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The State of Tennessee
☀Andrew S. Hickory☀

Tennessee blushed a little when Romero brought up America being uncooperative while creating the UN. He remembered well Hull telling him how difficult it was to get Alfred to negotiate with other nations and how he'd needed to step in more than once. "America was just havin' a hard time comin' outta isolationism is all..." he muttered in his nation's defense as he awkwardly avoided direct eye contact. Even though Andrew wasn't the best at manners himself he at least seemed to be keenly aware of how rude it was that Alfred had sent a politician to work with a nation instead of personally going. He was more than happy to have another topic change.

"Those guys were 'round somewhere, but Iris is easier to talk with," Tennessee said as he nodded towards his horse. "I couldn't make heads or tails what those guys were sayin'... Wouldn't speak proper English or nothin' and kept goin' on 'bout String Theories. Ain't no strings involved in makin' nuclear bombs." Though Andrew did have a gift for some aspects of science he really was a simple boy at heart. "It was easier fightin' with Hitler's SS Troops than tryin' to have a proper conversation with those guys."

Iris had started watching the clouds as the boys had their talks and only briefly clued back into their conversation when she heard her name brought up again. She sighed softly, wondering if Andrew wanted her to explain String Theory to him again. It had been so hard the first dozen times but eventually he seemed to understand it well enough to apply it more or less. Tennessee could be a very smart boy so long as things were explained to him in a straight forward way he could understand. It was when people threw in metaphors and euphemisms or uncommon, big words in general that he got thrown off.

Grade 9
The Volunteer

Romero remembered Senator Hull’s numerous complaints about the American’s recalcitrance, but he had thought that, after Roosevelt’s minimum four years of warmongering, he would have been readjusted to dealing with other nations. Still, it was nice to have the situation explained properly to him.

The Venezuelan was confused by Andrew’s refusing the help of all three prominent atom bomb participants, though. Although he did somewhat sympathize with the Tennessee native about how confusing scientific diction could be—one of the reasons he had chosen to work even harder in the subject—he’d have thought that at least Marshall would have been able to simplify the bomb enough that even the laymen could understand. After all, the Chief of State had been one of many who had flooded World War II America with favorable propaganda. But Andrew’s comment about it being easier to talk with his horse perplexed him most, for Romero had never been one who could empathize with animals to the degree that others could.

“Fue más facil decir con Iris?” he asked aloud, forgetting to translate in his confusion. “Forgive my asking, but how could talking with a horse allow you to understand something as complicated as the String Theory?”

The State of Tennessee
☀Andrew S. Hickory☀

"Iris is good at explainin' stuff like that," Tennessee said with a small shrug before glancing over at his horse, wondering if she would be willing to talk in front of Venezuela or not. Since a talking horse did tend to scare people every now and then usually she kept it to herself, but he didn't see the harm.

The chestnut mare's attention was mainly on Luis who was still fretting over being abandoned by Brazil yet again. She hated to see how lonely he was even though she didn't quite understand what had happened. The poor dear seemed so lonely by himself on the roof.

"Hm... Maybe later," Andrew muttered before looking back at the nation. "Either way, I don't like those bombs much. Only used 'em twice but... havin' that much power just ain't natural. It don't even feel like war usin' 'em. It's just a bunch of killin' and destruction. I think it's best to use a rifle to settle wars instead of blowin' ever'body to pieces like that." Though Tennessee had tried to convince himself that they actually saved more lives by forcing the surrender of the war early the state was never fully content with that excuse. Sometimes he wasn't sure if he really believed it or not, but America had told him so and that was good enough. It had to be... The boy shook his head. "I like the sound of your sword livin' better than whatever the hell came out of Oak Ridge and those other labs."

Grade 9
The Volunteer

The State of Tennessee
☀Andrew S. Hickory☀

Tennessee was grateful for the topic change although he was a bit surprised where the topic shifted to. He blinked for a moment as he recalled his old childhood friend and his misadventures. The boy couldn't help a faint smirk hearing Venezuela call David Crockett by his hated nickname. Old Davy never did forgive Andrew for telling everyone to call him that, but that's how the boy had put him down in history and most other states had followed suit not knowing how much the pioneer despised it.

"Well... Most things 'bout him prob'ly are more legend than fact now," Andrew mused before wrinkling his nose. "An' let me tell you he wasn't born on no mountain top or whatever crap Disney spews in that damn jingle. He was born in the valley, but he was a good man who couldn't be tamed by nothin' or nobody. Ol' Davy an' the General used to have some strong words for each other... Didn't like one another one bit, but no one could say Davy didn't put his money where his mouth was. He was a brave, ornery son of a b***h..." his voice trailed off fondly as he recalled some of the wilder things Crockett had done. "Always had some weird joke or sarcastic come back for anyone who tried givin' him lip but... sometimes that was bad."

Andrew shifted awkwardly as his smile turned into a faint frown. "He was a great congressman an' politician, and I always admired how he stuck to his guns, but... I didn't always agree with him or vote for him the way he wanted. We sorta had a fight then he went to Texas and... You're related to Mexico or somethin' I figure and I don't wanna say nothin' bad 'bout her to you. I guess suffice to say he died at the Alamo." To say Tennessee took that badly was an understatement. If America had let him the boy probably would have marched all 30,000 blood thirsty volunteers to Luz Maria's doorstep and tried to wipe her off the map. "We never did get the chance to make up after that big argument..." he muttered which he knew now wasn't really Mexico's fault but it had taken a long, long time for him to stop blaming her for the tragic end to one of his most beloved childhood friends and folk heroes.

Grade 9
The Volunteer

Luis Esteban Salazar-Carriedo
The Timid Junior

When Luis Esteban heard the bell ring, he got up and grabbed his things "Um... hermano? Don't you think you're inviting too many people? We don't want people to be packed in the dorm like a can of sardines."

{Translations:}
(Out of Buenos Aires: I don't know how Luis would find out that Juliana left the school to go to the beach. Also, he's not those kind of guys to fall for her charm xD But, he'd forgive her solely because she's his friend and secretly loves her.)



Argentine Republic
Republica de Argentina

Luis Esteban Salazar-Carriedo
The Timid Junior

"Oh, okay... Well, I'll see you later." Luis Esteban went back inside the school and headed to class.

{Translations:}
(Out of Buenos Aires: Well, he isn't nosy about it. No one.)



Argentine Republic
Republica de Argentina

“It’ll be no trouble at all!” Romero said airily, waving off the state’s hesitation as if it had never been. “Knowing mi hermano, he probably hasn’t invited anyone over. I’ve only invited three people, including you. Hell, you could probably invite your own friends over if you like, as well. These dorms can take a lot.” The party at Rutilio’s had supported almost a dozen people, hadn’t it?

He paused, seeing the questioning look on Andrew’s face, and wondered if he wanted to ask him something. He took his time packing up his lunch and supplies, wondering what it was on Tennessee’s mind.