( video | un: revanche )

[nilhilistic]

[ there is a man with very pale hair and red eyes, addressing the network stiffly. ]

Greetings. I am a new arrival to this world. I will assist to the best of my ability.

However, I must ask . . . is it true that we must be . . . touching? What does that mean? What level of touch is acceptable?

Are there tiers of touch? Surely, someone must have worked out a system.

Comments

[nilhilistic]

None of that sounds normal.

[roundandaround]

Really? Why not? Don't you make friends like that?

[nilhilistic]

No, you make friends by having something in common with them. Or pretending to do so.

[roundandaround]

That's part of it too, though...

[nilhilistic]

You made it sound like hand holding is essential. It is not.

[roundandaround]

But doesn't it feel so lonely and weird if you don't?

[nilhilistic]

No. I would think holding hands makes things weird.

[roundandaround]

Aww, really? How else are you supposed to be close with your friends?

[nilhilistic]

I think that can be managed with dialogue and connection.

[roundandaround]

We don't have to have one without the other, though??

[nilhilistic]

Perhaps. But as I said, I don't see how hand holding is particularly meaningful. It is nothing but physical contact. What can be gained from it?

[roundandaround]

Doesn't it feel nice when you do it, though? It's friendly and reassuring!

[nilhilistic]

No.

Granted, I have never done it. I haven't touched anyone in over a thousand years.

[roundandaround]

How are you alive?!

[nilhilistic]

I do not understand your question.

[roundandaround]

You're a thousand years old and you still haven't gotten lonely from not being close to or touching anyone?

[nilhilistic]

No. I did not ponder such things.

[ he had other concerns on his mind other than how utterly alone he was. ]

[roundandaround]

That just sounds really sad... But now you can make up for all your lost time, and this is the perfect place for it!

[nilhilistic]

I will do what is needed to aid this world, but I'm not interested in anything more.

[roundandaround]

Aww, really? But I don't think anybody would want you to get hurt or turn into a rock.

[nilhilistic]

[ hm. ]

No. I suppose not. But I fail to see what I should do about that.

[roundandaround]

Huh? But weren't we just talking about how you should make friends and touch them?

[nilhilistic]

What I mean is I'm willing to do what is necessary to survive.

But as I've already stated, I don't see touch as a necessity to friendship.

[roundandaround]

Huh... Okay, I think I get it? I hope you have fun here anyway. I bet you'll make a ton of friends.

[nilhilistic]

That is a baffling statement to make.

[ him, with many friends. laughable. ]