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]

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]

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.

[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.