Give you something good to celebrate. [Gathering; Pre-dated to 6/5/15]

[oddthatway]

Tris ought to know well enough by now that I never go back on my word, once given. Especially when it comes to something as important as celebrating her 19th birthday. (And I have no doubt her and Four will find their own ways to celebrate later, but I try not to think about that. For my own sake.) She also still doesn't know that this celebration is about far more than her almost not being a teenager anymore. I'm putting my all into this because, back home, Tris doesn't get the chance to live this long. Back in Chicago, the Tris I've left behind is resting in a morgue.

I have the living room all decked out because of the rabbit. While Tris still isn't here, I'll admit: the damn thing's cute. And at least Tris had the sense to get a pet with Dauntless colors. It makes the whole pet thing seem far less Amity.

I've worked hard, tying ribbons of various colors - vibrant, spring colors like sky blue and lavender - and balloons around every available edge and corner. Behind the couch, I've put a banner that I've painted myself, which is why the writing looks so sloppy. Again, I've used the colors of the ribbons and the balloons, to write a simple message of 'Happy birthday, old lady!'

Not that Tris is old at all. Far from it. But I can't resist a bit of teasing, even for my best friend's birthday.

On the table rests a cake I bought at one of the local bakeries, in the shape of a bird, with some berries on top. It's the kind of quaint that I think Tris will appreciate. Next to it, my gifts: a slinky, shimmery light blue dress, because one can never have too many sexy dresses, and the other, a beautifully designed knife with crows etched onto the handle of the blade. Both were hardly cheap, but for Tris, I would be willing to spend far more.

So now I'm waiting, pacing through the living room, adjusting the various decorations while keeping an eye out for Tris.

I've invited others, of course. It wouldn't do to just be the two of us. Slowly, I'm beginning to understand how much Tris' friends here mean to her. So I've invited as many people as I've been able to get a hold of. Now all I can do is wait.

Comments

[oddthatway]

I keep pacing. And rearranging drinks and snacks. And straightening the edges of the presents gathered on one of the living room tables. I am never this nervous. But it is Tris' birthday, and I refuse to let anything mess this day up. Including, as it might turn out, myself.

Once guests begin to arrive,e I shift gears into helping guide people towards the food and drinks. My honesty and lack of regard for how others might perceive my honest makes me a terrible choice for hostess, but what are you going to do? I can't just leave the tending of Tris' 19th birthday party to just anyone, after all.

"Damn it, why didn't I think of a pinata?" She presses her hand against her forehead, letting out a sigh. Of course she thinks of the bright ideas after everything's all set up.

[priordivergence]

"Because we've never needed to designate something that's especially going to be hit by sticks?" I point out. "A Dauntless would just hand everyone a blunt weapon and watch." Giving Christina a teasing look, I recall her words about the Ferris Wheel when we played Capture the Flag, "And good look to you!"

I wrap an arm around her shoulders, comfortable enough with Christina to do it without any hesitation. I try not to think of the people who should be here, like Peeta, but I smile. "This is my first real birthday party, you know."

[oddthatway]

"Okay, fair enough," I laugh, recalling all the adrenaline rushes we'd chased as members of Dauntless. Our game of capture the flag comes to mind, first and foremost. The thrill of giving chase and trying to defeat Erik's team. Even if I did let petty jealousy get the best of me. "Maybe I should find some sticks anyway."

Throwing my own arm around her shoulders, I grin. "Not surprised. Abnegation always was allergic to all things fun. And how is being 19 treating you so far?"

[priordivergence]

We were both short sighted then. I was too aloof and ambitious, but we've moved past that game. Now that we've had to do things for real, the mistakes we did in games no longer matters.

"Well, I do seem to have a cake. So not bad at all."

[likeahero]

Oliver recognizes the look of someone who has thrown together a party for a friend and is spending the entirety of it worrying that everything's perfect. He's seen it enough in his mother, though he was lucky enough that the party planning gene didn't really get passed on. (Rather, he let other people plan for him, when he was still in his party phase. Other people, or just Tommy.)

He heads over to Christina once it looks like she's free for a moment and maybe not so stressed out. For her to go to such lengths to throw Tris a party -- Tris, of all people -- meant she had to be a good friend, and Tris' new happiness confirmed as much. The girl seemed brighter than usual with the arrival of her friends, and Oliver knew just how much that changed life in the city.

"This," he says as he approaches Christina, "is a fantastic party."

[oddthatway]

I'm just finishing rearranging the napkins by the fruit salad when I hear another person approach. I turn, raising an eyebrow at the really attractive man addressing. Damn, Tris has a whole collection of good-looking friends. If I were insecure, I'd be intimidated. As it is not the case, I at least enjoy the various amounts of eye candy.

"Well, thank you," I tell him, grinning at the compliment. It means a lot, to hear that party guests are appreciative of the effort I've put in in pulling this together. "I tried. It's for Tris, after all. I couldn't not throw her an awesome party."

I extend my hand for him to shake. "I don't think we've been properly introduced yet. I'm Christina, her friend from Chicago. And you appear to be one of a number of hot men she's collected as friends here. I'm going to have to get her to show me her ways." I offer another grin, hoping he gets that I'm more joking than actually hitting on him.

[likeahero]

Oliver returns the grin as he shakes Christina's hand, struck almost immediately at the difference in the two girls - if only by how much Christina speaks and how much Tris doesn't. Or rather, how much Christina speaks to someone she's just met.

"I'm Oliver," he says, and shakes his head. "I'm not sure I can comment on a hot men collection."

[priordivergence]

I'm not sure what to think of it. All my life, my birthday had been observed with the simplest of congratulations from my mother and no more. Abnegation saw no need for parties, for celebrations of the turning of a year. Why would they? My seventeenth birthday had passed during Evelyn's hold on the city and my eighteenth while I was still relatively new and alone in Darrow.

But nineteen is different. Nineteen is friends flowing into our apartment and me dressed up and wearing makeup because Christina's insisted. Nineteen is a cake on the table and Christina trying not to adore the rabbit even though I've seen vegetables disappear from the table that almost certainly ended up in Elan's cage.

I think I could get used to having birthdays.

[femmejosephine]

She hadn't been to a birthday party in years. Section wasn't big on them, surprise surprise, and before then, neither prison nor the street kids considered a birthday anything more than a line between legal and illegal for various things. Maybe she'd never been to a birthday party? Surely she'd gone to one as a kid. She just didn't remember.

Either way, this was the first birthday party she'd gone to in a long time. She'd arrived with Cole, put her gift on the table, gotten a drink, and then looked for the guest of honor.

"Happy Birthday," she greeted Tris easily and with genuine smile.

[priordivergence]

"Thank you," I say, still a little uncertain of myself. "This is the first time I've celebrated, really. I'm glad you came."

I have a hard time understanding the full measure of Nikita and I think she likes it that way. We respect that in one another, I think.

[likeahero]

Oliver is terrible about birthdays, and especially about giving gifts. His first idea didn't work out, but he figures he can simply tell Tris about it, rather than try to navigate the minefield of gift giving. (He'd seen a nice necklace in passing once, but the idea of giving a necklace to someone other than Thea or Felicity felt strange.)

He leaves his and Felicity's birthday card to Tris on the table collecting such things, and grabs a drink before heading over to the birthday girl.

"Happy birthday," he says as he approaches, smile on his face.

[priordivergence]

I turn around, grinning and pleased to see Oliver here. "You made it!" I say, hurrying forward. If I were Christina, I'd probably throw my arms around him in a hug. Instead I wave a hand to him, smiling brightly and sincerely.

"Thank you for coming."

[mynameisfour]

"Is it just me, or is there something very Amity about this whole thing?"

I make the remark as I slide up behind Tris, and when she looks at me, I lean over to steal a deep, lazy kiss. I do it because I enjoy it, even if public displays still make me vaguely uncomfortable. Fear is an adversary, but unease is a bully I know I can beat...and I want to enjoy everything this world has to offer, especially stolen moments with Tris.

I draw back when the furry body tucked in one arm squirms, grinning as I lift Elan into view. I've liberated her from her cage after watching her put her paws up on the side as I walk by for the fourth or fifth time.

"Not that I'm complaining...but she is." I explain, feeling ridiculous in a really good way. "Dauntless to the core, she can't stand not being part of all of the excitement."

[priordivergence]

Once upon a time, we would never have kissed like this in front of my entire party. Now, among friends, we feel at ease. At least until I feel whiskers against my arm and jump nearly halfway in the air from surprise before laughing in delight.

"I'm not sure who you love more. The rabbit, or me," I say. Before stealing another kiss from Tobias, I drop a kiss on Elan's head.

"Christina says she hates the rabbit, but I don't really believe her."

[femmejosephine]

The walk over from Candlewood had been pleasant, especially since Nikita had walked with Cole. She'd suggested it once she realized they were both planning to go to Tris's party. It wasn't so much that they were at the party together as much as that they had traveled from the same place to the same place for the same reason. They didn't need to leave together, and actually she wasn't even near him right now, but it was possible someone would notice that she and Cole had arrived at the same time.

She didn't think she actually cared, though.

She put the small gift she'd gotten for Tris (a gift certificate for a short massage, since Nikita had a feeling Tris had the same sore muscles problem Nikita sometimes had) on the table and then headed for the food.

[theresalwayshope]

Allison had no idea if she was doing better or not. It was hard to tell, but she liked to think she was improving in increments. She was still angry, that hadn't changed, but the all-consuming grief was dimming to a constant sorrow she couldn't shake. Sometimes she felt like the grief was feeding into the rage, but she held onto that jealously...like a piece of Jason she could keep for herself.

The invitation from the new friend of Tris's that had shown up was both welcome and an intrusion: Allison wasn't up for a party, but it was Tris.

So she threw together an outfit and wrapped the present she'd already bought for Tris (because it was a total no-brainer, and the ring daggers that matched her own were the perfect thing for a Dauntless girl, and would match literally every piece of clothing in all existence...what better fashion accessory could a girl ask for?).

When she arrived, gift bag in hand, for a split second she considered just dropping off the present and going back to her apartment to play with Beta and Todd before patrol. She couldn't do this, she couldn't be happy and whole and have fun when a big chunk of herself was missing.

But...she was at a Dauntless birthday party, and being a coward just wouldn't do.

At least, that's what she told herself as she found a place to set her gift, squared her jaw, and headed towards the first sign of refreshments to get herself a drink.

[oddthatway]

I recognize the signs of hidden grief radiating off the girl as soon as she enters the apartment. Dressed in all black, and carrying herself the way she does, she walks like she's come straight from Dauntless headquarters. I'm refreshing the refreshments when she makes her way over for a drink.

"Hey," I say, offering her a smile. Something about her reminds me of Cara, Will's sister. I want to reach out to her. "That's one hell of an outfit. Planning on making someone cry today?" Brash, and likely rude. But I find that, sometimes, rudeness can provide just the right amount of distraction.

"I'm Christina, Tris' friend from Chicago," I say, offering my hand a moment later. "Thanks for making it to the party!"

[theresalwayshope]

The name sets off a spark of recognition in Allison's eyes, killing the initial flare of annoyance in her gaze at Christina's abrasive remarks.

"The Candor transfer." she realized aloud, managing a wan smile as she accepted Christina's hand. "Oh my God...hi! Tris has told me so much about you, it's great to see you here! When I got your message about the party, I didn't realize it was you. How are you settling into Darrow? I know the lack of factions is probably a little bit of a culture shock."

[priordivergence]

"We match! Kind of," I say, smiling just a little. Allison is having a hard time, making it even more meaningful that she'd come up to my birthday. It's nice, in a way, knowing that someone cares that much about me.

Even if she's come dressed in Dauntless-style armor.

"How are you holding up?" It's a gentle way of saying that if she needs to leave early, I'll understand. But hope she doesn't.

[theresalwayshope]

Allison glanced over as Tris approached, managing a smile for her as she took in Tris's outfit and nodded.

"Yeah, we kinda do." she mused, then after a beat reached out to embrace Tris briefly, but warmly. "Happy birthday, you. I hope the day's been fun for you so far."

Drawing back, she met Tris's gaze pointedly, but not without a certain softness behind the darkness that was never far away these days.

Because Tris understood, and didn't judge...and was giving her permission to be miserable if she needed to be. Allison loved her for it, but wasn't about to make her best friend pay for her grief.

"And I'm managing." she added simply. She was never going to be okay again, not after this...and the road back to feeling like something resembling human was going to be a long one...

But she was here. For Tris. And she wasn't going to go anywhere and ruin her birthday.

[somepoorsoul]

Athos had not previously met the girl who left the note announcing the party, and had been inclined to ignore it at first. But Tris is a dear friend - like a sister, nearly - and his commonplace misanthropy seems like a poor excuse to miss her party. In tribute (and as apology, in light of his behavior during his transformation of the previous month) he has brought a gift: a light, well-made main gauche that he thinks would serve her well. He would like to get her a proper sword eventually, but that will require a proper sword maker, and more knowledge than he yet has about what she would want in such a weapon. With her lithe grace, Tris has a the bones of a born master of the sword. The knife will have to do for now.

Though unsurprised to discover not an alcoholic drink in sight, Athos is, admittedly, rather disappointed. He is apt to drift towards the corners of the room, anyway, and it certainly makes it easier to hide the periodic swallows he takes from his flask. When he sees Tris, though, his whole posture softens and he smiles, for he does appreciate seeing her so relaxed and happy. After all, she has not always been so lucky.

[oddthatway]

It's hard to miss the attractive man trying to blend in with the walls rather than socialize. He bears himself like a soldier; his posture reminds me of what some have called the lost Dauntless traditions. Back before Erudite corruption, when bravery meant honorable rather than merely daring.

Naturally, I have to introduce myself.

"I promise no one here bites," I tell him, figuring maybe a joke might help lighten his mood. "Well, that's a lie. Actually I'm sure everyone here does. But no one will, unless you tell them to."

I don't miss the flask he holds, nor the way he keeps sipping from it. I'm not one to judge, though. I've entertained the thought of getting stupidly drunk multiple times since arriving here.

"I'm Christina," I explain, extending my hand for him to shake. "I'm Tris' best friend from back home. I'm the one who sent out the invites."

[somepoorsoul]

Athos draws his eyebrows together, offering a dry smile in reply to the girl’s colorful greeting. She could not be more different from Tris - there is something of Allison about her, in fact - but he, of all people, should know how easily people of opposing temperaments might be drawn to one another. He is glad that someone thought to celebrate Tris, for he fears she is too modest to celebrate herself.

Handshakes still do not come easily to him, and he grasps the girl’s hand a beat too late, finishing with a small half-bow. “Athos,” he offers. “Tris is a neighbor."

[priordivergence]

The gift in his hands is long and slender and it can only be one thing and I hurry over to greet Athos, a little bit unable to believe what he's brought. "Is that..." I start to ask before looking back at him and starting to smile. "Is that a sword? A knife?"

It's not as long as the sword I've used to practice with Porthos and Athos but it's definitely longer than the throwing knives I've used. Abnegation restraint keeps me from falling on his gift to take a closer look.

"Thank you for coming, though."

[somepoorsoul]

The hope in her eyes makes him smile, and Athos inclines his head as he offers her the gift wrapped loosely in brown paper. “A sword will require some more thought, but this should serve you well,” he tells her, ever practical. “Open it."