Post by roma on Feb 8, 2013 16:49:29 GMT -5
My Reflection
Nation: Reppublica Italiana || Republic of Italy || South Italy
Though historically he'd come to represent the kingdom of Sicily and Naples, which later became "The Kingdom Of The Two Sicilies." As of now he represents Campania and all the way down to Sicily and Sardinia.
[/color]
Name: Lovino "Romano" Vargas[/color]
Gender: Male[/color]
Appearance Age: Physically appears 22[/color]
Actual Age: Ah, this really depends on what you're wondering about. If we're going by the Italian Unification on March 17, 1861 then Romano is 152 years old.
And if you mean when "Italy" first came around then-- -Doing Math here.- I'd have to say a rough estimate of 1,710? [/color]
Appearance
Hair Color: Chocolate Brown[/color]
Eye Color: Emerald[/color]
Height: 5'7"[/color]
Weight: 145 lbs.[/color]
Appearance:
The first thing people tend to notice about Lovino is the fact he looks just like his YOUNGER brother, Feliciano. While it's true the duo could be twins, Lovino is older by two years at the least so if you came up and asked him-well, depending on your gender you may get kicked where the sun doesn't shine. Or yelled at. Aside from that, Lovino himself isn't that remarkable. He's neither tall not short, and he's not too wide or thin. Well, at least he isn't skin and bones, yeah? If anything, the only thing that'd get him noticed is his temper.
With his short brown hair, emerald eyes and olive tanned skin, it's obvious at a glance he is the true representation of the Southern Italian Republic. Even though he tries to look cool with his clothes it never ends up working out for him as it does his brother. He's too plain to look impressive--even in his mafia clothing the man doesn't look the least bit intimidating. Which is mainly why he tends to work in the shadows, literally. He doesn't even tend to his clothing, like his brother, he just tends to leave them lying around on the floor or stuffs them into drawers. Long as they're put away he doesn't care what the end result looks like. The only thing he takes care of is his crucifix-he never goes out without it on.
This isn't widely known amongst the nation's, but Romano has a case of chorea [his hands are constantly shaking and he can have random muscle spasms.] Many tend to think it's because he's terrified, but in actuality it's because of his condition. Sometimes. Other time's hell yes, he's nervous or scared.[/color]
Defining Features:
The most defining feature Lovino has to offer is the curl that sprouts from the right side of his head. He refuses to speak on what it does and gets easily angered or flushed if anyone so much as touches it. Also, he's been around awhile so he has his fair share of scars and markings. Hell, he doesn't even remember what half of them go to anymore. He does sport a scar across his hip from the Vatican split, and one that goes straight down the middle of his chest from the Italian unification. The unification scar is easily noticed and still hurts from time to time.[/color]
Who Am I?
Personality:
Here comes Lovino! Known for his quick temper and sharp tongue, this Italian is highly irritable, foul-mouthed and seemingly always angry. Bitter and jealous from spending lifetimes in second place to his brother, never getting the spoils a first born usually should, and it's left him with a HUGE inferiority complex. However, at first it started out as an admiration for his brother, always proud of what he could do due to his talent and it quickly turned into a fierce jealousy over the decades. He still loves his brother don't get him wrong there! Just, he can't help but be jealous on what he can do, how people see him, and everything he has.
Honestly, he doesn't know why he's still around when everyone loves his brother so much, and while he's scared the other wouldn't be able to handle the full country on his own he is sure others would help. With time it'd be fine. As of now, he just deals with the nastier portions of being a country, when he's not being lazy or taking a siesta somewhere. Lovino even deals with the messier situations before his brother can come in. And even though he does this without complaint it only gives him another reason to hate his little brother.
Like his brother Lovino is highly religious, it's the only thing that's kept him from snapping through the years. It's incredibly important to him as it's one of the few things he's found in the
Let's not forget the fact Romano is gay. A huge sin in the bible. Marriage and relations should only be between a man and woman according to hardcore believers, and that's something he's certain he'd never be forgiven for.
Back when he was the Kingdom of Two Sicilies he was quite power hungry, something that's never faded through the years. He loves being in control and hates giving anything up--a side effect to this is it's possible he's a hoarder. Even if it no longer has use he'll hold onto something until he's run into the ground and killed. Of course, this is why the Mafia has grown so much. Territory is everything to him and he'll make damn sure it's his in the end.
Despite all this, Lovino does have a kind side. It's rare to see but it this there, and so far the only people who've seen it are the children in his portion of the country, animals [not dogs, no those things are scary], Belgium, and his brother in short occurrences. [/color]
Likes:
- Tomatoes - You have no idea, they're literally a drug for him. There isn't a day since he was introduced to the red fruit that he hasn't eaten it.
- Pizza - Far better than pasta, even if he enjoys all Italian food. Especially when it has tomatoes.
- Wine - GOOD WINE. Not that crap France drinks.
- Being Noticed - What? It's not easy being in your brother's shadow.
- Being called Italy - Seriously! Veneciano is only HALF.
- Cooking - He had to learn something, might as well be something he enjoys.
- Farming - Again, he enjoys it. It'smanly.
-
His brother.- Don't even think of letting him know. - Football - Or what Americans call soccer.
- Siesta's - Sleeping is God's gift to man for him. Enough said.
- Swimming - Well, his houses within Southern Italy are along the beaches. Might as well take advantage of it.
- Playing the guitar - Like singing it helps relieve stress.
- Singing - When no one's around to hear him.
- Mystery - Mystery books are great, and they help him think of escape route's from the cops.
- Suits - They're quite fashionable, especially the ones that come in black.
- Having someone to hold - Of course, this'll never happen.
- Cowboys - It's practically a fetish of his with American history. Honestly. Alfred even gave him a cowboy outfit.
Dislikes:
- Spain ; With a passion. Don't even get him started.
- Germany ; Technically he hates German's in general. Why he hates Germany himself is explained elsewhere.
- France ; Why is that guy the nation of "love?" Excuse me? Italy is the country of passion, true love, and to die for love! Have you never seen Romeo and Juliet?!
- Playing second to his brother ; Who would enjoy this? Do you have any idea how much it hurts to be in your own brother's shadow?
- American"Italian" Restaurants ; Pathetic. That's not even authentic Italian food, and so help him if he ever got the chance to speak to the blonde about it.
- Losing ; Okay, it's common knowledge no one likes to lose, but Romano is like a gamer when it comes to such things. He gets furious and demands for re-matches or states the game was rigged.
- Being the replacement ; While it's not common sometimes people go to him simply because they can't get to Veneciano.
- English cooking ; Death. In. Preparation.
- Ignored ; Being ignored his a major pet peeve of his and you can be sure he'd let you now when it's getting to that point.
- His brother ; Sometimes.
- Horror ;Who even made that?! It's things like that, that make him stay inside at night!
Fears:
- Fading Away - Seeing as Lovino only represents half of a country he is only half a nation. One day he knows he might fade away and leave the entire position to his brother. Fading isn't what scares him, he fears that Feliciano won't be able to handle the strain of being a full nation.
- Losing his brother - As above, both of them are only half nation's. The fear of one of them going is high and despite what he says Lovino does care for his brother. It'd be a lonely world without the pasta loving freak around.
- Being replaced - People always do prefer Feli don't they? It's not like he'd be surprised if one day Spain tired of him too and went to bug his brother instead.
- Not being good enough - Despite how hard he tries when it comes to his work for his boss or the mafia, deep down he always wonders what they think of him. Has he done a good job thus far? Is it enough? Everything he's done up till now has some sort of reason, right? He even stays up into the early hours of the morning to finish paperwork.
Fun Facts:
- Honestly, he's not that strong seeing as he's only half a nation and knows when to pick his battles. If he runs he's not being cowardly -- just smart.
- Lovino actually enjoys is mafia work and is proud of what they've accomplished. He doesn't enjoy that they're expanding North, but it's not like he can stop them.
- He can sing, it's just at a really high pitch despite his low voice.
- The reason he hates the Germanic nation so much is because he resembles the Holy Rome Feli often talked about and ended up causing his brother to suffer with horrible nightmares and a sense of loneliness he may never come to know. He's not stupid and he knows Veneciano saw it as well, that's why he refuses to get along with the man, he's terrified of his brother getting hurt again.
Strengths:
- Gardening
- Stubborn - Thanks to this he rarely ever backs down unless he knows he can't win.
- Even if it means using dirty tactics to win he'll get a job done.
- He'll do the darker, crappy parts of being a nation anytime if it means his brother can stay away from it.
- That gun isn't for show, he's quite skilled with them.
- He can lie pretty well except for when it concerns his own feelings.
- Pretty damn fast.
- Excellent flirt and can seem pretty charming when he tries.
Shame he doesn't like girls.
Weaknesses:
- Often lazy with no remorse for later consequences.
- Selfish
- Rarely ever apologizes
- Lack of stamina
- Physically weak
- No sense of direction
- Argumentative on everything.
- Antisocial
YourHistory
1800 BC
Distinct "native" Sicanian culture identifiable across Sicily. Mycenean and Late Minoan cultures present in isolated eastern localities.
1500-1000 BC
Siculi, Sicani and Elymni arrive in Sicily from the Italian peninsula, North Africa and Asia Minor
1000-800 BC
Phoenicians establish trading settlements along north-western coast
735 BC
Chalcidians of Euboea begin Greek settlement of Sicily by establishing the city of Naxos on the eastern coast, Lovino is born some time during this year, representing Naxos, though he will later become the Messina when it is formed.
733 BC
Syracuse (Siracusa) founded as Greek colony.
730 BC
Zancle (Messina) settled.
729 BC
Katane (Catania) settled by Chalcidians from Naxos
705 BC
Greeks assimilate Sicels' city of Enna, with which myth of Persephone becomes identified.
700 BC
Phoenicians establish Punic city of Zis (Palermo) and other trading posts (including Motya and Kfra or Solunto) in western Sicily. Phoenician alphabet (basis for Roman and Greek letters) introduced.
688 BC
Gela founded.
650 BC
Himera (Termini Imerese) founded.
630 BC
Selinus (Selinunte) established.
580 BC
Akragas (Agrigento) founded.
485 BC
Gelon, the Tyrant of Gela, centralizes control of Greek Sicily in Syracuse
480 BC
Syracuse defeats Carthage at Battle of Himera
413 BC
Syracuse destroys Athenian attack force
396
Tyndaris colonized
409-301 BC
Carthage, allied with the Siculi and Phoenician cities of Sicily, commences a century of debilitating and indecisive wars with Syracuse
ROMAN RULE
282 BC
The Italian invasion of Sicily begins as former mercenaries from mainland Italy seize Messina.
265-215 BC
Hieron II king of Syracuse. His death signals beginning of Roman control of Sicily.
264-241 BC
Rome and Carthage battle for Sicily in the First Punic War, Second Punic War in 218, ending in 201.
263 BC
Syracuse allies with Rome as a vassal state
241 BC
Carthage cedes to Rome its territory in western Sicily; Rome begins 600 years of rule in Sicily, Greek forgotten in favor of Latin.
146 BC
Romans defeat Carthaginians in Third Punic War. Romans call Palermo Panormus. Earliest Jewish communities in eastern Sicily.
136-132 BC
Slave revolt led by Eunus with base at Enna. Slaves conquer large area before defeat by Roman army.
104-100 BC
Slave revolt led by Salvius.
70 BC
Cicero prosecutes Verres, corrupt governor of Sicily.
6 BC
Conversion to Catholicism
AD 59 [??]
Saint Paul preaches in Syracuse en route to Rome.
AD 251
Saint Agatha martyred; later venerated as patroness of Catania.
AD 303-306
Diocletian's persecution of Christians. Saint Lucy (of Syracuse) martyred.
AD 306
Constantine the Great rules until 337. Permits open practice of Christian religion.
325
Council of Nicea defines Christian doctrine and determines accepted New Testament scripture. By now Syracuse is Christianized.
330
Capital of Roman Empire transferred to Byzantium (Constantinople).
AD 380
Christianity official religion of Roman Empire.
BYZANTINE RULE
440
Vandals from North Africa invade and capture Sicily
476
Vandals cede Sicily by treaty to Odoacer
489
Theodoric's Ostrogoths invade and seize control of Italy
491
Ostrogoths succeed to dominion over Sicily
533-551
Byzantine [Eastern Roman] Empire counterattacks against Ostrogoths, and under Belisarius they drive the Ostrogoths from Sicily
SARACEN RULE
827
Saracens from North Africa begin their invasion of Sicily
831
Palermo captured by Saracen invaders from Iberian peninsula
965
Saracens complete the conquest of Sicily
FRENCH AND GERMAN RULE
1060
Normans under Robert and Roger d'Hauteville begin an invasion of Sicily at Messina.
1091
Normans complete conquest and rule Sicily as part of a powerful new kingdom including the southern Italian peninsula.
1194
King Henry VI of Germany, Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, seizes the Norman kingdom, deriving his claim from his marriage to the daughter of Count Roger d'Hauteville.
1198
The celebrated Frederick II, later hailed by his contemporaries as Stupor Mundi ["Wonder of the World"] succeeds his father, Henry VI.
1266
Supported by Pope Urban IV, Charles, Count of Anjou, seizes control of Sicily, slaying Frederick II's illegitimate son and successor Manfred
SPANISH RULE
1282
The Sicilians revolt against the Anjou French in the dramatic episode known as the Sicilian Vespers, cede sovereignty to Manfred's son-in-law, Peter III, King of Aragon [Spain].
1296
Under threat of being returned to the Anjou French, the island of Sicily enters a brief period of independence under the rule of Frederick III, brother of the King of Aragon and grandson of Manfred
1442
Alphonso V "the Magnanimous" of Aragon reunites the Kingdom of Sicily and the Kingdom of Naples.
1701-1712
War of Spanish Succession erupts through Europe
1713-1738
Treaty of Utrecht leads to New Kingdom of Two Sicilies.
ITALIAN STATEHOOD
1860
Garibaldi leads forces from the Kingdom of Savoy in conquering the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies and creating the Kingdom of Italy, the first unitary government of Sicily and the Italian peninsula since the Roman Empire. [Represents the Southern half of Italy at this point onward.]
1862
Revolt at Castellammare del Golfo against the annexation of Sicily to the Kingdom of Italy.
1866
The revolution of Sette E Mezzo, September 15-22, 1866, called into question the so-called plebecite favoring annexation. The revolution was suppressed by a fierce three day Italian naval bombardment of Palermo and an artillery offensive led by General Raffaele Cadorno. Fierce repressive measures followed.
1908
Reggio earthquake of 1908 combined with subsequent tsunamis result in the total destruction of the city of Messina and the death of as many as 100,000 people in the Reggio Calabria and Messina areas. The epicenter was in the Straits of Messina. South Italians start to try and flee to America as a series of natural disasters destroy their farm land, bankrupting thousands of families.
1920-1933
Prohibition in America. Southern Italians flock to the United States, where they start setting up a mafia network on both coasts, getting a foothold bootlegging alcohol, then hightailing it back home in 1929 after the stock market crash.
1922
Mussolini comes to power. He eventually bans the use of all languages other than Italian. All Sicilian language publishing is forbidden. Even today there is no Sicilian language newspaper in Sicily.
1943
Patton landed forces at Licata and Gela and Montgomery landed at several places south of Syracuse. By the end of the year the fascists were overthrown and Italy, under a provisional military government led by Pietro Badoglio, joined the Allies. The Nazi still held central and northern Italy. Serious help from the Italian underground, run largely through South Italy and the Italian Mafia in America.
1945
Rome liberated
1948
With the adoption of the new constitution on June 2nd, Italy transitions from a Monarchy to a Republic.
1949
Italy joins NATO
1958
Italy joins the European Common Market
1968
A huge earthquake rocks a large area of western Sicily late Sunday night, January 14. The towns of Gibellina and Salaparuta suffered the heaviest damage.
1986
Hundreds of Mafiosi are indicted in super-trials.
2001
Mount Etna begins having minor eruptions
2007
Mount Etna has a rather spectacular eruption, covering most of the Eastern Coast of Sicily with ash and seriously damaging the fishing industry in the area.
2008 - Present day
Ongoing financial problems in the Euro zone.
SamplePost
He never ran. Never called for help. No, he kept walking. And that's how he was caught. The mafia had been his home ever since. What? You wanted details?
"Romano! So glad you could make it, I hope the trip was
enjoyable?"
The Italian tilted his head off to the side and kept the blank expression he'd come in with upon his face, not entirely sure on how he should go about answering such a question. He didn't know how these people operated, but for the life of him being blinded, gagged and forced into a car wasn't enjoyable. Still, with the gun pressed into his side which scared him even more the nation gave off a small laugh. "Oh yeah, the scenery was so wonderful too."
That little remark earned him a wonderful kick to the stomach, but he was kept standing by two other mafiosi as the boss continued to speak.
"You know when to speak and how to go about it, that's a nice quality. Now then, I have a request of you."
The mafia boss motioned towards the men to bring someone forward, Romano's eyes widening in worry at the sight of his brother.
"W-What kind of request sir..?" he whimpered out, now a trembling mess due to the cool air and the gun being rammed into his gut, eyes flickering over to his brother, but as Valentino explained the situation his twin was in; his worry and surprise only grew. Still one questioned remained unanswered.
"What's the request?"
"Simple. Join us, we'll leave him alone."
He wasn't sure what shocked him more, the fact his brother was in such a state, or the fact that the man who seemed to be in charge wanted him to...no, it was too horrible a thought! Tremors started ripping through his body showing clearly how much the idea of doing such an inhuman thing affected him. But...it got his brother out of this, he could go free and keep living that lifestyle without these mafiosi bothering him anymore. All it required was Romano's service.
Would God ever forgive him? Would his brother?
...Would he ever forgive himself?
Corrupt by nature, corrupt by fate.
-But human blood still ran through his veins.-
"...If...he's spared then-.."
And that was all it took, the fact he hadn't even fully agreed held no importance. After all, maybe the darkness suited him more than the light.
The Player
Name:Uhm, I will give you the alias I use on most sites and only because I prefer close friends knowing my personal info. So, you can just call me Lizzy or Elizabeth. I hope this is fine?[/color]
Age: I'm old! Like, old. I am older than Lovi's appearance age, okay? Not by much but still...[/color]
Fun Fact:Hmm, I am an aspiring voice actor or novelist, of course my main interest lies in the histories as of late.[/color]
