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.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOp2wyqsu4f
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"Could we talk for a minute?" Hanna asked politely.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtaQDnASJYu
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"Sure." Ethan sat down at the table, sitting across from her.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeT5pnmZFLq
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Hanna quickly added an elastic to finish her braid. "I was thinking about what you said earlier, about pheromones."74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUDX2OlP41c
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"Okay," Ethan said, slightly nervous about the topic of conversation.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXclYwUwbdE
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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.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYobktWEkvX
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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?"74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN3w3Zw0njd
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Hanna shrugged, she had zero expertise in this area. "From what you told me, it seems like it might."74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe9WrmyIIMW
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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.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKyRYH4mhE6
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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."74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLZOnd2m5kM
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Hanna stopped talking, allowing the room to settle into an awkward silence.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoDEurS4Vvf
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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.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIAMwGet6yV
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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."74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzOyr9QCKNv
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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.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlay0OVhXcL
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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.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGz7J6VPPj4
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"What did you tell her?" Ethan asked.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzl8QrW0LY1
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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."74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXT6W0fNL3m
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Ethan shifted nervously. "Is this just a cover story or..."74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUHDfCjZ9LN
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Hanna chewed her lower lip nervously. "That's up to you. But make your decision later."74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdKiiDxvQiF
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Ethan frowned slightly, somewhat confused. "I don't need time to decide that."74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡokdzP71CeB
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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.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNeeKxr6Gbd
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"Wait until after the heat to make your decision," Hanna repeated firmly.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJB3y4mNazT
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"It won't change how I feel," Ethan protested mildly.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlW6i0O0VdX
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Hanna took another sip of coffee. "Then there's no harm in waiting. Boyfriend seemed like a good Terran term."74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSTOf5RP0U0
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Ethan shrugged. "Okay, I'm not up to date on inter-species relationship milestones."74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiAAVaBb4Pk
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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?"74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡklNu608XCR
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Ethan smiled. "I think they're still debating it."74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzIq4Q79YLU
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"And they probably will be for the next hundred years or so," Hanna added jokingly.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW0tFzSmCxF
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"...and what do you think?" Ethan asked tentatively.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTKxH2NfaMD
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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."74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡORqCrj5E1t
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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?"74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMTgLjP44gv
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"The same one as before? Vacation?" Hanna suggested.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD3022MaQDi
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"Is that believable? Out in the middle of the woods in the off season?" Ethan commented skeptically.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe2ndJ0C8tW
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"It was cheap?" Hanna suggested dubiously. "Alright, do you have any better ideas?"74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2seGiTLpH0
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Ethan opened his mouth, then shut it again.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD5JdAqfsiv
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"I thought so," Hanna said smugly.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8zw8crOx4y
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"Renovations," Ethan suggested cockily.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ00vBKx7jjo
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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?"74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ0OXzZc5s8
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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..."74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNAtKUJmz8T
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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."74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSjZQzVDvsH
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"You like the outdoors?" Ethan asked suspiciously.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmEYRcchRDs
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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.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCQSK8WfRW4
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"Really?" Ethan asked skeptically.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxmSWXPXRvq
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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."74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYGgnez0e5c
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"I don't like hunting," Ethan said honestly.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzKH01vgGwp
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"Perfect, you already know your lines," Hanna said, laughing lightly.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqxX85mCNHY
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Ethan smiled slightly. "So, given we aren't hunting, what are we doing out here?"74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoBMikPXPZg
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"Hiking? Fishing? Sexy picnics? Getting bitten by millions of tiny blood sucking insects?" Hanna suggested jokingly.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOaA41UF5LK
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Ethan scowled. "The fourth option is at least true."74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdu2wLB5Nan
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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."74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMJ2ia03kY8
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Ethan shrugged. "You know her best, pick whatever you think will work."74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEoFLJMmDTo
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Hanna finished off her coffee. "Okay, I'll think of something... better. Later."74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyiDpIpicLI
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Ethan smiled slightly. "Good luck with that."74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFrJ9N6dXnv
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"Hey! Have some faith in my ability to come up with a believable excuse," Hanna protested jokingly.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYpJkxYu3nq
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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."74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmxEJRTlxJH
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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.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpr8Q4uL2jp
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"But, all joking aside, I don't want my cover blown if this doesn't work," Ethan said seriously.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDjub4JReml
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"It won't be," Hanna promised. "Penelope isn't the brightest bulb in the shed."74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcsLzg30cPC
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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.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyDMJrLauc6
Penana
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