Hi anon! And thanks for asking! (mini-oneshot, under the cut)
I always imagined Effie being Haymitch’s second escort when she was a young woman and he was a sorta young man.
On the train to Twelve, new on the job, she’s very “first day of school! First day of school!” and eager to make a difference sort of like Sejanus Plinth. She’s ambitious and driven and also naive enough to think “with me on board we will have victors left and right!”
Before the Reaping she decides on her own to visit the Victor’s Village and introduce herself personally to her now co-worker.
She’s quite star-struck I think, on the way over there - what with the romanticized image the Capitol has of him. Obviously she doesn’t know the truth about Haymitch’s murdered family. No one really does in her city.
She’s also super impressed that he won The Second Quarter Quell - one of the most difficult Games in Panem's history, and without a mentor at that!
She’s probably a little smitten too (or at least she was as a young girl). Taken by those dark curls and intense gray eyes in a sort of “toughened by life but love will set him free” kind of way.
But when she actually finally meet Mr. Haymitch Abernathy he effectively smashes all the illusions Effie ever had of him in less than five minutes.
She goes from dazzled to disbelieving to annoyed and they end up having the first of many arguments.
I imagine it went something like this:
Standing there in the middle of the kitchen Effie felt the mentor’s eyes travel up and down her body.
He held a bottle of spirits in one hand, elbows on the unbelievably filthy table. And in the other, a knife - an actual KNIFE!
“Who sent you?” he finally asked. “It ain’t m’birthday.”
The shadow of a crease re-appeared between Effie’s eyebrows but then the smile was right back on.
“Mr. Abernathy!” She stepped forward and extended a hand. “Euphemia. Euphemia Trinket, the new escort. My friends call me Effie. You can call me Effie if you want. Delighted to make your acquaintance and might I just add what an honor it is to finally meet. I’ve heard so much about you! I’m sure we’re going to make the most fabulous of teams!”
Haymitch ignored the outstretched hand. Instead he brought the bottle to his lips, having a few good mouthfuls.
“What happened to Dandruff?" he asked in a bored voice. "Ol’ bat finally bit the dust?"
“Mrs Dandridge decided to retire. I’m here in her place. Arrived just a few days ago, and my, am I already in LOVE with your … your … quaint district.”
“I know right,” he mimicked her voice, dripping with sarcasm. He poured a good amount of the clear liquid into a cracked glass full of sticky fingerprints and extended it to her. “Well, this calls for a toast, don't ya think? Bottom’s up, lil’ lady."
“Um, tempting but no thank you,” she said. “I don’t make it a habit of drinking when I'm at work. Especially not this early. Got to keep a level head," she thrilled. "A big big big day today!”
Haymitch tsked, eyes on the ceiling.
"I'd say." And he downed the drink for her. “Guess this is my lucky day, huh? They finally got rid of ol’ Ice Crotch and now a squeaky lil’ duckling fresh out of the egg’s gonna help me out.”
“W-wha … excuse me? Duckling? Squeaky?! I think you’ll find me more than qualified for the job. I graduated from the Academy at the top of my class!”
“Yeah, takes a lot o’ brains to send kids off for slaughter.”
Effie stared at him.
“B-being chosen to participate in The Hunger Games - the biggest event of the year, is a great honor and …”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” he snarled. “Save it for the cameras, why don’t ya?”
At a loss for words Effie watched the man finish his bottle, down to the last drop, only to reach for the next.
“The Reaping is in an hour,” she said.
“So?"
“So maybe you ought to slow down? And I trust it you’ll freshen up before then? Take a shower and find an outfit that’s a little more, um, suitable for the … special occasion.”
“Meh,” Haymitch shrugged. “Haven’t decided if I’m gonna go.”
“You have to go!” The words burst from her lips before she could stop them. “You’re expected! I’ll look like a fool!”
In reply, Haymitch snapped the seal on the bottle. With one expert twist.
“Don’t need me for something you already accomplished, sweetheart.” He tipped the liquor into his mouth. “Guess I’ll be seeing you around.”