Que Sera Sera

Posted on Sat Jan 11th, 2025 @ 6:26am by Petty Officer 3rd Class Raven Mattel & Ignatius

Mission: The Only Thing Left Was Hope
Location: Earth - New York
Timeline: After "A Little Illumination"

ON:

[The Plaza Hotel, New York - midday]

Raven had laid an outfit across her bed and stood back to look at it. She pensively stood folding her right leg behind her left, biting on her bottom lip as she did. She regarded the attire with a sense of apprehension in the pit of her stomach, a feeling of unfamiliarity growing. She had worn many outfits in her time. Boys' clothes, big drag, glamorous dresses, Ignatius' illuminated creation - but this one, this particular outfit was giving her deep anxiety to put on.

In the living room adjacent, Ignatius was lying on the plush lounger, scrolling through a PADD with giddy glee. He was reading all of the reviews for his fashion show from the night before - perhaps for the tenth, maybe the hundredth time he had done so. The show had been a success and New York Fashion Week was abuzz with his collection of glowing gowns and Broadway-level presentation. The years of crafting, dreaming, and planning for this big event, had been worth it. He had a certified hit collection on his hands.

"Spectacular!" He read aloud the reviews with a beaming smile, "Imaginative! Entertaining! Unique!" He kicked his feet a little in excitement as he did.

Ignatius, Raven, and Mindo had spent most of the evening and some of the morning reveling in their successes. After Mindo was safely returned home, Ignatius and Raven returned to their hotel room at the Plaza to sleep. But the clothier hadn't slept much at all, still buzzing with pride and joy over the success of his fashion launch.

"Can you believe this?" Ignatius called out so that Raven could hear him through her closed door. "My inbox is already full of requests to wear the collection."

"Of course." Raven yelled back - her voice sounding a little flat going unnoticed by Ignatius. He assumed she was just hung over.

"Award shows, weddings, the Met Gala!" Ignatius exclaimed as he read out the list of requests. "Everyone wants to wear the dresses."

"Don't forget Kroll." Raven shouted.

"Huh?" Ignatius frowned, putting the PADD down to his chest as he strained his neck to look at the closed door between them. "Kroll?"

"Madam Kroll." Raven repeated. "You promised her the chance to wear one of your dresses for her big comeback concert, remember? She was on the transport to Risa and helped us out with your prototype dress. In exchange, she gets first chance to wear the dress for her show."

"Ohh right." Ignatius nodded, before giving a shrug, "Well, she better get in touch quick because these dresses are going to be FLYING out the door."

"Ah huh." Raven called back.

With a furrowed brow, Ignatius lifted himself off the couch and walked over to her bedroom door, knocking on it with a quick rasp. "What are you doing in there, Raven? You've been ages. We're going to miss our reservation at Le Glass."

"Nothing." Raven cried urgently. "Just trying something on."

"Ooooh a new outfit, let me see!" Ignatius insisted, immediately swiping his hand over the controls to open the door.

"NO WAIT!" Raven shouted in panic.

But it was too late, Ignatius had entered the room and seen what she was wearing.

Standing here, in a black jumpsuit with orange shoulder lapels, Petty Officer Raven Mattel was in her Starfleet uniform. Ignatius stopped in his stride as he saw her, clearly taken aback by the sight of her in uniform for the first time. Raven held her hands together in front of her nervously, giving a waned, embarrassed smiled.

"I just wanted to try it on." She said sheepishly. "See how it looked."

"You look..." Ignatius gulped, "Different."

Raven lowered herself down onto the edge of the bed, disappointed. "Oh." She whispered.

Ignatius immediately realized she was hurt by his reaction. "In a good way." He quickly stammered. "In an unexpected way. I- I- I've seen you wear so many different things before Raven, but never... this. It's just very new."

"I feel different." Raven admitted quietly, "Like I can't wait to start working on a ship. Or station."

"That's good." Ignatius said as he crossed the distance between them, "This is what you wanted, right?"

"Yes," Raven nodded, "When I first came to the Pandora, I was so lost. I had no career, no friends, no purpose. Being able to perform again gave me life and joy - but it was really the times when we were helping the crew that I felt the best. I wanted to be part of what they were doing. Like Mindo, I mean, look at him now! Commanding his own mission. Even after everything, he's still willing to put the uniform on and serve. I want that. Or to be like that, I guess."

Ignatius sat down next to Raven and placed his hands over hers and squeezed them tightly. "And you will." He said earnestly, "But I'm sad about losing my friend. And seeing you in the uniform makes it real. You're really going."

Raven bit her lip as she nodded, "I am."

"And I'm going to miss my partner in crime, my muse, my dearest friend." Ignatius tried to hold back the emotion in his voice, but the sadness was seeping through. His voice broke as he talked, "That's going to really suck." He smiled through the tears.

"I know." Raven nodded, trying to fight her own tears, "But it's only temporary. I might end up on the Pandora and you can come back there - once they find it, of course."

Ignatius sighed and looked down at their hands, intertwined together. "I was lost, too, Raven. Before the Pandora. My life had come to a complete stand-still. My store had closed, my passion for design had diminished, my relationship was over. I had nothing going for me. But joining the Pandora and going into the Expanse, seeing the wonders and the dangers, that led me to creating my Illuminated collection. Now I've found my passion again, as well as a whole new career."

Raven's brow quivered, "You deserve it so much, Igs. I'm happy for you."

"Thank you," Ignatius smiled, "But I can't rejoin the Pandora and maintain my business. I want to keep creating and open my own label. The fashion show last night has made that possible for me again. Going back to the Pandora would be like taking a step backwards when I want to keep moving forwards. I need to."

"I understand." Raven shrugged her shoulders, "But you're right, this does suck."

"It's not the end." Ignatius said firmly, "Just a 'See you later' type deal, okay?"

"Deal." Raven nodded in agreement.

The two friends pulled in for a hug, which lasted way longer than usual, neither one wanting to let go.

Finally, Ignatius laughed, "Come on, I think we can still make our lunch spot."

"Let me just change first." Raven smiled as she pulled away. "I don't want anyone to think I'm on duty or something."

"Aye, aye!" Ignatius playfully saluted and stood up.

Raven chuckled and rolled her eyes, "Enough of that mister, or I'll throw you in the Brig!"

Ignatius slowly backed out of the room, still saluting. As he reached the doorway he called out, "Aye, aye!" again. He just narrowly made it out of the door before Raven threw a pillow in his direction.

Moving over to the wardrobe, Raven caught herself in the long mirror and paused. She looked at her reflection, posing in different angles as she admired her uniform. She gave a small smile of approval. "Aye." She whispered.

OFF