Attacking with the off-hand and hand crossbows

[Sentack]

Okay so I have a couple questions that are vaguely related to each other.

Question 1: If a player attacks with his off hand, but only his off hand. Say, he's got two short swords, and decides to only attack with his 'left' hand instead of his 'right'. How would it work? Does he get to treat it like a full regular attack (Full-Round action attack, multiple attacks if BAB allows, full strength bonus)?

Question 2: Reloading a hand crossbow. Do you need a free hand to reload it? Can you wield a dagger in your off hand, fire with the hand crossbow in the main, and reload normally.

Bonus Question: Player with a Hand Crossbow & Dagger get an attack of opportunity from a vanilla monster X. Can the player attack with the dagger? Does the handyness matter? What happens if they want to attack with the hand crossbow the next turn? Does he get a penalty to attack if the hand crossbow is in the 'off hand'?

This is one of those "The rules aren't clear to me and I couldn't find anything specific that ruled one way or another" question for me.

Anyone able to help?

[concerro]

1. You only take the TWF penalties when you take the extra attacks allowed by TWF. Holding a weapon does not impose a penalty.

2. You do need a free hand to reload the crossbow.

The player can use the dagger to get the AoO. PF has no handiness. Both hands are equal. He does not get a penalty on the next turn if he uses the crossbow.