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

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

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.

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"They're beautiful," I tell her. I'm not selfless enough; I'm not from Abnegation. I would not have thought of using birds to represent the important people in my life on my body. But seeing how much Tris revers her tattoos makes me think I have a good idea of where to start when I go for my next tattoo, which will certainly be sooner rather than later, in this city.

I can't think of any teasing words, so I point towards the cake instead.

"Let's go grab some, yeah?" I tell her with a sly grin. "Before everyone else eats it all."

"There's a studio, right by the gym where I work. They have some of the most amazing portfolios." I smile, well aware that it's almost a reversal of old positions. Christina had persuaded me the last time and now I'm the one telling her where to go.

"Should we announce it to the room? Or let them fight it out for themselves?" It's tempting to make another joke about Uriah but the memory of Christina's expression is too fresh.

"You will have to show me," I tell her, catching the knowing nature in her smile. It is a role reversal, and one that makes me smile in return. To think that this shy girl from Abnegation would be so comfortable with tattoos and piercings that she could point a loudmouth like me in the right direction makes me happy in a way that I haven't been since well. Since I met said girl on the train into Dauntless.

"I say we grab our cake and then leave the rest for everyone else to fight over," I advise, my smile turning mischievous. "That way I can rate your friends in terms of who not to mess with least."

I laugh and glance around the room, my eyes jumping from Allison to Oliver to Nikita and then Cole. "I guess the outcome depends on whether Athos gets to use his sword or not. Assuming he wants the cake."

Without meaning to, we've assembled quite a few people that home might qualify as Dauntless.

It seems strange, but fitting.

"Athos has a sword?" I let out an appreciative whistle. "Good-looking, the perpetual grumpiness of a cat, and he' skilled with weapons? Remind me to stay on his good side."

I watch the way her gaze flickers to various people around the room; I can infer that we have a plethora of badasses assembled in one room.

Somehow, if I'd thought to bring a pinata, I suspect the outcome of that game would prove more interesting than most birthday parties.

"He's in love with our other upstairs neighbors, don't get your hopes up." I doubt he knows I've realized it, but anyone with eyes can look at Athos and how he regards them with something more. It's the same kind of more that I feel when I look at Tobias.

"You know. Maybe we should run to the store for a pinata."

"Way to ruin my entire day," I say, though I'm clearly joking. I doubt I could ever really look at anybody beyond a brief, flirtatious light for awhile. My heart hurts too much for anything more. "But hey, who am I to get in the way of love?" I give her a pointed look, tilting my head towards where Tobias stands across the room.

"I mean, there's one of those superstore centers not far from here," I point out.

It's not in my nature to hurriedly look for someone to throw at Christina, but I still can't help trying to sort through the acquaintances I have. Christina could, at least, use more friends in the same way that I'd needed them when I first arrived.

"You're not in the way of anything. Do you think it's rude for the host to sneak out of her own party?"

Not that I mind the eye candy visible at Tris' party. Somehow, a fair amount of her friends have wound up being extremely attractive men. I still need her to teach me her ways.

"Probably," I say, laughing. "And your collection of hot men, admittedly, is making it hard for me to want to leave."

"They're not my--" I start, then I laugh and can't help glancing around the room again. After Tobias' arrival, I really hadn't thought much about other peoples' looks but now that Christina mentions it...

"I didn't do it on purpose."

"They are totally your own. What's the word? Harem? Harem of hot guys," I say, snorting as I roll my eyes with obvious fondness. Tris would accidentally make friends with all of the attractive people without realizing it.

"Hell of an accident," I continue to tease, unable to help it. Honestly, more than anything, I just really love being able to stand here, laughing with my best friend. She's flesh and blood beside me, not laying cold and motionless on a slab of metal.

I snort in return and shake my head, gesturing to myself. Do I look like the kind of person who intentionally collects handsome men?

"I'll leave you to them."

"Okay, well, no, I never would have thought you, of all people, would befriend all of the hot men in one city," I tell her with a wide grin and a chuckle. "But that's the thing about you, Tris. You keep surprising people. It makes being your friend interesting."

Though she doesn't know the half of it.

"So considerate of you," I say, glancing back at the men. "I'm pretty sure most of them are already taken, though."

"But not all of them." I bump my shoulder against Christina's lightly, trying to nudge away any sadness or regret that the comment might provoke.

"You know me. Always so very interesting."

The truth of it is that I know other fighters in this city. That's what drew us together.

"There's that to look forward to then," I say with a mock sigh, grinning and nudging her shoulder back. As much as I miss Will and Uriah, I have to admit, there's no harm in at least looking at the attractive gaggle Tris has gathered.

"I do hope these guys have a taste for danger," I remark, glancing over at Tris. It's a guess, but Tris is right; she's not the sort of person just to attract other attractive people towards her. Not without a reason. And the first reason I can think of seems the most likely.

I smirk and look around at Oliver, Athos, and Cole and then to Allison and Nikita. All of them are fighters. "Allison likes a bow and arrow. Athos likes the sword. Oliver...fights with whatever's handy and sharp."

I raise an eyebrow at Christina, smiling. "They'd be interesting."

I see the way Tris' gaze flits from one party guest to another, quick and assessing, the way she used to appraise our fellow Dauntless initiates. The sight makes me grin as much as the information about each person that Tris shares with me. "They all sound badass, but I have to say, I really like Oliver's style," I comment, returning Tris' smile with a smirk of my own.

"Interesting and deadly," I reply. "The best combination."

"Well, the rest of the city couldn't keep up with me. It made sense," I tease. It feels good to laugh, to joke.

"I'm...so happy here, Christina."

"Of course they can't. They don't have death wishes," I tease right back, though there's an edge of pain to my smile as I speak the words. Death wish, indeed.

But then Tris mentions how happy she is, and my moment of vulnerability, or whatever people call it here, fades. How can I not be happy for her when she says how happy she is here?

"I'm glad," I tell her. "I hope I can be happy here, too."

God knows that, besides my family, there's nothing left for me to be happy for back in Chicago.

I shake my head and smile at her. I don't wish for death anymore, don't crave is absolution the way I had. Now I want to fight past the things I've been forced to do and live brightly, free from the faction system and my own guilt. I've learned to be happy here.

"I'll do everything I can to help you be happy here. It's what friends do."

I don't know what it is I really crave to be happy; I have Tris here, alive, well, and happy, truly happy, for as long as I can remember. I guess I can only hope that, in time, I can learn to reconcile my past and this new future enough to settle. Well. As much as I can really settle.

"And you're the best friend a girl could ask for," I tell her, swinging an arm around her shoulder and pulling her in for a hug. "You're still going to have to show me all the dangerously dumb stunts there are to pull around here."

"Oh I know I am. Wait until Oliver and I figure out how to go skydiving," I tease. It's a work in progress, given that no one in Darrow will cop to having so much as a crop duster. When we do figure it out though, it's going to be a race to see who's first in line. The only person I can guarantee won't fight for a spot is Tobias.

"It's the least I can do for a friend."

"When you figure that out, you are absolutely taking me with you," I tell her, lighting up instantly at the prospect. The thought of falling out the sky thrills me and my grin turns eager, like the one after we'd both jumped off the train in Dauntless. "The very least," I tease, nudging her shoulder with mine.

"I hope you're enjoying your party," I tell her, smiling.

I smile and nod, grabbing her hand for a second in lieu of turning around again to hug her. "This is the best birthday I've ever had and an amazing party and I am so glad you're here, okay?"

I don't know if I can really say it enough.

"Good," I say, delighted by her words. I'm glad she's here, and I'm glad I'm here, too. "Yeah, I can't imagine Abnegation threw too many parties. What would you even do at one, anyway? Guilt each other over the indulgence of parties?"

I fall back into teasing, though I am very glad for having Tris here and knowing how happy she is with her party.

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

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