music, particular, cigarette, voice, continued
"Got a cigarette, man?"
The voice was bland and slightly whiny, but Ned answered it anyway, with a nod and a quick tap on the box that popped one up.
The speaker was hidden under an oversized jacket and hat. "Thanks," he continued, quieter now, his voice nearly drowned out by the music leaking out between the heavy doors. The cigarette disappeared into the shadow under the hat, and Ned offered a light.
Even with the flickering light shining into the shadow, Ned couldn't get a good look at the stranger's face. Human, at least, although he couldn't see the particulars.
write about getting on with life, after...
The stranger smoked in silence for a few minutes, making no move toward or away. Ned dealt with the other requests coming from other people coming and going, waiting in line, coming out for a breath of fresh air.
Some parts of his job never changed, even after. People still wanted to have a good time. This fellow, though, didn't seem interested in much other than his cigarette. Ned shrugged. Maybe that was all he wanted right now for a good time, even with the party happening mere feet away.
Write about an unwelcome interruption
"Got a cigarette, man?"
The voice sounded a little... off, and Ned looked over with one hand on the cigarette pack before offering it. He tapped one cigarette out, then froze. The speaker looked human at first glance, but like its voice, was just a little off. He let the visitor take the cigarette, and pressed the alarm button in his pocket when he dug out the lighter.
The two strangers smoked together but separately, each enjoying their cigarette. Ned discreetly hurried the party-goers inside, eliminating the lineup on the street, and waiting for his turn to get behind the blast doors.
