Hope was usually what people turned to when there was nothing else solid enough, a last resort fueled by faith to sort out or fix whatever it was that had led them to that point in the first place. Personally Hannah wasn't very optimistic, based on people's reactions and how things had gotten so out of control during the fable list. "It's all we can do," she said carefully, "Especially since some people here tend to... overreact sometimes."
Curiosity got the better of her, but she tried to pose her question as casually as possible. "How long have you known him? I mean, were you friends before or did you meet as business partners?"