When District 12 looks at their sole victor, all they see is an embarrassment. Old. Fat. .
Failure.
The best thing that could be said about Haymitch was that he always generously paid up when he made a mess in the Hob, whether from too much white liquor or a fight brought on from too much white liquor. Even those who knew him before he became a drunk and annual embarrassment seem to have forgotten the young man he once was. For the last 24 years, there's only been one person from the coal mining district who has ever been permitted to get a glimpse at the man behind the bottle.
…
When he returned from the Second Quarter Quell, Haymitch was welcomed with victorious fanfare. After all, he had managed to survive not just 23, but 47 other tributes.
Teenagers. Kids.
Then came the years of burials. He buried his mother. His brother. His girl. That night he buried himself in a bottle.
The next day, he first went to Camphor Jemso and gave him 3 names. On his way home he passed by Maysilee Donner's house. He turned around to give Camphor 3 more.
Then came the victory tour. The Capitol tried to sell him off, but it's awfully hard to motivate someone to be your lapdog when you've already had everyone they love killed. Haymitch wondered which fate was worse.
When it was his first year as mentor, Haymitch threw himself into efforts to save them. When Yarrow made him choose one over the other, claiming it was all part of being a mentor, Haymitch threw a punch. When he failed them both, Haymitch threw up.
Too young.
Always too young.
His return that year had significantly less fanfare. And Haymitch brought two more names to Camphor. He thought he had no one left. But then every summer was marked by two new names. After the 54th Games, Haymitch didn't even say anything to Camphpr. Just dropped too much cash on the counter and sat down staring resolutely at the ceiling.
A few years ago, Camphor had brought up the issue of space again. "You're running out of room. You should start thinking about other places?"
Haymitch glared at him dangerously. "They'll fit. You'll make 'em fit." Camphor didn't bring it up again.
24 years. 60 names. So as Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark left on the train to the Capitol, Camphor couldn't help but think of their names, and wonder where he would be able to inscribe their mirror images, on the only victor of District 12.