Prompt:

SmurfsTasteGoodOnToast - I would love a short chapter or one-shot of Hyacinth finding out about what's really on Effie's mind

Effie knocked on the door to Hyacinth's office. The now blue woman was finishing up packing away picture frames and knickknacks that she had accumulated over the years. She moved slowly, but purposefully - her mind elsewhere.

Effie knocked again. Hyacinth looked up.

"Effie," she smiled. "Come in. Shut the door."

Effie walked into the office and gently closed the door behind her. "Do you need any help?"

"No - this is the last of it."

"It's so strange … I still can't wrap my head around the fact you're retiring."

"One does get old - no matter how much you try not to. Anyway, it won't be as if you won't see me. We'll do our lunches, as usual."

"Yes. Obviously. But it was nice having you here. You were the only person I could talk to for a while."

Hyacinth had gone back to wrapping a china dog in newspaper, but looked up when Effie said this.

"There's someone else?"

"Hm?"

"You said I was the only person for a while. That implies -"

"I haven't replaced you!" Effie laughed, trying to cover her steps.

Hyacinth put down the dog and walked to Effie. "I'm going to say something, Effie, and … and I very much doubt that you'll want to have lunch with me anymore after I do."

"Hyacinth -"

"It's the last thing I'll tell you about being an escort - because it's … well, it's the last thing you'll ever need to know. You don't retire. Have you ever met a retired escort?"

Effie thought for a moment … no … no she hadn't. Why had -

"I don't -"

"You leave the job because you're tired," Hyacinth explained. "You're tired and old and you find yourself sitting alone in an empty house without distractions because nothing can distract you now. You have all the time in the world to think about what you did with your life. And it destroys you."

"But -"

"It's a waiting game. One day you'll see me at lunch and then … I imagine in the not very distant future, I won't show up one day. And you'll hear I've gone in my sleep. Peacefully. From old age. But know that isn't how we go, Effie. You think you can't do it, but you'll find after a certain point that you can. And that you have to or they'll do it for you. Because they won't want you to talk. To even hint at what you know and think. I'll be watched the moment I step out of this building until the moment I take my last breath. And I'll know it. And I'll feel it."

Effie felt tears sting her eyes. "I'll have no one," she whispered. "I'll have no one here … oh, god, Hyacinth I hate it! I'm just miserable and I can't find joy in anything anymore - nothing. And now you … you're telling me this is the end! That no matter what, this is how my life will end up? Marry Aulus, you said - thank god I didn't! Distraction - distraction - but it isn't enough!"

"Effie -"

"No, Hyacinth … no. Why is it every time we speak, you can tell me the truth and I only have to lie more? You can tell me all about … taking your own god damned life but I have to stand here and … lie. Over and over. I've been lying for years, burying things - and you … you practically knew, didn't you? Was it some sort of fun? Was I just part of the distraction?"

Hyacinth was quiet. "Had I known you were this miserable -"

"I put on a good show, don't I?"

"Better than most. Yes."

"Well, I have you to thank for that. And I suppose you'll tell me now how I'm going to die?" Effie choked on her words, shocked she had said them. "Oh … oh god, I am … I am so sorry …"

Hyacinth gently put her arms around Effie, ushering her into a hug as she began to sob.

"No … no, it's all right. It's better you let it out. Better we parted without the lies." Hyacinth let go of her and brought the wrapped china dog over. "Here. Take it."

"Hyacinth -"

"You know I won't need it. Take it as … an apology. As a reminder, too. I don't know of what … but still."

Effie took the dog - her hands were shaking.

"I kissed him," she said suddenly.

"Who?"

"Haymitch," Effie said. "A few years ago. We were drunk and -"

"Effie, you don't need to tell me everything -"

"But …" Effie shook her head, running her thumb over the cool china in her fingers. "I don't know why I mentioned it now."

"Because you have a very large crush on Haymitch Abernathy - and I'd say you were blushing now, if not for the powder on your cheeks. Don't worry. That was a guess. A good one. But no one's the wiser. I've been around far longer than most of them by now. And don't worry that isn't a lie. I don't think I have time to lie to you anymore anyway. To everyone else, you two despise each other … you may want to keep that up, you know. Not just for the obvious reasons. There's always the sympathy sponsor to be had."

Hyacinth lifted the box from her chair and walked over to Effie. She kissed her cheek and squeezed her hand.

"I can't tell you everything will be fine because you know it won't be. And I can't tell you everything will get better because you know that it can't. But right now … this moment … we're parting as friends. Everything on the table. We can keep that, at least."