Keilani Mahi'ai, age 18
District Four Female
In her last eligible year, the Academy hadn't chosen Keilani. She'd fumed about it for a day or two, then had her epiphany: it didn't matter whether or not she was supposed to volunteer. She could do it anyways.
And so she would.
Who would stop her?
Keilani marched to the eighteen year old girls' section, making sure to position herself closest to the aisle so she could run when the time came. When she would volunteer and prove the Academy trainers wrong, prove she had what it took to be in the Hunger Games. And not just be in the Games, but win the Games.
One thing at a time, Keilani told herself. Get up on that stage first.
Yes, get up on the stage. Too many prior years had she been told she would take her spot someday, she just had to wait another year, wait until she's older, then there would be no way she'd be overlooked. They had lied.
A salty breeze swept through the square, making the intense heat from the burning sun more bearable. Keilani would miss the small things like that when she was in the Capitol. There was no access to the ocean in the city, no access to the place Keilani considered a haven. So tranquil, yet capable of great damage. Demanding respect or distributing destruction.
Soon, the chatter died down as the clock in the Justice Building chimed, and the Hunger Games entourage took the stage. First came Vivia Salt, a short woman who won the Games three years ago after she beheaded the girl from Twelve. Next was Marlin Cascade, last year's victor, an unassuming young man with a prominent scar running down his face. Then the mayor, and finally Ariella, the district escort. Her round, pregnant stomach pushed out against a tight blue dress.
Keilani mostly tuned out the customary speeches everybody gave. It wasn't until she heard Ariella say, "Let's see if Mister Cascade's luck will continue over to this year!" that she turned her attention back to the stage. Yeah right, luck.
I don't need luck.
"Now, what we've all been waiting for," Ariella continued, "which is the drawing of this year's tributes! As always, ladies first." She pranced over to the glass ball with the girls names, and picked a slip right off the top. Keilani tensed as Ariella unfolded the paper. Be sure to get there.
"The young lady representing District Four is…"
"I volunteer!"
Keilani made sure to keep her hand high in the air as she made her way into the aisle so that there was no mistake as to who volunteered. Confused murmurs broke out all around Keilani. But she didn't care. Let them think what they wanted. Let them wonder who she was, where Pearl was.
Let them wonder why Keilani Mahi'ai was taking her spot in the Games when she wasn't chosen to.
Bocaccio Naval, age 18
District Four "Male"
Bocaccio turned their head towards the girls' side of the square, trying to pick out Pearl. The girl who they were supposed to go into the arena with. Until Keilani volunteered first and sent the district into fleeting turmoil.
They knew the girl from the Academy, knew she would be upset when she wasn't chosen. But Bocaccio couldn't fathom volunteering if they were told not to. Apparently Keilani didn't care.
That level of audacity was just something they didn't have.
"A volunteer! How exciting!" Ariella exclaimed as if this was a new turn of events in Four. "What's your name, darling?"
Keilani grinned. "I'm Keilani Mahi'ai, your future victor." Behind her, Vivia Salt rolled her eyes. Bocaccio almost smiled at the sight.
They hoped that they would never come across as that cocky, pissing off the mentors before even leaving the district.
"And now," Ariella remarked, "time for the boys." The boys. Bocaccio didn't mind going into the Games in the male slot for District Four. They just wished sometimes that the reaping was a little more accommodating for people who didn't conform to gender binaries. Such as themself, a proud nonbinary person.
Bocaccio knew some people were assholes about gender identity, but they tried to not let it get to them. The most difficult was their parents not accepting them, their parents kicking them out because their son didn't want to be called a son anymore. The only upside to being disowned was that the Academy still allowed them in, and even let them sleep there if needed.
Ariella dug her hand into the reaping ball, and triumphantly pulled a name out. She unfolded the paper. "Dale Tang!"
"I volunteer," Bocaccio said, starting to move a little towards the aisle. The confused muttering started up again. Even the Peacekeepers who were supposed to find the future tribute paused.
"I volunteer!" Bocaccio shouted again, clearer this time. They mounted the steps, standing next to Ariella.
"Another volunteer!" She put the microphone between the two of them. "What's your name, young man?"
"Bocaccio Naval. And it's not young man," Bocaccio added quietly. "I'm nonbinary."
"I'm dreadfully sorry," Ariella said, seeming genuinely sorry. She turned back to the crowd. "District Four, I am proud to present your tributes in the 95th Hunger Games, Keilani Mahi'ai and Bocaccio Naval!" She gestured for the customary handshake.
They turned to Keilani, their hand out. She took it, and looked them square in the eye as she shook their hand. She would not back down.
Bocaccio would not either.
Keilani Mahi'ai, age 18
District Four Female
"You have a lot of explaining to do, young lady." Keilani stood, arms crossed, facing her adoptive father. Akoni Mahi'ai was a large man, some might say intimidating, with a loud voice and a love for rules and authority. Going against the Academy had put Keilani on his bad side.
"They're fucking idiots," Keilani told him. "The trainers. They all said they would pick me…"
"But they didn't," Akoni interrupted. "So why are you in this room?"
"Because I can win. Just because I wasn't picked doesn't mean I can't do it."
"No, it means you weren't supposed to do it."
Keilani groaned, fighting off the eye roll. She knew that she could be stubborn, but so could Akoni. Arguing with him was like running in circles. Akoni seemed to sense her growing frustration and just sighed, running a hand down his face.
"I just don't want to lose you, Keilani," he said, his voice tired. "You're all I have left here." Keilani softened, giving Akoni a hug. She really was all he had left in Four, after his wife had drowned and their son went missing a few years ago.
"I'm gonna win," Keilani promised. "Then with all that money we can launch an actual investigation about what happened to Kaholo." She could feel Akoni smile against her scalp.
"It would be nice," Akoni mused, "not just knowing what happened to him, but having a victor for a daughter." Keilani pulled back and grinned at Akoni. He always came around, always ended up supporting her.
The Peacekeeper opened the door. Time to go. Akoni turned to her. "I love you, Keilani. Do your district proud." Akoni was rushed out of the door before he could hear Keilani's response.
"I will. Don't you worry, I will."
The door opened again, and a flurry of orange fabric burst inside. Keilani didn't bother giving Coquina any kind of hug. Physical contact made her friend incredibly uncomfortable, and it would have felt too much like a goodbye.
"Everyone's pissed off," Coquina stated right off the bat. "Pearl most of all."
"What else would you expect?"
Coquina scoffed. "Anyone could have expected that reaction. But I don't think anybody expected you to volunteer."
"They should have."
"Keilani, listen to me," Coquina said, staring Keilani right in the face. "The entire district is upset with you. You better come back, or else you'll have thousands of people spitting on your grave."
Bocaccio Naval, age 18
District Four "Male"
Bocaccio didn't know who would visit them. They didn't know if anybody would visit them. But they hoped so. A familiar face or two would be nice before being shipped off to the Capitol. A familiar face before being thrown into a mix of unfamiliar ones.
Unfamiliar faces of other district kids, kids they'd have to kill. Some would become their allies. Bocaccio frowned at the thought of being in an alliance. Going alone would ultimately be how they won, but being a part of the Career pack would be how they made it through the beginning of the Games. And if they backed out, it would surely place a target on their back.
Funny how they only had qualms about being allied, not about taking human life.
The killing was just an inherent part of the Games. The alliances were a choice.
Bocaccio stared out the window overlooking the square. Already, the rope that formed the reaping pens was almost gone, the reaping balls were being carried away, the crowd had dissipated. Almost as if life was beginning a return to normal. As if the reaping was just something on a checklist and nobody cared about Bocaccio sitting in the Justice Building, waiting for a heartfelt goodbye that would never come.
They hoped somebody cared about Keilani. What would the odds be of both District Four tributes being unwanted?
Slim, but never zero.
The odds were never zero.
Waiting, waiting, waiting. Thinking, thinking, thinking. Waiting for the door to open. Thinking about how they wanted to see somebody. Anybody. They partially expected Pearl to show up to wish them luck at least, but she was a no show. Probably upset about being upstaged at the reaping.
The square cleared completely. People went about their lives again. Bocaccio caught sight of a family, two parents and a small girl between them. They felt a pang in their chest. Could that have ever been them someday? Could they have been happy with their family? Or were they always doomed to be disowned and rejected?
Still they waited. Still nobody came.
Before they knew it, someone knocked on the door. Bocaccio's heart surged, then fell dramatically when only a Peacekeeper entered. "Time to go, kid," the Peacekeeper said. "The train's waiting."
Bocaccio stood. They would just have to impress everyone when they won the Games.
I love these two. I know I might be biased, but I just love them. :) What were your thoughts on Keilani and Bocaccio?
We're officially a third of the way done with the reapings! And we're done with our Careers. As always, reviews are welcome. Let me know what you thought! See everyone in District Five!
-D9T