#🥃 (HAYMITCH) nobody ever wins the games. period.

[moonglowmuses]

with the passage of time, haymitch had found himself healing. it was a challenging thing to do, especially with the array of issues that he had. being a lifelong rebel had effects that took their toll rapidly in his life. now, he was in a strange new world. as far as he knew, the people that he cared about were nowhere to be seen. he was alone. AGAIN. it was both exhausting and heartbreaking. the man found himself in a pub, drinking his feelings away. he was reasonably drunk when the person approached him. "i... i'm fine. i can... i can DRIVE when the time comes. just... leave me to my vodka, okay?"

@walstarterblog

[moonglowmuses]

"as you should. i have never had a very good reputation." haymitch was not looking for anyone to throw him a pity party, though. he was just speaking what he believed to be the truth about himself. "why are you looking at me like that?" haymitch was no fool. he could see the disgust in his new companion's eyes. "i am at least trying to understand you, man. the mysterious aura... is that an act or is it truly who you are?" haymitch clearly was not the most talented at deciphering what other people were thinking or feeling. still, he always bounced back. he tried his best to understand. "slightly," haymitch said with a little smirk of his own. "you are easy to mock. or maybe you just picked the wrong company tonight." astarion. haymitch had to admit to himself that that was a cool name. way cooler than his own. "suit yourself," haymitch submitted with a nod. "i will keep the bottle to myself, then."

"i'll keep that in mind." astarion muttered looking at the man with disgust. this was not the sort of companionship he wanted at the moment. a drunk served him no purpose. he wasn't the vampire's usual type to hit on, no he wasn't a fan of the rugged look. not to mention how he'd already ruled out feeding on him. "oh i don't think you do." he shook his head, the ghost of a smirk on his lips. there was no way the man could understand his problems, his needs. "are you mocking me?" he asked raising an eyebrow. "astarion but no need for the bottle. i've had enough bitter tasting things for one night." @moonglowmuses

[moonglowmuses]

"are you from around here?" haymitch inquired before he caught himself. "god, what am i saying? none of us are from around here. instead, i should have asked where you are from?" he did not recognize loras, so he figured that the young man was new to this city. it was a good enough one. it sure was safer than panem, that much was certain. "where are my manners? my name is HAYMITCH ABERNATHY. i'm not really one for handshakes, if you're okay with that." there was a sparkle in his light eyes that would be hard to miss.

@daydrcamings

[moonglowmuses]

ZIP: sender needs receiver's help to zip up the back of their dress.

"your dress is nice," haymitch pointed out before the other requested his help to zip it up. "you don't have one of your GIRLFRIENDS to do this?" haymitch asked, being nosy as usual, but he was curious to know her answer. "all right. you're all set. does that feel okay?" haymitch nodded before he stepped back, giving the other some more personal space that had been invaded a few spare moments ago. "where are you HEADED?" haymitch asked. "i figured i would ask since you are dressed all... FANCY."

@daydrcamings

[moonglowmuses]

"Lie is such an ugly word. I prefer misdirection." (Haymitch & Stu)

haymitch made an expression that suggested that he was considering what the other had to say. "misdirection, lie, it's all the same thing, man." still, he kind of understood stu's position. "are you trying to DISTANCE YOURSELF from something? i'm getting the sense that you are." not that haymitch was judging. people did what they needed to do, but that didn't mean that he shouldn't understand what was happening in the here-and-now. "who are you lying TO? maybe that is the next best question."

@springbandit

[moonglowmuses]

"interesting is putting things mildly." haymitch had not come to this workshop to start any drama, which was rare for him. he was here because he wanted to surprise effie with a GIFT. he wondered if this man was the right one for the job. "i have seen your work. most of the pieces are well-crafted, from what i have seen." haymitch rubbed the nape of his neck before he continued. "name your price. i'd love to see what you have for sale now."

"As interesting as your life story has been up until this point.." William put his hands together, gently leaning forward against his shoddily maintained workbench inside his shoddily maintained workshop. "I simply must know, if you'll indulge me," he raised an eyebrow, looking to the other expectantly, "Why, indeed, you felt the need to bring all this to me?"

@walstarterblog

[moonglowmuses]

"what's up? do you need someone to talk to?" most of the time, haymitch might have kept walking but his loved ones were turning him SOFT. all of a sudden, he cared about how other people were doing. maysilee had been the first person to open up his heart. there were still days when he thought about her. actually, a day rarely passed when she was not on his mind in some form or fashion. it was a good thing that EFFIE had started to occupy his many thoughts and feelings. "i may not look it, and maybe i'm NOT, but i can be a good listener when i TRY to be. so... give me a chance, would you?"

@lcvenderhcze

[moonglowmuses]

"Is this a bad time?"

there were three people who comprised his entire world: effie, katniss, and peeta. they had changed him into a better version of himself. while he still drank, it was not as heavy of an addiction as it used to be. he had people to CARE about. he had people who made him want to take care of HIMSELF for the first time in decades. "you know that you never need to ask," haymitch said with a kindness that was reserved for his FOUND FAMILY. "you are always welcome with me. now, come inside before you CATCH A COLD."

@thefinalgxrl

[moonglowmuses]

"i don't talk about these things without having a LITTLE SOMETHING in my system," haymitch admitted to his friend. once he had a good strong swig of his vodka, he calmed down a little bit. "okay, that's much, much better." if he was being honest, it really was better. "i'll tell you about her. about the FRIEND that i lost. but you've got to promise me something in return, yeah?" haymitch paused, considering how he could even begin. "you've got to promise that what i say stays between the two of us." he did not want other people whom he did not know well knowing about his business. he did not want them knowing about what MAYSILEE had meant to him.

@demongemz

[moonglowmuses]

becoming sober felt so tedious. when he'd first started drinking years ago, haymitch had denied, time and time again, that he had a problem. as a grown adult man who drank more alcohol than he did water, though? well, he had the self-awareness to know that he drank too much. he just lacked the.... well, DRIVE was not the correct term, but it came the closest. for a select few, he was able to go sober for a couple of hours or even days. when he encountered this slouched-over man, haymitch felt his heart twinge. "do you want it to be something OTHER than coke?" he settled into the seat beside the other man. "i mean... i'm not MADE OUT OF MONEY, but i can still buy you a WHISKEY, if your system is requiring MORE?"

IT WAS DONE. peter strahm was dead. dead and buried as a matter of fact. there was such a heavy part of mark that wanted to drown at the bottom of a whiskey bottle... but he knew that wasn't going to cut it this time. he'd promised he'd SURVIVE and the truth was; he had no idea what that was going to look like without his husband. only that he was about to find out. starting with leaving the farm which had been easier than imagined. not that he expected it to remain that way but for now it was a good move forward. like fuck was he hanging around there, waiting for the next knife flying around to end up in his back. "it's just coke. not that i'm sure what difference that should make to you?" cupping his hands around the small glass which in fact, did only obtain coke. painfully. @walstarterblog

[moonglowmuses]

"where is it that you come from?" haymitch asked his new companion, pleased to have a decent dialogue every now and then. most of the time, he did not like company, but he had a drink or two in him, which made him more pleasant. marginally, anyways. "was it hard to be there? were there... things going on that made it challenging?" haymitch knew that his own universe had not been an easy stroll through the park. however, he had met effie, katniss, and peeta there, so he supposed that things could have been WORSE, even when it did not always feel that way.

@springbandit

[moonglowmuses]

after leaving the shop run by veronica, haymitch headed to effie's place. it was not common for him to feel this way, but he felt NERVOUS. he was not accustomed to purchasing ladies' jewelry, so he was not sure how his love interest would respond to his selection. he hoped that it was the thought that counted, should she not like what he picked. "i bought you a christmas gift," haymitch explained when effie opened her door to him. "can you invite me inside and we can open it TOGETHER?" haymitch offered a smile that was genuine. he could not recall the last time that he'd smiled like he did when he was around effie trinket.

@lcvenderhcze

[moonglowmuses]

"do you trust this place?" haymitch found himself asking someone he had come across that afternoon. "i mean... dead people have come back to life here. isn't that nuts? isn't that something to be distrusted?" the fact that finnick odair had been resurrected amazed him. he wanted to go with the flow like so many other people were doing, but that did not mean that haymitch was going to LET HIS GUARD down. he had too many people whom he wanted to continue to protect. "i am not trying to be a PESSIMIST, but this place kind of freaks me out, you know?"

@fcdcdmcmories

[moonglowmuses]

"god, not drinking sucks!" haymitch complained to the first person who was willing to listen to his nonsense. it was better than INTERNALIZING EVERYTHING, the man supposed. "maybe i should just suck it up and deal with it, like everybody else does." haymitch wished that he had other good influences in his life who were also sober. he could use their guidance and kindness. "have you stopped drinking? are you as tempted as i am to just GET WASTED?" the man was going to figure it out. he had faith in that eventual reality. he just wondered WHEN it was going to happen.

@xtinyslip

[moonglowmuses]

haymitch had a lot going on in his brain at the moment. he was trying not to drink himself into a stupor every time the moon rolled around. while he had made progress in his former world, he knew NO ONE in this novel one. at least, that was what he knew to be true thus far. he did not know who else was around. not until he ran into FINNICK ODAIR. haymitch nearly spit out his drink when he saw the other man. actually, he did spit out his drink. "i must be seeing things," the man suggested with a shake of his head. "have i had THAT MUCH to drink already?" that had to be the case. "you're DEAD," haymitch said, his voice cracking in a way that made him feel weak and vulnerable and... SAD. "you can't be here." none of the dead people from their pasts should be able to BE HERE.

@lcvenderhcze

[moonglowmuses]

being able to REST? to not be in a state of constant REBELLION? it was absolutely incredible. in his past, his alcoholism had been fueled by pain and suffering and loss. now, he was able to cut back on his drinks a bit. he still had a problem, without a doubt, but now he had REASONS for recovering. he wanted to be around for those he cared about. he wanted to do it for HIMSELF, because he'd been so self-loathing for so long. perhaps he was not a monster. perhaps he had done his absolute best, given the circumstances. when the other greeted him, he found himself ready. he could use some company, that was for sure. "i'm always in the mood for some clouds," haymitch found himself saying with a crooked grin. "coffee sounds fantastic. i'll even BUY YOU A CUP."

HER EX-HUSBAND WAS DEAD. if that wasn't enough for katherine to want to put herself back there? she didn't know what would be, especially since.. she had been afraid of him for so long, but .. right now, she refused to let finn keep on winning. he had taken enough away from her and.. right now, she didn't want to let that keeping happening anytime soon. not at all and not in the slightest, no. he didn't deserve it. "good evening. it's quite .. a lovely day, isn't it? would you like to join me for some coffee? i'd appreciate the company." @walstarterblog