[ the thing about pretty girls hugging hardison? he's super OK with it to the point that he's most certainly going to hug back because wow hello yes little stranger you're super cute and he's very happy to be on the receiving end, here. ]

Oh, hey-- yeah, uh hey ... girl. What's up?

[ and while he doesn't give out his name like candy, hardison doesn't necessarily hide it as much as the others in his team. not to mention it's hard to be mad or worried about it just now. he's going to go ahead and try to play along. try being the operative word.

because while he's still hardison, there are marked differences from the one elena knows -- facial hair, less muscle on his bones, and a bit more cockiness to replace the helpful spirit she'd begun to get to know in teleios. the heart's still under there, it just might take some coaxing out. ]

I'm here! Uhh, couple days ago, but I been hanging low-- that door definitely put a whammy on me, you know...? One minute I was, you know. The next-- bam! Almost forgot my own damn name.

[ so tell him yours please and he will try to not be totally lost while laughing very awkwardly, here? ]