Reluctance. That was what she could immediately pick up on, he didn't want to give her a full answer for reasons that he also seemed equally hesitant to provide. "I just want to have a civil conversation with him and ask him something. Nothing more." His tone and posture suggested that this wasn't a lie, but it was far from being the truth given the sheer amount of omission of tangible information he was subjecting the answer to.
"There won't be anything for him to be offended by this time. I promise. No mask. No rations. Nothing disrespectful to the household." While saying this he took the potential risk of reaching for his partners hands, no doubt hoping to hold them in his own and make the situation feel less imposing and more under control.
