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His tired bright blue eyes shifted towards Tennessee while he paid attention to the weariness and the sincere remorse. In fact, there was a small amount of guilt festering in there hearing what happened afterward, wishing if he was aware of that happening he could have at least gone down there to stop all of it. But that was absolute foolishness, especially at that time. But the weight in voice, the the heavy expression that the other state had, but still one thing greatly bothered him with this - perhaps it was terribly black and white view on reality.

"If ya knew it was wrong, why didn't ya take action even if it would have seemed impossible and hard?" That wasn't fair to say, in fact Wisconsin used that justification for about everything, blaming someone who didn't have the power to do. " ... did ya really have to hit rock bottom in order to understand what needed to change but by then weren't able to get out of it?" That tone of voice didn't sound like the cheerful tone he had before. It sounded nervous and uneasy, wavering and questioning but like he already knew that answer.

" ... There's only so much ya can do," there was a notable grit in his teeth when he said that, "Ya were wrong in the war, ya were all wrong and that's a solid fact. No way of gettin' around it. But nobody could have predicted that possibility of hatred, resentment and fear spreadin' ya know?" Wisconsin gripped his head, shaking it while he felt strange pounding, scratching, digging, tearing in there. Something that he had to keep there but he played it off as being a little ill, "You're not responsible for the horrors that happened to your people."

Taking a deep breath, keeping his eyes shut - counting down as if trying to keep his complete concentration, "Even if the atrocities came from ya, Tennessee?" Wisconsin bit his tongue briefly, opening his eyes that was enough, "Ya were not completely responsible. Ya have your limits and even if ya tried, would it have even mattered?" His voice grew faster paced, his heart was racing even if he tried to keep absolute control, "Would they even have listened to ya or would they have simply pushed ya aside or say ya were not the real will of the state? That your purpose was not to question what was happening and to not get in the way or face the consequences?"

The Badger state needed to calm down, he wished he had that flask of brandy on him. He always had it, in case this instability came up but for some reason right now he didn't have it, "... Do ya really think ya would have been able to do anything to stop that from happening?" In a way it sounded like he was trying to convince himself. What exactly was he talking about anymore? "I know ya could have done more, but would it really have mattered or would your people just turn against ya?" Now it seemed like he was talking about the other state again.

It was clear Wisconsin was a tad overdramatic despite him trying to conceal these unsavory aspects of himself.

"It's not about making ya feel better," he raised his voice on confidence, even at that gentle squeeze he flinched a bit going rigid. "It's about ya beating yourself up for something your people did and ... look, ya could have tried to stop them but if ya did, and failed ya would be beating yourself up more for being such a fool."

He did an uneasy laugh, smiling again, "Ya were wrong and if ya can realize that, the most ya can do is stop blaming what ya can't change and focus on the things ya can ... even if it might seem impossible."

Oh if only Wisconsin followed his own advice. Hypocrite.

"Of course not," Wiscosnin shook his head in disagreement, "I know how to perfectly defend myself from such things happening - I'm far from bullied." An awkward pause for a bit, shutting his eyes and trying to relax.

"Either way, whatever made ya think that is probably ya thinking too much in my opinion," he let out another amused laugh, "No bullies from other states if ya are wondering." The midwest was for the most usually distant but kept a thin strand of loyalty in most situations if something really went down. However those situations were rare and often out of shame they wouldn't want to even let the others know so they wouldn't burden them in any shape or form. Sadly this made them even hesitant in asking for help if something happened.

... however it then hit Wisconsin. Where in the world they going? He didn't tell Tennessee where his home was and this wasn't the right way, "Tennessee? I think we're heading towards Minnesota."

Now that topic was off of him, Wisconsin began to laugh - amused at what just happened and that Tennessee did not notice where exactly they were going. That and with the topic now off of him, he could open up again and relax.

"Don't worry too much 'bout that, we're not that far off to tell the truth! - just got to go the other way, ya know?" he seemed genuinely cheerful again at least.

The Badger state couldn't stop laughing at what happened, even if he tried to control himself while Tennessee was now driving in the right direction.

"Don't worry too much 'bout it," he really couldn't stop his laughing though, but took a few deep breaths to calm himself down. It was endearing in a way, and it wasn't like Wisconsin didn't have his moments of absentmindedness or losing his place at times. That and the headache was fading away with the air becoming relaxed again.

"Don't worry too much bout it and don't beat yourself up too much. You're not used to coming up here much, right?" Genuinely cheerful and trying not to laugh the entire time. "It could have been a lot worse, I mean -- it's a good thing I noticed that otherwise we'd probably be in trouble then and ya would be even further away than ya planned."

At least he managed to calm himself, "That wouldn't have been any good for ya."

Wisconsin always had an easier time when the topic wasn't on him, at least when it came to things had a personal shame with. Because of this, he was now a lot more relaxed, "It'd be a hilarious story to tell though, ya got to admit!"

The Mexican-American War was another subject however, Wisconsin did go into it although it was only a little less than 1,000 he did not have much at stake when it came to that war. In fact, one thing that might have stuck out was if Wisconsin had a voice as a state, they may have caught wind of his commentary in territorial papers that reflected the publics opinion that shown clear even a month before the war was over. A stupendous offspring of folly and wickedness where in his eyes that would lead down a path of brutality, decay, ruin, and death. Of course, despite his opinions orders were orders with what little he action he saw. Perhaps it was because of wars he seen before hand, just like how he had to the death penalty to make him avidly against it.

However, to say that out-loud to someone who had such a connection to that would make things go uneasy again and he did not need to bring that up. At least not at the moment and with him driving the old truck. "It was a real sad thing all around in my opinion, ya know?"

(OOC: Fun fact, I accidentally clicked out and I had to rewrite this. Sucks. sad )

He gave an awkward smile towards Tennessee, "Just war in general I think, not that I'm some giant hippy like my capital Madison is, ya know?"

Cracking his knuckles and taking a deep breath, it was good Tennessee didn't have that knowledge for the most part. After all, Wisconsin was only a territory at a time and not exactly on their radar except maybe those who may have been fearful for yet another free state. He likely wasn't relevant in most of their minds until the date drew closer.

"It was a pretty tense time, huh?" of course, that was a tad bit of an understatement but Wisconsin's amazing ability to begin was was to understate some issues at hand.

Chances are, he'd remain disturbingly calm about the subject since this was one of the things he was confident he was constantly in the right on that subject. It was an extreme understatement, overall - just like most things for that matter.

The sad reality is he would show no apologies to someone who did not see what they did was wrong in his eyes. Wisconsin gave a small yawn, "There's a few regrets I have 'bout it, they're generally not with my actual position or anything. I'd never change that. Just ... some other things that I wish I saw comin' ya know?"

( OOC: Totally no problem with it! I'm always open for interpretations. smile )