"Wow, Critchon, you look like you've just stepped out of a science fiction romance novel."

Valdis noticed him holding back along the sidelines and hadn't exactly snuck up on him, but hadn't made an effort to make her presence known until her comment. He seemed vaguely depressed, and she's not interested in trying to cheer him up. Or maybe she is. Or maybe she just wants to stand along the wall with someone just as skeptical as she is.