wasn't as good as her martial arts but it had helped. She had needed that escape.

"I would suggest that you encourage you mom to accept my father's invitation as soon as possible. The sooner we get that out of the way the better." She told the other woman. Her father would start with a friendly invitation. Because he wanted Jess and her mom to see him as a father trying to reconnect with his rebellious daughter but he would only be patient so long. She didn't want them to get penalized for hesitating.

[LuckyBlackCat]

Jessamyn "Jess" Bailey

"Well... They sound worth checking out," Jess replied. Not that she particularly wanted to see the rest of the place, and not that she expected the books in the library would be the kind to escape into, but the less awkward she appeared in front of the staff, the better. "I used to read a lot, back then, to pass the time... Ehh, maybe books are something else to share, and discuss?" Maybe, as with the music, she and Roxy would find common points there. "As for the pool, uh, I didn't bring any swimming clothes, but it's worth getting familiar with the place." She tried not to shudder at the thought that these visits would be a regular occurrence for them.

Roxy's next words, though, brought an inward squirm she couldn't suppress - as did the concern she felt from the anchor, backing them up. "I, well..." Resignation crept over her. There was no way to hold this off, not without landing everyone in deeper crap. "I'll ask her if she's able to soon." As much as the thought of playing along disgusted her, there didn't seem to be another option. At least, not right now.

[KatherinWinter]

Roxy shrugged. "I'm not much of a reader. I haven't picked up a book since high school." She told Jess. She was an active person. She had always been one. She preferred to do almost anything besides sitting still.

"I'll show you the library." She said as she headed down the hall. The past more rooms. These belongs to Giovanni's second in command and some of his guards. At the end of the hall was a large room filled with floor to ceiling with shelves filled with books. There was a couple of chairs but they were stiff wing backs rather than something that would be comfortable to sit in. There was a desk for writing with a school like chair.

"First editions and biographies mostly but feel free to read something. As for the swimming suit I guarantee there is at least two in your size in the changing room." Roxy told Jess before heading down another hall towards the pool. She had no doubt there would be suits for them. Her father would be prepared for their arrival.

[LuckyBlackCat]

Jessamyn "Jess" Bailey

Jess followed, slow footsteps clacking. The library looked no more inviting than anywhere else in the mansion, more like a school one than a place to unwind. With its stiff chairs and solemn atmosphere, it seemed to indicate more a love of showing off culture than a love of reading.

"Well, that's quite a collection all right..." she commented, eyes sweeping around the rows and rows of shelves. She doubted there'd be anything to her taste, or to Roxy's even if she got into reading, among the biographies of business owners and politicians. Leaving the room behind, she headed down the hall alongside Roxy. She should have been glad swimming was an option after all, but it was just another reminder of Mr Black's plan to get her on his side.

Recalling the moment of secondhand relief as the anchor had mentioned a pool, Jess turned to her. "You say you don't do sports, but... You like swimming, don't you?"

[KatherinWinter]

"Swimming isn't really a sport. At least I've never do it as a sport. It's just a way to let out some frustrations." Roxy explained. She didn't see swimming as a sport even though she knew it could be. She didn't think of the martial arts she did as a sport even though many people competed. She simple saw it as a way to protect herself and release her anger in a way that wouldn't hurt others. She knew she had a temper and tried to focus it.

"Well I suppose we better head to the office. My father will want to question you before dinner." Roxy warned Jess. Her father had big plans for the empath. She had no idea if they were all possible but she did know he would push Jess as far as he could. She briefly considered using Jess to take down her father but that would make her no better than him.

Roxy knew she had nothing to offer Jess in exchange. As it was failing at her job as an anchor. Not that doing it better would have changed things much but at least if the shield was up Jess would still be stuck in her world. Unfortunately there was nothing either of them could do about that.

[LuckyBlackCat]

Jessamyn "Jess" Bailey

"Well... An activity, in any case," Jess replied. She swept her glance over the cool blue of the water, deceptively tranquil in a fraught environment. The pool looked like those in hotels, grand and inviting, but she doubted anything under this roof would feel much like leisure for either of them. Still, maybe it was the only thing close to a way to unwind, if Roxy's emotions were anything to go by. "An outlet."

At the mention of heading back, Jess bit her lip. "I guess we'd better get this done with," she murmured, trailing after Roxy. Tension knotted through her, around her, until she felt like a fly in a spider's web - and it wasn't just her own feeling. Through the growing stress, a stab of guilt spiked. Jess flinched. What had brought that on? Had Roxy dismissed an unpleasant thought, or was she still convinced all this was her fault?

"Please try not to blame yourself," Jess whispered, so low nobody else would hear. "We'll find a way to get through this." What that way was, though, she had no idea.

[KatherinWinter]

"Why the hell not? It's my fault the bubble that's supposed to protect you isn't. It's mostly my emotions you have to deal with. It's my messed up life that is causing those emotions. So how exactly isn't this my fault." Roxy demanded. She might have chosen to be an anchor or to be assigned to Jess but the same could be said for any anchor but the research she had done indicated that most of them didn't have this kind of problem.

There was no getting around the fact that she was to blame for all the discomfort that Jess was dealing with. She wished there was something that she could do to make it better. But she couldn't think of anything that would make the situation better. Her father as a slimeball. She hadn't really been aware of it until he turned his back on her. Now that he had the son he always wanted he saw only few ways to use her existence to his advantage.

[LuckyBlackCat]

Jessamyn "Jess" Bailey

"Because this was the last thing you wanted!" Frustration coursed through Jess as it did through Roxy. She took a trembling breath, trying to calm the uncharacteristic anger. Roxy was mad enough at herself, and Jess wasn't going to add fuel to the fire. Once she'd checked that nobody had overheard, she continued, tone softening. "For either of us. Look, the emotions... I don't blame you. Nobody would. As for the bubble, we're working on that. It's just as much my responsibility as it is yours. Once we know each other better..."

She fell silent. Once they knew each other better, that monster would be able to use each one against the other much more easily, that was what would happen.

"... The shield will be stronger, and about this, we'll be able to figure something out together," she finished, the conviction in her voice wavering at the last part. To her own ears, it sounded more like a question than a statement. "There's got to be something."

That feeling of powerlessness wasn't all Roxy's. If only there was something she could say, or more importantly do, to help the one who'd given everything to help her.

[KatherinWinter]

Roxy snorted when Jess said that this was the last thing she wanted. That was the truth but it didn't matter. It didn't change anything. The empath was still stuck with her and having to deal with emotions. "The bubble is my responsibility Jess. None of the research that I've done indicates you affect it in anyway." Which was true. It was always the anchor who struggled to add an empath to their lives rather than the empath dealing with society. None of them mentioned feeling the emotions of their anchor.

"I doubt there is anything anyone can do but I suppose we'll see as time passes." Roxy shrugged. She wasn't the one being drained by having to deal with emotions. She had buried them long ago. She continued down the hall where her father was waiting. He was looking at his watch.

"Its about time. Roxanna you were raised better than this. I hope the food isn't too cold. The cook would be disappointed. You're supposed to keep things calm for your empath. Not stir up emotions." Reginald scolded.

"The longer we stand here the colder the food is going to get." Roxy pointed out. She moved passed him and headed to the kitchen.

[LuckyBlackCat]

Jessamyn "Jess" Bailey

Shadowing Roxy, Jess fell silent for a few seconds. Of course her words hadn't helped. Right now, nothing truly would. Still, she had to comment on something. "You haven't given up hope." Maybe, just maybe, her barely audible whisper would resonate with Roxy. "Not completely. Part of you is still trying. Or at least, wants to try." That fleeting glimmer seemed out of reach much of the time, but was all they had to hold on to.

And both of them would have to hold on even tighter over dinner with Mr Black.

With an inward squirm, Jess drew in her breath as the scolding showed the man's true colours. "It's ok, Roxy was just showing me as much of the place as possible," she said, again making a point of using the name the anchor preferred. Putting on a little smile, she added, "And the food smells good."

It did, but as she followed Roxy into the kitchen, she knew the meal would be far from enjoyable.

[KatherinWinter]

Reginald chuckled. "You shouldn't encourage Roxanna's rebellion." He said as if she was some kind of teenager going through a phase. Anger flashed through Roxy. "She's too old for this kind of behavior." He said as they headed towards the dinning room.

As soon they entered the dinning room Roxy saw Maxwell. She stopped. Her hands reached for her knives out of instinct but she stopped herself. She wouldn't admit that she was afraid of him.

Maxwell was a friend and business associate of her father's. She hadn't expected him to be there but she supposed that she should have. Her father had made it clear that he expected her to marry Maxwell. He had practically planned the wedding despite the fact that she had told him that she was attracted to women.

The older man got up from his chair and moved towards them. "This must be the empath. I'm glad to get a chance to met you. You're going to be a big part of our lives."

"You're not a part of my life Maxwell. You never will be." Roxy growled.

"Still feisty I see." Maxwell chuckled as he moved towards them. He gave them a charming smile.