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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFHMfaHHS68
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"Could we talk for a minute?" Hanna asked politely.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxPU1dH9wyy
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"Sure." Ethan sat down at the table, sitting across from her.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡof2SCGaALJ
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Hanna quickly added an elastic to finish her braid. "I was thinking about what you said earlier, about pheromones."111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuAnyO4IIQC
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"Okay," Ethan said, slightly nervous about the topic of conversation.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTARONL1XOC
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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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqtDHQbJWg3
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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?"111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgCot6mDRTg
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Hanna shrugged, she had zero expertise in this area. "From what you told me, it seems like it might."111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwYRKuCPIVb
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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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLBwQxcyz0p
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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."111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtQv9DFMa9V
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Hanna stopped talking, allowing the room to settle into an awkward silence.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGXSDPG4nwY
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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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMcJdYXryfX
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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."111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS0xhZaO0jR
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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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Tp8Qg3tLj
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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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjJIi9WnpL2
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"What did you tell her?" Ethan asked.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJI8DwE7bpS
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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."111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhcY2kZFJ24
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Ethan shifted nervously. "Is this just a cover story or..."111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKhP54gLUIt
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Hanna chewed her lower lip nervously. "That's up to you. But make your decision later."111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFCyRX3KrkN
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Ethan frowned slightly, somewhat confused. "I don't need time to decide that."111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmQQanrkTIW
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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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu4nxrVPXbl
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"Wait until after the heat to make your decision," Hanna repeated firmly.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkcabFDzVDK
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"It won't change how I feel," Ethan protested mildly.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGcTg1fqweW
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Hanna took another sip of coffee. "Then there's no harm in waiting. Boyfriend seemed like a good Terran term."111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLTS4sjw0q3
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Ethan shrugged. "Okay, I'm not up to date on inter-species relationship milestones."111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFW5JmOxbvy
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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?"111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRQUxPVaHOa
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Ethan smiled. "I think they're still debating it."111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrHnrlTQkKS
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"And they probably will be for the next hundred years or so," Hanna added jokingly.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrOdTuAypmn
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"...and what do you think?" Ethan asked tentatively.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrCQAp34AJl
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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."111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIWXPFiSCjr
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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?"111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaDpAe0zh0t
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"The same one as before? Vacation?" Hanna suggested.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvUOUYIMJzj
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"Is that believable? Out in the middle of the woods in the off season?" Ethan commented skeptically.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA7cXCxMzMX
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"It was cheap?" Hanna suggested dubiously. "Alright, do you have any better ideas?"111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnWghssLy98
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Ethan opened his mouth, then shut it again.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxSxmIvIPHB
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"I thought so," Hanna said smugly.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJiCS6uHCM8
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"Renovations," Ethan suggested cockily.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfyVn1IMPCf
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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?"111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP8gcpwpNS0
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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..."111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAXw4WLN6Nq
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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."111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhKrj45QvsJ
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"You like the outdoors?" Ethan asked suspiciously.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj5fguzdHmu
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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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Xau0QdUBB
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"Really?" Ethan asked skeptically.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmZUtldwnhS
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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."111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoA7ZthIcF2
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"I don't like hunting," Ethan said honestly.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfJra0xlOQm
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"Perfect, you already know your lines," Hanna said, laughing lightly.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBT3uNkEgKg
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Ethan smiled slightly. "So, given we aren't hunting, what are we doing out here?"111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBy9BFJGqDT
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"Hiking? Fishing? Sexy picnics? Getting bitten by millions of tiny blood sucking insects?" Hanna suggested jokingly.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBwRv0S12Jq
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Ethan scowled. "The fourth option is at least true."111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjA9wpl94Tz
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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."111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5NfTFSrlZV
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Ethan shrugged. "You know her best, pick whatever you think will work."111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZxT7TnVALd
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Hanna finished off her coffee. "Okay, I'll think of something... better. Later."111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBSA8zgjBlR
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Ethan smiled slightly. "Good luck with that."111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ZB1NjRGPL
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"Hey! Have some faith in my ability to come up with a believable excuse," Hanna protested jokingly.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFd6dXtGuHk
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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."111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6FaFvcPzXL
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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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBYbqowiqWh
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"But, all joking aside, I don't want my cover blown if this doesn't work," Ethan said seriously.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ23727RaQmd
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"It won't be," Hanna promised. "Penelope isn't the brightest bulb in the shed."111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyNwzVb5E7O
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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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJoY7kXB5wK
Penana
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