Hanna sat down at the table with a hot cup of coffee, alone. She set to braiding her hair, trying to keep her mind occupied. She began interweaving her dark hair so it would fall over her left shoulder, an old style, one that she didn't usually use, but she liked it. The last section was just being completed as Ethan walked into the room.37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSh1fqtPKsn
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"Could we talk for a minute?" Hanna asked politely.37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvFrWzUT6R3
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"Sure." Ethan sat down at the table, sitting across from her.37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgcF5Ev2aYK
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Hanna quickly added an elastic to finish her braid. "I was thinking about what you said earlier, about pheromones."37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK6DOlPEgvF
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"Okay," Ethan said, slightly nervous about the topic of conversation.37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcRbAfgKxSt
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"I have a friend, she's pregnant, and I was thinking if you met her, that might help. Maybe trick your brain," Hanna proposed uncertainly.37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7v8ZRlG2Dt
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Ethan's brow creased. He was reluctant to get his hopes up. "You think that might... work? Stop the heat early?"37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwFTOg4Jl2i
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Hanna shrugged, she had zero expertise in this area. "From what you told me, it seems like it might."37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGCa0FGnEUm
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Ethan turned to look out the window, his expression hidden. He was reluctant to get his hopes up, it seemed like a long shot, then there was the inherent risk of letting another person know their location.37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzZwMgfewnw
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"It's just an idea. You don't have to. It might not even work," Hanna babbled. She stared into her coffee mug, as if the dark, bitter substance had all the answers. "I know you're not very comfortable with people coming here. And I know it's risky, but Penelope isn't the smartest and I don't think she'd figure out your identity."37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIgvfSngE1b
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Hanna stopped talking, allowing the room to settle into an awkward silence.37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgJFAeGioq2
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It might be worth it, Ethan thought, weighing the options. He really did not want to spend another three weeks in heat. "It's a good idea. We should try it," he stated finally.37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlWy8nuhkmy
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Hanna slowly set her mug down on the table. "Oh. Um, I'll see when I can convince her to come out here then."37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV8ZPSYvh2c
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Ethan nodded, gaze still fixed on the dreary forest outside. Hanna got up quietly and went outside to make the phone call. A few minutes later, she came back in to find Ethan sitting at the table, a half empty glass of water in front of him.37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRxi2sgrae9
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"Alright, she'll drop by in a few days," Hanna informed him, picking up her half drunk mug of coffee again.37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLdSgU9Lype
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"What did you tell her?" Ethan asked.37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdmPRJt9CWI
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"I didn't tell her you're Charax, for obvious reasons," Hanna paused, starting to realize she might have been a little presumptuous with her cover story. "I told her I wanted her to meet my new boyfriend."37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE4x3Bu4jPq
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Ethan shifted nervously. "Is this just a cover story or..."37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡblfTZVliIH
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Hanna chewed her lower lip nervously. "That's up to you. But make your decision later."37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiEOMRBfW2N
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Ethan frowned slightly, somewhat confused. "I don't need time to decide that."37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz8qVnu2H79
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Hanna resisted the urge to sigh, his hormones were probably still messing with his brain. She had no clue how much of his behaviour was really his and how much was caused by the heat. Even if he said he wanted to be in a relationship... she wouldn't be convinced until he confirmed it out of heat. If he didn't want to be in a relationship... she didn't want to hear that right now either.37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVildNBSpsW
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"Wait until after the heat to make your decision," Hanna repeated firmly.37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN07ziCPI04
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"It won't change how I feel," Ethan protested mildly.37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWL9reDPXhT
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Hanna took another sip of coffee. "Then there's no harm in waiting. Boyfriend seemed like a good Terran term."37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkXRMaKlWut
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Ethan shrugged. "Okay, I'm not up to date on inter-species relationship milestones."37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ15GuSZPNTH
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Hanna laughed, a light and carefree expression of joy. "Wait, I thought the scientists agreed we were technically the same species?"37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcaBWfI7FSA
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Ethan smiled. "I think they're still debating it."37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡglt189enWF
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"And they probably will be for the next hundred years or so," Hanna added jokingly.37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHfLJPwY2Ju
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"...and what do you think?" Ethan asked tentatively.37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnHtd3XaSnX
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Hanna shrugged, obvious to the changing tone of the conversation. "That there will probably never be a consensus so it doesn't matter what they say." She went to fill up her mug from the pot on the counter. "So, anyways, 'boyfriend' was the closest Terran label I could think of, if you're alright with that."37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoiYbxzeu3V
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That's an interesting take on Charax-Terran relationships, Ethan thought, unwilling to push the subject further. "It fits. What's our cover?"37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBIsMZrj47q
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"The same one as before? Vacation?" Hanna suggested.37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUitvikFL2F
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"Is that believable? Out in the middle of the woods in the off season?" Ethan commented skeptically.37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMRC0bZpMbm
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"It was cheap?" Hanna suggested dubiously. "Alright, do you have any better ideas?"37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiUyhhfFyIa
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Ethan opened his mouth, then shut it again.37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfA0TzgM4Fu
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"I thought so," Hanna said smugly.37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzZVlbeqHPw
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"Renovations," Ethan suggested cockily.37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpuSmMQsCJX
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Hanna glanced about the large room. The place certainly did look like it needed a new coat of paint. The counter had chips in it, the dinner table was scratched, the sofa was stained and the lounge chair was falling apart. But that was all typical of a well-used cottage. "Don't you think she'd notice no supplies around?"37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvpbbl05ekU
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Ethan walked over to the front entrance, gesturing at the large front window. "She doesn't need to come inside, we could hang up some sheets..."37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgcq06fWEUr
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"That sounds like a lot of work," Hanna said, still doubtful. "I like the outdoors, I think she'd buy the vacation line."37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHy5qb7zWvj
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"You like the outdoors?" Ethan asked suspiciously.37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6m2ASgTjR9
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"I do, I like hunting," Hanna fibbed. She didn't like hunting that much but it was her typical excuse for why she had a bunch of guns and knew how to use them. She'd used it enough as a cover for enough of her missions that almost no one questioned it anymore.37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJDrDzjrrb7
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"Really?" Ethan asked skeptically.37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE64QeUeZUl
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"Yes." Hanna stuck firmly to the lie. "But it's the off season so we'll just pretend you don't like hunting or something."37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQrQmcwqUqJ
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"I don't like hunting," Ethan said honestly.37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEBaEKKPug4
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"Perfect, you already know your lines," Hanna said, laughing lightly.37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQo0Pn9X58t
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Ethan smiled slightly. "So, given we aren't hunting, what are we doing out here?"37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo640w9f9dq
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"Hiking? Fishing? Sexy picnics? Getting bitten by millions of tiny blood sucking insects?" Hanna suggested jokingly.37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSHJWdGIVJX
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Ethan scowled. "The fourth option is at least true."37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNeskhUUQJ1
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"It just has to be mildly believable, not actually true," Hanna suggested. "Even if she thinks we're actually doing something else, she won't mention it."37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg1hSaWIyrA
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Ethan shrugged. "You know her best, pick whatever you think will work."37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGLr46gwb1Y
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Hanna finished off her coffee. "Okay, I'll think of something... better. Later."37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJktPxzzpRN
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Ethan smiled slightly. "Good luck with that."37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI40wukorRS
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"Hey! Have some faith in my ability to come up with a believable excuse," Hanna protested jokingly.37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmg5ynsLelw
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Ethan flashed her his typical overconfident smile. "I'm sure you'll be able to come up with something if you put your mind to it."37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfdbWTgxnIx
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Hanna resisted the urge to roll her eyes at him and bit back the sassy comeback that was on the tip of her tongue. I've been good enough to fool you so far, she thought smugly. She put a small smile on her face. "I'm sure I'll manage," she said sweetly.37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9tGDlLRYnF
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"But, all joking aside, I don't want my cover blown if this doesn't work," Ethan said seriously.37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtDXdlOuiCn
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"It won't be," Hanna promised. "Penelope isn't the brightest bulb in the shed."37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7IINjJaJwk
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Ethan gave her a skeptical look, already questioning if this whole plan was one big mistake. He decided to let the matter drop and picked up the crossword puzzle book instead, hoping to distract himself from this new problem, at least until he had to deal with the usual one.37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwiCx41aZdl
Penana
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