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.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzBivZi1fsZ
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"Could we talk for a minute?" Hanna asked politely.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7GHMebOlEr
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"Sure." Ethan sat down at the table, sitting across from her.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAYbXrwd72E
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Hanna quickly added an elastic to finish her braid. "I was thinking about what you said earlier, about pheromones."36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7UHUeeWjhF
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"Okay," Ethan said, slightly nervous about the topic of conversation.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtCFGdOqSRE
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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.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC2diYkjYZ3
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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?"36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqcmdKWGU6F
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Hanna shrugged, she had zero expertise in this area. "From what you told me, it seems like it might."36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3cV0hsbWnR
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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.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWK1Vc90zno
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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."36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeSEisrUAM8
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Hanna stopped talking, allowing the room to settle into an awkward silence.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8txVLImnOj
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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.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ50OMki23Q0
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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."36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQJAo5Y6ao6
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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.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3bsYRt9W21
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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.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnFjq7bj9lA
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"What did you tell her?" Ethan asked.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqu9cyzGwsO
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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."36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcUFnbQ2msI
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Ethan shifted nervously. "Is this just a cover story or..."36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpqXf8LtllP
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Hanna chewed her lower lip nervously. "That's up to you. But make your decision later."36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBJ8cPuzl4N
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Ethan frowned slightly, somewhat confused. "I don't need time to decide that."36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEI9lWiVp7z
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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.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMUYCzKZxbY
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"Wait until after the heat to make your decision," Hanna repeated firmly.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBPRtQFLfDC
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"It won't change how I feel," Ethan protested mildly.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSEEr6EGRrI
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Hanna took another sip of coffee. "Then there's no harm in waiting. Boyfriend seemed like a good Terran term."36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnBnfGfBPEA
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Ethan shrugged. "Okay, I'm not up to date on inter-species relationship milestones."36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7NUHJ41SAh
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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?"36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKJcTSeofgP
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Ethan smiled. "I think they're still debating it."36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTm0RfKteTq
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"And they probably will be for the next hundred years or so," Hanna added jokingly.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Ex2VH7Ii9
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"...and what do you think?" Ethan asked tentatively.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡawZ8kvQAx9
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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."36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDMcPwN1VGx
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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?"36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwMH7Lkmb4s
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"The same one as before? Vacation?" Hanna suggested.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHvi31fRT9Y
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"Is that believable? Out in the middle of the woods in the off season?" Ethan commented skeptically.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1tG9q6IpoU
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"It was cheap?" Hanna suggested dubiously. "Alright, do you have any better ideas?"36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhJRt2jKD5c
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Ethan opened his mouth, then shut it again.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3tirLZ5bEJ
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"I thought so," Hanna said smugly.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI7886ZtvNn
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"Renovations," Ethan suggested cockily.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWUwm3T2MPa
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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?"36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ54Qf48cBdv
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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..."36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDFjEbM6SLB
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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."36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡETJM1s0UD7
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"You like the outdoors?" Ethan asked suspiciously.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP20x8YLKZ9
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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.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡViJLvlzJQK
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"Really?" Ethan asked skeptically.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi94ZvsN7NV
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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."36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6zM3ztRxPq
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"I don't like hunting," Ethan said honestly.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFMxNTVMMxH
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"Perfect, you already know your lines," Hanna said, laughing lightly.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl80dyAWN40
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Ethan smiled slightly. "So, given we aren't hunting, what are we doing out here?"36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ36fiTPd8nj
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"Hiking? Fishing? Sexy picnics? Getting bitten by millions of tiny blood sucking insects?" Hanna suggested jokingly.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuUyFnCloXk
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Ethan scowled. "The fourth option is at least true."36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyVO7QBTieT
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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."36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0DpO6YCvzl
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Ethan shrugged. "You know her best, pick whatever you think will work."36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ17MGeGqBs9
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Hanna finished off her coffee. "Okay, I'll think of something... better. Later."36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcb60e6fSMi
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Ethan smiled slightly. "Good luck with that."36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP3nC4DexZb
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"Hey! Have some faith in my ability to come up with a believable excuse," Hanna protested jokingly.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP3nzzWcf4j
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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."36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSl941XQQwr
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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.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiLwwT7MSvs
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"But, all joking aside, I don't want my cover blown if this doesn't work," Ethan said seriously.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtv2MXO1PEz
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"It won't be," Hanna promised. "Penelope isn't the brightest bulb in the shed."36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhHc3Mdquon
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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.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbkcAidxY3h
Penana
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