AIM is atrocious. How do I make it do what I want?

[Malomy]

Mainly, let me chat with someone I added... the day before yesterday. I installed AIM the day before yesterday and added them the same day... But it keeps showing them as offline, even when they've added me and confirm they are online through Gaia. And I can't send them offline messages either... Is there any way to make this stupid thing work?