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.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdrqflv4JBT
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"Could we talk for a minute?" Hanna asked politely.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPDc4HeING4
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"Sure." Ethan sat down at the table, sitting across from her.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC7HjsLrPKr
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Hanna quickly added an elastic to finish her braid. "I was thinking about what you said earlier, about pheromones."51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5SIc3olxvp
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"Okay," Ethan said, slightly nervous about the topic of conversation.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSRP1r4WnNA
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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.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDSTFx5eSGk
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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?"51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAR5YFSb8sK
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Hanna shrugged, she had zero expertise in this area. "From what you told me, it seems like it might."51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQpOmPw6nLK
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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.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEa9ges5WlR
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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."51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT7UKZyHZuw
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Hanna stopped talking, allowing the room to settle into an awkward silence.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwTnMWxcVye
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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.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaAKVd8pTO7
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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."51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgPPePZg9zU
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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.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡciQhq3cjnF
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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.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGKMEDIJRnY
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"What did you tell her?" Ethan asked.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9cvV8UdyU7
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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."51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXXF3r4SuWN
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Ethan shifted nervously. "Is this just a cover story or..."51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMGE3r0u6kM
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Hanna chewed her lower lip nervously. "That's up to you. But make your decision later."51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjZsKdd7uQI
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Ethan frowned slightly, somewhat confused. "I don't need time to decide that."51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgxDlKgjPFx
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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.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa8jhD0m14b
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"Wait until after the heat to make your decision," Hanna repeated firmly.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJCgKTmlAgN
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"It won't change how I feel," Ethan protested mildly.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw6QNXSdI9N
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Hanna took another sip of coffee. "Then there's no harm in waiting. Boyfriend seemed like a good Terran term."51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9lJiC1LEz8
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Ethan shrugged. "Okay, I'm not up to date on inter-species relationship milestones."51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtLC810OJHv
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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?"51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJv9XGbJxWq
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Ethan smiled. "I think they're still debating it."51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7iocZalhO3
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"And they probably will be for the next hundred years or so," Hanna added jokingly.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5BrIbVgcfc
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"...and what do you think?" Ethan asked tentatively.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhTHPSCrndD
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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."51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlhMH7o5g07
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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?"51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHuhYcgontS
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"The same one as before? Vacation?" Hanna suggested.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3MSZQKoZ4H
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"Is that believable? Out in the middle of the woods in the off season?" Ethan commented skeptically.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGJ44E0yOSk
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"It was cheap?" Hanna suggested dubiously. "Alright, do you have any better ideas?"51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL6qPG5jb5a
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Ethan opened his mouth, then shut it again.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡamaXSNTtuM
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"I thought so," Hanna said smugly.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoXj2GoyJ5f
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"Renovations," Ethan suggested cockily.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmGZVccwxct
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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?"51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhsz2Bua3A7
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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..."51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbIUwftFD5q
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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."51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWhGvwp5pHl
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"You like the outdoors?" Ethan asked suspiciously.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXfCrNu1CjZ
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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.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡii1yPR8F5q
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"Really?" Ethan asked skeptically.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBC8lpeQllG
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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."51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTKqMVzDvEx
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"I don't like hunting," Ethan said honestly.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0IcN3gavdB
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"Perfect, you already know your lines," Hanna said, laughing lightly.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzzCKfU6asf
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Ethan smiled slightly. "So, given we aren't hunting, what are we doing out here?"51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAkMgfOy5Ii
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"Hiking? Fishing? Sexy picnics? Getting bitten by millions of tiny blood sucking insects?" Hanna suggested jokingly.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHcSqf7IzFh
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Ethan scowled. "The fourth option is at least true."51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Mt1sK8uTv
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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."51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP1ItJ0QHNe
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Ethan shrugged. "You know her best, pick whatever you think will work."51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbJcTxAZ7iX
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Hanna finished off her coffee. "Okay, I'll think of something... better. Later."51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTKrLRxy1Op
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Ethan smiled slightly. "Good luck with that."51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4IjVHEkxFy
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"Hey! Have some faith in my ability to come up with a believable excuse," Hanna protested jokingly.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK1JT2gNrDY
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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."51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxmfV64FNmY
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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.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1P8qvp4OQV
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"But, all joking aside, I don't want my cover blown if this doesn't work," Ethan said seriously.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRtmRSzjDMP
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"It won't be," Hanna promised. "Penelope isn't the brightest bulb in the shed."51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjYdkVtuokm
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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.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB5PrQRJI3C
Penana
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