maskormenace | video | Monday, August 4th | this is either a public confession or when these guys all join AA

[ The camera turns on, and for a moment attempts are made to find a point of focus: first the screen shows the top of Annie’s head and part of Reiner’s arm, then just Reiner, Bertholdt’s elbow -- each adjustment forces the others out of the frame. Finally the camera is pulled out further and, as they all stand assembled, Annie climbs on top of a chair that gives her enough height to be past even with Reiner’s shoulder, ending the camera’s focusing woes. Shortie. It’s Annie who starts speaking. ]

ImPorts. In light of recent circumstances, we’ve spoken with representatives of the United States military in regards to this announcement... and now we’re speaking to any interested as a courtesy.

My name is Annie Leonhart. My name is Reiner Braun. My name is Bertholdt Hoover.

And we are Titan shifters.

[ Annie continues on her own after that announcement, measured and steady, for all her pauses. ]

Annie: On our world, Titans are immense monsters, human-like creatures that are mindless in their singular goal of devouring of humans. There're a few who seem more aware than others... and then there’s us. We have an... ability to shift between our human form and that of a Titan. It’s not something we can explain. It just is.

The actions we’ve taken back home, those missions... without the Walls, or the world that lies behind outside of them, they’re pointless. There’s no explanation or reasoning for what we’ve done there that we can share. There’s no apology we can offer. All we can say is that we're all directly and indirectly responsible for the loss of human lives there. It’s a fact that both civilian and military blood stains our hands. It isn't a course of action we've continued while here. We don't intend to start now.

[ Reiner clears his throat at that, taking a moment to exchange a silent look with Bertholdt before he decides to speak. He looks stoic and determined, every bit the picture of the responsible soldier he is about to reject entirely. Standing a bit behind him, Bertholdt drops his gaze for a moment. His focus returns to him and he stares, concentrated but anxious, at the camera. ]

Reiner: For years humanity was protected from the Titans by the massive Walls that surrounded the remainder who had still survived -- that peace lasted for about a century until the outer Wall was breached by two deviant-class Titans... that was me, and Bertholdt. He got us through, and then I broke down the inner Wall. Before then no other Titans had the ability to do something like that, so it was the two of us that allowed for ⅓ of humanity to perish after that day five years ago.

[ Annie interjects, voice clipped and blunt: ]

Annie: The refugees were marched out a year later on the king’s order. He's accountable for those lives, too.

[ Annie frowns, almost surprised at herself, and glances to the side. She turns her face toward Reiner before looking back toward the communicator as she speaks. It’s progressively harder for her to look straight ahead. Reiner silently puts his hand on her shoulder. ]

Annie: I’ve been called the Female Titan. I was responsible for the many of the deaths of Survey Corps members during the excursion into Wall Maria lead by Commander Erwin. I was later cornered and apprehended in the Stohess District... though I wouldn’t be able to tell you what collateral damage I was responsible for there. I’m a neutralized threat back home.

[ She makes herself look straight into the lens of the camera again, this time unwavering. ]

Annie: None of us are a threat here. Not to this world, nor to these people. I don’t expect you to take my word on that, or even understand or care about what I'm saying. It doesn’t make it any less true. We’ve been instructed by the military in this country that as long as we adhere to a strict code of proper conduct, acting as model citizens and exemplary... [ Not Heroes; she can’t stand that term on a good day, and today is not a good day: ] ... imPorts, we’ll be guaranteed sanctuary.

[ Bertholdt cuts in, a steady voice despite how uneasy he looks: ]

Bertholdt: And we are grateful for that. This place has given us some peace and time to think and live without the actions of our past coming back to attack us constantly.

[ He trails off; it's only half true. A short silence follows. Sanctuary here is its own kind of joke. Annie opens her mouth again, hesitating, before she sets her shoulders. She speaks, tone carefully neutral. ]

Annie: I... those who wish to discontinue associations, such things will be respected.

[ Reiner nods in agreement, crossing his arms over his chest. ]

Reiner: We all understand that some things can’t be forgiven. But this is the reality of the situation, the truth about who we are -- we don’t intend on deceiving anyone. Just like if we were to do something similar here we wouldn’t expect anyone to hold back from taking action against us.

[ There’s another brief silence following Reiner’s words, where they all look toward the camera. It’s a chilling thought, but no one contradicts what Reiner’s said. The people here are much more frightening than they are. ]

Annie: For those things you may want to say or ask... We’re listening. We’ll respond to what we can for the next hour or so. After that... we have our communicators. You’ll know how to find us.

[ Annie starts to move forward, but as she does, the chair she’s on tips with her. With a startled look on her face, and a windmilling of her arms, she disappears off camera to crash to the ground with a muffled thump. It takes a second for Bertholdt to realize that Annie's falling and it's only after she did fall that he reacts, bending down and checking to see if Annie's okay. ]

Bertholdt: ... Annie? Annie... Are you okay?

[ Muffled sounds of frustration meet the question, and a hand covers the lens, ending the feed a moment after. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ another pause. ]

Just that with me, the worst case scenario tends to happen a lot. I'm kind of unlucky in that regard.

You're still alive, at least.

Well, so are you.

Because of all the other people I let die.

It's not a bad thing to do what you have to do to stay alive. And besides, you're making amends. That's what matters.

[ Not a bad thing... Reiner doesn't comment on that, simply exhaling. ]

Well... we're trying.

That's really all you can do, I suppose.

We could also do nothing, but no, there isn't much of a choice over our heads. It's not that we think we can atone for anything... we just know it's better this than waiting.

It's always good to do things on your own terms.

I agree. Whenever possible.

The fact we have the choice at all here makes a difference.

I take it you didn't at home? If you don't mind my asking...how did it work out there?

We're still alive, if that's what you mean.

[ For the time being, anyway, although he can only guess that the same applies for Annie as well. Despite what he's been told about her status, he doesn't trust the sources that information came from. ]

That was. And...I'm glad.

[ Better not say "but being pursued by people who will undoubtedly execute us if they get the opportunity." ]

Annie was separated from us a while back, so seeing her again has been nice. I don't know when we would, otherwise.

That's right...your world's at war. [ Connors knew about war. He knew about the possibility of not seeing people ever again. ]

So is this one, but so far it could probably be worse.

They say this one's at war, but it seems to me that, despite what happened with the space shuttle, it seems more Cold War than anything else.

Is there a difference between a war and a "cold" war?

As a matter of fact, there is. A "cold" war is a war that with no large scale fighting, but instead is typically fought with espionage, propaganda, and technology races.

While I understand not wanting to risk lives fighting, what kind of conflict would make the rest of that necessary?

At least back in my world, it was nuclear conflict. The United States and the Soviet Union both had weapons technology that could wipe out cities if used. Nobody made the first move because they were afraid the other would use the nuclear weapons.

[ He's quiet for a moment. ]

Is that how much damage nuclear weaponry is capable of? Wiping out whole cities?

That and more. Which is why nobody back home wanted to make the first move. If you fire a nuclear weapon, then the opponent will retaliate with one as well, and it's just a continuous cycle.

[ That and more -- Reiner considers the possibility. Then again, even if a nuke could kill him or Bertholdt in titan form, it wouldn't be just them in the line of fire. ]

Unless you kill your enemy in the first strike.

It's impossible to kill everybody all at once. There will always be a few people left over for retaliation.

VOICE.

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