Disclaimer: Rocky Horror isn't mine, Richard O'Brien is responsible, so don't come to me with your therapy bills! Seriously though, don't sue me.
The next day, Brad half-takes his supervisor's advice and decides to go in to work a couple hours late. He sleeps in until 9, waking up to find Magenta—no, Janet—he corrects himself, curled up next to him in her pink pjs. Unsure of whether she was drawn to him for security or for his body heat, he caresses her shoulders with a sleepy smile. He slips his hands up her back, under her top, and with a jolt in his stomach his hands touch rough raised flesh—scar tissue. Brad utters a curse under his breath, gently stroking the areas where Frank's whip had struck. Guiltily, he recalls he had been in the elevator with Riff-Raff and Frank during a 'discipline session', and hadn't said a word. That could have been him and Janet; he suspects it would have been them if they had had to stay any longer. And it was at Riff-Raff and Magenta's hands that they'd escaped. Brad sighs heavily, wishing he could forget that that night had ever happened. It seemed that ever since the fateful day of his proposal, his life had been turned inside out. His fiancé is an alien; impossibly enough, she's also temporarily her own sister. Perhaps by the end of the week they'd be set right. He'd noticed throughout the previous day that Magenta seemed to be suffering some residual effects of bearing Janet's identity: being embarrassingly drawn to him against her will. It had taken just one day for Brad to become fond of his new future sister-in-law, but he sincerely hopes that the side-effect won't be permanent and she'll go back to abhorring him in peace.
He hops out of bed and, without thinking, pulls open the curtain. Sunlight blazes in, drawing a screech of protest from the nocturnal young woman in his bed. While she struggles to cocoon herself in the covers, he quickly corrects his error and draws the curtains closed again. Sensing that the wretched light was gone, Janet peeks out, opens her eyes and gazes up at him admiringly.
"It's okay, I'm avake," she assures him. She groans softly, bringing a hand to her mouth, remembering. She runs her hand through Magenta's coarse red frizz, softly uttering "Damn." Brad kisses her forehead and heads for the shower.
As he gets nearer the bathroom, he hears the sound of a blow-dryer in use. He opens the door, and beholds Janet—no, Magenta—he reminds himself, this is confusing! She stands there, eyes wide with surprise. Magenta had successfully scorched her hair into a more familiar texture, and her eyes are heavily lined with black. The next thing he notices, he almost mistakes for more heavy-handed makeup application. She looks pale and translucent, like she'd just given blood. Seeing her like this unnerves Brad a little, their resemblance is obviously a stronger one than either had anticipated.
"Sorry! Um, you all right?" He asks. She nods, calming down after the initial shock. "It's just that…you don't look so good. But… that's how you're supposed to look, isn't it?" He continues, remembering the changes both women predicted.
"It's just begun," she explains, "it will probably become more pronounced." Magenta stands there, fidgeting a little, giving him an odd look, halfway between attraction and repulse. Brad shuffles off to the side, giving her room to get out. She goes through the doorway, but puts her hand on the door, stopping him closing it, looking like she wants to say something. She can't seem to form her thoughts into words, though, and simply brushes her hand against his cheek with a languid smile before turning and leaving him alone, suddenly looking embarrassed.
In the kitchen she meets up with the others, who are taking stock of the pantry. When Janet looks up and sees Magenta's new makeover, she is not happy.
"Vhat did you do??" Janet demands, striding over in sudden fury. "You've ruined my hair, I such had nice hair! Brad's going to kill me! I'll tell Mother, just watch me!"
The threat of calling their mother over this opens Magenta's eyes wide, "You wouldn't! Brad saw it, he didn't seem to mind," she defends herself coolly, arms folded across her chest. "If it bothers you that much, I'll fix it before we change back. I'm just trying to…make the reflection closer to normal."
Janet sighs, backing off, "I can understand that, just use a conditioner on it tonight, all right? How…how do you feel?" The both join Riff in trying to come up with something for breakfast.
"I've been feeling really funny since yesterday. It's like going through puberty in fast-forward" She sits down, watching the others' progress, "Does Mother faint, too?"
Janet looks up from cracking eggs, looking puzzled, "Once in a vhile, she does. Vhy?"
"Your blood," Riff-Raff answers, "Earthlings seem to have iron-based blood, and it seems neither of you were able to adapt to produce the mineral yourselves."
"Ve vere both on supplements," Janet agrees, "the school nurse said I was anemic."
Brad emerges, just hearing the tail end of the conversation, "So that's how you got out of gym. Hey, I'll see you guys after work. Just be good, okay?"
Magenta breaks into an idiotic grin when Brad looks at her, backs into her brother to steady her resolve. "Riff, help me."
"For pity's sake, Magenta, pull yourself together," Riff-Raff mutters in disgust, holding her around the middle, giving her a vampire kiss on the neck.
She makes a soft, pleasurable sound at the attention he's giving her. "I can't help it. Remember when we were kids, back home?"
"Gods, you're not that bad, are you?"
"I told you it's like puberty," she reminds him, turning to face him, encouraging his touch.
Waving at him from the other side of the room, Janet blows Brad a kiss with a sultry smile, and he's gone
At work, word had gotten around that Brad and Janet had been mugged at knifepoint a few nights ago, and had needed time off to recover from the shock. Naturally, when he arrived at 10:30 that morning everyone was surprised to see him. Everyone had been asked not to mention the ordeal, but that doesn't stop curious stares from lingering on him all day. Things went fairly uneventfully all day, and soon it was time for a lunch break. At noon Brad joins a few coworkers at a nearby diner, and after they place their orders someone finally dares to ask about what happened.
"So, the boss said you two were attacked Monday night, is that true?"
Brad fiddles with his glass, avoiding eye-contact, "Uh, yeah, that's right."
"So how'd you get away?"
"Huh? Oh, we were lucky, I guess." Lucky, he thinks, remembering Magenta's rather dramatic declaration at their first meeting, how right she was. "Janet and I had unexpected help," Brad explains, hoping it will be enough.
"Yeah? Who saved you?" The promise of a good story draws quite a crowd around him. He looks around at his audience, taking in their expectant looks. He can see them shiver with…well, you know.
Brad figures it would be prudent to keep it as close to the truth as he can. He'd hoped to let Janet be the one to come up with a cover story, but it doesn't look like he has much choice at the moment. "Well, you know Janet's not originally from here, right? Her family…immigrated here just before she started high school. Anyway, with all the red tape involved, she and her mother were taken somewhere and her brother and sister ended up…someplace else. They haven't seen each other in ten years, and we all just sort of ran into each other that night. They helped us get away; they're staying at my place until we can make…other arrangements."
"Wow, that's amazing, Brad! Did they all know each other?"
"No, not at first. They thought so, but they weren't 100 sure until later. You can imagine everyone's surprise." Brad inwardly congratulates himself on his ability to blend fact and fiction on the spot.
"Must've been kismet or something, fate. Does their mom know yet? Does she even know these other two are alive?"
"No, not yet, it's all happened really suddenly, and it was a pretty traumatic ordeal for everyone. I just want to wait for the weekend, wait till the dust settles, you know?"
After work that afternoon, Brad takes a detour downtown to a ladies' boutique. After selecting a large black and silver umbrella he peruses the accessories for sunglasses. His lost look of uncertainty draws the attention of a sales clerk. She walks up to him with a friendly smile.
"Looking for something special, Brad?"
"I'm looking for a pair of sunglasses, for Janet. They've…got to be perfect."
She suppresses a smirk at the strangeness of his request, his straight-faced seriousness. "In winter?"
"I know it's not the right time of year, but you must have some left around here. Please, it's very important."
"I'll look. Are you two planning a trip?"
"No, but…see, Janet's got…kind of a condition. It's taken a while to crop up, but…anyway, she's been getting a bit light-sensitive."
The sales clerk quirks an eyebrow at this, "That's weird, is it genetic?"
Brad breathes a sigh of relief that he doesn't have to disguise the truth for this answer. "Yeah, it runs in her family. The light hurts her eyes, so I thought if she'll have to wear them all the time they should at least be pretty ones."
"Poor thing, I'll see what I can do. There should be some in the back left from summer; you should get a good deal on them, anyway."
"Thanks for your help."
Brad had barely gotten in the door at home, when he gets pounced upon by a very exuberant Transylvanian woman.
"Guess who," she poses.
Surprisingly quick on the uptake, Brad knows at once what this must mean. "You're--" he stammers, pointing at the newly-restored Magenta, who nods vigorously. "Then he--", more nodding, "When?"
She does a little twirl in place, as though modeling for him, dressed once more in her usual black. She keeps touching her hands, arms and face, as though reassuring herself everything is as she left it. "Not long; an hour, maybe. I feel so much better. All that silly slush is over at least." It definitely shows, her body-carriage is much more relaxed, and she no longer gazes at him with a lovesick expression.
"That's a relief. Where's Janet? I've got something for her."
"Still in your room, she's taking a little longer to get used to it." Brad then pulls Magenta into a sudden tight hug and spins her around the floor, causing her to draw a quick gasp. When they stop she takes a few steps back, looking alarmed and unsure of what she thinks of his familiarity.
"Sorry, didn't mean to scare you, but this is just great!"
Magenta looks up at him falteringly, then flicks him a shadow of a smile, "Yes, ve'll be out in a little vhile. I'll get her ready for you."
She returns to Brad's room and finds Janet staring at her naked body in the full-length mirror, it's obvious she'd recently taken a bath; her hair falls in soft curls once more. Janet touches herself experimentally, as though beholding a stranger. As she runs her hands over her body, flashes of physical memory assault her mind, memories of lovemaking she'd never been a part of. Arms, chest, midriff, legs; all bear silent memory to her lover's touch. Her breath comes shakily, amazed. Although she and Brad were engaged to be married, she'd never stopped to think what he thought of her physically. Bringing her hands around down her back and over her buttocks, she flushes lilac, pondering how satisfied he'd been with her. Her very skin testifies to the tenderness of Brad's touch; the thought of it brings Janet to a state of earnest arousal, even amid her sensation of displacement. They'd been with each other, but not truly with one another, it's a difficult idea to come to terms with. He must've been pleased, Janet thinks with a touch of pride; Magenta had told her how he'd held her afterwards. Frank hadn't held her, she recalls. He'd only stayed long to satisfy himself, leaving her hanging on the edge, and then he was off. Off to Brad's room; a shudder passes over her.
The door closes, bringing Janet's attention back to the here and now. "Magenta, I didn't hear you come in. How long have you been here?"
"Long enough. Come on; let's get you dressed. You look much better than before, don't you think?"
Janet inspects her face more closely, taking in her more pallid complexion. She'd seen it creeping up on Magenta all day, before Riff had changed them back. Still, it was a shock to see it looking back at her through the glass. "Better," she agrees, simply. So much has changed, Janet contemplates, she isn't even the same species as she was the last time she saw her own face in the mirror. A flutter of excitement, discovery, escalates within her until she laughs out loud in sheer excitement. There's a feeling that she's somehow set out on a journey, a path flanked with numerous possibilities. She faces her sister again, her eyes alight, and nods. "Let's get to work. I want to be perfect for when Brad sees me."
Out in the front entrance, Brad hangs up his jacket, humming an upbeat tune under his breath. He'd managed to invent an excuse for Janet and her family, the car was back from the shop, everyone was back to normal (more or less), all was right with the world.
"I think you should know she's changed."
Brad looks up, Riff-Raff had crept silently into the room and stood, regarding him suspiciously.
"Uh, yeah. Magenta just told me. Great job getting them fixed so fast."
"I don't mean 'changed back'! I mean, Janus has changed, Janet has…oh, how can I make you understand? Earthling," Riff huffs in frustration, his forced calm threatening to give way. "You'd better be worthy. I hope you are, for her sake," he demands cryptically. "She has led two lives up to now." To illustrate this point he holds up one finger on each hand, holding them about a foot apart. "Janus McKinley of Transexual, Janet Weiss of Earth. Understand? Each life has been, up to now, separate from and unaware of the other. Now, recent events have conspired to make these two lives intersect." He brings his hands together till his fingers are touching vertically. "Now, I don't expect it to be an easy process for her, to reconcile these parts of herself. You remember her little number during the Master's 'floorshow'. It had already begun, even then. You can't ask her to deny that side of herself. The last thing she needs is for you to run screaming into the night." Brad nods stiffly. "Hopefully, if all goes well, she will change her name once last time, and she will be known by this third name by those she knew in either of her previous 'lives'."
"Why does she have to change her name again?"
Riff raises an eyebrow at him, "As far as I know Earth customs, I assumed you'd expect her to. You weren't expecting her to change it?"
Brad is clearly lost, "No, I don't…think so anyway. What's she going to be now?" Immediately after asking, it dawns on him. "My name…you mean when we get married, she'll take my last name…right?"
"Gods, if you're this slow it's a wonder she can stand you. Yes, that's what I mean. And another warning for you, her transformation is complete. Or very nearly, at least. Whatever she looks like when she comes out, you will not wear that stupid horrified expression! Janus is my sister. I couldn't protect her from Doctor Scott's 'tender mercies', I couldn't protect her from the Master's coercion, but I will not allow her heart to be broken by some stupid, under evolved alien being who dazzled her with a bit of shiny rock!"
He now has Brad satisfactorily intimidated, and both parties know it. Cautiously, and fearing instant retribution, Brad hazards an inquiry:
"H-how does she look?"
Riff-Raff shrugs, "Like one of us, you'll see shortly. Magenta is making her pretty for you."
Running a hand over his face, once more, wondering what he's gotten himself into, Brad walks up to his closed bedroom door with Riff-Raff skulking close behind him. Magenta must have just revealed to Janet that her fiancé was home, for both men suddenly hear a shrill shriek:
"Now? Gods, I can't…what'll he…? He can't see me like this he'll be scared to death! What was I thinking? He couldn't possibly…Gods, 'Genta, look at me, just look at me! I look…I'm…I'm…"
"You look beautiful, Janus, don't be ridiculous. If Majors can't see that, then qvite frankly, you deserve better." With that, the door is flung open and Janet is shoved out unceremoniously. She barely catches her balance in time to avoid falling straight into Brad. Shock distorts both of their expressions, Janet looks like she's ready to run and hide rather than stand in his presence looking "like this".
"Whoa," Brad whispers, looking at her up and down. She'd changed, all right. In less than 6 hours she'd completely metamorphosed into her Transylvanian self: her skin is the pale purity of moonlight; her eyes appear to change color in the light, flicking from honey-golden to mahogany. Even her hair seems to glisten, although Brad attributes that to Magenta's ministrations. And on that note… she hadn't been painted like a harlequin mask, as Frank had done to her, and Brad can now gather some more typical insight to Transexual standards of beauty. Her lips had been lacquered in crimson; her eyelids, which were delicately lined in the gold-flecked-black color of pyrite, were shadowed in a dusky purple, and her cheekbones had been rouged in a similar stormy shade. She's wearing a dress Brad had never seen her wear before: green crushed velvet, knee-length, with cap sleeves. It had a strangely deliberate ragged look, as though the dressmaker had ripped and torn the fabric rather than cut it with conventional means. Once the shock was over, the whole effect is one of otherworldly beauty, like a spring flower touched by a late frost. He then notices they're standing nearly eye to eye, and looks down at her black stilettos. Brad marvels at her ability to keep her balance from such a precarious height.
Janet stands before him, shaking with nerves, as though she expects Brad to pass judgment upon her. Magenta steps out now as well, and sees they're both stunned into silence.
"Don't you think she looks pretty, Majors?" She prompts pointedly. "The dress used to be Mother's; she'd wear it if she was called upon for a formal event. It suits her, doesn't it?" When this yields no response, she turns to Janet, who is slouching back with fearful, downcast eyes. Magenta scowls at her as though disgusted. She claps her hands sharply, "Straighten up! Eyes, front, shoulders back! Vhat vould the others think of you? You'd be disowned and sent away for looking like that! Shame!" Janet reacts, instantly obeying the commands. "Better," Magenta allows, "Now hold." She now turns back to Brad, trying again. "Now, how do you like it?"
Stammering the whole time, Brad nods, "Y-yes, I…she looks…fine! She's just so…so…wow," he blunders incoherently.
"At ease," Magenta sighs, and Janet falls straight into Brad's arms.
"It's alright? Really? You don't mind?" Janet gasps, a relieved smile spreading across her face.
"It's all right, really," he affirms, brushing her hair back, taking in her face with a stifled sob, "Oh, god it's really you!" He pulls her in tighter, crushing her body into his and he kisses her soundly again and again. Riff-Raff and Magenta sidestep out of the way to avoid getting inadvertently harmed. Brad finally eases Janet back, "Let me, let me look at you. Dammit, I missed you. You look…different. A lot different. But good." He ineloquently admires her. By now Janet is weeping through nervous giggles, getting a disapproving look from her brother.
"Come now, Janus, don't cry like that. You'll run all over." Magenta then glides over to her brother, slips her hand in his, twining their fingers together with a significant look. An eye-gesture or two and a comprehending smile between them and they abandon the hall for their room, where they can celebrate their "reunion" in private.
