The guy probably didn't see the invitation, but then it had been subtle. Or else he simply ignored it. No loss, at any rate.
"No, there's no desperate rush to get there. It's merely the end of the line. I've been working on Greenleaf and thought I'd take a tour of the core worlds before I headed back to Highgate. So any places you stop on the way there are just bonuses."
His shoulder lifted in a shrug. "Thought I'd see what I could while I could. Not all that much to see on Highgate if I remember, unless you really like watching grass grow. And that loses its appeal after a bit, surprisingly enough. What would you charge for passage, if you were inclined to take me on?"