[IC] Be my Sanctuary

[KatherinWinter]

Roxy sighed. Try to do something nice for someone else and it gets rejected. Instead of getting drive thru the way she had intended she headed to the garage. If Jess just wanted a sandwich there was no point in stopping somewhere. They could make sandwiches at her place. She didn't live in a house or apartment like most people. Her dislike of enclosed places had made that impossible.

She parked the van behind the garage. That way it would be out of the way until she could return it. Just the thought irrated her. Her garage was located on the edge of the rough side of the town. She had worked hard to get it to look respectable. The shop was on the street level and her living space was above it. Roxy climbed out of the van and went around back. She opened the heavy door and grabbed the first box she came to.

[LuckyBlackCat]

Jessamyn "Jess" Bailey

Jess looked away. So much for not being a nuisance. She'd only known Roxy for a few hours - just around two, in fact, the clock on the dashboard revealed. Was her sense of time really that skewed? In any case, from the short amount of time she'd spent with her, she already knew it was next to impossible not to annoy the other woman.

She remained quiet as Roxy drove along the lamp-lit street. Memories of how overwhelming the city had once been came back, but with the anchor around, the difference was remarkable. She was sure she still felt flickers of emotion from passers-by, but nothing unbearable, nothing bombarding her from all around. Roxy's steady seething, though, set her on edge as it crept into her mind.

As the van pulled up, Jess looked out in surprise at the garage. This wasn't what she'd expected - and certainly wasn't something her family would approve of. Even so, it was a welcome change from that tiny little hut.

"Thanks. I'm alright getting most of it, though," she said, climbing out of the van and stretching out her cramped legs before heading over to the back and hefting out a suitcase.

[KatherinWinter]

"I might as well help from what I've read I need to be close to you to protect you from the emotions of others. Atleast for awhile. So I might as well make myself useful."Roxy explained as she headed to the building. She unlocked the back door. She used the box that she was carrying to prop the door open while she turned on the light.

Inside was clean and organized. There were two repair bays on the left With bathrooms just past them. There waiting area on the right. In the waiting area there were several chairs and a desk wuth a computer. The far wall was covered with floor to ceiling shelves with tubs. The tubs were all neatly labeled. The area was completely open. In the middle was a metal set of spiral stairs that lead to the second floor. "Head upstairs. I'll be right behind you. We'll put yours
Stuff in the spare room."

[LuckyBlackCat]

Jessamyn "Jess" Bailey

Although rather less than happy at having to stick by someone like a shadow, Jess made sure to remain close to Roxy as she hauled one of the bags in. From what she'd heard, they'd only have to be like this for a month or so, then their bond would strengthen, allowing both of them a little more freedom.

Just their luck that the only thing they seemed to have in common was that they both valued freedom - which, right now, they were taking away from each other.

Once inside, she looked around, taking in the open area. "Well... This is quite a change," she commented, heading towards the stairs in the centre of the main room. "A welcome one." She instantly knew she'd spoken without thinking again. She'd just gone and hinted at how distressing her time in that tiny little cabin had been. Roxy probably already saw her as some helpless weakling, and what she'd said wouldn't change the anchor's view any. Lapsing into silence again, Jess began her way up the steps.

[KatherinWinter]

Rather than pissing Roxy off Jess' statement comforted her. She was relieved that the Empath was open to her more open lay out. The upstairs had two large bedrooms, and a bath that were separate. Most of the upstairs was open. It was set up as a living room, kitchen, work out combo. There was one a fight dumbie several throwing knives and a target in the work out section.

Without a word Roxy lead Jess to the spare room. It has a bed in it but that was it. It clear that Roxy didn't have company often. There was very few personal items in the place. It was very Sparan like. She set the box she had carried up down. "I don't have much to offer you. We can go shopping for whatever you need when your ready. Let's get the van unpacked." she stated before turning and heading back towards the stairs.

[KatherinWinter]

(Double)

[LuckyBlackCat]

Jessamyn "Jess" Bailey

At the unexpected feeling of comfort, Jess gave a relieved and slightly awkward smile. It seemed not everything she said annoyed Roxy after all... Of course, she'd still have to be careful.

As she followed Roxy across the landing, which appeared to be several rooms in one - it made sense, considering Roxy's problem with closed spaces - Jess couldn't help but look over in surprise at the workout section. A fight dummy, a set of knives... This really was a pretty tough person she was living with.

"I've never seen a place like this before," Jess commented as she placed the bag in the spare room, and immediately worried about how her words would be construed. "I meant that in a good way," she added. "It's open." Now she knew Roxy wouldn't get irritated or look down on her if she talked about what a change it was from the cabin.

Staying at the anchor's side, she headed down the staircase for the other bags.

[KatherinWinter]

"I am glad you approve of it." Roxy told her honestly. Because space wasn't something she was willing to compromise on. She didn't know what she would compromise on yet but she had no doubt that she would have to. She lead the way down the stairs. She didn't have to look over her shoulder to know that Jess was there. She could feel the empath behind her. That was going to take so getting used to.

Roxy took as much as she could carry each trip. She didn't want to make any more trips than she had to. She wanted to van emptied. They would have to return it tomorrow. She didn't want to keep it longer than they had to. Luckily Jess didn't have that much to move and it wasn't long before the only thing in the van was her bike, which she left so that they could ride it home tomorrow. "I am a terrible cook so their isn't much food in the place but your welcome to whatever you can find."

[LuckyBlackCat]

Jessamyn "Jess" Bailey

As Jess set down the bags, she surveyed the room. A simple one - just as she liked it. Aside from her dad's carvings, she'd never been one for fancy decorations. As long as it made a good study space, she'd be fine with it. Getting back into some kind of education or training was one of her priorities.

"Thanks. I'll go get something - uh, once I'm unpacked, that is," she replied. "Unless you'd rather we ate now." She'd learned halfway decent cooking skills while living in seclusion, but after a while, she'd found little pleasure in eating on her own, whatever the meal. Since then, she'd stuck with quick and easy food, viewing it as little more than something to sustain her until she could get out.

She mentally scolded herself again. She'd been raised to stand on her own two feet, and now here she was, craving company, even if said company was less than pleased with the situation.

[KatherinWinter]

Roxy shrugged. Although she hadn't eaten in hours she wouldn't say anything. If Jess wanted to unpack that was fine with her. She would wait. "Take your time. You are welcome to anything in the main room accept my knives." She stepped away to pick up several of the throwing knives. She twirled on between her fingers like it was a baton rather than a knife. She leaned against the door while she waited for Jess.

While she had been on her own for years she had only had a place to call home the last couple of years. She had tried learning to cook but she simply didn't have the patience for it. If Jess could and would cook that was fine by her. Otherwise she would order food the way she had for the last couple of years she had been able to do so. It really made no difference to her what they eat.

[LuckyBlackCat]

Jessamyn "Jess" Bailey

Jess wasted no time in storing her belongings on the shelves and in the drawers. As she unpacked, she wondered what to say to the anchor outside - surely she should be saying something. It was odd, she picked up on emotions from Roxy much more weakly than she did from other people, but she still had a strange awareness of the woman standing outside the room. It made sense, she figured, they were bound to each other, no matter how different they were.

As soon as she'd finished, she flipped open her phone, pausing and biting her lip before she made a call. When the familiar voice greeted her, Jess revealed her news as well as the address of the place, relief clear in her voice no matter how awkward her words were.

"Just a moment," Jess said after listening to the question on the other end. Holding the phone away from her mouth and ear, she turned towards the doorway. "Roxy... My mom wants to come over tomorrow morning. Is that ok with you?"

Knowing about her current situation and seeing her after all these years would be a huge weight off her mother's mind - or would it? As overjoyed as her mom had sounded, her slightly strained tone hadn't escaped Jess' notice, especially after the mention of the garage. What would her remaining family make of this?

[KatherinWinter]

Mom. The word made Roxy's heart ache. She often thought her life would have been different if her mom hadn't died when she was born. But she would never know for sure. Roxy shrugged. Her face blank. She had learned young to hide her emotions. Just looking at her no one would know what she was thinking of feeling. She had no idea how she would feel with Jess' mom here but the empath needed to be with her family. She shrugged. It's your place to. Have whoever you want to over."

Roxy threw one of the knives in her hand across the room to the target. Despite the odd angle the knife hit the target and embedded itself into the fabric. It wasn't a throw alot of people could make. But Roxy had been throwing knives for years. She almost always hit her target. She knew what shots she could make. She didn't throw her knives unless she knew that she had a good chance of hitting her mark. "Just let me know when and I will close the shop."

[LuckyBlackCat]

Jessamyn "Jess" Bailey

With a slight frown, Jess glanced in Roxy's direction. The anchor stood behind the wall, out of her sight, but right after Jess had spoken, she'd picked up on a twinge of something from the other woman. Something that felt like a weight inside her chest. Something similar to what she experienced when she thought about her dad.

At the dull thunk of what was most likely a knife hitting a target, Jess winced. She could only imagine the look on her mother's face if she saw the knives. "It's all good, she says she'll close the shop," Jess told her mother. "Oh, it's been so long!"

Once the joyful if somewhat tense conversation was over, Jess re-entered the combined living room, kitchen and workout space that made up much of the upstairs. "She'll be over at ten," she let Roxy know.

She and her mother had been waiting for this reunion for years, but that didn't stop her from worrying. No matter what a happy event tomorrow would be, it wouldn't be without its difficulties for everyone involved.

[KatherinWinter]

"I'll reschedule my appointments." Roxy told Jess. She figured she might as well close for the day. The visit wasn't likely to be a short one. She wished that she could give the empath privacy. But the best she could do was stay on the far side of the room. She figured if they talked in the living area and she stayed in the work out area Jess and her mom would have as much privacy as they could manage at the moment.

She moved away from the doorway where she had been leaning. This was more awkward then she thought it would be. She had never shared space with anyone. She didn't know how to do it. Roxy had spent most of her live alone or among men who were bigger and stranger than she was. She had no idea how to interact with someone as fragile as Jess. She had never been a social person, her home life hadn't allowed it.

[LuckyBlackCat]

Jessamyn "Jess" Bailey

As Roxy moved away, Jess realised the uncomfortable feeling that had come over her wasn't entirely her own. Remembering the heavy-hearted sensation just now, she figured the anchor must have issues with her own family. Had Roxy lost one of her parents too, or was it that she didn't get along with them?

"Thanks. Uh, there's no need to worry!" Jess blurted, not knowing what else to say. As usual, she regretted her words. She had no idea what Roxy had expected this bond to be like. The purple-haired woman clearly tried to conceal her emotions behind that aloof attitude. Had Roxy thought herself completely successful, or had she known that not even an anchor could hide everything from an empath? Now it was probably obvious that she couldn't.

[KatherinWinter]

"I'm not worried. I'm sure you guys will have a good visit. I'll give you as much privacy as I can." Roxy didn't know that Jess was tapped into her buried emotions. She would figure it out eventually. But for now it was better that she didn't know. She tried to bury her emotional for a reason. Knowing that a stranger had access to them, even if only slight, would piss her off.

She shifted from the wall distracting herself from the uncomfortable conversation. She knew she had to adjust to Jess' presence in her life. But she didn't know how. She had never had to check with someone before doing something. She had been doing what she wanted when she wanted since she escaped. She had no idea how to start. Not that she had anyone to bring over or activities that required other people. She was a loner and would probably always would be.

[LuckyBlackCat]

Jessamyn "Jess" Bailey

Roxy's anxiety still tightened Jess' nerves, but at least it hadn't gotten any worse. "Yeah... I'm sure it'll all be fine," Jess said, forcing that smile again even though it probably just made her look panicked.

She really was a terrible liar and she knew it.

In some ways, her mother was pretty accepting. She'd supported and encouraged her daughter's dreams. She'd been fine with it when Jess had admitted to having a crush on a girl at school. In other ways, though... The empath didn't exactly blame her. Like just about any parent, she'd still wanted her child to live up to certain values, and had watched her fail. As for what had happened with her father... Jess shuddered. It hadn't been her fault, she knew that rationally, but she still couldn't forgive herself for burdening her family at the worst possible time.

"Uh... Food! We were talking about food." Changing the subject in an attempt to ease the tension, she headed over and opened the fridge. "Anything in particular you want me to cook?"

[KatherinWinter]

"I don't you'll find much you can cook. Like I said earlier I am not good in the kitchen. Most of the things I buy are in cans, boxes, or frozen. Make whatever you can find." Roxy answered honestly. She doubted Jess could make much unless she was a creative cooler. Especially considering the only seasons in the house were salt and pepper. She wouldn't tell the woman what to make. It wasn't her place to order the other around.

Hopefully Jess wasn't too disappointed in what she had to offer. It wasn't much. She didn't keep much food in the house. There seemed to be little point. But there were some cans of soup and crackers. She had cereal and pop tarts. Lots of sugary stuff. There was plenty of soda. There might be a frozen dinner of two. "Soup might be your best bet but feel free to look through the cupboards before you decide."

[LuckyBlackCat]

Jessamyn "Jess" Bailey

Jess took a quick look through the fridge and cupboards before deciding on a can of leek and potato soup. It didn't really matter what she ate, as long as she wasn't eating alone.

She shouldn't be feeling like this, she thought as she searched for a saucepan and used it to heat up the soup. She shouldn't be relying on someone else. What had being cut off from society for so long done to her? There was no point in continuing to beat herself up over it, though. She'd just have to fix the issues that had come up, and reclaim as much of her identity as possible.

"Well..." she said as she looked for bowls and dished up. "This is the first meal I've shared with anyone in a while."

[KatherinWinter]

"This will be the first meal I've ever shared." Roxy cursed herself. She hadn't meant to say the words out loud. Damn it. Now Jess was going to pity her. She moved as far away from the other woman as dared. She kept her back turned to the empath. The last thing she wanted was the woman to think she was looking for pity. She wasn't. She never would be. She accepted her life the way it was. Just because sharing was a new concept to her didn't mean anything.

"It can't be that hard to do right. People all over the world do it all the time." She pointed out. She was being sarcastic. It was her defence weapon when it came to situations where she couldn't use her knives. Technically Jess hadn't done anything wrong. Just made a comment that had made her uncomfortable so she was doing what she always did.