video ; un: echo

[individualized]

Hello. I am Echo. It occurs to me that I have neglected to introduce myself on the communicators. My apologies.

[That entire opening had about as much emotion and inflection to it as it looks like it would. In other words, minimal. For anyone seeing her for the first time, she looks like a petite teenager. Which she technically is, there's just more that isn't obvious.

Echo pauses, then gives a small frown, and a bit of color comes to her cheeks.]

I...have been confused about something. In the past, I've found posing questions in this manner to be a good source of information, so I would like to ask this of the other Chosen:

What, exactly, is a "friendship"? Or, at least, what means people are friends? I believed I understood it before, but I'm no longer certain of the answer.

[There is absolutely no indication that she may be joking, nor does she sound like she thinks this is an unusual or incredibly complicated question.]

Thank you.

Comments

Text

[thenicerone]

That's easy.

Friendship is when we help one another out! And that we are both emotionally close to one another too.

[individualized]

So simply helping someone means you are friends?

I don't know what you're talking about with the second part. What does that mean?

[thenicerone]

It means that if you feel like you're really close to someone, that means they're your friend.

[individualized]

I see. So it is rather difficult to make them.

[thenicerone]

I wouldn't mind helping you.

I could be your friend right now!

[individualized]

You can? How? I don't believe we have even met. I am fairly certain that is not "really close".

[thenicerone]

Then my name is Yukina. It's nice to meet you, Echo.

Now we have met, right?

text @Ultramar

[thecodexabides]

there is
brotherhood
where you would lay
your life down
for another.

All else is vanity.

[individualized]

That is not what I asked.

[And Echo's pretty sure the person who fell into that "brotherhood" category for her certainly couldn't be described as her friend.]

Do you mean that friendship is vain? Please explain.

[thecodexabides]

You asked
about brotherhood.
Or something close to it. [Unless he translated it wrong.]

Those close to you
who have proven themselves
worthy
and dutiful
are worth
everything.

[individualized]

I asked about being friends.

[Noooot quite getting that there may be a language issue here, sorry about that.]

In that case, it is very difficult to have them, yes?

[thecodexabides]

No
They are the ones
you have trained
and fought beside

[Something clues him in. A little bit.]

how does
your kind
view this
'friendship'?

[individualized]

[So apparently she's in a brotherhood with Vincent and Gilbert? Echo needs to file this away for a later question. She's also going to leave out the fact that her "kind" isn't exactly like a human.]

I am not sure. I know I have had one friend, because he told me it was so. He was very precious to me. But I have begun to wonder if friendship is possible with people who have had less impact on you.

text, un: kuwabara

[machizumo]

I mean I guess there's the easy answer of "friends are the people you're close to who aren't your family." But that might be too simple. And it's sorta a big umbrella.

Maybe it's better to start at: What'd you think before? And what makes you doubt it?

[individualized]

I believed that your friends must be very precious to you. They will come to talk to you even if there is no particular reason or it is annoying. That they have affected your existence in an invaluable way, and that you would go to great lengths if they were suffering.

However, a few odd things have happened to me here with people I do not feel all of that for, nor do I expect they do about me. For example, someone told me she felt bad after I disappeared when I was apparently here previously. Or I believe someone I hardly knew embraced me because I was unhappy. That seems unusual to me.

[machizumo]

I think you got it definition-wise. Or explanation-wise. Whatever. Maybe some of that's a little intense, though? There's levels.

Like I have classmates who're my friends, but I don't know them as well as the friends in my neighborhood that I grew up with. We aren't as close, but I'd still call them my friends.

But your stuff mostly seems to be... I don't know, some people just express more easily than others. Or it's just lop-sided.

[individualized]

[Yeah, it hasn't dawned on her that she might not understand all of her version as well as she thinks she does...]

There are levels? I was not aware of that.

So, having something in common is the crucial factor? And the level is affected by that?

I'm not sure I understand what you mean in your final sentences. I do not know much about how friendship is "expressed".

[machizumo]

Different ways. Some people talk about their feelings and some people are more physical, hugs and back-claps and all that stuff. And you hang out, I guess. Stuff's comfortable.

I know I said "levels" but it seems like you're kinda trying to make the whole thing math. It ain't math. It just IS.

[individualized]

I see. Is it specifically discussing feelings that is found in a friendship?

But I find it rather difficult to understand things when they are just described with feelings. I have many questions about them, as well.

Text; un: eyeofzaun

[conflictresolution]

Friendship is the illusion of bonds between people who will eventually betray you. It may take days, weeks, months or years, but it will occur. Best to be cautious with the people who you allow close to your person.

[individualized]

[Oh, if only you could see the fact she's making...]

Betray how, exactly? Is it not possible that your friend had no intention of doing so?

[conflictresolution]

[Sorry, you're dealing with a bitter deeply angry and traumatized man. It's fine, he's fine.]

For some, it's their intention from the beginning. For others, they likely don't intend to betray you, but it comes nonetheless. A word, a whisper, a hand on the throat.

[individualized]

[Accidentally getting them killed and causing so much pain it ruined their life? Because she's pretty certain she did that to the one friend she knew she had. And she's dealt with multiple traumatized people who returned it on her, this is probably fine.]

I see.

[There's a pause.]

And it is not possible to remain friends after this occurs?

[conflictresolution]

From my experience, betrayal is part and parcel of such bonds eventually. Be on guard for it and protect yourself.

[individualized]

Protect myself in what way? From being the one to commit the treachery, or from being the one who has been betrayed?