At the penthouse, Haymitch paced back and forth. He had sent Chaff to his floor as well as Mags and Finnick. The older Victor informed them who Effie contacted in order to get the two of them out of detention and Chaff wouldn't stop apologizing to Haymitch for the trouble he caused. Haymitch made sure that the kids are asleep because he does not want Effie to throw a fit when she comes back and found the two still awake.
He is close to climbing up the walls when the elevator dings after an hour and a half. He should know. He's been checking the clock every five minutes.
Effie came in the penthouse, exhaustion painted all over her. He does not need to guess what she was up to or how she cleaned up their mess.
"Trinket", he called so she would know he had waited for her.
"The children?" she asked in a flat tone.
"Fast asleep. Mags tucked them in", he answered.
That's when she pursed her lips and gripped the head of the couch like her life depends on it.
"I asked you for one thing, Haymitch. I don't find it difficult and you got yourself arrested! How is that helping the kids?" she finally exploded.
She has been keeping that since she left the penthouse earlier. It just keeps piling up and it's overwhelming.
"I lost my temper on Chaff. The things he said…I did not mean to get arrested, princess", he explained.
Chaff was pushing it and he fell for it. It was foolish, he knows, but it's done.
"I appreciate you defending my honor but—" she sighed and composed herself, "I don't have the energy to get into this right now. We have an early day tomorrow. It's Training Day and we need to prepare the kids…"
"Ashbrook?" he dared venture there because he needs to know. He needs the confirmation.
She gave him a look of resignation. It's all he needed.
"During the break, I was in a bad place…well, to be fair, I still am, but I was handling it. Parties were unavoidable and I resorted to drinking to get through it. Seneca was there one night and we talked. I had one too many. He did too. What I did…I know it was not…I just thought that it's better than to resort to something I wouldn't be able to stop",
He understood what she meant. The pills…
"I did not sleep with Seneca for fun or for perks. I did not feel anything at all and that's why I kept on doing it. I wanted to feel nothing even for a little while because I care too much and like you said, it's my greatest flaw. It was not my intention for it to escalate like that but it seemed like a good idea at the time to keep me sane. With regards to Commander Ashbrook…Haymitch, I don't want to do that again. Please, for the love of everything good that's left in Panem, help me this year", she pleaded.
She's not good at being alone, just he's not good at being alone. Haymitch had relied on alcohol to get through each year but that changed when Effie strutted into his life. They had grown to depend on each other to keep one another's sanity but during the break, it's a different matter. Add to that what happened the year before, he's only grateful that Effie did not chug down an entire bottle of pills. That's an upside no matter how hurt he is with her actions. It's the lesser between two evils.
"You're not doing that again. I promise", he swore.
She nodded and sighed in relief.
"Thank you…I will take a bath and turn in. Get some rest, Haymitch. We will not get much after tomorrow", she said and walked away.
It felt good to be able to tell Haymitch what happened during the break. She felt lighter. The warm water helped to cool her down and get her brain in order. She's been incredibly rude tonight. She's been rude to Mags and Finnick who were only trying to help. She snapped at the Avoxes in front of them and she raised her voice on a Peacekeeper. She should work on apology for Mags and Finnick for tomorrow and give the Avoxes a break. It's only fair considering the fit she threw earlier.
She is slipping, she knows that. Her temper is getting shorter and shorter and if she does not watch herself, she will find herself in a dangerous situation and that would be bad not only for her but for Haymitch too. He already punched his best friend to defend her honor. She cannot imagine what he would do if she gets in trouble because of her recklessness.
Playing the game makes her sick but tonight, she has to. It's for the kids. It's for Haymitch too. She hates that every year he has to go back to Twelve with new two coffins. She is aware how he feels about that. She knows he hates it. The people in Twelve thinks so bad of him, silently blaming him for not doing enough to help the kids as if it was his fault. She knows he blames himself too deep down. She wants to change that. She wants it to be different for him this year, to go back to their district and bring Bran and Grace home. If letting Commander Ashbrook have her for a brief period of time can help with that goal, she would do that again.
"You're planning on staying there all night, princess?"
She did not notice Haymitch coming inside the bathroom.
"It's not proper to barge in someone's bathroom like this, Haymitch", she chided but it only made him smirked.
"Come on. You've been there for more than half an hour. You're going to turn yourself into a prune", he replied and helped her up.
She became conscious being naked in front of her but he did not look at her like a piece of meat. He carefully dried her up with such gentleness and care in his eyes. It's a complete contrast from the public image he has: drunkard, violent, brute. Of course, he can be all that too but right now, he's Haymitch.
"Will you stay?" she found herself asking.
She can tell it caught him off guard.
"…until you fall asleep, princess", he answered and that's enough for her.
This is their version of calm before the storm.
The next day, it's all back to business. No news of Haymitch and Chaff's arrest reached the news and he has no doubt it's because of Effie's doing last night. They went to work. He coached the kids on what they can show off during the training. They don't know much but Bran can climb trees and Grace can really run. That's something. Meanwhile, Effie worked her connections to give the kids a good PR. She's in full competitive mode. Haymitch had never seen her work this hard before. She's literally working her ass off and it's paying off.
"She's killing it", Finnick muttered as they watched her dazzle a group of potential Sponsors.
"Yeah…she's determined", Haymitch muttered.
The boy paused before gathering his courage to speak.
"I am quite determined too", Haymitch looked at him, "I want Annie to win", he said.
It took Haymitch a few seconds before it sinks in. The boy is in love with his tribute.
"Mixing love into this world is a messy business, boy. It will end badly", he muttered.
Finnick turned to him with a frown.
"That does not stop you…" he pointed out.
Thankfully, the bar is too loud for any bugs to hear anything.
"Yeah, well…look at us", they're a mess, the two of them. The world does not have any idea what they've lost, "…but then again, I don't know what you're talking about. Oh, and what you told me…don't tell that to Trinket. You know why", Haymitch replied.
Finnick nodded in understanding.
Both kids got seven in the training scores and it's enough to give Effie some semblance of hope. It's better than what their previous tributes had.
She then worked on teaching them how to present themselves. The siblings factor is a strong theme and Effie intends to use it. Effie wants to strike the Capitol citizens in their hearts, play on their emotions. Capitol has children too…siblings. Haymitch knew she's walking on a thin ice but when it comes to PR, he does not dare to question her. It's her domain.
After the Caesar interview, the Capitol is feeling for the Locksmith siblings. They are the tragic story of the season. If they both did not survive the game, their mother will be childless. If they make it to the end, only one of them will be the winner which means one of them has to die. The last thought lingered on every citizen as they think about their own children. The idea of choosing who gets to live and who does not dreaded them.
Haymitch is seeing the power that Effie Trinket holds. She is aware of it and at this point, she's not afraid to use it. She can literally make or break a person and now, she's campaigning for two kids who have a great chance of not surviving inside the arena and she's succeeding. It frustrates the Career districts and at the same time, they're eyeing the escort, surely making a mental note to find a way to get her to work for them. She's flaunting her talent in the whole Panem. At the same time, he fears for her. The talent of hers can be interpreted in a different way as well. Just put a little idea in Snow's head and Effie can be consider as threat.
"I am scared", Grace admitted while they're on the dinner table.
That stopped Effie's rambling about fashion, something she's been doing for fifteen minutes straight just to kill dead air.
"I know you are, sweetie, but you remember everything Haymitch told you about, right?" the girl nodded, "Always keep those in mind and you should be fine. I promise that we will do everything we can from here to help you with the Sponsors", she said to the both of them.
They will both go inside the arena in the morning and the nerves are starting to creep up. Everything that's leading up to the actual game is nothing but a confetti. The real deal comes tomorrow.
"Effie, may I speak with you in private please?" Bran suddenly asked.
She glanced towards Haymitch first before smiling at the boy.
"Of course…Grace, dear, please finish your food", she ushered the boy to another room so they can have some privacy. "What do you want to talk about, dear?" she asked.
The boy's face is hard and serious.
"I want you to make me a promise", he answered.
Effie is confused but she played along.
"May I know what kind of promise you want me to make?" she followed up.
"Promise me you will take care of Grace after the game", the boy answered.
"I don't understand—"
"There's only one winner of Hunger Games and there's two of us. I know you will do everything you can to help us win and Haymitch taught us everything we need to know to survive in that arena but if Grace and I reached the end…we can't be both winners. She will be the winner. I just need to know that you will look after her when it's done because she will be very sad", Effie wants to scold the boy for cutting her off while talking but words failed to come out of her mouth.
Bran is planning on sacrificing himself so his sister can go home. She wants to cry and never to let the two kids go in that arena but it's not possible no matter how much she wants to.
"I promise", she replied.
It put a smile on the boy's face.
"Thank you", and with that he left her shocked to her core.
She felt Haymitch occupied the seat next to her and put his arm around her for comfort.
"Bran just asked me to look after Grace. He wants her to win", she muttered.
He hummed.
"I know. Grace asked me the same thing", he replied.
He can see that she's holding back her tears because if she lets one tear escapes, she will break down and the kids don't need that right now.
"This is not right…" she breathed out.
"STOP", his hold on her hand is too tight, "Don't talk that way. You don't…" he cautioned her.
Effie nodded in understanding and gathered herself.
"Of course…we should all get some rest. We have a big, big, big day tomorrow", she responded with her escort mask.