In the morning, Effie presents him with a gold bracelet. It has a flame design. It's just about the ugliest thing he's ever seen, including Effie's orange wig.
"Thanks," he says, twisting it around, and trying not to look too miserable.
It takes longer than usual to get the kids out the door, and he has to stop Effie from babysitting them down to the training area, but finally, it's just the two of them. She sits on his lap, and he puts his arms around her.
"They're not letting us out of the Center. I don't know how to find sponsors."
Effie is quiet for a second. "Maybe it's just till the Games start. There's too much money in sponsorship to refuse it entirely." She pauses again. "I'll phone Plutarch and find out what the protocol will be this year. And then we'll just do our best."
Her voice breaks on the last word.
He rests his head on her chest, hears her heart beating. He sees Maysilee, her cheeks covered in blood splatter from her coughing and choking on her own blood.
"Yeah," he says, "We'll do our best."
Effie nods.
He thinks about telling her about the rebellion. He can't tell her here, of course, but maybe in the garden. But if they fail, they will surely all be executed, and Effie might be safer not knowing. But it's hard to let her worry about the two people going into the arena who are least likely to die.
Effie sniffs. "I should call Plutarch, now." She leaves the living room, and he watches her go.
When she comes back, she seems much more like her usual, chipper, irritating self. He smiles, and she beams back at him, radiant.
"Plutarch says none of the tributes can leave, of course. And this year, mentors are to be accompanied by their escort at all times, if they leave the Training Center."
Last year, he would have been angry. This year, he's just relieved they'll be able to talk to sponsors at all.
"Let's get started then," he says. "I want to be back by the time training is over."
They spend the day finding people most obsessed with Katniss and Peeta. One bar they enter is actually called "The Mockingjay". Haymitch wonders how long it will be allowed to remain standing. But they end their day feeling like they've made progress.
The Capitol citizens seem completely oblivious to the trouble caused by last year's Games. They bemoan the lack of access to some of their favorite things, things produced by actively rebelling districts, but that's as close as any of them get to realizing something is going on.
They end the day with a walk along the river.
They talk about inconsequential matters, gossiping about the people they were just buttering up, about the other victors.
"We should get back to the Training Center, or we'll make Katniss and Peeta wait on their dinner."
Haymitch smiles. "You think they'd wait?"
"Well, it would be bad manners -" She stops and shoots him an appraising glance. "You're teasing me."
He puts his arm around her shoulders and she puts her arm around his waist and giggles.
"I guess I'll get used to that," she says, a little breathlessly.
Haymitch feels breathless himself. Is Effie picturing a future? Every time he turns a corner, he expects a Peacekeeper with a gun trained between his eyes.
They enter the Training Center and are immediately approached by Lyme, acting as Enobaria's mentor this year. It's weird, because she's younger than Enobaria, but she's a good fighter, she tries her hardest, and Haymitch can't pretend he'll miss Enobaria laughing when her kids kill his.
"Haymitch," she says, and nods at Effie. They stop right in the middle of the foyer. "Brutus wants an alliance with Katniss. Would you talk to her?"
That's interesting.
"I'll talk to her. He's a good fighter, we could use him on our side. He say why?"
She shakes her head.
"See you."
District 2. Never ones to talk too much.
He and Effie exchange a look, and then make their way toward the elevators. Where Eric, Cash and Heart are waiting for them. They also want Katniss as an ally for Finnick, Mags, Gloss, and Cashmere. It's starting to make Haymitch feel anxious. What did Katniss do today in training?
He gives them the same answer he gave to Lyme, and he and Effie get on the elevator.
Effie is chewing her lip. "You don't think Katniss did something…bad, do you?"
Haymitch laughs, but it's not a happy laugh. "I guess we'll find out."
When they reach the landing for 12, Indigo is waiting for them on behalf of Cecelia and Woof.
He and Effie hurry into the apartment when she lets them go. They sit at the dining table, both silently marveling over what has just happened. He nods at Darius, who is putting platters of food on the table. As soon as Katniss and Peeta are seated, he begins.
"So, at least half the victors have instructed their mentors to request you as an ally. I know it can't be your sunny personality."
Katniss scowls, and it's Peeta who answers.
"They saw her shoot." He smiles at Katniss and continues, "Actually, I saw her shoot, for real, for the first time. I'm about to put in a formal request myself."
"You're that good?" He doesn't know why he feels so irritated by this. "So good Brutus wants you?"
Katniss looks down at her food. "But I don't want Brutus. I want Mags and District Three."
"Of course you do." Actually, he's touched. Katniss has a real talent for picking the most helpless underdogs in the arena and protecting them. In any other circumstance than the one they're in, it would be laudable.
He turns to Darius and the other redheaded Avox. "Can I get a bottle of red?" To the table he says, "I'll tell everybody you're still making up your mind."
He hopes she will team up with Beetee and Wiress. They'll need all the protection they can get, and if she's really that impressive with a bow and arrow, she might be their best chance at staying alive long enough to break out of the arena.
Then he realizes why he's irritated. The Gamemakers will have to put a bow and arrow in the Cornucopia. The image is almost as popular as the one of the mockingjay, and they can't ignore that. So, Katniss will either die in the bloodbath trying to get it, or she'll kill people trying to get her out if she gets her hands on it.