Firmament

No EAT! Friends are not food, even when they're still a stranger to you.

> NO CRONCH CRONCH IS NO GOOD WHY CANT WE BE FRIENDS

Friends?

Oh yeah. Friends. Beings you don't harm, and whom you trust not to harm you. An alliance of shared goals, support, and understanding. One that probably doesn't allow for eating one another?

Well, unless they say it's okay first.

Still, it's like eating something. You combine your strengths into one whole. Only, in this case, they don't stop existing as a being separate from you. That autonomy is risky... they have the freedom to leave, or even take advantage of you! But if they remain loyal, you can do things together that you couldn't alone.

Maybe there are other advantages to friendship, too. Hmm. Perhaps you won't eat this Blue Stranger, but instead make them your Blue Friend.

...though how should you do that, you wonder?

Try wrapping your tail around them just in case they try to escape. They are a blue soul after all, they can't be trusted.

Good point. You can't make a stranger into a friend, if they run away from you. You quickly stretch out your tail, and coil it around theirs.

As you make contact, you feel the chilly glow of freshly-remembered guilt flowing into your tail. Is this what Blue Souls are known for? Feeling guilty?

Looks like you're already getting to know your future friend.

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Blue Friend(?): W-what? What are you trying to do?

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Talking. Yes. Attempting of the communications. Not other things.

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Blue Friend(?): ...other things?

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So.
Limbo is a place of passing, yes?
Yet, this would be my first incarnation, then.

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Blue Friend(?): What do you mean this is your f-first incarnation? Is that even... how can someone still be...

...what ARE you?

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I am what I am, and what I am is I.
But, when time has passed, we will no longer be I, but a different me?
Existing has so many fascinating things to learn.

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Blue Friend(?): Uh... yeah! Yeah, it's, uh... living and dying sure is a thing! Wow. Anyway, I've got places to be, so...

...can you let me go?

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Where are we going?

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Blue Friend(?): W-we?

I, uh... we are Transmigrating. Reincarnating into new mortal lives. Or I guess you're just... incarnating? Somehow?

Uh, but we gotta go through this Big Swirling Purple Rift to get there. What happens after, I can't really remember. Just know that's where we're going. Yep. Gotta go there.

So how about you just... let me go? Haha?

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The vaguely guilty memories flowing from where you're holding the Blue Soul's tail have faded. They've been replaced by fresh feelings of panic. You can feel the Blue Soul flinching slightly, every time you move.

This Friendship is going poorly. Maybe this was a bad idea.

You tighten your grip, and pull them closer.

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Blue Friend(?): Oh stars please don't eat me please just let me go please please please....

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This one has valuable information, and could provide companionship.

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Blue Friend(?): ... I've gone through a lot this past life and I just want to move on and try again so please...

...wait, what?

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>Take the neutral route and give the blue soul your most well manered lick.

You lick the Blue Soul, to demonstrate your mastery of Friendship and Manners.

They taste very confused.