Prompt : Jeez, I love your stories so much. Could you please write a one shot where Snow sends Haymitch Effie's pearls or idk a special item of Effie's while she's still in the capitol pretty please? ; ) Thank you!

The Beads

Victory Tour was looming and Haymitch didn't like much the unknown Peacekeepers taking a stroll in the victor's village. They seemed to remain around Katniss' house.

He took a last gulp from Ripper's latest batch and let the tattered curtain fall back in place. It took him only three steps to reach the back door. He intended to investigate.

He was so intent on finding out what was going on down the street that he almost stomped on the small box left on the porch. It was nondescript but the white rose, still fresh and in full bloom, made him pause. He grabbed the box, looked around once and went back in his kitchen, making sure he was still alone.

There was only one man who signed his messages with a white rose and it was never good.

He placed the box in the middle of the kitchen table and grabbed his bottle back, taking two or three swallows to calm his nerves. The box was square but small. His mind immediately shot for the worst case scenario : body parts – it wouldn't have been a first for President Snow – fingers or ears maybe.

He considered placing it in the trash directly without opening it. It was the safest bet probably but he knew he would – could – never do that. He needed to know. He was naturally curious, it was one of his greatest flaws.

The rose though, he didn't need. He took immense pleasure in crushing it in his fist, tearing it apart until nothing was left but white crumpled petals.

He knew whatever was in that box would be a threat of some sort. A warning if he was lucky, a death sentence if he was not.

Anger bubbled in his stomach. He took a mouthful of liquor to stiffen it and another one to still his nerves, then, he placed the bottle down and took hold of the box. Plain wood, nothing fancy. It opened easily.

His jaw clenched and his hands started shaking in fury but he didn't know if it was at the card wishing him good luck on the upcoming Victory Tour or at the multicolor beads three rows necklace laying underneath.

He flung the box at the wall in his anger with a cry of rage that left him panting for breath.

He blindly reached for the bottle and drank hurriedly, trying to drown that threat right out of his head. He hoped it was a threat and not a statement. He would know very quickly, he supposed.

At long last, he picked up the necklace. It was just as ridiculous as when he had first seen it. It had belonged to him once upon a time but no more than a few hours. He had won it at poker in a bar he couldn't remember during a game he couldn't remember either, it was probably lucky Chaff had been sober for them both.

What he could remember was that Effie had greeted him at four in the morning on the penthouse threshold, out of her mind with fury at being left without news while he strolled around the Capitol, tarnishing Twelve and debasing himself in front of cameras. He had thrust the necklace at her as a peace offering – and because he had been too drunk to fight at that point. In his opinion, it was ugly so, of course, Effie loved it.

It was a favorite of hers, she wore it often. He had never asked if it was because she liked the necklace or because it was a gift from him.

Haymitch doubted it was a coincidence if Snow had chosen that particular piece of jewelry. There was a ring she often wore too that he could have identified without blinking twice or a brooch she was fond of. There were a lot of things belonging to Effie they could have sent him.

It couldn't be a coincidence.

The message was loud and clear : Victory Tour would have to go without a glitch or Effie would pay the price. If she hadn't already.

He shoved the rows of beads deep in his pocket, unable to suppress his frustration with himself and the rest of the world.

He was right back in Snow's favorite trap : threaten the victors' loved ones.