I've grown quite fond of Eight. At first, the hidden reason to me defending the rascal was because it would annoy Four, which is what he deserves for making me clean his room, but after closer examination and a little more patience, I really do like it. I'm not really sure if it's a male or female, but I get the feeling Tobias would be more comfortable if I said it was a boy. When I was putting it in it's make-shift habitat, I let it slither from my arm into his new home, and he swirled around in the water and kept making the same distinct shape. An eight, and of course it was the perfect pet for Four. He just didn't know it yet.
It's actually pretty majestic, with it's sapphire and obsidian scales, and it's eyes that have a sort of amused glint. It's forked tongue flicks its nose, and I can't help but to smile at it. Poisonous or not, it was magnetic, in it's eerie, dangerous way. Just like Tobias. It's because of this strong admiration for the reptile, which motivates me to actually write down a list of strong points to say to "The Council."
Sitting on the left side of Zeke with Tobias on the right, and "The Council," on the opposite side of us, with Eight in his habitat in between us, I realize just how ridiculous this all is. Zeke went all out on making this as serious as possible. He wears a white beard, a monocle, and holds a plastic toy hammer as a gavel. We are in the dining hall, with the chatter of hundred of Dauntless screaming and shouting as they always do, even though it's just breakfast. They pay no real attention to anyone around them but their own tables, but a few people who walk by have to do a double-take when they see Zeke. Maybe its because he looks like an elder-that must be what shocks them. No Dauntless must survive the age forty.
"This is stupid," Says the ever so optimistic Four. "It's my apartment, and I get to decide what stays in or not. And I do not want to live with a snake."
"This isn't your decision Four!" Zeke points the hammer at him. He turns to Marlene, Lynn, Uriah, Shauna, and Lauren. "Dearest jury, councilmen, or whatever the heck you want to call yourselves,"
"The majestic folks of-" Uriah starts but is bonked on the head by Zeke's hammer. We all flinch in surprise.
"No interrupting! This is a serious matter, which I am the head decision maker of!" He hisses.
"Damn, I'm kind of scared now." Mutters Lynn.
"As I was saying!" Zeke exclaims in a high accented voice. "These two very different people have come together today to-"
"Stop making it sound like they're getting married." Shauna points out.
"Next person to talk gets twenty hits to the head!" Zeke says smashing the gavel on the table. I jump away in surprise.
"Good lord, Zeke." Lauren says in awe. "You're serious about this."
"Hey, I'm tense about the final rankings tomorrow, because I have to know who chooses a job in the control room. I'm the one mentoring any newbie who thinks he can handle computers. Now, this takes my mind off of that, and I really want to be the judge of this decision, so everyone, play along!"
"Alright," I say sympathetically. "So, if the judge will allow, I'd like to state my reasoning first."
"Permission granted, my dear." He says, a satisfied smile on his face.
"Well," I begin, and pause for the whole dramatic effect theme. "The snake deserves a chance. It's never bothered anyone, and this bastard-sorry Four-wants to strip this snake of a chance in life by chucking it in the chasm."
"Bastard? Tris, how dare-"
"Order, Order!" Zeke hollers. "Let the lady finish."
"Thank you, you're honor." I say politely, when in reality I want to run my head into a wall for that. "And furthermore, the snake is adorable, and matches Four perfectly. It's scales match his eyes, and his black stripes match Four's black shirt. Eight is practically made for Four."
"Objection!" Says Four, giving a pointed look at Zeke.
"Denied," He says simply.
"Okay, now this has just gotten stupid-" The gavel is thrown at Four's face...rather it would have if Zeke's aim was good enough.
"You're kidding, right?" Shauna says. "He's right next to you, and you missed?"
"I'm wearing a monocle! Dumb people are closer than they appear! Can we please just resolve this conflict!"
"Dumb?" Asks a comically enraged Four.
"Tris, continue please." Says Zeke, once again ignoring Tobias.
"Eight also has his own habitat and makes sure pests like mice, cockroaches, and and flies don't stay in the apartment. He lives in his habitat, and really does no harm."
"Okay. Good. We're square with your point. Four, what do you have to say?"
"What do I have to say? The snake can stay in your apartment, but I'm not keeping it. It's disgusting, and not to mention venomous! And it's just a baby now; it will get larger, and I'm not keeping it when it does."
"Objection, your honor!" I cut in.
"Granted."
"Oh, you've gotta be freaking-" Four says staring at the ceiling.
"Shh!" The jury cuts in.
"I let Eight slither around my arm and he didn't do anything. The snake's impressionable; we can try to train it."
"Objection!" Claims Four.
"Denied." Says Zeke.
Four smacks his hand to his forehead. "I'm starting to think this is a rather biased trial."
"Fine, you get ten to seconds talk," Says a condescending Zeke.
"It's animal instincts tell it to bite, what if she gets hurt? What if it somehow finds a mate and lays eggs? Keeping it in a container is just cruel, and lastly; It. Does not. Look. Like. Me." Tobias says in a hurry.
Zeke nods. "The jury and I will now take a vote." He takes six napkins and passes them out to Shauna, Lauren, Lynn, Marlene, and Uriah. He keeps one for himself. "If you believe Four decides the fate of the snake, apply the barbecue sauce to your napkin. If you believe Tris should decide the fate, please add the mustard. Tris and Four, you shall turn while the jury and I make our decision."
Four and I turn our chairs, facing the opposite direction. Zeke still sits in the middle. Even though he might be a little upset about the whole situation, he gives me a mischievous grin. He stares at my lips and makes a biting gesture, his eyes narrowed. I let a breath out of my lungs, and straighten in surprise. Four doesn't usually try anything like that in public. I glare at him, but my heart really isn't in it. I hear his whispered laugh.
Zeke turns around his chair, and our eye contact is broken. He finished voting earlier than the rest. "So what're you two talking about?"
"Nothing much." I say. "Who'd you vote for?"
"Confidentiality!" He says, putting a hand to his chest to look taken aback.
"Why was I barbecue sauce?" Four asks him. "I prefer ketchup. You know that."
"Meh. You're hot and sassy. It just works."
I can't help but laugh at Zeke's bluntness, and Four's horrific reaction. It's not the first time I enjoyed my decision of sneaking into Dauntless. I don't think I've regretted it-yet. "Why am I mustard?"
"Because you're blond."
Now it's Four's turn to laugh. I throw Zeke's dropped gavel at him, which he easily deflects. "No violence in the trial!" He says in his impersonation as Zeke.
Zeke scoffs. "You miserable fool. I do not talk like that. I am a smooth person. If I was a food condiment, I'd be extra virgin olive oil. Smooth yet intense."
"I think the 'virgin' part is the best descriptor for you," Tobias says, a wry smile on one side of his lips.
"Tris, hand me my hammer!" Zeke says, but there is a small cough from behind us.
"We voted." Says Marlene with a hysterical look on her face.
"Excellent!" Says Zeke, clasping his hands together. "Now, let's count the voted. Remembers; no one knows what you picked."
Zeke take the napkins, and arranges them. Three barbecue, and three mustard.
"Well, thats just terrible." Zeke says. "We need another odd number of people to vote on the matter."
"How about we just ask three people if they mind snakes. So they don't have any bias, nor do they have to sit through Zeke's trial." Says Lauren.
"A wise idea indeed, dear Lauren." Says Uriah.
"Please. Nothing about this ridiculous situation can be described as wise," replies Lynn.
"What three people?" I ask.
"I get to choose, as judge!" Declares Zeke. "And so I choose.., you know what. Let's choose all the Candor initiates. Psycho, lipstick, and marshmallow."
"You most certainly won't!" Says Four. "I might have went through with this for a long time, but that's the breaking point, Zeke. They're initiates, they're supposed to be taking things seriously, and fear landscapes are tomorrow, and-"
"It's not like they'll know what their answer is for. I mean, its a simple yes or no question," Says Shauna.
"Then it is settled! Says Zeke, getting up, ripping the bear and monocle. The piece of glass falls into Eight's habitat, and he looks at it weirdly, and decides to lick it. Not trusting where Zeke's things have been, I reach in and get it out. Four holds his breath when I do, and jerks towards me when Eight's tongue flicks my hand. I pet it with a little grin, get the monocle out, and place it on the table. Four relaxes.
I look for Zeke, and find him talking to Christina, then walking over to Al, and lastly asking Peter. He comes back and says, "Two people said yes. One said no. Sorry Four. The snake stays."
"I can't believe I'm agreeing to this." Tobias says, sitting on the couch. I sit across from him, with my legs crossed. Eight is slithering from one hand to the other, effectively making the shape that is his name.
"Touch it!"
"No!"
"Why!?"
"It's ugly!"
"So is Zeke, you still slept with him!"
"He told you? That was completely beyond my free will. I was drunk and in my bed and the little bastard found my key, came in, and stayed the night!"
"Yeah, I know," I roll my eyes. "That's why his perfectly sculptured nose is crooked."
"I'll have to break it again after today."
"Come on, Eight's not that bad! He's cute! See?"
"The thing gets more of your attention than I do!"
"He does not." I say, a smile curving my lips.
"Really?" He says voice lowering. "Prove it."
"Nice try," I scoff. "You're not getting out of it that easy. Touch it!"
"No!"
"You're not even scared of snakes!"
"I'm not scared of doors either, but do you see me trying to hit my face against one? No! I am not touching the vermin that now takes up ninety square inches of my apartment!"
"Vermin?!" I shout, covering where I think Eight's ears are to shield him of Four's cruelty.
He lets out a breath. "Okay, how about this...you let the...thing grow on me. But you don't try forcing me to like it. It has to happen gradually. Deal?"
I think about it. "And you promise not to throw him out or give him away?"
"Zeke made me sign a contract that stated that I wouldn't," His mouth twists. "And he'd probably stick his foot in my mouth if I did anyway. So no, I won't."
I smile at him. "Okay."
"I have to go say a few things to the transfers. Care to join me?"
"Can I bring the snake?"
He gives me a look. "That thing has become your new best friend, hasn't it?"
I let Eight stay around one of my hands as I stand, and I stick my the other out for Tobias to take. He does, and gets up from the couch. "He keeps my mind out of stressful manners. Must be because he's so mesmerizing."
He quirks his eyebrow. "I get the feeling your not talking about Eight anymore."
I give him a quick kiss. "I get the feeling your right." He bends down to give me another kiss, one that's more satisfying.
"Good," He says, and fixes my fedora hat. "Now, hurry. I have to do some other things for tomorrow once I'm done."
I walk beside him all the way to the Transfer dorms, keeping my grin hidden from him.
It didn't escape my attention that he called the snake by its name.
Long over-due. I apoligize. :)
And just as a heads up to all the people are like "If you don't update soon, I'm going to quit reading this story"...I honestly don't care, mainly because whether or not you read my story or not doesn't effect whether or not I write. I write when I need some things to let out, whther it be my sadness, anger, weirdness, or happiness. If you don't want to read any of that, it doesn't matter to me.
Now the people who threaten me, Jesus, it motivates me but its kinda scary at this point. Someone threatened to kill me if I didn't update, but what kind of logic would that be, I mean then I wouldn't be able to update at all...
Anyone see the BOO cover?
Where's Percy wheres Annabeth where Nico wheres leo omfgjfgdkfhgd are they dead, eww Jason's on the cover, omgsghskghskghysk october why arent you coming sooner, why rick why do you do this to me like do you want me to come over there with riptide and go all Peter Hayes on your eye?
And lastly...
1006 followers, 12000+votes and so many reads?!
You know I freaking love you guys right?