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.161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0AlKHRfIU5
161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfkxSayKxY3
"Could we talk for a minute?" Hanna asked politely.161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiMcda6F5ZD
161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr7J1fBiAnL
"Sure." Ethan sat down at the table, sitting across from her.161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrjP2YyP4gO
161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3WiKYNHyGR
Hanna quickly added an elastic to finish her braid. "I was thinking about what you said earlier, about pheromones."161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0d6ObKss01
161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5qfLV5rfR0
"Okay," Ethan said, slightly nervous about the topic of conversation.161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO4DClF6Zim
161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpy9tRprWYH
"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.161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO0E7ZukDpN
161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzmD2NORMWQ
Ethan's brow creased. He was reluctant to get his hopes up. "You think that might... work? Stop the heat early?"161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyobgvz7oOy
161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7cEtwGdDgp
Hanna shrugged, she had zero expertise in this area. "From what you told me, it seems like it might."161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡajKrOMCM9a
161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNIH5X8ptjf
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.161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc4GWPegDyc
161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMt7usyGT1n
"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."161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeg3iPwEiHm
161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ48NEbKTvTE
Hanna stopped talking, allowing the room to settle into an awkward silence.161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc43M6BJCA1
161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTDf6oRNebP
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.161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlangZqETyj
161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLUbUKCtyif
Hanna slowly set her mug down on the table. "Oh. Um, I'll see when I can convince her to come out here then."161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJyowRXTNO2
161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZps0gH7HXY
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.161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRrS5fbXNGK
161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvIyOBlZMQ2
"Alright, she'll drop by in a few days," Hanna informed him, picking up her half drunk mug of coffee again.161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5KI08GQKHG
161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHIJcPKTq9c
"What did you tell her?" Ethan asked.161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHHtdX6UEmg
161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbIpPRg7cos
"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."161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyNOs61qgs3
161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTZUFtOApfE
Ethan shifted nervously. "Is this just a cover story or..."161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtvlDe60Q4A
161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmyxyjzTpTf
Hanna chewed her lower lip nervously. "That's up to you. But make your decision later."161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnGwOu4OzcH
161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMOEYMpFve5
Ethan frowned slightly, somewhat confused. "I don't need time to decide that."161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpSZoUovv3f
161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP3B4wrWkdB
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.161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2M3KGDbzDQ
161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKWOWI7MdqO
"Wait until after the heat to make your decision," Hanna repeated firmly.161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3jjuKSyjK0
161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡII4AiLZS2P
"It won't change how I feel," Ethan protested mildly.161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡerGYPCCRUS
161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrBvBpL0kOE
Hanna took another sip of coffee. "Then there's no harm in waiting. Boyfriend seemed like a good Terran term."161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6nJ9iJypkm
161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg4kCrXnoM1
Ethan shrugged. "Okay, I'm not up to date on inter-species relationship milestones."161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH42Pn7rUuG
161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAR1GvbJm9Q
Hanna laughed, a light and carefree expression of joy. "Wait, I thought the scientists agreed we were technically the same species?"161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKVCR5316UF
161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Ecj6kDGcY
Ethan smiled. "I think they're still debating it."161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMgBgxy2oah
161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTFBXFjmVNl
"And they probably will be for the next hundred years or so," Hanna added jokingly.161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDPll0wa9id
161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡda5Ul36JUa
"...and what do you think?" Ethan asked tentatively.161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6UI04f2ElW
161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqmssFaxsH3
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."161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbxS0qg9oeu
161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfO1UtdMxop
That's an interesting take on Charax-Terran relationships, Ethan thought, unwilling to push the subject further. "It fits. What's our cover?"161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXzNV4RHnqb
161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb23G2qRnC4
"The same one as before? Vacation?" Hanna suggested.161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3nvGtDjXNc
161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkovOeIfv1O
"Is that believable? Out in the middle of the woods in the off season?" Ethan commented skeptically.161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡImqecrE7J6
161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7CVDaNJP0e
"It was cheap?" Hanna suggested dubiously. "Alright, do you have any better ideas?"161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGtYOOHnT0b
161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD4xf2FrUap
Ethan opened his mouth, then shut it again.161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAiUTSZbd2w
161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJHgI3ljm6c
"I thought so," Hanna said smugly.161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ11X0vWsc56
161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡykUXydb6VW
"Renovations," Ethan suggested cockily.161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnlHPMI1iju
161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbZrliuFt67
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?"161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8l2hQHzF7S
161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7vlPWvC4UQ
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..."161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtQhQiDnHu8
161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRTQVZU3uiP
"That sounds like a lot of work," Hanna said, still doubtful. "I like the outdoors, I think she'd buy the vacation line."161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh00NosFrOW
161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt4FrYblnEE
"You like the outdoors?" Ethan asked suspiciously.161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6k0PcTAYYH
161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ16RRVaLM88
"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.161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgRmOxJph9K
161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg3Mdq51XM9
"Really?" Ethan asked skeptically.161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGc078PMBoy
161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6WwQx9yUKx
"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."161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwgo9OE45ex
161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6IdsYMC8d7
"I don't like hunting," Ethan said honestly.161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFiTFiHRxBP
161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnwN7BFEJdp
"Perfect, you already know your lines," Hanna said, laughing lightly.161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgZp5YWKCB2
161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOafLl91Qb8
Ethan smiled slightly. "So, given we aren't hunting, what are we doing out here?"161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAmjxIw6B1F
161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡypDmHiK8Fy
"Hiking? Fishing? Sexy picnics? Getting bitten by millions of tiny blood sucking insects?" Hanna suggested jokingly.161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZDvBTAY1Tf
161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4FanaLBvBP
Ethan scowled. "The fourth option is at least true."161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuBb69ZvBvk
161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzN9qA1JL2U
"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."161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZtori67Dha
161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAQCjZKGikn
Ethan shrugged. "You know her best, pick whatever you think will work."161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbRWf77TU4b
161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtHJxf0L1hq
Hanna finished off her coffee. "Okay, I'll think of something... better. Later."161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu52ptj3AVO
161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzpkdKQR0Go
Ethan smiled slightly. "Good luck with that."161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb1oHzGjWSL
161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTgb6w4IH37
"Hey! Have some faith in my ability to come up with a believable excuse," Hanna protested jokingly.161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGnHchY6btI
161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTb6He8Ptu9
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."161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbgdTcJmPNP
161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJHleX5dKCn
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.161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpgFRuJvLuS
161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQqYPrIsi0D
"But, all joking aside, I don't want my cover blown if this doesn't work," Ethan said seriously.161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL9ZskIBuZT
161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Z3QkUPvyI
"It won't be," Hanna promised. "Penelope isn't the brightest bulb in the shed."161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCtpPHL145I
161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXe97wv4BbF
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.161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjMIGFcrcQI
Penana
search
登入arrow_drop_down
註冊arrow_drop_down
