The Victory Tour is a hurricane. People are hungry for Finnick Odair. Each of the districts prepared a feast for him and the boy grew more and more comfortable with the fame.
Each time they arrived at one district, the Mentors and Escorts need to do one interview as a documentary for Finnick's victory. They will narrate the experience being around the newest Victor and the crowd's support for the boy.
It should be easy especially for Effie but the constant lying that Finnick is the most deserving tribute to win the game is getting to her. No one is more deserving. They all deserved to survive and live their lives but she cannot say those things on camera or to anyone because she will lose her tongue. After each interview, she consumes almost a pack of cigarette just to ease the heavy feeling in her chest. Talking to Mags helped as well since she's good at making her feel better but she cannot always talk to her. Haymitch is the best option but talking to him means him asking questions and she doesn't want to answer them so she settled at the company of her cigarette.
"I don't see the appeal of the districts", Finnick suddenly said from behind her.
She quickly turned around and saw the boy looking at the view from the balcony of the Presidential Palace. The Tour is almost over. Capitol is the last stop and after that, they will rest until the next game.
"I don't see the appeal of the Capitol either", he added.
Effie looked around out of reflex. Newest Victor shouldn't talking about things like that especially inside the Presidential Palace.
"It's alright. Mags told me about the bugs. She said they only put those at the conference room here at the mansion but not on the other parts because President Snow doesn't feel comfortable with anyone listening to his conversations", the boy resumed.
That is an irony. He is not comfortable with that and yet he's not shy from listening other people's conversations.
"Well, tell me why you don't see the appeal of this place then", she humored him.
"Everything is so bright and it's not normal. It's bright and colorful but it's not like the sun, you see. Everything here is made. Back in Four, the sun is real. The ocean is real. The sand is real. It's nature", the boy explained.
Effie cannot help but smile. She has never seen a real ocean before. When they were in Four, they stuck with the center of the district and the Justice Building. She wanted to go see the beach but she knows the Peacekeepers will not let her go that far. It's not safe for her and for others.
"I have to agree with you on that. I have never seen the ocean before though but I will say your district is beautiful", she replied.
That made Finnick smile too.
"Haymitch said it's okay to be friends with you", Effie turned to the boy. "He is giving me advice on who I can trust to let my guard down, whom I should play along, whom I should avoid. He said you're cool to be friends with and I think I agree. You're Capitol but you're not like those people at the party. Can we be friends? If that's alright with you, that's all", the boy asked.
It immediately warms her heart. Haymitch is set on lecturing her about being attached but Finnick is no longer a tribute. He's a Victor. She doesn't have to worry about him getting killed in the arena.
"Of course, we can be friends. I would love that very much", she answered.
Finnick's smile grew wider. He then took something out his pocket. It's a red box and he handed it to her. Effie accepted with a frown. When she opened it, she saw a silver lighter embroidered with crystals with her initials on its side. She ran her finger on it multiple times until her brain can process the shiny lighter she's holding.
"You bought this?" she asked the boy and he nodded. "This is quite expensive, Finnick", she muttered.
"I cannot think of ways to spend my money and I got too much, more than I need really. I figured I should buy something nice to the people that are close to me and now you're one of them. You're my friend. Do you like it?" he asked.
Effie blinked a couple of times and nodded.
"I love it, Finnick. This is gorgeous!" she answered and then frowned. "How did you know I smoke?" she suddenly asked.
She makes sure she's discreet with her habit and she always took mint right after to cover the smell.
"I saw you once in Seven right after your interview and then again on One. Haymitch said it's your way of dealing with things. He drinks. You smoke. Since you already got a lot of jewelries, I thought lighter would be nice", he answered.
The boy is observant. It is certainly not a good example for the boy seeing her smoke but she is touched by his gesture.
"Thank you, Finnick. I love it", she said and Finnick gave her his charming smile.
"Well, now that's done. Haymitch said I should tell you that you should stop smoking your ass to death and join him downstairs because he's suffocating from boredom", Finnick said.
"Language", she chided right away and that made the boy suppressed his laughter. "Wait. Haymitch told you that to say to me word by word?" she asked and he nodded. "Oh, I am going to murder him", she muttered.
That is not something one teach to a child and it's not proper to make Finnick swear.
The boy followed her to the party until she saw Haymitch who gave her a smirk once he saw her coming. The anger disappeared once he saw the softness in his eyes. It's all a ploy, she guessed. He wants her to stop drowning in guilt and death and enjoy one night for once. He knew making Finnick swear in front of her will be enough to get her to come to him and he's not wrong.
"The boy has a good taste for a gift, hasn't he?" he asked her.
"He has…he's a nice boy, Haymitch", she answered and left other things to be unsaid but he knows what she wants to say.
"We'll look after him. He's one of us now", he said.
Finnick is such a dear!
