She snorted in amusement. "You're not the first to offer. I think my taste in clothes might entirely abhor you." And she would be sticking with them so long as they were clean. She didn't have the money to ask for custom jobs or anything of the sort, even if all she wanted were some new tunics and something to wear to bed that didn't look obnoxious.

"Thank you, just the same," she said. A hot meal was better than anything else right then and she certainly hadn't been expecting it. It wasn't often that anyone invited her over for food, even if they were meaning for serious discussion.

She took a few small bites while he spoke and took a moment to wash her throat with the drink he'd provided before speaking. "I'm used to going alone." That and she couldn't ask people to disrupt their plans for a little idle curiosity. "And I took my dog." She wouldn't comment on needing an escape, not directly, but she offered a simple shrug instead. "It's good to get away every now and then. I'm certain more people would take advantage of it if the surrounding areas weren't wastelands."

Elissa had another small portion of the rice and gave him a thoughtful look as she did so, eventually settling back into her chair. "I know you didn't call me for small talk, you know."