the makings of a soldier

a·dapt      [ verb ]  // to make suitable to requirements  // or conditions; adjust or modify  // fittingly. DE SANTO, OWEN; 17. erudite             D A U N T L E S S.

[steel-nerva]

  “Sorry, can’t hear you. I actually go temporarily deaf whenever I open a book. It’s the strangest thing.”

[desensitized-de-santo]

   “ I think I'm actually starting to believe you... ”

[desensitized-de-santo]

     “ I'm not last—— ”

[warren-theselfsacrificing-blog]

      “Ranked last…Not surprising. Guess I need to stop             waiting around for my turn to prove myself…." 

[desensitized-de-santo]

   “ Yeah, I can empathize...            But, at least we've got determination, right? ”

[steel-nerva]

     ”They aren’t bullshit. You just don’t like them,          so you choose to ignore them.”

[desensitized-de-santo]

    “ Yeah. I think you've voiced your opinions      on the choices I make well enough already. ”

[harley-draven-born-brave]

"What do you think that you are doing exactly?"

[desensitized-de-santo]

“ Trying to convince myself to change into these depressing clothes... ”

[steel-nerva]

     ”Stop calling me that! That’s not my name. Not anymore.          And I don’t owe you an explanation. You refuse to listen          every time I give you one anyway.”

[desensitized-de-santo]

     “ No, Mi— I listen.     Your explanations are just bullshit. ”

[steel-nerva]

     ”Never. I’m not going too say that, because it’s not true.            I never felt it. You were just a distraction, Owen.”

[desensitized-de-santo]

     “ I can't accept that.      Minerva—— what happened? ”

[steel-nerva]

     ”Yeah, I know—Can’t you just….stop?”

[desensitized-de-santo]

     “ No. No, I won't. When are you going to come to terms with that?      Or, better yet— When will you tell me that you still feel the same? ”

[alphalewolf]

[alexandria-komarov]

"Nothing’s wrong with the one you have. If you want to keep it, keep it. If you want to change it, change it. It’s all up to you."

[desensitized-de-santo]

“ But that's not really true, now, is it...? ”

“ But, uh— thanks for that. I think I'll stick with it.                                                         Can I ask yours? ”

[gunnxr]

I think if you’ve got to ask yourself that question then I’m almost positive you should be open for change regardless.

[desensitized-de-santo]

“ Don't you think we've made enough changes? ”

[maxgarretts]

        “Ask your idiot friends why they got tattoos the minute they stepped into the Pit and then you’ll understand why.”

[desensitized-de-santo]

“ 'Wouldn't have anyone to ask.... ”

[spencer-theinvincible-deactivat]

And the one you have is…?

[desensitized-de-santo]

“ It's—— Owen. And yours? ”

[cordinshaw-blog]

That depends on your outlook of your transition to Dauntless life. 

[desensitized-de-santo]

“ What's that supposed to mean? ”

[steel-nerva]

The blonde had done her best to avoid being forced to acknowledge a particular boy who’d transferred from her faction. The moment his hand hovered over the bowl of coals, Nerva’s blood had begun to boil. And try as she had to enjoy each moment spent sprinting, leaping, and jumping her way to the Dauntless compound, his presence among the group distracted her from savoring any of it. She hated him for it; hated him in a way she’d never expected herself capable of.

Nerva had pushed herself as hard as she could to keep up with the throng of Dauntless borns instead of straggling behind with most of the other transfers. She tried to lose herself in the sea of black clothing. When they separated into two groups, she went for the ever mature tactic of ignoring him, rather pointedly, but as they neared the end of their tour, she knew it was time to act. As the initiate transfers filtered into the dining hall, she shot out her hand to grab him by the arm and stop him.

“What are you doing?” It was less of a question and more of a demand, hissed through clenched teeth, ”Why are you here? You didn’t score Dauntless, we both know you didn’t score Dauntless. The entire city probably knows you didn’t score Dauntless. So why are you here?”

[desensitized-de-santo]

  >> The Choosing Ceremony had been the first of many things for Owen. It was the first (and, ironically, the last) time he'd seen the highest level of his school, and the first time he'd really given much thought to where he 'truly' belonged—which should have been the most important of firsts on his mind, but of course was not. No, he was made far more anxious by the realization of how alphabetically distanced he was from the girl he'd actually managed to get so close to, emotionally.

   >> It was all over now. Owen had made his choice. His blood no longer belonged to Erudite and somehow he had to deal with it coming after his faction. His new faction. When he'd finally gotten up on that stage to make his choice, it felt like the only one he'd had. He'd been too naïve to realize that the one he'd fallen for —the girl that made him feel like he belonged somewhere— her hear belonged somewhere else. More damaging was that he hadn't realized his own self-worth. But, here he was, jumping through figurative and physical hoops to try and catch up to her. Until they'd been tossed into their new room --if that's what you could call it-- his efforts had proved ineffective.

   ❝ What? Minerva, I— Did you know—? ” His voice fell from the octave he'd expected he'd first elicit when he finally caught up with her. “ I— I chose Dauntless. I'm here now. With you! Isn't it great? ” All he could do was furrow his brows, poorly fighting the smile that'd been plastered to his face since he'd been reunited with her, as he attempted to change the grip of wrists in his favour. “ Are you ready? Are we eating now? I could use some nourishment. ” He chuckled, attempting a squeeze of her hand and bringing his smile back, full-force.

[desensitized-de-santo]

steel-nerva:

  “Do you still love me?”

“ You know I do. ”

[pathrochilles]