My thoughts on how Finnick came to be in the Games the first time
I was asked about my headcanon for how Finnick became a tribute, so here is an attempt at answering that very important question. (What? I kind of live and breathe Finnick Odair, if y'all hadn't noticed. ;)
At various times in canon, District 4 is referred to as a well-off district and as a Career district (Katniss specifically refers to Annie Cresta as one of the last living Careers along with Enobaria of 2, IIRC), but what we see in canon of their tributes and victors indicates that it's not the same as either 1 or 2, who make no bones about the fact that they train their kids for the Games. So in my mind, District 4 became a Career Lite district, which means that they train their kids as part of the school curriculum, calling it "physical education." As the kids get older, those who are particularly good at certain things get more specialized training, kind of like football, basketball, track, wrestling, swimming, or soccer in our high schools. As far as the Games are concerned, TPTB in the schools decide on a pool of 17 and 18-year-olds to choose from if a younger kid is reaped and one of those kids volunteers to take the younger (or weaker) kid's place. That way, District 4 remains a strong contender to win the extra food and other perks that go along with winning the Games. (More well off than other districts does not mean rich or well-fed, by any means.)
And that brings us to Finnick.
As far as my headcanon is concerned, Finnick was reaped at 14. There were no volunteers to take his place because the man in charge of those potential volunteers told them no, let the reaping stand. They were shocked enough and taught to respect their elders, etc. etc., that by the time any of them thought to do it anyway, it was too late. Finnick was reaped because the man who should have said otherwise had recently argued with Finnick's father, and letting Finnick go to the arena was his petty revenge against the elder Odair.
And here's a brief fic to illustrate (part 2 of "Be Careful What You Wish For" or five times Finnick Odair wished he was someplace else):
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Finnick stands in the middle of a circle of fourteen year olds, all staring at him. Everyone is staring at him. No one speaks. It’s as though every person in the town square holds their breath, waiting for the words “I volunteer” to ring out from among the older kids. A light breeze winds its way through the crowd, touching sweat-damp skin here, lifting a stray lock of hair there, not staying anywhere long enough to be a comfort in the sweltering heat. Finnick tries to swallow past the collar of his dress shirt and the tie – noose – his mother made him wear, doesn’t quite make it and ends up coughing. A whisper starts somewhere in the sea of faces, swelling like a wave in a freshening sea, but he can’t make out any words. No one has any words. Not even those who should.
District 4 takes care of its own. He’s heard that so many times that it’s ingrained in his bones. There hasn’t been a kid under the age of fifteen sent to the arena since the last Quarter Quell.
Feathery Phineas LaSalle, the Capitol’s representative to District 4 for as long as Finnick can remember, clears his throat uncomfortably and calls Finnick’s name again. Finnick takes a step toward the stage and the other boys surrounding him shift to create a path. Marco opens his mouth to say something but shuts it again, leaving the words unsaid. When Finnick reaches the bottom step of the stairs he straightens his shoulders, lifts his chin and forces the muscles of his face into something that at least feels like a grin, if not a full-blown smile. He can do this. He can.
As he takes that first step, all he can think about is that morning, when he went out on the seiner with his dad for the last time. How all he wanted was to finish for the day so he could get the reaping over with and hit the beach with Trevor and Marco, safe for another year. When one of the nets was tangled so badly that it tore, Finnick had denied responsibility for it, but he and his dad both knew that it happened because he was distracted, woolgathering. His father had yelled at him, said he couldn’t go out with his friends until he fixed that net and Finnick had mouthed off, said something stupid about it being Reaping Day and how a stinking net was more important to Thomas than his owns son’s happiness.
In silence Finnick ascends the stairs to the stage, joins the female tribute, Luisa Hennegan, a girl three years his senior. Finnick meets the bird-like black eyes of Feathery Phineas, shakes his hand and keeps the cheesy grin plastered to his face. He doesn’t want to embarrass himself or his family or even the district, so he blinks back the tears that threaten and hopes LaSalle didn’t notice. Finnick wants to give them all a good show, acts with a confidence he doesn’t feel.
But he’d give anything to be on the beach at home, splicing together the torn ends of that net.