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Elinor’s greeting pulled the blonde from her contemplation. Instead of deciding which treat would be next on the chopping block, Lydia lifted her eyes to meet those of the other woman. A moment of self-critique followed. Somehow, she had let her guard down enough to allow an entire person to go unnoticed.[break][break]

It was a dangerous oversight. Even when this person—and her Cinccino—seemed to be harmless. There was no weapon pointed her way nor any signs of anger.[break][break]

A sudden plunge into social interaction highlighted the black sheep noble’s awkwardness. Her posture stiffened somewhat as she uncrossed her legs. The veteran spoke with a hint of a Kalosian accent. Oddly enough, she acknowledged the chinchilla first. A simple nod served as a greeting. “Good afternoon.” She forced a smile. “How is the popcorn?” If not for the strange color, she would have purchased it herself. But no corn she was aware of came in candy-colored rainbows.[break][break]

The woman’s face softened as she saw the hunger in the rodent’s bright eyes. “Would you like to try something?” Only now—with someone else watching—did she notice how much she had picked up. “I may have gone a bit overboard.”Again, she smiled. But it was ore calculated attempt at friendliness than something she actually felt.

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The veteran nodded. Her eyes drifted from the popcorn stand to the distant shouts around the Dugtrio ring toss game. “I could not bring myself to pay that much for popcorn.” Even if it was colored in pastel shades, it was essentially still microwave fare. And, unlike at the movies, there was no artery-clogging liquid butter to accompany it. [break][break]

The Minccino’s eyes coaxed out a softer expression from the blonde. Lydia looked down at the dough-covered lump for a moment. Grabbing one of them, she broke it in half. She could not imagine that much sugar would be good for such a small creature. Or even digestible. “Be careful.” Lydia started as she handed it over. “The center gets quite hot.” The other half was shifted into a separate corner of the paper carton—a reserve in case that did not fill the rodent’s belly.[break][break]

The act of simply sharing food was often said to build camaraderie. For that reason, Lydia felt compelled to extend the conversation. Perhaps she should talk about her experiences on the rides? Discuss her lack of luck at the Guess-the-Number game. In the end, the blonde settled for something more simple.[break][break]

“Have you been here long?” She had been sucking up carnival mud and the smell of freshly fried dough since early this morning. “It is…discordant.” All of this joy and carefree living happening in the midst of war. Humans were oddly adaptable animals.

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The colorful popcorn held her blue gaze for a moment. Her lips perked upward slightly. “I find carnival food is usually well done.” Perhaps sunken cost fallacy was partially to blame for that. That or the stalls tended to be specialists and had the skills to show for it. “That is not to say it is good for you.” Doubtlessly, this guilty pleasure would end up clinging to her hips and thighs somewhere down the road. Still, she’d been standing out in the sun all day-there was little wrong with a moment or two of self-indulgence.[break][break]

As the Minccino chewed, Lydia let her mask fall. For a moment, the veteran looked like any other girl with a puppy or kitten: enraptured. “Careful of your fur.” The blonde cooed at the little rodent. “The filling can get awfully sticky when fried." Once the rodent reached the end of its snack, the soldier popped the last bit of the Oreos into her mouth. It took a good bit of self-control not to moan as the sweetness mixed with a burst of gooey oil.[break][break]

“I am working security.” The veteran sighed. It was less security and more like babysitting. People forgetting their children in port-a-potties. People drunker than Skuntank picking fights with toddlers and carnies alike. “I’ve been here since the gates opened this morning.” As if reminding her of the time she’d been trapped here, the blonde hid a yawn.