Evan nodded in response.

"See ya." he told her, before he and Kiah continued on their way, and Gem headed off in the direction she was intending to go. As they walked, Evan looked at Kiah and smiled.

"She seems nice." he said.

"Straightforward and blunt. I like that." he went on.

"...though I should probably learn to tone that down for myself." he then mumbled. "Given I'm new here, and in the position I have, I need to make sure my first impressions are good ones."

"Yeah, I did notice that." Evan responded. "Obviously." he added.

"But I think it's great that Agent Sharp is so open about hiring all different kinds of people." he told her. "This already seems like one of the most open and inviting work environments I've been in." he said further.

"No wonder Dad said I was lucky to get a job here." he continued.

"...and then Uncle Ash said something about a government pension, but... well, pretty sure he was half-joking, though still having a point." he went on.

"What I'm TRULY thankful for is the sign-in bonus that's allowing me to move and live down here."

Evan laughed a little when she said that.

"I wasn't even thinking about that." he told her.

"Hopefully I'll be working here for a LOT longer than 5 years." he said further.

"I intend do-" he started to continue on, before pausing suddenly.

"...huh?" he mumbled.

"I hear... footsteps?" he commented. "They sound... light... but fast...?"

Thankfully he fell forward, and was able to break his fall with his hands, so he wasn't hurt or anything. And the one on his back seemed to be very light, so it wasn't like he was being crushed or anything, far from it.

But... it DID feel like a small woman was on his back... sniffing at him.

"..." he was silent, blinking his eyes a couple of times.

"I... ah..." he stammered.

"Can I... help you...?" he asked, turning his head back to see who or what was there.

Evan was silent again for a moment, before starting to stand up. The one that Kiah had called 'Pey' offered her hand to him, and he accepted it, allowing her to help him to his feet. The thing was, Evan knew he wasn't super-tall. He figured himself to be at average height. He was just shy of six feet, last he checked... hence why he wasn't expecting to suddenly feel like a giant when looking at this newcomer.

He seriously needed to legitimately and physically look DOWN at her, to meet her gaze.

And it stunned him for a moment.

"Ah... I..." he stammered, before it hit him that the one standing before him appeared to be a literal fox-girl.

"Ah... Evan." he managed to get out.

"Evan Kiczys."

"It's nice to meet you." Evan responded.

He then appeared confused for a moment, thinking about what she said.

"...a runner?" he asked.

"Like my sister? She runs a lot." he commented, pondering what that had to do with them seeing each other again for sure, though. It seemed like a non sequitur to him, to be frank.

"...oh!" Evan responded. "THAT'S what you meant when you said a 'runner'!" he realised, snapping his fingers. "That makes sense. And yes, I can see WHY you'd have that job." he said further.

"You seem to be... quite fast." he complimented her.

"I want to say I'm surprised this place hasn't gone completely paperless, but I can see the wisdom in having physical records." he then said. "It's good to have backups in case technology fails." he reasoned.

"...also, I... you're not in a glamour or anything." he vocalised to Peyton.

"Any particular reason for that?" he asked.

"I didn't mean anything bad by that, I promise!" Evan quickly said.

"I'm so sorry." he apologised to her, bowing forward apologetically... which caused his glasses to slip off of his face. He managed to catch them in his hands, but even though Peyton was unable to see his eyes, she DID see his feline ears pop up outta nowhere.

"..." Evan was silent as he held his glasses in his hands.

"Guess there're a bit loose." he commented.

"Might need to narrow them down a little." he said further.

Evan righted himself, and Peyton saw his feline eyes for a brief moment, before he put his glasses back on, which hid the features.

"I'm thankful for that." he said.

"However, I don't need these to fall off when I'm in public." he reasoned. "That, and... I actually DO need these to see, so... I'll need to tinker with them a bit later." he went on.

"...also, thanks." he then said, sounding a little flustered.

"People that have seen my ears before all say they're cute." he told her.

"Blair loves to pet them and muddle with them." he then chuckled, before pausing a moment.

"...my boyfriend." he clarified to Peyton.

"Bye for now!" Evan called to her, watching her go... and then sighing heavily when she was out of sight.

"I thought for sure I ruined that first impression when I asked about her lack of a glamour." he commented, before looking at Kiah.

"...I'm guessing there's a bit of a story behind that?" he asked her.

"Because I didn't mean for the question to sound confrontational or anything." he assured her. "...though you probably already knew that..." he then admitted, thinking about it.

"But... well... that didn't really mess anything up, perception-wise, did it?"