As Alec was taking another draught of his cigarette, a smooth voice interrupted him,

“Smoking is bad for you, you know,”

Alec looked up, shocked by a beautiful face. It was the stranger that he had accidentally locked eyes with only a few moments ago.

For God's sake... 

He just wanted some peace and quiet. What was this crazy bastard, dressed in some weird fancy get-up which was far from appropriate for a mere pub visit, coming over and giving him a hard time for?

The man was stood opposite Alec, peering down at him with piercing pale green eyes that were ablaze with the amber light from the fire. They were deep-set, almost hidden behind a pair of thick eyebrows. His flamboyant, sweeping blonde locks framed the sides of his face like a pair of half-opened curtains.

Irritatingly, the expression on his face seemed to be slightly mocking, exaggerated by his mouth that was curved in an indiscernible smile.

Alec wouldn’t allow himself to be rattled by this strange man though. He crossed his legs and frowned a little and took another puff of his cigarette just to be obstinate. Even if he was rather pissed that a stranger would come and randomly patronise him, he would remain calm. He forced on himself an air of nonchalance,

“Who doesn’t know that smoking is bad for you? Doesn’t stop you though,”

“So, you’re the self-destructive type,”

“Only for tonight,” he replied peevishly.

The stranger tilted his head, “Oh dear, what happened?”

By the way in which this man was talking, Alec couldn’t tell whether he was truly acting concerned or making fun of him. He guessed it was the latter, so he ignored the question.

“Who are you, exactly?”

“Marcell Ross, and you?”

Alec almost hesitated to tell this crazy bastard his name, but it slipped out of his mouth before he could stop himself, “Alec Johnson,”

Marcell’s eyes widened slightly, “So it is you,”

“Huh?” Had they met before or something?

“But your stage name is Alec Smoke, isn’t that right?”

“You’ve watched one of my shows?”

“I should have known it was you as soon as I heard that funny Irish accent,”

This jerk!

“Well, now that you know who I am, how about you go bug off and go back to your group of weirdos sitting over there?”

Alec pointed over to the gathering of people on the other side of the room, some of them were glancing over at the pair of them curiously.

“Now, now steady on, don’t insult my friends like that. What are you acting so baity for? Did you just get dumped? Is that why you’re sitting all alone in this sad little corner?”

“Oh, piss off already, will you? I wanted some peace and quiet today, that was all, is that so much to ask?”

Plus, this corner is not sad! I happen to really like this corner! He added silently.

“So, you did get dumped!”

Alec rolled his eyes, “No, I did not,”

“Then you did the dumping?”

“The only dumping I’ve done was taking a shit on the toilet,”

“Glad to know the reason you’re here isn’t because you’re suffering from constipation,”

“But it looks like you’re suffering from verbal diarrhoea,”

“Oh dear, I’ve really upset you, haven’t I?”

“Yes, you have,”

“You know, I really don’t get what she saw in you,”

“Who?”

“Doesn’t matter,” he sighed,  “sorry… just thought out-loud.”

“So, what I can tell from what you've been rambling on about, is that I’ve disappointed you somehow?”

“I’m not sure yet,”

“Great,”

Alec was honestly rather confused by this man, he had just had quite enough of this conversation, “You know what they say, never meet your heroes,” the brandy was working its way into his system and Alec rarely drunk strong alcohol, so it was taking quite a drastic effect, “You know, you can take comfort in the fact that you’re not the only person I’ve disappointed today,”

Marcell didn’t respond, which only made Alec want to go on further.

“I made a kid cry today, ruined his birthday party, even if he was acting like a brat, he was going through a tough time. Then I got fired. Which is why I’m here. I already know that I’m a disappointment. A failure. I didn’t need you to come here just to tell me that.”

Alec took another puff of his cigarette.

“So, can you please just piss off? I’ve had enough of this conversation already.” He added wretchedly.

Marcell looked shocked, “You got fired? You, the great Alec Smoke?” 

“Yes, I did! Were you even listening? Didn’t I tell you to piss off already! Leave me alone!”

“Sorry, no can do!” He grinned, “Now this really is interesting news. I’ve been needing a magician recently, I was going to ask you before, but I didn’t get round to it, but now you already don’t have a job, how could you refuse? So, you want to be my magician?”

“What the heck are you going on about?” 

Poor Alec had never been more bewildered in his entire life.