Behanzin School of Voodoo and Witchcraft

[Yukina101]

"Behanzin School of Voodoo and Witchcraft, named for the most fierce voodoo priest and the final king of Dahomey, is located on the isolated Gonave Island of Haiti. It is roughly a half a day's trip by paddle boat to Haitian shores and secluded by tall grassy ranges and mountains. It caters mostly to students from Haiti and it's neighbors from the Dominican Republic, Cuba, and South America as well as those who come from large populations of voodoo vocation such as Africa and certain parts of North America and Britain. The school was built largely as a sacred base for practitioners during the French and later Haitian Revolutions. Later, it was a safe zone for those who wanted freedom to practice their religious beliefs during muggle witch doctor hunts until finally in the 1840's it was established as a school. Students are brought to the island at age eleven and sorted into one of four guiding Loa, or God's, to whom they pray and practice their magics under. Roughly a century ago, the school conformed its examination practices to those of the OWL/NEWT system after lower percentages of graduates and a higher mortality rate from the graduation rituals.

The school was forged in the likeness of San Souci Palace before it was ruined by the earthquake of 1842 and surrounded by incredible amounts of land and natural forest. The forest has a small magical creature population due to it's limited size but the sea surrounding the island houses a myriad of creatures including a generous population of merpeople such as Sirens as well as Hippocampuses, Grindylows, and the like. The mode of transportation to and from the school is generally a portkey system in which seventh years and first years are the first to appear with the others having staggered times so they might get settled in their dorms before the welcome festivities. "  

[Yukina101]

xxxxxxStudents xxx

Prospective students are sent a letter at age ten to reserve a spot at Behanzin as well as a form to fill out detailing their religious preferences. The school caters not only to traditional Haitian Voodoo, but also Dominican, Colombian, Yoruba Santeria, Cuban, etc. The standard uniform consists of long lightweight pants and guayabera for boys while girls have the added option of a long skirts and linen sundresses. For formal events and festivals, boys should wear hand-embroidered shirts made of cotton, linen, or denim fabric and the girls an embroidered short-sleeved blouse, a colorful skirt, or a Quadrille (traditional off-shoulder dress) and a scarf wrapped around their hair. Since different practices have different holidays, an integrated calendar is placed in each dorm in plain view while larger general voodoo and loa festivals and holidays are observed. Students are encouraged to share in their celebration to anyone who wishes to learn.

House elves are not employed by the school, all having been freed during the slave revolts and a majority of them leaving the island though some stayed due to debts owed to certain families or because they truly wanted to. This is not the case for Behanzin. A type of chore chart is rotated among the different communities for students to follow for meal preparation and stocking general supplies; students are responsible for the cleanliness of their individual rooms and random room checks are common. There is not a prefect system; first year students are paired individually with a fourth year mentor and the two grow and learn from one another throughout their years until the mentor has graduated and the younger now becomes a mentor to another. In the case of uneven numbers, it is typical of a mentor to have more than one student. It is an unspoken rule that students are encouraged to explore the forest and shores around them, though it is with the hope that they are accompanied by their mentors. By a student's fourth and fifth year, they are being taught on how to perform solo rituals and castings and as such are expected to go forth and scavenge what they need.

Behanzin is rather lax on acceptable pets and familiars accompanying students; as long as they aren't poisonous, easily handled, and adequately cared for then they are allowed. The most common pets are owls and other parcel birds native to islands such as Great Skua's and crows, cats, half-kneazles, dogs, rabbits, lizards, and non-poisonous snakes.

xxxxxxFaculty xxx

Instead of a Headmaster or Headmistress looking over the school, Behanzin has a Council of Priests who have dedicated their lives to the chosen Loa of the school. The priests are allowed to rotate by the decade in case one would like to return to a previous or new temple to continue their patronage or if they just can’t stand teaching any longer. To be apart of the council, one must be fully fledged in the eyes of the Gods and their fellow man and have Followed in the ways for at least seven years. Since different practices have different views of priesthood, it’s been noted that the only set timeline is roughly three years from the start. If an initiate isn’t even halfway from their set course, then it’s time for them to reevaluate and set a new path. Incidentally, seventh years towards the end of their year are given the option to stay and study under a chosen priest in order to obtain priesthood if they so choose. Younger students have occasionally been approached if a priest felt that a certain student held a deeper connection to a Loa and seemed interested. The youngest priest to date from Behanzin was eighteen having been scouted at the age of fourteen. She later returned to be one of the longest standing on the council for Ogun until she reached her mid-seventies and went on to live out her days on a mango farm. Current Council Priests are Edmè Bourreau for Rada, Alaba Fèvre for Simbi, Dayo Adam for Ogun, and Adhiambo Obando for Ghede.

xxxxxxBehanzin School Life xxx

For some students, having a delivery bird is commonplace considering how close their homes are to Behanzin; unfortunately this is not the case for others. Since the school accepts anyone that follows the voodoo theology, they have students coming from all over the globe. To help alleviate homesickness and the stress put on some birds, a mailing system was created in the mid 1900's where a student's family was given a moderate sized mailing box which was connected to an identical one located at the school. The only persons who could access the school box would the be the student and professors and the box would have protective runes carved into it to ensure the student could not receive or send anything potentially harmful or dangerous. Depending on the continent, time zone, and the amount/size of mail, travel time is between ten seconds to two minutes.

The school supports two sports: Quidditch and Football. Both sports' teams are denoted by Loa and the teams with the most points/wins receives a champion cup. Additionally, if a single Loa's team wins both sporting events, the students from the losing teams must come together and perform a rite in that Loa's honor. The school also has many extracurricular outdoor activities including boating, hiking, and kite flying.

Twice in the Fall and Spring terms, two boats full of students and faculty leave the island in the early morning to enjoy themselves at Port-au-Prince, Haiti's capital city. While Voodoo is an accepted religion of Haiti, students are still instructed against doing magic in front of muggles. Students from second to fourth year are able to visit and stay on at port (in large groups along with a faculty chaperone) until noon when they must return to the island. Fifth years and older are able to fully enjoy Port-au-Prince without chaperone until exactly one hour prior to sunset when the last boat is set to leave. It is highly recommended that they do not miss that second boat or consequences could be dire.

Current Students

First Years:
-

Second Years:
-

Third Years:
Nkonazana Julien y Castillo - Simbi

Fourth Years:
-

Fifth Years:
-

Sixth Years:
Louise Ellis-Hall - Simbi


Seventh Years:
-

 

[Yukina101]

xxxxxxBehanzin Examinations xxx

The Òdinè Nivo Sòsye or O.N.S' are given to fifth years at the end of their term while seventh years are given the Tès San Pran Souf Sòsye or T.S.P.S.S' along with having to correctly perform a ritual or sacrifice to their chosen Loa. While most students find it easier to chose the Loa whom they've studied under, it is not mandatory.

xxxxxxPraised Loa xxx

Student sorting happens individually and privately with one student being led into the general sanctuary and instructed to place their hand in a bag and to pull out the first three items they touch. These items range from different colored beads, plants, and symbols each belonging to a certain Loa. Commonly, a student can choose two items from one Loa and a third from another with majority rule. Never in the history of the school has a fourth draw been needed or observed.


Gédés:
▧▧▧ Gédés is the eternal figure in black, controlling the eternal crossroads at which everyone must someday cross over. His symbol is the cross upon a tomb. Gédés are spirits of death and life as they preside over the start and conclusion of life. The Gedés are beyond social taboos. They have the freedom of those who have lost everything: they say and do anything they please. They are usually the last to arrive at ceremony but bring much to the occasion. Students are taught and reminded by them that our understanding of death and life is limited and that both are beyond our comprehension. [Sorting items: black and purple beads, sunglasses with one eye popped out, a skull, a cigarette, gravedigger tools.]

Ogun:
▧▧▧ Ogoun is the traditional warrior figure and is quite similar to the spirit Zeus. As such Ogun is mighty, powerful, triumphal. He is the god of blacksmiths, warriors, and political leaders. He can give strength through prophecy and magic. It is Ogun who is said to have planted the idea and led and given power to the slaves to the 1804 revolt and freedom. He is called now to help people obtain a government more responsible to their needs. [Sorting items: a machete, a 3 legged cauldron, red and blue beads, a mango, metal.]

Rada:
▧▧▧ The loa that represents the emotional stability and warmth of Africa, the hearth of the nation. Rada derived almost directly from the Dahomean deity is highly religious in nature; rite is never celebrated without the performance of Mahi dances and without honoring and invocation of Nago gods. Rada stands for light and the normal affairs of humanity. Rada works on the creation of the world, on making rules and life-keeping, and inner/outer peace. It is also Loa of family; children are sacred beings under this Loa's protection and as such those who practice under must also hold these believes. [Sorting items: earth, white and pastel colored beads, incense, feathers, pacifier]

Simbi:
▧▧▧ Simbi is a water snake spirit, a guardian of the magics with dominion over moisture, water, springs, fountains and the like. He is a very knowledgeable loa because he spends a lot of time learning about the nature of illnesses of supernatural origin and how to treat them. He is either with you or against you by protecting those who have good relations with him and turning his back on those who do not. He travels where he wishes and navigates freely between Petro and Rada spirits. While patient, he is assertive at at times when he is neglected by devotees and gnawed by hunger, he can turn cruel. Students who learn under him must maintain stern and devout convictions as to remain upon his pleasant side. [Sorting items: water, teal and turquoise beads, medicine, double edged knife/sword, books, a snake]

.
xxxxxxBehanzin Electives xxx

Astronomy
Charms
Defense Against the Dark Arts
Herbology
History of Magic
Flying *
Potions
Swimming *
Transfiguration
Voodoo **

Animagi
Alchemy
Apparition *
Arithmancy
Care of Magical Creatures
Casting
Conjuring
Crafting
Cursebreaking
Divination
Healing
Musical Arts
Rituals
Star Gazing
Study of Ancient Runes
Theology

*Classes only last one school year
**Classes are in collaboration with other subjects

 

[addaellis]

🌸✨NKONAZANA SARAHI JULIEN Y CASTILLO
first year || Simbi || muggleborn
.
_______________

Nkonazana waited quietly in the crowd of other first year students. The air itself felt different here, warmer, and more...damp. The air smelled clear, like salt and plants, and the sky was so clear it was hard to imagine it wasn’t a photograph or planetarium. She was a little giddy, never having been in the middle of so many people, but as long as she stayed near the priest who led them, she wouldn’t be lost.

”Julien y Castillo, Nkonazana”

When they called her name, Nkona made her way quickly into the general sanctuary. She was a little nervous about doing this alone, but the sanctuary was grand and beautiful, and the priest had promised that once assigned to a loa, they would be paired with an older student mentor. There was, as the priest instructed, a bag lying on a pedestal. Her task was simple. No bathing in herbs, no shaving of hair, no adornment with necklaces, no gift of stones, no catching and strangling a chicken, no prayers or dances.

”Guíame,” Nkona murmured-- Guide me, in Spanish, not in Lucumí-- perhaps she should speak in the ritual tongue. She reached into the bag.

Her hand closed around a familiar texture and shape: glasses. When she pulled it out, it was a pair of sunglasses, with one lens popped out. She remembered, vaguely, having to wear those before, to train her weak eye into working. Nkona set the glasses over her own. If she remembered, shades were a symbol of Eleguá. There was no shame in Elegúa.

There was no point dwelling on it now. Swiftly, Nkona reached her hand in again and grasped something cold and...wet-- an ice cube? She considered eating the ice cube, before imagining how many hands might have touched it and set the ice cube on the pedestal. Ice—water—was a symbol of the oricha Ochún, who guided her. Yes, this was more like it.

Her fingers closed in around beads--a necklace! She could imagine the yellow beads for Ochún already, but when she pulled them out, they were teal and turquoise, the color of the water outside the school. These were not Ochún’s colors, but neither were they Eleguá’s. Nkona looked over at the doorway that beckoned her forward. Simbi.

She didn’t know what this loa she would be serving was about, but she set the glasses of maybe-Elegúa down and skipped towards the doorway. Apprehension flickered in her, but so did the stronger curiosity of getting to know another spirit-god. Come what may, she was sure, it would be interesting.

The rest of the day was spent unpacking in her new dorm. She had met a few of the other first years, but had been a little overwhelmed by all the new things and spent most of the time unpacking before following a kindly seventh year to the dinner table. By the sounds of chatter and reunions outside, more students had arrived at school in the meantime, and when Nkona saw the dining hall, she thought she was looking at a city of people-- and the hall wasn't even full yet!

At the table, she read the name of her intended mentor-student and waited, nervously excited, to meet the person themselves. Finally, she thought someone was asking for her. Nkona flashed her brightest smile, swished her long skirt around in a curtsy and raised a hand in greeting to the older student that could only be her new mentor. First impressions! She did her best at making her English comprehensible. “Hello! I'm Nkonazana. You must be Louise Ellis-Hall? Happy to meet you!”

_______________

setting Just past the sorting courtyard. || with Simbi students
appearance 4’5”, 75 lbs + glasses || wearing long skirt uniform with hair bundled up neatly
status anxious excitement
_______________
//OOC: Alright so most of this was the sorting, but hope it still gives you something to work off! I wasn't quite sure what the primary language would be in/ what language the professors and priests would have introduced them in, but if it's spanish let me know to edit! She'd much prefer that to english!

Please let me know too if something sounds off from what you imagined! I did my best to abide by the guidelines in the school notes, but might have interpreted something differently, and I know I completely made up how mentors and mentees might find each other's names! XD Would love to edit if you had something else in mind, but didn't want to delay XD

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Yukina 101

_______________

Hay que empezar de cero
Para tocar el cielo
Ahora vamos por todo
Y todos vamos por ellos
Tsamina mina zangalewa
Porque esto es África
✨🌸
~"Waka Waka (Esto es Africa)" by Shakira.

 

[Yukina101]

Wait a minute
I think I left my conscience on your front doorstep
Woah-oh, woah-oh
Wait a minute
I think I left my consciousness in the sixth dimension

✨Ɓєнαηzιη Ƒσυятн Ƴєαя ✨ Sιмвι Ɗєνσтєє

☁☼☀✰Lulu was trying hard not to fall out her seat as she gasped in laughter as Javi described his newest stepfather's shenanigans. The man had married his mother knowing fully well her religious practices and only decided to break his silence when his stepson decided to follow said practices. So now he'd spend summers attempting to convert the boy to Catholicism much to the teen's delight. Counting this past story, Lulu and her friends have a running count of about five churches he'd been now banned from and were now eagerly awaiting a letter from a Cardinal. She watched with the others as the first years got lead in noting how big their eyes became once they came into the dining hall for the first time, hell she remembered nearly tripping as she spied the chandeliers and mosaic windows. But they also brought a curtain of nerves as now her position as a mentor was now cemented. She rather wished she'd clung harder to her own and maybe not been quite so much of a butt to her before she'd ultimately graduated. But that was lowkey the whole point and it wasn't like Uloqua couldn't dish it back!

One by one her friends left to gather up their new mentees until she didn't want to look like a turd and make the kid feel left out and went to find her own. Lulu went over to the small group and called out a name hoping the girl heard her until she was greeting with a small thing in a swishy skirt and large round frame glasses. Dear freaking Erzulie she was adorable, she shouldn't be trusted with adorable! The little girl looked like she said thank you to automatic doors! Gods she was gonna make her cry completely by accident and feel like the worst of the worse she just freaking knew it. Still, Lulu gave her a grin (OHGODWHATIFSHEGOTFREAKEDOUTBYHERPIERCINGSGODDAMMITMAYBEHERMOTHERSWHEREONTOSOMETHING) and made a mental note about her Spanish accent. "Yes that's me but you can just call me Lulu. My full name is kind of a mouthful plus I feel like an old maid with a name like 'Louise'. Oh! Before everything um, what's your preferred language? Mambo Fèvre will go over that kinda stuff later on but um, it'd suck if I said anything important or non-embarrassing and you couldn't understand me. I speak the creole language here as well as decent French and Spanish." Lulu failed at not fidgeting and just hoped the young girl would take it as nerves and not annoyance.

But I'm here right now, right now
Just sitting in a cloud, oh wow
I'm here right now, right now with you, oh wow, oh wow
I don't even care

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addaellis

 

[addaellis]

🌸✨NKONAZANA SARAHI JULIEN Y CASTILLO
second year || Simbi || muggleborn
Astrology club
_______________

“Vale. Es todo. Por favor no me digas que hay más.” Nkona said with a final wave of her wand. A few of the other Simbi students had opted to go for a last swim after packing, leaving the final dusting and polishing to Lulu and Nkona. “Since you’re not going anyways?” Deplorable. It made sense of course, but just because she didn’t want to spend her last day here smooshed underwater, half-blind and flailing, didn’t mean she wanted to spend the day cleaning. She could have dipped her feet in the water! Oh well, this was why they learned cleaning and organizing spells so early in the curriculum, was it not?

Nkona looked around again at the cleaned dorm, then out the window at the lovely beaches. She tried to capture as much of this moment as possible--it would have to last her through a summer alone with her parents.

She turned back to Lulu with a bright smile, assuming her mentor thought the dorm was also quite clean enough. ¿Lulu? Si hemos terminado, ¿puedes hacer mi maquillage una vez más? Y nos pintaré las uñas!”

_______________

setting Simbi Dorm, end of the 2051-2052 year || withLulu + a bunch of packed trunks
appearance 4’6”, 85 lbs + glasses || wearing lace white top + long yellow skirt
status a fun way to close out the year!
_______________
//OOC: This is so we can have a fun reminisce recap of the last two years together lolol.
translation
"Okay. That's all. Please don't tell me there's more."
"Lulu? If we're done, could you do my makeup for me one more time? And I'll do our nails!"

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Yukina101

_______________

Llegó el momento, caen las murallas
Va a comenzar la única justa de la batallas
No duele el golpe, no existe el miedo
Quítate el polvo, ponte de pie y vuelves al ruedo
✨🌸
~"Waka Waka (Esto es Africa)" by Shakira.

 

[Yukina101]

But now I open up my eyes big enough to cry
The universe is too bright
Light beams in the sky speaking to my third eye
Speaking through my third eye

✨Ɓєнαηzιη Ƒιƒтн Ƴєαя ✨ Sιмвι Ɗєνσтєє

☁☼☀✰Lulu chuckled at Nkona's whining as they completed the last of the cleaning around the dorm. Truthfully it wasn't that bad, or rather as bad as it could've been since most of the girls kept the place pretty maintained against dust and whatnot (the mounds of "lost" clothing, jewelry, and apparel in the corner however was an entirely other creature she was definitely not touching). She normally joined the others in rushing through the cleaning to spend the last few hours bumming around on the beach annoying the sea life once last time before the summer hols but her little mentee apparently didn't have the same fascination so she decided to join her. Lulu didn't pry much into the younger's home life really only commenting on the stuff she'd been told, but from the info she had it was enough for her to have a small notebook of plans on how to kidnap her during the summer once they were both back on British soil.

The teen turned from her position as she levitated the last of the pillows back in their correct places (or rather where she thought they should've been in the first place) as Nkona asked if she could do her makeup one last time, even tacking on an impromptu manicure which while sweet was definitely not needed. Lulu was properly whipped for her adorable mentee, even when she disobeyed and clearly went places she definitely wasn't supposed to the teen couldn't and wouldn't do more than just sigh and ask if or why she'd been caught. "Por supuesto, ¿qué tipo de look quieres? Tengo un delineador de ojos morado realmente bonito, ¿quieres probarlo?" she asked as if she couldn't already envision how it would look with her hazel green eyes.

Lulu went and found her makeup back, thankful she hadn't packed it with the rest of her stuff, and dropped two cushions on the floor for her and Nkona to sit on while she worked. "Ahh, voy a extrañar pintarte. Mi prima no me deja usar la mitad de colores que tú." she pouted as she grabbed her primer and moisturizers to begin.

[Translations: "Of course, what sort of look are you wanting?"
"Ahh, I'm going to miss painting you. My cousin doesn't like to use half the colors you do."]

But then we fall back to earth
Fall back to life, fall back in strife
But then we come back to earth
Learn how to love, asking new life
I'll be walking for miles, searching for miles
Trying to find myself

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addaellis

 

[addaellis]

🌸✨NKONAZANA SARAHI JULIEN Y CASTILLO
second year || Simbi || muggleborn
Astrology club
_______________

Of course the core of why they were at Behanzin was learning magic, and thus far, Nkona enjoyed every one of her classes (except for swimming, but that was a drop of terror in a sea of life). But fun little moments just gabbing about this and that while prettying each other up was essential for life too! Nkona positively admired her mentor, and did her best to do her homework on time and well-- she couldn’t have the priests think ill of Lulu because of her after all! She invariably would wander off somewhere interesting-- usually to observe the healing, ritual, or divination practices of older students or other loa-- or stay out past curfew--often napping outside, nestled in the tall grass. There were, of course, the days she spent entirely indoors, too tired to even interpret the stones for her daily divinations or do much more than pray to her loa. But Nkona generally chose to forget about those days. Thankfully, Lulu was always kind enough not to report her or lock her up, no matter what shenanigans Nkona got into.

Nkona plopped down happily on the proffered cushion, taking off her glasses and setting them carefully within arm’s reach. She tied her hair back, thinking of a theme for the day. “Pues...morado...¿algo maduro? El morado es maduro, ¿no crees? ¡Algo elegante y regal! Voy a encontrar a mis padres y espero que piensen que no soy una niña pequeña todavía. Pero hace que pienses apropiado; me gusta todo que haces.” Nkona had some freedom at her Tío and Tía's place in Scotland, but she was returning to Spain this summer, and without her grandfather and santería community, she feared her parents would be back to treating her as a delicate little thing to be dressed and shown off, and otherwise confined to the walls of the family property for her “safety”.

”¿Tienes algúnes planes ahora que has terminado con los ONS? ¿O algunos sueños?” It was a question Nkona liked-- dreams were important, both in the sleeping kind and the not-yet-realized kind.

_______________

setting Simbi Dorm, end of the 2051-2052 year || withLulu + a bunch of packed trunks
appearance 4’6”, 85 lbs + glasses || wearing lace white top + long yellow skirt
status a fun way to close out the year~
_______________
//OOC: Feel free to take the conversation anywhere lol
Edit: just took out a repeated line and edited a missing accent thing
translation
"Hmm... purple...something mature? Purple is mature, don't you think? Something elegant and regal! I'm going to meet my parents and I hope they think I'm not a little girl anymore. But do what you think is appropriate; I like everything you do."
"Do you have plans now that you're don with the ONS [exams]? Or any dreams?"

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Yukina101

_______________

Llegó el momento, caen las murallas
Va a comenzar la única justa de la batallas
No duele el golpe, no existe el miedo
Quítate el polvo, ponte de pie y vuelves al ruedo
✨🌸
~"Waka Waka (Esto es Africa)" by Shakira.

 

[Yukina101]

But now I open up my eyes big enough to cry
The universe is too bright
Light beams in the sky speaking to my third eye
Speaking through my third eye

✨Ɓєнαηzιη Ƒιƒтн Ƴєαя ✨ Sιмвι Ɗєνσтєє

☁☼☀✰Lulu eagerly scooted forward once Nkona's glasses was set aside and her hair tied back. She grabbed one of her wipes and gently cleansed the younger girl's face as she mulled over the purple calling it elegant and wanting to seem more grown up to her parents. Erzulie did she understand that; her immediate family (mostly her mum Nell and older brother) we of the mind that if they could, they would turn back time to when she was six and probably keep her there until the end of time. Mum Rose was a little more agreeable most days but sometimes she'd catch her whining about the good old days when she was smaller. But those days mostly corresponded with times that she's either a) trying to stay out past her curfew b) trying to go somewhere they hadn't "clearly" discussed yet (she mentioned it in passing, it counts!) or a combination of the two. "Creo que todos los padres pasan por eso, pero definitivamente puedo ayudar a hacer estallar esa burbuja." Lulu replied with a light cackle before pulling out her eyeshadow pallet. Since she was already planning on incorporating purple...maybe a sunset ombre? That could look cool...
She placed a light layer of primer on her lids before she began brushing the inner crevices with a medium brown shade grimacing a bit as Nkona mentioned her tests and if she had any dreams afterwards. The further she got into her education, the more confused she became about her future. She knew for a fact that she didn't want to work a ministry job, whether it be in a cubicle or being used as attack force against those presumably found "guilty," but that was pretty much all she wrote.

"Dormir. Creo que podría tomar una siesta durante un mes sin dejar de estar jodidamente cansado. Entre estudiar y las ridículas prácticas de Tajo, he sido un zombi desde hace dos meses." Lulu whined still feeling phantom pains in her legs and calves from the strenuous work outs she'd undergone the weeks leading up to the end of football season. She'd been ecstatic Simbi had won the football cup-unfortunately loosing Quidditch to Ogun-but dear Gods at what cost?! She thought over the second question as she began blending in the orange color into the browns.

"En cuanto a los sueños ... no lo sé. ¿Quizás viajar? Es extraño, me gusta ir a lugares nuevos pero no me gusta mucho conocer gente. ¿Gracioso, verdad?" she chuckled self depreciatingly. It wasn't even that she didn't like people, she didn't mind most people, it's just that she didn't really warm up to most people until about the third or so interaction but by that time she was usually written off as cold or closed off or whatnot. She got lucky with the friends she had, Roland at the moment being her biggest exception to date as they had hit it off right from the jump.

"¿Pero qué hay de ti? ¿Finalmente elige sus clases extra? Apuesto a que conozco a dos de ellos ahora mismo. Lulu quirked an eyebrow teasingly as she started adding in gradients of gold onto the young girl's lids. Nkona always had her heads in the clouds and was more prone to sitting and just being, which was fine for some classes but definitely not all of them. If star gazing and music didn't make her list she would eat her lizard (but not really because Eduardo was a new addition and he hadn't even met mum Nell yet who she just KNEW would adore him like she did).

[Translations: "I think all parents go through that but I can definitely help with popping that bubble. "
"Sleep. I think I could nap for a month straight and still be tired. Between studying and Tajo's ridiculous practices I've been a zombie for the past two months."
"As for dreams...I don't know. Maybe travel? It's weird, I like going to new places but I don't like meeting people. Funny right?"
"But what about you? Finally chose your extra classes? I bet I know two of them right now."]

But then we fall back to earth
Fall back to life, fall back in strife
But then we come back to earth
Learn how to love, asking new life
I'll be walking for miles, searching for miles
Trying to find myself

show spoilerhide spoiler

addaellis

 

[addaellis]

🌸✨NKONAZANA SARAHI JULIEN Y CASTILLO
second year || Simbi || muggleborn
Astrology club
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Nkona made sure to move minimally as Lulu worked, only speaking when her mentor was not actively drawing on her. She kept her eyes closed unless bid open--it wasn’t like she could see anything besides blurry figures and the haziest tell of changing facial expressions in front of her anyways, and she was better off paying attention to the conversion. If anything, it gave her time to think about Lulu’s words:

Lulu said all parents went through this phase of thinking their children were too little. It made Nkona feel a little better, thinking that her parents’ overprotectiveness wasn’t terribly unusual. With her eyes closed and her imagination turned to maximum, she could imagine her parents taking her to see the sights of Seville. Maybe they could get churros or volunteer at a hospital all together--alright maybe that last bit was a little fanciful. She wondered if Lulu said so because her own parents had come around after a while. ”Muchas gracias.... Vale, Lo puedo imaginar. Espero que así sea de todos modos.”

Nkona knew only a little about Lulu’s family from visiting over the winter breaks: one of Lulu’s mothers owned an ice-cream shop, and one of her siblings, much older than Lulu herself, made the most adorable cakes. Not going to say hello would have been a crime to polite society and a punishment to her taste buds!

Nkona couldn’t see Lulu’s grimace as when exams were brought up, but she did notice the pause before Lulu replied saying she just dreamed of sleep. A little chuckle of laughter bubbled up in her throat, although she tried to keep from smiling too wide and disturb the makeup session. “Has salido mucho al fútbol. ¡Pero valió la pena! ¡Y qué victoria gloriosa!” Nkonazana loved the energy of the crowd at these sporting events--even if it weren’t for Lulu playing she would probably have attended most the matches-- but she had tried a few games of pick-up football and Quidditch this last year, and had promptly decided she would leave the playing to people who could hit a ball. When she didn’t have someplace else to be wandering off to, Nkona was happy to watch the practices, either cheering from the side or occasionally copying the cheer squad. Ah, but Captain Tajo did seem to be very strict about practices-- much more than the cheer captain. ”Muy bien, cuando terminamos, te voy a dar un masaje. Necesitas relajarte también.” She thought at some point she had heard something about massage therapies...perhaps it would be something they discussed in Healing class next year?--oh well, even if the massage was just a massage, she hoped it would be relaxing.

“¡Viajar es excelente! ¿Hay cualquier lugar en particular que quieres ver?” She did think it was a little odd that Lulu didn’t like meeting new people, but then again meeting people had been how Nkona saw the world outside of her house for much of her life. Perhaps new people got tiring after awhile. ”Cierto que no odias gente y fuiste perfectamente amable cuando conocemos...pues...no es problema! Viajaramos juntos, y yo voy a hablar con cada gente y vas a ver todos los lugares de intrés."

She made a small sound, drawing her breath when asked what electives she was planning on: ”Ay, todavia no lo se! Pero si puedo, voy a tomar Adivinación, Sanación, Mirada de Estrellas, Hechizados, Conjurando, Encantación, Cuidado de Criaturas Mágicas, Rituales, Teología.” Nkonazana recited, counting the classes off on her fingers, one for each class ”Y Artes Musicales, si puedo tocar la batería. Necesitaré muchos de sus apuntes. Ya no soy un buen estudiante y estaba considerando el club de música o escribienda la columna de consejos para el periódico. Quizás probaré por el equipo de animadoras,” she added whimsically before settling back down. ”Pero pienso que todo estes clases sera necesarios para ser una oloricha buena. Pues pera... ¿cuales dos adivinó?”

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setting Simbi Dorm, end of the 2051-2052 year || withLulu + a bunch of packed trunks
appearance 4’6”, 85 lbs + glasses || wearing lace white top + long yellow skirt
status a fun way to close out the year~
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//OOC: omg this was so long >.> and took so long. Hope it's not too bad! >.<
translation
“Thank you, Thank you. Okay, I can imagine it. I hope so anyways.”

“You have been gone a lot for football/ soccer. But it was worth it! And what a glorious victory!” “Very good, when we finish I’m going to give you a massage. You need to relax too.”

“Traveling is excellent! Is there somewhere in particular you want to see?” “I’m sure you don’t hate people and you were perfectly friendly when we met...well...it’s no problem! We’ll travel together, and I’ll talk to everyone and you’ll see all the sights.” (Yes this makes no sense, but it was something 19-year old Adda said once so lolol)

“Ah, I still don’t know. But if I can, I’m going to take Divination, Healing, Star Gazing. Casting, Conjuring, Crafting, Care of Magical Creatures, Rituals, Theology.” “And Musical Arts, if I can play the drums. I’m going to need a lot of your notes. I’m already not a good student and was considering the music club...or doing the advice column for the newspaper. Maybe try out for the cheer team.” “But I think that all these classes will be necessary to be a good priestess. But well, which two did you guess?”
(Oloricha is italicized because it’s specifying a high priestess in santería, particularly one that can do divination. Not sure if this would make sense at Behanzin, but it just felt better than using “sacerdotes” for priests.)

EDIT: added a last line that I couldn't figure out how to addXD

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Yukina101

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Llegó el momento, caen las murallas
Va a comenzar la única justa de la batallas
No duele el golpe, no existe el miedo
Quítate el polvo, ponte de pie y vuelves al ruedo
✨🌸
~"Waka Waka (Esto es Africa)" by Shakira.