Romance and Revolution: Writing
I got bored today so I made little 2-300 word blurbs for all the guys I made for my Ikemen American Revolution shitpost fake otome game. Which I might make someday. Idk.
Marie-Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier de La Fayette
I sank down into a chair beside Lafayette to catch my breath. He smiled at me, his eyes shining in the candlelight.
“Mademoiselle’s face is glowing,” he said. “It is a pleasure beyond description to see you enjoying yourself so much.”
I could feel my face grow hot, and not just because I had been dancing.
“There’s one man I have been wanting to dance with, Lafayette,” I teased, “but I haven’t seen him get up once.”
Now it was his turn to blush, a charming red creeping over his cheeks.
“Ah, though I do know how to,” he said sheepishly, “no one wants to see such clumsy steps as mine.”
“I’m sure that’s not true!” I urged him. “Please?”
“No, no, I’ll stay here,” he mumbled. “The last time I danced… I was laughed off of the dance floor by the Queen of France herself.”
My jaw dropped. Eloquent, princely Lafayette… laughed off a dance floor? I couldn’t imagine.
“Well, it seems I’ve finally found a flaw in you,” I said with a grin. “I’ve been looking for so long and haven’t been able to find any others.”
He looked surprised for a moment, then laughed. A musical sound that made me laugh too.
“Mademoiselle’s silver tongue would be right at home in the French court,” he smiled. “Perhaps you should come with me someday.”
“I don’t speak French, remember?” I asked.
“You could charm everyone with that smile alone,” he reassured me.
Now it was my turn to blush.
Mariot Arbuthnot
“You’ve lived near the ocean all your life, and never been to sea?” Mariot looked at me and shook his head. “I don’t understand it. I joined the navy at 10.”
“I started working at my father’s practice when I was 15,” I countered. “Medicine doesn’t really involve going to sea.”
“I suppose not,” he shrugged. The ship suddenly pitched beneath our feet, and I lost my balance with a little yelp.
“C-careful!” I ran into his chest, solid as a wall, and he reached up to grip my shoulders, steadying me. When I looked up, his face was bright red.
“You don’t have your sea legs, I take it,” he said, guiding me to the railing so I could hang on to it. I had no idea how he was able to stand so easily on a heaving deck, shifting his weight to counteract each pitch and roll.
“I’ll have my sailmaker assemble a hammock chair for you to sit in, the next time you come,” he promised.
“Thank you, Mariot,” I smiled gratefully at him.
“It’s nothing, he’s bored anyway, so I figured…” He became very interested in a knothole in the deck, kicking at it. “It’ll keep you out of the way… women aren’t supposed to be on a ship of war.”
“So do you not want me to come see you?” I asked.
“I never said that,” he mumbled.
Alexander Hamilton
Alexander finished writing a letter and sealed it, then turned to me.
“Sorry to keep you waiting, lovely,” he flashed that dazzling grin at me.
“It’s all right,” I said. I enjoyed watching him work. The look of concentration on his face, the speed of his quill, the soothing sound of it scratching against paper… but when I looked at the clock, it was far later than our agreed meeting time for dinner.
“You work too hard sometimes, Alexander,” I said reproachfully.
“There IS a war going on,” he chided as he held out my cloak to me. “But once I’m done for the day, my time belongs to you.” He offered his arm with an elaborate flourish. “Shall we?”
“You still want to go to dinner?” I laughed as I slipped my arm through his.
“With you on my arm? Absolutely,” he nodded firmly. “It’s not very often I can parade around with a beauty like you on my arm. I want to make the whole town jealous.”
“It seems you have a way with words whether you’re writing or speaking,” I said. He held the door for me, and we stepped out into the evening twilight.
“I do try,” he said warmly. “especially when you’re involved.”
I looked into his eyes, at the confidence radiating from them, and felt absolutely helpless.
Charles Cornwallis
“Let me come with you, Charles,” I demanded. “I can help, I know medicine—”
“Absolutely not,” he frowned. “You’re going to stay here. There’s no place in the city more secure than this.”
“But what about you?” I asked. I followed him through the parlor as he pulled on his cloak. I didn’t want to be apart from him, not for a moment. I didn’t want to be like so many other women, waiting for someone who may never come home.
“I said no,” he repeated. He stopped me in the doorway, his hands gripping my arms. There was a ferocious glint in his eyes, making him look almost feral. His face softened, however, when I spoke again.
“I just want to help you,” I rested my hands on his chest, toying with the clasp of his cloak.
In an instant, he pulled me into a fierce embrace, one arm around my waist and a hand on the back of my head, pressing me against him.
“Help me by staying where I know you won’t get hurt, you fool,” he whispered in my ear. “I don’t want to lock you away to keep you from harm, but I swear to God, woman, test me again and I will.”
He pulled back to press his lips to the top of my head.
“Stay here and wait for me,” he said again, his face set like a marble statue. And with a whirl of his cloak, he walked down the steps toward war.
George Washington
“Have you seen this?” I asked, waving the pamphlet I’d found angrily in the air. Drunkard looked up and let out a woof of disappointment that I’d disturbed his nap.
“Let me guess,” George looked up from the map he was examining. He looked tired, but still he smiled. “They’re calling me incompetent? An old soldier resting on his laurels? An imbecile?
“Yes!” I snapped. “Do something about it! Sic Hamilton on them! They don’t know what they’re talking about! They don’t know what it’s like out here!” I was furious. George was doing all he could to keep the American dream alive, and critics were coming at him from left and right.
“Hush now, enough of that,” he said gently. “Give me the pamphlet.”
“Aren’t you angry?” I demanded. “And let’s not get started on what Lee’s been spouting after Monmouth…”
“I agree, let’s not start.” He took the pamphlet from my hand. Instead of reading it, though, he tossed it into the fire.
“Whoops,” he mused. Then he turned back to me. “You’re angry enough for the both of us. Maybe I should sic you on them instead. But that wouldn’t solve anything.”
“But…”
“No buts,” he shook his head. “Being goaded into an argument won’t solve anything. Actions will.” He smiled reassuringly at me. “Turn the other cheek, and focus on doing what you can to keep my men moving.”
His patience was endless… and infuriating.
“I’m still mad, though,” I muttered.
“Then go be mad while helping your father,” he chuckled. “Turn your anger into energy. They’ll see they were wrong when the war’s over.” He patted my back, shuttling me on my way. “No more pamphlets for you.”
William Howe
“I thought all Englishmen drank tea,” I said, looking over at the cup in William’s hands.
“I prefer coffee,” he confessed. “It’s more bitter. Keeps me awake.” He shoved a hand through his wavy brown hair, making it stick up at all different angles. He didn’t meet my eyes.
“Something’s wrong,” I pressed. I could tell in the tension of his shoulders, in the way he nervously bounced his leg while staring out the window.
William put down his cup.
“I’m worried it won’t be enough,” he said softly. “You don’t understand how the military works. There’s dozens of men waiting to take the place of any officer who doesn’t perform his utmost duty to his king and country.” He sighed. “I’ve come this far… but what if this was all a trick? What if I’m just a fool who doesn’t realize his own incompetence?”
“William, stop that,” I soothed. I hated to see him gloomy like this. I got up and walked behind his chair, placing my hands on his shoulders. “You’re brilliant. And no matter how this war ends, I know your king will see that.”
“My king… but not yours, you little yankee,” he gently grasped my hands in his and looked up at me. There were lines of exhaustion on his face, but a small smile despite them.
“I hope you’re right,” he said. “When you look at me like that… I’ll believe anything.”
Paul Revere
It was hot in the little workshop, which made Paul strip down to his shirtsleeves. I personally didn’t mind a bit. I loved watching him work.
“Is that my favorite doctor?” He asked, looking up from the forge. I gave a laugh and a little wave.
“What are you making today?” I asked. I stepped into his workshop, staying in the corner out of the way.
“A tea set,” he sighed. “Some lobsterback officer wants it. As long as he pays me well, though, I’ll make it.” He stood back and wiped the sweat from his brow with the back of his hand. He looked back at me and grinned. “Made a little something from the scraps, if you want it.” He jerked his head towards a little cat figurine on the tabletop. I reached for it to get a closer look. It was a horrible idea.
“Ah!” I withdrew my hand. It looked cool, but it was still white-hot!
“You didn’t touch it, did you?” He frowned and crossed the room to me, taking my hand in both of his. “Idiot.”
“You’re the one who brought it to my attention!” I protested.
“I suppose I did,” he took me over to a bucket of water and had me dunk my hand in it. The cool water soothed my scorched fingers. I tried not to think about how close he was.
“There, that should feel better,” he said. “Now I’ll have to give you that little cat. You’ve been through enough trouble for it.”
“You’re too kind,” I rolled my eyes.
“I’m anything but,” he corrected. “Get on out of here before you hurt your pretty hands again.”
Joseph Brant
Joseph and I stopped our horses on a hill overlooking the sea. I could see Mariot’s blockade in the distance, a few scattered pyramids of white canvas near the horizon.
“I can’t imagine traveling on the ocean,” I said.
“It wasn’t my favorite experience,” he replied. “But I’m glad I went.”
“Where did you go?” I asked in surprise.
“London,” he responded. It took him a while to realize I was still watching him, waiting for him to speak again. He scowled before reluctantly continuing. “I wanted a promise that my people’s lands would be respected, that we wouldn’t be forced to leave.”
I couldn’t imaging being that far from home, much less with so much at stake.
“You’re brave to have done that,” I said. “I don’t think I could have.”
“And yet I’ve seen you walk battlefields looking for wounded men,” he smirked. “But perhaps you’re more foolish than brave.”
“Maybe I am,” I sighed. “But I want to help people. That’s what I do.”
Joseph was quiet for a while, even after we continued on our ride.
“To live for others is admirable,” he said softly. I looked over at him, surprised to hear him speaking so openly to me.
“Thank you, Joseph,” I said.
“Don’t think too hard into it,” he said. “I was just thinking out loud.”
Thomas Jefferson
When I walked into the library, Thomas was walking along the shelves, a frown on his face. The frown deepened with each shelf he passed.
“What are you looking for?” I asked.
“’Don Quixote’,” he mused. “I was reading it, but it’s not here.”
“Oh…” I said sheepishly. I held up the copy I was reading. “I think I stole it.”
“Thief,” he quipped as he walked over. “What part are you at?”
“I’m not far,” I confessed. “He just found the lazy shepherd boy being beaten by his master.”
“And Heaven forbid someone be in trouble when a Knight Errant is about,” he sat down next to me. “Would you be willing to share custody of the book? I’m a fast reader… and I’ve been wanting to continue the novel.”
I was surprised at the offer, but smiled and nodded.
“Of course,” I said, holding the book between the two of us. He took it from me and held it out for both of us to see.
“Let me know when you’re ready for me to turn the page,” he said softly.
I promised him I would. Then we began to read again, enjoying the silence of the library together.
Benedict Arnold
“Benedict, that’s enough,” I finally found him in his office, a bottle of wine in one hand and an empty glass in another. It was rare for him to drink himself into a stupor these days, but a recent loss in battle had hit him hard.
“Go away, Peggy,” he mumbled. “Witch.”
“Peggy’s gone, Benedict,” I took the bottle from his hand. Soon, I replaced his wine glass with a water glass. He stared at it stupidly before taking a sip.
“Everything keeps going wrong,” he said. “I have the worst luck of any man since Job.” His bleary eyes turned to me. “And yet you’re still here. I don’t understand it.”
“You don’t have to understand it,” I soothed, sitting down beside him. “Have some more water. Do you want anything to eat?”
“You should have left by now,” he went on, ignoring me. “Everyone leaves.”
“But I won’t,” I said. I patted his back gently. “We’ll see the end of this war together, Benedict. It will be all right.”
“You’re so naïve,” he leaned over and rested his head against mine. “But… I hope you’re right.”
Nathan Hale
Nathan’s laugh was infectious. However, he was laughing at me, so it wasn’t as funny as it normally was.
“You’re horrible at skipping rocks,” he teased.
“I’ve had better things to do! Leave me alone!” I sniffed indignantly. He pushed off from the tree he’d been leaning against and strode over, picking up another smooth stone as he went.
“You’ve gotta flick your wrist like this,” he said as he demonstrated. Sure enough, the stone sailed several skips into the center of the pond.
“Show-off,” I accused as I reached for another. He watched me, then shook his head.
“No no no, not like that…” He reached out and took my hand in his, moving my fingers so that they held the stone in a manner he deemed acceptable.
“So when you flick your wrist, use this finger to put a spin on it,” he explained, moving the rock in my hand. “Come on, try again. It can’t be as bad as last time!”
I fought the urge to stick my tongue out at him. He stepped back and swept his arm in a grand gesture toward the open water. I tried my best, and sure enough, the stone skipped once, twice, then sank.
“I did it!” I cried happily.
“You did,” he grinned. “We’ll make a decent stone-thrower of you yet.”
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