Effie sat alone at a finely decorated table near the dace floor. It was the Victor's ball for the 73rd Hunger Games and once again District 12 was found without a victor. Effie glumly lifted her glass to her lips, only to find it empty. She sighed, placing it back upon the table. These events were never fun unless you were on the winning team. District 12's boy tribute had actually made it quite far this year... It's always harder when they last longer. Effie leaned back in her chair and watched the victor dance by her with a pretty capitol girl. Effie closed her eyes, wishing she could leave already, but it was far too early. The scrapping of a chair alerted her to the presence of someone else joining her table. She mentally prepared herself to plaster on that awful, fake grin she'd already been wearing most of the night when his voice grumbled a slightly slurred greeting from across the table.
"How're you holdin' up princess?"
Effie smirked as her eyes fluttered open. Her gaze landed on the near empty bottle clamped in his fist.
"I'm fine. I see you've made yourself at home."
Haymitch winked and replied with a swig from the bottle. Effie turned away and watched as the victor danced by once more with a different girl on his arm. Haymitch looked Effie up and down.
"You know, green's not really your color." Haymitch commented, draining the remainder of his bottle. Effie scowled.
"If you only came over here to bother me I'd rather just sit by myself thank you." Haymitch grinned, a glimmer in his eye. He so loved ruffling her feathers.
"For your information madame" Haymitch stood, swaying slightly and grabbed Effie's hand, pulling her up out of her seat, "I thought I would ask you for a dance." Effie was surprised momentarily, but offered Haymitch a small smile, allowing him to place his other hand upon her waist and guide her to the dance floor.
"I never thought of you as much of a dancer." Effie commented as they stepped and twirled in rhythm with the other couples around them.
"You know," Haymitch gave her hand a squeeze, "Even I had a Victor's ball."
