Effie's powder blue tulle and silk dress stood out like a beacon against the drab landscape of District 12. Even when the District was supposedly cleaned up for the reaping, it still had a grime and an unpleasant smell. She barely remembered this place, she had no reason to call it home. Not anymore. Children were already beginning to enter the square for the reaping. Dread filled her stomach as she followed her peacekeeper escorts into the Justice Building to wait. She had a room to herself as the noise outside the building grew. A dingy mirror on the wall enabled her to check herself one last time. Her 3rd year as an escort and already she grew tired of it. Her contract held heavy over her head. Bound to serve so many years as an Escort. The fashion and the glamor lost its one appealing luster.
"How long do you spend picking out those obnoxious outfits? Is it a goal to best the previous year?" That familiar voice slurred from the doorway.
Effie felt her stomach clench, "Haymitch… Normal exchange niceties before badgering someone about their appearance."
He shrugged the comment off, "That wasn't an answer to my question, Princess."
She snapped her powder compact shut and huffed at him, "Why do I even bother to humor you? I spend a few days picking my outfit theme for the games. Yes, it's a personal goal to look even better than last year. As for you… at least you showered." Not much could have been said for the previous years when he clearly hadn't, or the first year she was there and he fell off stage.
"Days… DAYS…" Haymitch chuckled, he seemed smug and drained his glass of liquor as the mayor addressed the crowd. "Didn't take long at all to ruffle your feathers.,," He too had a goal, to annoy her quicker. He met his goal early.
She didn't bite at his teasing. She straightened up and faced him, "I thought you were trying to stop drinking so much… You managed it last year. What happened?"
"I've had 3 glasses, relax. I've got a role to play, so do you." He nodded as the doors opened and their cue came to come to the stage.
He was right about that for sure. She summoned her cheery smile and for the next 10 minutes she'd exude Capitol culture. She found herself in front of the microphone addressing the crowd with her signature, "Welcome, welcome!" Before much longer the movie played and she did all she could to not look the children in the face. The film ended and with it brought the selection of the girls. Effie's hand paused above the glass bowl, trembling slightly. She could feel the weight of the nation's eyes on her. Some itching for the name she'd pull, others fearing it. Swallowing her guilt and her fear she snatched a card from the middle.
"Our female tribute is…" Her fingers felt stiff and she nearly lost the paper. "Tabitha Morris." From the crowd emerged a pale girl from the row of 17 year olds. At least this year the girl wasn't so heartbreakingly little. This girl looked strong, and seemed rather emotionless as she walked to the stage.
"And for the male tribute…" Effie grabbed another paper from the bowl and opened it. Determined to get this over with. "Oliver Stevens" With the name came a boy from the 17 year old line as well. He was tall and looked very quick. He seemed noticeably angered with the result. Somehow Effie already seemed to think the girl stood a better chance than he did.
"There we have it, ladies and gentlemen, Your District 12 tributes for the 73rd Hunger Games!" Effie ushered them into the building and to their separate rooms for the goodbyes. Haymitch sat on a bench nearby, watching the trickle of Peacekeepers and family members stream in and out.
She walked over to him, "Why do this to yourself? Watching won't help anything." She pointed out as she checked off her list on her tablet. "You can go to the train. I'll be along with the kids." He was probably counting the moments until his next drink.
"It's my job to accompany them." He leaned back and shoved his hands in his pockets.
"Well… No. It's not. That's my job. The Mentors are supposed to head to the train right after the reaping." She hurried and scrawled a reminder to herself on the tablet.
"I'll just wait." He watched her and grinned. "You have everything planned to the minute don't you.. Let me guess they have 2 minutes left to say goodbye?"
Effie shook her head, "A minute… and 15 seconds."
"Give them some more time." Haymitch could hear a lot of crying from one of the rooms.
Effie looked scandalized, "You're suggesting I… break schedule… If they aren't in the car by 12:30 we will miss the train. If we miss the train it could be hours before a return trip gets sent all the way to 12. They will miss their prep teams and their stylists! They could miss the ceremony!" Effie sounded slightly panicked.
Haymitch held up his hands in defeat, "A simple no would have sufficed, Effie." She was way too easy to push. He laughed openly at her for the reaction. "You wasted a few precious seconds with the details."
"Haymitch!" Effie groaned, "Stop it. We have a schedule to maintain and I can't do it when you're fluctuating between grouchy drunk and playful drunk." She saw the kids waiting with peacekeepers at the doorway towards the waiting car.
"You're wasting time, Effie. They're waiting!" Haymitch stood up. The banter and bickering was back to normal a clever cover up for the feeling underneath. He suspected Effie was more tightly wound for the same exact reason.
Effie grabbed his sleeve, "Haymitch.. Seriously.." She looked up at him. Her fingers grazed across his wrist in an effort to prove her point. Her eyes said it all. The fear she would mess up like last year. He knew her she was probably tearing herself up over almost dropping the girls paper on stage.
"I get it." He answered, "I'll behave with in believable reason for who I am." At that he pulled away and walked towards the kids.