Hope reached up to take her hand to shake it-- and yes, apparently that indeed was a tail, so clearly the ears weren't just an affectation or some sort of headgear-- but he stopped, his body feeling like it locked up when he heard "Lightning".

"Lightning, you said?" At any other time, he would have been embarrassed at how hoarse his voice was, but all he could think of now was that name. There were so many variables, so many possibilities, but Hope only concentrated on one: this Lightning was the one he'd known.

"As in a woman with pink hair and a gunblade?"