hayffie prompt if you're still taking them!: i kinda love the idea of this finnick and effie friendship you've presented. maybe something about that, finnick teasing haymitch a little by flirting with effie? i just think it's really amusing/cute when haymitch's friends see more of his feelings towards her bc he's trying to hide them.

The Penthouse Entertainment

Finnick didn't know why, exactly, they always seemed to end up in the penthouse. Probably because Haymitch had no other mentors living with him whereas Chaff and he did. The penthouse was quiet and as private a place as you could find in the Capitol. Plus, according to Chaff, Twelve had the best stocked liquor cart.

"How much longer, do you think?" Chaff asked, nursing a glass of whiskey.

"Depends. If the two from Six team up to take down the Careers, it should be quick." Haymitch, shrugged. He was well on his way to get wasted but he was still sober enough. Problem of indulging too often in alcohol, Finnick thought, it took longer and longer for you to feel its effects. He personally tried to stay as far from the booze as he could when he wasn't with them. Sober was safer in his opinion.

"What about the girl from Seven?" he said. "What's her name... Mason? She's still alive."

"That won't last once she finds herself on the Careers' path." Chaff sighed.

"As good as dead." Haymitch nodded in agreement.

Finnick wasn't so sure. His own tributes were dead but if he could bet on someone he would bet on her, she looked clever. Clever enough to look helpless at any rate.

"We're here for another good week, aren't we?" Chaff lamented.

Haymitch slumped deeper in his chair because Chaff's estimation was more than probably correct. The Games would go on for another few days and then there would be victory parties to attend, the crowning and after that, at long last, they would be able to leave. It could get boring really fast when you didn't have tributes to mentor anymore.

The elevator chimed, prompting Haymitch and Chaff to grunt in displeasure but Finnick smiled when he saw Effie.

"Still drinking I see." she said, as soon as she came in. She sat on the couch next to him because it was the last available place. Finnick welcomed her presence. Like he said, it could get boring really fast and you had to find your entertainment where you could. The strange relationship between Haymitch and his escort was one entertainement he wouldn't pass on for the world. It was always funny how Haymitch and Effie bickered like they couldn't stand each other when Finnick suspected they very much liked each other. If that hadn't been the case then why would Haymitch always get so angry when Chaff was a little too vocal in his taunting ?

"Still dressed like a clown, I see." Haymitch snapped.

"Don't listen to him." Finnick gazed at her from head to toe very openly with his trademark wolfish smile. "You're gorgeous as ever."

"You need glasses, boy." Haymitch mumbled in his drink, earning a glare from the escort.

Finnick got up to fix her a drink, he didn't need to ask what she wanted, she always ordered the same cocktail and he had become quite proficient at mixing drinks.

"Oh, thank you." She gave him a relieved smile and took a sip of her glass. "Perfect."

"Only the best for my favorite escort." He grinned.

There was a twinkle of amusement in her eyes when she answered. "That is why you are my favorite victor, Finnick, your manners are flawless."

"Careful, Haymitch, I think the boy is trying to steal your escort." Chaff chuckled, obviously aware of what Finnick was doing. It was always funny to watch Haymitch squirm when men flirted with Effie.

"He's very welcome to." Haymitch grumbled, twirling his whiskey in his glass dispassionately. But the look in his eyes was sharp and only grew darker when Finnick casually placed a hand on Effie's leg.

"Are you sure?" he teased "Because I might just do that."

"And I might let you convinced me." Effie replied, probably enjoying making fun of Haymitch as much as they did. "After all, it's nice to feel appreciated once in a while."

"Isn't he a bit young for you?" Haymitch scorned, glaring daggers at the hand resting on her leg. "If you want to make a show of yourself, go ahead. I will be right here, laughing at you."

"What's wrong with a bit of maturity?" he joked.

Finnick's thumb traced deliberate slow circles on her thigh. Effie shot him a mildly annoyed look but he pretended not to notice. There never was any ambiguity in their relationship, they were friends and nothing else, she wouldn't take it the wrong way. Haymitch, however... District Twelve victor was quickly turning a lovely shade of purple.

Chaff burst out laughing. "Take off your hand, Finnick, he's going to have a stroke." His chuckles turned darker and he waved his lump around. "Or you may end up with one of those, hard to say."

"Are you that wasted already?" Haymitch scoffed "I don't care what the boy does."

"No?" Finnick was having too much fun. His hand went that little bit higher on her thigh and Haymitch's face grew that little bit sterner, till Effie whacked his hand away.

"Well, not that this wasn't fun, but I'm off to bed." Effie said, placing her empty glass on the coffee table before getting to her feet.

"Is that an invitation?" he grinned.

Haymitch's free hand was gripping the armrest so tight, his knuckles were white. Chaff was trying and failing to drown his laughter in his glass of whiskey.

Effie shook her head at him in silent disapprobation but there was a smile on her lips so he winked. "Try not to get into any troubles for a change." she instructed - with reason, there had been antecedents. "I don't fancy getting up in the middle of the night to get you out of Peacekeepers custody, this year." Yeah, antecedents... That one time for instance.

He watched her disappear in the dark corridor, he could feel the burn of Haymitch's stare on him and he wondered if he had taken his teasing a little too far.

"Don't look so sour, Haymitch." Chaff rolled his eyes. "The kid is having you on. Nobody is going to put a finger on your precious Trinket."

"I don't care." Haymitch grumbled, leaning in to grab the bottle of whiskey and refill his glass.

"Sure, you don't." Chaff snorted, sharing an amused look with Finnick. "That's why you always look like you're going to rip the head off anyone who looks at her twice."

"You're drunk." Haymitch pointed his glass at him accusingly.

"Drunk as a skunk, armless as a penguin and still not blind" Chaff laughed.

Finnick chuckled. "She's a gorgeous woman, I don't see why..."

"Yeah, you like her, we all got it." Haymitch's voice was harsh. "Don't you have a girl back home waiting for you?"

Finnick raised his hand in surrender but that only made Chaff laugh more. "Oh, you've got it bad, buddy."

Haymitch downed his glass in one go and got up. "I'm going to bed."

"Which one?" Finnick asked his retreating back. He couldn't help it, really.

"Would you both shut up!" Haymitch growled, slamming the living-room door shut behind him.

Finnick doubted he appreciated the new round of laughter that saluted his departure.