Glad to be off. (Open!)

[Gerald Dietrich]

It seemed like he had finally been able to escape the scornful eyes of his younger sister and father, and for that Gerald could not help but to heave a sigh of relief. The new term was coming on quickly now, and of course that meant going to Diagon Alley for school supplies. However, there was a vast difference about this time and the year before. Back then, Elénore had for one not been allowed to accompany Gerald and their father. Also, his father had still liked him that time when they visited. Now, It was Elénore and Gerch who enjoyed themselves whilst he just wanted to disappear from them. That chance came when it seemed like his father was intent on taking Elénore down to Knockturn Alley for some bits of special shopping, and Gerald really felt neither interest or respect for that place. Instead, he took that opportunity to leave them. He would not be missed, and he could always just floo home on his own later.

It was shocking just how different people of the same heritage could be sometimes.

It was a sunny day, Hogwarts students running about either alone or with enthusiastic parents trailing on behind them. All in all, Diagon Alley was filled with cheerfulness and anticipation for the new school year. Gerald too was ecstatic about going back to school, but was currently allowing himself to ignore the longing for a while, and just have some fun while he could. Merlin knew he would not smile again until he was safely on the Hogwarts Express.

While Gerald's mind was preoccupied with the bare feat of drinking in all the happenings and views around him, he passed Ollivander's in a haste and steered his steps towards Flourish & Blotts. He still had to pick out his books for his classes this year. There was no way his father would do that, and Gerald was just happy that he had at least been given his own Gringotts account. While his father was not very fond of him, Gerald suspected that Gerch would rather die than let people think they were poor. And that suited Gerald just fine, since he actually enjoyed shopping on his own.

As he finished and thanked the man in the book store, Gerald had almost managed to push away his worries and was rather inclined to visit Florean Fortescue for some of their famous ice cream. 'I might as well, while I have the chance.' He mused, and so he set off in a rather hastened pace, not really bothering about anything in particular. That was, as to say, working quite smoothly for him. Until he crashed into someone as he rounded a corner, of course.

[Rei Quincy]

Rei woke up early for that day. She planned to buy school books and also a good book to read once she was back in Hogwarts. It would be another year in Hogwarts and she was very excited about it. Not that she didn't want to stay home, of course she did because it was the only days where she could be with Joseph, her father. Her father was always working since her mother died so she made it sure that every time she was in her vacation they would eat their breakfast, lunch and dinner together. She was glad when her father agreed to it. She was excited about it because she also liked staying in Hogwarts. She met a lot of interesting people there.

She readied her clothes last night so all she had to do was take a bath. She and her father talked about her trip to Diagon Alley. Her father said that he has an important business to tend to so she would be going to Diagon Alley alone. She was okay with it besides she likes to buy books alone. It was because she really takes her time choosing a good book. Besides, that was not new. Her father never really had a chance to go with her because of his business which she understood. At least, he was still trying to make some time for her. Not unlike before she went to Hogwarts, he almost forgot that she was there and still alive. How she dreaded those days. But because of what happened to her family, she learned to be independent at a young age so she got no problem being alone.

But before going to Flourish and Blotts for her books, she needed to go to Gringotts. Her father gave her a pass in their family account to get some galleons for her to spend. He gave her too much which she saved in case she needed it in the future.

Once she was out of Gringotts, she walked or more like ran to the bookstore. She wanted to finish shopping for school stuffs early because she wanted a drink in her favorite cafe there. It's been a while since she had her iced coffee shake. Without stopping, she turned left and then-- BHAM! She didn't know what happened. All she knew is that she was now sitting on the ground with her butt aching.

[Gerald Dietrich]

'Oh that is a charming way of meeting new people.' A sarcastic voice said in his head as Gerald mentally kicked himself, and the voice, for being so stupid. He never really made a habit of running since it normally ended badly one way or another. This was obviously one of those outcomes.

He had managed to stay standing, but the poor girl he had smashed into was not so fortunate. On the verge of panic, he noted that she was probably quite older than him, though still looked the age of a Hogwarts student. "Sorry! I did not see where I was going." As he had been brought up, apologizing was not needed. Not when you were above everyone else. But according to Gerald, that was all pure tomfoolery. People were people, and that was it. "Are you all right?" He added, his tone worried. It would not do to have an injured girl on his conscience, especially not someone older than himself.

Getting himself together Gerald offered a hand for her to take, much as an extended apology but also as a token of friendship. She seemed vaguely familiar to him, with that face and brown hair. Which meant that he had most likely seen her somewhere at the school in his previous year, but just could not remember. And if they were going to attend the same school, there was no way he wanted an extra enemy. He had a feeling that his sister was going to make his life as miserable as she possible could all by herself.

He was not one to linger on worried feelings, since it made him rather depressed. But this summer had been particularly foul, and had as such affected his normal mood. Which was partly why he was looking forward to school, hopefully his sanity would remain intact when he was away from the manor. Determined to at least try and save the horrible first impression he without doubt must have earned with the girl, he tried a shy smile and introduced himself, since such was, as opposed to greeting someone by barging head first into them, the polite way to behave. "Um, my name is Gerald by the way. Gerald Dietrich."

[Rei Quincy]

"Sorry! I did not see where I was going. Are you all right?"

Rei looked up and blinked her eyes for a few times. She focused her eyes to the one who she bumped into. This is embarassing, she thought when she realized who she bumped into. Well, she doesn't really know his name but she was very sure she already saw him. If she remembered it right, she saw him in Hogwarts. Yes, he was with his friends. She sometimes saw him laughing with his friends on the school grounds. She also knew that he's younger than her that made it more embarassing. They literally smashed into each other and he still managed to stay standing while she was on the ground. Then she noticed that he was extending his hand to her and that was when she realized that she was still on the ground.

"Um, my name is Gerald by the way. Gerald Dietrich."

"Uhm, I'm Rei," she told him while reaching for his hand. "Rei Quincy. I'm fine, thanks. And it was not entirely your fault. I was the one who was in a hurry. I should have stop when I was making my turn." she said and gave him a smile. She was trying all her might not to blush but it was really embarassing. She was the older one but her body betrayed her by being the one on the ground. She tried to take his mind out of it. It was not as if her body was that firm, it was actually the opposite.

For that experience, she told herself to restrain herself for now on from running in a place where there is a high possibility she would bumped into someone. This would possibly be in her top three most embarassing moment. She might be always hanging around on crowded places but she was sitting from afar on where she could see the people just right that's why she was not really prone to accidents.

[Gerald Dietrich]

"Rei Quincy. I'm fine, thanks. And it was not entirely your fault. I was the one who was in a hurry. I should have stop when I was making my turn."

She seemed rather shaken by the ordeal, and just stared at him for a while before taking his hand and allowing him to help her up. Well, that was not much of a surprise. The whole running into had been rather sudden, after all. He almost felt grateful for her demeanour; she seemed more or less just as sorry as he did. On the whole the fact that she seemed worried too helped to ease his panicked mind. That probably meant she was not for Slytherin, at least. "Nice to meet you. I should have done that too, but I guess I was a bit too carefree." He really needn't bother her with the information as to why he had been hurrying, and unless his sister decided to appear before them hopefully that would be safely kept in the dark. He knew it was childish of him to be afraid of Elénore, but he really, really did not want to meet her again today. So the ice cream parlour seemed like a nice idea to him, since his younger sibling despised the taste of it.

Thinking quickly for a moment, Gerald shifted his feet and looked up at the slightly taller girl. "As an apology of sorts, would you care to join me for some ice cream at Fortescue's?" Figuring that it was better to go together, than to kill time alone he spoke his mind somewhat awkwardly. Hopefully, she was nice and in a house that did not despise him. Her voice certainly sounded rather pleasant, Gerald thought.

As he waited for a reply, he absent-mindedly watched the crowds of people running about and minding their own business.

((I'm going to assume that Rei is the taller of the two, since none of us have their heights stated in their bios. She is older, after all.))

[Rei Quincy]

((Yes, she's taller because of her age.))

"As an apology of sorts, would you care to join me for some ice cream at Fortescue's?"

Hmm... Ice cream..., a thought swirling on her mind. But what about her plan to drop by on her favorite cafe in Diagon Alley for her favorite smoothie? Her eyes turned to him. He was looking around so she was not certain if he would really like it if she accompanied him in Fortescue. There was a thought too that he might be with his family or friends. She's not really that good in socializing. That was because she doesn't really have a reason to learn to socialize. There were no party she needed to attend to nor celebrations in her house. In her house, the only visitors they got would be either her father's employees or his clients. So most of those times, she would just stay quiet and only talk when asked to.

But then again, a little detour won't hurt, a voice in her head said when her eyes still lingers on him. With that, she stopped thinking. She could always go there anytime she would like. Plus, it means she won't be alone for the time being and an addition to her list of friends would be just wonderful. It won't be fun talking to herself anyways.

She was going to say yes but then she remembered she was still not finish with her shopping. She still needed to buy her books. She can't really delayed that errand. She thought quickly that made her look funny. Her facial expression looked weird as her friends always say to her. There would be a knot on her forehead, her pouted lower lip would stick out and her fore finger would keep tapping her chin. After some thought, she decided that she'll just buy her school books so she can be quick on it.

"I love to Gerald but you see, I need to buy my school books first. Would it be okay if you go first and I'll just follow? I promise I'll be quick," she asked hoping he would understand. He seemed a good kid so it would be nice having him as a friend.