Chapter Text
The whirr and gentle droning of the Transducer (Aswell as the face of the person operating it) slowly bled into darkness, as your atoms relocated themselves in a new space, far, far away from those oh so beloved Moon drenched Shores. Your heeled shoes made a thunk against metal as your form fully pulled itself back together, putting you in… The Dark. Hm. That’s probably not Right. Obviously, the Transducer that spit you out was… Lower tech than the one back home, you could tell that from the inside alone (It almost made you not want to know what the outside looked like). The one you entered had smooth, pristine pipes and wires, large glass domes and space for at least twenty people, give or take. This one was beat up, looked like it had been patched up with scrap metal and some kind of tape, and could fit maybe two people if they squeezed together. Your eyes took no time at all to adjust to the darkness, and you found yourself in some kind of dank room, cold stone walls intercut with large pipes, panels and wires that resembled the ones back home. You were in the right place for sure, but nobody else seemed to be aware. You’d been told that you were sent here to Assist the two Servants already stationed here in the Care and Protection of Prince Furter, whatever that entailed, and honestly the fact that nobody was here to Welcome you was more than a little disconcerting. Still, you stepped out of the Transducer, hand hovering over your anti-matter ray (The three-pronged device was still snugly strapped against your hip) as you took in the room a little more.
It was a rather small and Cramped room, with cool stone floors and a wooden door directly opposite to the Transducer. Perfectly placed in case anyone needed a quick escape. Directly above you a Transit Crystal slowly wound down from your arrival. There was a desk, drowning in papers, and a corkboard with pictures and scribbled notes stuck into it haphazardly. The note with the biggest– and most legible –text said ‘HUMAN BEHAVIOR’. Human. The word wasn’t Foreign to you, you’d been briefed a little on this planet before you got here, but it did put things into perspective. How Dreadfully and utterly unprepared you really were… The pictures showed things you could sort of understand, but in shapes that seemed highly inefficient, or at the very least outdated. Things on wheels and rails, retching up black smoke like bile, firearms with bullets, buildings primitively built from stone and wood. You must be in one of them right now, you reasoned, but there really wasn’t any reason for it to be so dark! Unless this was somewhere underground? Perhaps the real living quarters were above you somewhere? If anyone even lived here... You suddenly started to worry that maybe you’d been too late, that somehow whoever called you here’s position had been compromised, and that they’d been taken in by Human Authorities. Or worse... The thought both hit it's zenith and was pushed aside as a set of footsteps hurried their way down a hall outside, right to the room you were in. Two sets, undetermined gender, one with a slight limp. You gripped your blaster, placing your pointer finger gently on the trigger, still keeping it strapped to your side. Who knew what could be waiting out there, beyond the wooden door…
A woman in a maid’s dress, and a blond man with a tailcoat, it turned out. Huh. The woman raised her hand, a calm and flowy motion that exuded a rank far above your own. At least they didn’t seem phased by any of the technology here, so they must’ve been the people you were here to join. The three of you stood at a standstill for some time, taking eachother in. They had the same practiced routine as you did. Smell the air to affirm they're Transylvanians, Look for any concealed weapons or threats, check their Eyes for wildness or anger. Nothing. They passed. You did too, it seemed, as the strangers seemed to ease just a little.
“Welcome. Apologies for making you wait, there were urgent matters to attend to.” The woman said simply, pulling a chord near the door, causing dim light to flood the small room. “The Prince is in one of his Moods.” There was a fair bit of disdain to her voice, in the way her painted lips quirked up slightly in a snarl, before smoothing back out. She gave a cool smile, bowing her head slightly to you, a greeting you returned. You bowed a little deeper than she did, and it seemed to please her, as she made a small, affirmative noise. “I am Magenta, this is my brother, Riff Raff, you will be stationed with us for… The foreseeable future.” Another beat of disdain, mirrored by her more hunched over brother. Slowly, the pieces started falling into place. You’d heard their names before, you probably weren't listening properly, but you remembered the reports of when Prince Furter left for Earth. These people were high ranking officials, Generals. And here you were, barely a soldier in the Old Queen’s armada, picked out either for your people skills or at complete random. At least they were treating you like an equal. Maybe they were just happy to have someone else with them. Even if they… Didn’t particularly look it.
“Someone new should snap him out of his… funk. For a little while, anyways.” The man, Riff Raff, spoke, casting a glance up to his sister, a quick and crooked smile on his face. As quickly as you could register it, it was gone, but she seemed to understand it, letting out a dry chuckle. There was a joke you were missing, you were sure of it.
“We’ll have to do something about the clothes, I’m sure Columbia has something…” Magenta trailed off, leaving the room silent for a little while. A Comfortable silence for them, an uncomfortable one for You. You’d never been Good at being a Guest. Well, you were good at being respectful, not taking too much, not asking for things, but that also left you helpless in situations like these, where the only way to get out was to not only Occupy your space, but Take it too. Nothing else to do, though. You cleared your throat, making both of their heads snap toward you in near perfect unison. Even for your standards, that was a little creepy.
“Commanders, if I may, what are my…” They seemed to cringe at the title, and you decided to let go of the formalities, not wanting to anger them any further. “What am I supposed to be doing here.” The question seemed to catch them a little off guard, and you watched as Riff Raff clenched his right hand around nothing, a gesture you were sure was some sort of nervous tic or thinking motion. Maybe this was why you hadn’t been briefed properly. Other than the fact that any demand of the Prince’s was to be met with the utmost urgency, they themselves didn’t even know what they needed help with. “I can do Anything.” You stated, watching them for a reaction, back a little straighter than it needed to be. “Anything to assist you, and to assist Prince Furter.” There it was again, they both cringed at the Title. About the Prince this time. Their expressions almost read as a little humorous this time around, however, as if they were holding back laughter. It was a great honor to serve The Furters, everyone spent their lives doing it in some way or another, wether or not they were aware of it, and these two were almost cracking up at the notion. You tilted your head a little, and they both seemed to smooth back out again.
“We’ll get you clothed, prepared and presented first, then we can discuss your duties. If Frank doesn’t like you, you won’t be staying anyway.” Magenta spoke up again, her tone a little more flat than before, if that was even possible. You perked up, though, any shred of a Directive lighting up the trained parts of your brain like a switchboard. “Follow me.” She turned, pulling the chord as she did, sending the room back into darkness. Then she walked off, sparing no glance to see if you or Riff Raff were following her. Of course, you were. You followed a couple of paces behind her, as did Riff Raff, which seemed strange. He was of the same rank as her, maybe even Higher, with how little he had to speak for himself, and here he was, trailing behind. To keep an eye on you? You’d noticed both of them casting a glance to your gun when they entered, but nobody had said anything. Probably making sure you weren’t a Threat, then, that seemed like the most reasonable solution.
As you walked up a flight of scarily decayed stairs (you’d been correct in assuming this was a House, though the size was a bit more than you’d thought from just the subsection alone), you took the time to actually Look at the people you were with. Magenta was decently tall, at least in heels, dressed in a black maid’s dress and stockings, wild, dark red curls flowing to about her shoulders. She was intimidating in a way she didn’t have to work for, she simply was. At the same time, she was elegant, moved with a grace equally earned by simply Being, and you had no doubt in your mind that, she could turn all of that grace into Violence if pressed. Her brother, on the other hand, had no such luck. Still intimidating, and clearly tall, but hunched over a fair bit, with none of the grace of his other half. He was almost more intriguing that way, without being able to get a full read on him. You could see by the way he moved that he could be Quick if he wanted to, could probably hold his own in a fight against an opponent of his own size or smaller, and was most likely the brains of the two. Which was a little terrifying, considering how smart Magenta already seemed. The winding hallways of the house seemed endless, and seemed to constantly be changing styles in a way your brain couldn’t really make sense of. Like the builder was fascinated by a different style every time they built a new room. It was decadent, of course, deserving of a Prince, even if some of the rooms and hallways looked a little… Worse for Wear. Cobwebs almost seemed like a piece of Decoration at this point. Still, you politely looked around the rooms, giving the occasional Smile to Riff Raff, who only gave you a blank face in return. He probably saw right through it. You did it anyway.
Eventually, after what felt like an Excess amount of Stairs and Hallways, you came to a stop outside of a seemingly random door, the only thing that marked it different was a large letter ‘C’ crookedly fastened to the front. Magenta knocked, a series of three short raps at the door, quickly followed by a “Just a Sec!” from inside. The voice was high pitched, and had an accent that you couldn’t quite place. Not Transylvanian, that was for sure. The door swung open, and a red haired woman clad in a loosely fitting shirt and shorts met you. She grinned at Magenta and Riff Raff, before landing on you, confusion spreading across her face. It was quickly replaced with an even bigger grin, however.
“Hot Damn! Hiya! I didn’t know we had Company! ‘Genta, you should’ve told me, I would’ve did myself up a little more!” The woman squeaked, gesturing to herself. She didn’t seem at all bashful, though, more just annoyed she couldn’t have been Fancier. She had a different energy, you noted. She smelled different, moved different, you could almost feel her warmth from here, the way it thrummed under her skin, out through her mouth when she giggled at Magenta’s slightly amused frown. Human. The word repeated itself in your head, like a big, obvious arrow, pointed right in-between the peppy woman’s eyes. Bloodshed is in Service of the Queen. On instinct, or Training, your hand slowly lowered to your gun, but a sharp pain stopped you as soon as your fingertips even grazed the smooth metal device. Riff Raff’s hand was around your wrist like a Vice, feeling like he was threatening to Break it if you resisted. His eyes were faced forward, only sparing you a warning glance, and a light sneer. The message was clear, and you only managed to keep confused defiance in your gaze for a second before you relaxed your hand in his grip, an admittance of defeat. He let go, and you quickly moved your hand behind your back, thanking the stars your little exchange went seemingly unnoticed. Not that this new woman seemed to notice much of Anything. She didn't seem All There, to be quite honest. Her eyes were a little glassy, and red around the edges, her pupils blown wide, and when she reached out to take the hand that wasn't behind her back, you noticed the tremor in it.
“I’m Columbia! It's nice to meet’cha!” She shook your hand up and down with both of her hands, before letting go, leaving her warmth lingering on you, long after her hands were gone. It was almost like you could feel the blood rushing through her veins, warming her up like one great big Machine. You told her your name as a half-hearted croak, looking down at your hand in mild fascination.
“Ohhhh… right. Alien!” Your gaze snapped back up to her as she spoke again, and she laughed. She laughed a lot, you were beginning to notice. A high-pitched, bubbling sound, like water trickling between rocks. “Don't sorry, Space Case, I’m with it! It's groovy, man, I’m, like, totally chill.”
You looked over at Magenta, who broke into a humored (yet somehow still downturned) smile at your abject dismay and confusion.
“She knows. She’s a Friend. She stays with us in the Castle, one of Frank's…” she glanced over at Columbia, who huffed indignantly. “... Playmates.” That seemed to be the preferred terminology, as Columbia broke into a smile again.
“Mmmmm-hm! Frankie and I are Close!” Columbia piped up, though something in the statement held the energy of a pipe about to Burst. Other than the ticking time bomb in her voice, there was something else. Frank, Frankie. They were talking about the Prince, but by First Name. Were they all Really this close to him? How and Where would You fit into all of this? They all seemed to have established roles, dynamics, purposes, a life lived on this horrible little Nowhere Planet. And you were Clueless, called here without a directive, an Alien to both your closest allies and to the inhabitants of your destination. These somber thoughts didn't get time to swirl, however, as Columbia grabbed your hand again, pulling you into her room. Riff Raff and Magenta followed you behind, closing the door behind them.
“We need this one fitted into something more… Earth-like. And something that will hopefully allow Frank to let them Stay.” Magenta spoke, unceremoniously falling back onto a futon in the middle of the room. It was a Mess, posters and pictures of people littered the walls- some of scantily clad women, some of equally bare men -and Clothes littered the ground, like a multicolored sparkly carpet. You were starting to understand why this human was allowed to stay. Columbia clapped her hands together, letting out a much too high-pitched squeal.
“Ohhh, I knew you guys Cared! Givin’ me a little project! ‘S like Christmas Eve!” She squeaked, dragging you over to a full-body mirror near the corner of her room (Somehow the mess only got worse the further you got in to the room). The dissonance was Stark now. Her in her Earth clothes, and You in your silver, gold and black Uniform. For a Moment, your mind drifted back to a photo you'd seen on the Human Behavior board. It was of someone dressed quite similar to you, all metal and shine, clutching some poor innocent woman in their claws, an extremely Primitive looking Blaster pressed firmly up against her perfectly made up temple.
“Y’know, I love glitter n' shine as much as the next gal, but it's not gonna fly with Eeeverybody else.” She hummed, knitting her brows together as she studied you, one hand tapping her pursed lips. You could see Magenta and Riff Raff watching you in the mirror, Magenta laying comfortably back on the futon, and Riff Raff sitting on the edge of it. They really Were different, one wouldn't assume they were siblings at first glance, even by Transylvanian Standards. “Oh! I know!” Columbia exclaimed, hurrying off to one of her many wooden containment units, rummaging through clothes. You could see Magenta follow her with her eyes, a gentle smile on her lips. She obviously held some small affection for this human. Riff Raff’s gaze on the other hand was fixed on you, eyes like pointed scopes, ready to take a shot. Focused and calculated. He wouldn't meet your gaze, eyes constantly moving up and down your figure. His hand was clenching again.
A Wall of clothes hit you as Columbia returned, snapping you out of staring, and almost knocking you prone. “Here ya go! This stuff should all match with your complexion, and get you on Frankie’s good side!” You stared at the pile, and then over at Magenta, who gave a small– but firm –nod. Swallowing what pride you had left for your position as a Soldier (which, admittedly, was probably less than anyone else on Transsexual), you started undressing. The art of Nudity was not something that offended Transylvanians, quite the opposite in fact. The naked form was seen as high art, a compliment, and as an admittance of comfort, all at once. Being naked was almost never frowned upon, unless in Very High Company, and didn't carry the same stigmas that it did for Humans. Here it was seen as Distasteful, Rude, Offensive, even. Though, seeing the way Columbia was watching you, you weren't sure if the person briefing you had been telling the truth about that part. You folded all of your uniform with some small amount of reverence, starting to root through the pile of new clothes, left only in your undergarments. You noticed Riff Raff looking away in the mirror.
After a while, you found something that felt right. To any present human eye, the ensamble only looked Mildly strange and offputting, and for the Transylvanian eye, it looked Extremely strange and offputting. Maybe that meant you were doing it right. You turned and twirled a little in the mirror, feeling the difference in the way that the fabric hugged your skin. Almost like that human warmth would start to radiate from them and into you at any moment. Columbia put her thumbs up, that same huge grin on her face, and Magenta nodded, confirmation enough that it was the right choice. Riff Raff only stood, picking up your uniform and blaster from the floor, like he was confiscating contraband.
“Let's Present, then.” He stated flatly, already on his way out. You glanced back, seeing Columbia already excitedly chatting to Magenta, who was running her hand along the peppy woman’s arm as if you weren't there. You gave a Helpless look to Magenta, getting a slightly pointed look to the door in return. Right. You bowed your head to both of them- earning a confused look from Columbia and a (surprisingly earnest) chuckle from Magenta -before rushing off to follow Riff Raff. You could vaguely hear Columbia’s voice, high in a whine “Why don’t you guys bow to Me? Are you supposed to??”, followed by another chuckle from Magenta. Right. Good, another bit of information, then. The Human Greeting would probably be that Hand Thing Columbia did to you earlier. Would’ve been nice to know in the briefing…
You weren't wrong, Riff Raff was Quick when he wanted to be, already almost around the corner when you caught up with him. Being alone with him felt… strange. All of this felst strange, of course, but being Alone with Riff Raff was a particular flavor of Odd. You’d gathered he wasn't much for conversation (not that you had said much so far either), but there were a thousand questions swirling in your head, and he seemed like the only one who could answer them. Maybe you would be able to ask all your millions of questions if you just did it Very nonchalantly. You sidled up beside him, matching his pace. He didn't look at you, the only sign he’d even acknowledged your Existence being the fact that he stepped aside a little to give you more space to walk with him. He didn’t seem More annoyed than usual, which you took as a good sign, watching his face out of the corner of your eye. He never fixed his gaze on anything in the hallway, you noted, like none of it mattered. Or like he knew it by heart. “Do you think he’ll like me?” You blurted out after a few seconds, your curiosity getting the better of your usual Perfect Guest schtick.
“You're New.” Riff Raff simply stated, stopping by some kind of metal hatch in the wall, simply labeled ‘WASTE’. He opened it and threw your uniform (sans the Gun) into the shaft inside the hatch, before closing it up again and continuing to walk. You stared at the cabinet for a split second, hearing the tell-tale sound of your clothes hitting whatever bottom there was echo up through the shaft. Damn. “The Master likes new things.” He spoke again, as if urging you to follow him. At least he was talking. You caught back up, looking at him fully now. There was a hint of bitterness to his tone, something you knew you wouldn't get an answer to if pressed. Something else caught your attention, though. The Master. That's one you hadn't heard yet.
“You all call Prince Furter different things. Frank, Frankie, Master. Why?” You asked, watching Riff Raff scrunch his nose at the question, like he’d smelled something foul.
“The Master is not a Prince on Earth, but he is, never the less, in a position of Power. He is the Master, we are the Servants.” He motioned to both you and himself. We. The sense of Acceptance to the statement far overshadowed what Grim undertones it held. “He used to be very Strict with what we called him, but over time he let it go. Some things Stick. It’ll change for You too.” His voice was dull, and you sensed that there was more he wanted to say, but that he just couldn't, for one reason or another. It also didn't help that what he Did say was needlessly cryptic. The two of you kept walking, passing the heads of animals you’d never seen before mounted on the walls, seemingly frozen in time, eyes glassy and enraged, staring ahead into oblivion.
“Should I call him Master?” You asked, rounding the corner of another absurdly furnished Hallway. Riff Raff let out a snort, a gentle, slightly raspy laugh following. It seemed Genuine, though. You’d made him laugh. You decided to start focusing on the decor again, maybe it’d keep him from closing back up.
“Not until Prompted to, no. I am sure he would be very pleased with himself, though. His ego will do fine with Prince, until you are told otherwise.” Riff Raff’s voice had some emotion to it this time, a smile in it that you didn't dare look at and ruin. The last bit seemed added on, like it was imperative, like repeating it would somehow underline some big truth. It did not. “The Master is as prideful as you have been warned he is, but he is also… overpowering. He will Charm you. When you do get told to call him Master, it is only Important to call him that when he is Upset. You are safe to call him what you like when he is in a good mood.” Just like that, his mood shifted, again, suddenly serious and ice cold. It made you wonder what he meant by Safe. By any of this. Slowly but surely, step by step on the carpeted floors, your situation started to settle in. You were meeting Prince Frank N’ Furter, heir to the Throne, second most powerful being on your planet. He could Kill you, and the biggest concern would be if your blood dirtied his clothes. The people here would not protect you. Your gun was gone. This started to feel more like a trap than anything, or one of those sacrifices done in the old days. And, just as you could feel the metaphorical noose tighten around your neck, you were face to face with some kind of Elevator, that looked just a little too much like a Cage for your liking. Still, when Riff Raff ushered you inside, you stepped in, feeling significantly more Cramped than before, not just because of the not nearly sufficient space of the elevator. Riff Raff pulled a Lever, the different floors marked on the wall it was attatched to, and as you ascended up to the floor simply titled 'LAB', the image of obedient livestock started flashing in your mind.