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.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPgytiIgTAq
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"Could we talk for a minute?" Hanna asked politely.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEJfSF6pIy9
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"Sure." Ethan sat down at the table, sitting across from her.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4kzHJOHiuq
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Hanna quickly added an elastic to finish her braid. "I was thinking about what you said earlier, about pheromones."27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5QaUPPKF1B
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"Okay," Ethan said, slightly nervous about the topic of conversation.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnx489H3RHv
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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.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCVMmIKyIWV
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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?"27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmnS3VLJTPe
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Hanna shrugged, she had zero expertise in this area. "From what you told me, it seems like it might."27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4H8APIAySS
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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.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡINb5A6ACIy
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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."27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPsceTstgUP
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Hanna stopped talking, allowing the room to settle into an awkward silence.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡArGe67g5ud
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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.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGbL7dw60DM
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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."27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0YNOcmREpx
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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.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLy6kAUQimX
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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.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1oS1BQc3iT
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"What did you tell her?" Ethan asked.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWQ3shY8IeG
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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."27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSqZoPR7oAL
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Ethan shifted nervously. "Is this just a cover story or..."27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr2QQ6rr9QY
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Hanna chewed her lower lip nervously. "That's up to you. But make your decision later."27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoFrBE8gszh
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Ethan frowned slightly, somewhat confused. "I don't need time to decide that."27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY0lmOwQJA5
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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.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUjwIWF6VQe
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"Wait until after the heat to make your decision," Hanna repeated firmly.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQN9q1JURJZ
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"It won't change how I feel," Ethan protested mildly.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUZkwygfJL8
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Hanna took another sip of coffee. "Then there's no harm in waiting. Boyfriend seemed like a good Terran term."27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOPmkxdzOrB
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Ethan shrugged. "Okay, I'm not up to date on inter-species relationship milestones."27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4lYb32yA3r
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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?"27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNLZMe4EZiw
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Ethan smiled. "I think they're still debating it."27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpiitryRDmL
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"And they probably will be for the next hundred years or so," Hanna added jokingly.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKweO1tRfBq
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"...and what do you think?" Ethan asked tentatively.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQFgsbWKfkd
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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."27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOJ2czEhZ9D
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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?"27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRGRae0wP1S
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"The same one as before? Vacation?" Hanna suggested.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLWc5piA5gA
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"Is that believable? Out in the middle of the woods in the off season?" Ethan commented skeptically.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHWlTfyci8u
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"It was cheap?" Hanna suggested dubiously. "Alright, do you have any better ideas?"27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxg057PI8mp
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Ethan opened his mouth, then shut it again.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ81rIcPdR6F
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"I thought so," Hanna said smugly.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3rhAzJ0iOf
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"Renovations," Ethan suggested cockily.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqI0etGGIUE
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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?"27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeOAiCpBYD4
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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..."27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCGemUZDMcT
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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."27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv0Kvg9wrzR
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"You like the outdoors?" Ethan asked suspiciously.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFvtMdUuzr7
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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.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvlMuUc79ra
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"Really?" Ethan asked skeptically.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM2BOeeJKPq
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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."27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJw9RUtDUbM
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"I don't like hunting," Ethan said honestly.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzIU3O4KlUv
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"Perfect, you already know your lines," Hanna said, laughing lightly.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcklxo8ft7U
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Ethan smiled slightly. "So, given we aren't hunting, what are we doing out here?"27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjrDCdV43re
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"Hiking? Fishing? Sexy picnics? Getting bitten by millions of tiny blood sucking insects?" Hanna suggested jokingly.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡniVzazfAVq
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Ethan scowled. "The fourth option is at least true."27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡex0Asbew0O
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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."27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJTQKW2a57k
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Ethan shrugged. "You know her best, pick whatever you think will work."27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXHtxhhECw4
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Hanna finished off her coffee. "Okay, I'll think of something... better. Later."27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ20VXyIZuNO
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Ethan smiled slightly. "Good luck with that."27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZw27GSZ4hI
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"Hey! Have some faith in my ability to come up with a believable excuse," Hanna protested jokingly.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4U9Ncib49V
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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."27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXLpBG8PKXw
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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.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz1DRJWl3zy
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"But, all joking aside, I don't want my cover blown if this doesn't work," Ethan said seriously.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVTSUawUngU
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"It won't be," Hanna promised. "Penelope isn't the brightest bulb in the shed."27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBhXrhNZ5Qa
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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.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy1lawG2fPL
Penana
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