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.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOdRhEQnfkq
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"Could we talk for a minute?" Hanna asked politely.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtedIqvrfaN
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"Sure." Ethan sat down at the table, sitting across from her.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzzdWLvg0wN
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Hanna quickly added an elastic to finish her braid. "I was thinking about what you said earlier, about pheromones."76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSyw2GxU0Z6
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"Okay," Ethan said, slightly nervous about the topic of conversation.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOvSqcxQI69
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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.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZYzoXhpUX1
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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?"76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCxMlMJ5aRT
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Hanna shrugged, she had zero expertise in this area. "From what you told me, it seems like it might."76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDNXjjIpUyo
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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.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGYjNQZMcTX
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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."76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7U6aXj9Be3
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Hanna stopped talking, allowing the room to settle into an awkward silence.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbYgweekgJs
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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.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTioLioDFYe
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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."76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNgvYYJLShk
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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.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrVFnpSTSLB
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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.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsaptuyWpDP
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"What did you tell her?" Ethan asked.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJoceKeg8k3
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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."76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡprf6uWpnke
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Ethan shifted nervously. "Is this just a cover story or..."76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9zLWHfNQUR
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Hanna chewed her lower lip nervously. "That's up to you. But make your decision later."76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiB2G5La5Wg
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Ethan frowned slightly, somewhat confused. "I don't need time to decide that."76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhRZeOi2jrP
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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.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlmnh26reeK
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"Wait until after the heat to make your decision," Hanna repeated firmly.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUxAaUtLtmk
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"It won't change how I feel," Ethan protested mildly.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxuxCAsZJQA
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Hanna took another sip of coffee. "Then there's no harm in waiting. Boyfriend seemed like a good Terran term."76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4z2RAbWtxs
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Ethan shrugged. "Okay, I'm not up to date on inter-species relationship milestones."76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnUUXA4QviM
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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?"76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx4pkG9wnkD
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Ethan smiled. "I think they're still debating it."76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaYvbWifkXy
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"And they probably will be for the next hundred years or so," Hanna added jokingly.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAWnUAtc3rR
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"...and what do you think?" Ethan asked tentatively.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGx8xypqvWw
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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."76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSQUhQm0RMl
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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?"76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu9zUVB5VaO
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"The same one as before? Vacation?" Hanna suggested.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVd5YCInNX9
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"Is that believable? Out in the middle of the woods in the off season?" Ethan commented skeptically.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmzJdhk4GV0
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"It was cheap?" Hanna suggested dubiously. "Alright, do you have any better ideas?"76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtl0DwjqjSI
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Ethan opened his mouth, then shut it again.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrYf8H7TPDP
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"I thought so," Hanna said smugly.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ64T0skt6wJ
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"Renovations," Ethan suggested cockily.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1HsOKLtVNA
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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?"76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPWxPCrsbuv
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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..."76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2VvwfOxyks
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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."76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGuiD7SlB3U
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"You like the outdoors?" Ethan asked suspiciously.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF7hyUo5kKa
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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.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFomWY7YXpY
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"Really?" Ethan asked skeptically.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5cvU8fJ2hs
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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."76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqDEwHZSpNf
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"I don't like hunting," Ethan said honestly.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkCxOER7FwQ
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"Perfect, you already know your lines," Hanna said, laughing lightly.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd3oWnhCTNv
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Ethan smiled slightly. "So, given we aren't hunting, what are we doing out here?"76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyCwa9UCxhn
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"Hiking? Fishing? Sexy picnics? Getting bitten by millions of tiny blood sucking insects?" Hanna suggested jokingly.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEzgbAd6qQt
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Ethan scowled. "The fourth option is at least true."76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwVuVNawksS
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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."76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI1YMvvqFeQ
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Ethan shrugged. "You know her best, pick whatever you think will work."76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZtPLtJWaxT
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Hanna finished off her coffee. "Okay, I'll think of something... better. Later."76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxowMML22RN
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Ethan smiled slightly. "Good luck with that."76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEF0urvKXbb
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"Hey! Have some faith in my ability to come up with a believable excuse," Hanna protested jokingly.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVwU6nbQPdX
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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."76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO28Hizd6bE
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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.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWZJhNjEU0C
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"But, all joking aside, I don't want my cover blown if this doesn't work," Ethan said seriously.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPI1ixvGGuu
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"It won't be," Hanna promised. "Penelope isn't the brightest bulb in the shed."76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9L1j5wWzou
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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.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsDFgcQoJTQ
Penana
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