Paranoia

Sadness. Depression. Fear. Paranoia. Jealousy. Those were emotions that didn't do much on their own in small quantities, though a mix of them all together hurt quite a bit. Topping it off with a father figure that tortured her yet she wouldn't leave and a city that hated her while she stayed and you'd be left with a confused young man. Occulting arts only pushed that paranoia further, leaving Ethan to stare towards Aspen for a few seconds before his right hand reached out - held before her with his palm facing the ceiling. He shook his head.

"I... need your key." He said. Emotions clearly ramped up by a ton. His heart started beating faster and water welled up in his eyes. Why was he feeling that way? He didn't even understand it. This... Felt bad. Both to leave her behind and to trust her. How was this possible?

"... I just— please."

He couldn't even explain it. Part of him feared this was still all a trap - some manipulation. Why else would Vedran accept him? There was no way that was possible.

"I don't hate you. I just... I'm scared." He revealed, fully honest.
(Ethan Hawke)

Without another word, her hand reached down into her satchel, producing the key to Ethan's home. Her eyes averted from Ethan's, staring towards object in her hand. Her eyes welled up with tears accompanied with gritted teeth. Despair. Hatred. Why was he feeling the way he felt?

It was obvious. Fear. Clearly known by the latter statement. Aspen was distrusted; she furrowed her brows. The Ivanovich walked towards the door first, checking to make the door was unlocked.

"...Fine.." Her tone was low, cracking under the pressure. Anxiety filled her stomach. The woman twisted her body towards Ethan without that scowl that'd turned pensive. Her hand reached out, dropping the key gently in his hand.

Thus far, Aspen turned back away towards the door to leave him.

'This is for the best.. I'll be fine, right? Yeah..'
(Aspen Ivanovich)

Aspen Ivanovich unlocks the door.

Aspen Ivanovich drops Ethan's Place.

Confusing emotions and sadness overwhelmed him at once. Watching her leave was even harder than asking her for that god-forsaken key. The sound of metal softly hitting the red carpet could be her as he dropped it - instead reaching for what mattered most. His hand shot out for Aspen's own.

A solid, tight grasp was offered for a brief moment before he'd attempt to pull her around and back into his grasp. No warning, no words, no more fear - if only for a moment love had triumphed. Lips sought out lips in an attempt to silence them both, to clear away suspicion and fear. To mend what had briefly been cracked up and hurt.

He couldn't just let her go, either. Even if part of him wanted her to leave, wanted less trouble, wanted an easier life. She... Mattered. Everything was confusing, and the occult influences on his mind didn't make it any better.

Still, perhaps a kiss could explain his emotions better than he could.
(Ethan Hawke)

Time surrounding the atmosphere felt frozen in the sound of silence. Until the muffled metallic ring of metal chimed after hitting the floor. Aspen wasn't keen on stretching her neck towards the noise until Ethan ceased her movement towards his door by reaching out and firmly gripping her hand.

Aspen was spun around, embraced, and kissed; returned by the Ivanovich thrall. The woman's tears pushed through, trickling down her cheeks after closing her eye lids. Her arms wrapped around him tightly.

Their kiss was only brief. She reeled back and inch or two before placing a hand to cup his cheek and press her forehead into his neck. "...I'll come back to you. You don't have to be scared." Whispers, soft, sweet, felt through he breaths against his neck.

"You don't have to be afraid, my love." Gently Aspen kissed his cheek, hoping to reassure him of how she felt. It was hard. The way she felt about him was naught butaffectionate yet- He had his reasons to be scared. "I'll come back," she repeated for reassurance.
(Aspen Ivanovich)

A brief kiss was just enough to calm him down a bit. Of course it would've been much different if she hadn't held onto him so tightly in return - ensuring that he wouldn't let go and showing him that she was... There. Tears were shared, heartbreak with no real reason came down upon them, leaving him to pull her even closer, to bring her right against him as he breathed in and out, slowly. Soft whispers, gentle touch, small kisses. Repeats. Again. And again.

Emotions were... Difficult to deal with. Ethan had far more trouble due to the immense number of betrayal that came with his own short-lived relationships. This was all too new and recent for him to really grasp. He whispered back, lips brushing up against her neck.

"I... I'm sorry. I just— don't... understand. I don't understand why."

He really didn't. Years of using occult magic, even sparingly, had brought his greatest fear to burn brightly. He held onto Aspen for now, hoping that it would pass.

That his paranoia would cease.
(Ethan Hawke)

Ethan was set off by trepidation about the Ivanovich's forthcoming departure. Occultic influences weighed down his current disposition brought tranquil by her embrace of him. An emotional exchange between the duo had Aspen conducting a plethora of explanations for the sudden spark of anxiety. His prowess was a vague conclusion, especially because of the woman's affiliations.

"Don't be sorry. This is another hiccup we can get through." It didn't press on the thrall's mind of the madness overtaking his thoughts and emotions until Aspen pulled away again, recalling their battle previously. The faint grin that adorned her features dwindled.

Another recollection of her discussion with Kuso- the occultic kitsune who'd been jailed away from attempting murder. Something akin to that altercation. Here, however? Ethan's fears came to light. From another's point of view, this could be considerably bipolar, but she understood his grounds.

"Have you considered.. maybe it's your prowess that influence your fears? Occultic madness, maybe? Some others I know have suffered through it." Aspen's thumb gently caressed Ethan's cheek. "Kuso.. you should consider consulting with him, or others to help control it. I'll help any way I can if that's what's causing this.. sudden anxiety you feel."
(Aspen Ivanovich)

"I don't.. know." He answered, leaning into the hand that craddled his cheek. A bit of time near Aspen had allowed Ethan to calm down quite a bit, to relax and be able to take a small step back from the situation, to realize the error of his ways and the crazed fears he felt.

He pulled her into a tight hug once more, muttering a few words before releasing the gesture.

"I'll figure it out. For you." He answered, giving a smile soon after. He backed up a bit towards the bed - allowing himself to fall back down towards it. He needed some rest.
(Ethan Hawke)

One last embrace before Ethan stepped back towards the bed for rest. The Ivanovich crouched down to pick up the key that sat nearby her boots on the carpet. Aspen acknowledged his affirmations with a nod.

"Please do. I dislike seeing you suffer. Consult with someone about it. Ohtli, Zeriel, if you must. Someone that'll figure it out better than I can. Nullifying the influences of occult may suppress your fears."

The woman's posture straightened, extending a hand towards the knob. "I'm going to head out now. I'll be back eventually. Until then, Ethan. Rest up. I assure you I'll be fine. I love you," without another word, she departs.
(Aspen Ivanovich)