They are quick to do damage control before it escalates. Effie tries to shove the thought of getting married to Seneca since she has pressing matters to take care of. She's not going back on her word. She will marry Seneca but after she makes sure that the Capitol is not going to kill Katniss and Peeta or Haymitch. The Capitol is capable of that…one nasty accident or depression. It could be anything. Her life might be secured for now since she's on the spotlight and just like how Snow put it, she's the most sought-after escort of the history. They will not let her go just like that. Same goes to Haymitch. He's the only living Quell Victor. It's too messy to get rid of him so that leaves the star-crossed lovers. They already shown the world that they were willing to kill themselves to be together. Snow can just draw that card and make it look like a romantic suicide. If that does not work, he can always go after their families.
She purposely avoided Katniss to make it easier on the girl. She let Haymitch prepped her with Cinna while she manage the boy along with Portia.
"Are you alright?" the boy asked her while she's doing final touches on his hair before going to the interview with Caesar.
It's funny how he would ask her if she's alright when he's the one who just survived the arena of death.
"I'm better than alright, dear. Thank you", she answered with a smile.
He did not buy it and he lets her know by stopping her hands from finishing what she's doing.
"Katniss is sorry. She's not good with apology but she is. She regretted lashing out to you but she does not know how to approach you to tell you that. She's not…she's not used to being around Capitol citizens, I guess", he said.
The smile on her face became so hard to maintain.
"Cinna is Capitol", she pointed out lowly while resuming her work.
The girl always likes Cinna even from the moment they've met. She cannot blame her. Cinna is not the escort who picked out the name of her sister that forced her to volunteer herself in her place.
"She's sorry. Don't be mad at her, please", the boy pleaded.
She looked back at her and frowned.
"Where would you get such idea? I am not mad at Katniss", she asked.
Sometimes, she wants to be angry because she thinks it's unfair to blame it all on her but she chose to understand the girl's perspective instead.
"You've been avoiding her. You don't speak to her. You don't look at her and when she enters the room, you flee", he answered.
When he puts it that way…
"I don't want to make things awkward and hard for Katniss. That's all. I know she's not comfortable with me around and if I stick longer than I should, I would end up talking and commenting about manners and other things which will end up annoying her. I am simply giving her space. Besides, Haymitch is there with her. She does not need me", she explained.
It hurts to admit that she's not needed but it's something she must do for Katniss. She cannot do anything much other than that.
"That's not true. Cinna and Portia told us how hard you worked in finding Sponsors while we were inside the arena. Haymitch had been sending food nonstop as well as medicine and other supplies to Katniss and me. I couldn't remember any tributes from Twelve receiving so many gifts before. Cinna even mentioned that we have received more gifts than the Career tributes. We kinda owe you our lives, Effie", he stated.
She raised a brow at him.
"Darling, I was the one who drew out your names. You don't owe me your lives", she reminded him.
"That's why I said kinda…" they both smiled at that, "Come on, Effie. We miss you at the dining table and it's always entertaining when your scolding Haymitch into seating properly", the boy responded.
She misses it too. Being isolated is no fun.
"Alright…I will stop avoiding Katniss but if my presence becomes too much, I will have to excuse myself. Is that a deal?" she proposed.
"Deal", he agreed.
At the hallway, Katniss and Haymitch are rehearsing her speech about being afraid of losing Peeta when she saw the boy and Effie walking with Portia. Peeta is smiling as Effie tells him something they cannot hear. Even Portia is chuckling. She must have been ranting over schedule or something because they're finding it amusing.
"Is she still angry with me?" she finds herself asking Haymitch.
He glanced over his shoulder and saw the others.
"Nah…I don't think that woman has the capacity to stay angry for so long. Besides, she's never angry with you. Upset maybe, but that has something to do with your manners and proper etiquette or whatever", he answered.
"She stopped talking to me ever since I tried to attack her. She's avoiding me, you know that", she pointed out with a pout.
Is she sulking? Haymitch is not sure.
"That's what happens when you try to claw out someone's eyes, sweetheart. Don't worry about Trinket. I'm sure she's just giving you some space. She knows you're not comfortable with her and she does not want to give you a hard time and all. It'll be alright. For now, think about the interview. Focus on convincing them and this will go smoothly", he explained.
He's right. She can worry about Effie later after she convinced the entire Capitol that her berries act is all about love. Peeta, Effie, and Portia reached them and the boy stood next to Katniss.
"We should take our seats in the audience. Cinna has already reserved it for us. It will be a long interview", Effie informed them.
Katniss stared at her, waiting to make an eye contact but Effie is only looking at Haymitch.
"I always hate interviews. We should go", he turned to them, "Remember what I said", he said before ushering Effie and Portia away.
Katniss watched carefully as Haymitch placed a hand at Effie's lower back, like he's guarding her from something. They always walk side by side but she never paid attention on how Haymitch is with her before.
"I talked to Effie", she turned to Peeta, "She's not mad. She said she just does not want to make things awkward and hard for you so she's giving you space since you're not comfortable with her around. She promised to rejoin us at the dinner table though so that's a win. Just don't do anything that will make her think you're mad at her because that will make her leave again", he informed her.
She finds it odd.
"Haymitch told me the same thing", she muttered.
"Maybe Effie already told him why she's avoiding you", the boy thought.
Katniss is not convinced.
"Maybe…are you ready?" she asked him.
"Ready as I will be", he answered.
The interview was a success. They made people swoon about their love confessions. Whether it's enough to convince Snow, that's another story. For now, the entire Capitol is convinced that they're in love and that they're not planning on rebelling against the Capitol. That should keep them and their families safe for now. They just have to be careful and not give the Capitol any reason to doubt them and their story.
Now, Effie must hold her end of the bargain with Seneca. She decided that she will call him in the morning to arrange the plan for the announcement. It's already late and she promised Peeta that she will join them at the dinner table.
Haymitch must have had the same thought as hers because now, he's completely staring at her. It's going to be a long discussion later about her impending engagement to Seneca. They promised to discuss about it after the game and now that the game is over, it's time to talk about it.
"Any ideas for the Victory Tour, Effie?" Portia asked just to break the silence.
Everyone can feel the tension between the escort and Haymitch and they're afraid that the two will start fighting over dinner. Someone has to stir up a conversation.
"Oh, I have so many! First, we should talk about their outfits. We should keep it simple but give it a little flair. They're Victors after all but they will be visiting the districts. We won't have to put them in luxury gowns and suits…" Effie trailed.
They began talking about designs, themes, and speeches for the tour which Haymitch…and the kids tuned out for the most part since they're not interested in Capitol fashion. Suddenly, the phone rings but they're in the middle of their discussion.
"I'll get it", Cinna volunteered leaving the two ladies pitching in ideas here and there.
It took a few minutes before Cinna returned with a grim look on his face.
"What is it?" Katniss asked when she saw his face.
That stopped Effie and Portia from talking and they both turned to look at him. Cinna is staring at Effie which made Haymitch uneasy.
"Dear, are you alright? You look pale. Who was on the phone?" Effie asked in concern.
Cinna cleared his throat.
"That was from the gaming center…he, uh…he just told me that Head Gamemaker Seneca Crane was found dead few hours ago in his apartment", it knocked out the wind from Effie's lungs, "They said it was suicide", the stylist answered.
Haymitch stared at Effie as her complexion grew even paler than her makeup.
"Okay…I say good riddance", Katniss muttered.
"Enough, Katniss!" Effie snapped.
From the moment they have met Effie Trinket, not once she talked to them that way even when Katniss shot an arrow towards the gamemakers. The girl blinked a few times, weighing her words carefully.
"Sorry…were you friends or something?" she asked.
She's trying to apply the word sensitivity but it's hard to tell when it comes to Effie Trinket whether it's working or not.
"He's good man and it's a terrible loss", her tone is back to being cheerful, "Oh my…I fear I lost my appetite for tonight. Excuse me for a moment", Effie said and left the room.
Heads turned to Katniss in an instant.
"What did I say?" the girl asked in confusion.
Suicide is a big fucking lie. Everyone who knows how the actual game is played knows that. Seneca bent the rules for her. It's not for Haymitch. It's for her. Snow deemed her unknowledgeable for that rule change and so it all fell on Seneca. Snow deemed him culpable and he would know that it's because of her brief affair with the previous Head Gamemaker. He was killed because he cared for her. His death is on her no matter what other people will say about that.
Her hands shook at the thought of causing Seneca's death. He would have been fine if she did not come to him after the private session to ask him to spare Katniss the lowest score. He would have been fine if she said no to Haymitch in setting up that meeting…but that would mean, Katniss and Peeta may have died if she did all those things. Is it fair though? Does that make it even? Are the lives of two tributes worth more than a life of a Capitol man? Is Haymitch going to say better him than the kids? Because she can't say it. She will not say that. She will not wish the kids ill but she would never wish Seneca's death. Seneca was a good man and he paid with his life for it.
"Princess?" she had locked the door so Haymitch wouldn't be able to come in her room. "Unlock the door", he said.
She cannot deal with him right now, not when she's a total mess and unsure of whatever it is she's feeling.
"I am tired, Haymitch. I need to rest. I'll see you in the morning", she replied without opening the door.
It's rude and improper. Her mother will say a lot about that but she's not in the mood for propriety.
"Trinket…"
"I will be fine. I just need to be alone right now…please", she responded and heard him walking away from the door.
It's my day off and I can't stop writing about this fic so here's another chapter and probably more to come later lol!