#i still want to work out a colour-meaning system for them.....given how strong their photopic vision is

[flockrest]

i'm sure i've made a few insinuations about this already, but it's probably high time i finally talk about my take on it; plumage ornamentation is typically a form of allopreening in any given rito flock, and hence holds lots of social and cultural importance for them!

(which isn't to say that it's always allopreening or can't be autopreening — some ornamentations are just part of rito tradition and denote a role or status — but a rito who isn't allopreened even semi-regularly can uh. be a very lonely rito. it can get pretty complex honestly, so it depends on what's actually going on!)

in addition to the mechanics of their own language, ornamentation is another way of casually enforcing bonds and dynamics for the rito. it's on average most often engaged in between family, but not exclusively reserved for them! in trusting and being willing to let someone touch your feathers and/or being allowed to touch someone else's feathers so intimately, you're letting them (and everyone else) know that they're some form of Really Important to you! kind of like "marking" them? it's at once less profound than i'm making it sound yet still extremely, extremely significant sklfjkf

when communicated through direct physical contact, ornamentation is primarily concentrated on crest feathers and semiplumes, which can translate to hair, fins, or simply the head for non-rito. it involves acts like braiding, beading, binding, and general weaving-things-into-feathers. while the act itself implies a level of comfortable, casual intimacy, what's actually used as decoration can give another layer of meaning to it too!

gifting items and materials for ornamentation holds less intimate weight than actually physically handling someone's feathers, but gets the same interpersonal message across! which is how travelling rito, especially those who go at it solo, are able to keep their loved ones close and basically auto-enforce those bonds with them :)

when interpreting plumage ornamentation (in this context), it's good to keep in mind that:

colours of cords, ribbons, beads, etc. are always chosen very deliberately by the older folks. children are encouraged to experiment more, to get a feel for what they want to express (and for what looks good).

level of skill does not always correspond to level of care (younglings are notorious for being very messy with their affection), but general rule of thumb is that the more eye-catching the work, the more you (and everyone else) are being told this person is Cared For!

moulted rito quills are, for a lack of better words, blessings. specific meaning depends on what sort of relationship the receiver has with the rito whose quill is being gifted, or with the rito who's doing the gifting if they're not the same person, but there are always hints of i'm with you always.

the meanings of ordinary bird quills are defined by their colour!

sometimes, things like flowers, plants, and other non-permanent materials will be used just for fun! doesn't lessen the significance of what allopreening can mean :)

ESSENTIALLY, if a rito asks to do something with your feathers (or whatever is equivalent), they are asking if it's okay for them to let the world know you are Cherished. and sometimes — if you're close enough — they don't even ask, they'll just do it!