Their tributes proven to be different from last year's. They both survived the Cornucopia. Hope started building in Effie's heart and she worked herself too much to get them help. She's already weary and sleep-deprived but she still goes out to parties to meet with potential Sponsors.
Haymitch knows those two got nothing on Four's tribute Finnick Odair. The boy is skilled with the trident and Mags pulled a lot strings to get him that. He knows that boy will win which means their kids will die although he couldn't bring himself to say that to Effie and crush her spirit.
The boy died after a pack of Careers caught him and he wondered if Effie already knows about it since she's still out there scouring parties for Sponsors. After five hours, the girl came across Four's tribute and she died fast. Deep inside, he's grateful for the boy because he could've made a show about ending his tribute's life but he showed her mercy by making it quick and painless. The Careers would've made her suffer first just like what they did with the boy.
When Effie came in the penthouse, she immediately noticed the television on mute. She knew the kids are dead too. It's what Haymitch does when they no longer have any tributes left in the games. The exhaustion finally caught up with her and she felt like crashing but she cannot let anyone see her like that.
"Took you long enough. They're gone", Haymitch greeted with a glass of whisky in his hand.
Effie nodded and gently put the Sponsor forms on the table. She's been very busy. He stood up and counted the forms. It's quite a lot. Suddenly, he felt guilty for sitting around and letting her do the work. He watched her light her cigarette and played with her lighter as she relaxed with every puff of smoke.
The Avox came to offer a drink to her but she waved her off like she's nothing. That was one of the instances that constantly remind Haymitch that despite her big heart and kindness towards the kids, she's still Capitol. She's still born with a silver spoon and she cannot help that.
"These are a lot of Sponsors, princess. You may run out of friends if you keep on cashing money from them for a district that never wins", he said which is meant to be a tease but she didn't talk back like she always does.
She quickly finished her stick of cigarette and put it out into the ashtray.
"We can cash it in next year so we don't have to work this hard next year. I am exhausted", she said.
He slightly flinched when she said 'we' when she was the one who did all the work. She sounded really tired and he noticed her slightly wincing. Immediately, he sensed something is wrong.
"What happened?" he asked.
Effie stiffened before putting on her escort mask. He hates it when she does that to him. They've worked together for two years and he knows it when she's hiding behind her mask to hide what she really feels.
"Eff, what is going on?" he asked again.
"I am afraid I don't know what you mean, Haymitch", she lied.
He can see it just like he was able to see that her wig is crooked, her makeup is not a mess but it's on point either. She's now wearing a scarf when she didn't have that when she left in the morning. His instinct is already telling him all sorts of stuff but he needs proof and she's not going to give that to him. She will deny and lie until he let it go but he's just as stubborn as her.
He reached for the scarf but she stepped back and frowned. The urge to get that scarf away from her neck is growing fast. He stepped towards her as she continued to step back. It went on until her back hit the wall and there's no way for her to escape him.
"Haymitch, please", she whispered begging him to just let it go but he can't.
It's too late for that.
"Don't move", he ordered and removed the scarf around her neck.
He almost gasped at the sight but controlled it and it came out as a growl. Her neck is bruised. He can see the marks of fingers around her throat. His blood started to boil.
"Please, tell me you didn't do what I think you did", he said.
She contemplated of telling him a lie that it was a boyfriend and not a Sponsor but she knows it is no use because he has the gift to see her lies. Instead of lying, she just averted her eyes. His fist hit the wall behind her and she flinched. Her heart is pounding in her chest.
"What the hell were you thinking, Trinket?! Are you really that dumb? Do you know what you've done? Do you?" he shouted right at her face.
"I wanted them to live! I wanted at least one of them to come back! That's what I wanted", she shouted right back and it stopped him. "I know we don't always get what we want but they were different from last year. I thought they have a chance and there's nothing I can do to help them inside the arena so I did what I can to help", she added.
He scoffed.
"You sold yourself for a few bucks for kids you never knew? Quite a story", he snapped and that hurt her more than the Sponsor who tried to choke her to death because she's not submissive enough.
She fought her tears from falling but she cannot control her hands from shaking. How dare he judge her for wanting to help? It's not like she can jump inside the arena and take the kids away. It's not like she wanted to be fuck by strangers either for money. It was supposed to be a dinner meeting. She promised the Sponsor a dinner and he took her to his hotel room.
"Yeah, quite a story", she managed to say before freeing herself from him and the wall.
She struggled to find the pack of cigarette she dropped inside her purse. Her shaking hands didn't help too. Once she found it, she quickly lit it up and inhaled deep.
"Do you have any idea what you just did? You opened yourself up to predators out there and they will come for you every year. You're not supposed to do this kind of thing", he explained.
Effie slammed her lighter onto the table which stunned Haymitch. Effie is not one of losing her cool in any situation but she's tried and she's slipping.
"It was supposed to be a dinner meeting", she whispered he almost failed to hear it. "That was the condition last year. Leticia and Daryl died before the deal was sealed and I kept the file to use for this year. Everything was set. The restaurant was book and I brought the forms with me. It was a little too late when I realized, we're not heading for the restaurant. We were heading for his hotel. He said it's normal. Escorts do it all the time, he said. He got a little upset when I was uncooperative and I might've passed out at some point because I cannot remember much. Point is, I didn't sell myself for money although I wouldn't mind if that means I can save at least one of them", she added.
Mags words ringing in his ears. She put Effie to his district to protect her from the Careers who used their escorts to get Sponsors. That guy, for sure, used to Sponsor those districts and thought Effie to be just like that. She's popular, too popular. He should've known some would attempt to try and have their way with her.
He remembered the three Sponsor forms last year. She told him she knows people who knows rich men and that she can make it work. He knew then something was wrong. She got offers to use herself in exchange for money. That's why she didn't want him to know.
It is one thing to agree to that kind of arrangement and it's another thing to agree to just having dinner. He can feel his blood rushing towards his head. Someone just took advantage of her naivety. He should've told her the other side of the business just to warn her. Mags may not have mention that to her since it's the side of the games she wanted her to be protected from.
"He strangled you", it came out in his dangerous voice.
Effie turned around to look at him and saw the anger in his eyes. She thought he's angry at her but soon saw the anger is directed towards something else. The Sponsor.
"I was not submissive enough for his taste", she answered.
"What's his name and where's his hotel?" he asked.
That snapped Effie out of her self-pity and self-loathing thoughts.
"You're not doing anything like that, Haymitch. I appreciate the concern but we're not the most favorite district of the Capitol right now. We're pretty much disposable and we cannot risk a scandal and a crime charge", she said.
"What do you suggest we do then, princess?" he asked mockingly, still boiling with anger.
"We will save those forms and we will cash in those money next year to help the kids. I will not let that horrible experience be for nothing. Those money will help our next tributes and we will keep it. I will arrange my Sponsor files and he blacklisted from future games. We will stick with the rules and schedules. That's how we will survive", she answered.
Her resolve impressed Haymitch. Most women who just went through that experience will have a meltdown but perhaps it's different with Capitol women. Sex is a hobby in that city, something he can never understand.
She kept her face unreadable to hide the brewing storm inside of her. A lady doesn't let anyone see her cry. It's for the privacy of one's bedroom. It's one of her mother's rules.
"Seems like you already have everything planned. Fine. This is the last time you're doing this or any deals with Sponsors. Anyone tries to offer you anything, you talk to me first. I will go with you to parties and you will no longer transact with any of them. You introduce us and you leave the talking to me. Got it?" he proposed.
The idea of working his ass is dreadful but not as much as thinking of Effie going through that nightmare again.
"Yes, I got it", she accepted.
this one is pretty long but I couldn't help it...
