With the kind of work that she did, it came with a few perks. Since Annie started her career at Marley and Co. in their Archaeological division in London Annie had travelled all around the world, seen sights that most men and women could only dream of, earned good money and she got to live her life's ambition since she was a young girl growing up back in Florida.
But it came with downsides.
Annie Leonhardt wasn't much of a socialiser. She had been that way even as a small child, with her only friends being Bertholdt and Reiner in her school years but that was it.
She hated socialising and these stupid mandatory work parties were one the things she hated most about her job.
Not all of them were mandatory though, however whenever her and her team were assigned on a job to hunt down old artefacts to sell to museums or collectors across the country to the highest bidder, they needed to be sponsored and have additional money for the recovery of whatever it was they were sent to find. This meant attending Parties full of rich people and snobby business tycoons that the company would through to show their appreciation for their generous donation.
It was a pain in the ass.
She stood with others off to the side. Zeke had run off somewhere, claiming he had some quick business to attend to and that he would be right back, leaving them to their own devises.
Annie herself wore a beautiful sleeveless sapphire dress flowing down to the floor, a slit on it's left side to allow easier room to walk around. Although the heels she wore didn't exactly help. Her hair, free of it's usual tightly pulled up bun, flowed free down her neck and a little past her shoulders.
Pieck wore a similar dress, only hers had a single strap over her shoulder and was a ruby red. The boys suites all looked the same to her, the only thing that looked different was Bertholdt was the only one to wear a vest underneath his suit jacket, Reiner wore a navy blue suite while the other two wore black and Porco, instead of wearing his jacket properly, simply draped it around his shoulders. The 5 of them had only been her an hour and a half and so far things were pretty dull but running smoothly.
Meaning Braun and the youngest Galliard brother hadn't tried to strangle one another yet.
"Gotta admit, these shindigs are getting more boring by the year." said Reiner after downing the last of his champaign. He had decided to go easy on the drink tonight, thanks to Bertholdt's persuasion.
"I kinda like it." said Pieck. "It's an excuse for the rest of you hermits to get out and do something classy for a change."
"I can be classy!"
Marcel laughed at his friend's indignant response. "Well, that's debatable Reiner."
"Not you too..."
"Good to see your all still behaving yourself."
The group turned their head to spot Zeke walking back over to them, only he wasn't on his own this time. He was accompanied by someone else, a man who looked like he belonged to royalty. He had flowing gold coloured hair, sharp blue eyes, and a charming smile.
"Everyone, I like to introduce an associate of mine." He gestured to the gentleman standing to at his side, "This is Mr. Willy Tybur, the man who was kind enough to sponsor our latest expedition."
Each of them offered their greetings. They had all heard Willy Tybur, the man was a millionaire philanthropist who was adored by the entire world. The Tyburs were an old family who owned nearly over have the corporate industry in England, even a few others in Europe and across the Atlantic sea, but Willy was the one to stand out amongst them with his charity works, from Refugee crisis's to building homeless shelters, he offered his money and aid to the causes that needed it most.
To many people, this man was a modern day saint.
"It is a pleasure to meet all of you," said Willy after shaking each of their hands in greeting, "I wanted to be well acquainted with the team that will prove the Paradis legend true."
"It's an honour sir." said Reiner both eagerly but respectfully.
'Oh god, here we go,' Annie thought, 'he's not going to start kissing ass again is he?'
Reiner tended to do this with anyone that was remotely of a higher status than him. It was a lot worse when he was younger, always wanting to please everyone to gain respect and recognition. No one really knows exactly why he does it, why he needs to be recognised by others so badly, it was weird to Annie.
Then again, maybe it was because She never felt the need to be such a people pleaser like Reiner. She didn't care what others thought of her
"Forgive me for asking sir, but what interest do you have in archaeological findings?" asked Marcel.
"My family own many different museums around the country and we are looking for a new exhibit. Paradis has always been an interesting story to me and has inspired me in some aspects of my life, so the most recent findings were of great interest to us. We want to be a part of the people who turned a legend into real history."
Zeke took his turn to speak to his charges. "He'll be providing both funding and a crew when we set of to the island. The operation will be spear-headed by us and our crew captain will be an old family acquaintance, ex–commander Theo Magath. Unfortunately he wasn't able to attend tonight's festivities."
All of them had heard of the old retired general. There were many things Zeke didn't talk about, he was a mystery to all of them, but sometimes he would mention him in conversation.
"We'll bring back all the proof you sir. That's a guarantee." Said Reiner.
He looked at all of them, as though he was examining them all. It despite the friendliness of his expression, Annie suddenly felt a small chill run down her spine as he eyed them up.
"I'm counting on that resolve, Mr. Braun."
"Please Annie, you have to come!" exclaimed Reiner as they and the rest of their group walked out of the coffee shop. They had just finished for the day and had decided to make a quick stop at the nearest Starbucks and now the others were trying to convince the blonde girl to go out for a dinner.
They would be leaving London in a week's time today for the expedition to the island, so Reiner and the others had decided to go out and spend an evening with their loved ones the two nights before they're scheduled to leave.
Annie didn't have any family to say goodbye to so why did she have to go?
"There's no point in me going." She said as she drank the rest of her Coffee
"Of course there is," said Galliard, "everyone's going. Even Zeke's junior apprentice and his little brother are coming, as well as Reiner's cousin Gabi. It will be a fun night."
They spent a bit more time discussing it before they finally made it to work and went their separate way. By then, Reiner was still pestering her.
"You sure you don't want to go?"
"Look," she said sternly, "I appreciate the offer but I can't. I've finally managed to get everything together for this job and I just want to go home and catch up on some much on my sleep."
And with that, she walked away from the boys to her station.
"I'm really worried about her Riener," Said Bertholdt as they watched Annie's retreating back, "Ever since this whole thing started she seems, I don't know, rattled. Not herself."
"Yeah and we already know the problem." said Reiner.
Bertholdt nodded in understanding. "Her father."
"Yeah."
"What can we doing?"
"...I have an idea, I just have to hope she doesn't kill me afterwards."
Annie was glad to finally get home from work. The stress of getting everything ready for the trip had been exhausting and all she wanted now was a bit of rest.
It was the night of the farewell dinner but she still didn't plan on meeting with the other. And it wasn't that she didn't really wanted to go but a big crowed made Annie a little on edge.
And besides, being there with everyone, seeing them all with their families...
It would hurt more than she would ever admit.
Once she had made it inside, she found herself relaxing, glad to be home. Now she could catch up on some much needed sleep.
Or so she thought.
All of a sudden, a voice spoke from behind her, startling her.
"You've done well for yourself here."
If not for the familiarity of the voice, Annie would have attacked the intruder rather than freeze in utter shock.
It was a man, in his late fifties, standing in her kitchen doorway, a wooden cane in his grip. He looked at her with such an expression that she hadn't seen on his face in a long time.
Love.
After a brief moment of complete silence, Annie was finally able muster up something to say
"Dad...?"
DUN, DUN, DANNNN!
And here he is, Papa leonhardt himself.
Thank you for reading, let me know what you though.
See ya!
