A/N: I watched the movie on the 23rd. I fell in love with Effie and Haymitch. Separately and as a couple as well. I always shipped them so that doesn't really matter. Her mahogany and his drunkenness are adorable. I was really looking forward to Haymitch falling, though… So, anyway, this is a tribute for the lovely and wonderful Effie Trinket. (And the quote is from the movie but I'm not sure how accurately).
Disclaimer: I don't own the Hunger Games trilogy. Suzanne Collins does.
Effie Trinket is smart.
Much smarter than anyone credits her.
She understands that her place as District 12 escort is only of artificial importance. How she could so easily be replaced. How she wasn't ever truly needed and despised by all. She could never live up to the Capitol's perfect standards.
Those ranking higher than her scoff because of the way she holds her head high, walking with the poise and confidence of a princess.
But she knows what is required of her. And she struggles to keep up.
Her goal is to be liked. To be liked, she must be seen as something – someone, excuse me – great and no longer a disgrace.
And so she believes, believes strongly, mind you, that lowly Capitol is much, much, much better than the dirty scum of the districts. She doesn't understand why others pretend to be better than her. Because she is the better one. If only she knew the truth.
She wonders why her friends all disappear and change so frequently, always outgrowing her. She doesn't understand. Haymitch never leaves her, though. She doesn't like him. Haymitch Abernathy is a District Twelve drunk. She is a Capitol escort. But he patronizes her. She definitely doesn't understand that.
She figures out why she isn't very well liked.
Because they must think that Effie Trinket is just a pretty face with absolutely no intelligence.
She tries to think of a way to show others that she is smart. She decides on making random and witty remarks. The only trouble is that she can never think of one on time. Her mind goes blank. After spending a night in bed pondering her reply, of course, she can make it witty. But when she announces it, she discovers how short a memory everyone has. Including her. She simply can't remember the original statement.
Sometimes, they come unexpectedly. Those sparks of genius that finally make her feel included and liked.
"…I heard that those Career tributes don't get any dessert!" They looked at her strangely then. She beamed and clapped her hands together for emphasis. "But you do! Isn't that wonderful?"
They all laughed with her. She liked that. Playing with the power of knowledge over two helpless tributes and giving them a true advantage in the Games. She felt important.
Most of the time, those little bursts of brilliance just don't happen, though.
So she smiles and works with what she has: beauty, perfection, and a delightful attitude.
She tells herself that it is working; that people are beginning to like her. That they love her. That they admire her. The only reason why she can't be promoted because she became too important and they would miss her. She tells herself lies and she knows it all too well. She pastes a radiant smile on her face and pretends to believe.
They think she's stupid.
She isn't.
Effie Trinket is smarter than them all. The Capitol and District people alike. She knows to pretend. She knows to have everyone underestimate her. She knows how to survive. Out of all the millions that died, she survived. Effie Trinket fooled everyone. Even herself. It just makes her more believable.
Effie Trinket lives.
Fin.