Angel Dumott-Schunard had always been a queen at heart. He knew every word to every ABBA song by the time he was 13. When his dad left him and his mom, Cher kept him from feeling the pain by reminding his that even gypsies, tramps, thieves and half-breeds could live happily ever after by the end of a four minute song. When his mother remarried a man who didn't understand that playing with his mom's makeup helped make him feel like he finally knew where he belonged, when this man made Angel's mother choose between loving him and the house and comfortable lifestyle he provided he with and loving her queer son – knowing full well which she would have to pick, Babs serenaded him into an almost peaceful sleep every night.

Angel found that staying gentle and sweet in spite of these things and the fact that one careless mistake had sealed his fate helped him stay sane. Money didn't matter… but it did pay for medicine. And food. And new shoes.

That's why he took money to kill someone's dog. That's how Angel Dumott-Schunard became a killer queen.