#mxllitiam

the night has dragged on, but is far from over. any other year, the scores of four and six would be the most eventful aspect of the day. instead, focus was on the interruption that transpired at caesar's afterparty. it hung in the air like a smog, even if most partygoers seemed unconcerned to it all. after witnessing it with effie, and subsequently talking to katniss, haymitch had spent the rest of his time at the event talking with sponsors and other mentors. at the end of the day, the quell still begins tomorrow. it's ever apparent when the team is in the town car with chandler and hazelle. had they had more time, haymitch would have gruffed about leaving it for the next day when their tributes were training. that luxury is one that none of them can afford.

soon they're up on the roof top. he can only assume the tributes are sleeping. ( he hopes they are, but he couldn't the night before the second quell. ) pink fabric is suffocating and itchy, but there was no time to change out of this capitolite costume. the summer, night air is warm. lights of the city shine bright below. people are still out and about, excited for what's to come at noon tomorrow. the older victor turns to look at the rest of the team, arms crossed. ( very friendly look, haymitch ! ) " it's good that we decided to stick around after ... everything. " he first acknowledges. some of the mentors did return to the tribute center soon after. seeder retired soon after ; she waved him goodnight as she did. " do we wanna start with the elephant in the room or better news ? i think effie had something she wanted to say. " thought of what the escort had to say has since left his mind. abernathy was still shocked she'd never watched the tribute deaths !

Peeta looks himself in the mirror after Portia leaves, smoothing down invisible wrinkles as he takes a deep breath. He looks pretty good, in terms of Capitol standards. Not as dressed up as some of the ridiculous things he's seen here. Always more natural with Portia and Cinna, both him and Katniss collaborating once more with their outfits despite having separate interviews in separate locations. Always keeping their image, no matter what.

When Katniss had left the room, she'd had her hair and make up done before going to meet Cinna to change, but Peeta knows her gown is an outstanding gold number because his own suit is white with a dusting of color to match her. The light make up on his face shimmers just a bit, but overall, his look is fairly subtle.

He turns when there is a knock on the door, telling the person to come in, and smiles when Effie peeks her head through. "Do I look okay?" he asks her, though she knows she'll say he does while taking care of something for him anyway, like a loose strand on the jacket or a wisp of hair. And, when she comes over, he lets out a soft breath. "Am I doin' the right thing?" Not that he's making up any rumors or bringing a fake kid into this world, but the idea of using their future 'family' for Capitol viewers feels extra tainted after Katniss had told him she never wants children.

who: effie trinket & haymitch abernathy ( @mxllitiam )

things are different since effie trinket joined the district twelve team ; things are different from even just the seventy-fourth hunger games. haymitch abernathy was known to hole up in the penthouse during this time. sometimes other mentors would find their way to the premise, most notably chaff from eleven. there's something about the mentor's lounge that always left a sour taste in his mouth.

but instead of scrambling to throw on the television in the living room, the older victor is drinking coffee at the dining room table. old habits are not easy to break, thus he still finds himself awake even if the he's been diligated the night shift. had he been more particular, he'd throw more than just an eyeroll at katniss and peeta taking the lead. those from one or two would have had a conniption. not haymitch, who had rebellion on his mind and a façade he still must carry. " sorry they're keeping you from the action, eff, " he offers. it's no greeting as suddenly he's in the room with someone else. ( though abernathy had barred the escort from the living room during certain games. )

" think those fancy city doctors can make you look like me ? then maybe they'd let you in with the mentors. " caffeine is fending off the hangover from last night. but joyfulness is numbered as soon enough he'll watch the arena from the comfort of the couch. doesn't matter if it isn't his shift.

hair. he has a tendency to move stray hairs out of effie's face. it's not often that she has one out of place. somehow the wigs seem to stand still. it starts as a means of picking on trinket. he'd smirk about it in the earlier years of her escorting district twelve. it feels surprisingly real. he wondered often what color was the real thing underneath. ( it's red, he finds in thirteen. )

arm. she will hold onto his arm for balance or may attach when chirping about game matters while walking beside the mentor. abernathy has different tendencies. instead, he usually grasps her arm to lead her away from others. sometimes it's because effie has a way with having endless speech ; sometimes it's a matter that it seems she desperately wants to leave the conversation. ( caesar has witnessed it multiple times. )

hands. effie has soft hands ; haymitch has rougher, calloused ones. he notices it when they dance at the star-crossed lovers' wedding. she asked. he indulged. the victor justified that it would be good for the cameras. he doesn't dance much after minerva. he used to enjoy it. ( he also notices how his hands are decently larger than effie's. )

lips. effie speaks more than she doesn't, so he looks at her lips often. he likes feeling them against his more. there's a confidence there ; effie knows she's a good kisser. the few times they've locked lips, he can feel the anger that spurred it radiating off her. it only means he enjoys pissing her off more. hands explore her body as his mouth explores hers, craving to keep effie close. ( lips remain on hers until he can't help but want to put them elsewhere. )

who: mrs. & mrs. silverhorn ( @mxllitiam )

the president's announcement boomed through district six. it hit but the chance to process hasn't been had yet. so it lays thick on the surface. suddenly both women have become eligible for the reaping again. volunteers are few and far from their district. she's not sure how the government can do this, but being honest wasn't ever on the itinerary was it ? it's the same reason why yazmin joined the underground rebellion. to keep such a secret from her wife has been difficult, but it's better this way. it's safer for amara this way. ( oh yaz, if only you knew what was to come. )

arms wrap around amara, and it's so familiar. the warmth of her skin, how she swears they fit like a puzzle, and the fact that she can have amara so close. that neurotic part of yazmin worries for the two of them, and it would be worse if she has to hear amara's name by that pompous escort that's been appointed by the capitol. they have a good life here. what if one of them goes into arena and doesn't come out ? what if they come out and then become like the worst of amara's family ? but that second question seems incredibly unlikely given six's track record and the poor victors who have to live with their traumas.

deep breath is taken before she finally breaks the silence. " i'll still make dinner tonight, but do you think i can hold you just for a while longer ? " the cats got fed when they got home, so that isn't much a worry now. though scout might be meowing in a bit like she had missed that earlier train.

There's not a whole lot of logic to this decision, but Peeta knocks on Gale's door anyway. Katniss has been upset. They both have been, in a way. Chandler was gone now and that fact would forever haunt Peeta, not able to push it off as the first one is the worst, the words so many other mentor's have given him since it happened.

But, in that pain, they'd found one another - him and his wife. For the first time since he'd learned about the act in the arena, it almost feels real. Well, maybe the second time, but now that they've been with each other in the way she'd been pushing back, he tries not to focus on the time she hadn't allowed that. Who cares if she hadn't wanted him a month ago? She wants him now.

Of course, Peeta's intention on talking to Gale today isn't about Katniss at all (okay, so it's always kind of about Katniss between the two of them), it's because his mother. He's not sure what happened between Gale and Katniss, but they haven't spoken since the Games began. At least, not that Peeta's noticed. She hasn't mentioned much more than Gale Hawthorne is an ass, but that wasn't news to anyone.

Even the Capitol knew that - the difference is that they love that about him.

"We're sendin' her a parachute," Peeta says in lieu of a greeting, careful to keep his voice even, void of any emotion other than the calm nature of someone who knew what he was doing. Even if he didn't. "Food and water. Just enough to get her through the next couple-a days while she regroups. I thought you'd want to know."

who: gale hawthorne & haymitch abernathy ( @mxllitiam )

before this quell, haymitch would spend his entirety of the games in the tribute center ; mentors are suppose to, but they've become surprisingly lax recently, it seems. though abernathy had a hard time believing it. people have become avox for far less. still, he's surprised that the streets aren't louder. it isn't quiet by any means, but for the event of the year ... these city folk seem to be sleeping. mind wasn't given much to him in making his way to the hotel. a few people stare in the lobby ; but nobody bothers to stop him as he enters the elevator to chitchat about starcrossed lovers or some other nonsense.

he comes bag in hand. getting liquor is far more tame within the confines of the city limits, a lot more sterile too. drink is good for two reasons. one, had a tribute been haymitch's ma, he'd need a few to get him through. ( rest easy, mama, three words ritualistically come into mind as shae comes to the forefront of his conscious. ) two, haymitch was too sober for all this shit. he'd known hazelle for so long. this is like a nephew sharing a drink with a distant uncle at a funeral. but soon said kid's door is in haymitch's direct eyeline, and the victor knocks.