"Here you go, Laurel!" Dakota says brightly as she presents him with a plate of roasted potato wedges with salad and mayonnaise. "Eat up!"
"I'm not hungry, thank you." Laurel politely refuses, and continues to stare out of the window at the empty savanna.
"You need to eat, Laurel!" she persists. "I know you're worried about him, but I promise you, he'll be back soon! He's more than capable of looking after himself and you know it!"
"I don't doubt it! But these are Gerudo he's up against! If they find him and take him prisoner…the goddesses know what they'll do to him!"
"Laurel, if you're that worried about him, then you can go out and look for him! But only after you finish your supper!" Dakota thrusts the plate of food into his face. "Now eat!"
Laurel accepts the plate and nibbles at his potato wedges by the window. Imogen, Commander Jet and Seth join Dakota at the dining table.
"It feels strange without Ningan, doesn't it?" Imogen says casually.
"Barely noticed the kid before, myself." Seth says with a curled lip.
"Well we've finally found a use for him and he's now part of this mission." Jet says firmly. "I expect he will return successful."
"If he returns at all…" Seth mutters.
Laurel looks at him with disgust, but sees Dakota shaking her head at him. He regrettably turns back to the window without fuss and continues to stare into the night.
One by one, they finish their food and leave the table. Commander Jet retires to her office while Lieutenant Seth heads to the watchtower to begin his night-watch. Imogen elects to watch from upstairs window, leaving Dakota to wash the dishes in Laurel's company.
"It's getting late…" Laurel says anxiously. "Perhaps I should take Aurarius to Zone E to look for him…"
"I would give it a few more minutes." Dakota advises. "The desert is a fair distance away, and walking on foot will take a long time."
"He's been gone for almost three hours! I'm going to look for him!"
"No, you stay here! It's dangerous!" she warns, and tosses her dishcloth aside. "I'll send Seth to look instead!"
"Seth? Seth won't do anything! He's useless and selfish and arrogant and egotistical and-"
"Don't talk about my fiancé like that!" Dakota snaps. "Seth is a brave man who abides by his duties!"
"Your 'fiancé' is rude!" Laurel perseveres on his rant. "Not just to me and Ningan, your guests, and the men under his command, but also to you! I've seen it!"
"He is not!" Dakota defends her partner's honour. "He loves me! You know what this is? Jealousy!"
"Jealousy?" Laurel snorts. "Of what exactly? Being engaged to an overgrown bully with a superiority complex?"
"You're jealous that I've found true love! You're jealous because I have something that you've never had! You're jealous because I've found someone who loves me unconditionally and will take care of me no matter what! You're jealous because I'm happy, and you're not!"
"That's preposterous!" Laurel yells. "You're not happy! You're living under the illusion of 'true love'! You're living a lie!"
"This isn't a lie!" Dakota gestures to the walls around her. "This is my home!"
"Hyrule is your home! You belong with us, not playing house with some ignoramus!"
"Hyrule is your home, Laurel!" she corrects him. "This is where my home is! This is where my life is! This is where my I will be married to the man I love! We'll have children and grow old together! You're not gonna be young forever, Laurel! What are you gonna do then?"
Laurel strides out of the kitchen and grabs his backpack. "I'm gonna go and look for Ningan! Once he comes back, we're leaving!"
He storms out the door and slams it behind him, so hard that the walls of the lodge shake violently. Commander Jet and Imogen burst into the hallway looking bemused.
"What the hell was that all about?" the Commander exclaims, aghast.
Dakota shakes her head with defeat and returns to drying dishes over the sink.