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

[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?

[individualized]

[You can't see the face she's making. It's a pretty good one, probably.]

I do not understand. That alone makes us friends? This is much simpler than what you've already described.

[A pause, then her manners remember to kick in.]

It is nice to meet you as well, Miss Yukina.

[thenicerone]

Exactly! We just need to introduce ourselves and be kind to one another. It's as simple as that.

What do you like to do?

[individualized]

I am still not sure why you made it sound so difficult initially.

I like observing people and trying to understand them. Or, understand everything, really.

[thenicerone]

Then what do you know so far?

[individualized]

I have learned about "fun" and feeling "happy". I've also seen that people can do very odd things either for or with money. I was told about decorating and making things "personal". I learned about finding what you care about and standing up for it, as well.

[thenicerone]

Yes, those are all true to becoming friends with someone, Although, I think you're making it much more complicated than it should be. As long as you have fun, that's all that matters!

[individualized]

Really? Admittedly, I am still trying to determine what things are "fun". But you are saying that you need to have fun with someone to be friends?

[thenicerone]

Sometimes! And simply talking to them helps too.

[individualized]

But, that would mean practically any sort of connection would be a friendship.

[thenicerone]

More or less!

Does that make it a little easier now?

[individualized]

I suppose so.

I am trying understand how I am friends with people I disliked but who I've spoken to, however.

[thenicerone]

Well, I suppose it has to be a positive connection then.

Perhaps I should have explained that a bit more...

[individualized]

Yes, I would appreciate as much explanation as possible.

And what if the connection was neither positive or negative?

[thenicerone]

If it's positive, then I would consider it friendship.

If it's negative, then I would say be careful. I wouldn't call that friendship and that's okay sometimes.

[individualized]

I believe you need to clarify your last point. It is okay to maintain a negative relationship that is also not friendship?

[thenicerone]

For me, I wouldn't want to.

However, it is up to you if you do.

[individualized]

No, I would not want to do that, either. Thank you for your answers.

If we are, as you said, friends now, is there something I should do now?