I was going to have Pennsylvania's chapter here, but I realized that I was doing a bit too much of the whole 'barging into a world conference' trope. Plus, inspiration just sort of struck for a little mini-arc.
Also, sorry, England, but I'm going to pick on you a little bit, again. Or, at least, one of America's states is.
Black Sheep
It was no secret that South Carolina was something of a problem child.
Even before the Civil War, she wasn't exactly the model of a perfect, little, well-behaved daughter who did what she was told. And, unlike her fellow siblings in the south, she wasn't as good at bottling things up and hiding her anger behind passive-aggressive comments; she was capable of doing it, she just had a tendency to lose control of her anger sometimes. If she wasn't happy about something, she would scream, threaten, throw things, and, on at least one occasion, set fire to Florida's car. Her mind, once made up, was not easily changed.
Which was one of the main reasons why America wanted to keep her away from England. She caused more than enough problems for her father, and America didn't trust that she would remember to keep her promise not to get violent.
Having North Carolina around her only made things worse. The two sisters hated each other, for all the time they spent together, and there were only two things which they could completely agree on. The first was that the Panthers were awesome and it was definitely going to be their year. The second was that they hated it when people thought they were basically the same. They weren't the same! They didn't even look alike. Regardless, North Carolina's presence only tended to make South Carolina more pissed-off than she usually was. And, considering the two sisters spent most of their time together despite their known animus, that meant South Carolina was a veritable ticking time-bomb.
What America didn't know, however, was that the meeting between England and the Carolinas was just around the corner.
Before returning home from the conference in Kenya, America was going to visit England's place for a few days. England had invited him over to his rather stately manor home because he wanted to finally have the chance to get some answers out of his former brother. Canada would be there, too, and France had invited himself along, as well, much to England's chagrin. What none of them realized, however, was that several states and one of Canada's provinces had decided to take a trip of their own to the British Isles.
Both of the Carolinas, Kentucky, New Hampshire, Vermont, and their cousin Nova Scotia had all decided to pay a visit to the lands of their colonizers and maybe find some distant relatives.
As it happened, soon after arriving, the group encountered Northern Ireland. They weren't sure what it was, but he seemed to find something incredibly amusing about the lot of them (except for Vermont, who went largely unnoticed). When his sister the Republic of Ireland got back in, she seemed positively ecstatic about meeting them. The Irish twins gave the group directions to England's house, but asked if they could borrow Nova Scotia for a little trip up north to meet their big brother Scotland (who was taking England's absence as an opportunity to nip up to Ben Nevis for some fresh mountain air and scenery that didn't fill him with rage). Seeing how nervous her cousin was at the thought of going off with people she barely knew, even if they were family and America had said the Irelands were incredibly trustworthy, New Hampshire insisted on accompanying them.
The Carolinas were invited along, too, but said they had some 'business' to attend to before they went anywhere else. Kentucky, therefore, decided he was going to commandeer Vermont for some brotherly bonding time, leading New Hampshire to warn Kentucky that if anything happened to Vermont then she would cut off his 'Appalachians' and shove them up his 'Cumberland Gap.' Vermont, for his part, just tried to bear with it all and occasionally took a swig from his bottle of maple syrup to calm his nerves.
"Are any of the children like moi?" said France eagerly.
"Shut up, you bloody frog," England snapped. "Why would any of America's children be like you?"
"In case you have forgotten, Angleterre, I sold my precious Louisiana Territory to him. Besides, what about Canada's enfants? Surely, quite a number of them must take after me."
America and Canada exchanged looks. All right, maybe they both had kids with a few similarities to their former guardians, but that didn't mean their kids were nothing but England and France clones. Each state, province, and territory was unique and had their own cultures, styles, and even languages. England and France had contributed a lot to how those children turned out, certainly, but the kids were their own people and not just copies of—
They were all jarred from the conversation when they heard the doorbell ring. England got to his feet and grumbled as he went to answer it. Not two seconds after everyone in the sitting room heard the door open, England let out a high-pitched shriek of shock. The others rushed out to see what was wrong and found England frozen in stark disbelief at the two teenage girls standing on his doorstep.
One girl was tall, with long, red hair and eyes of aqua blue behind a pair of rectangular glasses. She was dressed in a pair of old jeans and a baggy sweatshirt with an image of a growling panther on it. The smirk on her face and the faint scent of tobacco put England in mind, to his horror, of Scotland whenever his older brother was up to something.
It was the second girl, however, that caused England to nearly have heart palpitations. She looked like England, himself. Exactly like England, in fact. That is, an England with long hair, a pink dress that would make a Barbie doll green with envy, and no Y-chromosome. Well, she did also have a hint of a tan to her skin, which England had never been able to get because he just tended to turn the shade of a lobster whenever he was in direct sunlight for too long. The girl had an expression of profound annoyance on her face.
"You England, sir?" said the redhead.
England made a choking sound in the back of his throat.
"Kitty, Jessie, what are you guys doing here?" said America.
"Oh, hey, Pa!" the redheaded girl continued. "Jess and I was vistin' the neighborhood and wanted to say 'hi' to our kinfolk."
The She-England just crossed her arms and scowled a bit more intensely. England managed to snap out of his stupor and remember his manners.
"Yes, well, do come in," he said.
As the two girls entered the house, the female England stopped in front of America. She then swiftly kicked him in the shin. America let out a hiss of pain and clutched at his leg while his daughters just passed into the sitting room. England and France both stared in shock at the utter contempt America's own daughter had shown him.
"Ah, Jessie's a little…temperamental," he said through a wince.
They all returned to the sitting room and sat back down. The room was decidedly tense as America went through the introductions for his daughters.
"Well, England, France, this is Katherine Jones, the state of North Carolina," America said, prompting the redheaded girl to wave brightly at them. "We just call her 'Kitty.' And this is-"
"Jessie," said the second girl impatiently. "Jessie Jones. South Carolina."
"That is odd," said France. "I would have thought you would both look more alike."
America tried to wave France off, knowing exactly where he was going, but France didn't notice.
"Oh, why?" said South Carolina, her eyes narrowing sharply as she, too, anticipated what he was going to ask.
"Are you not twins, then?"
"NO!" both girls shouted furiously.
"We ain't twins," said North Carolina, now as angry as her sister. "Why in Sam Hell does everyone think that?"
"And everyone is always thinkin' we're exactly the same," South Carolina added. "I'm nothin' like her. I actually have self-respect."
"The hell you talkin' about?"
"I at least stand by my principles and don't disrespect the folks what gave their lives for me."
"You got somethin' to say, then say it!"
"You know exactly what I'm talkin' about, North. Tear down any more memorials, lately, hippie?"
"Why you-"
"Girls, knock it off," America said. "How many times do we need to go through this?"
"Until everyone north of me sinks into the ocean," said South Carolina. "And maybe Florida, too, for good measure."
"Jessie, for the last time, the Civil War is over."
"Over? It'll never be over until you and those damn Northerners admit what ya'll did wrong."
"Oh, Lawdy," North Carolina muttered, slapping a hand to her forehead in frustration. "Here we go again."
"Wait, I am not certain I understand what is going on," said France. "What is this argument about?"
"Uh, France, you know how I had a civil war back in the eighteen-sixties?" said America.
"Oui, I vaguely recall hearing about it. I received a letter from someone writing on behalf of the 'Confederacy' asking to be recognized and-"
"Wait, you got one, too?" said England in amazement.
"Indeed, mon ami. I was greatly confused by it, but I threw that insulting missive away. No matter how many times my boss told me to respond, I refused."
"As did I. I wasn't going to throw in my lot with people like that. And they had the nerve to cut off trading with me because of it."
South Carolina was turning red and her hands were balled into fists.
"That was because neither of you so-called 'gentlemen' had the decency to write a reply," she said.
"You mean you sent that letter?" England asked. He was looking vaguely horrified.
"Well, Virginia actually wrote the thang while I dictated, but, yes."
"You mean you're the one that led that rebellion against America?"
"Yes, gosh-darnit! What ain't you gettin' about this?!"
England looked at the girl, a girl who could easily have passed for his twin, and then he looked at America. The one who kicked-off a rebellion against the one who had rebelled against England looked like England, himself. Fate must truly have a twisted sense of humor. It was even more disturbing than when he'd met Connecticut.
"I worked so hard to prove a point," she began to rant. "I sacked a fort-"
"It was your own fort," America said. "I built it for you for your birthday."
"- I issued letters condemnin' an illegal election -"
"Abe Lincoln was the best president since George Washington. You just had trust issues."
"- I even made clear my views to my father and he refused to even listen to my complaints!"
"You screamed a bunch of obscenities in my face, claimed that I hated you and only loved your northern siblings, socked me in the gut, and ran away from home!"
"And you tried to get North, here, to invade me because of it!"
"Sometimes," said North Carolina. "I really do wonder if I shoulda done that when Pa asked. Woulda saved us all a lot of trouble down the road."
"Shut up! You were in it just as deep as I was!"
"Perhaps we should change the subject," England said. "Would anyone care for tea?"
The two girls looked at him and their eyes lit up. England wasn't sure whether to be delighted or terrified at the thought that two of America's states actually appeared to be excited at the prospect of drinking tea.
"You mean ya'll Brits really do drink tea all the time?" said South Carolina.
"And here we thought you were just an ol' stiff," said North Carolina. "Me, Jessie, and, well, all us southerners drink tea at breakfast, lunch, and dinner."
"Really?" said England. "I didn't think anyone in America cared much for tea."
"Sho' nuff. Sometimes I think our blood is made of tea we drink so much of it."
"W-well, in that case, I will be right back."
America threw a look over at Canada, who was fighting back an amused grin. The two of them knew what was coming. You see, while both England and the southern states all shared a love for tea, there was a distinct difference in how they drank it. And, as both America and Canada knew about the little quirks of the states, the Carolinas were not likely to take well to England's preferred manner of preparing tea.
England returned quickly with the offered refreshments and began to pour everyone a cup. However, when he handed the drinks to the Carolinas, the two girls were staring at him in horror.
"You're tryin' to poison us!" South Carolina shrieked, pointing an accusing finger at him.
"What?" said England. "What on earth are you talking about?"
"That tea! It's hot!"
"Yes, it is. Is there a problem?"
"Problem?! What kind of lunatic drinks hot tea?!"
"Everyone does."
"Deceiver! I knew we shouldn't've tried to trust you! I came here, sincerely hopin' to mend ol' bridges and whatnot. But you never changed, no matter what Pa said! No, you're tryin' to stab us in the back again!"
"This is ridiculous. I am not trying to poison you. And what do you mean by 'stab you in the back again'? I never did anything to you."
"Oh no? Think back on the American Revolution, then. North and I might not've been born yet, but we got the memories of our people and the land. I'd say that, there, was a cruel betrayal."
"Jessie," America interrupted. He knew she would have a bad reaction to seeing hot tea, but this was a little excessive. Then again, South Carolina could hold a grudge like nobody's business. "As I already told you, England apologized for-"
"I don't care what he's said! He just tried to kill me and you sat there and did nothin'! I hate you all!"
She let out an ear-shattering yell which shook the very earth, itself, and ran from the house. North Carolina was still sitting there, eyeing England with suspicion and occasionally glancing at the still-steaming tea.
"She weren't lyin', you know," said North Carolina. "We really did come here to patch things up."
"What the bloody hell is wrong with her?" England said, completely at a loss.
"Well, she certainly takes after someone, mon ami," said France with a smug smile.
"Just what are you implying, Frog?"
"Oh, nothing. Only that I distinctly recall such tantrums from someone who could never let the Norman Conquest go."
"That is completely different!"
"Non? Have you forgotten all the times you punched me in the stomach and screamed in my face until you passed out from exhaustion?"
America and Canada stared at England who began to turn red.
"Lawd," said North Carolina. "Jessie really does take after you."
"Maybe someone should go talk to her, eh?" Canada suggested.
"What – who said that?" England said, looking about frantically for the source of the voice.
"I'm right here!" Canada shouted quietly.
"Oh, Canada, when did you get here?"
"I've been here the whole time, eh."
"Who're you?" said Kumajirou from Canada's lap.
"I'm Canada," Canada sighed.
"I'll go find her," said America.
"No," said England. "I'll go. Clearly this is my fault and I want to know why."
"Iggy, Jessie's not exactly the easiest person to talk to."
"Don't call me 'Iggy.' You know I hate that. And I could tell she's a bit difficult."
"Batshit nuts, if you ask me," North Carolina interjected.
"But you clearly aren't much better off with her than I am."
"I'm her father," said America a little defensively. "I've managed this long."
"And a bang-up job you did, there, Pa," North Carolina said dryly.
"Not helping, Kitty."
"Pa, I'm willin' to back you up and all on some things, but, I gotta say, Mr. Poison-Tea, here, has a point."
"The tea wasn't poisoned," England grumbled. "Every sane person drinks it like that."
"Jessie's never gonna get over it if she can't work out her problems, Pa. The reason she still acts like she hates you is 'cause she thinks you hate her and neither of you ever had a proper sit-down about it."
America winced as he realized North Carolina was right. There were a lot of things that he and South Carolina had not really gotten out of their systems after the Civil War and it left a bit of an ugly mark on their relationship. It was made worse by the fact that they both believed they were in the right, as they both had very strong opinions and stubborn streaks a country mile wide. The fact was, though, that America didn't blame South Carolina for what happened; no, the blame for that lay at his and another person's feet. A person whom America never wanted to speak of again.
"Fine," he said in resignation. "England, if you want to talk to her, go ahead. But if I hear any gunshots, I'll be out there in a flash, dude."
"Gunshots?" England said in disbelief. "Why on earth would you think I would bring a gun to talk with your daughter?"
"Considering your encounter with Virginia, why did you assume I was talking about you?"
"Oh…right. Fair enough, I suppose."
England seemed slightly more reluctant to go than he had been a few moments earlier. However, he steeled his nerves and walked out the door in search of the infuriated state. America, Canada, France, and North Carolina were left in the sitting room to await his return…or to call an ambulance, as most of them felt would be the result.
"So…" North Carolina said, gingerly picking up a cup of the tea. "Ya'll are sure this ain't poison?"
South Carolina had ensconced herself high up in a tree. She was sulking.
She honestly had wanted to give England a chance. Despite all the awful memories she'd received as a child, grisly images of war and savage brutality, she didn't hate him. In fact, South Carolina didn't hate anyone, she couldn't, no matter what she had experienced in her life. She didn't even hate her father, even though she often acted like she did; the truth was, she was hurt and sad and afraid. Afraid that her father blamed her for everything that was wrong in the country, just like many of her siblings did.
Even when she was alone, she could hear Louisiana and Arkansas tauntingly calling her the "black sheep" of the south. As if either of them had any right to judge her.
But even with all the taunting and the self-righteousness and all the feelings of anger, South Carolina sincerely did not hate anyone. Her fellow southern states were all experts at hiding their inner resentments and hard feelings beneath a veneer of politeness and false amity, but South Carolina just couldn't do it. Her feelings just exploded out of her and made her say and do things she regretted but couldn't bring herself to admit, or even pretend to admit, were wrong. Everything she'd ever done, she did because she was genuinely trying to protect her people and their rights. However, pride has a way of blinding one to one's own failings and to the suffering of others. But, that didn't stop her from trying to make things right when she did open her eyes, at last.
"South Carolina?" said someone from below and the girl scowled when she recognized that the person was England.
"What do you want?"
"I want to apologize. I have done many things I am not proud of, especially in the times I fought your father, but I wanted to say that I am sincerely sorry for them."
"Do you even understand just how hollow your words seem to me? Do you know why what you did to my people in the Revolution hurt me perhaps far more than anythin' you did to those Northerners?"
"No. I admit that I don't. But I am willing to listen."
"All right, then listen good. The reason why I'm angry is the same reason, I do believe, why I look so much like you. My folks was Loyalists."
Her gaze was sharp as a bayonet's point as she looked at England. South Carolina continued:
"They turned on their own neighbors, their friends and kin, because they wanted to stand by their sovereign. And what did you do? You attacked them! All they wanted was to keep the peace and be left alone, but, oh no, that weren't enough for you. No matter how faithful my people had been, my land became a playground for butchers like that bastard Tarleton. Did you even know what that monster did?"
England flinched a bit. He remembered hearing of the actions of Banastre Tarleton in the Carolinas and had been absolutely horrified by the reports. Slaughters of enemy soldiers who had surrendered, burning of homes, brutal acts of oppression and senseless cruelty…was it any wonder that Loyalist hearts had turned from England when he'd allowed someone like that to run about unchecked? England had tried to convince himself that they were mere exaggerations and had pushed himself into his own struggle with trying to put down the rebellion and get his wayward brother to come home. But the stories just kept coming until his forces were driven out of the Carolinas, and England had met the man, in question, and the fellow had boasted of everything he'd done, completely unashamed. And the man had then come back to England's shores after the war, touting himself a hero, and tried to undermine England's push towards abolition, frequently mocking all those who stood against the slave trade. It had sickened England to no end.
"I had never intended for things to go so far," England said contritely. "And, believe me, had I known, I would have put a stop to it. I never wanted to harm America, or his people, or you."
"No, you just wanted us all under your thumb," South Carolina snapped. "The sweet, subservient, little underlin' who grins and bears everythin' despite the pain. No wonder Pa acted like he did, if you were his example for child-rearin'."
"What do you mean?"
"When me and my siblings seceded. We had every right to leave when we wasn't bein' represented the way we should've been. But Pa, he just couldn't let us go and our people paid for it. Yes, we were doin' somethin' we ought not to have, but he just overstepped every agreement we ever made with him. He said we could be our own people and make our own choices and then he just took it all away."
England's expression became somewhat solemn.
"I mentioned that I remember the letter you sent me," he said. "And you know I threw it away. Do you know why I did that?"
"It was because you ain't reliable. You wouldn't blow your nose to help one of us."
"No, it was because I couldn't bring myself to help those who practiced a trade I have always despised. It was because I wanted your father to be able to eradicate it from his lands as I did, because he understood how wrong it was. And it was something he had to get his people to understand. If I had stepped in and helped you, if you and your siblings had triumphed...would it ever have ended?"
It was South Carolina's turn to flinch now. She knew exactly what he was referring to. It was one of the few things in her life she willingly admitted she was ashamed of permitting. She had tried throughout her childhood to find ways of justifying it to herself, even when she had known, in her heart, that it was wrong, and had come so close to fooling herself that she had, at one point, almost believed the lies she'd built to shut out the truth. Of course, someone else had helped spur those thoughts into actions, very shameful actions, but South Carolina knew she couldn't blame anyone but herself for actually committing them.
"Look," England continued, sounding very tired. "We have all made mistakes. I know I certainly have. Your father has made more than his fair share, too. Do you honestly believe that I have learned so little from my life that I would to harm you? Or that your father thinks less of you for turning out more like him than I'm sure even he expected?"
South Carolina looked away from him and crossed her arms over her chest.
"What? You disagree?" said England. "Your argument with your father is almost exactly like how he and I argued right before he had his revolution. A lack of representation and a lack of respect for the grievances you had with him."
"Sh-shut up," South Carolina said, choking back an ugly reaction that might well have been mistaken for a sob. "You don't know anythin' about what happened. The things I did, the people I lost, what I was really fightin' for, none of it. You couldn't possibly understand."
"I understand a lot more than you would expect."
A silence passed between them for a few minutes as the two stared each other down. A strange, wordless conversation was being played out, as England conveyed with his expression alone that he did know exactly what kind of struggle South Carolina had been through. Finally, South Carolina clambered down from the tree and dusted off her dress. She gave England a scrutinizing look.
"Don't expect me to pour my heart out to you," she said. "I ain't the sharin' and carin' type."
"I don't doubt it," said England. There was a slight flicker at the corner of his mouth which one might mistake for the hint of a smile. "And, I really wasn't trying to poison you with the tea. That is just how we drink it here."
"Still don't make no sense to me."
England had to rein in his urge to bemoan the girl's butchering of his language as they both made their way back to the house. As they walked into the sitting room, the others looked them both over for any signs of injury. France groaned and handed twenty euro to Canada.
"I was certain we would be bringing Angleterre to the emergency room," France said. "If we ever found all the pieces."
"Shut up, you bloody wanker," said England.
"Jess, are you okay?" America said to his daughter as she sat back down on the sofa across from him.
"I'm fine, Pa," she said. "When we get back home, there are some things I wanna talk to you about."
America nodded and then plastered on a big, beaming smile. The cheerful moment was disrupted by North Carolina's phone ringing.
"Aw, shucks, forgot to silence it," she said. She accepted the call and held the phone to her ear. "I can't talk right now, I'm in the middle of – what? Kentucky, what's the matter, hon? You're what? Aw, hell. Slow down, darlin', or you'll have one of your fits. Uh-huh. Where's Vermont? What do you mean you don't know? Oh, New Hampshire is gonna murder you. All right, I'm with Pa. We'll come and get you. Hold tight."
She clicked the phone off and looked up at the expectant faces turned towards her.
"Uh…Kentucky might've gone and gotten into a bit of trouble. Mr. England, sir, I don't suppose you could give us directions to someplace called 'Scotland Yard.'"
Author's Note: South Carolina's physical resemblance to England is more a matter of irony than a comment on her ancestry. Like North Carolina, much of her white population is actually of Scottish, Irish, or Scotch-Irish descent. Actually, a lot of those southern states also have heavy French roots, too.
South Carolina was the first state to secede from the Union and the Confederate forces in the state marched on Fort Sumter, officially starting the Civil War. Hence, she is something of a problem child for America; however, she does love her father and is proud to be his daughter, she just thinks he hates her because of her role in the Civil War.
People in the American south don't really drink hot tea like in Britain. They drink sweet tea. Tea which has been steeped in water and chilled, then filled with enough sugar to give you diabetes from just a couple sips, and served with ice in the glass. In fact, if you order tea in the south, it's just naturally assumed this is what you mean (unless you're at some fancy café or something). Therefore, I figured that the Carolinas would think England was trying to kill them with hot tea, because the concept is so alien to them.
I think America has a deep trust for the Irelands. It's part of a personal headcanon of mine that, because England was away so much when America and Canada were little, the other British Isles stepped in and doted on the boys. The Irelands, especially, I feel, would have a deep connection with America and America trusts them immensely; Scotland cares about America a lot, too, but just has a stronger bond with Canada. Wales…well, Wales just likes anyone who will talk smack about England with him.
Cumberland Gap is a pass in the Appalachian Mountains at the intersection between Kentucky, Tennessee, and Virginia.
North Carolina's "memorial toppling" is a reference to a recent incident at the University of North Carolina where students tore down a Confederate monument, known as "Silent Sam," dedicated to the students and faculty who were killed in the Civil War, claiming it was a symbol of white supremacy and institutional racism and that they were taking a stand for social justice. Frankly, I just thought the act was violent, mob-like behavior unbecoming of a responsible and civilized society. But, what do I know?
It always annoys me in State fics when the Carolinas are portrayed as twins. They weren't even admitted to the Union in the same year (South was in 1788, North was in 1789). The Dakotas are twins (the only states admitted on the exact same day of the same year), but the Carolinas are not.
England and France were the two main countries the Confederacy tried to get to recognize the legitimacy of their secession. While many English politicians and aristocrats sent tacit support to the southerners, as many of them identified with the plantation owners, the English government refused to be seen siding with people who practiced slavery, especially because a vast majority of people in the British Isles, especially among the working classes, were fiercely supportive of the Union (a group of people in Manchester even wrote to Abraham Lincoln, and there is a statue of President Lincoln in Manchester with a plaque containing an excerpt from his response letter to them). In France, Napoleon III wanted to support the Confederacy, despite the disapproval of the French people (who, like the English, hated slavery), because he wanted the United States divided so he could continue his plans to conquer Mexico without the U.S. attempting to intervene.
The Carolinas (and Georgia, too) were initially pretty staunchly Loyalist or, at least, moderate during the beginning of the Revolution; in fact, South Carolina had one of the biggest Loyalist factions. However, when the British army showed up and started pushing the locals around and taking their property and issuing threats and trying to order them into fighting the Patriots, the good ol' boys of the mountains took exception to that behavior and chose to fight the way their heavily Scotch-Irish ancestors taught them. In the Carolinas, there was even a type of battle cry, which allegedly later became the Rebel Yell, that the militiamen used which supposedly derived from a traditional Celtic war cry. South Carolina was also the site of over 200 battles, more than in any other state in the Revolution. If you've ever seen the movie "The Patriot," that film was based on the struggle of the Carolinian militias, particularly that of Francis Marion, and the brutality of the British forces, most notably the atrocities committed by Banastre Tarleton.
Did you know, South Carolina was actually one of the more progressive states in the south during the Civil Rights movement and that its transition out of segregation was one of the smoothest and least violent? I guess SC just got sick of being blamed for the Civil War and just wanted to make things right, even if she is still proudly Confederate.