draft

Build the smallest complete version — real enough to react to, small enough to throw away. One version, unless the choices genuinely fork; then the fewest versions that show the fork. Prefer the version the user can mark up over the one they can only accept or reject.

For every choice the building picked that the conversation had not already settled, state the choice, what you picked, and what would make you pick otherwise.

Hand the built thing back with its surfaced choices — for reaction, not approval. Name where to look first, and which surfaced choice you are least sure of. Build, surface, hand back, once; then wait for the reaction. Every surfaced choice stays open until the user reacts to it.

One direct question would let the user specify it → ask it. The words admit two readings that would build different things → use clarify skill. What's missing lives in the user, not the world → use elicit skill. The thing already exists and a claim about it needs a committed verdict → use judge skill.