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kahlanmars · 1 year ago

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PAPER RINGS part. 2

HELLO. This is the second chapter! I like this sequel but it's harder than the first one. Thanks for the hearts!

MASTERLIST

2. Party like a Capitol

You are bursting with rage. How could he? He chose her. He really thought it was a good idea to make her a maid, the very same thing you were when you two fell in love. And now Marjorie Tyrell is looking through your stuff, your closet, your dresses. And they are together all the time. You can picture them, a happy family without age gap or any other problem, Ivy wandering around the house, Haymitch on the couch with her. They were in love when they were sixteen and you can’t help but wonder if the spark could still be there. Maybe they will talk about the great days, when they were so young and free and careless and they will grow closer and closer and they will kiss, and one day Haymitch will come to Capitol City just to tell you that he doesn’t love you anymore and he wants to marry her, not you, because you are too young and stupid and superficial...

«Is everything okay?» Effie asks, and you notice now that she is hugging you, her hands covering yours.

«Yes, why?»

«You were breathing hard. I got worried.»

You quickly explain everything to her. «…So now I will confront him, right?»

«Wrong.» She shakes her head. She also looks a little disappointed, like you never learned anything from your time together.

«But I want to know, and I highly doubt she will tell him about the phone call.»

«And you will know everything, but with time. Now you act like nothing happened. When he comes on friday I’ll stay at Portia and you will give him the best two days of his life. A romantic dinner, a beautiful lingerie I don’t want to know about, you will figure out this part but he has to feel guilty. You will have to be so perfect he will be so guilty he will tell you everything.»

You look at her like she is the bringer of light. She knows everything about flirting, relationships and men in general, and you want to know all the things she can teach you. Then again, it must be so easy for her to make someone fall in love, she is a Goddess. You are pretty, there is a difference.

Even if you would never tell a soul you think you are just pretty. If you say you are beautiful maybe they will see you like this.

She doesn’t need that. Her sparkling blue eyes, her shining blonde hair, the endless legs and the pretty face… sometimes you stare at her like she is a stunning painting, and all you can think is lucky Portia.

«And then?»

«And then you will go to Twelve the next weekend and you will make it clear what and who is yours.»

You nod. There’s a calculating genius in this breathtaking woman.

«And then I can yell the shit out of him for his behavior.»

«Language, dear, no need to get sloppy.» She strokes your hair. «And then you can explain your reasons and make him beg for forgiveness, yes.»

«That’s a plan.»

Putting your head into work is the most intelligent thing you can do, and you try and try to make everything right. Portia needs to deliver like a million jackets for this weekend, you definitely don’t want to spend your saturday in the office so you go on until it’s done, it doesn't matter if you don’t have lunch or dinner. You took care of Effie’s meals in the morning.

Despite the effort and the struggle, you love fashion. You like what you do, even if all you are doing is sewing buttons to the jackets. And you notice you are learning a lot from your time, your work is prettier and stable now, you make less mistakes and you have more ideas.

If only you could conciliate this with, you know, eating and sleeping. Just when you think you will fall asleep on the table, you spot a brown head going to your place. Perla. She has a bright smile and she brings gifts, handing you a little bag of sweets.

«Who is ready to go out tonight?» She tries to say with an excited voice, but she turns to be annoyed almost immediately when she spots your expression.

«Perla, I can’t go out. And I can’t eat them either, everybody in this damn city is so obsessed with dieting.» You watch her for a moment and then you go back to your work. Perla is rocking this Capitol experience. She found a job in the government almost immediately thanks to her connection with the Revolution, she is living with Cinna who adores her and she seems very happy with her life. Like Haymitch comes to you on the weekends, she usually goes to District Four where she can bring your embroidered bibs for baby Finn to Finnick and Annie. And she discovered a new side of her, she is still smart in her decisions but she is more carefree.

«No, we thought about everything. We will go out tonight, so on friday you will be sober and ready for your oldie and he will never know.»

«And Portia? I have to work for her in the morning.»

«Portia and Cinna suggested it! They are working too hard too, and they think it will be cool for us to know the city life. Plus, I’m worried about Lora and maybe a night out with friends will help her.» If Portia suggested it it’s another thing, because you know how your boss’ mind works. Sure she needs some time out, but maybe she also wants you to mingle in the party to make new friends, some model friends, some other designers.

«I suppose that could take things out of her mind…»

«And in two weeks it will be your birthday, it’s like an early celebration.»

You bite your lip. You actually forgot about your twenty five birthday. «I usually work on my wedding dress at night during the week.»

«A day. You will leave your wedding dress for a day. Think about the cocktails…» She daydreams. «The dancing… the cute boys who buy us drinks…»

«You live with Cinna and I have to get married.»

«And I will never refuse a free drink. C’mon! For Lora. And for your bestest friend Perla. And I think Effie needs it too.»

Effie seriously needs some time off, and you are curious about partying. In the district you don’t have a birthday celebration, your mother bakes you a cookie or, if you are rich enough, you can have a cake from the Mellark’s bakery. That’s it, and then you go back to work and you are a little older. Some parents don’t celebrate their kids' birthdays because they don’t want to jinx it. Or to waste money on someone who can die easily. Some parents only celebrate kids’ birthdays.

Let alone partying for the sake of it. You don’t have a club, or a pub or a bar or all the other terms you came to know in Capitol City. You have the hob where you can buy alcohol, or you go to Sae and you eat.

«Daisy? With me.» Portia requests. Well, she orders. «Perla you are free to join us or go.»

You follow your boss to her office, while Perla decides to go. That’s a nice office, exactly what you pictured when you thought about it. It has fabric everywhere, patterns and specimens, and it’s exciting. You want an office like this one day.

«I’ve had an idea and I need you.» She begins, and she has a spark in her eyes. The same spark you are sure she had when she designed those outfits for Katniss and Peeta with Cinna in the first Hunger Games, the same spark that made your dress with the black sparkles for your chariot. That is the force that moves her, her talent.

«I’m all ears.»

«I want to make a collection about the Districts. Not like in the Hunger Games, where it was about the jobs, I want to make a collection about the folklore costumes, the usual outfits, the ways a District Four girl and a District Twelve guy dresses every day and on special occasions. This will be a way to show Capitol people that Districts have a culture too, and a history, and we should respect them.»

You are not sure Capitols will ever respect district people, but that is a good idea. Not a ridiculous outfit for the Hunger Games, but a piece of history, of your history.

«I asked Cinna for District One given that he was born there and he collaborates with me, and Perla can give us advice for District Four. Lora for District Eleven, and of course you for District Twelve. But you and Cinna could design the dress. It will have your name on it.»

«That’s a lot…» You inhale.

«But do you feel ready?»

No, of course not, sewing dresses for your dolls is not the same thing as designing a dress for a runway. «Yes, yes of course.»

«Good.» She looks satisfied. «So you will look for ideas in the next few days. If you want to go back and visit your mom it will be a great opportunity, maybe you will find something in her old dresses. Okay?»

Actually you miss Holly. She is so stubborn with her belief against the phone calls, but her letters are always late and not the same thing.

«Okay, Tia.»

Partying in the district means a seasonal fair, or a birthday if you are rich. A wedding, sometimes. Partying in the city is… different. A “club”, that’s how Effie called the place you are. And all the girls are so pretty it’s blinding. Perla is in a blue mini skirt with a goldfish on, maybe a gift from Cinna, while Lora and Effie are in sparkly dresses. You borrowed one of Effie’s clothes, a mini black dress with a heart cleavage. You are not sure you can measure them, is your makeup too strong? Or the braiding of your hair too loose?

«Are you used to it by now?» You ask the girls. They went clubbing a lot more than you, because you are scared Haymitch could smell alcohol in your dresses or something like that. Your Fridays are with him, their Fridays are in the clubs.

«Definitely not.» Lora answers. She is not as blinded as you are, but they are still new for her too. District Eleven is not one for parties. Ten, eleven and twelve are - well, were - the poorest districts. Maybe Perla thinks you are all in the same situation, but she is used to some things you are not.

«Well, parties in Four are like this, just not for us. It was for capitols on holiday. I used to be a bartender sometimes.» The blue eyed girl shrugs.

«Daisy?» Portia calls for you. «This is one of the models who will work for us. She is a family friend.»

«I’m Lavinia.»

The girl is very beautiful. She has golden hair and green eyes, she has a nice perfect nose, she is taller than the sun and the high heels she wears do not help, and she has a little orange dress you could never afford.

«Daisy.» You shake her hand but maybe you do it too hard, because she massages her after. You are mortified.

«What a… simple name. Cute.»

She spends the rest of the night with you and the girls. She is nice, or she seems nice, but you can’t help but compare her to you. She looks so… rich. So classy. So Capitol. You wanted to be a girl like her once upon a time, before the war, before the Games.

Turns out you can’t party like a Capitol. Effie drinks more than you’ve ever seen, and she is still lucid and if not sober, close to it. Portia is the same, they are trained, those two. You are not, and in the morning you have a heavy headache and nausea.

When you see Haymitch standing at the door, this friday, you really think about telling him everything about the calling.

But then he smiles. Not a smirk, an actual smile. The rage is gone and you just jump into his arms and, when he makes you spin and he kisses you, you chicken out. These are the only three days you are happy with him. What he did without asking is wrong but you can tell him tomorrow.

You want your home now. And your home happens to be a forty one handsome man with majestic gray eyes.

«Hey. Is everything okay?» He asks, because you have no intention of letting him go.

«I just missed you.» You explain.

«I’m here now.» He forces your head to lift up to meet your eyes. «But it’s just that, right? You are not hurt.»

He is always worried about you. It’s so sweet, but you are in a safe environment now and you are working all day.

«Just tired.» You assure him, and you kiss him again. «We can go see a movie. Capitol people do that all the time.»

He snorts. “Capitol people do” it’s not something that he likes to hear.

«We can see movies at home.»

«But I want to do it Capitol style! And then I heard couples don’t watch the film. They kiss in the dark.»

«And can’t I kiss at Effie’s? It’s the same thing.»

«If you want… but I prepared everything. Snuggling at the cinema, then a dinner with your favorite dishes and for the after dinner I sewed something just for you…» You lean for a lingering kiss. «I can’t wait for you to rip it off.»

«And to what do I owe the honor or all this?»

«I missed you so much. I thought of losing you and…» You cling over him. «I want to be yours.»

«You are mine, baby.» He is a bit puzzled. He doesn’t know what it got into you, so maybe he is innocent. Maybe he didn’t do anything, Marjorie lied just to spite you, just to hurt you as much as she is hurt.

«Never tired of me?» You ask one more time, and you admit you have your best puppy eyes on.

«Never.» He bites your shoulder. «C’mon, let’s go to the cinema.»

«Really??» You jump in joy. You love cinema. You love the movies, the celebrities, the outfits you can replicate when you have time. That’s the best thing about Capitol City and you will miss it so much when you’ll get back to Twelve.

«Yeah, I mean, I can’t say no to kisses in the dark, can I?»

You don’t even know what the movie was about. As soon as the lights went out, Haymitch was all over you like a teenage boy in a romantic comedy (Effie loves them). And for a minute, between kisses and his hands roaming through your body, everything was okay.

You try to make it last. With his lips on your neck, you almost think not to talk with him about the phone call.

«Let’s skip dinner.» He pants when you arrive home and he decides he has to attack your neck and earlobe with kisses again.

«What is with you and my plan tonight? I prepared everything! Don’t you like my new dress? It’s a Daisy Pinecone Abernathy original.»

«Nice dress.» He agrees, groping you without any shame. «Better on the floor.»

«So eager.» You bite your bottom lip. Well, at least now you know he still wants you. «I tell you what, go in my room. I’ll bring the food there and we can play a little game. It’s called “Who wants to eat on Daisy?”»

His smirk deepens with pride. «Everyone, I can assure you, but only I can do it.»

«That’s really, really true. Dear heavens, you are so handsome it’s not fair.» You gush over him, and he takes you in his arms for a last kiss before taking you upstairs.

You linge in the bed afterwards. You tend to be sleepy and just lazy on the weekends, partly because you get to be cuddled all the time, partly because you are tired as hell.

«So I met this girl…» You begin while you stroke his blonde hair, as he is resting on your stomach. You love how domestic he is.

«Should I be jealous?»

«Always.» You flash him a smile, «No, it's weird. She doesn't do or say anything wrong but when she goes out I feel less… less everything. Not pretty enough or talented or smart.»

«She sounds like a bitch.» He is always so adamant in his words. And so simple. If you are Capitol you most certainly are Effie Trinket or a bitch.

«She really doesn't do anything, maybe I'm just feeling a little down.» You observe. You are not sad. You don’t have anything to be sad about. You are working in the office of your dreams, to have the career of your dreams, and you are about to marry the man you are in love with.

«Do you want me to stay for a while? I can find a hotel.» He looks at you with worry in his eyes as you shake your head.

«No. Katniss and Peeta need a dad, you can't.» You kiss him. His lips are the thing you miss most about him. So soft, and sweet…

«My wife needs me too.» You smile, a real smile. His wife.

«We are not married yet, Haymitch. As much as you resent the word, I'm still the girlfriend.» You chide him.

«If it were for me, I’d marry you right now.»

He hints at it so many times. You know he would want to keep it simple, and it’s simple, it is… you just know a lot of people and you want pretty things.

«You know it's weird because I wanted her to notice me. I wanted her to like me, like she was more than me and I needed her approval.» You explain.

«That's plain stupid, Sweetheart. Because you are the smartest…» He kisses your belly first. «Most beautiful.» And then your cleavage. «And the funniest girl I've ever met.» He finally kisses your lips.

«Good thing you are marrying me.» You smile again, against his lips. You tend to smile a lot when he is involved. «Do you want to see the dresses for the bridesmaids?»

«Isn’t it bad luck or something?» He asks.

«These are just sketches and it’s not my dress.» You get up to get him the notebook. Your bridesmaids will be in beautiful dresses.

Effie, Perla, Lora and maybe Portia, if she manages not to kill you before the wedding. Annie, if she feels up to it.

«You are talented.» He notes. But he is not smiling anymore. «Do we need this?»

«What do you mean?»

«Bridesmaids, best men, dresses and catering… this is not us. This is the Capitol. In the District we have the toasting.» He murmurs, circling your leg with his fingers. «I would marry you tomorrow. You and me.»

«No Katniss? No Peeta?» You ask, a little anxious with the direction of the conversation. «We’ll have the toasting. And we can keep it simple.»

«How many people, Sweetheart?» He is doubtful. Of you.

«You don’t have a family, I only have Holly. We could have my mom, your children, Perla, Cinna and Lora, Finnick and Annie with their child, Effie and Portia, Chaff… do you want Johanna?» You don’t like Johanna, especially after you found out she has the habit of wandering around naked.

He stays silent for a while. «You deserve beautiful things.»

You return under the sheets, ready for his embrace. «I’d marry you with paper rings.»

He kisses your head. «Just don’t tire yourself more than that. You are strained.»

«I am a little tired.» You admit. «But I’m strong. I can do that.»

«Just sleep now, Sweetheart. Don’t worry about anything for two days.»

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kahlanmars · 11 months ago

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PAPER RINGS part. 11

Well, well, this is the last chapter before the finale!

MASTERLIST

11. Walk, walk, fashion baby

«I think you are crazy.» Perla watches you like you just told her to threaten a Capitol city girl to make her attend your fashion show.

Oh, wait.

You kinda did.

«We hate her. And she deserves it. Lora is in my bedroom, crying because of her.» And because of you, but at least you never kicked her out of your apartment.

«You know she is not crying only because of her.»

You scoff. Perla is not entirely wrong, but she is not fully right either. Lavinia used her from the start to connect herself with Thirteen people and old victors, to sell our life to paparazzi and cheap magazines. She made her believe she was her friend, she insinuated in her life with false promises and lies and then she tossed her away when she felt like she couldn't use her anymore. And Lora is barely an adult, she went through so much she really didn't need it.

«Look me in the eyes and tell me you don’t want to threaten Lavinia.»

Perla looks at you with her big blue eyes, and you can tell she is unsure of what she is supposed to do. Part of her begs to make her pay, because the Capitol girl hurt a friend of hers and she tends to be vindictive with the people who hurt her friends, but another part, the rational one, believes she can't be a part of a scandal anymore. And she is right, she works for the government now, she is the only one of us who is still in contact with the Thirteen government. She can't screw up everything she built for a revenge.

«I don’t want to get into troubles.»

«She is Capitol! Once in a lifetime we are the one with the power and she is the one who is being discriminated by the government.»

Your speech is wrong and you know it, but maybe, maybe, she could get something from it too. One of her scoops, she loves them so much.

«Nobody should be discriminated against something, Daisy.»

«But we have been for ages! We still are! Don’t you want a bit of revenge?»

«I want justice, not revenge.»

«Ok, but I want revenge.»

You feel the rage growing up in you. You were never that angry with Capitol city, not even before or during the Hunger Games. You envied them so much, you wanted their life, but you never thought it was their fault. They simply lived better than you, but they were ignorant, for most of their life no one told them they should have lived differently, and television filled them with fantasies and lies.

But now everything has changed. Now they know, and even if the truth is out there most of them choose to look at you and to the other districts like you were a lower form of life, and not the one who won the war.

It is unfair.

«Don’t complicate everything now that we have peace, Daisy.» She tries, but she is walking with you so she can’t oppose it too much.

«Oh come on, I’m not going to hurt her. This is advantageous for her too, she can come to a beautiful runway show and she can be part of history!»

Perla rolls her eyes, as she fights her smile. «You are so humble.»

«I was talking about Portia’s work, not mine.»

When you knock at the door and she opens it, Lavinia is in déshabillé, in a green dressing gown that you wish you had designed. It’s really beautiful. For a really awful person.

«Not you again.» The expression on her face is annoyed and irritated, and you suppose she is not entirely wrong, you are like a nervy mosquito.

«Yes, me again! Will you let us in, please, Lavinia? Please.» Your smile is saccharine, and there is no doubt you are faking it. She is matching yours. It’s funny, you are not used to something like this in the district. Twelve is poor and you suffer from hunger, but people are not fake. If they don’t like something about you, or even if they don’t like you at all, they tell you.

«Not a chance.» She tries to say, but you keep the door open with your feet and Perla goes in without any problem, and with that certain kind of class that always makes her such a badass.

«What about those pieces of art you have in your house, Lavinia? Does the government know about these?» Paylor doesn't, you are sure of it. After the war, Capitols had to give most of their art pieces to Panem, and Thirteen relocated them in museums and art galleries, free for everyone to see. They had the nerve to protest, saying those paintings and sculptures were the family heritage, and while you could understand the sentimental value, they risked having new Hunger Games in their house. This was definitely better as a punishment.

But they couldn’t understand.

Some of the families tried to hide the paintings, and Lavinia's was definitely one of them. Her house, from just what you saw, is full of stolen works of art and if you have to guess, she doesn’t want the Peacekeepers to know about it.

«This painting is really beautiful.» Your friend adds, looking at a picture frame hanging on the wall. It is stunning, a garden with a lot of colourful flowers, and you can tell it’s pretty expensive.

«You assaulted me a few days ago and I didn’t tell anyone. And you have to come back? And for what, finish your work?»

«Lavinia, please! You didn’t report us because the government is not in your favour right now. You are Capitol, and you are the old kind, one the wealthy families who lost their fortune… Meanwhile, we are the winners. The districts won.» You wanted to talk, but Perla is handling herself so well you don’t dare to stop her. «And I’m working with Paylor. So, don’t you think it’s better for you if you listen to us?»

Lavinia, in her gown and her makeup and blonde hair done, looks at her perfect nails and she snorts. Effie would say it’s not very ladylike for a Capitol lady. «And what do you want to tell me?»

«Well, I would like some tea.» The Four girl begins, but you want to make it quick, before anyone realises how crazy your idea is.

«You will come to Portia’s fashion show.» You declare.

She just laughs like I made a really good joke. «You can forget about it, I’m not going to that District rubbish.»

You try not to be affected by her disgust. You know how she feels about you, and you are raving enough.

«Oh you will! It’s going to be the next big thing.» You state, but Perla is more effective and practical than you are.

«You will come and you will bring your friends, and you will cheer for Portia and, let me tell you, for the Mockingjay too if she wants to appear. Or I might tell someone about this little fortune of yours. Maybe even Paylor.»

She is really scary when she wants to, and now she wants to. You made the right choice asking her to come with you. You see Lavinia’s face go blank and she is a little paler than before.

«I suppose it’s a good agreement.»

It’s a good agreement indeed.

The next few days are a real nightmare. You have never been more nervous in your life - and you almost died twice - and you feel like you have to run back and forth in every part of the city. Nothing is ready in time, the flowers are not perfect, the dresses are not the way you want, Cinna is never ready, and Portia is a nervous wreck. You stopped giving her coffee because you are scared she will have a heart attack.

It’s the last few days, you keep saying to yourself to prevent madness. Haymitch is a real saint, he takes care of Lora like he was her father and he comforts you at night, when you are too exhausted to go on with the modifications of the dresses but they need it. You lost count of how many cups of tea he made you.

And then, like magic, the day arrives. And you are shaking in your boots.

When you open the locker room and you start to put makeup on you, you are shivering. This is your real chance, the last day you can use to start a name for yourself. You decided you don’t want anything to do with Capitol City, but you still want to be a stylist and this is your first, and maybe only, opportunity. And what if nobody will be there? What about Lavinia changing her mind?

They say you should wear casual clothing when you are presenting a runway show, but you chose to wear one of your creations instead, a light pink long dress with white flower embroideries, a low cut on your cleavage but it doesn’t show your legs, so your mother can be happy. You start to apply your makeup, you want to keep it light but shimmer, because people didn’t forget Princess Daisy and you want to revive that part of your life, but this time you are in control. This time you choose what to wear, what to say and this is not all for nothing, you are not going to die, you are going to live.

«Can I come in?»

You are very surprised when you hear Haymitch’s voice over the door, and you are so happy when he opens it and he kisses you.

«Oh dear heavens, you are here!» You run to him and you sit on his lap, peppering his face with kisses. You agreed not to meet, because he is not a people person and a fashion show is not his cup of tea, but of course you weren’t that happy. And now he is there and everything is better, you don’t even feel that nervous anymore. And he is wearing the grey vest you made for him too! He looks very handsome.

«Of course I’m here, who do you think I am?» He scoffs and he takes you in his arms. Home, like always. The scent of wood and leather is familiar and it already calms you a little. He is your medicine.

«A hermit.» You deadpan, but you are willing to accept his kisses.

«This hermit loves you.» He rolls his eyes.

«I didn’t want to force you…» You explain. Since he forced himself to make that speech about his spaces, you try to understand him more. And a place with a lot of Capitol people who talk about fashion is not his favourite room in the world, you can sense it. Not to mention there will be drinks and you are not sure he is past that time of the rehabilitation where you can’t even see other people drinking. It’s better to be safe than sorry, he has been through so much you don’t want to repeat the process.

But he is here. For you.

«You didn’t force me and I can handle it. Can you?» He gets it, that you are not relaxed. You manage to be relatively calm with Portia because she is worse than you are - it’s her relaunch, her chance to be what she was before she sided with the rebels - but when you are alone with him there is no point in lying. Sometimes you feel like he always gets the worst part of you.

«Yes! Yes, I can. I can handle it.» You try to smile. And definitely fail, if his face is any indicator.

«Sweetheart…» He slides his hands on your arms in a relaxing way. His way to make you confess the truth.

«I’m terrified.» You blurt out.

He wraps his arms around your hips and you sigh against his chest. What if you trip and fall down the stage, what if the people start to boo you, what if Portia can’t go out because she is terrified…

«You are good.» He assures you. And, just because he knows you so much and he knows how much you want to be distracted right now, he starts kissing your neck. You give him major access, humming in pleasure. He is a very talented man in many things, he is smart, intelligent, cunning and calculating, but oh boy, how he kisses you. Nothing can compare. You can’t quite understand if it’s natural talent or he made some Capitol women very happy in his rebel years.

«If something goes wrong…» You try to add, slightly closing your eyes at his delicate touch. He sits down and you climb on his lap.

«Nothing can go wrong.» He murmurs against your skin. He doesn’t undress you just because he knows there is no time for that, but you get he is turned on.

«I threaten Lavinia to make her and her Capitol friends come.» You protest, and he stops his act of seduction to chuckle. When he meets your eyes, they are so filled with pride you could think you began the revolution yourself.

«That’s my girl.»

«Haymitch…» You suppress a laugh, he is so cute. He doesn’t want to hear it, but he is.

«What? I’m proud of you.»

You watch him, adoration in your eyes. «I love you.»

«I have a present for you.» He states out of nowhere. And you are a kindergarten baby sometimes, especially when it comes to presents, so you are immediately curious.

«For me?»

«No, for Portia. Of course, for you.»

«If you think a gift can make the situation better and lower my anxiety… you are absolutely right, thank you!»

He looks at you and he shakes his head, well knowing how your reaction would have been. And then he tosses you a little red box.

Ok, it can’t be a ring, because you have it on your finger, and it can’t be a bracelet because he already gifted you with one. A very handy one.

You open it and you gasp. It’s a little golden pin with a little pinecone.

«Oh Haymitch, it’s really beautiful.» You whisper, very touched. It’s a pin, like the mockingjay pin, and he is always very careful with meanings.

«It’s golden.» He points out, «You know, Effie has her hair, I have the bracelet and I gave it to Finnick, Katniss has her pin and Peeta has the medallion. It’s our team, but it’s my family too. And you are very much part of my family. You are my family, Sweetheart.»

You rush back into his arms and you kiss the hell out of him. «We are a family.»

He nods. «It’s time. Remember I’m with you.»

The fashion show is about to start and the backstage is pure madness. You, Portia and Cinna are running back and forth to make sure everything is okay, and the models are just stunning in the new dresses.

You have to thank your friends so much for the favour.

Lora is the model for District Eleven. She is not completely okay yet, but she rested a lot and she made an appointment with Doctor Payne, Haymitch’s therapist. It’s not okay for her to have the same psychologist as him, especially if she is going to live with us, but it’s either him or Doctor Aurelius, and the poor woman is overworked.

Lora is very beautiful. She wears a black mini skirt and an orange top, her hair is tied back and she has a strong golden makeup that takes up the top colour.

Perla and Finnick, bless them, run for District Four. Both stunning as always, Perla is rocking her siren blue dress with embroideries that recall a fishnet, and Finnick is so elegant in his white suit.

You tried for a moment to convince Haymitch to walk for Twelve because you had some men’s clothes, but you know better, and it turns out Delly, Peeta’s friend, was up to it, and you used the dresses you designed. She is going to walk in your piece. A cobalt blue long dress with a corset filled with little diamonds, from the district’s mines. She looks like a queen from a fairy tale, exactly like you wanted her to be, a character from the district tales.

Effie, the model from the Capitol, is the last one in the program, and rightfully so because she has been a model before, and she knows how to close a runway. Her outfit is toned down compared to the Hunger Games’s ones, but she is very classy in a tight red sparkly gown with a low cleavage. Her natural beauty is celebrated.

You hear the music going up and you watch the fashion show begin. At first you feel so nauseous you want to puke, but after a while you understand everything is going well. There are a lot of seats taken, and the people are clapping, they enjoy themselves. You watch Portia, but she still seems nervous, maybe because she has to make a speech to close the thing.

And so, soon she takes a microphone and begins to talk.

«Thank you! Thank you so much for this warming welcome. It’s been almost a year since we didn't do a runway or a fashion show, and coming back has been the greatest gift. I want to thank you all, but especially my friends who collaborated with me for today. We all know and adore Cinna, the Mockingjay’s stylist!» The camera stops on Cinna, who waves and greets the audience.

«And Daisy Pinecone, everyone! The last tribute!» This is not exactly true, because Lora and Perla are the last tributes too, but you know what she meant and you hope they won’t get angry about it. You follow Cinna's example, and you feel a little like the Princess Daisy you used to be in the games.

«And now, if you want to excuse me, I have to do something for myself. I want to thank a very special someone on this very special day.» The camera moves on Effie, who is sitting on the first row, and a model helps her get on the stage. «My beautiful woman, you have been the light of my life for so long. You are the person I go to when I feel down or I’m scared. I know I neglected you but I was so focused on this, and… let me make it up to you for the rest of my life.»

Portia goes down on one knee and you gasp. She is proposing. She is proposing to your best friend! And without telling you first, you could have helped her. «Euphemia Trinket, will you marry me?»

Effie, bless her, probably knew everything from the start but she is happily crying. «Yes! Yes I will!»

Everyone is happy. This is it, this is how you want to picture this memory.

You close the locker room behind you and you find Haymitch smirking on the sofa. He saw the show, you know it, but he disappeared before the paps could start asking him questions. That he doesn’t do anymore. He decided he is not a public figure anymore, and you respect his privacy. After all, the fashion show is a big thing for you, not for everybody. Holly for example didn’t come, saying she is too old to be in the Capitol and she demanded a lot of pictures from the night.

«It went well! It went well, don’t you think?» You are exhausted and ecstatic and you wrap your legs around his hips with a jump in a well practised move. He stands up and puts his hands under your butt, maybe to carry you better, maybe because you know your boyfriend and he loves to put his hands on you.

«You were perfect.» He reassures you, and he kisses you with a burning passion on your lips. His callous hands go south, and south… he is going to be the death of you sooner or later.

«And the other things?» You ask again. The press wanted to talk to you, and to Cinna and Portia, and it seems like your plan succeeded, because a lot of Capitol people saw young and famous socialites at the show and that was good publicity.

«I don’t know, I noticed you. You were ravishing, baby.»

You laugh, your oblivious almost husband. How could you be so ravishing in comparison with models dressed in beautiful outfits, you have no idea. «Did you get bored?»

«Nah, I was focused on you. Now, as much as I like you being on top of me… and I like it very much, we have to sit because you decided you wanted an old man.»

«I still want an old man.» You bite his neck, and you feel your desire growing. His vest is so hot because you designed it exactly with this thought in mind: stripping him. «You were the hottest man in the room.»

«The years pass, but you remain delusional. That’s a relief.» He winks at you and starts peppering kisses on your neck. «Is the door locked?»

«I don’t know, but I don’t care.» You unbutton his shirt and he reaches for your hands, laughing.

«I’m the responsible one and I should…»

«You have never been the responsible one, don’t lie to me! I’m high on success and that is the last night we get to act like Capitols so please… be a little crazy. For me.» You feel so young tonight, so young and in love.

When you hear a knock on the door you try to shout to wait outside, but Effie opens it without any care.

«Effie! You are engaged!» You get up from Haymitch - who briefly complains but he knows you too much - and you run to Effie to hug her.

«I suppose I am!» She squeals and you can feel how happy she is, «Did you know about this?»

«No! No, Portia must have thought I couldn’t lie to my best friend.» And maybe, just maybe, she was right.

«If you two have finished talking like chipmunks, can I congratulate the Princess?» Haymitch interrupts you, to hug Effie. You always forget Effie is not your Effie and Haymitch has not always been your Haymitch, and the two of them have been friends for over a decade before knowing you.

«So, we will have two weddings this year!» Effie adds, pleased, and you realise now, after the fashion show, it’s time.

You are about to get married.

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