The States

The American Revolution, Part Two, 1774- 1775

III. Congressional
Don't modulate the key then not debate with me! Why should a tiny island across the sea regulate the price of tea?
-Farmer Refuted, Hamilton
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You want a revolution, I want a revelation
-The Schuyler Sisters, Hamilton

Columbia, SC- July 7, 1774
"Why aren't you supporting the revolution?" Daniel asks.

Scarlett takes a bite of a peach and chews thoughtfully. "Dunno." She finally says and takes pleasure when Danny looks annoyed.

What are little sisters for after all?

New York, NY- July 18, 1774
"I read the Orangetown Resolutions."* Will begins.

Brooke is indifferent, black hair (longer than usual) falling in her eyes. "Good for you."

"Such big words. Abhorrence, unconstitutional. Didn't know you knew them."

"Surprised you know them, boerenkinkel."* Her native language flows smoothly off her tongue, and he isn't sure what she just called him. He speaks German, not Dutch. There is no affection in her voice. There is when she looks at Nicky and rolls her eyes, ruffles his hair and calls him aar. (He had expected she called Nicky something bordering on insulting, and was surprised when Nicky told him aar meant spike, and she only called him that because of his hair.)

"I've seen your statistics." He says, instead of responding to her taunt with his own German insult. (Mostly because he can't think of one that would actually offend her.)

Brooke's incessant foot and finger tapping stops.

"You're divided. Part patriot, part loyalist. Mostly loyalist, though." Will says, and almost regrets it when Brooke says nothing. Has he finally gone too far?

She turns her head and brushes her bangs out of her eyes at the same time.

One iris is its normal cerulean blue. One is turning blue-green, like the Virginias, like his.

It brings to mind Ginny's accent, constantly slipping back and forth between English and Virginian.

Loyalists. Loyalists are affecting them in strange ways. Or maybe it's the Revolutionaries that are affecting them.

He's staring, he knows, but he can't make himself stop.

That's why she's avoiding America, why she hadn't cut her hair.

"What a pair we are. A half-loyalist and Quaker." She whispers.

He says nothing as Brooke leaves.

Savannah, GA- August 28, 1774
"Scarlett! Come on!" Danny shouts.

"I can't." Her eyes are dry, but she's been crying recently, and that stops him in his tracks.

His eyes soften when faced with a teary baby sister. "It's okay if you're scared-"

"I'm not scared! I can't afford to take a chance! The Creeks are attacking and I need the support of the British regulars!"

He looks at his sister and wonders how his twin will react to this news.

Philadelphia, PA- September 3, 1774
William almost wanted to laugh as he opened his door. Brooke looked like a drowned cat- her thick black hair, now short, plastered to her face. Her skirts, or what was visible under her heavy cloak, were wet and dripping water over his porch. Her damp hair hangs over one eye, and he knows why- her left iris is steadily turning greener with each day.