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.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmAw9uElw98
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"Could we talk for a minute?" Hanna asked politely.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt3948HOD9F
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"Sure." Ethan sat down at the table, sitting across from her.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUE2e2B2JlB
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Hanna quickly added an elastic to finish her braid. "I was thinking about what you said earlier, about pheromones."180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIFaAx0AaVB
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"Okay," Ethan said, slightly nervous about the topic of conversation.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhwFGF6fo3f
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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.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJizh2qIrdA
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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?"180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwUIz1brtUJ
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Hanna shrugged, she had zero expertise in this area. "From what you told me, it seems like it might."180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsTgNPHHnky
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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.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGESJamd3Fo
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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."180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJZVY6aDXUl
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Hanna stopped talking, allowing the room to settle into an awkward silence.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUT36MGst5h
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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.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpEZ8xJ7ULC
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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."180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcOgXGgDASC
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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.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqzflHlVxws
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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.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoXvtR1mbRz
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"What did you tell her?" Ethan asked.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ59H38waAye
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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."180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcKM2E8NW0V
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Ethan shifted nervously. "Is this just a cover story or..."180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOxVsPc3BDV
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Hanna chewed her lower lip nervously. "That's up to you. But make your decision later."180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL94YogMzkT
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Ethan frowned slightly, somewhat confused. "I don't need time to decide that."180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsJ1lRldn9N
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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.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUy6fIk7B4a
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"Wait until after the heat to make your decision," Hanna repeated firmly.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8R5absTExq
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"It won't change how I feel," Ethan protested mildly.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMa6gZMjdPw
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Hanna took another sip of coffee. "Then there's no harm in waiting. Boyfriend seemed like a good Terran term."180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpCGzSPhfJ9
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Ethan shrugged. "Okay, I'm not up to date on inter-species relationship milestones."180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQgIAsxQZGg
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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?"180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQVmZwupX2R
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Ethan smiled. "I think they're still debating it."180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeoPoeJ5ASx
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"And they probably will be for the next hundred years or so," Hanna added jokingly.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU5haXQmBUB
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"...and what do you think?" Ethan asked tentatively.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvv72cts5AV
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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."180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUPoFpD7pE5
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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?"180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQZhDI3LB7C
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"The same one as before? Vacation?" Hanna suggested.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkKUTzN0eYm
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"Is that believable? Out in the middle of the woods in the off season?" Ethan commented skeptically.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDK63kETNIf
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"It was cheap?" Hanna suggested dubiously. "Alright, do you have any better ideas?"180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkWaIMkLYpv
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Ethan opened his mouth, then shut it again.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9e8WojqEMz
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"I thought so," Hanna said smugly.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB3mvir22JP
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"Renovations," Ethan suggested cockily.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj7xSea7EvS
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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?"180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHMH5Vh44sz
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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..."180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfOfIceBUfb
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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."180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmmuDqJolSg
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"You like the outdoors?" Ethan asked suspiciously.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡttMrrFwbv9
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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.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCnjpWk6JCp
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"Really?" Ethan asked skeptically.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8EmwwNdxcK
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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."180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtqIeq9bCT0
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"I don't like hunting," Ethan said honestly.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgNMEXGyMsV
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"Perfect, you already know your lines," Hanna said, laughing lightly.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPVnJKVdSUq
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Ethan smiled slightly. "So, given we aren't hunting, what are we doing out here?"180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4QIFqp6BLa
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"Hiking? Fishing? Sexy picnics? Getting bitten by millions of tiny blood sucking insects?" Hanna suggested jokingly.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0eflwkkMHW
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Ethan scowled. "The fourth option is at least true."180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNBn6b3ZQlP
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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."180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWdgO2oH3SV
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Ethan shrugged. "You know her best, pick whatever you think will work."180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvG6p5Vq1ac
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Hanna finished off her coffee. "Okay, I'll think of something... better. Later."180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgSjZgIV9UW
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Ethan smiled slightly. "Good luck with that."180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRsMdNCKKWS
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"Hey! Have some faith in my ability to come up with a believable excuse," Hanna protested jokingly.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnAsiyTGFKr
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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."180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJB1k6ZlNFk
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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.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDy3KSnN1uO
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"But, all joking aside, I don't want my cover blown if this doesn't work," Ethan said seriously.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlHwFB0b1Xm
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"It won't be," Hanna promised. "Penelope isn't the brightest bulb in the shed."180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQVa0efe1On
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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.180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8xZBrhgWTT
Penana
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