I do not own any of these characters.

The fourth of my character-building scenes. Even though I played Columbia, I still thought it would be interesting to see what's up with Mag and Riff. Perhaps I'll write a chapter later to have Columbia discover Riff's secret. Who knows? This scene coincides with "She Makes Me Laugh," but also stands alone.

Disturbed

I wonder what it means if the bacon is green, Magenta thought, examining the frozen package. She faintly remembered Columbia showing her a book, what was it? Sam Eats Green Fish…no…She went to the living room and looked through the bookshelf. AHA! Green Eggs and Ham. She triumphantly snatched the book and returned to the kitchen, studying the illustrations and comparing them to the package of bacon. Well if it's in a book…

The castle was always serene early in the morning. Right now, only Magenta was awake, preparing breakfast for the others. The autumn sunlight streaming through the kitchen windows was harsh against her unearthly pale complexion.

Riff Raff, still in his pajamas, stumbled through the kitchen. He stopped when he saw his sister.

"Mornin'," he said softly, keeping his head down.

Magenta turned from the stove to look at her brother. An awkward silence ensued while she waited for him to continue speaking. Without looking at his sister, Riff Raff snatched a banana from the table. He handled it nervously, turning it over in his hands, uncomfortable with the feel of its rubbery skin.

"Where's Violet?"

"In the coffin, as usual," she replied, expressionless. Her face was the perfect mask, without a hint of emotion. Riff Raff turned to leave.

"Wait." She took a bottle from her apron and handed him a small pill. "You forgot."

She turned back to the stove and grabbed the frying pan, stirring its contents. I hate mornings. Riff Raff stood there, in front of her, but it wasn't him. His condition affected everything: the way he stood, the way he talked...the way he looked at her. Magenta yearned to kiss him, to hold him in her arms, but she restrained herself. He would be confused; he would lash out at her. She would have to wait. Usually, the pill had kicked in by the time the others were up, and then to them, he seemed "normal" enough.

Riff Raff nodded, gulped down the pill, and headed off in search of his prized possession. After a few minutes of anxious rummaging, he found his violin and began his morning practice regimen: a series of scales, arpeggios, and dexterity exercises. His sound was never beautiful; the hump on his back inhibited his movement, and his mental state didn't make overcoming the deformity any easier. When playing, his torso repeatedly thrust upward with a jerking motion, and then collapsed at the end of each phrase. Riff Raff sighed in ecstasy. The violin was one of the few things that brought him peace in his disturbed mental state.

Magenta was the only one who tolerated her brother's practicing. Frank would probably interrupt soon, and Columbia always complained in her annoyingly high-pitched voice about not being able to think around such high frequencies. Join the club, Magenta thought bitterly. Hypocrite. After a few minutes, she heard a thump on the floor upstairs as Frank got out of bed. Ah, she mused, Mr. Selfish Bastard is right on cue today.

"Riff Raff, you idiot! What did I say about that horrendous screeching so early in the morning!" Frank shouted through the intercom. Riff Raff cringed, protectively covering the instrument with his body, as if the sound of Frank's voice could maim the instrument.

"Erm…sorry, mater…I'll put her away…"

"Good!" Frank snapped. Riff Raff carefully wiped the violin with a cloth and then gently lowered it into the coffin. Until tomorrow, my love…

About an hour later, Riff Raff returned to the kitchen. He stood straighter; he had a sense of direction, purpose. He walked over to Magenta and snaked his arms around her waist, pulling her close against his body. He leaned in to her ear.

"Dearest sister," he whispered, "I feel as though I haven't honored you with the proper 'good morning.'"

Magenta turned to him and kissed him passionately.

"Well," she replied, satisfied, "now you have."