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.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWItjiTGfEH
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"Could we talk for a minute?" Hanna asked politely.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6L0L1zSCRu
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"Sure." Ethan sat down at the table, sitting across from her.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7tmCqIXPO5
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Hanna quickly added an elastic to finish her braid. "I was thinking about what you said earlier, about pheromones."142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnwkdYkn0pT
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"Okay," Ethan said, slightly nervous about the topic of conversation.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpyzSxyOOLl
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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.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGWMdEt1RFb
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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?"142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1cHBUZVeE7
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Hanna shrugged, she had zero expertise in this area. "From what you told me, it seems like it might."142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh2gTSX8SC8
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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.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5FLXJdhSQI
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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."142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqqAm07rF7Y
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Hanna stopped talking, allowing the room to settle into an awkward silence.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWCRX8E7nsI
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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.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ22LZAyQJ9l
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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."142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSaKwmIDvgO
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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.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAxFkicAMZl
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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.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡesSiGkEO6n
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"What did you tell her?" Ethan asked.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHUrL72tXJL
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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."142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLJDV6KliuA
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Ethan shifted nervously. "Is this just a cover story or..."142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbnUdrteB7e
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Hanna chewed her lower lip nervously. "That's up to you. But make your decision later."142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeVnI91qmUc
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Ethan frowned slightly, somewhat confused. "I don't need time to decide that."142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv2FxGoP0S1
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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.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBx4GgbFkum
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"Wait until after the heat to make your decision," Hanna repeated firmly.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvIMEBhrjrY
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"It won't change how I feel," Ethan protested mildly.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiyM6tiopKC
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Hanna took another sip of coffee. "Then there's no harm in waiting. Boyfriend seemed like a good Terran term."142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOZrMlwUdcE
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Ethan shrugged. "Okay, I'm not up to date on inter-species relationship milestones."142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡatjXSDrarN
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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?"142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp0EuHVwOAm
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Ethan smiled. "I think they're still debating it."142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYmDsOxIrZ7
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"And they probably will be for the next hundred years or so," Hanna added jokingly.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8GxdtUwxiW
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"...and what do you think?" Ethan asked tentatively.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqsXWNxZKB1
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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."142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfEI1h0nQky
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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?"142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzuljFD20WL
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"The same one as before? Vacation?" Hanna suggested.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB927sacXlh
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"Is that believable? Out in the middle of the woods in the off season?" Ethan commented skeptically.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl97mb3BS6D
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"It was cheap?" Hanna suggested dubiously. "Alright, do you have any better ideas?"142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBHnc3FI9R5
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Ethan opened his mouth, then shut it again.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwhAL4QtjhY
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"I thought so," Hanna said smugly.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXoCGqGHZaQ
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"Renovations," Ethan suggested cockily.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW6CUJeWJWz
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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?"142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡymWqDiPBqT
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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..."142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAiPYHOPIM5
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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."142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcxWTo4Nv9k
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"You like the outdoors?" Ethan asked suspiciously.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFEQQx475Wb
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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.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡat6ogATHyi
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"Really?" Ethan asked skeptically.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ1ZcIYOeYD
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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."142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwPIm3hC5qy
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"I don't like hunting," Ethan said honestly.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ38OKSZcuvA
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"Perfect, you already know your lines," Hanna said, laughing lightly.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAk0pLxMRxi
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Ethan smiled slightly. "So, given we aren't hunting, what are we doing out here?"142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd5hgQfFrH9
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"Hiking? Fishing? Sexy picnics? Getting bitten by millions of tiny blood sucking insects?" Hanna suggested jokingly.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYKJG3Q86VJ
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Ethan scowled. "The fourth option is at least true."142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ457cAyRqhi
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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."142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAF4LNWJxYY
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Ethan shrugged. "You know her best, pick whatever you think will work."142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEeir0bbvp1
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Hanna finished off her coffee. "Okay, I'll think of something... better. Later."142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPsyLhYFnOb
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Ethan smiled slightly. "Good luck with that."142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡreVeyF2EYU
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"Hey! Have some faith in my ability to come up with a believable excuse," Hanna protested jokingly.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpU5jXWbta4
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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."142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXU6ffC33Ns
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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.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOfpZekWCca
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"But, all joking aside, I don't want my cover blown if this doesn't work," Ethan said seriously.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuGpTAnHS8Y
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"It won't be," Hanna promised. "Penelope isn't the brightest bulb in the shed."142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsyWaVwkHeF
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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.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY9BDZfJcTc
Penana
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