Haymitch jumps off his stool and follows Effie. When he arrives in the living room he notes how elegantly she's sitting. Even when she's only wearing a silk robe she still manages to be perfectly elegant. Haymitch sits next to Effie and sets his coffee cup down. "Last night was great, you know. I was very comfortable and something about it felt so right. I slept better last night than I have in a long time. Something about having you around keeps me calm, but I don't know why. You know, Effie, we know more about each other than you think. We've gotten each other through some of the most difficult moments of our lives. If we can get each other through the hard times together then the good times should be easy. I trust you and that has to count for something."

"It does count for something, Haymitch. You know what I know about you, Haymitch. I know that you don't really care about physical appearances, but your favourite colour is light blue, you wear it as much as you can. I know that you wear the scars of your life as a badge of remembrance. I know that you rarely sleep more than four hours a night. I know that you try to drown your emotions because they're so strong. I know you have a great capacity to love. At one time in your life you considered having children or adopting them. I know you carry a lot of guilt in you. I know that embedded in your left knee is the tip of a spear from your Games. I know that you don't like to dream. I know that you secretly like travelling on the train because getting out of District 12 gives you a sense of freedom. I know you were very poor growing up. I know you'd rather be anywhere but the Capitol or this house. You don't like daisies because they remind you of your mother. You prefer the company of animals to most people. Secretly, you like spending time with other mentors because you have something in common. You can't sleep in a room with any light coming in and yet you're afraid of the dark. You never wear socks. You don't like the feel of them. You don't like showers because you feel like you're drowning. You have trouble eating rare meat because you can't stand the sight of blood. When you're here at home you go commando because you find underwear restrictive, but you wear underwear from the reaping until you come back to District 12, out of respect for the ladies. You like watching me get ready for evening events. You like me fussing over you when we're going to an event. You like being able to work with your hands. I know that you don't make friends because you're afraid of what will happen if the Capitol finds out about it. You've written a journal every day since you came out of the arena. You've written a biography of every tribute you've ever known. You don't look at any of the women in the Capitol in a sexual way. You don't like eggs with runny yolks. You told me once that you wish you'd learned to paint and I encouraged you to try. I held your hair one night when you were sick. I walked in on you in the shower one year and you weren't embarrassed at all. I know you flinch when someone you can't see touches you." Effie smiles when she realizes how much she knows about Haymitch.

"You know all that? That's impressive, Effie. I know some things about you, too. I know you secretly don't like wearing your wig. You don't have a favourite colour, but you favour orange. You still are incapable of packing light. President Snow makes you cringe. You only cry in front of me. You're not a true fan of all the rich Capitol food. You have very high arches from the shoes you wear. You like foot rubs and hot tea. You don't like greasy food. You have a scar in the crook of your right arm from where I stabbed you with my knife, and no, it's not noticeable, only to me because I know it's there. You like deep, luxurious bubble baths. You smell like wisteria. It reminds you of your mother. You don't like being as organized as your as during the Games, but you do it so you don't have to deal with your emotions. You have freckles on your body. You like thunderstorms. You drink hot cocoa when it snows and hot tea when it rains. Even though you're from the Capitol you're not wasteful. You recycle. You'd like to be able to not wear your shoes in front of the tributes, but you feel it would be unprofessional. You're compassionate to the point of having your emotions take over. You hate the phoniness of the Capitol. You pay for your own designer wardrobe when all the other escorts allow the Capitol to pay for their wardrobes because you don't want to be beholden to President Snow. You like ice cream better than whipping cream. You like lemon flavoured desserts best. You make your own soup at home. You always get a manicure because you're terribly at painting your own nails. Your real hair is naturally curly. You never wear brown, grey, or black. You've had your wedding dress designed for years, but you haven't found someone to marry yet. You carry photos of your family with you wherever you go. Your hair is naturally blonde. Your real eye colour is sparkling blue with green flecks. You read books that you only tell me about because don't want anyone in the Capitol to know you are reading them. You like to sew and embroider. Your grandmother tried to teach you how to knit, but told you that you were hopeless. You sing beautifully, but you don't like to sing in public. You learned to play piano, but you don't play anymore. You like classical music. Hearing children sing makes you cry. You write fictional stories to ease your mind. Your handwriting is tight and elegant. You prefer raspberries and blackberries, but you eat strawberries in public because they're trendy. You are one of the rare employees of the Hunger Games and the Capitol who doesn't have a lover. You find it tasteless. You like classical literature, but you never tell anyone. You hide it away. You don't sleep well from the Reaping until the end of the Games. You think no one notices as the circles get darker under your eyes, but I do. I've been observing you for a long time, Effie." Haymitch allows Effie to curl into his side.

"We know more about each other than I thought. We do get along very well." Effie says quietly.

"That's a rather new development for us though. I wondered if we were ever going to get along really. We didn't see eye to eye on anything for a long time. We'd be a good couple, I think. I can't believe I'm saying that." Haymitch admits.

"I can't believe you're saying that either, but it's nice to hear. You know, I've been encourage to spend more time in District 12, so maybe after the Victory Tour I'll come and spend some time with you in 12. Maybe this will work well." Effie says sweetly. "You know someone once told me that you should know as much about the person you're going to be with as possible. I'd say that if we still want to be together with everything we know about each other, then we owe it to each other to at least try. Have you considered being in a relationship before?"

"Not since I was in the Hunger Games. The Capitol had my girlfriend executed when they executed my family because of my behaviour in the arena. I was scared to let anyone get close to me because of the cost to the people I cared about. Until I came out of that arena I was considering having children, but once I was in that arena I knew I could never consider bringing children into such a deadly world. I'd had my heart destroyed by my own government and I couldn't imagine giving my heart again. I'd given up on my life at 16. Life didn't seem worth living. Life was so short in District 12 that at 16 most of us were planning the rest of our lives: marriages, children, homes, jobs. I had been until I went into the arena. Fear became my only emotion. Everything else was buried within me. I started drinking and I never looked back." Haymitch says sadly.