JULY PROMPTS -- NATIONALISM

[Christine Daaé]

JULY PROMPTS
NATIONALISM

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July is a month of Nationalism and Patriotism for several countries, including France, the United States, Canada, Northern Ireland, Peru, and Belgium, who all have National days during this month. Nationalism is a feeling of pride toward one's country or nation, and while it may not effect some directly (particularly those who claim to have no nationality *cough*Erik*cough*), nearly everyone has experienced it in some form, whether by themselves, or by somebody else who they have observed. Your task is to select one of the three prompts below and respond with your character (or characters if you chose to do it for more than one). Remember that if you do respond to a prompt, it is worth 15 euro for that character. Once you respond, you can post the IOU for your euro in the IOU List here. Now, my lovelies, I release you all into the world to go write away to your hearts' contents!

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~OPTION ONE – CELEBRATION![/b][/color]~[/size]

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CEEEEEEEEEEEELEBRATE GOOD TIMES – COME ON! National holidays are a time to celebrate! What that celebration means to the individual varies from person to person. Your character is going to celebrate their nation. What would they do for this celebration. How would they celebrate? If they have moved from one country to another, which one will they celebrate, or will they celebrate both countries? The possibilities are endless as long as your character is celebrating a nation in some form. Requirements for this option are that your response must be at least four paragraphs in length and contain proper spelling and grammar.

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~OPTION TWO – HISTORY[/b][/color]~[/size]

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A nation's history is always unique to that individual nation, and that unique history has shaped that nation into what it is today! While some people find history, quite boring, there are others who absolutely love it! For this option, your character is being transported back in time to his or her favorite point in the history of their country. What would he or she see and experience there? How would things be different about his or her role in society? Who would your character meet there? Requirements for this option is that your response must be at least five paragraphs in length and include proper spelling and grammar. If your character has lived in more than one country, you may choose a moment in history of any of the countries they've lived in. Remember that if you have a ghost or a Phantom character that for them HISTORY WOULD BE ANY POINT IN TIME BEFORE THEY WERE BORN – NOT BEFORE THE PRESENT TIME OF 2012!

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~OPTION THREE – FOUNDATIONS[/b][/color]~[/size]

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The manor is in utter chaos and the residents (both ghost and phantom character) have elected your character to lead them in forming an independent nation of the manor, its grounds, and the people who live there. What would the country be named? What would the flag look like? What would the official language be? What kind of government would it have? Where would the borders be and how would it deal with people visiting from outside of the country, like the villagers?What would someone have to do to become a citizen of your new country? Would your country have a national religion? When would your national holiday be? What other things would they include in the creation of this country?Requirements for this option is that your response must be at least five paragraphs in length and contain proper spelling and grammar. To show your flag, you may consider using paint, or some other graphics program to create it, and then upload it to photobucket and use the code [/img] in order to put it into your post, though describing it is fine if you are not comfortable with creating graphics.[/color]

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All right, everyone! Now that you've finished writing your lovely prompt, please remember to post in the IOU list to make a note so you can be rewarded your due 15 euro. Also remember that you are able to respond to each prompt with more than one character, so don't feel shy to come back on a different account and write again and also collect 15 euro for that character. Prompts are a good way to earn euro and to really get into your character's mind, and if you haven't checked out some of the other prompts yet, you really should! Remember, that if you're ever confused about a prompt, you can always feel free to look at what other people have written in order to get an idea for your own – but make sure you don't end up copying them! Happy writing, everyone! Here are some of the other prompts you can respond to if you haven't already:

OTHER PROMPTS

FEBRUARY PROMPTS – SAINT VALENTINE'S EDITION!

PROMPT – DREAMS

PROMPT – LETTERS & EXPERIENCES

MAY PROMPTS – MOTHER'S DAY EDITION

JUNE PROMPTS – FATHER'S DAY EDITION

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[Raoul Christophe de Chagny]

It was July 14th, 1876—Bastille Day. It was his first Bastille Day at sea, the first of many he anticipated. The sailors aboard the Durance were, like the rest of the populace of France, celebrating joyously with drunken singing and dancing. The Vicomte didn’t join the celebrations, however. He was sitting on a barrel near the railing of the ship and writing a letter home.

Dear Brother,

I was very happy to receive your letter. I am quite fine, and am enjoying life at sea—every day is like a new adventure. I should like to make a career of the Navy, perhaps make officer soon…

He put down his pen and sighed. Was that really what he wanted? He kept trying to convince himself that it was, but there was something he wanted more than the Navy, and that was to see Little Lotte again. She was his dearest friend and he hated to think what would—what could have happened had he stayed, as it was too painful. How he had ever found the strength to leave her was beyond his comprehension. He didn’t know what he was feeling…it was more than simply missing her—it was much more serious than that.

Why had he left? He had known that it was time for him to choose what he wanted to do with his life, and he had always loved the ocean—thus a career in the Navy seemed suitable. But it almost felt as if, in gaining an adventure he had lost something much more precious—

“Have a drink, little Vicomte?”

Raoul looked up at Jacques, the middle-aged, balding sailor who had given him his first glass of rum. In his hand was a mug filled to the brim with the substance, and in his other a half-empty bottle. The young man smiled and shook his head. “No, you go ahead and finish it. I’m fine, Jacques.”

In a moment of sobriety, the man tilted his head. “Are you sure? You looked a little…distracted.”

He shrugged. “Just thinking of home, I guess.”

The man nodded and stood at the edge of the railing. Raoul got up instinctively, in order to keep the man from falling, but he shook his head. “I can still have a bottle of rum and keep my balance, little Vicomte—it just takes plenty of practice.” he stated with a wink and looked out over the sea. “I haven’t been home in ten years—home in the traditional sense meaning my house. The sea has become my home…but I did have a home once, like you—and a wife, her name was Angelique.” Jacques smiled slightly and reached into the filthy pocket of his uniform, pulling out an old daguerreotype. “This is our daughter, Océane.” A smiling bright-eyed girl of six or seven with fair hair was depicted. “She’s probably about your age now.”

“She’s lovely, Jacques.” Raoul stated with a smile.

“Aye, she is…I…I would like to see her again. Her mother and I…well we aren’t on the best terms. I would come home drunk and she would yell at me, and I always promised that I wouldn’t do it again—but you know me and rum, don’t you, little Vicomte? I can’t help it…I wish I could, I wish I’d stopped, but I can’t help it…” The older man’s voice cracked, and Raoul watched him in surprise. He had never seen him like this before, and he doubted he had told anyone this before either. “One day she just told me to leave…and I did. But I promised our daughter that I would return if only to see her again.”

“You will, Jacques.”

Jacques shook his head. “Her father’s a stinking drunk—why would she want to see me again?”

“My father died when I was twelve—I’d give anything to see him again.” His father may not have been pleased with him, but he did love him tremendously, and had been broken when he died. If given the chance to see him again, he would take it instantly. “Your daughter loves you, I’m sure of that.”

Jacques smiled half-heartedly and Raoul clasped his shoulder reassuringly. “Thank you, little Vicomte…” The older man said, wiping his eyes a little. “Enough of this…we should be celebrating. Vive la France!” he shouted, raising his bottle and mug in the air.

“Vive la France!” echoed the cries of the other sailors. Jacques then proceed to lead them in a drunken rendition of La Marseilles. Each man took off his hat and lay a hand on his heart. The tuneless strains weren’t easy on the ears, but Raoul stood as well and followed suit. As they made their way to the chorus, a smile finally formed on his face, as this was his favorite part of the song. The nobleman didn’t particularly like singing at all, but he did find their national anthem an exceptional piece of music. It always made him proud to be a Frenchman—when he wasn’t admiring the British. But this song—the British could never compete with.

“ Aux armes, citoyens!
Formez vos bataillons!”

He sang these words rather loudly, and had he not been so caught up in the song, he would have noticed the drunken voices one by one falling silent.
“ Marchons ! marchons !” he almost shouted, thrusting an arm into the air patriotically as he uttered the words. “Qu'un sang impur Abreuve nos sillons !” he finished. He felt a bit self-conscious as he realized all eyes were on him.

“Little Vicomte…where in heaven’s name did you learn to sing like that?” Jacques asked, bewildered.

“I…I…” he stuttered, running a hand through his hair.

“Alright, men, lights out! We embark for Italy tomorrow to escort that trade convoy.” rang the Captain’s voice, and Raoul breathed a sigh of relief as he shuffled his way below deck alongside the grumbling sailors.