O, green world... [OPEN]

[Dexter Llewellyn Greyback]

When all was said and done, this was quite his own fault.

He really had just been trying to do his assignment. True, it wasn't due for another two weeks, but Dexter found it hard to sit still in Herbology and figured he should get this out of the way so he could get back to his book (Singular Centaurs of the Seventeenth Century - when he'd seen it in the library, he'd actually yelped with joy, earning a stern look from the librarian). All they had to do was identify the winter plant needed to create a basic healing salve, then search the grounds for sprigs of it to use in their project. That hadn't been hard; all you had to do was listen in class, and the professor practically gave you step-by-step directions to find it.

So he'd found it, dug it out of the frosty ground, and carefully deposited it in the little case the teacher had given them, slipping it back into his bag before heading back toward the castle. He supposed it would've been faster to fly, but he had never been much interested in flying. He was still working on getting his broom to obey instead of swiping his feet out from under him when he told it, "Up."

Thinking about his broom had gotten him thinking about how it might be a good idea to take it aside and try to reason with it again - perhaps it looked silly, but he was quite certain that brooms had feelings, too, so it wouldn't do to treat them like they were stupid - and that had gotten him thinking about that toad he'd chatted with the other day with Kleos, and how he might go about charming it to sing something in Welsh for Gran, and oh, he needed to get her a birthday present, and maybe if she liked it enough she would make him those brilliant blueberry pancakes with the -

And that was when he'd tripped.

He'd stuck out a hand to steady himself on the trunk attached to the root he'd stumbled over, so he didn't fall all the way. "Oh, sorry," he'd mumbled automatically, patting the trunk before taking a look around.

Oh, bother. He'd daydreamed his way to the wrong end of the school.

Sighing, he'd turned to trek his way back around to the main entrance - only to let out a yelp as something snapped around his ankle and jerked him straight into the air.

For a moment he could only chase after the breath that had gone wheeling out of his chest and make three concrete observations.

One: he was most definitely not on the ground.

Two: he was most definitely not right-side-up.

Three: this was most definitely not a normal tree.

He gasped as the tree whipped him up even higher, shaking him about with disapproval, and he really wished there was something to grab onto because oh he was up high.

"I-I'm sorry! Mister - er, Miss? - uh, Whomping Willow," he babbled when it held him still for a moment. "I really, really didn't mean to trip over you, a-and I'm sorry I've got Wintersbane in my bag, I know you're both of the same genus, but I promise I'm going to replant i - ahh!"

The tree didn't seem much impressed by his promise, and whipped him about some more, making him dizzy as the blood all rushed in and out and back into his head. "O-Okay, you're angry, I'm sorry, but this is really high up and I really don't much like hei-ights!"

Oh, he wished it would stop doing that. If it was angry now, he couldn't imagine what it would do if he tossed up on it as well.

He also wished it would stop lifting him up higher, because he had a horrible feeling that it eventually planned on letting go.

"Couldn't we please talk about this?!"

But he had a sinking feeling that it would really rather not.

Tagged: Open
Notes: He's still working on the whole daydream-and-walk-at-the-same-time thing...
Song: "New Soul," Yael Naim
Credit: V

[Caleb Marco Dragomir]

The world was a nasty peace of crap, that it was. It had its excellent moments, and it had its horrible ones. It had those moments that you wished didn't exist, or those moments that you wished were oh so perfect.

Today well...was in between.

Caleb didn't know whether it was a good thing or a bad thing that he got kicked out of his class for the day. But how should he know that his professor wasn't really pleased about toads were dancing around her desk. It did get laughter by the other students though, so he was extremely pleased by that.

Lost in thought he headed deeper into the hogwarts grounds, minding his own world. He was planning a brand new prank when the scream of, ""O-Okay, you're angry, I'm sorry, but this is really high up and I really don't much like hei-ights!" Curious, Caleb went in that general direction stopping near the willow.

And ducked. Holy crap. "What in the world? Hey, kid! You shouldn't be playing with the willow! It doesn't taking liking to ack!" Caleb gave a yelp, diving to the dirt as the willow lashed an limb at his general direction. Obviously the willow wasn't impressed by this situation.

Nor was the willow impressed by seeing Caleb. He gaged glaring at the willow that moved another limb at his general direction. "Hey willow! I'm sorry, I didn't mean what I did last week! Honest!" He protested giving a gag rolling away from the limbs.

Tagged: DEXTER
Outfit: dress pants, formal shirt, vest, and red tie.
Notes: caleb to the rescue!
Lyrics: "Butterflies and Hurricanes," Muse
Credit: V

[Dexter Llewellyn Greyback]

"I'm not playing with it!" Dexter shouted back at...whoever was calling to him, petulant even as he yelped and curled up to dodge another swinging branch. "I just tripped! It's not being reasonab--" he cut himself off with something that was most definitely not a shriek (he was eleven, nearly a teenager, and nearly-teenagers most definitely didn't shriek) as the tree tossed him straight up into the air.

He landed hard on one of the thicker horizontal branches - finally, not upside-down anymore - then quickly rolled away just as another of the thick ones thundered down where he had been. Then the branch he was sitting on began to shift, pulling down as if in preparation, and Dexter went pale. "Oh, no. No, no no no no, don't do that -"

The branch released like a bowstring, launching Dexter screaming headlong into the air.

Oh, Merlin. He was going to die. He was going to die because he tripped over a tree, and he was never going to finish his assignment or meet Luna Lovegood or teach that toad to sing Suo Gan.

It was peculiar, falling to his doom from up this high, because it gave him enough time to actually think, Huh, this is taking a really long time -

And then it stopped.

Tagged: Open
Notes: He's still working on the whole daydream-and-walk-at-the-same-time thing...
Song: "New Soul," Yael Naim
Credit: V

[Caleb Marco Dragomir]

"The willow isn't much for being reasonable! I tried believe me! I also tried to prank it so it kinda has a grudge on me, you know." He yelled back watching him quietly. And then he cursed seeing the male being dropped. "Aw crap!" He exclaimed.

Using his vampire reflexes, thanking himself that he was one, Caleb moved quick toward where the young man was falling. He slid, avoiding to incoming branches catching the male in his arms with a grunt. He was a lightweight.

Caleb glared at the willow which seemed to be glaring back and lash back at his direction. He went in the opposite direction managing to duck and avoid the last branch. "Stupid trees, god I hate them. Are you alright kiddo? Not hurt are ya? Those branches can cause some serious damage." He questioned looking at the kid in his arms before gently putting him on his feet.

And then he was whacked in the back feeling a small branch hit his lower stomach. That hurt! He groaned, rubbing his back staring at the tree that seemed to be leering at him, as if daring him to make another rude remark about it. He wondered how this tree understood english...

Tagged: DEXTER
Outfit: dress pants, formal shirt, vest, and red tie.
Notes: caleb to the rescue!
Lyrics: "Butterflies and Hurricanes," Muse
Credit: V

[Dexter Llewellyn Greyback]

Well, he wasn't dead.

It took a few seconds for his body to fully realize that fact, for his ears to stop ringing and his breath to rush back. He wasn't dead. He was, in fact, very much alive. And being held by somebody very, very cold.

"Are you all right, kiddo?" his rescuer asked, and Dexter blinked owlishly up at him. Friendly eyes, quite pale, Gryffindor tie - oh, that made sense. "Not hurt, are ya? Those branches can cause some serious damage."

"I-I'm okay," Dexter managed to squeak back. He thought he was okay. He was pretty sure, anyway.

His new friend seemed satisfied and set him down, and Dexter got himself straightened out, brushing some stray leaves out of his hair. On looking up again, there was barely time for his eyes to grow huge again before the tree lashed out with another branch, and he winced when the older boy took a rather nasty hit to the back.

"Come on," he said, grabbing the Gryffindor's hand and dragging him farther away from the Willow, not stopping until they were well outside whomping distance.

Dexter finally let out his breath, leaning back against a (safe) tree and giving his heart time to slow down. Turning to his rescuer, he said, "Thanks for that. I don't think I'm very good with trees..." Thinking back on something the older boy had said, Dexter frowned. "How do you pull a prank on a tree, anyway?"

Tagged: Open
Notes: Not a future Herbology professor, this one.
Song: "New Soul," Yael Naim
Credit: V

[Caleb Marco Dragomir]

Caleb groaned, feeling the young male grab his wrist/hand and drag him out of the way of the swinging branch. He stumbled catching up and sighed in relief once they were at a safe distance.

With a huff, Caleb fell to lay on his back breathing in deep lungful breaths of air. Stupid willow. "Mio dio, what a pissed off thing. But that was AWESOME! I did not expect it to have that much anger, but that was fun! And no problem kid. I must say though, don't go near that thing again, cause you don't know what will happen next time. And I might not be here to help you." He breathed taking out a breath to calm his racing heart.

He closed his eyes, hearing the young ones question. And he grinned. "Ah yes. Playing a prank on a tree isn't easy. I kinda took a bucket of paint and threw it at the thing, soaking it. It got pissed cause the color was pink...not green. Or any other nice color. It still holds a grudge..as you noticed. By the way, my name is Caleb. Pleasure. You are?" He asked, extending a hand at Dexter's direction. He gave a smile in greeting, having managed to calm his beating heart.

Now that was a thrill wasn't it?

Tagged: DEXTER
Outfit: dress pants, formal shirt, vest, and red tie.
Notes: Italian speaking Caleb~
Lyrics: "Butterflies and Hurricanes," Muse
Credit: V

[Dexter Llewellyn Greyback]

"But that was AWESOME!" the Gryffindor crowed, and Dexter couldn't help but smile as he sat down next to him, even when he was warned against going near the tree again.

"I suppose I've never been picked up by a tree before," he considered. "I didn't mean to go over there. I was thinking." He couldn't keep a touch of sheepishness out of the final word, because he'd lost count of how many times that had been his explanation for wandering off, or missing an assignment, or - apparently - getting his robes all dirty with bits of angry-tree.

Dexter cocked his head to the side as his new friend gleefully described his paint-adventure with the tree, his brow knitting. Why would you make an angry tree angrier on purpose? This Gryffindor's thought process must be fascinating.

"Oh, sorry," he said when his friend extended his hand, and he quickly took it for an enthusiastic shake. Caddie would surely frown at his lack of gentlemanly conduct. "Pleasure to meet you! I'm Dexter Llewellyn Greyback."

Caleb's hand was cold, too. It reminded Dexter of his friend Pav, the two hundred-year-old Seventh-Year in Ravenclaw with him, and curiosity niggled at him. He bit his lip against it, because asking about it was probably rude, and he didn't want to offend his new friend after he'd saved him and all.

Instead, he let go and hugged his knees, wondering at the lack of older students around. "What were you doing over here?" he asked, looking inquisitively back to Caleb. "Don't the upperclassmen have lessons right now?"

Tagged: Open
Notes: He's still working on the whole daydream-and-walk-at-the-same-time thing...
Song: "New Soul," Yael Naim
Credit: V

[Caleb Marco Dragomir]

Caleb smiled at the words giving a nod in response. He raised an eyebrow though at the males words. A greyback huh? Nice to know. "Nice to meet you. My last name is Dragomir, if your interested. I know some of your brothers, they're weird. But I get a long with them, even if I really shouldn't. You know, the whole werewolf vampire thing?" He replied giving a laugh and a wave of his hand. He lay in the dirt, staring upwards at the sky watching the clouds.

How wonderful it was to be free.

"Ya, most of the olders are now in class. I was in class. But I kinda got kicked out do to commanding frogs to attack the teachers desk. She was not amused one bit. The class laughed though, so it was interesting. I was given detention and kicked out for the day. So here I am. And you? Shouldn't you be in class?" He replied looking over at the Greyback boy.

It was a calming atmosphere which was calming for him. "Oh che bello è di questa mattina(1)" He breathed in his native tongue, giving a happy sigh of content.

Tagged: DEXTER
Outfit: dress pants, formal shirt, vest, and red tie.
Notes: Italian speaking Caleb~
Translations:(1)Oh how lovely it is this morning
Lyrics: "Butterflies and Hurricanes," Muse
Credit: V

[/quote]

[Dexter Llewellyn Greyback]

"I know some of your brothers, they're weird," Caleb said, and Dexter couldn't help but cover up a chuckle. He couldn't exactly argue. "But I get along with them, even if I shouldn't. You know, the whole werewolf vampire thing?"

Dexter's eyes lit up. He knew it!

"I like that they're all weird. I'm weird, too," he said happily. "It makes us feel more like a family, I think."

As quickly as he'd perked up with the proof that Caleb was a vampire (he'd need to find out how old he was), Dexter boggled at his story of insubordination. First throwing paint on the crankiest tree on the grounds, now attacking a teacher with frogs on purpose?

He cocked his head, fascinated. "Do you like getting in trouble?" Shaking his head, he went back to addressing Caleb's question. "I'm out here for Herbology. We needed to find Wintersbane."

Something occurring to him, Dexter reached for his bag and dug through it, hoping against hope that the little case hadn't fallen out while the Whomping Willow had been throwing him around. He let out his breath when his fingers closed around it.

Holding it up as proof that he wasn't breaking rules, he added, "I was just going back, but I started thinking, so I wasn't paying attention."

The vampire happily let out his breath and murmured something lilting and interesting that sounded sort of like a dance might sound if it got transfigured into a language. (Could you do that, he wondered, because that'd be really brilliant.)

"Is that Italian?" Dexter asked, crossing his legs and looking curiously at him. "Is that where you're from? Wait, I suppose if you're a vampire, you'd probably have plenty of time to learn whatever language you want...are you an old vampire? I only know one other one, and he's about two hundred...oh. Is that rude to ask?"

He didn't think it would bother Caleb, since he didn't seem too concerned with being polite towards trees or teachers, but it was always best to ask.

Tagged: Caleb
Notes: Let the interrogation begin...
Song: "New Soul," Yael Naim
Credit: V

[Caleb Marco Dragomir]

Caleb laughed softly, hearing the young ones glee and happiness. He turned his head to glance at him, seeing the plant in the little container. Well, that he was doing stuff for class. He was an honest 1st year, a ravenclaw definable. He laughed softly, smiling as he turned his attention back to the trees.

"I love getting in trouble. You see, I am a prankster at heart and I love the thrill of causing trouble and the chase. And I love being caught. I had so many detentions lately, I lost count. But I don't mind at all. Its freaking the best! Though I don't suggest you try it...unless your that type of person." He added glancing at him giving a soft smile.

And he raised an eyebrow at his words. Now, wasn't this one full of questions. He wasn't fazed of course, more surprised that someone wanted to know about him. Interesting.

"I am from Venice Italy Dexter, its where I was born and raised. I still live there, and I love every second of it. Its a beautiful place and it changed threw the years. I'm not that old actually, still relatively young for a vampire. I'm only 75, so I still have a long way to go in my immortal life. I'm excited about it, being a vampire is such a thrill. Being normal...I don't think I would be able to deal with it." He paused at his words of it being rude. Was it rude? He chuckled moving his hand patting the young boys leg. "Don't ask me about rude, Dexter. I could careless. I actually enjoy this conversation we're having. Its nice and different." He added closing his eyes before he looked at him.

"Would you like me to say something to you in Italian?" He asked, giving a relaxed content smile.

Tagged: DEXTER
Outfit: dress pants, formal shirt, vest, and red tie.
Notes: Italian speaking Caleb~
Translations: ---
Lyrics: "Butterflies and Hurricanes," Muse
Credit: V

[Dexter Llewellyn Greyback]

"I had so many detentions lately, I lost count. But I don't mind at all. It's freaking the best! Though I don't suggest you try it...unless you're that type of person."

Dexter smiled cheerily back and shook his head. "No, I'm not. That's fascinating, though. I've never much liked getting in trouble. Well - I'm a bit of a nuisance, at least a lot of grown-ups say so, but it's just because I ask too many questions." He shrugged. "So I think that's causing a different kind of trouble."

He listened in fascination, rocking happily from side to side, while Caleb went through and answered each of his questions, one by one. A big smile crossed his face when he was assured that he wasn't being rude. Perhaps it was only humans who thought he was a nuisance, because so far, none of the ghosts or vampires seemed bothered by him one bit.

"Would you like me to say something to you in Italian? Caleb asked, and Dexter lit up.

"Brilliant!" he blurted almost before his new friend had gotten the last word out. "Would you teach me something? I don't know all that many languages. Well, I understand Welsh, but when I try to speak it I sound silly. But I can say things from Welsh songs and things. Oh, and Grandpa teaches me one thing in a different language every time we play Wizard's Chess. I can't remember all of them, but I can say about three words in a bunch of different ones. But I don't know any Italian." It was a good thing Caleb didn't think he was a nuisance, because Dexter had a feeling that he was sort of babbling again. "Whatever you say, you've got to tell me what it means, all right?"

Tagged: Caleb
Notes: Let the interrogation begin...
Song: "New Soul," Yael Naim
Credit: V

[Caleb Marco Dragomir]

Caleb chuckled, sitting up to lean against his arms as he looked at the young first year in front him. He listened to his exclamation grinning brightly at each word. He really did meet a new friend didn't he?

"I can't remember all of them, but I can say about three words in a bunch of different ones. But I don't know any Italian! Whatever you say, you've got to tell me what it means, all right?"

The vampire grinned giving a soft nod and a wave of his hand of dismissal. He wasn't stupid, just over...cheery really. He chuckled closing his eyes and thought of what he could say. What to say what to say...He smiled. "Let me see...ah I'll just say two sentences really. I would be saying "I am a prankster at heart and I enjoy to cause some chaos. I created a cake filled bludger a few days ago, and got the entire Gryffindor pratice squad covered in head to toe," so here we go. Listen carefully." he added giving a chuckle and a gentle smile.

"Sono un burlone a cuore e mi diverto a causare qualche caos. Ho creato una torta piena Bolide pochi giorni fa, e ha tutta la squadra pratica Grifondoro coperta dalla testa ai piedi." Caleb smiled at his direction resting back on his back once again arms behind his head. "How was that? If you want, tell me words that you want to learn. And I'll tell you them."

Tagged: DEXTER
Outfit: dress pants, formal shirt, vest, and red tie.
Notes: Italian speaking Caleb~
Translations: up there!
Lyrics: "Butterflies and Hurricanes," Muse
Credit: V

[Dexter Llewellyn Greyback]

Dexter's eyes grew to the size of pie plates while Caleb rattled off the long passage, the lilt and slant of the quick Italian making his head spin a bit. Two sentences, indeed!

"Wow. That was a lot," Dexter said, half to himself. He bit his lip and thought hard, wanting to be sure and pick just the right phrase to learn. It wouldn't do him much good to be able to talk about filling up Bludgers with cake, though it would certainly make for an interesting conversation-starter.

He tried to picture Wizarding Italy, the signs and the smells and tastes and sounds, and what he might be doing there if he were ever to visit. He didn't think he had any family there, or knew anyone there at all, really. Perhaps he'd research there someday. Maybe Grandpa would take him on a journey, or he'd grow up to be a ship captain and make port there before continuing on. Or maybe...oh bother, his mind was wandering off again.

"Well," he finally said, "what's an important thing to know how to say when you're in Italy? What do people talk about there? Well, I suppose they talk about everything, since everyone talks about everything, but what do they talk about the most?"

Tagged: Caleb
Notes: Let the interrogation begin...
Song: "New Soul," Yael Naim
Credit: V

[Caleb Marco Dragomir]

Caleb softly chuckled as he listened to the young boys words. He gave a laugh, lifting his body up and sitting forward. He listened to the boys exclamation then chuckled. "Ya, its a lot to take in, isn't it? But that's just how the language is." He replied chuckling.

"what's an important thing to know how to say when you're in Italy? What do people talk about there? Well, I suppose they talk about everything, since everyone talks about everything, but what do they talk about the most?"

Now that was a bunch of questions.

Caleb took a breath, thinking of each question individuality. So many answers...well, in some shape and form anyway. "Well, you should know your greetings of 'hello and good-bye'. You should also know how to say 'please and thank you.' Mhm, what do they talk about most. I have to think about that, but its more been the crazy weather we been having and food. Would you like me to teach you 'hello and goodbye' first?" He asked, looking at the kid with a soft smile.

Tagged: DEXTER
Outfit: dress pants, formal shirt, vest, and red tie.
Notes: Italian speaking Caleb~
Translations: up there!
Lyrics: "Butterflies and Hurricanes," Muse
Credit: V

[Dexter Llewellyn Greyback]

"Mhm, what do they talk about most. I have to think about that, but it's more been the crazy weather we been having and food. Yould you like me to teach you 'hello' and 'goodbye' first?" Caleb asked, and Dexter grinned.

"Food and weather?" he repeated with a chuckle. "Maybe it's not that different from England after all. 'Hello' and 'goodbye' would be great, thanks."

Dexter held onto his ankles, totally prepared to try again. Grandpa would be so surprised if he greeted him in Italian the next time he came home!

Caleb was quite nice. Dexter didn't know much about vampires and werewolves not being meant to like each other, but well, he was only half werewolf, after all. And Pavel was maybe his favorite person other than Caddie, and this Caleb was marvelous fun.

He quite liked vampires, he decided. He liked them a lot.

Tagged: Caleb
Notes: Doop a-doop doop.
Song: "New Soul," Yael Naim
Credit: V