Chapter 6 - A Less Irritating Brat Than Usual

When Alec woke up, he'd thought he'd just been transported to a whole another world or dimension. Where on earth was he? Everywhere he looked, he was surrounded by colourful ornate patterns and the countless clutter of bizarre yet wonderful trinkets that reminded him of a wizard's workshop. Bespoke pieces of antique furniture combined with art-deco-inspired lampshades somehow made the whole place feel so nostalgic and whimsical. Like when everything in a dream feels unfamiliar yet familiar. He was like a kid in a sweetie shop, he just wanted to look and touch at everything.

Alec tried to move but suddenly realised there was a weight pressing down on his chest preventing him from doing so. A tiny girl with a head full of blonde curls was snoozing right on top of him.

What the heck was this brat doing here?

He tried to shift slowly, so as to not disturb the youngster, gently rolling her to the side on top of the intricately embroidered bed cover. She looked pretty as a picture, dressed in what looked like a Victorian nightie laying atop a bedspread of satin flowers. He then slowly sat up, noticing he was both shirtless and trouserless with only his pair of boxer shorts on. As he heard the sound of footsteps approaching him, he carefully gathered up some of the covers to cover his chest because he felt weirdly embarrassed for God knows what reason why.

"Oh good, you're finally awake, it's already way past one," a familiar voice resonated throughout the room.

Alec turned sharply and noticed that it was Marcel who had just appeared, "Where am I? Why am I here?" he demanded a bit softly, bearing the sleeping kid in mind, this was clearly her naptime.

"I thought the reason why was fairly obvious since last night you were as drunk as a skunk. This, here, is my Showman's Wagon. You better be grateful because you're lying where I would normally sleep with Annie, I had to take the sofa, my poor back!" He stretched and Alec heard the disgusting sound of his spine clicking.

He was most certainly not going to thank the bastard because he knew almost certainly that Marcell had probably intended to get Alec drunk in the first place. So he changed the topic to suit him.

"Annie is your daughter?"

"Yes, that's right, she's three and a half years old,"

Alec wondered where the mother was but decided it was better not to ask.

"I can't believe that someone as angelic-looking as her could ever be one of your offspring."

She probably got all the angelic qualities from the mother, and only the mother.

"You know, when you were both asleep, I came in to check up on you both and it was the sweetest sight that I had ever seen. Two sleeping beauties. You know, Annie came and slept on top of you all on her own earlier, it's rare for her to like strangers. For someone who is supposedly bad with children, it's interesting that you seem to attract them." He said all of this in the same light, semi-serious mocking tone that he had used last night. Alec had no idea how to respond without making a fool of himself. So, he decided to ask about the caravan next.

"Umm, what's with this fancy caravan and its interior design? It's honestly one of the most amazing things I've seen in my entire life." He couldn't help but say, "It was like I was still in a dream when I woke up… I'm still wondering if I'm dreaming right now, actually," he added a little abashedly, blushing slightly as well.

"Why? Do you find me that dreamy?"

Alec scowled at the man for not taking him seriously.

"Sorry, sorry, this Showman's Wagon or 'caravan', as you aptly called it, happens to have belonged to my ancestry. My entire family has been in circus business likely for as long as circus's have existed. With this caravan, I also own most of this particular circus, so it is called 'Ross' Circus'. This wagon is Georgian and it has been well looked after. I agree that it is amazing, stunning actually, and I have never grown tired of living in it. Even if it can be a little small at times and it is tedious to rely on horses to travel because I'm too scared to attach it to a car or something and risk damaging it,"

"I think traveling with horses sounds quite fun though,"

"It is, it can be," He sighed, before he then laughed, "Pfft! Look at you getting all excited about circus life when before you were saying how much you didn't want this job,"

"Don't assume I'm getting all excited, for your information I do not want this job and I never will,"

"Is that because of your pride or because you actually don't want the job?"

"Like I said before, selling up everything and changing my life on a whim is just plain stupid, anyways, why are you so hung up on me?"

"That's a secret," Marcell put a finger to his lips.

This scheming bastard.

"Why are you so irritating!?"

"Careful, don't shout, you'll wake-up Annie, also would you like me to make you a drink? Might ease the hangover a bit,"

Alec blinked in surprise, that's right he should be feeling terrible right now, "Like you said, I was drunk as a skunk, but I feel fine right now?"

Gosh, I'm made out of stronger stuff than I thought. Guess I'm growing some hairs on my chest!

"Oh, that's excellent! That's because I forced you to drink gallons of water before you went to bed, I'm glad it worked."

"Huh!? How come I don't remember this?"

"You were drunk," He rolled his eyes, "It was so funny though, even with you barely being able to remain conscious you just kept muttering bastard over and over again, ahahaha I had really pissed you off last night,"

"You still have pissed me off! And although I am grateful that you looked after me, don't pretend it wasn't all part of your plan to get me that drunk!"

"Yes, I admit it was my plan, but what are you going to do about it?" He smiled sweetly, "Would you like some coffee? Or tea?"

"I'm fine thank you, also, where are my clothes?" he said a little awkwardly.

"Oh those?" He replied lazily, as though he were merely discussing the weather, "I thought it wouldn't be comfy for you to wear those things whilst you slept, I tend to only wear boxers with a shirt or a bare chest when I'm sleeping,"

Not everyone is the same as you!

Alec couldn't help but blush a little at the idea of Marcell stripping his clothes off, being the hermit that he was, he hadn't shown his bare chest to anyone in years. Plus, the idea of being stripped off at all, was just generally embarrassing.

"Right, where are they now?"

"In the wash,"

"Huh!?"

"They were rather stinky, so I took the liberty of putting them in with the rest of the washing for you this morning,"

"That means I have nothing to wear though!"

"Don't be ridiculous, you can just borrow some of mine,"

"No way am I wearing any of your shit!"

"Fine, then go home in your boxers, it doesn't matter that much to me,"

Alec was left speechless. He was beginning to really hate this man. Even more than he hated children, even more than he hated Brian, even more than he hated anything actually.

"Haha don't worry I'll get you something, there's no need to look like you're about to cry,"

Alec sighed in wretched defeat.