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.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8vmPTFCV2n
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"Could we talk for a minute?" Hanna asked politely.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGbvdEVfe1I
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"Sure." Ethan sat down at the table, sitting across from her.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXGBWZk7c68
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Hanna quickly added an elastic to finish her braid. "I was thinking about what you said earlier, about pheromones."152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZKSdiXSvJ2
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"Okay," Ethan said, slightly nervous about the topic of conversation.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBVRAX3WqZO
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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.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD4JKeg8FXb
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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?"152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNSSMTUaaOE
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Hanna shrugged, she had zero expertise in this area. "From what you told me, it seems like it might."152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKSBRgHIUiz
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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.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV8482NIhwM
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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."152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcFEach5lKT
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Hanna stopped talking, allowing the room to settle into an awkward silence.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOxBvpF4Bjf
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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.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVMDKh33TCZ
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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."152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTj6qlIRXYs
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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.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLnyUHPoHsA
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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.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8tW2qa6Ez2
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"What did you tell her?" Ethan asked.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡObvOvotYxZ
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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."152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡapvgPSJXsh
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Ethan shifted nervously. "Is this just a cover story or..."152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1lA9QhkMd7
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Hanna chewed her lower lip nervously. "That's up to you. But make your decision later."152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJVoWe3Mx6v
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Ethan frowned slightly, somewhat confused. "I don't need time to decide that."152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkQOL2uP4XC
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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.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5IGOs8Y7zz
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"Wait until after the heat to make your decision," Hanna repeated firmly.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUCa8imtRLt
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"It won't change how I feel," Ethan protested mildly.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp6uxBESs1v
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Hanna took another sip of coffee. "Then there's no harm in waiting. Boyfriend seemed like a good Terran term."152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRef0wuCIB3
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Ethan shrugged. "Okay, I'm not up to date on inter-species relationship milestones."152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡalkCyucOKZ
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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?"152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNDMTRhOPeZ
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Ethan smiled. "I think they're still debating it."152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAlMyEs0jRu
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"And they probably will be for the next hundred years or so," Hanna added jokingly.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz86KnfKnbc
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"...and what do you think?" Ethan asked tentatively.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqBg2MV2p14
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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."152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiOeXCw31gA
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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?"152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnZreFnbGQ8
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"The same one as before? Vacation?" Hanna suggested.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ4r2pRpNwH
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"Is that believable? Out in the middle of the woods in the off season?" Ethan commented skeptically.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡErEQp2Kgim
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"It was cheap?" Hanna suggested dubiously. "Alright, do you have any better ideas?"152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6F7l0vgVlX
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Ethan opened his mouth, then shut it again.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmv7O5Ht3AY
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"I thought so," Hanna said smugly.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb4Caj9XyxK
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"Renovations," Ethan suggested cockily.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ35mZF20kYZ
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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?"152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR94wirmOVq
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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..."152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS72voWJv4Z
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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."152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIKzNUsdhWr
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"You like the outdoors?" Ethan asked suspiciously.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoaDhD9QL2o
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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.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMzAQzAaKC2
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"Really?" Ethan asked skeptically.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOVYhIWnX2x
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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."152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2wnlBab4PL
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"I don't like hunting," Ethan said honestly.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0hve7eLfD5
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"Perfect, you already know your lines," Hanna said, laughing lightly.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuZYdPXxhHU
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Ethan smiled slightly. "So, given we aren't hunting, what are we doing out here?"152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUDFrgbXXoC
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"Hiking? Fishing? Sexy picnics? Getting bitten by millions of tiny blood sucking insects?" Hanna suggested jokingly.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUkrQWTXhes
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Ethan scowled. "The fourth option is at least true."152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDvMARj2Pbs
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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."152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx2rwi0uFK5
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Ethan shrugged. "You know her best, pick whatever you think will work."152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXa56b5Hh0y
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Hanna finished off her coffee. "Okay, I'll think of something... better. Later."152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOnjiEnEhsg
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Ethan smiled slightly. "Good luck with that."152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb56N5CbhsN
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"Hey! Have some faith in my ability to come up with a believable excuse," Hanna protested jokingly.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBg1p5biH2R
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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."152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR3kPttqomn
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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.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqTowtYFpOe
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"But, all joking aside, I don't want my cover blown if this doesn't work," Ethan said seriously.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPFJ5GKwASp
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"It won't be," Hanna promised. "Penelope isn't the brightest bulb in the shed."152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡulDa16yjwk
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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.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdVtvxmGWnE
Penana
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