Kū'ē

alternatively -- if you’re into star wars and morally screwed up characters, you can find me over @renkniighted !

@islacalifornia

      “You heard me. Those rumors and memes ‘bout the FBI tracking us through our phones? Yeah, all true. I have to ditch almost all of my devices whenever I go ghost without notifying my boss first, or else he’ll send people after me. He treats me like an object. An object, Keahi. More so than any of my previous presidents have ever done. I’m like a living trophy to him.” 

      Alfred could go on and on about how much he wanted to escape the Donald, but then they’d be in the kitchen until dawn. “What? ‘s just pocket money.” Clearly, they had different budget expectations. “We’ve already closed up shop twice as of yesterday,” Euphemism for ‘government shutdown’. “And I believe in the special counsel investigation team.” At least for the time being. 

She glanced back towards the living room where her phone lay, discarded on the couch. All plans for keeping it with her for the day? Discarded. Easy enough, considering she habitually goes off radar. “Okay, you know I’m on you’re side on this one. And if the government comes kicking down the door, you run. I’ll distract ‘em.” 

Though her tone was joking, Keahi had every intent of following through should it happen. But in the meantime, she leaned against the doorframe, a little amazed and just a tinge melancholic. “We’ll get through this.” She mumbled, fixing her gaze on Koa and petting his head. She quickly glanced back up, though, typical upbeat Keahi back in place. 

“Okay, I’m across the hall. Bathrooms connected to your room. But -” Keahi stopped, crossing her arms and attempting to look as serious as possible while grabbing her scarf from a hall shelf. 

      “I’ve been hiding in my hotel room and watching reruns.” With his dominant arm still wrapped around Koa, he scooped up the dog as if it were his own and started wandering the residence in search of the guest room. “Where are we rooming? I ought to measure things out before they install my indoor hot tub.” He said this with a straight face. “I lied. I don’t like hot tubs that much. No offense if you own one.”  

      “I gotta ask you something real quick. Do you think The Donald will last all four years? ‘s already been about 9 months, and people were confident he wouldn’t make it to half a year.” Quite the nickname for his president, wouldn’t you agree? Not just Donald: he was THE Donald. “I might’ve dropped a couple thousand in a betting pool. If you’re willing to help with placing bets, I’ll split the money with you.” 

“Hiding? Reruns?” She mutters, attention still focused on the remaining batter on her spoon as Alfred gets up. He got on a ridiculously long flight to sit in a hotel and watch reruns? A soft exhale of disbelief passes her lips, followed by an eye roll at his hot tub comment. “Nope. I’ve got the beach a couple blocks away ... last door on the right, by the way.”

Keahi finally gets up from her chair, tossing the now batter-free spoon into the sink before finding where Alfred had wandered off to. 

@exsuperatus

She was glad San Francisco was on the water. Passing breezes, cooled by the Pacific waters, eased her anxieties and allowed her occasional moments of respite. To this end, Keahi leant herself out the window, inhaling the clean air. Chatter from the city intermingled with music emanating from the hotel, providing a soft melody to distract her thoughts with. Going by the tune, it was almost time to join the festivities. 

     “My lady.” William Armstrong, cabinet member of the government of Hawai’i, walked up beside Keahi, offering an arm. She accepted with the norm and grace expected of her, and with the King’s nodded approval, the group made their way towards the doors of the ball.

Their entrance and the moments that followed passed in a colorful blur, whispers and open chatter swirling around her ears. Though initially overwhelmed, Keahi was full of curiosity. She had never left her islands before and yet, for the first time in a week, if she closed her eyes she could almost be attending a party in Hawai’i. 

Step by step, Keahi drew away from Armstrong. First by a loosening of her fingers, such that the weight was barely there. He quickly became embroiled in a discussion with the King, and there she saw her chance. 

Knowing she would have Kalakaua’s approval, Keahi slipped off of Armstrong’s arm to wander the length of the ballroom, anxious to see all that was available. In her wonderment, she managed to just barely avoid collision with a waiter, but instead ended up tripping right into another ball attendee. 

     “-- I am so sorry.” She automatically began, hurriedly righting herself.