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.]