The Liberty Pole itself takes place around 2176, but the war that they find themselves in the middle of was actually started by the protagonists’ parents some years before. My brain has completely rebelled on me this afternoon and since I can’t seem to make it write anything new, I’m poking through a few one-shots I have for the background (that I usually referred to as the Sons of Liberty era). I’d forgotten how fond I was of this little scene. Warren Diem, who is one of the lead protagonists of the background short stories, is a ton of fun to write and is heavily based off of Dr Joseph Warren of the American Revolution.
"I know you two had a bit of a falling out."
Warren blinked owlishly at her. Well, apparently she did know. "Falling out would imply a sort of friendship," he said, his voice icier than he meant for it to be.
"Bart seemed to think there was one," Maggie answered with a shrug. "He's a difficult man sometimes, but he does respect you. You just don't see eye to eye on some things."
"Things like who gets to determine who lives and who dies," the doctor snapped. "Or perhaps how soundly we should fall to our knees before the Council that left us to die. I suppose we do have some differences in opinions, Mrs Reiler."
She flinched a little at his tone, but managed to work a tired smile out of it. "You always were passionate, Warren."
“No, Mrs Reiler, I’m a frustrated man. How much plainer can it be that the government that taxes us into submission - and if that doesn’t work, they’ll beat us into it - can’t and won’t even provide care in return when people like you are coming to me out of fear?”
“People like me?” Maggie echoed, tuning her nose up a bit.
Warren sighed, shoulders sagging and he winced at the stiffness in his muscles. “That’s not… I simply mean-”
“You should know something, Dr Diem, and it’s something that my husband would never tell you.” Her voice was soft, but her eyes were sharper than he’d ever seen them before. She had changed, this woman that had once been a girl that he’d spent many school years wishing after. He hadn’t bothered to see it before, but he couldn’t miss the flash in those blue eyes or the way her shoulders squared back.  “We’re not exempt. Bart does what he does out of fear as much as he does it out of loyalty. He won’t admit it, perhaps not even to himself, but the day that Nicholas was born was the day that they had him. Mind, body, and soul, Dr Diem. They watch him closer than you can imagine. If Hopson weren’t so fond of you, if you hadn’t done what you did, and if you didn’t have the love of the whole damn town, he wouldn’t have had the option of doing what he does for you. He’s afraid, even if he thinks I don’t know it. Even when he won’t admit it to himself.”
