The overall atmosphere of the Basin was fairly subdued when they returned from their visit to the Elders' compound after they had passed judgnt on the offenders. Even Avuri's cousins, who didn't actually take part in any of the fights, were more quiet and somber than usual. Without much discussion happening, it seed like everyone was contemplating off in their own little world - at least for a few days.
But as the days rolled on and with the most pressing parts of the Deposits' issue behind them, Ery and Avuri were in a better mood than they had been in weeks. Avuri's cousins bounced back quickly as well, and once they did the whole of the Basin seed better for it. The kids, who had been feeding off the somber energy for a few days were beginning to brighten up again too.
Talya and Gray had mostly kept to themselves for the week while trying not to get in the way. They didn't want the dreary atmosphere to take over entirely, so they tried to keep things from dipping too far, but mostly let everyone deal with the recent events however they needed to.
Ieji was Ieji from start to finish, although they had opted to have a few more private conversations with Ery over the week with little outward changes. Ery was happy to help Ieji work through so of their own feelings over what had happened.
In the end, everyone's mood had mostly recovered by the end of the week and life went on. Family dinners, which had continued through the somber mood, were back to the boisterous affair they had always been - especially with guests around. Chores were regularly getting done again. Squabbles and teasing and pranks were happening again.
The return of a more 'normal' life helped everyone heal.
And a week after that, things were about as normal as they could be, with a few exceptions.
For the mont, Ieji and the cousins were sticking around. Ieji for just a bit longer, but the cousins indefinitely for the ti being. Eiry had evidently asked them to stick around because she had so sort of offer for them, but hadn't had ti to actually sit and talk with them yet. The Elders were still dealing with a fair bit of fallout in the city from the whole fiasco. Talya and Gray were obviously sticking around for several more months, too.
Vale hadn't returned yet, but that wasn't unusual. He was often gone for weeks at a ti. Usually more when it was travel involving other dragons, and not just his own anderings. Ery didn't really expect to see him back for another few weeks, most likely.
But with everything finally back in place, she felt like she didn't want to continue to sit around and do nothing for the ti being.
The group of adults had grown too big to sit at their kitchen table for a al together. So, as it was, the entire basin was eating every al together outside in the dining pavilion. And one morning while everyone was eating, Ery simply said, "I think we should have a party."
"I'm in favor." Avuri said, following up. Given their connection, she already knew what Ery was going to bring up. "I think we could all use a breath of fresh air after the last few weeks."
"What kind of party were you thinking, exactly, Ery?" Mica asked, leaning in over the table excitedly.
"Please, nothing too rowdy." Talya said, already sounding exhausted. The weeks of lower energy from everyone having taken their toll on her mood in turn.
"I was really just thinking of like…I don't know - a big barbeque, maybe?" Ery said. "Just get everyone out here to relax, have fun, and eat good food."
"I think it's a good idea." Glenn agreed. "We'll keep it sowhat low on the intensity and just have a good ti."
"Maybe do so big gas for everyone?" Cove added.
"Oh, please, no." Avuri said, rubbing her forehead. "The last ti we did sothing like that with all the kids, things got destroyed. We basically had to rebuild the outdoor kitchen."
Ery looked down, her ears a little red. "I keep telling you that was an accident."
"Accident or not, I still can't believe you did that!" Avuri huffed.
There was a beat of silence before Gray leaned toward Avuri and whispered, "...What did she do?"
Avuri glanced at the clearly cowed Ery then back to Gray. "It started with a ga she was playing with the kids. They were playing with a ball and hitting it with a stick. That sohow devolved into the kids throwing fruit at Ery while she knocked them away with the stick."
Ery looked away, trying to play innocent as Avuri continued, "And then that sohow turned into her cutting the fruit midair with her knives."
Mica breathed, "Oh, that sounds like fun," under her breath, which earned her a narrow-eyed look from Avuri.
"And sohow that ended up with her launching a blade of air that cut straight through two of the pillars holding up the roof over the outdoor kitchen. The entire thing collapsed!" She said, theatrically throwing up her hands. "I still have no idea what would possess you to throw out a technique like that in the middle of a ga!"
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Ery continued to look away, but Lia was sitting at the table behind them. She had been one of the kids that were throwing the fruit and instigating the whole ss. She spun around in her seat and was nearly shouting when she said, "Momri, you were out there too, did you not see it? It was so cool!"
Avuri slowly turned in her seat to look at Lia. "Oh?"
Lia nodded, excited by the mory. "She said she could slice a whole bunch of fruit at once. So we all got ready and tossed the fruit at the sa ti, and she cut through them all at once in a line! It was so cool…But her technique kept going and cut through the support pillars…"
"So she was showing off and didn't control herself." Avuri said, turning her stare on her wife. "Last ti we talked about it, she said it was accidental."
"It was accidental!" Ery said. "I wasn't exactly planning on the technique cutting that far."
"So then how, exactly, did you manage to not call the attack off in ti?" Avuri asked pointedly.
Ery clamd up imdiately, looking away. "I uh…I got distracted."
"By what?"
Ery looked away, her ears turning red, but she didn't respond. Avuri kept her stare on her and prodded her again. "Well?"
Ery took a breath and reached out with her Qi to respond through their Domain. "You, dumbass. I take it you don't rember what you were doing when the whole thing went down."
"I…do not rember, no." Avuri sent back.
"You were playing with so of the younger kids and Kal yanked your robes open. Thus the montary distraction."
Ery covered her eyes with her hand, trying to hide the minor embarrassnt that was overcoming her. Avuri, for her part, laughed. Everyone stared at her as she cackled, trying in vain to regain control of herself.
"What?" Mica asked.
"What's so funny?" Glenn asked, confused.
Talya was busy hiding a small grin behind her hand and whispering to her husband. Gray snorted at whatever she said. She had been there for the whole thing and found it hilarious.
"Alright, alright." Avuri said, still struggling to calm down. "It's hard to get too mad at you for sothing like that…"
"Yeah, yeah." Ery muttered. In an attempt to change the subject, she said, "We can get so kind of ga going. Let's just keep it controlled, alright? No throwing techniques around, I guess."
"Well, that kinda ruins so of the fun, doesn't it?" Cove said. "Especially when most of us here are Cultivators, even the kids. We can keep everything to Earth Realm level to avoid any real danger, but techniques make most sports more interesting."
"We'll see." Ery said noncommittally. "I guess I'm not entirely against it."
"Good." Glenn said. "I agree with Cove. Sports with Qi being legal are great. Have you ever watched an official Dodgeball Qi League ga? They get intense."
Mica scoffed. "I'm not going to disagree, but they also get ssy, destructive, and rather…competitive."
"All the more reason for us to do it." Glenn continued. "We have plenty of space over at the playground for it, and we have more than one dical capable Cultivator in attendance."
"I'd rather you not hurt my kids, Glenn." Avuri said flatly.
"Oh. Uh, sorry." He apologized.
"It's alright." Avuri said, a slightly devilish glimr to her eyes. "We'll keep it to the older ones. And we'll kick your sorry asses."
The insult seed to light a bit of a fire under Glenn. Cove and Mica ca to his side, acting as support. "Oh, really?"
"Really." Ery said, sliding in next to her wife. "We'll take Cierra, then pick teams from there."
"We accept those terms." Mica said, reaching out with a hand to shake on it. Avuri took it and gave her hand one firm shake.
"Guys, guys!" Fia, who had been sitting next to her sister, shouted to get the attention of the room. "There's gonna be a Qi Dodgeball ga in a few days! Mom and Momri are taking on Momri's cousins!"
Shouts of excitent and cheers went up throughout the pavilion.
"Alright, everybody, calm down." Ery said, standing. She motioned everyone to calm down. "It'll be a few days. We're going to have a big barbeque with everyone, and we'll do the ga then."
So of the kids quieted down as asked, but others redoubled their cheers at the news of a party. Ery gave a short, sharp whistle - everyone went quiet imdiately.
"Thank you." She said, "Now, everyone just finish your food. We'll start working on putting the party together in a few days - so save your excitent."
Everyone settled back into their seats obediently. But not before Cruz gave a final, extra loud whoop. Ery shot daggers at him with her eyes as he sat back down, looking mildly cowed. He got knocked around by his siblings next to him a bit as he settled.
Ery sat back down to grins around the adult table.
"I think this will be really fun." Mica said.
"Agreed." Ery said.
"You think we could get the Elders and Vale in on this?" Cove asked thoughtfully. "They're great fighters, but are good at controlling themselves. I'd love to see what they could do at Earth Realm levels."
"We can certainly ask them." Avuri said.
"I know they've been busy lately," Ery said, "but I'm sure they could spare a day to relax and have fun. Everyone needs a vacation."
"Surely getting the Elders involved in our little ga won't blow up in our faces." Glenn said, rolling his eyes. Mica matched his eye roll.
"Literally."
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