[The stiffness in their shoulders relaxes, if only slightly, and a hint of sheepishness begins to set in. They thought they'd gotten used to answering questions like these, but there was something about the way this one was asked that seemed almost...

Maybe it's just because they're on edge. It's not every day you run into a guy who, to all your less-than-normal senses, shouldn't be there in the first place.]

< It's usually one of the first things people ask about. Which I get--don't get me wrong. >

[They shrug.]

< Guess the ticking gives the fact it's not a costume away, huh? >