Haymitch wakes up disoriented with a headache, gets up and the first thing he does is vomit on himself, when he observes he realizes that he is in his training center room. It is the second day of the 58 Hunger Games, his tributes had died on the first day in the Cornucopia's pool of blood. The only piece of advice he gave them was to stay away from the Cornucopia and the only piece of advice they didn't follow.
Go down to the lobby where most of the escorts, mentors, and other people were until his find Chaff, when he sees him he makes a face but decides to swallow his words"Where's your escort?" he decides to ask Haymitch
Haymitch shrugs. "I think I resigned yesterday," he says, Bernie, a ridiculous name like everyone else in the capitol, she was assigned yesterday as district 12 escort when she saw her, she knew she wouldn't hesitate for a minute, it's her 3 escort in her 8 year as a mentor, a record that he himself sets to overcome.
Chaff laughs "At least tell me you screwed it up, it was hot" he says while drinking his drink
Haymitch makes a disgusted face "I don't fuck with Capitols" or well he tries not to, although being too drunk to remember has happened on more than one occasion.
"Well let's see who will be your escort next year" Haymtich rolls his eyes before this
59th Hunger Games
Knocking resounds on Haymitch's door. Fed up knowing what a stupid day it is, Harvest Day, he opens the door knowing it's the Peacekeepers with his new escort present.
Opening it, Haymitch sees a woman ridiculously dressed as if she were a pink clown, with her wig of the same color, but blue eyes that stare at him curiously, he watches her wrinkle her nose, but tries to smile politely.
"Good morning, I'm the new escort from District 12. Effie Trinket," she greets him, offering her hand.
"Ridiculous name, honey," Haymitch says, letting go of her hand and turning to head back to his house.
"Excuse me!" Effie accuses, while she frowns, she can't believe that's how Haymitch greets her, he knew how she was and how she treated the escorts from the rumors in the capitol, but seeing him surprises and annoys her" You can't stop to someone without saying hello, and don't say nicknames if I haven't given you permission to do so" she says as he enters his house.
At this, Haymitch raises his eyebrows, surprised by the response of his now escort "I'm not interested in the manners of the capitol, sweetheart" he emphasizes the last word.
Effie sighs, she didn't expect this welcome or that Haymitch Abernathy would be so difficult to deal with, but she can't lose her composure, even though she's about to.
"You must bathe and dress well, you can't go to the harvest like this," Effie says with a fake smile.
Haymtich rolls his eyes. "I won't be dressed as a clown like you, honey."
Effie makes a face at the prayer, although she recovers quickly "Mr. Abernathy, I ask you to respect me, and please follow my instructions since I am your escort" she looks at you, she wants to be promoted and for that she must win the games and he needs Haymitch's help for that.
"Dear, I shouldn't obey you, so go and leave me alone," he murmurs.
Effie doesn't stop and approaches "Go take a bath and get dressed" she repeats
Haymitch raises an eyebrow, it's the first escort he's had to insist so much and not leave it there or what else, honey? You're going to make me," he says as he approaches her.
Effie resists the urge to back off. "I'll tell the peacekeepers you don't want to cooperate," she mutters quickly.
Haymitch snorts, but doesn't insist since he doesn't want to have any more problems with the peacekeepers he already has. "Okay, dear, I'll give it to you," he winks as he begins to remove his shirt.
Effie quickly looks away, as she walks away "I'll wait for you outside, I'll leave you the clothes you should wear"
Haymitch after taking a bath couldn't be more upset with his new escort, she's so annoying, stressful, obsessed with manners, and the first to not run away from him, looking at her clothes, she growls, she would never wear what she left her, pick any clean clothes and go out.
When he leaves, he self-sufficiently observes the look of annoyance that Effie gives him, apparently she isn't happy with him either, which is the usual thing, he just has to pass these games and he will never see her again in his entire life.
They go to the square where the harvest takes place, he hates that day and for that reason he avoids coming, seeing the bunch of scared children, while they watch him go by, it makes him disgusted and repelled to think that two of them are soon going to die.
Effie is surprised to see the conditions of the 12th district, it is well known in the capitol that they are the most economical, however, she did not expect to find that, dusty streets, poor houses, and most of the children were dirty, and they looked scared, not like they were shown in the games, but maybe it's just something that happened this time.
Effie approaches the microphone "Welcome, Welcome, Welcome! Happy Hunger Games and may luck always be on your side! "When she says that, she observes how no one applauds or is happy like the images they showed in the capitol "Well, before continuing, I will show a video brought from the Capitol itself! "Effie repeats all the dialogue from the video of the 13th district revolution and that brought peace to Panem!
"I love that part!" she says happily "Now we will choose two brave young men, to honorably represent District 12 in the 59 Hunger Games" she says excitedly with a big smile "Ladies first" she approaches to choose the name of the first girl she will choose "Ailyn Roseth" as she said it, she watches how the crowd of girls move away from the 15-year-old girl I named, she sees how she begins to walk towards her "Come here, sweetheart" she encourages her with a smile, the girl goes up to the podium.
"Now to our brave knight" while choosing the new piece of paper "Ronald Hunter" in the same way, he sees how everyone stays silent and the 13-year-old boy walks towards them, terrified.
"Here are our tribute from District 12, Happy Hunger Games and may luck always be on your side" she shouts effusively.
Everyone enters and she watches how the relatives go by to say goodbye, she is surprised while they see how they scream and cry, Haymitch observes she—Good job honey—he says sarcastically.
Effie doesn't understand anything about what is happening, she tries to get closer to the boy's family, but they scare him away from her. "Get away, you're a monster," the boy's mother yells at her. The peacekeeper goes close try to hit the mother.
"No," Effie yells quickly.
Haymitch raises his eyebrow at this, and comes closer to prevent this from getting worse "Hi, surely this has all been a misunderstanding, honey, why don't you come with me while I let the families say goodbye" he takes Effie by the elbow as he quickly pulls her out.
"What do you think of doing?" Haymitch hisses at Effie.
"I was just trying to help, I don't understand why she's crying, she should feel comfortable, her son will represent district 12," Effie murmurs, quickly scared, unable to understand what was happening
Haymitch sighs "You're not helping, dear, stay away until we have to leave" he says leaving the room to get drunk, he needs a drink.
The next time he sees Effie is on the train when children are told how to eat "No, you can't eat with your hands, they must use cutlery"
Haymitch decides to walk past and go straight to the liquor cart. "You're finally coming with us," Effie tells him. "You're not going to tell the kids what to do."
At this Haymtich raises an eyebrow, they observe them, they are malnourished, scared, they will die the first day" Don't die" he says as he takes the bottle of whiskey and goes to his compartment on the train.
Two days later they arrive at the capitol to the training center "We are District 12, we´re get Penth House" the children are surprised to see all the luxury that is there in that room, and they go straight to a cart with desserts.
"No, no, that's for after dinner," Effie scolds the boy.
"I've never eaten this," the boy says as he brings the cupcake to his mouth, Effie remains silent, not knowing what to say.
"Well tomorrow is the first day of training, what are you going to start with, Mr. Abernathy"
Haymitch ignores her and goes straight to his room, he doesn't leave it until after the 3 days of training, avoiding the children and their escort as much as possible.
He manages to see Chaff on the 4th day, the day of the presentation of the tributes "How are you doing, brother?"
Annoyed Haymtich blurts out "I'm fed up, she doesn't leave me alone, she pressures me to try to train the children, to get sponsors, she won't shut up—he says quickly.
Chaff raises his eyebrow at this—Your new escort? "ask
"Yes, it's annoying" he rolls his eyes "She thinks there's a chance" he says angrily.
Chaff sees how someone angrily approaches them and assumes it's Haymitch's escort "I think someone is looking for you"
"Mr. Abernathy, I asked you to go see the tributes before the presentation so I can tell them how to get a good score, we need it to get sponsors," Effie tells him annoyed, then she sees that she is with another player, she recognizes that Chaff has bad reputation with other escorts "My apologies, nice to you Effie Trinket, District 12 escort"
Chaff looks at him from top to bottom, to which Effie feels uncomfortable "A pleasure, love" he says, taking her hand and giving it a kiss, Effie cordially withdraws it "I see why you get along with Mr. Abernathy, they both put nicknames without consent "before this Chaff can't help but laugh "Relax love"
"Mr. Abernathy, I need you to come with me to get sponsors" Effie has been upset, she can't believe that Haymitch doesn't care about training his tributes, he doesn't even talk to them, he ignores them, he doesn't seek sponsorship, he just goes around drinking alone or with Chaff,
"Leave me alone, honey," Haymitch says.
Effie gets angry "We need sponsors if we want to win"
Haymitch gets up and ignores her as he leaves, he can't stand her chasing after him all day, he wants to kill her, he hates her, she's a fucking capitol who thinks games are an honor, criticizing kids for having no manners, or getting emotional when she sees the food, when she has never been through it, he hates it.
Effie is fed up, Haymitch is impossible, he always ignores her, he doesn't do a job as a mentor, he doesn't care about the games, everything is going to be a disaster, if this year goes wrong it's his first year as a guard it must be a good presentation if she wants to get promoted.
At night they give out the scores, she is alone with the children, she has become a little fond of the boy, she is understanding the manners and every time she wants something she asks please and thanks, the girl on the contrary tries to ignore her as much as possible. They get the lowest of scores it will be too hard to get sponsorship.
The first of the games arrives, the night before saying goodbye to the children, she wishes them the best, Haymitch just says to stay away from the cornucopia, both she and Haymitch are watching the start of the games, she wants to wait until the children have an advantage to go to look for sponsors if Haymitch doesn't want to, only she will do the job.
Haymtich hadn't drunk much that day, he watches Effie excited for the start of the games, he's so angry, innocent children are about to die, how can anyone be happy, so he watches how the countdown is given, and at the beginning he sees how it. The only one who told them they disobey them as always both children approach the cornucopia with the intention of choosing a weapon when the boy from district 1 finishes off Ailyn, Effie gasps at this and opens her eyes as she puts a hand to her mouth.
Haymitch turns just to see how the boy from District 4 just slit Ronald's throat. He flinches, they both died in the bloodbath, nothing else to do for this year. Effie seeing Ronald's death goes blank, she gets up quickly while she goes to the bathroom.
"No, no," Effie murmurs as she feels tears fall down her face, "No, I can't cry, it's an honor to die in the games, I shouldn't be sad for them," she says as she lets out a sob, she can't help but do so when she thinks of Ronald, and remembers how his mother hugged him before going.
She wipes her face as she leaves, only to see that Haymitch isn't there, she sits in the living room while she doesn't know what to do anymore, she can't believe that her tributes are both dead and that she feels sad.
Seeing Effie go to the bathroom, Haymitch surprises him, but he rolls his eyes, surely she is disappointed because they lost the first one like most of the escorts and the Capitol, they don't care about the children, he decides to go down to the bar so he can get drunk knowing that he has been two more faces to his long list of murder he has committed.