[Maxxie's approaching the elevators when he sees Nariko there. They haven't spoken at all since the carnival. It's not that he's avoided interacting with her, but he's felt guilty about what she had to go through and it's been easier just not to engage. It makes him feel even more guilty to acknowledge the fact that he couldn't gather the courage to talk to her about it, tell her he was sorry at least that she had to go through all that and had to watch him be next to useless on top of it. He can't deal with that right now, so he considers leaving her alone.]
[But when he sees her there she looks like he feels - ripped open and vulnerable, the waves of loneliness immobilizing him in between periods of feeling lost and restless. So he doesn't turn around and leave her be. He walks up to her, hesitant and keeping his distance. He doesn't want to make it worse for her.]
B
[But when he sees her there she looks like he feels - ripped open and vulnerable, the waves of loneliness immobilizing him in between periods of feeling lost and restless. So he doesn't turn around and leave her be. He walks up to her, hesitant and keeping his distance. He doesn't want to make it worse for her.]
Nariko?