Behavior

/RETRIEVING CAPSULE [behavior]... I keep remembering things.

Behavior

BEHAVIOR

Due to the circumstances in which they spawn, Vido have a very wide array of behaviors, personalities, and customs that most often are influenced by where they spawned and where they choose to live -- much like humans. They are also similar to humans in their capacity to learn, change, feel, make mistakes, and adapt. There are some behaviors that are highly influenced by a species instinct, however... Sections with info so far: Communication & Language Sounds Gestures Self-Presentation

Archiving

notes on archiving urge and uncannily sharp memory here

Communication & Language

Vido often generate with an innate knowledge of at least one of languages spoken in the area their relic was activated in, most commonly a primary language of the location. Less commonly, cases of a Vido absorbing languages from the other side of the planet or even off-planet (if the planet has entered an interplanetary travel era) have also been documented. The extent of this knowledge varies per individual, and languages the Vido has not spawned with must be learned as normal. Innate knowledge of a language can fade with prolonged disuse, though even Vido that have no contact with other sapient individuals after spawning have been found to have poems or even notes on things they've seen stashed in their dens. Usage of the absorbed language depends on the individual, and Vido that do not use the language they absorbed sometimes create their own, or use pictograms or illustrations more heavily when documenting. Spoken communication also varies -- Vido can range from incredibly talkative to completely mute, though these ranges are not connected to the Vido's understanding of a conversation. Some individuals enjoy mimicking words and conversations as white noise like birdsong, while others may simply have no desire to speak or choose to communicate through other means. A Vido may even be able to show images or thoughts to an individual it is projecting sight through if both have a high level of trust and connection between eachother. Communication from a Vido that is comfortable may become more physical -- gentle bites with blunted teeth to get attention are common, and a bite with sharpened teeth usually is more urgent or emotional. A tail wrapping around a limb is similar to holding a hand or a "follow me." A Vido may enjoy rubbing the sides of its snout against an individual it's affectionate with or item it greatly enjoys -- the tear lines are sensitive and give much more information about texture than the fingertips.

Sounds & Mimicry

Vido naturally have a few expressive noises that see varying amounts of use per individual -- Vido raised in "stiffer" societies may stifle these or only make them when comfortable. Sounds commonly heard from Vido are as follows:

Hissing under distress or disgust. Hisses are similar to a crocodile's or other reptile.
A low, purr-like chuff when pleased or comfortable
A "boink"-like sound, similar to a drop of water falling into a glass bottle but bouncier. Usage of this varies between Vido and it is not tied to any specific emotion. The sound has been linked to a higher-pitched noise animated slimes chirp amongst eachother, but the purpose of it is unknown. Vido left in an empty room may ploink out of boredom.
Some individuals may squeak or chirp when startled -- others may suddenly give a human laugh that may not necessarily match their own.

With practice, Vido can be incredibly accurate with mimicking voices or even sounds such as wood creaking or machinery! Vido often enjoy interjecting these sounds when describing memories or stories for entertainment, or to confuse other individuals. Distracted or sleeping Vido may mutter conversations that sound as if they're between two individuals, distant or muffled through a wall. When asked about these, all do not know where the conversation came from or who they were mimicking. There have been documented cases of Vido mimicking portions of movies or plays without having seen them themselves.

Gestures & Bodylanguage

While many Vido primarily absorb the body language and culture of the location they hatched in, there are several gestures that are common across the species especially in areas where Vido can communicate with eachother. Humans that live closely with Vido may also pick these up. Pulling down the lower eyelid while speaking: Often means "trust me" or "I'm genuine." Signs of corruption often start in the whites of the eyes and so a gesture meant to show lack of decay has become one to show nothing is being hidden. Gently biting the tongue with the front teeth: Often means "I'm passive" or "I don't mean harm," emphasizing a Vido's dull front teeth which would hurt the tongue if sharp. Covering one eye before waving goodbye with the same hand: Often means "I'm looking out for you" or well-wishes for a journey.

Interaction with Other Species

notes on interactions with humans and other magical creatures including dragons here

Dwelling and Travel

notes on tendencies to stay in their chosen archiving spot and what would cause a nomadic lifestyle here

Self-Presentation

Clothing

Clothing plays several roles in a culture, from function to expression and modesty. Some Vido may participate in the same social customs as their peers of another species, and for a multitude of reasons; some may wear clothes because without them they feel exposed, while others simply like the fashion! Clothing often must be tailored to accommodate a Vido's frills and tail, with the style of tailoring varying depending on region and tailor. Vido do not often spawn with a sense of "nudity", which is a response to clothing that must be picked up from their environment.

Body Modification

Piercings, tattoos, scarification, and other such manual body mods are very common across many continents on Ichus, and so it is not uncommon to see a Vido indulging in the same practices.

A Vido's skin can be tattooed like any other's, though ink must be specialized or else run a risk of bleeding and turning into a soft fuzzy stain rather than a crisp line. A similar specialized ink is used for a type of modification that injects ink into transparent frills or horns, suspending it in the flesh similarly to glass art. As a Vido's body is constantly changing, these ink modifications need to be redone frequently in order to prevent warping, though the addition of a stabilizer and ensuring the Vido keeps a low corruption percentage can slow this.

Piercings are also possible with Vido, and can be done anywhere due to the unique layering of their skin. However, great care must be taken not to puncture in a spot that may have core fluid, or else cause a leak! Vido may also choose to dock or trim certain parts of themselves, which require a cap in order to avoid regeneration (in individuals that can regenerate.)

Gender Presentation

Vido do not have any innate social genders or gender roles -- though may spawn with a certain proclivity towards presenting a certain way. Vido commonly do not spawn with genitalia, but some individuals may form an abstracted version of such after making personal discoveries. Some Vido may change pronouns depending on what social species they are currently most in contact with -- for example, a brighter-colored Vido that does not have a preference may be referred to as masculine in a primarily avian society, neutrally/mixed in a human society, and royally amongst gnomes. (Gnomes are often quite avid traditionalists and it can be difficult to convince one to not associate ranking with amount of hues, even amongst humans with tattoos or bright dyes)