His particular odd sort of hesitation is unsurprising, if still utterly incomprehensible to her. But she doesn't need to understand it to want to soothe it, so she nods encouragingly, pulling the edges of the quilt into her lap to make room next to her. "Of course, sit down."

His answer to her question was a decent start, maybe he'll even say the truth once they have talked a little. "I am managing, as usual. I have a few new inhabitants to take care of. Have you made any new acquaintances?" Talking about unspecific positive things, that's how you make humans comfortable with words, right.