One thing I recall happening to me a lot in CoX was finding cool people spread out all over the severs. Adding them too my friends list knowing that the server I met them on isn't my main. Go back too my main server playing with my usual crew an next thing I know. So much time has passed that I either forget where I met the person or what we did. So in order to keep people relevant in my toons memory span. I came up with a few buff that would show up under ppl's name when you play the game with them for a while. Here are a few examples:

You and a friend spend a lot of time in a local pub rping an received the "drinking buddy" buff granting a minor mez protection buff while you two in a two man group

" The lovers" toons getting married in game receive this buff granting a HP/regen buff and a temp power that allows you to teleport to your lover x amount of time.

"I always have your back" buff gives a peace bringer-ish buff to the duo. Your class determines the buff you receive from other toon.

"Your gonna pay for that" grant you a minor vengeance buff for x amount of sec if your partner falls in combat

"Your still alive!!! You old dog!!! You!" You an your partner have been doing this hero thing for years an receive the xp/debt reduction if hero or influence/ debt reduction if villain types

"Where ya been? Ah never mind..welcome back" a player has been logged out for more than a month. Once they return an team up with friend. They both receive a revival temp power with x amount if charges

These buff don't last forever and are minor buffs you could receive keeping up with friends. Who knows. The way I named them they could actually pass for badges leading to an accolade.

Just my thoughts