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.169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF5rbIDpQXl
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"Could we talk for a minute?" Hanna asked politely.169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoyZ299KwEa
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"Sure." Ethan sat down at the table, sitting across from her.169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8WRpohXPMP
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Hanna quickly added an elastic to finish her braid. "I was thinking about what you said earlier, about pheromones."169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHayb18wcri
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"Okay," Ethan said, slightly nervous about the topic of conversation.169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9FV9N13zPD
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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.169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfyJHP3IfIt
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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?"169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBdfddDLSSm
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Hanna shrugged, she had zero expertise in this area. "From what you told me, it seems like it might."169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYOZJalOWjA
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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.169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmk36SW0nS1
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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."169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVToDiDvHWE
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Hanna stopped talking, allowing the room to settle into an awkward silence.169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK6AuyX4zGj
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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.169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9jWtBLyvaf
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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."169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlOS7MXBcFH
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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.169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAzkYdYZidN
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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.169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSbtLuwvbE8
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"What did you tell her?" Ethan asked.169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmgtJv7wEO4
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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."169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVeLGpApPaK
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Ethan shifted nervously. "Is this just a cover story or..."169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQpZbaA8jly
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Hanna chewed her lower lip nervously. "That's up to you. But make your decision later."169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKLWuSjZRqQ
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Ethan frowned slightly, somewhat confused. "I don't need time to decide that."169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVeAv4wEoYU
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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.169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJxGdUI3t6z
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"Wait until after the heat to make your decision," Hanna repeated firmly.169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcMUPqSVPip
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"It won't change how I feel," Ethan protested mildly.169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuLcpiMGOrK
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Hanna took another sip of coffee. "Then there's no harm in waiting. Boyfriend seemed like a good Terran term."169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYmiuh2DOMi
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Ethan shrugged. "Okay, I'm not up to date on inter-species relationship milestones."169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcAqhjwIATR
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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?"169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCSnXf35qSq
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Ethan smiled. "I think they're still debating it."169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYf6O8r2jsT
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"And they probably will be for the next hundred years or so," Hanna added jokingly.169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTQB6cKFLVf
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"...and what do you think?" Ethan asked tentatively.169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3TGKvciXJa
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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."169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4zkWJjAGZ3
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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?"169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ03B8OjfFXN
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"The same one as before? Vacation?" Hanna suggested.169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLwfl5YHwgY
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"Is that believable? Out in the middle of the woods in the off season?" Ethan commented skeptically.169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGJnWZ8CqxJ
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"It was cheap?" Hanna suggested dubiously. "Alright, do you have any better ideas?"169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgo811tVvCD
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Ethan opened his mouth, then shut it again.169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiUVvLiVDcI
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"I thought so," Hanna said smugly.169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmXO5X7aZuq
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"Renovations," Ethan suggested cockily.169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD3y2kse3dY
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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?"169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFE5QT5n7Bx
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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..."169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnu7HSE95ON
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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."169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP3tTRHa8Bc
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"You like the outdoors?" Ethan asked suspiciously.169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcWtPv1e3i9
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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.169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUOTL3uJvlH
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"Really?" Ethan asked skeptically.169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt8GL4geClM
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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."169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL8xwngpt2D
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"I don't like hunting," Ethan said honestly.169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHeYQnFQoUW
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"Perfect, you already know your lines," Hanna said, laughing lightly.169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9yF1ad93bS
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Ethan smiled slightly. "So, given we aren't hunting, what are we doing out here?"169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNSiNdWMOOL
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"Hiking? Fishing? Sexy picnics? Getting bitten by millions of tiny blood sucking insects?" Hanna suggested jokingly.169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv016xCidev
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Ethan scowled. "The fourth option is at least true."169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfMgjSfrL1J
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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."169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ8r88xFSmm
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Ethan shrugged. "You know her best, pick whatever you think will work."169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2K19HC16qs
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Hanna finished off her coffee. "Okay, I'll think of something... better. Later."169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk1vxap0UTB
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Ethan smiled slightly. "Good luck with that."169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMAHFOmDDbH
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"Hey! Have some faith in my ability to come up with a believable excuse," Hanna protested jokingly.169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3UtW1r35lo
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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."169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlpa8nhLeSh
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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.169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFbAjwprcBg
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"But, all joking aside, I don't want my cover blown if this doesn't work," Ethan said seriously.169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP6LwCinjBC
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"It won't be," Hanna promised. "Penelope isn't the brightest bulb in the shed."169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFiAZ10QO5h
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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.169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG8kuL3NnMT
Penana
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