Prompt from : "Hi! how're you? i want to ask you if you can write about an Effie drunk, talking louder and Haymitch giving her a cold bath. Please :D Thank you!

A/N: This was way longer that I intended, but it's better than nothing. Also I decided to make it pre-mj bc yolo.

As Seneca's rushed plea echoed into the empty area, Effie entered a state of shock. This was completely unheard of; the Capitol never changed the rules. She had expected the state to deceive the children but ultimately have one winner but now this… They had survived. Both of them. Her victors. After hearing an odd delighted squeal it took a moment to realize she was the source of the noise.

Without thinking, Effie gave a large impromptu hug to the man next to her. Haymitch hadn't yet said a word, he stood stiffly until Effie composed herself and let go of him. Haymitch's brows were furrowed deeply, as if trying to figure out a puzzle. Calculating.

"They… did it? They really did it huh?" Haymitch said finally, giving an anxious laugh.

"Yes yes isn't this wonderful?! Oh my I've never had a victor, let alone two. We must start the preparations hm" Effie chimed. She chose to ignore Haymitch rubbing his hands, a sign of nervousness that was rarely expressed. They both knew the games weren't yet over.

Effie chose to stick to the easy path, to throw herself into her work rather than to waste time worrying. Haymitch clearly had other ideas as he sat down and poured himself the first drink he had had in weeks, with a small smile on his face. Effie shot him a dirty look.

"What? They won! Can't a man have a drink?" Haymitch laughed

"Now Haymitch we both know that for you it won't just be one drink, and we have work to do. Come along now!" Effie put out her gloved hand towards him. Haymitch gave her a very serious look, then proceeded to place his whiskey glass into her hand, then promptly poured himself another.

"It's time to celebrate, sweetheart" Haymitch sighed.

"But-"

"But nothing, trust me Katniss and Peeta are in too bad of a shape for us to be of any help to them now, it looks like you've got a night off" Haymitch laughed, imagining Effie just lounging around the apartment wig-less.

Effie considered this. It was true, as she had never had a victor before, she was slightly rusty on what the exact protocol was, what exactly she was supposed to be doing. Plus, even though in her heart and soul she wanted a victor from District 12, secretly she had been expecting the boy from District One to be the victor, it was always the way.

"So what? Do you propose that we spend our evening here Haymitch?" Effie glanced around the bustling escort lounge.

"Nope" Haymitch declared, draining the last of the bottle and standing up.

"The penthouse?" Effie questioned, unsure exactly what a "night off" with Haymitch would include.

"This way" Haymitch gestured to the door.

The walk back was quiet, between the two of them anyway. The Capitol parties had just begun, they would go on for several weeks until Katniss and Peeta would make an appearance. By the looks of both of them, it would probably be for a while. Effie was pretending to reorganize her purse and Haymitch was just thankful for the fresh air.

Entering the penthouse Haymitch slumped on the sofa next to the drinks cart. Effie looked around for a moment, seeing if there could be anyway to excuse herself, then ultimately gave up and slumped next to him in the most unladylike fashion. Haymitch shot her a look.

"My apologies Haymitch but I'm awfully tired" Effie sighed, still breathless from the 15 minute walk in heels.

"I am too, it's alright. It's just odd to see you so… normal" Haymitch smirked.

Effie was mock offended for a moment, and then proceeded to pour herself a glass of wine from the cart adjacent.

"Why do you even drink that stuff?" Haymitch asked, wrinkling his nose slightly.

Effie considered this. "It's what most people drink in the Capitol; I suppose I'm just used to it"

"I reckon it's about time that you tried a little bit of whiskey!" Haymitch announced, digging around for another glass.

Several drinks and challenges later, Effie was the most intoxicated Haymitch had ever seen her. By this point even sitting upright was exhausting for her, so slowly it had come to her head resting on his chest.

"You're a lot more fun when you're drunk, you know that?" Haymitch asked

"Well… fun doesn't pay the bills Haymitch! Even BEING AN ESCORT doesn't pay the bills, have you seen just how much my rent costs? He's put it up since last time…" She trailed off, turning her head so she could see Haymitch.

"I could pay your bills for you, and then you could be fun all the time" Haymitch proposed.

"Shh you, even Iknow victors don't get paid that much" Effie smirked.

"You don't think I can afford you? Is that it?" Haymitch questioned.

"I don't think anyone could afford me, I'm like… a string of pearls!"

"Well then I'll just have to steal you then, won't I, sweetheart?" Haymitch laughed, pulling her further on top of him.

For a moment they were both silent coming face to face, each smelling whiskey on each other's breath. Then Effie began to giggle.

"You would do that wouldn't you? You would steal? You're a ruffian, a scoundrel!" Effie declared laughing, her head falling into the crook of Haymitch's neck. As her face brushed against his stubbly cheek, her body gave a small shiver. She looked up at him, his gentle grey eyes were observing her, with a slight smug smile on his lips. It took all the sober effort left in her not to kiss them, Effie knew they were in a comprising position enough already.

"I need another drink" Effie whispered.

"What's wrong with the one in your hand?" Haymitch queried.

Effie's drunk mind hadn't thought that quite through.

"Well… I don't like this drink!" Effie huffed, after staring angrily for a moment at her own hand.

Haymitch gave her the most understanding look he could muster, and let go of her.

Since they hadn't moved from when they first sat on the couch, Effie was still wearing her ridiculous 7inch heels. Haymitch heard several tentative clicks before a large crash. He already knew what had happened and began to laugh.

"Hayyymitch" Effie slurred loudly from the dining room.,

"Yes?"

"I fell" She grumbled.

"You? Oh…So you did" Haymitch tried not to laugh as he watched her trying to make snow angels in the spilt wine.

"I'd like to get up"

"Of course" As Haymitch managed to pull her up off the ground Effie's body went limp, giving into unwanted unconsciousness. She looked a state he thought, unconscious and dripping red. Even though it was only wine, Haymitch's intoxicated mind thought it was best to clean it all up before the Avox's came again the next morning. Dumping her ungraciously into the bath, clothes and all, Haymitch ran the water.

It must have been pretty cold because after a few seconds of the water pooling around her legs, Effie's eyes pulled open, trying to focus on Haymitch above her.

"IIIIIIII don't RECALL falling asleep in the BATHTUB HAYMITCH ABERNATHY!" Effie yelled angrily, trying to point a finger at him.

"Ah come on sweetheart you're covered in wine, you can't go to sleep like this" Haymitch pacified as he began to unzip the back of her dress.

"You know if you wanted to see me like this, you could have JUST ASKED! NEXT TIME you must… you must ask" Effie forced just before passing out once again.

"Yeah princess, I'll ask in the morning and see what your answer is then" Haymitch chuckled.

After the water began to run clear, Haymitch lifted her out of the bathtub and carried her dripping to her bedroom. As he bumped the button to open the door, Effie stirred briefly. Haymitch dropped her gently onto the sheets, trying not to think about how much she would berate him for ruining them. Within moments she began to shiver. Unsure what to do, Haymitch pulled down the entirety of her fur coat collection and placed them over her. Debating whether that would be enough, Haymitch also pulled the portable heater next to her bedside.

As he waited for the heater to warm her, he studied Effie, for once she was her natural self. Without her makeup her face was sweeter, like an exhausted child that had finally run out of steam. The wig he had had to remove whilst he was washing the wine out, so her natural blonde hair began to curl as it dried. Haymitch could see that she wore some of her makeup for a reason; the dark circles under her eyes were probably caused mostly by him, the small frown lines also. Nights upon nights Effie would spend organizing events and interviews, never once taking a day off. The work had taken its toll. Other than that she was perfectly attractive without all of that powder. In fact her rawness was kind of… beautiful.

For a moment he considered staying there, of course he could easily make up an excuse to why he had done so. That he had be there to check on her during the night, to make sure she was safe, pretended he had tried to be responsible. But he thought better of it, it wasn't worth the gossip, nor the scare it might give her in the morning.

Effie was going to be alright, plus, she deserved this night off.