An Early Holiday Season
"Pour me another one." Haymitch grumbled towards the bartender and put the money on the counter. The bar was overly crowded with excited Capitol citizens. Of course, the last preparations for the 75th Games were in full swing and the Capitol citizens stayed up late. Our favourite mentor couldn't care less; his tributes were ready as can be, but they still had two days of training left.
"Are you sure about that, sir?" the bartender carefully asked. "You've had quite a lot to drink tonight. I don't think it's a good idea that-" "I said pour me another one!" Haymitch interrupted the bartender. At the moment he wanted nothing more than to pass out and forget about everything again for a while.
"I'm sorry, sir." the bartender continued politely. "You have to go home and rest for a bit." Haymitch snorted. "You can't tell me what to do." he slurred. But he stood up anyway. I'm not drunk enough, he thought to himself. He walked out of the crowded bar. Hmm, fresh air. "Might as well go for a walk." he sighed.
He didn't want to return to the Penthouse just yet. Effie was probably still up. They had a nasty fight about their tributes. Of course, they were both heartbroken. But Haymitch had not taken Effie too seriously. The woman was always overreacting anyways. He looked around the almost empty streets of the Capitol. The sky was clear; Haymitch could see the moon and the stars. He looked at the houses, light pouring out of the windows, people partying like there was no tomorrow.
Suddenly he spotted something interesting in a window display as he walked past a store. He walked back a few steps. 'Escort Calendar – 75thHunger Games Exclusive Edition'. One of the escorts, probably the one from District 1, stood on the cover in a rather provocative manner.
"Wait a minute…" Haymitch whispered to himself. He walked in the store and searched for the calendar. He found a pile of them in a rack and picked one. He turned the square, rather large calendar around to find a list of the contents of the calendar. January – Victoria Roxen. Of course, the escort from 1. February – Septima Baxwoll. The escort from 2.
"Effie, Effie.." Haymitch mumbled as he scanned the list with his eyes. December – Euphemia Trinket. Duh. District 12. Why didn't he think of that earlier. Becoming kind of curious, he decided to buy it and take a look. After he had payed for the calendar he headed straight for the Training Center, stepped into the elevator, pressed the button to the Penthouse and ripped the wrapping plastic off of the calendar. December, he reminded himself.
When he saw the picture, he had to hold back a grin. There she was, Effie Trinket. Dressed in sexy Santa Claus lingerie with long blonde curls. The door of the elevator opened, he walked into the viewing area and decided to hang it on the wall, even though it wasn't December. But hey. This is going to be great, he grinned.
Just a minute later Effie walked in, smeared makeup and lopsided wig. Her shoes were gone and her dress was wrinkly. She yawned. "Haymitch are you there?" she asked and walked towards the viewing room. Haymitch lay on the sofa, half asleep. "Haymitch," Effie shook him. "you woke me. Where were you? I was worried." Haymitch opened his eyes and smiled as soon as he saw Effie. He sat up straight. "I was just doing some shopping, princess."
Effie raised her eyebrows. "Shopping? It's 2 AM." She sat next to him on the couch. "Don't you want to see what I bought?" Haymitch smirked and pointed at the wall opposite of them. Effie rolled her eyes. "Haymitch it is not December. I know you like the holiday season but-" Haymitch interrupted her. "Look closer." Effie rubbed her eyes and looked closer. She immediately gasped in horror. "Haymitch Abernathy you perverted freak!" She stood up quickly and ripped the calendar off the wall. Haymitch was faster and took it from her, holding it in the air teasingly. "Why so serious, princess? You look great! I like your hair too!" He ripped off her wig, revealing her blonde hair, and held it in the air as well.
"Hey! Give that back!" Effie screamed. "Haymitch this is not funny!" Haymitch nodded. "I agree, that wig of yours is ugly as fuck." He threw it on the sofa. Katniss and Peeta came in the room, looking extremely tired. "What's going on with the two of you!" Peeta yelled. Katniss joined him. "We're trying to sleep!" Effie didn't react to them, as Haymitch didn't do so either. She didn't make a move to get the wig. Instead she focused on the other object in Haymitch's hand; the calendar. She reached for it and jumped a couple of times, snatching the calendar away from him and held it against her chest in protection. "Why are you being so nasty about this?" Haymitch asked. "You're the one who posed for this picture."
"What picture?" Katniss asked. She walked towards Effie and held her hand up. Effie sighed and gave her the calendar. Katniss stared at Effie's picture, at Effie, the picture, and Effie again. "Wow, Effie." she cleared her throat. "I didn't know you were eh... into this kind of stuff."
Peeta grabbed the calendar from Katniss' hands. His face turned red as he saw the picture and he gave the calendar back to Effie without saying a word. "I- I like your hair though." Peeta stuttered, trying to make the situation less awkward. But instead, he had made it even more awkward.
Haymitch smirked and mimicked Effie's accent. "Breathe it all in children. This is all for-" he received a nudge from Effie's elbow. "We should probably head back to bed now." Katniss said, and grabbed Peeta's hand, pulling him with her to the corridor. As soon as the tributes were out of view, Effie and Haymitch heard them bursting into laughter.
"I needed the money, alright?" Effie whispered. "And if there's one escort who wants to do this, I automatically have to do the same." Haymitch's eyebrows knitted together. "You're giving in pretty quickly." Effie sat back on the sofa and looked at the picture. "Do you really think I look beautiful?" she asked. Haymitch pursed his lips. "I said you look great. But yeah, I think you look beautiful too. You should ditch the clown makeup." Effie slapped Haymitch's arm and then smiled at him. "Don't call it clown makeup. But thank you."
Haymitch felt something stir inside of him as he looked into her eyes. Was it because he was kind of drunk? He didn't know. He leaned in slowly and before he even knew it, he was kissing her. Effie didn't move at first, but surprisingly, she kissed back. As they parted Effie looked him in the eyes. "When are you posing for a calendar like this?" she smirked playfully. "Not anytime soon, princess." he answered and pulled her in for a kiss again, laying her on her back on the sofa and crawling on top of her. "But you probably won't need it right now."
