Oh My Weave

Posted on Mon Jun 22nd, 2020 @ 5:18am by Ignatius & Raven Mattel
Edited on on Fri Jul 10th, 2020 @ 4:47pm

Mission: Divided We Fall
Location: Deck 5 - Recreation Facilities
Timeline: Concurrent with "The Impossible Choice"

A Mission Post by Ignatius & Raven Mattel
Mission: Divided We Fall
Location: Deck 5 - Recreation Facilities
Timeline: Concurrent with "The Impossible Choice"
Sat Apr 21st, 2018 @ 9:53am

Raven Mattel didn't so much as walk down a corridor as she graced the carpet with her presence. Such was her way that the tall, leggy, currently blonde Queen managed to turn more than a few heads as she strutted down Deck 5 towards her destination. Raven certainly stood out amongst the crowd of Starfleet officers with their carbon copy black uniforms; today she was wearing purple and black checkered shirt, tied up in a knot just under her chest, with a bright orange bandana in her hair, a pair of cut-off denim shorts, and four-inch patent leather purple stilettos. She had deliberately chosen these bright colours to match the Indigo Sky outside, as there was no way this Vegas-come-Risa drag performer was going to be out-shone by a silly spacial phenomena.

Mattel was heading towards Mindo's Arcade, or Little Caesar's as it was officially called, for her first day of work at the retro gaming palace. Having secured her spot on the Pandora's recreation services, initially as a bar tender at the Luna Eclipse, Raven had heard about the Chief Engineer's hologram project and immediately begged for a job there. The neon lights, the electric atmosphere, the sweaty musk of pent-up of Starfleet men enthusiastically competing on old fashioned arcade machines... Well, how could a girl refuse? It was right up her pinball alley. And it just so happened to coincide with her desire to go back to her roots as a club performer and entertainer, even if it means joining some scientific vessel going a hundred lightyears into nowhere.

It was with this plan in mind that Mattel strutted through the Rec Deck and towards her destination. She was somewhat aware that the Starfleet folks were busy talking about this Indigo Sky and the probe they were about to launch, but after all that boring science stuff was done they were going to come to Mindo's place and she was going to rock their worlds. She had a list of her own cocktails, each one more colourful and potent than the last, and a list of her favourite songs from the designated era to perform routines to.

The crew were going to remember when Raven Mattel first came to the Pandora.

Meanwhile, Ignatius was closing his shop so that he could get something to eat. He had been working all day on new suit for a customer, who had specifically requested a bright violet swirl patten against a royal navy background. Always the professional, Ignatius was hand-sewing every stitch and it was laboriously hard work. He was aware that he'd missed lunch already but one of the perks of being on a Starship with such an extensive Recreation area meant that he could usually find quality meals any time of the day or night. He was thankful for the work, and the ability to show off his skills, but not the long hours it would take to complete.

As he walked towards Pandora's Box, Ignatius became aware of the tall glamazon stalking the corridor in the opposite direction and immediately recognised her face. Iggy had spent a brief period of his career on Risa and remembered distinctly hitting the club scene and seeing Raven Mattel perform at "Tuck and Roll", recognising her as a uniquely energetic and comedically sharp queen. As Raven approached, she raised an eyebrow to Ignatius, having noticing him staring.

"Come to Mindo's, my darling, and you can watch as long as you like." Raven called out, her plum coloured lips curled up in a smirk.

"Oh, I'm sorry." Ignatius replied, momentarily losing his usual cool. "I just... You're Miss Mattel, right? From Risa?"

"Ohh honey that was a lifetime ago." Raven laughed, holding a hand to her chest. It wasn't really, but she was eager to move on from that planet. "But I always like to meet a fan."

"Of course I am, Miss Mattel. But what are you doing here?" Ignatius asked.

Raven mused on the question on the moment, deducing that the stately gentleman hadn't been on Risa recently, and perhaps had no idea about her fall from fame. But that was exactly why she was onboard the Pandora, to find people who didn't know her and build her brand up again. It certainly wouldn't hurt to have an admirer on side to help promote her work, if only she could keep him from finding out what happened on Risa.

"A change of scenery." Raven shrugged surreptitiously. "I was simply too fabulous for Risa. So now I'm here, I guess you could call it the Raven Galaxy Tour."

"As was I!" Ignatius replied with a laugh. "Well you'll love it here. It may be a Starfleet vessel but there's a whole lot of life here too. I've been working my fingers to the bone jazzing up the people and bringing some style, now you can bring the heat."

"Oh I will, honey." Raven nodded, giving a saucy nod and a wink in return. "So you're a designer?"

"Yeah." Ignatius said cooly, giving a nonchalant shrug. "I have my own clothing store here, I do styling and work on custom items for the crew members."

"Then you must help me with my shows!" Raven cooed. "I was only allowed to bring one eighth of my wardrobe, due to silly Starfleet regulations, and I just know I'm going to cycle through my usual drag gear in like a month. I will need your expertise!"

The clothier stood back for a moment and considered the offer, looking up at the vibrant queen as she stared enthusiastically back at him. "Well, I usually only do men's clothing..."

"Honey, can I let you in on a secret?" Raven quickly retorted, giving a knowing look.

Ignatius laughed loudly, "No need. My business has been okay but I've not overly busy. I could have the time to help you."

"Yas girl!" She clapped her hands wildly.

"But at a price." Ignatius added firmly. "My services don't come for free."

"Nor mine, sweetheart." Raven added, that saucy smile back again. "But we can figure out the details later. How about you join me for a drink at Mindo's? I'm about to start bar tending there."

"Mindo's, huh?" Ignatius said. "I've been meaning to try it out. I hear it's very good for a holographic program."

"Honey it's going to feel very real once I'm there." Raven replied, reaching out her arm and linking it around with his. "Come. You can escort me."

By this time, the rest of the crowd had gathered by the Rec Deck's many bay windows that circled the outside of the promenade, as it was finally time for the probe to be launched. Seeing the commotion, Raven decided she would stop too and look upon the event herself, in the hopes of making many probe-related jokes during her routine later. The possibilities were endless. She couldn't wait to get stuck into them.

Ignatius and Mattel found a window and stood together as the probe blasted out from the Pandora's under hull and into the gravitational storm ahead of them. There was a decided "oooh" from the crowd as they watched the probe penetrating further and further into the neon clouds. But as rapidly as it had been launched, the probe was suddenly destroyed, a small fireball visibly erupting in the distance. The crowd turned from "oooh" to a decidedly deflated "awww" as it disappeared.

"Fine officers of the Pandora, don't despair!" Raven suddenly cried out, moving back into the centre of the corridor. "The probe may have been a dud but there's no reason why your night needs to be. I invite you all to come on down to Mindo's Arcade in the Holodeck for an evening of thrilling games, friendly competition, fantastic music, and the best drinks in the Alpha Quadrant served by me! Raven Mattel!"

As the crew turned to watch Raven's proclamation, the neon sky behind them began to swirl and compress together. Nonetheless, Raven continued. "Fresh from the vibrant nightlife of Risa, born on the neon doorstep of Las Vegas, I can assure you Pandorans, that you will have a night you won't forget any time soon. Raven Mattel in her premiere performance onboard this ship, guaranteed something you will want to witness yourselves! Don't just hear about it tomorrow morning from the fun people who were there, experience it live! Tonight! Only at Mindo's!"

The crowd cheered and clapped and Raven smiled smugly as she lapped up the attention. They hadn't even noticed the ship slowly being pulled in from the strong gravitational forces of the collapsing Indigo Sky. "And that's not all!" Raven continued, "You can come down every week to see this queen superstar perform in a unique and ship-stopping show, that will have you screaming for more."

"And finally," She paused for impact. Outside the window, the clouds had drawn together and a sudden spark of energy exploded from within. "I will be making my special, one of a kind, artisan cocktails that will have you asking...." At the sight of the explosion outside, Raven's face quickly dropped and she pointed out the window. "WHAT THE HELL IS THAT?!"

A few crew members laughed, a few turned around. But Raven's face was transfixed in beautiful horror at the wide particle wave that was rushing towards the ship. Suddenly the Pandora dipped down low, diving to get out of the way of the impending wave, and this sent everyone on the Rec Deck hurtling forward. Ignatius held onto Raven with all his strength but inevitably they both fell down to the ground.

As the wave hit, the ship spun wildly out of control, and the various people began to roll around and hurtle into each other, completely unrestrained an unable to stop the tumultuous journey they were now on. The lights flickered on and off, the spinning seemed to be incessantly unending. Raven swore like a sailor as she desperately tried to grab onto something sturdy, though only found Ignatius also being whipped around like a loose sock in a tumble dryer.

After what seemed like an eternity, the spinning slowed to a stop and the Rec Deck was plunged into emergency lighting mode. Raven was pushed against a soft couch and was desperately clinging to it, with Ignatius nearby. Her bare legs and arms were covered in carpet burns and scratches and her blonde weave looked like a deflated soufflé. She tasted blood in her mouth and swallowed against the coppery taste as she tried to raise herself up again. The entire corridor was a mess of bodies, everyone having been thrown about relentlessly. Ignatius groaned and blinked in the hazy dim lights.

"Not this again." He complained.

Raven felt like she had spent an entire week on alcohol and was only now sobering up. "What... happened?"

"A night you won't forget any time soon." Ignatius replied dryly, clearly his sense of sarcasm came through unscathed. "Welcome to the Pandora."

OFF