Annabelle Dollmann's Story

With the door held ajar as it was, Anna hesitated for but a moment before entering the loud place, the sounds of the usual soft ambient or aggressive beats that dominated nightclubs in the Hegemony were absent here, replaced only with tasteless twangy sounds on primitive instruments and the chatter of lesser races. Not that she knew anything about nightclubs, of course, not officially anyway. A brief nod was paid to the man that held the door for her, stepping inside with a rather blank look on her face.

She really didn't know what to make of it all, one hand in the pocket of her slacks as she looked the place over, the other wringing its fingers about the handle of her briefcase. Casual business dress, a blazer seeming to simple be thrown on her shoulders whilst her white dress shirt hinted at her girlish bosom.

The ballistic-reactive catsuit underneath was, for the most part, invisible at this point, her boots looking nothing suspicious in the slightest.

"... this is what they do for fun?" Came her whisper to her comrade, slightly disgusted. Her view of nightclubs, especially foreign ones, were much more romantic than this.

The feeling that washed over her made her skin crawl, something about it reeked of sorcery - and every good Scatterran knew what came of magic: death, destruction, misery. This place already got on her bad side, the girl taking a step back towards Josef, looking to her superior for some security here. Of couse she was trained in combat that exceeded that of many empire's legions, but sorcery?

That was how you unnerved her. There was no way to disarm magic, save with a bullet.

"... of course," She adopted the lesser tongue, nodding as he spoke of a sporting event. Perhaps it would be a good lesson in sociology for this world. How best to defeat the savage than by learning his ways and predicting his path? At least that's what Academy and her mother had taught her. "Where to, captain?" She wasn't entirely used to using first names yet, not outside of family.

"... of course, Josef." Part of her was irked by his tone, but she knew he was her superior, and that the Landwachter tolerated no such insubordination. Her accent was still there, but that was a tad more forgivable. Perhaps he'd get a visit or two later. "... a table, if we might." A better field of vision, at the very least.

Gently did she meander over, the duke's daughter taking out her own seat to set down, fairly pleased that her mother had insisted that the rules and regulations of the court be forgone in preference for the Academy and martial training. Sieglinde was not a welcome influence in her social life, even if she got Anna such nice things at times, it was obvious that she judged her because of her father.

Well, that couldn't be helped, and it, perhaps for a while, sealed the feud between the two houses.

"Just what are we here for again?"

Why it was they were immersing themselves in this miserable excuse for a civilization she knew not, but orders were orders. "We are." She supposed. She at least hoped that they would be able to be open about their presence here once the fleet arrived en mass and the puppet regime was established.

Even if they had to share this territory with the others, at least they were Scatterran and not... whatever these people were.

"I..." She wasn't exactly allowed to drink at home, but it's not like her parents could say anything about rash judgement. "... what's it like?" Drinking, that is.

She blinked at the mug, a gloved finger drawing itself over the misted glass and bringing the condensation close to her eyes for observation. There was no telling what disease might be on this thing, nevermind what the beer itself even tasted like - not that she ever even drank beer before.

It looked like piss.

Gingerly she took the glass Stein up, taking a sip of the frothy concoction before she decided to dwell on the taste for a moment. It was certainly different from most of the beverages she had indulged in, considering texture and body.

It was horrid.

"... I don't see what the big deal about it is, it's addled water."

Well, she might be able to try it on her own when she finally got a place to her own, instead of one of them any rooms in her family's mansion. Mother or father was always watching, and if it wasn't one of them it was Trent or Lawrence. They seemed to be watching all the time. The only person who was even slightly sympathetic was Adalie, but she had special circumstances, being Uncle Josef's favorite.

She only noticed his eyes on her as he spoke, a hint of blushing coming to her cheeks as he did. "... well that's a given." It wasn't like she'd try to walk around, this place was already disgusting enough with good company, she didn't want to consider it on her own.

Well, that was rather frank. At least Josef had good intentions at heart. "... noted, Josef." Duly noted at that. She honestly doubted that any of the men here could really accomplish anything if they wanted to, however, knowing full well that she could likely kill them much quicker than they might hope to touch her.

"I can say just the same, regarding morals, for some in our home, Josef." He was raised in the lab, of course, with the perfect guidelines set out for him. Academy and general knowledge filled out Anna's thoughts on society, especially the lower classes. Disgusting at times, really, considering just what they all embarked on with so little care for the future.

... but strangely enticing, in its own way, that sense of freedom.

True enough, she supposed, shrugging. She was ignorant as to the Aschen, and to the Terrans' evils, considering that they still found the concept of hands-off economics reassuring. To think! It was entirely preposterous, such thoughts they had. "So, what would you suggest, Josef?" Came her question, eyebrows climbing gently as she inquired.

No doubt something involving the two of them, considering how his gaze liked to linger.

The sigh that escaped her nose betrayed just what she thought of this, but she did as she was told - taking what sips of the concoction she could stand between glances about. Of course, this would all be a great deal easier if they were taller. Why were they all so short?

It must be miserable living on this world, she conceded mentally, if there was such a thing worse than visiting it. Complaining was useless now, just as it always was, though back home all she had to do was say 'I don't-' and the suck-ups all bowed to her.

But this was the real world, if one wanted to give this place that dignified of a label.