Just a little birthday something for you. Hope you’re all surviving September - all is busy but good for me - looking forward to some quieter times and getting back to writing! ❤️
Alex clears his throat and looks around the dome, running his hand through his hair.
“Do you think we’ve got enough balloons?”
Zein snorts and kicks their foot at one of the balloons now bouncing around on the ground. “Alex, if we had any more balloons I think this place would start floating to the surface.”
Alex grins sheepishly. “Ok, I accept I might have gone overboard.”
Balloons are floating around in the air. Some rising to the top of the dome, but others hovering in mid air, or bouncing their way along the ground.
Rota eyes them suspiciously. “Why aren’t these strange orbs following the laws of gravity?”
“That would be one of those questions it’s better not to ask,” Eli playfully bats one of the balloons with his hand as he walks past everyone and makes a beeline to the bar.
“A more important question is what drinks am I going to mix tonight? I feel like trying something new. Something spicy?”
Aayush raises an eyebrow but says nothing, instead walking through the swirling mass of balloons, somehow managing to avoid touching a single one. He lays down on a sun lounger and closes his eyes.
“Aayush!” Fleur calls out, “aren’t you supposed to be on outfit duty? There’s no time for relaxing!”
Aayush smiles and waves his hand. A sea of balloons parts to show a clothing rack with beautiful outfits hanging off of it. Fleur squeals as she runs over and picks up a hanger that has a label with her name written on it. A dress that looks like it’s made from thousands of delicate lilac petals hangs from it. “It’s perfect! Aayush how did you find these…?”
Aayush smiles. “You don’t get to live through all of the ages without getting a certain sense of style. This will be the best dressed party this dome will ever see. Guaranteed.”
Abe appears carrying trays of food. He looks wholly uncomfortable as he looks around the dome. “Where am I putting these?” He looks to Fleur who has assumed the role of party coordinator.
Fleur points to some tables over to the side of the pool. “Over there next to Cerri. While you’re over there could you ask her to go and throw all of the inflatables into the pool? It’s going to look so cute.”
Abe swallows and looks like he’s been asked to fight a bear, but he nods obediently and walks over to Cerri who is glowering at everything happening around her.
“Uh Cerri,” he starts, his deep voice shaking ever so slightly. “Fleur asked if you could get the pool ready? Uh. Please.”
Cerri rolls her eyes but doesn’t protest and wanders over to Cat who is standing proudly surveying a menagerie of inflatable pool animals.
“Cerri! Hey! Help me get these in the water will you?”
Cerri grunts but picks up a giant flamingo and throws it through the air with ease, watching as it lands in the pool with a splash. Cat smiles. “Finally an outlet for all that tension, huh?”
Cerri responds by throwing an inflatable panda.
Cat laughs quietly and walks slowly over to Alex, placing an arm around his shoulder. “Wow, when you were put in charge of balloons you really went for it, huh?”
Rota interjects, “I believe there may be more orbs in here than there are stars in the sky.”
Alex starts to protest but instead closes his mouth and his eyes rest on a point in the distance. Everyone turns to see what he’s seen, their eyes all fixed on one thing that has just entered the party.
