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.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbZrYyk2vSj
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"Could we talk for a minute?" Hanna asked politely.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbqZwvl7eog
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"Sure." Ethan sat down at the table, sitting across from her.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYvhLQnzCTB
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Hanna quickly added an elastic to finish her braid. "I was thinking about what you said earlier, about pheromones."77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqhx2HUPKyF
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"Okay," Ethan said, slightly nervous about the topic of conversation.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8A7uvu9Iyy
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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.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4yrT8oaFw0
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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?"77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoI9uofNCAf
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Hanna shrugged, she had zero expertise in this area. "From what you told me, it seems like it might."77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Ho1TFbTtz
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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.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSeNEg3oK20
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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."77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSG8ARKflSi
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Hanna stopped talking, allowing the room to settle into an awkward silence.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYjU3ryejxJ
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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.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ICsaRSQYJ
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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."77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMwchNAi9P3
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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.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcf8PN3lR6y
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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.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlwt4zDqoRL
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"What did you tell her?" Ethan asked.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvcWOrAV9b0
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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."77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfl2VmCxrzq
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Ethan shifted nervously. "Is this just a cover story or..."77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwz35RGENTt
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Hanna chewed her lower lip nervously. "That's up to you. But make your decision later."77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1W4vFjobTs
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Ethan frowned slightly, somewhat confused. "I don't need time to decide that."77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNSjGGAtPMZ
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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.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcuX4lY5ebB
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"Wait until after the heat to make your decision," Hanna repeated firmly.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYtlDmsqCU9
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"It won't change how I feel," Ethan protested mildly.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE87B9h1dmT
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Hanna took another sip of coffee. "Then there's no harm in waiting. Boyfriend seemed like a good Terran term."77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRqbGdfuZWx
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Ethan shrugged. "Okay, I'm not up to date on inter-species relationship milestones."77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuOJEFWA1cS
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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?"77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrUwkgEb8wR
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Ethan smiled. "I think they're still debating it."77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGUmZUx71Ij
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"And they probably will be for the next hundred years or so," Hanna added jokingly.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs6jrfoNLDl
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"...and what do you think?" Ethan asked tentatively.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdtwYIBZ8qF
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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."77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxiiSl15uQx
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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?"77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwFkwmp9b9v
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"The same one as before? Vacation?" Hanna suggested.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd9oo8WI5a5
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"Is that believable? Out in the middle of the woods in the off season?" Ethan commented skeptically.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU2UQV3jL07
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"It was cheap?" Hanna suggested dubiously. "Alright, do you have any better ideas?"77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvJG0hCHHni
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Ethan opened his mouth, then shut it again.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjxB4t04eXW
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"I thought so," Hanna said smugly.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9JxhTUQYca
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"Renovations," Ethan suggested cockily.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZTdcOHDPkZ
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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?"77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡciZeEehIJF
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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..."77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOX83ehQSRc
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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."77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEjGPIeQc2E
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"You like the outdoors?" Ethan asked suspiciously.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjJyaJhBHCC
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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.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0NSsf0UxT2
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"Really?" Ethan asked skeptically.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb0IvhBCUqq
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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."77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDclUGdCCYh
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"I don't like hunting," Ethan said honestly.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXHySebFX2M
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"Perfect, you already know your lines," Hanna said, laughing lightly.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1g2zOy7xXQ
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Ethan smiled slightly. "So, given we aren't hunting, what are we doing out here?"77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡljhs5zxE1Y
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"Hiking? Fishing? Sexy picnics? Getting bitten by millions of tiny blood sucking insects?" Hanna suggested jokingly.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfpgZ1uxHcx
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Ethan scowled. "The fourth option is at least true."77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6A9WeXit1L
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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."77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ27ArD42LHI
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Ethan shrugged. "You know her best, pick whatever you think will work."77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCwi8AITBWd
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Hanna finished off her coffee. "Okay, I'll think of something... better. Later."77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUixMejvRO9
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Ethan smiled slightly. "Good luck with that."77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDev0sxSaHj
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"Hey! Have some faith in my ability to come up with a believable excuse," Hanna protested jokingly.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAkLBtEjBha
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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."77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7XaMk8vIR4
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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.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbCSwkfCQJV
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"But, all joking aside, I don't want my cover blown if this doesn't work," Ethan said seriously.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3y9ZBZyg8W
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"It won't be," Hanna promised. "Penelope isn't the brightest bulb in the shed."77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJnxXsA6bhT
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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.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWGiwpTXkAo
Penana
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