ability to add a buddy through a form field that provides reference to registered users

Here's the case : Instead of having to visit a user's profile page to add them as a buddy, I would like the ability to do so through a form field that provides reference to the registered user I wish to add, ideally using the nodereference widget (or alternatively the userreference widget).

How would one implement this? Would it have to be a new field type, such as the ones found when adding a field to a content type? Or, would it be possible to rather make this into a form within 'My Buddylist' under a new tab that reads 'Add buddy', for example.

Along with Autocomplete, one could have the ability to simply begin typing the name of the user they wish to add. This could further be expanded by having the "Data Settings" set to 'Multiple values', such as it is already in place with the nodereference widget, in turn presenting the us with multiple input fields, giving the flexibility of adding multiple users within a single submission.

I'm sure many users would find this a great addition to buddylist. Any tips, ideas, or assistance on how to make this work would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

(edit - sorry for the double post)