[center][color=teal][h2]Jessamyn "Jess" Bailey[/h2][/color][/center]

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. [color=teal]"Pretty catchy,"[/color] she commented. [color=teal]"Well, there you go, it seems we both like feel-good stuff. That's... something, I guess."[/color] 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. [color=teal]"This ok?"[/color] 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?