Prompt:
TheGirlWhoWasOnFire21 - I'd like to see what would happen if Haymitch talked about his family to effie or Mayilsee or something
"What are you thinking?" Effie asked.
It was odd to actually be sitting at dinner with Haymitch. It happened rarely - usually he was out late at the bars or slumped on the sofa already passed out. But on this occasion he had managed to haul himself to the table - bottle in hand, of course - and tear up a dinner loaf on his plate.
"Thinking?"
"You're being quiet. And not insulting. I'm worried."
"You worry about everything."
"It's part of my job."
"Yeah - to worry about the kids. Not me."
"Yes, you. Seeing as I do most of your job, I have to make sure that you're capable of doing what's left of it."
Haymitch laughed. "I'm not."
"I know that. So what are you thinking?"
"I'm counting to infinity."
"You can't count to ten. You're not sober enough."
"I have ten fucking fingers. I can count to ten."
"Thirty then. And you'll have exhausted your toes. Go ahead."
"Oh, fuck you, Trinket." But he said it with a chuckle. "You'll never leave me alone, will you? Like my fucking mother …"
"I'm sure your mother didn't have as much trouble."
"I wouldn't say that."
Effie paused. She leaned on the table and after a moment said, "Would you tell me about her?"
"Who?"
"Your mother. Your family. I … I don't know anything about you."
"And I don't know anything about you. Except that you have a cat. And that you were gonna marry some idiot with … did he have green hair?"
Effie laughed a little. "Fine. My father was high up in government. He died of a heart attack when I was nine. My mother sent me to school the year after. I was an only child but having to deal with me alone while trying to keep up with the latest trend wasn't easy so I went to a very expensive school where I was teased because of my face."
"Your face?"
"I had … I have freckles. On my nose. They were more pronounced then."
"Mother have them removed?"
"No," Effie said. "No, I didn't do anything to them, thank you. But anyway, When I was twenty, my mother died from lead poisoning. She was using some sort of new foundation that hadn't been approved yet. I suppose if she was going to go any way, that would be hers. And then about a year later I started this job. There's me."
"There's you," Haymitch mimicked. "Two orphans then. Dad died in the mines. Not surprising. My mom and brother were killed by the Capitol with my girlfriend. Nothing more than that."
"When did your dad die?"
"I dunno. I don't remember. I was young. Must've been 'cause my brother was born … I think a month later?"
"So your mom raised you."
Haymitch nodded. "Best she could. I went to school for a bit. Not long. I had to earn for the family. So … picked up some carving skills. Helped build some things. Worked on houses."
"And your brother?"
"Was like any other brother. Annoying. Funny - though. Could mimic animals - it annoyed the hell out of mom."
Effie smiled with him. "I wished I had a sibling when I was little."
"Two Trinkets running around the Capitol?"
"Two Abernathys running around District Twelve? I'm surprised your mother was able to handle you two!"
"Barely," Haymitch said. "And I mean barely. I wasn't exactly the best son. Don't think I ever came home on time. 'Specially when I met my girl."
Effie couldn't help but feel a small pang of jealousy the way he said it - still 'my girl' - no name. Just 'my girl.'
"She … she must have meant a lot to you," Effie said. "If … if the Capitol thought -"
"It was fucking puppy love. She died because of stupid teenage lust. And I've gotta live with that."
Effie went quiet. Haymitch took a drink, wiped his mouth, and asked, "What about you?"
"Hm?"
"Do they call them 'suitors' or something stupid here?"
Effie shook her head. "It was an all girls' school. I didn't start dating until I moved graduated. I had a string of boyfriends … it was just normal. It was … how things worked, I guess. I don't think I ever particularly liked any of them … it was more … who's popular this week? Actually, it's probably just what you'd expect in the Capitol."
"I'll decline the invitation to 'imagine' that."
"Better you do. Not some of my prouder years, certainly. When I was thirteen? I think that must have been how old I was when you were in the Quarter Quell … I got so drunk -"
"At thirteen?"
"This is the Capitol."
"True …"
"I don't remember barely any of that time. I do remember though … and it came back to me when I was watching it again - after I got the job - after I met you - I remembered how you stayed with that one girl. The girl from your District."
"Maysilee."
"Maysilee. Yes."
Haymitch stared at his bottle which was nearing empty now. "Surprised I could have compassion? That I could care?"
"No. You cared about a lot of things then. And you do now. You just wish you didn't."
Haymitch took an empty glass and halved the remaining alcohol - some into it, some not. He pushed the glass to Effie.
"I don't care about a god damned thing," he said.
But that wasn't true.
If it were, Effie wouldn't have the drink in her hand that she sipped daintily as he finished the bottle in a swallow.
"Not a thing," he repeated, glancing at Effie, who was yawning. "Not a thing."