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]

[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?

[conflictresolution]

Both. Be on guard and if you suspect treachery, strike first and hard. A lack of vigilance could mean your death.

[individualized]

I am very aware of that fact as a general rule.

[Do you know how many people she's cut before they knew she was there?]

But, what if you unintentionally betray the other before they have even shown a sign of this potential animosity?

[conflictresolution]

I expect you should guard yourself against their response, or make it so that they are unable to.

[individualized]

You mean I am supposed to kill them?

[conflictresolution]

Well, you could maim them if outright elimination curls your toes.

[individualized]

That wouldn't be much harder to ensure, no.

Something about all of it sounds wrong, for some reason.

[conflictresolution]

Perhaps it is outside of all the other recommendations that you have received.

[individualized]

That is certainly accurate.

I believe the problem is that it sounds like something my former master would do. He was not a man of honor, to put it simply.

[conflictresolution]

What does honour have to do with any of this? Protect yourself first and foremost.

[individualized]

I believe that is still possible while being honorable. If we are to ignore that, though, he was still a thoroughly unpleasant individual. I would not like to be similar to him.

[conflictresolution]

Was he? I should like to hear more of what made him so unpleasant and why you were forced to associate with him to begin with.

cw: mentions of abuse and sexual harrassment

[individualized]

He was constantly plotting behind others' backs and pretending to care about people whom he hated. That was how he manipulated so many of them. He'd kill people often. Outside of what was already expected of us, that is. Some had done nothing to him. I believe he enjoyed being cruel.

He was very annoying, as well. He would fall asleep anywhere and I would have to move him. He left messes all over his room and became angry if I tried to clean them. When he was in a foul mood, he would beat me. For some reason, he would always make me sit on his lap and drape himself all over me. And he would make me do very humiliating things to amuse himself.

He saw me as nothing more than a tool. And at that time, I also did not believe I was a true existence that had any rights. That was why I was bound to follow his orders.

[conflictresolution]

And do you still believe that you do not have any rights? It seems to be based on your descriptions of this man that he was your oppressor, and he deserves to be overthrown and put to rest.

Hopefully he is not here to bother you further.

[individualized]

No, I was able to realize my "self". My last contact with him was before that happened. I do not imagine that he cares that I am gone.

To my knowledge, he is not here. I would not let him annoy me further if he were. That is also why I hesitate to do anything that reminds me of him.