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.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ytOHSdmZj
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG9S8h1Jp9J
"Could we talk for a minute?" Hanna asked politely.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvifto0tjOk
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcxOEdod31p
"Sure." Ethan sat down at the table, sitting across from her.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFqOBIbJvKw
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSfzvbRjNff
Hanna quickly added an elastic to finish her braid. "I was thinking about what you said earlier, about pheromones."118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXpW40Kxec4
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK1M0ldjoqX
"Okay," Ethan said, slightly nervous about the topic of conversation.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsvdjTMgVA2
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZGrJK20iyO
"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.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUzRh0lrB0K
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ38XRnF73VJ
Ethan's brow creased. He was reluctant to get his hopes up. "You think that might... work? Stop the heat early?"118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJwASN19gtM
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNxGdf8OKen
Hanna shrugged, she had zero expertise in this area. "From what you told me, it seems like it might."118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1bsl1PfbXo
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj9Sw8qhPeX
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.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRA1AXXhWiI
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0xZLKeYdhA
"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."118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrCA8LniYuO
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZzFIkqCEEV
Hanna stopped talking, allowing the room to settle into an awkward silence.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTeFhUnz2V0
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGHic3qIiCw
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.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvvfbiWdWOA
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeXr5kffFXG
Hanna slowly set her mug down on the table. "Oh. Um, I'll see when I can convince her to come out here then."118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡINM0Q30qrq
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgLCF5CkCsH
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.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡie8P21MhCP
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW6kTZxhr0a
"Alright, she'll drop by in a few days," Hanna informed him, picking up her half drunk mug of coffee again.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJjxyt9Q2xZ
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGBkAj0mZ4a
"What did you tell her?" Ethan asked.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXAmj17ktxR
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡidVIXKRJM5
"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."118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxD9665Sz6z
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9go1hgnROP
Ethan shifted nervously. "Is this just a cover story or..."118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE61KxwW8Rv
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr30M6twAhr
Hanna chewed her lower lip nervously. "That's up to you. But make your decision later."118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWyF6Js7Lzh
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3n4yglZ5gP
Ethan frowned slightly, somewhat confused. "I don't need time to decide that."118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFSV6PnXpre
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0gLk0HRUrx
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.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpYJHinAr6t
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpqA49L7nim
"Wait until after the heat to make your decision," Hanna repeated firmly.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD5HRiNMeN3
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf7zat9Tt6c
"It won't change how I feel," Ethan protested mildly.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJXlsyTmVXJ
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0vaKwQVLaT
Hanna took another sip of coffee. "Then there's no harm in waiting. Boyfriend seemed like a good Terran term."118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYsmACUOwnt
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFcJquS0r88
Ethan shrugged. "Okay, I'm not up to date on inter-species relationship milestones."118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwK7v2YCfTm
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrzuyE3eZu0
Hanna laughed, a light and carefree expression of joy. "Wait, I thought the scientists agreed we were technically the same species?"118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡABtFs1Bkt0
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡntRo6UCViL
Ethan smiled. "I think they're still debating it."118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ2EzRhr4Ub
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8R9UeUZ7fv
"And they probably will be for the next hundred years or so," Hanna added jokingly.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAo8Y4bZU9X
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT6aywXKnjY
"...and what do you think?" Ethan asked tentatively.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl4GurywA7a
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCXNAYeaNzY
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."118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUUxB6tXIld
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxPljwDiYzD
That's an interesting take on Charax-Terran relationships, Ethan thought, unwilling to push the subject further. "It fits. What's our cover?"118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnSSfSCzbNA
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAlWoagXnN3
"The same one as before? Vacation?" Hanna suggested.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdE8FFY9KkZ
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYrFuO81vlU
"Is that believable? Out in the middle of the woods in the off season?" Ethan commented skeptically.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEILgDZvNuI
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVqCnti3ETC
"It was cheap?" Hanna suggested dubiously. "Alright, do you have any better ideas?"118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡINsYYckrte
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwhW15Tpuy4
Ethan opened his mouth, then shut it again.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcOOVN3dqmN
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN6XJhM1zao
"I thought so," Hanna said smugly.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡslYzJknFFT
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4tekbh60bG
"Renovations," Ethan suggested cockily.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTOiXCrNM4a
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv9hMMoDl5b
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?"118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG8EFG1OTg9
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ckENXiwxB
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..."118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1X8aEjRcjG
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxHjYoEejXZ
"That sounds like a lot of work," Hanna said, still doubtful. "I like the outdoors, I think she'd buy the vacation line."118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcUsHvkkdFi
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzvTqH02s6g
"You like the outdoors?" Ethan asked suspiciously.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB3PA4tbcrP
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLThbytUtG3
"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.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5FnKuLRewF
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA7Kh2njPnL
"Really?" Ethan asked skeptically.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf1fSsbebub
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR6uqFlOuzE
"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."118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzM0GATzZbS
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1bX75jXkpY
"I don't like hunting," Ethan said honestly.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVdc2Pn1OcE
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmVTFmpyqyJ
"Perfect, you already know your lines," Hanna said, laughing lightly.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa57QCPi0n6
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡswDk8dqxpJ
Ethan smiled slightly. "So, given we aren't hunting, what are we doing out here?"118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYJjU562jji
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK8s17tKdr2
"Hiking? Fishing? Sexy picnics? Getting bitten by millions of tiny blood sucking insects?" Hanna suggested jokingly.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDLVb2OZ5co
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhYeSrimsdR
Ethan scowled. "The fourth option is at least true."118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7khuBfE4NB
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfhrsvmyaOW
"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."118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqTC5ReydC6
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcf4QKaoU9P
Ethan shrugged. "You know her best, pick whatever you think will work."118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhMRELw0HZn
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGo2XjAXZF6
Hanna finished off her coffee. "Okay, I'll think of something... better. Later."118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKh9F93b7Za
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoEZGopA1J9
Ethan smiled slightly. "Good luck with that."118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfQcn4vMtaB
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxNsbdFyMM3
"Hey! Have some faith in my ability to come up with a believable excuse," Hanna protested jokingly.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKrx2zyLpcE
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKtDaRkZh7c
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."118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCJXLDfPtHH
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQsTr9kqP7F
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.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpMgzXZvitx
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXzDf9YgCEs
"But, all joking aside, I don't want my cover blown if this doesn't work," Ethan said seriously.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUpbHNcCGhb
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXClKBWrUxO
"It won't be," Hanna promised. "Penelope isn't the brightest bulb in the shed."118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj54BpGbHm3
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiulYzzIWX6
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.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTlU27BTzdF
Penana
search
登入arrow_drop_down
註冊arrow_drop_down
