Effie had finished arranging her stuff in the small bedroom that was hers in the District Thirteen apartment. It was a large room, with a queen-sized bed, a chest of drawers and a cupboard. There was a door that led to her bathroom, in all the room was unremarkable, It had been designed for practical use with no thought having gone into aesthetics, so Effie was trying to make the place feel a little more like home.
She didn't know why she did it, when she knew that she would probably be packing up and moving on again in a month's time. But for someone who lived out of a suitcase most of the time, she liked to have her knickknacks around her. There was a family photo in an old silver frame, a worn stuffed bear and an old fashioned high heeled shoe. To most, they would have seemed like junk, but for Effie they were her memories, her life's story and her reminders.
The apartment they were assigned was on the twelve floor, higher than most buildings in the Capital. If one looked out of the living room windows the view was of the concrete jungle that surrounded them, flashing billboards and racing cars. The people below them scurried around looking like ants, each of them on their own mission. But on the opposite side of the building, where Effie's bedroom was, was a spectacular view of the mountains.
Effie had always been one for the high life, the parties, the fashions, the gossip that surrounded the stars. Yet she had to admit there was something peaceful about the mountains. The way that nothing seemed to move them. Wars could rage, floods, even drought. But they would still be there. A solid shape on the horizon. Effie sat down on her bed and slowly rubbed her temples, her eyes drifting closed. She had known this man would be a challenge, stubborn men usually were, but most of them were glad of the proverbial kick up the backside. Haymitch Abernathy on the other hand seemed completely against the mere thought of her. It would be harder to manage if there wasn't a desire on his part to please. Effie sighed and stood up. Perhaps it was time to bring in some shorter and tighter skirts.
She had never been averse to using her body to get what she wanted. You didn't get to the top of her business without sacrificing something and she had been taught early on to use whatever she had at her disposal. Fortunately, her body was the first of many things and these days it was used more as a last resort than anything. She hadn't always been proud of the things she had done, and there had been many nights in her youth where she had cried herself to sleep, wearing a scent that was not her own. She had toughened up though, and these days the name Effie Trinket was one that many sought out.
It didn't bother her, it was how you reached the top, and lord knows that she didn't have the backing of her parents. So, she faked it until she made it, because she could not afford to not make it.
She took a last look at the mountains before picking her phone up off the bed and texting her personal shopper, and closest friend. Although Cinna was no longer a personal shopper, having branched out and eventually launched his own label, he was always ready to fly to Effie's rescue. It had been Effie who had helped him make the right connections, and Cinna had never forgotten.
E to C
"I need tight skirts, high heels and a few more corsets. District 13
C to E
"That bad a client? I'll be there in an hour.
E to C
Effie smiled at her phone and tossed it back onto the bed. She decided she had time for a quick shower and was just wandering into the kitchen in search of something hot to drink when the elevator pinged, and Cinna walked out wheeling a dress rail packed to the max with various items of clothing.
"I texted you less than fifteen minutes ago." Effie stated, a fond smile on her face. "Come into the kitchen, I've just put the kettle on."
"When I see something that I know will suit you I always buy it. Besides, most of this is from my own line." Cinna replied, parking the dress rail in the sitting room, before following her. He draped an arm around her shoulder as she stood filling two cups with teabags and hot water. "so, tell me about your new client."
Effie sighed as she waited for the tea to draw
"He's a retired rock star making a comeback," She said, leaning her head against Cinna. "And usually they're the ones who don't even need me, I mean why would they? They really don't need someone to push them. They're the ones that have decided to come back. But, this guy apparently refused to record anything and tried to tear up his contract. He nearly tore up Coin's office when he heard that she'd hired me."
"Not Haymitch Abernathy?" Cinna asked, raising one eyebrow, his gold eyeliner catching the light. Effie straightened up, so she could look at Cinna properly
"Yes, that's him" she said "I wouldn't have thought you would know of him. You always struck me as a soul man rather than a rocker."
"Oh, believe me, I am." Cinna said as she removed the teabag from the water and set about adding sugar and milk "but I know he and Coin had a massive fight in the lobby a few weeks ago. She had to do a lot of damage control to make sure it didn't end up in the papers. I'm also his niece's stylist."
"Yet another person to make stunningly elegant?" Effie teased, passing him a cup. She picked up her own cup and ambled back into the sitting room
"Not really. She likes the dark look. And fire. She'd probably love it if I could find a way to set her alight." Cinna shrugged, sitting down on the couch. "But, she's quite nice once you get past the thorny exterior. Maybe Haymitch is the same."
"Maybe." Effie shrugged "Do you happen to know what the argument was about?"
Cinna was quiet for a moment, seemingly searching his memory. Effie tucked her legs underneath her and sipped her tea while she waited.
"If I remember correctly, and don't quote me." He said "But I think Coin asked him to perform at some concert and the man just lost it. I think it was a tribute to someone."
Effie sipped her tea thoughtfully. There weren't any tribute concerts coming up that she knew of, and Effie had always made it her business to know. It was possible that it was still an idea, but Effie usually knew about those as well. Perhaps Cinna was mistaken. It seemed a bit extreme for someone to go crazy over a concert, even in this business.
Effie was pulled from her thoughts when the elevator pinged again as the doors slid open to reveal Haymitch Abernathy. He was in the middle of texting someone on his phone and didn't bother to look up as he swaggered into the living room. Effie realized what was going to happen a second before it happened and opened her mouth to warn him. Before she could however, there was a loud crash as Haymitch walked straight into Cinna's dress rail, sending the clothes and his phone flying. He himself landed painfully and swore colourfully as he pushed himself back into a sitting position.
"Who the fuck, left this in the godforsaken doorway?" Haymitch exclaimed, plucking a skirt off his shoulder and flinging it away from him with a look of disgust on his face. Cinna had already rushed forward and began to pick up clothes, carefully smoothing them with his fingers and placing them back on their hangers. He frowned when Haymitch pulled a coat out from underneath him and flung it across the rail.
"That is velvet!" he said in a disapproving tone "Please be more careful."
"Velvet?" Haymitch repeated incredulously "Why is there velvet in here in the first place?" He looked up and caught sight of Effie, who had leapt to her feet to help. His phone had skidded to a halt in between her feet "Oh. I should have guessed." He grumbled
Effie ignored him and crouched down to pick up his phone. As she straightened up she caught sight on what was still on the screen, a text that was being sent to a man named Chaff.
H to C
I'll scare her off. I didn't ask for a babysitter, but I can work around her. Can't force me!
A reply came in, but before Effie could read it Haymitch had stood up, snatched the phone away from her and slid it into his pocket. He eyed Cinna again, who was still placing clothes back onto hangers. Without a word he sidestepped the chaos that he had created, and disappeared into his room, slamming his door behind him as he went.
"Charming" Cinna muttered, placing the last hanger on the rack and turning towards Effie. She was still standing in front of her chair, an odd expression of frustration, anger and a tinge of sadness on her face.
"What's wrong?" he asked, coming forward and clasping her forearms gently, bending slightly so she had no choice to meet his eyes.
"He hates me Cinna." She said quietly "I've been around for years, and I've had difficult clients, but he actually loathes me. I've never been hated so much."
"I'm sure he'll be fine tomorrow when he gets over the shock." Cinna soothed, rubbing her arms in a bracing manner.
"It's more than that." Effie insisted
"So, what if it is?" Cinna asked, guiding her to the couch and forcing her sit down "when has that ever stopped you? Remember when Lildia Portafell hated you? You ignored it and went to work like the bats of hell were after you, to the extent where I for one was worried you were going to have a break down, and now look where you are!"
Effie swallowed and nodded. Cinna was right of course, she wasn't about to let this man ruin her success rate. But she still couldn't shake the feeling that this man hated her like she had done him a great personal harm. Still, she supposed that was his problem.
