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.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsSiuXovhqN
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"Could we talk for a minute?" Hanna asked politely.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGEG2KUkRgZ
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"Sure." Ethan sat down at the table, sitting across from her.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcQC8e34cXO
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Hanna quickly added an elastic to finish her braid. "I was thinking about what you said earlier, about pheromones."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzlGEUz8MeA
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"Okay," Ethan said, slightly nervous about the topic of conversation.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy9yQGoNWQj
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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.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡObW3MAcNhC
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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?"148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzE3rN9Q2YU
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Hanna shrugged, she had zero expertise in this area. "From what you told me, it seems like it might."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqqhNHEZPki
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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.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlxLVVRtKmE
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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."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJEzb9f7VH9
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Hanna stopped talking, allowing the room to settle into an awkward silence.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRGuEzTKk96
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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.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqhk6NM9MPw
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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."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDjQzB1Gnyh
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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.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMRc2ABgUoV
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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.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjVOXQXulrI
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"What did you tell her?" Ethan asked.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWSzzbfs3Of
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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."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTHkhGMSliF
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Ethan shifted nervously. "Is this just a cover story or..."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOrt5qYJlbN
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Hanna chewed her lower lip nervously. "That's up to you. But make your decision later."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ470uQnL0vH
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Ethan frowned slightly, somewhat confused. "I don't need time to decide that."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhIlZjwEHbd
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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.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaYraoK52GR
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"Wait until after the heat to make your decision," Hanna repeated firmly.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdIcALjepZu
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"It won't change how I feel," Ethan protested mildly.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd9HHocwdhy
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Hanna took another sip of coffee. "Then there's no harm in waiting. Boyfriend seemed like a good Terran term."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡneOCnDdBCA
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Ethan shrugged. "Okay, I'm not up to date on inter-species relationship milestones."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWiDHqeg2UW
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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?"148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8P1lQSegdB
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Ethan smiled. "I think they're still debating it."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLvpWZ3f66a
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"And they probably will be for the next hundred years or so," Hanna added jokingly.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlZPaQwP6gy
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"...and what do you think?" Ethan asked tentatively.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuVzUZjoOnk
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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."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI1MYcljkE0
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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?"148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN0uCBI9TRq
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"The same one as before? Vacation?" Hanna suggested.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiqNRp69ZXT
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"Is that believable? Out in the middle of the woods in the off season?" Ethan commented skeptically.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsVU5Tl6gBg
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"It was cheap?" Hanna suggested dubiously. "Alright, do you have any better ideas?"148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVW4eBdFzkD
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Ethan opened his mouth, then shut it again.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpNi41BGAEu
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"I thought so," Hanna said smugly.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNejl9sebRk
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"Renovations," Ethan suggested cockily.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8joVK8YTpF
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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?"148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfwJB56D9P2
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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..."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmpeBslW3cP
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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."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2nv1t2m5B8
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"You like the outdoors?" Ethan asked suspiciously.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe1ML1YR8uQ
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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.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzAjVHPpY0a
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"Really?" Ethan asked skeptically.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj20fBZndxQ
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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."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxruA60PQBo
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"I don't like hunting," Ethan said honestly.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXeNWMmKH5m
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"Perfect, you already know your lines," Hanna said, laughing lightly.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFU3xvhco7y
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Ethan smiled slightly. "So, given we aren't hunting, what are we doing out here?"148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkJto203I3M
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"Hiking? Fishing? Sexy picnics? Getting bitten by millions of tiny blood sucking insects?" Hanna suggested jokingly.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8C1nhoBJ5q
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Ethan scowled. "The fourth option is at least true."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkUyreNOdep
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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."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfKl6D2DrGB
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Ethan shrugged. "You know her best, pick whatever you think will work."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiv0OsGEALW
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Hanna finished off her coffee. "Okay, I'll think of something... better. Later."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1uYVt10PpY
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Ethan smiled slightly. "Good luck with that."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbmu2Zm44cl
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"Hey! Have some faith in my ability to come up with a believable excuse," Hanna protested jokingly.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw7QxJ7ufIy
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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."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOFLwuFLk0A
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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.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwfYT1P5Wff
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"But, all joking aside, I don't want my cover blown if this doesn't work," Ethan said seriously.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1RvBYMLZPW
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"It won't be," Hanna promised. "Penelope isn't the brightest bulb in the shed."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2jBxsplOaJ
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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.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRk4swXyOQd
Penana
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