Disclaimer: LOLnope. Because I became curious about how the manga, musical and anime fit together with human history, this is an exercise in Tetris. This story occurs about 10 years before the events of Forgiveness and 13 years before A Small Kindness. Dear friends, I offer this bit of fiction as a mild amusement for a winter day.

AU. Bard is a gambler down on his luck. That is, until he runs into runaway orphans Ciel Phantomhive and Elizabeth Midford, urchins who make their living through demonic cockfights. Literally. It helps that they own a demon who happens to be one hell of a fighter. But in a world of lechery and sin, nothing is as simple as it seems. (Ft. violence, grit, and a very hurt Sebastian)

They say passion can burn men and women alive, though for Ann it never was passion but rather jealousy. And jealousy can eat the heart and soul of men and women, alive or dead. Really, how many times did she want, imagine, dream and hope that she could be Rachel? "Remember Ann, you are all mad here. That is why you lost everything."

Madam Red has some early morning thoughts on the true nature of her reaper companion.

Sometimes they disagree. (M for themes moreso than content)

When you tell the world that you want to become a doctor, they gawk at you. They stare. They clear their throats. They flutter their fans and try to find something polite to say in response. Once you are a doctor, they take you aside in dark corners, tuck up close to you in closets dark and cramped enough that they have room to draw up their sleeves, and show the bruises.

Short little one-shots of Madame Red and her butler, Grell Sutcliffe.

For med school drop-out Angelina, extinguishing feelings is a matter of survival. Aspiring musician Grell Sutcliffe has lived by carelessly burning bridges. When Angelina takes to the stage with one little old violin, there's only so much firewood between them.