Effie does not have a thing for praying. It's not something that was instilled on her growing up. Fame is as close to god to her parents. That's all she has ever known. Hours before her train arrived on Twelve, she contemplated praying. Maybe it is not too late for her but who is she kidding anyway? It's going to be her last year as an escort. Probably, it's going to be her last year alive in this world. Haymitch tried to keep her hoping throughout the break. He told her he's been scouting, trying to give out tips here and there throughout the district so the kids could be ready, just in case. She appreciates his effort but they both know the kids in Twelve are no fighter.
She lost count on how many cigarettes she had smoked since she left the Capitol. She does not want to think about her death sentence but it's hard not to. She does not want to leave Haymitch. She does not want him to be hurt on her account. Maybe she should have listened to the others…Mags, Chaff…maybe she should just kept her distance and never allowed herself to care for him. He's going to be ruined by her and it's on her somehow.
Finally, the train stopped at the station. She ordered the Peacekeeper around before making her way to the Victor's Village. It may be the last time she will set foot in it so she took her time. She glanced around and memorized every inch of the place. She never did before. It's still early so they still have a lot of time before the ceremony. When she reached his house, she did not bother knocking. She knows she's always welcome in his house.
Haymitch already nursing a bottle of whisky is not the sight she's hoping to see though when she stepped inside the house.
"Already at it, I see. You know it's too early to get drunk, Haymitch. Whisky is not coffee", she chided before making her way to his kitchen.
Of course, it's not tidy. There are dishes in the sink and god knows how many days or weeks they had been sitting there. Being his escorts for 11 years now, she is well-acquainted with everything in his house. She chose the only unused cup in the cupboard and made herself a cup of coffee.
"You got time for coffee. What about your schedule?" he asked.
He's in a mood.
"It's too early. I took the first train. You could use a cup of coffee yourself to sober you up", she answered and sat on the couch.
She made a mental note to make a swift cleaning later when he's taking a shower. Who knows when it will be cleaned again. Who else is going to do it for him when she's gone? Maybe Greasy Sae when the old woman decided to stop by but she's not obligated to do that and at her age, she should not be.
"I think I need this more than coffee, princess", he grumbled and took a big gulp.
She pursed her lips but did not say anything. She quietly sipped on her cup. She is aware why he's in a mood this morning. If she has not smoked away her pack of cigarette at the train, she would be in a mood as well, maybe on a verge of panic.
"Do you really want to spend this morning getting drunk?" she asked in annoyance.
The whole reason she took the first train to Twelve is to spend time with him before the whole mayhem of the game eats them both and he would rather drown in alcohol for it.
"How do you think I should spend it then?" he asked her back with equal irritation.
Is he that dense or he's playing at something? Perhaps, he's already detaching himself from her because they both know how the year is going to end for her. It's his thing in the first place. She met him like that. He kept his distance from the kids, ignore them the best he could so it wouldn't hurt when they die. She's going to die. He's keeping his distance now.
"I apologize for barging in here at this hour without letting you know first. It's very rude of me and very improper", she muttered calmly before finishing her coffee, totally ignoring as it burns down her throat before walking back to the kitchen.
It's too late to turn back now. She will raise attention if she goes to the Justice Building right now. It's too early. She cannot stay at the train either so she just has to wait. She first started washing the dishes on the sink and once she's done with that, she started tidying up the entire kitchen. She has to keep herself occupied since she ran out of cigarette. Something has to keep her mind off of things.
"You don't have to do that", he finally said behind her.
She thought he just passed out because he's been silent since she started cleaning up his mess.
"You know me. I need to keep myself busy and besides, your kitchen is not going to clean itself up. Someone has to or the entire house will rot. It would be a shame. It's a nice house", she replied rather too cheerfully.
When she's done at the kitchen, she proceeded sweeping the floor to the living room. That's when he stopped her and took the broom away from her hand.
"Stop. You did not come here to clean up my house", he said firmly.
She sighed. She really did not.
"I came here to spend time with you before the season begins but I can see that you're not in the mood so I am respecting that. I can't go to the Justice Building yet or they will wonder why I am too early—"
"Effie…" he pulled her into his arms.
It's not something she expected and she wants to point out that he's creasing her clothes but it felt nice to be held by him so she kept silent.
"It's going to be alright, Haymitch. It will be", she tried to sound cheerful but it's hard when she's telling lie.
He held her tighter.
"I tried but…"
"It's going to be okay. Things are not written in stones, right? A lot can happen in one season. Maybe the odds will be in our favor this time", she cut him off.
This is why he's been drinking so early. He's already wallowing in that unreasonable guilt of what's waiting for her at the end of the season if they don't produce a Victor. He's already blaming himself.
"You're such an optimist", he muttered.
She chuckled.
"You know that when you met me", she reminded him.
He pulled back so he can look at her eyes. Despite all the things she puts on her face, her eyes tell him what she truly feels inside, behind the mask.
"Stop cleaning. Let's go upstairs", he invited.
She wrinkled her nose and carefully brushed her fingers on his stubble.
"You reek of alcohol, Haymitch. Please do take a shower first. I will have to change your sheets because I am not lying on a sheet that has not been washed in months", she barked and that made him laughed.
He can see her nervous while waiting for the time to go on stage comes. She's too bubbly when she's nervous. She chatted too loudly with the mayor about random things. It's her way of suppressing the thing that's making her anxious and he very well knows that thing. This could be her last Reaping. This is the Reaping that will determine her fate by the end of the season. He knows Sae was right about betting against fate but he does not have any means to know what kind of fate lies ahead for Effie. The two kids she will reap today will determine that for her.
Isn't that ironic?
If Effie is any other escort, he would have laughed at that. For years, escorts reaped children, sealed their fates to die. Now, the escorts' fate lies on the children they will reap and not the other way around…but this is Effie. She never once liked what she does for a living. She never wants to reap children and send them to die. He has been a witness to countless times that she wept for them, grieved them, fought for them. It's because she cares too much that she's in this position right now, life hanging on a balance.
He watched her plastered a smile on her face and strutted onto the stage. Her violet dress matched with white wig and that hideous flower on it stood out in a crowd filled with dull blue clothes of the children she's about to reap.
"Welcome! Welcome! Welcome!" her voice rang throughout the plaza.
The atmosphere is grim as always but he doubts it affects her now. She's used to it after years of facing the same crowd. he watched her mouthed every word from that sickening video the Capitol mandated to play during the Reaping every single year. It's not because she's a patriot. It's her way of mocking it. The others will not know it but he does because he knows her too well. He noticed the way she took a deep breath before putting her hand inside that glass bowl to draw the first name of this year's tribute.
"Primrose Everdeen!" she announced.
He closed his eyes and sighed. Of course, he knew the Everdeens. He had known Dalia Everdeen back in the day. That little girl of hers, not a fighter. Effie knew it too but then…
"Prim! Prim!" another girl screamed for her.
Haymitch saw Effie tensed. If the girl does not stop, the Peacekeeper will shoot her and he's not certain he'll be able to stop Effie from intervening.
"I volunteer! I volunteer!" everyone grew silent, "I volunteer as tribute!" the older girl declared.
Now, that's interesting.
No one has ever volunteered in Twelve before. Only tributes in Career make that stupid choice of volunteering. Why? Haymitch has no clue. It could be about glory, the fame, the money. That girl who just volunteered…she's not about all those. She simply wanted to trade herself for little Primrose.
Effie quickly composed herself and resorted to her escort persona as she guided the girl to the stage.
"What is your name, dear?" she asked.
"Katniss Everdeen", of course, it is her sister.
"Everdeen…so I am guessing that little girl is your sister?" Effie asked though she already knew the answer to that.
Haymitch already understood what she's playing at. She's already working the girl's PR as early as now.
"Yes", Katniss answered.
"Well, Katniss Everdeen…District Twelve's first ever volunteer!" she then proceeded to the next bowl and picked a name.
Haymitch prayed, though he's not fond of that, that she will reap someone who can actually fight.
"Peeta Mellark!" she announced.
He does not know what to feel about that. He knew his mother and she's a horrid one. He knew the boy is kind and hardworking. He's good looking too, a charmer, but his chances inside the arena is not that great.
"There you have it. Twelve's tributes for the 74th Hunger Games. Peeta Mellark and Katniss Everdeen! Happy Hunger Games! And may the odds be ever in your favor", Effie said, closing the ceremony.
Effie had let the two wandered around the train for a few minutes before starting to lay down her instructions. He can already tell that the girl is the stubborn one because she does not listen very much. The boy, on the other hand, seems determine to learn. He wants to learn. He wants to make it.
"Now…you can go to your respective rooms and freshen up. Dinner is at seven. Don't be late", she finished and sent them away.
That's the only time he saw her let her mask off. She's exhausted. Spending hours keeping up her façade is tiring.
"Fuck…"
It's a rare thing for Effie Trinket to curse so when she does, it's not good.
"Language", she glared at him, "What is it now?" he asked.
"I forgot that I ran out of cigarette", she answered.
He stretched out his hand for her which she gladly took before he pulled her onto his lap.
"You don't need that right now. What you need is rest…to relax. It's going to be quite a year. You'll need energy", he said.
"Have you seen those two? I think my hundred percent energy will not be enough. I'll need yours too", she responded.
"You got it, sweetheart", he replied.