[[ooc - i had to ask myself so many times what the living situation even for canon lookout landing is and went 'ooh right' .. 'thats just a Large base camp']]

[There are few words that can be said in response to such grand support, without immediately cheapening it. Emporio's eyes are still red and puffy, and the boy can't help but wipe at them near periodically, but Zelda's voice and support is like a beacon of light.

Perhaps appropriately so.

The boy nods, then, and with a slightly stuttered breath says-] Okay-

[It sounds more like a squeak, but it's something.]

Y...you said we're going to a stable..?

[It makes more sense than any base camp nearby- right now no doubt, the soldiers and citizens of Hyrule are still doing their best to even somewhat clear way for any settlement. Lookout Landing might be under construction, but it won't likely be ready to actually house anyone.]

[RIGHT.... Maybe we can get to the point where it was built dsfiidasofsa]

( She offers a small smile once he seems to calm down a little, albeit it's sympathetic. He's been through so much.... Far too much for a child to go through, especially alone. If she's glad for anything, it's the fact that she's pursued him.

She nods her head, offering a hand for him to take. )

Yes. It is not too far from here. After you are able to rest in a proper bed, we can begin to make our way to Hateno village. A dear friend of mine has opened his home to me -- and, I know that he would not want you to be without one, too.

[And Emporio, as testament to the trust he's slowly letting himself place in her, takes it. It is a scarred hand, which only serves to emphasize what tragedies have been survived. Perhaps if she's familiar, she might recognize the feel as the sort of marks made from coming in contact with electrified water- or perhaps not.

Link has Definitely done that at least Once,]

A friend of yours..? Um...what's he like..?

Link is...

( Zelda pauses for a moment. It isn't that she doesn't have the words for him. On that contrary, she has more words for him than she can say. But, to summarize.... )

... The most courageous person I've met. He'd stop at nothing to help others if they need it, even if it means that it would be dangerous for him. He's someone pure of heart -- who only has good intentions for others.

[It sounds...] He sounds... ...a lot like someone I knew, [he admits, looking away for a moment.] I hope at least... ...I hope he stays away from danger a bit better than her, though. Uh....

J- just to keep you from worrying, at least! He's probably pretty strong too if he's like that...

( Emporio's words are enough to make her stop for a moment. The way he words what he says, she can't help but think that it brought up something that may have brought him further pain. That wasn't her intention. )

My apologies. I hadn't meant to cause you any further pain.

Oh-

No, it's...

[The two of them are a little too similar in some ways. There is much hurt in them both, and more importantly much care- maybe too much care, one could say. But Emporio manages a laugh, and shakes his head.] It's alright..!

I just...she once set herself on fire to outmatch someone, so it wouldn't be a great thing to emulate..! [he explains, half a cry, half a laugh. It hurts- Jolyne's gone after all. But...it's funny, somehow, all the same.]

What? ( It's extremely rare for Zelda to feel dumb founded for any reason, but it's not exactly everyday that you hear that someone had purposely set themselves on fire.

....

What kind of place was this child from...? )

I... I assumed that they were alright, afterwards? I admit that I cannot imagine what she may have had to outmatch someone in if they were to resort to such things...

Somehow...

[Believe him Zelda. He wonders too. He wonders too...] Her opponent used a power that ate heat, so she decided to counter it with...more. It worked...but I think my suggestion of just diving underwater probably would've been more painless...

...technically it was ghost fire so it didn't actually cause damage but...it's still fire...

I admit that I know very little of your world. ( And the more she hears, the more questions that she has. )

But, I can sympathize with your situation, to an extent. I myself have been in a place where I worried greatly for those important to me.

I promise you this -- I will exhaust every effort I can to bring you back home.

It's...

[He said- that world probably no longer exists. But perhaps because of talking about it, voicing the sentiment and attachment, she keeps making that declaration. That idea of finding a way back.

...

...He doesn't want her to chase an impossibility.] ...Let's... ...I just want to focus on being...stable, here, [the boy eventually decides.] ...Knowing...where I stand here, what to do right now.

( There's a brief pause before Zelda nods her head. Rest is the most important right now. She isn't sure how long he's been at the ruins, but... a proper bed to rest in will do him a world of good, she's sure. )

... A proper night of rest will remedy some of the ill-ease you feel now. ( At the least, they were nearing the building now. ) For now, please -- consider this place to be your home until we are able to find a way for you to return to your own home.

Right, [he agrees- if only because he really hopes that this will indeed be the case. He doesn't say anything to the matter of returning anywhere of course...but finding somewhere to settle here sounds...better than what he had before. Better tha-

......................................................

hold on]

Uh.............

...Is that...a giant horse head..?

[He heard 'Stable', and he had a very specific image in his head, see. Maybe an inn, or similar. A massive tent, very well, and that's definitely what they're looking at but uh. Um.

Horse??? Head??? Chimney?]

The top of the stables in Hyrule resemble the horse god, Malanya. He's said to watch over each horse, caring for them. Some locations in the kingdom have even been named after him.

( Though admittedly, those who work at the stables may have more knowledge of such things than Zelda does, she's happy to answer whatever questions he may have. Researching what she can about different traditions or beliefs is just one of the things she enjoyed doing on whatever spare time she had.

As they near the stable, Zelda offers quiet greetings to those working diligently. )

All stables..?

[The 'wow' is implicit in his tone, and as they approach, he practically glues himself to Zelda's side. The people maintaining the stables are kind, certainly, but they're curious. In the same breath they happily greet their Princess, they ask on the presence of the boy, and the younger of the stable family are not shy about staring.

Emporio's clothes after all, are nothing like anyone has ever seen- not to mention the round ears. Nothing's been said about such things yet, but it's clear that they can't help but stare, and he shrinks somewhat under the gaze as he tries to focus on his conversation.]

It definitely makes it easy to see the stable from a distance...the smoke looks pretty distinctive, coming out of the top.

( Zelda greets the others with a gentle greeting, telling those who are curious that the boy is under her care for the time being. There's no denying the seriousness in her tone, but there's fondness there all the same.

She nods her head at what he says next. )

As it should be. The purpose is for travelers to know that they have shelter that they can turn to, should they need it. Those here will be grateful to have you here for the night as a guest.

Grateful to...me? [The statement throws the boy, and does so enough that he even seems to forget his nervousness for a moment of time.] But- why? Shouldn't it be the other way around, since I'm the guest..?

[Not that he'll be an ungrateful guest, but he's baffled!]

Perhaps it would be more accurate to call it mutual gratitude. After all, is a merchant ungrateful for someone purchasing their wares?

( They are giving them business, after all. )

Hmmm...

[He thinks that over.] I guess that makes sense...

[Still, he can't help self-consciously tug his hair over his ears.] ...So...those are the beds we use then..?

[Deep breaths Emporio. Yes, they're open to everyone here, but Zelda's here! And clearly has. Well. A lot of say, no one's going to do anything in the night.

...

Really he's not sure anyone would regardless, but it's hard to jump from being surrounded by inmates to...the type of people here.]

( She can see his discomfort, and she offers a small, understanding smile in response. )

The beds are quite safe. Merchants are always coming and going -- I am certain that you will see others deciding to rest in the stable for the night.

( And... she has no intention of leaving, either. The last thing she intends to do is leave him alone when he's already been through a traumatic ordeal. )

[An anxious nod.] Right. Thank you. Uh...

[It occurs to him that he has no idea what the whole process here is, but looking at the booth he can guess.] So...we just talk to that person there?

[That'd be where one goes for an inn stay, yes.]

Yes. Please, do not hesitate to make yourself comfortable. I will take care of reserving lodgings for the both of us.

( She'll approach the counter then. They'll insist that she stay for free, but... Zelda will pay regardless. This is a business, after all. She wants to support them. )

[With a nod, the boy will do just that. An empty bed, and...well, from there all he really can do is lay down after all. It's not like he has spare clothes or pjs or anything, though the blanket is at least nice.

His eyes rove around the sight of the stable with quiet curiosity, as he takes in every stitch. What a strange place... ...it's not Too bad though he supposes.

Really if it wasn't for the surrounded-by-strangers-in-a-strange-world part, it'd be more cozy than his piano.]

( Once they wake up the next day, Zelda says her goodbyes to those at the stable before smiling to Emporio. )

Are you hungry? I can at least purchase some apples before we leave.

[The next day comes, and somehow everything still feels very new. Or at least, very dream-like. He can't quite believe he's not still sleeping in the ghost room he found in Hyrule's former Castle Town, nestled under long destroyed blankets and pillows in something he could only have dreamed of.

This was the first time he slept in an actual, non-ghost bed, he realizes. That's very strange.

He's still thinking about how strange that is when Zelda asks about the apples.] Uh-

[Right. Food is important.] Oh. T-thank you. Something to eat is probably a good idea...breakfast is one of the most important meals of a person's day, since it's the first source of energy as it starts out and-

[He trails off, looking away a bit nervously.] ...a..and that's not really important to talk about, I guess...

[Desperately, he tries for a change of topic.] Is... ...Is where we're going far from here..? [he has to ask, turning his head up to look at the Princess. It was a rather lengthy trip even from the castle town ruins and nearby encampment as prepared by those rebuilding. The world feels blisteringly large, and he suspects he's only seen a small fraction of it.]