Saying “maybe” doesn’t make it positive or makes it a hint. He doesn’t sound very sure either.
Just like JMO, “Trying to make it work” is just a more educated maybe, and to be fair she said the same last year about some cons, that the next day she cancelled.
And to be fair, any possible writing scene that any returning character may have, is probably one easy to cut, so probably not one where they even need to speak, just all showing up in a group image.
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"I offended you with my opinion? Ha, you should hear the ones I keep to myself".