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.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOVizYNbeH1
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"Could we talk for a minute?" Hanna asked politely.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgdhFlYThMt
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"Sure." Ethan sat down at the table, sitting across from her.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp5eufHWWAW
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Hanna quickly added an elastic to finish her braid. "I was thinking about what you said earlier, about pheromones."70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡawI0gAk7dG
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"Okay," Ethan said, slightly nervous about the topic of conversation.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7tcZM7UgWH
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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.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcNn9o6EJ9i
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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?"70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6OdRXOeqza
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Hanna shrugged, she had zero expertise in this area. "From what you told me, it seems like it might."70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmdsFvdtjZx
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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.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1l0FsLqzuf
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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."70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsf4CbChNd5
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Hanna stopped talking, allowing the room to settle into an awkward silence.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbeufyWf9I1
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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.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkPk7cV7wuQ
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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."70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaLYqGVT5im
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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.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNYGZJXOpJL
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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.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjgPSypjFJN
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"What did you tell her?" Ethan asked.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5jUGWN19NL
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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."70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl7fLMNt8M6
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Ethan shifted nervously. "Is this just a cover story or..."70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCzx6v2rEEQ
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Hanna chewed her lower lip nervously. "That's up to you. But make your decision later."70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFP5oQ8oHe4
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Ethan frowned slightly, somewhat confused. "I don't need time to decide that."70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVDK6bZQAlL
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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.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZhgQDW2kpp
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"Wait until after the heat to make your decision," Hanna repeated firmly.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLHP7arhZ6f
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"It won't change how I feel," Ethan protested mildly.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkMOO0P8DqU
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Hanna took another sip of coffee. "Then there's no harm in waiting. Boyfriend seemed like a good Terran term."70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgsqDDEjWt1
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Ethan shrugged. "Okay, I'm not up to date on inter-species relationship milestones."70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBCoSZKKoOx
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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?"70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNEWhmixknm
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Ethan smiled. "I think they're still debating it."70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdlOT53Eq2A
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"And they probably will be for the next hundred years or so," Hanna added jokingly.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Hmnn1L6hQ
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"...and what do you think?" Ethan asked tentatively.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2P2KajZVr3
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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."70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuTs5CVwi4u
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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?"70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPCEOfwo5Mm
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"The same one as before? Vacation?" Hanna suggested.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfVYCEhU3Rx
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"Is that believable? Out in the middle of the woods in the off season?" Ethan commented skeptically.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlF1aLmOFsB
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"It was cheap?" Hanna suggested dubiously. "Alright, do you have any better ideas?"70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUCR7iWO3I0
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Ethan opened his mouth, then shut it again.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz8x9e99Zbm
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"I thought so," Hanna said smugly.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRpBwkLTbbH
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"Renovations," Ethan suggested cockily.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiEjxLn9Nhv
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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?"70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj8Kx6vJMDI
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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..."70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp5Lww26DZ3
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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."70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxqssglUYpP
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"You like the outdoors?" Ethan asked suspiciously.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtR4RqZEMDp
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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.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdwGFYzkeHL
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"Really?" Ethan asked skeptically.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOZnoZWTl4b
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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."70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlcP9P7od5l
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"I don't like hunting," Ethan said honestly.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡysGDDaaE7y
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"Perfect, you already know your lines," Hanna said, laughing lightly.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEnm7uzS8pn
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Ethan smiled slightly. "So, given we aren't hunting, what are we doing out here?"70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQqll70gbc4
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"Hiking? Fishing? Sexy picnics? Getting bitten by millions of tiny blood sucking insects?" Hanna suggested jokingly.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi7TR8lDfz3
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Ethan scowled. "The fourth option is at least true."70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI2scOhKkRQ
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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."70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSEhrWQDPhQ
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Ethan shrugged. "You know her best, pick whatever you think will work."70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNOLWeKuXLO
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Hanna finished off her coffee. "Okay, I'll think of something... better. Later."70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgq8EQkQIlS
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Ethan smiled slightly. "Good luck with that."70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkiC0UG3UZL
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"Hey! Have some faith in my ability to come up with a believable excuse," Hanna protested jokingly.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxXJi3ayO7W
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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."70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjxCYDMXb55
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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.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBJO84vaD0Z
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"But, all joking aside, I don't want my cover blown if this doesn't work," Ethan said seriously.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlkYTHUQrFR
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"It won't be," Hanna promised. "Penelope isn't the brightest bulb in the shed."70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Z9bdLlXcv
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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.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Z0Y9DPhqo
Penana
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