#serverblight sailerman

Sphynx Body and Facial Language Guide Part 2: Preening

Featuring Serverblight Factions' Icyad (@chiibss baby) and Sailerman as our test subjects (since these are characters we are already familiar with)

Note: it is rare for Sphynx to go around without clothing (though sleeping and sometimes preening is an exception), this is just for clarity

Being covered in feathers, preening is a common part of a sphynx's cleaning routine. However, there are parts of the sphynx's body that is hard (though not impossible) to reach, those being the back of the head, and between the shoulders. Only immediate family, close friends, or romantic partners are allowed to preen those areas (with masseuses and doctors being the only exceptions in most countries), and it's considered groping to try and preen without consent.

Sailerman (top), being Icy's (bottom) courtship partner is doing a specific type of preening that only courting or married sphynx are allowed to do; using the beak and nibbling (sphynx version of kissing), instead of the talons, which only friends and family do. He is purring, giving her comfort, and has his eyes closed, showing contentment.

Icy is responding to this by mirroring Sailer's closed eyes and purrs, basically to say "I believe, and trust you", mirroring is very important for understanding in most sphynx cultures. Her kneading and loafing is a sign that she is very relaxed, and feels safe.

Here, someone is about to get eaten, hehehe 😝