Ciel looked around to see a strange looking plant which was somewhat like a tree, of sorts; the bluenette didn't know how it was that he even identified it as vegetation, taking into consideration its constant morphing state and odd purple-like colour.

"You don't seem to be staying anywhere here or you would be at least a bit less lost. You can just stay here for now, if you'd like. We don't use half of the space this place takes up!"

That was what the blond had said. The fact remained, however, that neither Ciel nor Alois knew how to behave around the other and Sebastian's facade was slipping— even if it was only by slight changes in expression. The Phantomhive was uncomfortable in the situation and decided that he would go and 'explore the City'.

He was light on the pavement— which he did not see the need of— and he felt as though he could easily jump into the air, staying there for an indefinite amount of time and defying the laws of gravity. Not that he would try. The buildings were of all different types and timelines; the only thing consistent was the lack of consistency. Some gave off a strange aura that would normally be ominous had he not gotten used to them. There were smaller and weaker, yet, effective barriers around some structures. That was very wise, he had to admit.

Ciel froze in place. He had just bumped into something, and the only way he would have been able describe it as was 'strange'. He wasn't in any pain, but he did feel the sensation of a body come and go and was absolutely certain that something velvety had brushed against him in the process.

"I'm sorry!" There was a girl with shoulder length brown hair in a rather awkward position the ground.

"Not at all, I wasn't paying attention to where I was going." The bluenette helped her up, noticing that she had black tentacles protruding from her back. Well, now he knew what had felt so smooth and slick. "I am known as Ciel Phantomhive. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance." 'Earl', 'The Queen's Guard Dog', 'The Evil Nobleman'— he dropped all those titles. They didn't really serve much purpose anymore, now did they? All he was now was 'Ciel Phantomhive'. What he needed next would be to figure out who exactly that was. For now, however, his focus remained on the girl who was so frustratingly tall he needed to look upwards to see her face.

"It's fine. My name is Maia Collins, and the pleasure's all mine." Despite his qualms about them, the bluenette was lucky to have his demonic abilities. He doubted he would be able to hear Maia otherwise, considering how soft-spoken she was. "You aren't from around here, are you?"

"I really do make it obvious, don't I?"

"It's fine, it's fine! It's not every day that you come across a newcomer to the City. And one so nice, no less!"

Nice. It wasn't very often that the Phantomhive was referred to as such. The only thing constant in life is change however, and he had an eternity to experience that.

"You're a demon, aren't you?"

"So it seems. If you don't mind me asking though, what exactly are you?"

"I'm a tenuicor."

A… what? The bluenette had never even heard of such a thing in all his life.

"Oh, yeah, you're new. You were human before, right?"

'Yes," he replied without skipping a beat. If he couldn't deny his loss, then he would at the very least take pride in what he was born as from birth.

"Have you ever heard of 'Slenderman'?"

"Who?" Now he was confused.

"Apparently not. Tenuicors are a race of supernatural beings that are generally tall, proficient in sensing other beings and are able to shapeshift."

"Oh. Do they all possess tentacles as well?" Ciel was somewhat nervous about asking that question, though he had no clue as to 'why'.

"Most do."

"Okay..."

"I've no plans to go home for quite a while. I could show you around if you'd like?"

Such was the start of a budding friendship and the beginning of a new life.

A/N: Here we go! Yes, I invented a race of slendermen(and women). It wasn't random though and '"tenuicor' is a combination of the latin words "tenui" and "corpore" meaning "thin" and "body" respectively, that is to say "thin body" or "slender body". Tenuicors are usually very slender. (No shit, sherlock.) I don't think I'll go in to depth about it right now. My A/Ns are usually too long as it is. Chao!