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.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzoPJs9cJzi
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"Could we talk for a minute?" Hanna asked politely.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoCmNheqnBI
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"Sure." Ethan sat down at the table, sitting across from her.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo0CQMkXBSz
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Hanna quickly added an elastic to finish her braid. "I was thinking about what you said earlier, about pheromones."94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWJgDQ0Kpr2
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"Okay," Ethan said, slightly nervous about the topic of conversation.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgHOnaf02kJ
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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.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcPamaysbkK
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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?"94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTKumqebvx5
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Hanna shrugged, she had zero expertise in this area. "From what you told me, it seems like it might."94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYgNDstl3sa
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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.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5hZtmj39yx
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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."94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUFaNiu3Mxz
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Hanna stopped talking, allowing the room to settle into an awkward silence.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgm0fq3VOWp
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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.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4mZ6mToNUF
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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."94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwy2w6wYzqy
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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.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFqBhOEwNIo
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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.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhbABUSlHPA
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"What did you tell her?" Ethan asked.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl7CbegxZvF
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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."94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4aiDPMNl4n
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Ethan shifted nervously. "Is this just a cover story or..."94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKVhZHkPAuN
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Hanna chewed her lower lip nervously. "That's up to you. But make your decision later."94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxCR19fWjug
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Ethan frowned slightly, somewhat confused. "I don't need time to decide that."94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCUYjkKuRiK
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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.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwCoCiziOvW
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"Wait until after the heat to make your decision," Hanna repeated firmly.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVgEPKP91yv
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"It won't change how I feel," Ethan protested mildly.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRGhDurbnMG
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Hanna took another sip of coffee. "Then there's no harm in waiting. Boyfriend seemed like a good Terran term."94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm38zonmH6k
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Ethan shrugged. "Okay, I'm not up to date on inter-species relationship milestones."94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIGdCVeoYnc
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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?"94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhKgLDbhBow
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Ethan smiled. "I think they're still debating it."94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiBEJuj4yeG
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"And they probably will be for the next hundred years or so," Hanna added jokingly.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2mNv4lUEQd
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"...and what do you think?" Ethan asked tentatively.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoKmjEh3GZ0
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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."94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqqSNdKDNfo
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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?"94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpAa03fTLwK
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"The same one as before? Vacation?" Hanna suggested.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgI8P5tJzj6
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"Is that believable? Out in the middle of the woods in the off season?" Ethan commented skeptically.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbpFOyP8ggM
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"It was cheap?" Hanna suggested dubiously. "Alright, do you have any better ideas?"94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeO1Iimhj2H
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Ethan opened his mouth, then shut it again.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlzAdd1UTka
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"I thought so," Hanna said smugly.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ29y1KRjKKq
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"Renovations," Ethan suggested cockily.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡokDWYHTvvh
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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?"94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZWQhaWOtZZ
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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..."94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoYTot76ITc
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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."94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOEDVqW656g
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"You like the outdoors?" Ethan asked suspiciously.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvUXCcBAisr
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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.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzjC9QWc8FW
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"Really?" Ethan asked skeptically.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2nCFl4KTYk
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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."94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzeK7PhVi4y
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"I don't like hunting," Ethan said honestly.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7sQykDNYXQ
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"Perfect, you already know your lines," Hanna said, laughing lightly.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8uKP7Bb19X
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Ethan smiled slightly. "So, given we aren't hunting, what are we doing out here?"94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoPE0O4weby
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"Hiking? Fishing? Sexy picnics? Getting bitten by millions of tiny blood sucking insects?" Hanna suggested jokingly.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx63CeK2i5v
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Ethan scowled. "The fourth option is at least true."94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIdM345nLoY
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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."94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ24rfNaLlqe
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Ethan shrugged. "You know her best, pick whatever you think will work."94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9cL6WUXG07
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Hanna finished off her coffee. "Okay, I'll think of something... better. Later."94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkH0lSyt6Sr
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Ethan smiled slightly. "Good luck with that."94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMA9TDNacyq
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"Hey! Have some faith in my ability to come up with a believable excuse," Hanna protested jokingly.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuvEGdAc12l
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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."94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwf0xxxzFtc
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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.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡccWh5G0Tx0
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"But, all joking aside, I don't want my cover blown if this doesn't work," Ethan said seriously.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4qUlgwLhe2
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"It won't be," Hanna promised. "Penelope isn't the brightest bulb in the shed."94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWuBgCPsU5r
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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.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbbjhfPsmcN
Penana
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