Right, so I was originally going to write this as a one shot, but as I got further into it, I realized I wanted to make it a fully fleshed out story. I'm going to post this like a teaser and see how it is received, and it will feature in the full story one way or another, hell, I might just make this a chapter when all is said and done. Until then, consider this a one shot that will likely later be turned into a story, once all my current projects are done.
Roof of Dauntless Compound
Annalise shivered slightly in the cool breeze, before perking up when the guy in all black clothes, with blond hair and pierced ears started speaking. "Right, you lot, which one of you is going to jump first?" There was a wave of muttering, before someone spoke up, "Wait, you want us to jump down? Are you insane?" He just laughed, "Jump or not, I don't rightly care, but the only way to become Dauntless is to sometimes do something that at first seems crazy."
Annalise, along with the majority of the transfers were frozen. She knew what would happen were she not to jump; she would become factionless, a fate worse than death. She didn't realize she was moving until the crowd parted for her and suddenly, she was looking down into a hole that ended in blackness.
The guy laughed loudly, "I didn't think it'd be a stiff who jumped first. Well, not like it hasn't happened before, but still." He leaned in and quietly spoke to her over the sounds of jeering, some more good natured than others. "Listen stiff, there's nothing doing now, you've stepped up and to back down now would just make things worse for you then they already will be, trust me, stiffs got a bad rep around here, you'll want to do everything you can to get people to look past the stiff and see you." Loudly again, he spoke, "Well, stiff? Are you gonna jump, or back off and let everyone else go first, like a proper selfless person?"
Annalise glowered at him, and thought about letting him have it, before letting her actions speak for her, and jumping.
Line Break
Annalise instantly regretted it. Through tremendous force of will, she managed not to scream. However, before she could do more than think she was about to die, smashed against the pavement who knows how far down, she slammed into a net.
She tried to look around, but before her eyes could properly adjust to the dark, there was a figure standing in front of her, "Alright, first jumper, what's your na… Well, I'll be damned, it's a stiff!" there was some laughter and Annalise thought she heard some indignant mutterings, but brushed it aside. Her silence hadn't gone unnoticed, however, for the woman in front of her leaned in and whispered conspiratorially, "Think about it for a moment, this is a chance to become someone new, a second chance, you don't get many of those." Annalise thought about it, briefly considering picking a whole new name for herself, before deciding against it and dropping the first part of her name, "Lise, my name is Lise." The woman nodded, and called out, "First jumper; Lise!" before grabbing her and bodily hauling her out of the net.
Line Break
Inside Dauntless Compound
Tris was nervous. Today was the day she started her job as a trainer of the next generation of Dauntless. She fretted in front of the mirror, going over her speech until a pair of arms wrapped around her from behind.
She sagged back into him, letting his comforting presence wash over her. "Why, of all times, did Christina choose now to become pregnant?" She griped to the man behind her. He chuckled, "If I recall correctly, she didn't just become pregnant, it was just bad timing that she became to far into it around this time. Don't worry so much, you'll do great." She sighed and nodded, but before she could thank him, he continued, "Besides, I'll be there as well, to make sure everyone knows what's going on." She scowled at him, and slapped his arm, before leaning against him once more, "Right, how could I forget, Tobias?" He looked at her in the mirror, "It's Four, remember, Six?" She nodded.
She looked at the clock, "Oh, it's about time we get a move on, if we want to be there for the jumps." Four shook his head, "I'm still not sure why you want to be there, Marlene will have things well in hand." She nodded petulantly, "I still want to, so either you come with me, or I go alone." He shook his head in exasperation, "Fine." She bounced up and down in excitement. And he shook his head again, while looking at her fondly, "Will you ever grow up, Six?" She looked affronted, "And be all dour and serious like you, Four? Not a chance."
He got an evil look on his face, "Dour and serious, huh? Oh, I'll show you dour and serious, alright." Grabbing her, he started mercilessly tickling her sides, as she squealed and tried to escape, which he eventually allowed her to do.
She backed off and looked at him warily, ready to defend herself against more attacks. When he lunged for her, she bolted squealing with laughter out the door and towards when the new initiates would be jumping, Four chasing right behind her.
Line Break
Six was glad she had convinced Four to attend this with her, if only for her to smirk at him when another Abnegation girl was the first to jump. He scowled playfully and pushed her.
They waited until everyone had jumped, before splitting them along faction lines, namely, Dauntless-born in one group, and non-Dauntless-born in another. Six took the Dauntless-born on a merry run, leaving Four to look after the non-Dauntless-born.
They all met up in the dining hall, and Six and Four became Tris and Tobias. It had taken her awhile and a fair bit of work to get him to become comfortable around her friend group for him to let them call him Tobias, but she was adamant that she was not going to always call him Four. She noticed the Abnegation girl's eyes flit around and allowed herself a small smile at the memories it brought up. Getting everyone's attention, she discretely pointed it out, and everyone had a good-natured laugh at her expense when the memories started coming back. They spent the rest of the night reminiscing about their own initiation.
Line Break
Lise had met a few people she thought could become friends given time, but she was still rather painfully shy, mostly due the sensory overload she was currently experiencing. One of the meaner boys from Erudite loudly spoke, "Hey stiff, looks like even the instructors are laughing at the concept of a stiff in Dauntless!" There were some laughs, some glares, and a few people didn't react either way, but when Lise looked, the instructors were indeed laughing and discretely gesturing towards her.
Feeling a rising wave of mortification, she felt the heat rising in her cheeks, and hot tears beginning to prick at the corners of her eyes, when an Amity girl spoke up, "Hey, there's no need to be rude, Jason. We don't know for sure what their talking about. Maybe they're talking about your hair!" His cheeks pinked as he self-consciously tried to smooth down his hair, which seemed to perpetually stick up in all directions. "Shut up, flower girl, why don't you go sing about peace and friendship somewhere else?" he spat out, glaring at her.
She just smirked at him, before turning to Lise, "Hi, I'm Daisy. It's nice to meet you." Smiling shyly at the exuberant girl, she said, "I'm Lise, same to you." Daisy scooted closer to her, and smiled again, "Don't pay Jason any mind, he's always been a jerk. I'm guessing you're a bit overwhelmed, what with being from Abnegation and all." Lise nodded slowly, blushing slightly, "Yeah, you could say that. It's really different from Abnegation.
Daisy nodded, "It's quite different from Amity as well, but also kind of similar, lots of laughing and loud talking, you know?" Lise nodded, even though she really didn't.
Gathering up her courage, she waved over a Dauntless-born initiate. When he got there, she pointed towards the instructors and asked, "Who's that, sitting next to Four?" The guy laughed, "Oh, her? That's Six, she'll be one of our instructors, along with Four."
Lise was braver with her next question, "Six? Four? Do all instructors have numbers for names?" He laughed, "No, and those aren't their real names, either, obviously. It's just what most people call them, that aren't their friends, I'd imagine. Either way, doesn't really matter much, as you'll only know them as Six and Four, and you'll probably curse those names as well." Raising an eyebrow, she asked, "Why would I curse their names?" He laughed harder at that, "Because they'll be the ones whipping us all into shape, some of us more than others," He said, flexing a little bit, then gesturing to the bulkier, but decidedly less muscled Jason. She giggled a little, Daisy joining her.
Gesturing to himself, the guy introduced himself, "I'm Jonah, it's nice to meet you." Smiling at him, Daisy piped up, "I'm Daisy, and this is Lise. It's nice to meet you too."
Laughing he pointed to a spot next to them in askance, to which Daisy nodded. Slotting himself in, he leaned towards them, "So, you're obviously a stiff, and I'm guessing… Amity?" Looking affronted on her behalf, Daisy glared lightly at Jonah, "LIse is from Abnegation, and yes, I'm from Amity. No need to ask where you're from." Looking suitably abashed, Jonah rubbed the back of his neck, "Yeah, sorry bout that, Lise, it's just, don't generally have to censor that kind of stuff here, you know?" Lise smiled at him, "It's fine Jonah, I should get used to it anyway, I'll probably be hearing it a lot from now on."
Jonah got a contemplating look on his face, "Well, you'd look a lot less… stiff… if you changed how you looked, gesturing to his own nose ring and half shorn head." Seeing her look of fear he was quick to placate her, "Obviously, you don't have to shave half your head, but getting some different clothes, maybe a piercing or tattoo would go a long way to making you look more Dauntless."
She gave him a half smile tinged with uncertainty, "Thanks for the advice, but I don't think I'm quite ready to do something permanent just yet." His smile broadened, "Well, lucky for you, piercing aren't permanent! Come on, let's do it now! We can all get matching ones!" Caught up in his enthusiasm, Daisy was bouncing up and down giddily, "Yeah, alright, let's do it! Come on, Lise!" Lise froze, caught between fear and indecision, her fear of the unknown teaming up with the lesson she had learnt growing up in Abnegation, before she looked at Jason and steeled herself, looking back at Daisy and Jonah, who were both looking back expectantly, she nodded her head and said, "Alright, let's do it." Jonah whooped with joy and said, "Hold on a minute, I'll go let Four know." He ran over and said something to Four, who turned and looked at the two girls for a moment, during which Lise was sure he nodded almost imperceptibly at her, before nodding at Jonah, who ran to a table close by, said a few words, and then finally ran back to them. "Ready?" He asked.
Lise and Daisy looked at each other, smiled and turned back to him, "Ready," they chorused together.
Line Break
Jonah lead them through the dim tunnels and out into what was obviously the social and commercial center of the compound.
He led them up and into a store covered in designs. Lise was confused, "Uh, Jonah, this looks like a tattoo parlor?" He laughed, "Yeah, well, to save space, they just put it in a corner of the parlor, not like it takes up much space anyway."
By that time, they had entered the parlor, and a woman of Asian descent looked up. She smiled at Jonah, before her eyes took in Lise, and they widened slightly, and so did her smile, before finally looking at Daisy. "How can I help you three? Jonah, isn't it a bit early to be getting people into my shop?" He rubbed the back of his neck, "Yeah, well, people were making fun of Lise here for being a stiff, so I suggested that we make her look more Dauntless. She wasn't convinced, so me and Daisy had to sweeten the deal by offering to get matching piercings ourselves." Almost absently, the woman corrected him, "Daisy and I, Jonah, you know this." When she turned her back to get what she needed, he rolled his eyes at the girls, who giggled, before responding, "Yeah, Aunt Tori, I know." The girls looked between him and the woman who had just returned carrying a tray of assorted piercings, and he winked at them.
She looked at the three, "Do you know where you want the piercing?" They looked at each other and shook their heads, Jonah spoke, "Lise, why don't you choose?" Looking distinctly unprepared for that, Lise thought about it for a moment, both asking the other two, "Ear?" Jonah looked distinctly unimpressed, muttering about unoriginality, which earned him a gentle reprimanding cuff to the back of the head, to which he grinned unrepentantly at her. Daisy, meanwhile was smiling widely and nodding, while clapping her hands and bouncing up and down.
Tori smiled at the two girls, and smirked at Jonah, "Ears it is. Who's going first?" The two girls looked at each other and in stereo said, "Jonah." He groaned good naturedly, and sat on the stool his aunt indicated. With precise movements, Tori had quickly pierced and cleaned his ears, and Daisy eagerly sat on the stool next. Before she knew it, it was her turn, and Lise made her way to the stool. Tori, sensing her nervousness, smiled reassuringly at her, before quickly repeating the process. It wasn't half as bad as she was expecting it to be, and she was done before she knew it. Tori smiled and help up a mirror, where the three admired their new matching piercings. Smiling, Lise was able to ignore the dull throbbing in her ear in favor of sharing this experience with her new friends.
Smiling, Tori shooed them out of her store, and they made their way to the non-Dauntless-born dorms, where they said goodbye to Jonah and claimed a bunk for themselves.
They spent the next hour chatting before the other transfers came in along with Four and Six.
Line Break
Six and Four walked all the initiates to the dorms, sending the Dauntless-born into one, and following the transfers into the other. Six raised her eyebrows at seeing the two girls who had run out earlier sitting chatting on one of the beds. She looked at four, who nodded, then gestured for the girls to join the rest of the initiates.
Four spoke first, "Listen up! I'm Four and this is Six. We will be your trainers until such time as you either become Dauntless…or factionless."
Six slapped his arm, before taking center stage, "As Four said, I am Six, and I will be training you all, while Four takes the Dauntless-born initiates. Training begins at 8 a.m. sharp tomorrow morning, so I suggest you get to sleep quick. I will not go easy on you just because you are tired, in fact, it will likely make me want to push you harder. But you do what you want."
With that, the two trainers walked out and entered the Dauntless-born dorm.
Jason walked up with his posse, "Nice jewelry, stiff. Still doesn't change the fact that you're a stiff, though. I wouldn't get too comfortable here, you'll be out on the streets with the other factionless soon enough." Lise shrunk in on herself slightly as the laughter swelled, but Daisy quickly put a stop to that by slinging an arm around her shoulders, "Oh, do be quiet Jason. Just because Erudite didn't want you doesn't mean you need to push your fears of becoming factionless on someone else. Besides, I'm sure they could use more Erudites anyway, you'd probably be helping them." Seeing he had lost the crowd, he sneered at Daisy, "Shut up, Amity." And stalked away.
Smiling at Lise, Daisy pulled her in for a side hug, "Like I said, don't worry about Jason, he's nothing without public approval, and who can compete with an Amity when it comes to winning personality?" Giving her an exaggerated big smile, Lise couldn't help but laugh. The two girls chatted for a few more minutes, before getting ready for sleep and bunking down for the night.
Okay, so don't expect the full version of this to be coming out any time soon. I just wanted to put this out to see what people think of it, and to possibly generate some interest in it. The actual story will likely be told from the perspective of Lise, with a few Tris/Tobias segments thrown in, so that's something to think about. I've already figured out the pairing, so I don't need any help with that. And speaking of help, I'll be putting this notice on the next few chapters of my current story, but I think it's about time I look for a beta reader. If you're interested, please PM me, and I'll give you more details then. The music for this was Dance Monkey by Tones and I. Oh, right, almost forgot, if you couldn't tell, this is an AU setting, basically a rainbows and unicorns version of the books, at least in some cases. Divergents aren't really a thing, so everything to do with that directly doesn't happen, except for Tris going to Dauntless. But nothing else, so everyone is happily going along with their lives, more or less. I'll probably make it clearer in the actual story, but figured I'd clarify if people were confused.