The night of the bloodbath was always hard. It led to nightmares of the games for Haymitch. It led to terrors of past reapings for Effie. The countless faces of dead children whose names she had plucked from the bowl. As far as Effie was concerned this was the worst night of the games. Yes the deaths were bad but this night on the brink of total carnage was the worst.
Effie's alarm clock sounded off at precisely 4 am. No stranger to getting up early to begin the intensive transformation it took to get herself ready. She slapped the alarm off and sighed. Spying the empty wine bottle and glasses on the bedside table. The slightest twinge of a headache surfaced. Effie made conscious effort to not drink, especially particularly potent wines and liquors. Why was there wine in here? Why two glasses? Effie shifted and felt a heavy arm over her hip pull against her. Slowly she peaked over her shoulder and saw Haymitch. She clapped a hand to her mouth and sat up briskly.
Haymitch groaned and opened his eyes, "Of course you get up this early." He spotted the scandalized look on her face and sighed. "Relax, Effie."
"Did… Did we…" She glanced at the wine and then him tangled up in his boxers and her sheets.
"No." He sat up and rubbed his eyes. "Good to know you've got that on your mind though." He teased.
Effie swatted at his shoulder and gave him a don't mess with me stare, "Why'd you stay here?"
He got out of bed and shrugged on his pants. "You made it very clear you didn't want me to go last night. Can't say it was the worst thing I've done. I didn't have a nightmare."
Effie raised her eyebrows and thought about last night. She remember most of the talk and oh… right. He kissed her and she made no point to stop him. She watched him dress, he wasn't the most fit thing. A bit flabby around the middle, but there were still edges of muscles on his torso. He was strong, she remember him pushing her against the pillows now. The question was burning on her lips, what does this mean now?
"You better get moving, Princess. I'd hate for you to look less than your best." He snatched the glasses and the bottle.
"Don't go back to sleep, Haymitch. Remember…" Effie started.
"I know, I know." He huffed, "Tributes have to be at the hovercraft pad in 45 minutes. Looks like you need to hurry. You've got some marks to take care of." He smiled and opened the door.
Effie spotted the marks on her neck and shoulder. Her mouth dropped, poised to yell at him. "Shh…" He laughed and held a finger to his lips. "Tributes are sleeping." He dodged the pillow she hurled at him and retreated to his room to get ready.
Effie scoffed and scurried to the vanity to start painting her makeup on. She needed every bit of those 45 minutes to get ready. She donned a high waisted floaty black skirt with peacock feather prints on it and brilliant blue blouse. She took too long fussing with her make-up and clothes to fuss with a wig. Her blonde hair was curled softly and for flair fitted with a peacock feather headband. It was still quite out there in fashion, bright and vibrant. She hurried out to the common area to see Haymitch wearing a blue shirt in a hue similar to hers, and snoozing on the couch.
"You're supposed to get the kids up!" She huffed, "It's nearly time to go! Have they even eaten?"
"Relax Miss Trinket, the children are heading down the hall as we speak. I fed them and sent them to brush their teeth." Haymitch said with his eyes shut.
Effie spotted the kids and smiled, time to play her best version of herself. The little girl automatically stuck close to Effie. Effie felt her heart ache, this little girl worked her way into her heart. "You both look all set. Now, Now… Chins up. We've got a game to win, right?" Effie said reassuringly.
"Yes, Ma'am" The boy said strongly.
Haymitch clapped him on the shoulder. "Remember what we talked about this morning? Don't forget that." Haymitch even winked at the girl. Effie was flabbergasted. Her Escort tablet chimed, alerting them that they had to me moving now. Effie watched Haymitch and he nodded.
She led them all to the elevator and pressed the button for the rooftop. It was quiet and both tributes had bravery written on their faces. That was better than tears. Effie hated it when they cried. It was so much harder that way. The little girl squeezed Effie's hand. "You two look like a team today."
Effie smiled brightly, "I made Mr. Abernathy wear the shirt. He had such a ghastly color on earlier. It just wouldn't do for today!"
The little girl laughed and Haymitch nodded, going along with the story. "Remember the minute this elevator opens, your game begins. Those other tributes are gonna be sizing you up. Don't give them a reason to single you out. You be brave, be strong, and no matter what. Say nothing on the hovercraft. They try to start the mind games then, and the Peacekeepers let them. You don't believe a word of it. You hear?" The door dinged at their arrival.
Effie felt the little girl let go of her hand and stand up straight. Oh she was such a little spitfire. The boy set his face and nodded. "Make us proud. Make District 12 proud." Effie said as the door opened.
Two peacekeepers collected the kids and ushered them to the hovercraft. Effie marked on her tablet that she had successfully delivered the tributes, the information being relayed directly to the Head Gamemakers control center. The elevator sealed shut again and Effie focused on her tablet screen. It started blurring with the tears in her eyes.
"Hey, Eff…" Haymitch said softly seeing her just deteriorate. He knew it wouldn't be good the minute the little girl grabbed her hand. "Hey look at me."
Effie sucked a deep breath into her lungs and felt the first tear splash on her cheek. Haymitch sighed softly and grabbed her wrist. He tugged her gently toward him and held her. It was odd seeing her like this. For so long he just thought she was so far from soft like this. Soft in the best way possible. She wasn't ever like this in front of him. He didn't like her crying but certainly it said something if she was doing so in front of him. He supposed she probably just waited to cry in her room away from his eyes. "It'll be okay." He gave her a squeeze. "Chin up, Miss Trinket. We have places to be and I know you don't want to cry off your make-up." He tried to be lighthearted.
That must have struck a point to Effie. They had to be to the large lounge where all the Victors, Escorts, and prep teams got to watch the games. A spacious room with plenty of screens, food and of course the drinks. Later in the game it would be open to the elite who sponsored tributes and the wealthy who could afford to rub elbows with the Victors and employees of the games. She blotted at her eyes with a handkerchief. "You did your job today.." she said with a halfhearted smile.
"Surprising isn't it?" He commented. "Color me confused by it. I didn't want to, y'know?"
"I assumed that much. You try to distance yourself." Effie admitted dully. Fixing the tiny smudges near her eyes. "Did you just happen to pick a blue shirt?"
He sort of laughed, "Well, of course you are the type to lay out your outfit the night before anything. After all the team talk… I figured I should look the part. Thought it would mean something."
"It did. The kids appreciated it." She looked up at him, more in control of her emotions now.
Haymitch nodded and pressed the button to resume the elevators progress to the lounge. He must have paused it when she was crying. "You okay now?"
Effie nodded and looked at her tablet. Notifications and updates were already flooding in. Her job wasn't done just because the kids were on the hovercraft. She had a big part to play in managing Haymitch's effort to get sponsors for the kids. "We've got requests already for meetings. One of the kids much have struck some interest."
"Alright." Haymitch said softly and looked at her. "I suppose we have a relationship to uphold in public. Less we look crazy for being civil. Ready to start pestering me and looking annoyed?"
Effie narrowed her eyes at the comment, poised to snap back at him. Haymitch cut her off, "Good job, Princess." The door opened and Haymitch sauntered into the room searching for a drink. Effie scoffed and headed to find her other escort friends and complain.