Chapter 27

Riff Raff sat dejectedly on his bed and let out a deep, shaky sigh. Frank-n-Furter's declaration had thrown him and he didn't know how to proceed. Worse still, Sophie was completely in the dark about what was going to happen … The night was quickly becoming the proverbial cherry on top of his fecal sundae of a life. Everything he had ever cherished was slowly taken from him. First he was forced to leave his home world, then his beloved was seduced into another's bed, soon after his very ideas were being passed as someone else's … Riff Raff could not help but feel defeated by the ever increasing loss; it was as if he was existing as a mere plot point, rather than a main character in his own life. Damn that Frank-n-Furter, the abhorrent man. He hated himself, hated that he allowed his master to control his life and make him feel so vulnerable … weak even. And now Sophie, dear Sophie. For Riff Raff had come to accept that he held the woman dear to him. Was she to be ruined? Would he lose her as well? As if she's yours to lose, the self loathing reasoned. Riff Raff's shoulders slumped and he bent his head in defeat. I grow very weary of this existence.

"Riff Raff?" A soft voice suddenly called from outside his bedroom door.

"Sophie?" Riff Raff walked towards the door as if in a daze, opening it to reveal the petite woman.

"Did you not hear me knocking Rif – what's wrong? You look upset," Sophie looked at the thin man in alarm, reaching to touch his cheek.

Riff Raff felt the soft hand on his face and wanted to cry, to scream, to something. Instead, he silently led Sophie into his room and gently shut the door behind them. He sat on his bed, pulling her with him.

"How was your time with Magenta and Columbia?" He watched as Sophie's face grew warmer and his mouth twitch.

"Well … I … we … that is … Magenta and myself may have … made out for a bit?" Sophie stumbled over the confession, her voice turning into an embarrassed squeak near the end.

Riff Raff was both deeply jealous and intensely aroused. "You what?"

"I'm so sorry Riff Raff, if it makes you this upset I'll talk to Magenta about not doing anything in the future … not that she would want a repeat of me anyways, but – no wait maybe she would, I can't keep doubting myself!"

Riff Raff began to laugh, shocking the both of them. Sophie was just too cute. As much as he hated it, Riff Raff understood that Magenta would not be faithful to him. Besides, if she had to be with someone else Sophie wasn't the worst choice she could make. "It is all right Sophie, I can't be mad at either of you for this … I expected my sister would come onto you sooner or later."

"Next time we'll ask you!" Sophie assured Riff Raff, not understanding the double meaning in her statement.

"I doubt you're ready for a threesome," Riff Raff deadpanned, smiling as he saw the embarrassed understanding dawn on her face.

"I haven't even had a twosome yet so definitely not," Sophie giggled, looking down at her lap and missing the dark expression on Riff Raff's face. "Anyways, let's get down to business! I was going to give everyone a massage and a bath but plans have changed … so what would you have me do?"

"Perhaps we could just talk?"

"Are you sure that's enough for you? Not that I don't enjoy talking to you, because I do, but is that really pampering you?"

"It would give me great satisfaction."

"Alright, if you insist."

Sophie grabbed his hands and brought him with her as she laid down. She wrapped her arms around him and snuggled into his chest. Riff Raff used every ounce of self control to not crush her to his body. He wanted to hold her and never let her go, especially knowing what was in store for her. Controlling himself, he gently encompassed the small woman and rested his chin on her head. I cannot protect anything. He sighed, frustrated with himself.

"Are you sure you're okay Riff Raff? Is there anything I can do to help?" Sophie asked, concerned about his sighing.

"Do not worry about me," Riff Raff began with an angry edge to his voice, "you should just worry about yourself and your tasks."

"Why would I worry about tha – Oh I just knew it! I knew I was doing a horrible job, I can't even do something as simple as cleaning, cooking, and hosting." Sophie began to spiral.

Riff Raff sighed again. She would take it that way. "Sophie that is not what I meant. Don't be an idiot. Why would we all praise you if you were not doing a good job?"

"To be nice?" Sophie whispered, burying her face in his chest.

"None of us are that nice and you know it."

Sophie was silent as she took in Riff Raff's words. They were true. Although the members of the mansion were kind, they weren't overly kind. They did not actively spare your feelings with a white lie. You have to take everything at face value Sophie … believe in yourself and you can start believing other people's words.

"Then what did you mean Riff Raff?"

"I …" Riff Raff was at a loss. He hadn't expected her to question his statement and had not idea how much he could reveal to her. More than that though, he was hesitant to open this line of discussion. Why, because you know you'll have to tell her your feelings? Actually show emotion? Yes. He felt like his last shred of sanity was reliant on keeping his emotions in check. Yet, here he was…

"Riff Raff?"

He looked down at the worried voice and saw two shining, ice-blue eyes. Those eyes his Master had been drawing. The eyes they were still missing. He felt something inside of him crack.

"Do not visit Frank-n-Furter tonight." Riff Raff almost pleaded.

"Wait, what? Why?" Sophie pulled back to better look at the man.

He felt the flood gates open and could not stop the outpouring of words.

"Frank-n-Furter will destroy you Sophie. He does not care for you as a person, can't you see that?" Riff Raff began manically, gripping Sophie's shoulders to emphasize his words. "He wants only what you can give him. Your virginity. Your body. Your services. But never your mind, your personality, your laughter," Riff Raff's voice broke, "your smile. He does not love you as we love you. He will discard you when he has finished, a mangled doll unhinged."

Sophie was stunned. She had never expected such an outburst from the stoic, almost comatose at times, man. And the things he was saying. Sophie knew Frank-n-Furter wasn't the best of men but … would he really do the things Riff Raff was claiming? Did he really value her that little? Riff Raff had known the man longer than she had. And he wouldn't lie to her … was she really just a body of pleasure for Frank-n-Furter? The man had let her into his home, incorporated her into his life, helped her with her nightmares, listened to her concerns and fears, reassured her, helped her confidence grow … for what? A one-night stand? Why would anyone put in that much effort for sex? Sophie couldn't accept it, couldn't believe that anyone could be that cruel. Besides, she wasn't exactly the catch of the day, her slowly growing confidence be damned. Her body, the societal construct of her virginal purity, they were worthless. She wasn't worth the effort. Her conflicting thoughts left her torn. She would either have to disagree with Riff Raff and insinuate he was lying or agree with him and insinuate Frank-n-Furter was an awful man.

"I don't know how to respond Riff Raff. I don't think you would tell me a falsehood but … how can I paint Mr. Furter so unfairly?"

Riff Raff almost growled. Damn her trusting nature. Damn whatever mystical happenstance that brought someone like her to a place like this. "Sophie, it's not painting him anything other than what he is. Trust me. I have seen him destroy so much over so little. He treats everything as his personal plaything. Do not let yourself become his self-serving puppet. You need only look at him to see who he is: a man whose universe revolves around himself." How could she not understand this simple fact? Even when Frank-n-Furter was wooing her the pleasure was centered around himself. He dressed her for his own benefit, let her into his bed to touch her, listened to her to have access to her body. In the end, Frank-n-Furter was Frank-n-Furter's number one … so of course he would put in an incredible amount of effort to please himself. He was making himself a personal sex toy for fucks sake!

"Riff Raff, if I only judged people based on how they looked … well we wouldn't be friends would we." Sophie attempted to reason, hugging the man.

Riff Raff pushed the woman off of his bed and towered above her prone form. "How dare you compare me to him. I am nothing like that self-serving monster. You may refuse to believe me because he has charmed you with sweet nothings and lusty gyrations, but I know he will destroy you."

Sophie's mouth quivered as she looked up at the enraged man. "I'm sorry Riff Raff. I didn't mean to anger you."

Riff Raff watched as tears rolled down the girl's cheeks and felt himself deflate. Couldn't she see that he was just trying to help her? He knelt down and winced as she flinched away from him.

"No, I should be the one to apologize to you. I do not want to see you hurt and have clearly gone about expressing myself inappropriately." He helped Sophie into a sitting position and hesitantly embraced her.

"It's okay Riff Raff, I know you're simply looking out for me." Sophie returned the embrace, wiping the tears off of her face. "Nonetheless … I'm really struggling to believe all the things you're saying about Mr. Furter. Maybe we've just had vastly different experiences with him? I know he is cruel to you and you definitely do not deserve to be treated like that yet … he has only ever been kind and gentle with me. I know I'm nothing special, but he really makes me feel like I am. Can you understand where I'm coming from? I hate fighting with you." Sophie ended, desperation lacing her words.

Riff Raff grit his teeth. Frank-n-Furter had a way of securing rose-tinted glasses on every person who entered the Frankenstein castle. Sophie was no exception. He had given her the validation she so desperately sought. He desired her when she felt she was undesirable. He told her she was beautiful, showed her how his body reacted to her, and she was sold. "Sophie … Frank-n-Furter does not think you're special. We do. Magenta, Columbia, and myself. He thinks of you as a novelty. What do you think Columbia was? And look at her now." He needed her to understand, to see the situation for what it was.

Sophie wanted to cover her ears. She did not want to hear the truth of his words, did not want to believe that Frank-n-Furter did not care for her as she hoped he would. "Oh Riff Raff what should I do? Is it so bad that I want to be with him, even if it's just for sex? Would anyone really go to such extremes if they didn't care for someone?" Sophie felt her tears resume.

"I'm sure he cares about you in his own way," Riff Raff purposefully omitted how shallow Frank-n-Furter's caring was, "yet you will never be essential to him. He would solely regret the loss of potential pleasure if you left the mansion this very night." Riff Raff grimaced at his word choice. He knew he was being harsh, but he didn't know how else to save her from the inevitable downward spiral that was Frank-n-Furter.

"Maybe I should talk to him about this? You know, hear his side of things before I make a decision?" Sophie stated hopefully, pulling back and giving Riff Raff a watery smile.

Riff Raff resisted the almost overwhelming urge to shake sense into Sophie. "If that is how you wish to proceed I cannot stop you."

"Please don't be upset with me Riff Raff. I really appreciate you trying to help me. Honestly, it means the world to me that you care about someone so unworthy as myself. I may not be making the right decision according to you, but I think I have to make the right decision for myself. I'm sorry for letting you down." Sophie crumpled in on herself as she effectively ignored Riff Raff's warning. She knew she was slipping back into bad habits and couldn't find the strength to pull herself out of her self loathing.

"You are not letting me down. I just …" Riff Raff trailed off. Nothing he said mattered. Sophie would never see what he saw until it was too late.

"I've completely ruined your night. Why am I always so awful?"

"Sophie it isn't you who would ruin anything. It's him," Riff Raff spat, mentally cursing Frank-n-Furter.

Sophie suddenly leaned forward and placed a soft kiss on Riff Raff's lips. Riff Raff crushed her body to his, holding on for dear life. He deepened the kiss and poured his sorrow into her mouth. He tenderly caressed her tongue with his own and drew out every meeting of their lips. He felt as moisture began to collect in his eyes and pulled away from Sophie, ashamed as the tears fell. She grabbed either side of his face and forced him to make eye contact with her. He was astonished to see no pity on her face. Instead, he saw – dare he hope it – love? Sophie leaned forward and kissed his tear stained cheeks and he closed his eyes in bliss. She kissed his closed eyelids and left a single lingering peck on his lips.

"Riff Raff, you mean so much to me."

He closed his eyes and let her words wash over him. He knew losing her was going to hurt more than he had ever anticipated.

"I feel the same towards you."

Sophie grabbed his hands and they sat in silence. They both felt an unstable sense of closure at the admission of their feelings toward one another. They knew they shared a bond, not quite romantic in nature, yet stronger than friendship. The bond, though, was as fragile as their situation. They were both helpless to the overwhelming entity that was Frank-n-Furter. He could easily rip the carpet from under their feet and send them flying. Sophie opened her mouth to speak and was interrupted by the grandfather clock in the foyer striking. The echoes of its time drifted into the room, breaking the moment.

"I – I have to go Riff Raff. I'll try to talk to Mr. Furter … for you." Sophie lamely concluded.

Riff Raff gave her no response. He helped her stand and led her to the door, watching as she walked down the hall and turned the corner. He stood staring down the hallway for an untold length of time. A lone tear fell to the floor as he closed his door. Her fate was sealed.