audio; date of the sad party

[grandpaladin]

Ah, now it is working! Wonderful!

[The huge, booming voice on the other end of the TAB pauses for a moment, gathering up his thoughts. And when he speaks again, you can almost hear the grin on his face.]

Hello. To you I have not met, I am Reinhardt Wilhelm. And I, too, have come to give some words in this time. When we are still mourning the loss of our space homes. Our real homes. And our friends.

[He clears his throat. What he says next is pretty cheesy, but there's no doubt he believes in what he says, completely.]

Things can be destroyed. But as long as the people, as long as we are strong, my friends, we can always rebuild.

And, if you find yourself in need of some strength -- [Here, Reinhardt laughs, though it's not his usual, booming one, it's more solemn.] -- call for me. And I will be your shield. I have strength to spare.

...

I just winked there. You cannot see it, but I did.

[click.]

Comments

[neverheardofhim]

[Varric spent a long few minutes after the speech tapping his finger against a nearby rock. He'd never admit it aloud but... he was at least somewhat stricken by his words. He didn't exactly need the inspiration of course, everything he'd been missing had cropped up on the Hub but... he didn't need to say that out loud.]

You ever considered contracting out your speech-making abilities? I've had a lot of hero types in my books, and none of them have ever sounded half as inspiring as you. Me, I'm a real wordsmith, but I'm-- I'm not so great at the whole motivating the masses thing.

[All of the decent speeches he had written had come from the actual heroes themselves. It was easy to sound good when he was just transcribing things.]

audio;

[tearsinajar]

Are you sure you weren't the one in charge of the Overwatch?

voice

[swarm_embrace]

[Reinhardt made Kerrigan actually, genuinely smile. Good job.]

Not a bad speech, Wilhelm.

I'd rather go home than make a new one, but while I am here, if you need any blades, I've got your back.

[grandpaladin]

[Reinhardt laughs again, shaking his head.]

I am just an old man with no filters! It helps when you say whatever it is that comes to mind.

[For better or worse.]

audio;

[grandpaladin]

That would require more than just belief in good!

voice

[grandpaladin]

[GOOD everyone should smile a little.]

You can call me Reinhardt, if you wish. I don't mind.

Ah, but yes. That, I understand. We just have to make the best of what we have, though, yes?

Thank you, for the offer.

[tearsinajar]

Such as?

audio.

[retrovirion]

I'm pretty sure there's a video function, in case you want people to actually see you winking next time. Or know what you look like.

audio;

[brokeassgoing]

What, you gonna crowd and comfort us all in your probably giant mantits? That'll solve it all?

[neverheardofhim]

I've known a few of those "speak without thinking" types. Usually they spout a bunch of nonsense. [The image of Sera was clear in his mind, and he almost felt a pang of longing. Maker help him if he was missing her]

Maybe once things get back up and running, you'll accept some coin to help me iron out some of my own dialogue? I'll even write a gratuitous thank you to you if it ever gets published. [Provided, of course, that someone outside of their flock would be interested in whatever bullshit they'd gotten up to.]

[voice]

[coldhardy]

["Elsa" has the voice of a young woman, but unusually low and dry and crisp.]

I never saw the space homes. What were they like?

[She likes the things the old man has said -- he sounds like an old man, anyway. It's not unlike what she had been doing at home before she found herself standing high on a rock: rebuilding things she had destroyed without meaning to.]

[grandpaladin]

Oh? Nonsense eh? Some people would tell you that is what I've just said!

[But he says so good naturedly enough, like he says everything these days. Relaxed, unfettered and unfiltered.]

No, no coin needed, my friend. I would be happy to help where needed!

[grandpaladin]

Leadership skills!

[Now there's a joke.]

video;

[grandpaladin]

I know! That was a joke. To make the people laugh.

[But he switches over to video for this anyway.]

audio;

[grandpaladin]

That sounds very, very unlikely to help anything.

[voice]

[grandpaladin]

The ship? Vast, like a city moving through the stars, almost...

[He sounds a little wistful. Even if Reinhardt hadn't been there that long, he could still appreciate what the Moira had been.]

[voice] Because right now she isn't in the mood for people to see her,

[fluidsea]

You... do have a good point. I may miss my friends and sister, but at least they're safe back home.

I... needed this, thank you.

video.

[retrovirion]

[ oh whoops way to be a dick in your first meeting there pete ]

Oh, sorry. There were some people who didn't seem that familiar with the whole, you know, all the tech here. [ the purple lady springs to mind, for example... anyway, this guy switched over to video and peter's mostly trying to use audio but he figures it's polite to switch over too, so. why not. ] Guess I'm not that great with jokes.

[brokeassgoing]

I don't know, some people'll pay a hefty fine for that. Not me, mind, but some people. You just said you'd be our shield y'know.

[tearsinajar]

And you think you don't have that? Look at the message you just put out there, big guy. I'd say that's pretty leadership-y to me.

[grandpaladin]

You would be surprised the sort of tolerance necessary. And the planning. And the public speeches... ach...

No.

Supporting people in trouble is one thing. I am not a leader of Overwatch.

video.

[grandpaladin]

[Hey, if Reinhardt is annoyed, he sure doesn't show it.]

Yes, I have seen it too. But don't worry! I have adjusted well enough!

[grandpaladin]

I was speaking literally...

voice;

[grandpaladin]

That is also true! There are those we miss, but know they are safe. Believe that! Let it carry you through!

Of course. It is nothing.

audio

[inconsequence]

[That sound you're hearing is a very dry, very heartfelt slow clap. Something about the pace of it implies a smug derision for the speaker. The voice that pipes up wryly is unmistakably that of a child, however.]

An inspiring speech. Truly. I'm moved beyond words.