video - A plea from a knight

[panzersoldat]

[The video opens to a familiar older man. It's the one from before that was talking about his armor. He looks worried and also utterly serious]

Hello. I know things are really bad right now, but I need to ask for a favor. There were people listed. Solder 76. Ana Amari. Jesse McCree. They have been labeled terrorists. But I swear to you on my honor as a knight that they are innocent. I've known them for years. I know the measure of their character. This thing...they would not have done this. It must be a misunderstanding. So please don't try and harm them. I know they are good people and this is all a mistake.

I tried to get into contact with them but they aren't answering me. I am aware that others will be looking for them. So I just want you to give them this message from me if you see them.

Tell them Reinhardt believes in them. If you see them, tell them that running will only make them seem guilty and that I know they aren't. I know that in my heart. If they turn themselves in, I am sure that their side will be heard and that justice will weigh heavy on their sides. On the side of truth.

And tell them that no matter what, I am on their side. I believe in them and that they'll do the right thing.

Thank you.

[ The feed cuts off again]

Comments

text | un: ░░░

[deathproofs]

( no matter how much reaper repeats to himself to not say anything . . . he is definitely saying something. )

you never know as much as you think you do. you're a fool to believe otherwise.

( reaper knows those three are likely innocent. mccree is too dumb. jack and amari are too """good""" to have had knowledge. but, that doesn't mean he has to be kind about it. because, fuck them t b h. )

[panzersoldat]

[ Rude. ]

Perhaps. It wouldn't be the first time I was called this. But in this case, I do know. I know these people.[ Or he did. Once. Before he BURIED THEM, but you know...he wants to believe the best of them. ]

So I will advocate for them and I will support them and I will know that they didn't do this. And I will do what I can so that others know this as well. They they are good people that believe in helping people. Saving them, not hurting them.

text | foster | batcrypted

[beknight]

Come with me and tell them yourself.

[ Bold words from a guy who just fished Ana's phone and nothing else, but he knows he can find them. ]

[panzersoldat]

You know where they are? I will come with you then. To tell them. I'm sure with the both of us, we can convince them to do the right thing.

[not here]

[good_bamf_ugly]

[THIS BLEEDING HEART IS TORN APART
I TRY AND TRY TO STOP THE TEARS BEFORE THEY START
THEY TELL ME ALL I NEED IS TIME
BUT TIME ALONE WON'T HEAL THIS BLEEDING HEART OF MINE]

audio; un: SKULL

[sakabroto]

[Since hearing the announcement, he's been on edge. There's no way that guy he met could actually be bad if both Ann and Akira both vouched for him! Besides, he even helped Ryuji despite Ryuji being, well, Ryuji, so he just can't believe that 76 - apparently "Soldier 76" - was a bad guy.]

You know them from home or something? Is there anythin' you can tell us about them? 'Cause I don't think they'd just go off and be terrorists like this. It's super messed up, but they had to be set up, right?

[panzersoldat]

Ja. I do know them from home. I've known them for almost 25 years. And I know that they dedicated their lives to helping people. To stopping things like this attack. That's why I know they wouldn't do this. Because this is exactly the sort of things we were trying to stop back home.

The rest, I really can't say over network. I don't want the wrong people hunting them down. But I can tell you that they aren't this thing they've been painted to be.

audio | un: priest

[congratulating]

We can never know what is in the hearts of others. Yet I will not besmirch your honor as a knight and say that they are anything but as you say that they are.

If I happen to see them, I'll see what I can do about relaying your message, Reinhardt.

[panzersoldat]

[ What is that user name? Priest? As in a real honest to god Priest? Well, he's met elves and kings and queens, so why not a priest. If anything, it makes him feel a bit at ease. Priests are supposed to hear confessions right? And voice chat is sort of like a confessional booth (not that he believes, but desperate times.)

When he talks, his German accent is even more heavy than usual. It's the stress.]

This may be true, but you can't fight beside a person for almost 25 years and not know them. I know they would never harm innocent civilians. That was never what they were about.

So I thank you, Father, for being so kind as to pass my message on should you see them.

text; un umenosuke

[shikomizue]

A soldier is never innocent.

You mean to say they've only killed the right people, is that it?

[panzersoldat]

It is true that we fought a war. All of us did. But if we hadn't, many many more people would have died. And after, we helped protect what was left. That is why I know they did not do this thing. Because they wouldn't target innocent lives in such a fashion. This is everything we have ever fought against.

video | un: TeaOnRice

[gekkajuu]

I didn't realize you knew Ana.

I don't know the others, but I do know Ana, and I know that she would never do a thing like this... If you find them, and there's anything I can do, please let me know. I realize that you don't have much reason to trust me, but... I owe Ana a lot. I want to make sure she's okay.

[panzersoldat]

[ A sort of hollow and empty little laugh. Because he can't say just how he knows her or why this hurts so much. Mostly because he feels it in his bones. They're going to disappear again. Leave him behind once more. Right after he had just gotten them back. ]

I do. Ana and I, we were good friends and teammates, back in the day. And I would do anything to see her safe and to see this go away. Knowing that you believe me, that you know she wouldn't do that, it's a boon. I thank you for that.

And if you saw her first. If you found them, I'd hope you could relay my message to them. Tell her that I keep my promises. I am her shield and I will do what I can to help her, help them all.

text, un: willem

[veneries]

How can you be sure they're such good people?

[panzersoldat]

Because I know them. I have known them for nearly half my life. I worked side by side with them. We fought a war together. At least 76 and Ana. Jesse not as long, but long enough. I know they wouldn't do this.

video; un: crimson duelist

[verflair]

A very noble sentiment. Should I find them, I will be sure to relay your words.

[ And he can only hope that he does find them before someone else who is not so forgiving does. ]

Re: video; un: crimson duelist

[panzersoldat]

Thank you, sir. For this. I would be in your debt.

video | un: No

[sullenstallion]

[Dylas shouldn't say anything. He's not great at 'friendship' because feelings are hard to deal with, but. He thinks there's something that should be asked here that isn't addressed in the message itself.]

Hey. Big guy.

[...ugh. He feels like he's off to a bad start already.]

Are you alright?

[panzersoldat]

[ Reinhardt looks nothing like that happy, carefree lout on the beach. The worry lines are heavy and he looks like he hasn't slept since the incident. He can't even force himself to act warm right now. He's reeling in his desperation to clear his friends names. ]

Hallo...

[ Reflexively because he doesn't want people worrying about him. A knight doesn't lie, yes, but he can say it, even if he looks deeply guilty about it. He has no poker face at all. ] I am fine, my friend. I just have a lot weighing on my mind. But I was not caught in the blast. Were you harmed?

video; username: luminouslux

[rememberher]

[ How can she not say something after that plea of help? Lux smiles warmly at him from the other side of the feed. ]

What do they look like, so that I can keep an eye out for them? If you don't feel comfortable saying here, we can arrange somewhere to meet in private.

[panzersoldat]

[ The old man looks relieved. Tired, but relieved. Someone believes him. ]

I would prefer to do it in private if that is all right, miss. I don't want the wrong people to get their descriptions and hunt them down.

Video UN: Inquisitor

[heraldsdawn]

[ He is screaming internally about all of this considering who's name popped up on the damn wanted posters. Regardless, he's not going to believe it. Not until he hears the confession with his own ears because he agrees with Reinhardt; at least where McCree is concerned Sen doesn't buy that the man would do this. Sen may not have known the guy long but something in his gut tells him he wouldn't hurt innocent people.

But, he's always been the optimist and trying to see the best in people. Now is one of those times. ]

I will help you look for your friends, Reinhardt. I will help you try and convince them to plead their innocence and I'll see to it that they are proven innocent.

[ ...if they in fact are. But, the conviction in Reinhardt's words is enough for the elf to believe it to be true. ]

[panzersoldat]

[ He looks grateful. Tired but grateful. ] Thank you Sen. Thank you so much. I know it's a lot to ask for, to do so much for a stranger, but I believe in them. In the people I know.

And if you need help, ever. Let me know. I will repay you for this help and your belief in me and my friends.

[quevalry]

We'll look for them together!

[ a beat. ]

Or, try. I want to see if maybe I can help talk to her, Ashti, about them... I work under her, so I'm sure that maybe she will lessen their ... I don't know, punishment? Or at least hear them out, because they don't deserve a punishment.

[panzersoldat]

I tried. But maybe you could do more with her than I could. Ashti might listen to you. Because I don't know if she paid me any heed. But you are right. They doesn't deserve to be punished. And then after you talk to her, let's go out and look for them. I think between the two of us, we'll be able to track them down.

video | un: sanzohoshi

[sanzohoshi]

[Her heart's breaking for him, her expression sympathetic. She can kinda get how he feels--it's similar to her own emotions when people would bring up Wukong switching sides like he did.]

Hey, hey, don't be so down, okay? I believe you! This all has to be a big mistake.

If they turn themselves in and explain, I'm sure everything will be all cleared up. We have to trust in the people and system here or we'll never get anything done. If they still have the means, I'm sure they've seen this message and it'll get through to them!

[panzersoldat]

[ He's definitely fretting. More so because he knows these people he speaks of and he knows that if they don't see this...if they once more fall off the face of the planet, it might be years before they resurface again. ]

I know it's a mistake. But as much as they are innocent, I know how they are. I fear that they will just disappear again. I just got them back and with this over their heads...

I believe in them. In their capacity to do the right thing. I just hope that the powers-that-be believe in them the way I do.