A/N: This idea was swimming around in my head ever since I finished watching Burlesque (again) - yeah I realize how sad it is that this is what I got from that movie XD. I admit some of it was partially inspired by a dance number a friend learned when her class did a section on Cabaret- which is sort of like burlesque; theatrical dance and song performances often done in a club. If you want to know more on cabaret, look it up on google (make sure to find a link not referring to the musical Cabaret). Part of my friend's dance inspired Ciel's introduction number.
So, not that it isn't obvious or anything, but extremely AU and OOC. I'll update based on the interest, so more interest = more frequent updates.
Disclaimer: I don't own Kuroshitsuji...yada yada yada...none of the characters I torture are mine...etc. Only the plot belongs to me :D
Chapter One
The Écarlate was a nondescript building, that neither stood out or blended in with the ones around it. The bricks on the outside were aged and covered with a layer of city smoke, and the windows blacked out with thick drapes. The only signs it boasted were perhaps older than the square building itself and were impossible to read when they weren't lit up, which was how they stood during the hours of daylight. The only impressive feature was the fact that it sat on the corner of the two intersecting streets, staking claim to an miniscule amount of lawn beneath an iron firescape. Otherwise the building held no presences on the street side.
That being said, it wasn't surprising that Sebastian Michaelis hadn't noticed it before tonight, even though the man passed it everyday to and from work. To be honest he probably wouldn't have noticed it at all had work not kept him unexpectedly late tonight. The back up of all the paperwork required to be read over and signed was substantial, the investigator was practically drowning in it. As it was he'd still yet to complete it all and had been forced to bring some with him when he finally departed from work.
The hour was just reaching eleven when he turned the corner onto the thirty-second avenue. Sebastian glanced down at his watch and sighed, before stuffing his hands back into the warmth of his coat pockets. For being this late into fall the weather was particularly mild, but still cold enough to draw discomfort from the man. He was looking forward to the warm apartment just three blocks away and the comfortable bed that promised a pleasant rest for the evening.
Sebastian was nearly at the end of the street when the lights caught his attention. Compared to the dim golden light cast from the various street lamps, these illuminated the entire street corner and much of the building across from it. A hundred naked bulbs illuminated the front entrance, dancing on and off in a pattern across the row. The sounds of laughter and low pitch of a cello drew his attention left where his eyes met the club.
The sight was baffling to the investigator. At first he was unable to remember the building, nothing about its appearance now so much as hinted to the dead sort of look it disguised itself with during the day. It was alluring and somehow, as strange as the idea was to Sebastian, seductive.
"Alois! You're on in ten!"
The female shout caught Sebastian's attention, drawing it upwards onto the firescape where a blonde was currently relaxing against the rail. The figure's slender form was covered with a thin silk robe of a bright scarlet that neither appeared to be very thick or protective against the nipping cold. Slowly, the figure snuffed out a cigarette and turned enough for Sebastian to be able to see a profile of a face.
Crimson eyes widened. It was a boy. Sebastian stood frozen with bewilderment as he watched the young adult stretch and let out a satisfied murmur. From afar and from behind the boy had looked just like a girl- and if Sebastian wanted to be honest- still held some feminine features.
"Alright, alright. I'm coming, Madame," he grumbled, sliding the robe off as he disappeared through the door connecting the firescape to the building.
Sebastian remained staring up at the firescape for a few more moments, before his curiosity got the best of him. It was just all too interesting not to go find out what was going on in the building that had two different appearances.
The investigator wandered up the path to the front entrance and quietly slipped in. An entrance hall stretched out before Sebastian, the walls painted a dark blue were barely seen under hundreds of different picture frames. Peering closer at them as he passed by, Sebastian was surprised to find newspaper clippings and full layout posters promising acts. His eyes lingered particularly on one poster in particular, unable to decipher the image completely.
"Yeah, I'm know be quick about- Oh! Where you heading in?"
Startled Sebastian jumped backward, eyes flying to land on the girl standing in the hall just ahead of him. She giggled at his expression, her mahogany ponytails bouncing with her light laughter.
"Did I startle you?" She smiled. "I'm sorry about that, I just thought you were going inside."
Conflicted Sebastian, stuffed his hands in his pocket and masked his confusion behind a calculating gaze he directed at the girl. Wandering into strange places wasn't normal for him, but curiosity was. The investigator thrived on it and it often came in handy on the job, but it did have it's moments when it caused more trouble then good.
Directing his chin towards the hallway behind the girl, he asked, "What is inside?"
Confusion pulled her eyebrows together, "You don't know...?"
He remained silent as the girl seemed to confirm her suspicions and nodded to herself.
"This is Écarlate. I can't really explain it very well in words. It's more of those things you have to see for yourself, you know?" She babbled. "Oh, I'm Mey-Rin by the way."
"Sebastian," the investigator responded back, eyes flickering to the hallway before looking back at Mey-Rin. For the first time he took in her outfit. Short black shorts fit snugly on the woman's hips, accenting her shapely legs which were made to appear longer by the monster heels she wore. A white blouse with quarter sleeves was left unbuttoned on the top, before it was cut off by a black corset just above the bust line. The outfit wasn't necessarily trashy considering much of the fashion running amuck on the streets these days, but it was sensual enough to catch his attention.
"Would you like to come in?" She asked, cutting through his thoughts as she gestured behind herself.
Briefly glancing at his wrist watch, he debated if going further inside was worth it. The time read a quarter past eleven, but knowing he needed to be at work early the next morning made him weary of the number. His curiosity though was spurring him to peek inside, and currently it was winning.
"Maybe for a few minutes," he sighed, running a hand through his black hair as he gave in.
Mey-Rin smiled, clapping her hands together excitedly, "Then follow right after me, Mr. Sebastian."
The investigator followed the girl down the hall where it suddenly hooked a right. A fogged glass wall marked the official entrance of the club, where a glass door was propped open to reveal just a quick glimpse of the dimly lit interior. A bouncer was seated behind a booth near the door, a black hat leaning heavily to the left side of his golden head of hair as his eyes watched the people inside rather than the approaching pair.
"Finny!"
The bouncer jumped slightly and turned quickly to see Mey-Rin. A goofy smile appeared on his face as he waved unnecessarily in the direction of the girl.
"I thought you were taking your break, Mey-Rin," he exclaimed.
The girl laughed and waved a hand towards the investigator. "I was, but then I ran into this guy. It took some convincing to get him to come in."
Finny peered around the other to lock gazes with Sebastian. The investigator said nothing as the other looked him over, before smiling widely as if he'd just met someone he hadn't seen in a long time rather than a man who he had just been introduced to.
"Welcome to Écarlate! I'm Finny," he jutted his hand out excitedly.
The black haired investigator took it and gave it a firm shake, before introducing himself for the second time that night. "Sebastian."
"It's nice to meet you, Mr. Sebastian," the boy responded happily. "If you're planning on heading inside I'll need twenty, it's the rules."
Without much hesitation, Sebastian took out his wallet and removed a twenty dollar bill; unintentionally revealing the entire contents of his wallet to the two hovering closely beside him. Mey-Rin's mouth dropped open with a pop as she watched the investigator shut his wallet and cut off her sight of the stack of green. Her brown eyes shot up to share a look with Finny, who also was still frozen with shock at the sight he'd just seen. Both nodded at the same time, drawing a frown from the black haired man.
"Is something the matter?" He inquired, crimson eyes darting from one to the other.
Mey-Rin was the first to react, quickly rearranging her expression as she shook her head from side to side. "Nope."
Still suspicious of the two, Sebastian nodded slowly before edging his way towards the club door. "Can I go in now?"
Finny nodded quickly, "Enjoy your time with us!"
Sebastian gave a curt nod before disappearing into the dimly lit club. The first thing he noted was that it wasn't what he had been expecting. There was no crowd of bodies dancing or scantily clad girls removing more of their clothing. Instead tables were spread out on three levels, surrounding a stage towards the back of the club. More employees dressed similarly to Mey-Rin wove through the tables with glass tubes filled with sparkling alcohol on trays. A pit was situated near the stage where a live jazz band played music to entertain the crowd. It was what was on the stage itself that drew the man's full attention.
The blonde boy he'd seen earlier on the firescape was seated backwards in an iron wrought chair at the center of the stage. His long legs, which were scarcely clad in a pair of leather shorts and ankle boots with a six inch heels to them, were spread apart to accommodate the back of the chair. His chest was covered by a small black vest, that rode up his torso when he suddenly leaned backwards and swayed in semi-circle before righting himself again.
The investigator watched on as the boy moved sensually in a dance, going from a seated position till he was crouched in the chair using the back as a support while he shimmed his way up and down. The entire time his mouth moved, letting out a voice heavy with sensual desires as he sang a song foreign to the black haired man. The blonde crossed one leg over the other, draping a foot over the back of the chair as he bent halfway backwards, dragging a hand along his body when he lent upright again. The trill of a trumpet accented each move he made, heightening the sensuality already oozing from the entertainer.
"He's good, isn't he?" Mey-Rin prompted, as she appeared besides the investigator.
Sebastian chuckled softly, "I couldn't tell you. I've never been to a club or show like this before."
Mey-Rin giggled, "Alois is certainly talented at what he does, one of our best dancers. He's also only one of our two male entertainers."
"There's another?" Sebastian asked, black eyebrows arcing up his pale forehead.
The club employee winked, "Stick around till midnight and you'll see what I mean."
Sebastian frowned, he wasn't planning on sticking around that long; actually if he had followed his original plans he would have left minutes ago. His curiosity should have found itself sated with the quick glance around, but as it was, the raven haired investigator was finding that it was only growing as he spent more time within the club. Something about Écarlate was intriguing and it wasn't just the unusual set up or flashy show the entertainers were putting on for their audience.
"Come on this way, I'll introduce you to Claude our bartender," Mey-Rin giggled, turning around so fast she teetered off balance.
The investigator noticed the tilt and reached out a hand to steady the girl. Once he was sure she was safely righted once more, he released his hold on her arm earning an embarrassed smile from the club employee.
"Thank you," she quickly mumbled, flushing red. "Grell is always telling me that I need to practice wearing heels. I'm too clumsy in them, he says."
Silently Sebastian agreed, but he didn't voice this out loud. Instead he flashed a small crooked smile that brought a darker blush to the female's cheeks. She giggled, quickly covering her mouth with a hand when she realized the sound had escaped her mouth.
"Ah, wasn't I going to introduce you to Mr. Claude," she rushed, turning quickly and heading towards the bar.
Sebastian followed behind her, occasionally having to step out of the way for a passing server with a tray weighed down with alcoholic drinks. Unusual red eyes would flicker back towards the stage periodically as he made his way, taking in the on going performance. By the time the man reached the bar there was a new entertainer on stage with a group of back up dancers.
"Claude! I'd like you to met a new comer. His name's Sebastian," Mey-Rin called out to the man down the bar.
Sebastian leaned forward onto an empty spot along the smooth granite counter top. A dark haired man was currently mixing a concoction of drinks together, adding some ingredients that made the investigator's noise crinkle up. When the male finally noticed the attention directed his way, he put down what he was doing and approached them, leaving his work to a female barmaid.
"Mey-Rin, wasting your shift showing another new comer around?" He asked emotionlessly, golden eyes landing on the black haired male.
Mey-Rin nodded eagerly, oblivious to the other's disinterest. "He was lingering around upfront so I dragged him in here I did."
Claude grunted, before looking at Sebastian. "Is there something you want?"
The black haired man waved the offer away. "I'm good."
When he realized there was no sale to be made he turned around and left without another word, leaving Mey-Rin and Sebastian alone. She sighed, fixing her pigtails before turning so that she leaned against the counter much like Sebastian was doing, except whereas the male looked every inch attractive and removed, she appeared awkward and slightly stiff.
"Ciel should be up soon," she mumbled.
No sooner had the words been spoken the already scarce lighting in the club dimmed to complete black. A gentle hum picked up in the silence that had ensued as everyone's attention turned towards the stage at the front where a soft blue light was illuminating the very center. A small lump was laying across the ground, indistinguishable until it began moving.
"This is Écarlate," a soft voice cut over the lulling sound of a gentle thrill of a cymbal. "Better watch your step... or else your desire may get the better of you."
A leg curled elegantly at the knee before straightening up into the air and competing a small arc over the figure's body. As the leg crossed over the dancer's body, the torso moved upright into a sitting position as they twisted their body slowly. Soft tresses of a gray black covered the entertainer's face from the crowd, but it was obvious he was male even though everything about him seemed feminine to Sebastian.
Soft curves were accented by a form fitted vest of a dark gray color and a pair of shorts that fitted his hips snugly before they bloomed outwards, only to be pined back tightly to the boy's thigh. Hanging from his hips was a large gathering of ruffled white fabric that moved fluidly every time the boy swayed his hips for the audience. He was petite even with the elevated heels he wore making the stage seem dauntingly large in comparison to him, though he didn't seem to let this bother him as he took control over the entire thing.
Completely mesmerized by the entertainer, Sebastian watched as the boy moved gracefully about the stage in a well practiced number. Every move was fluid and executed to perfection. His voice floated above the instruments, neither too deep or too high but undeniably laced with seduction as he rolled his hip sensually or ran delicate fingers over bare shoulders.
"Hush."
The song died away as the boy twisted around from his position seated on the floor, his back turned to the crowd as he spread his legs out in an erotic display. As the audience erupted into whistles and claps, the boy delivered a wink before the curtain dropped and cut the sight of the beautiful creature away from the crowd.
"Impressed?" Mey-Rin asked, turning to face the raven haired man.
"Very."