8 – Hybrid Behavior

• A Comment on Wandering
• A Comment on Setting Roots
• Hybrid Play Behavior
• The Full Moon
• Collective Behavior
• Targeting
• Hunting
• Allogrooming: Preening
• Allofeeding: Food and Kisses (or Lack Thereof)
• Courtship
• Bonding
• Nesting

A Comment on Wandering

It is a truth, perhaps universally acknowledged, that hybrids were given the desire to explore. Some do stick close to home, but the innate need to mine, craft, and create seems to be woven inseparable with their standard code. I suppose I could say I feel it myself. I take fair pleasure in running my fingers through the dirt or walking the damp corridors of a cave with a torch in my hand. We Need to Go Deeper is a mantra I carry in my life on the daily.

Is it paranoia? That may be a side effect of living in such a dangerous world. Monsters can be quite violent and they spawn noiselessly in the dark. There exists a constant need to check over one’s shoulder. Securing shelter is an immediate need, arguably more important than obtaining food and drink. Even if you should find yourself starving to death, you can at least take comfort in the knowledge that you’ll wake with that meter restored and your belly full of energy.

Safety is paramount, yet so many choose to venture into the unknown. Dragons mother spawnlings until they’re old enough to handle themselves. Once they can, they frequently leave home to build their XP levels, gain an education, and explore the world. This appears to be an intrinsic desire rather than an externally motivated one, by which I mean that hybrids are not usually chased out by their mother, other members of their clutch, weather, or lack of food. It’s what really sets them apart from the other humanoids in Between – the villagers – who choose farms and permanent dwellings over vying with monsters for their right to roam. Even without exposure to energy and desires from the outside world, it would seem that hybrids exist to play.

A Comment on Setting Roots

Hybrids seem to enjoy having territory to roam. Some species express territorial behavior while others are more social, and even then, variation exists among individuals. While some hybrids do choose to set their roots and stay in an area for long periods of time, even these can be seen roaming the surrounding land on the regular. There are often farms and animals that need tending to. However, even when plentiful food and building materials are provided, you will often see a hybrid leave their dwelling to walk around and look at things.

Some take inspiration from distant landmarks and recreate them nearer their base. This does more than provide resources (such as water or food variety), but appears to provide entertainment as well. Some hybrids may mine underground, avoiding the air but building long tunnels. While on servers, many choose to seek the Nether, The End, and the deep dark areas of the Overworld not merely for resources, but out of a genuine curiosity to explore and experience their world. I think there’s beauty in that.

In the Between dimension, hybrids who leave home will likely settle in a server hub. Some join packs, flocks, or raiding parties. Those who stay with the nest play a role in nurturing the spawnlings who come after them. Community seems to be highly valued, though my understanding is that if given the choice, most would prefer to have their own living area without sharing a room with other individuals.

I suspect the needs for both safety and community are frequently at odds with one another, leading hybrids to make constant risk assessments as to whether they can trust those they are basing with at the time. This too sets them apart from villagers, which are a highly social species that will happily welcome, feed, trade with, shelter, groom, and accept foreign villagers into their communities.

Hybrid Play Behavior

• See also, Chapter 13 – Between’s Culture

There are many forms of play among hybrids, some of which would never fly in my old universe. Many are familiar to me, such as digging in sand, swimming, flying, creating pottery out of mud, petting animals, climbing trees, throwing items, ball sports, and painting with dye. I wish to highlight some behaviors that especially stand out to me.

Crafting Toys – Minecraft, if it truly is a coded game at its core, is built for the entertainment of people we will never meet, be able to question, or even learn the living situations of. Minecraft itself appears to be entertainment and escape for such people, and one of the strongest arguments for this seems to be the crafting table. This table accepts materials and can hastily build all sorts of objects, from armor to fishing rods to doors and stairs. However, the table is first and foremost functional rather than entertaining. I cannot imagine a world where those ancient players who came before taught themselves to freely manipulate this world’s energy into code, but did not create toys. The same could be said for other useful items such as gloves and cups.

Crafting toys is a common activity among hybrids. The table does not produce any of its own (although there is something to be said for armor and weapons and their role in social games), so toys must be made by hand. I have witnessed many individuals bring wooden sculptures to life, including dolls and dollhouses. To my surprise, I have even seen wooden toy trains. I am not sure how these individuals know what a train is (as I have never seen one, and minecarts rule the tracks), but I admire their creativity. I’ve seen many card games and board games come into existence over the years.

Building – Many people enjoy building structures, but these are not limited to shelters. Many people use tens, hundreds, and thousands of resources to create things that serve no practical purpose, but which exist to be admired (Ex: statues of people and animals, many of which can be quite large). Due to Between’s Deny field rules, most structures are concentrated around nesting hubs (where a dragon’s Allow field permits building). Some may coax dragons to other areas, allowing them to mine resources or plant smaller structures (such as travel hubs).

Building may be a solitary, artistic activity, but it can also be a social activity. Large-scale projects can lead to community participation. Many people build temporary structures for playing short games, and building can be a form of friendly competition (like a sport involving the placement of blocks). Ingenuity is often celebrated; optimization of resource gathering will draw attention (mostly positive, though some areas of Between may have regulations surrounding the treatment of mobs involved).

Many hybrids learn about the world by observing the builds of others and mimicking them (sometimes tweaking them). Some structures can be violent in nature, such as TNT cannons: a specific orientation of blocks that compresses TNT and launches it across a large distance. However, the process of designing, obtaining resources, construction, and sharing the build is often viewed as desirable social behavior.

Fighting – Fights may arise out of a desire to harm one another. However, many hybrids use fighting as a form of social bonding and play. Fighting may involve punching with fists, slapping with hands, pushing, kicking, biting, grappling, or attacking one another with weapons. More complicated fights may involve other items, such as anvils dropped on heads, mazes that force people to wander, or trapdoors that drop someone into a pit.

Death is frequently a part of the fighting culture. In this world of seemingly infinite respawns, it’s only reasonable that it would not be perceived as a horrific, life-altering event. Rather, death is perceived as a force of healing, and this can be incorporated into play. Generally, the likelihood of being pushed to the point of respawn diminishes the farther you are from your soul spawner, as if your friends are truly intending to be playful, they will try to avoid causing a large inconvenience (i.e. leaving you to wake up alone days or potentially weeks of travel away from them).

Many friend groups use fighting to ease tension, channel mischief, and arouse excitement. These fights are not necessarily about flaunting strength; in fact, over a long friendship, individuals will frequently kill their friends and die at their hands, even if dying to a friend sometimes means withholding one’s own strength or walking into a known trap. Strength and skill are often set aside in favor of allowing everyone their chance to experiment and enjoy the thrill of successfully ending their target’s life.

The Full Moon

• Coded Behavior – Behavior coded into the body (as opposed to bleed, which is influenced by outside players and the thoughts and lore they create concerning their avatar characters)
• Hybrid personalities stem from bleed. Hybrid instincts stem from behavior coded into mobs, which hybrids share their traits with

In the chapter on hybrid biology, I detailed how the moon’s phases affect the structure of a spawnling’s body (and the structure of each respawned body while in Between). I find that the full moon also influences hybrid behavior. You may remember that the moon’s presence (or rather, its fullness) strengthens mobs in the wild. In hybrids, it drags their mob instincts to the forefront of the mind. Under a new moon, a hybrid’s mob instincts are weaker.

Imagine sneaking up on a blaze hybrid and startling them with a loud noise. Under the full moon, the hybrid is likely to whip around and immediately attack with fire as this is in line with a blaze mob perceiving a threat. Under the new moon, the hybrid is more likely to yelp, jump, and turn to assess their situation before attacking, and they may be more likely to attack with a sword than with fire.

This pull on mob instincts is weaker on a server, where the moon is small and influences instincts for 1 to 3 days. The on-server moon rotates through each phase 1 per day. Between’s moon is larger and thus more intense when influencing behavior. It passes through its eight phases on a 32-day cycle, spending 4 days in each one:

🌑 🌒 🌓 🌔 🌕 🌖 🌗 🌘

The new, waxing, full, and waning moons

This aligns the moon’s cycle closely with the 100-day calendar that hybrids often favor; three cycles through the moon’s phases are equivalent to 96 days.

I would not describe hybrids as wholly subject to their mob behavior. For example, a fox and a chicken mob cannot be left in the same area lest the fox leap and kill the chicken. Under the tug of the full moon, chicken hybrids will generally avoid fox hybrids when possible (and perhaps fox mobs along with them). Fox hybrids may approach, hunt, or pursue them. However, I would describe the fox mobs as being unable to resist the urge to attack chickens as it is deliberately embedded in their code. It would be a mistake to imply hybrids are equally unable to resist these urges, but it would be an equal mistake to pretend this increase in mob instincts does not exist.

• I discuss notable mob behaviors in my species overview chapters, including griefing blocks, hunting prey, courtship, and collective social behaviors

There does not appear to be a gender bias in these behaviors; personal life goals seem to be the only real determining factor in intimate behaviors such as feeding a partner or caring for spawnlings. On a related note, I would like to point out that feeling an urge to flirt or care for spawnlings when the moon is at its fullest is not indicative that the affected individual wishes for a partner or offspring. As someone who grew up in a society that regularly tried to deflect me from the cartographer’s path to that of homemaking, I think it’s important to note that during this phase of the moon, code is surfacing in the mind and may be intense and restless. It should not be assumed that actions under the full moon reflect an individual’s true desires.

This rise in mob instincts beneath the full moon is considered natural in hybrid society and widely embraced. There may exist pocket cultures that create a culture of guilt and disdain around these behaviors, but this does not reflect the larger Between society.

That said, I do encourage individuals to be cautious on full moon nights, when their companions may react in unpredictable and aggressive ways. Some may struggle against the instinct to chase, bite, or even kill someone they consider a friend, and others may struggle not to flirt and touch. I personally recommend that highly emotional conversations (ranging from love confessions to break-ups) be pushed off to a time when the moon is less full (Ideally the new moon, when mob behavior dramatically drops off).

For those who have concerns for their safety on full moon nights, I suggest the following:

• Assess the security measures of your base before the moon is full; improve them if you can
• Communicate with your friends when the moon is not full; set their expectations accordingly for what your behaviors are and how each party would prefer to handle them (Ex: perhaps both feel flirty under full moons and wish to make something of it, or perhaps one would prefer the other avoids them at all costs)
• Take care of necessities (such as food and water) before the full moon arrives in case you feel unsafe leaving your base
• Stay on a server until the full moon passes by in Between, if possible
• Be familiar with safety measures (light sources, public portals, weapons, HALO officers, trusted friends, dragons); stay aware of your surroundings and don’t block your eyes or ears
• Avoid traveling to unfamiliar hubs; stay where you are familiar
• Find others of your species, who may express predictable behaviors
• Avoid mobs; do not forget they too are strengthened by the moon and may be very aggressive
• Consider methods of restraint such as leads or iron chains (Only with consent; again, I suggest communicating when the moon isn’t full)
• When the moon’s effects have faded, assess the situation with those you met to determine if these methods were effective and comfortable for all involved

Lastly, it’s important to note that highly modded individuals (particularly those who have essentially changed their species) are not particularly subject to mob behavior. The world will always register their soul as belonging to a specific spawner, but many behaviors can be toned down with mods, and some can be toned down to the point that they seem entirely absent. If mob behaviors are extreme, consider having your code modified to tone them down. Speak to those who have made such a decision so you can consider multiple viewpoints and determine if doing so is right for you. If you live with a partner with extreme behaviors, you may need to have a conversation about your comfort level and suggest modding as an option.

Collective Behavior

Some species form tight-knit groups which usually involve a hierarchy system and social cues, some of which may be unique to the species (or even unique to the group). Group members may favor members of their own species, but do not necessarily exclude members outside their species. Terms for this behavior include swarming, flocking, and shoaling, with the most common collective terms being collective behavior. Individuals may choose to join a social group for both physical and emotional comfort.

• Conspecific – Noun; a member of the same species
• Allospecific – Noun; a member from a different species

To maintain a place in the group, members are expected to abide by certain behaviors. Some of these may be explained verbally while other behaviors may have become social norms that are overlooked until violated. Example behaviors include:

• Not speaking while someone else is talking
• Addressing each other by specific titles or nicknames
• Joining a server together; participating in check-ins or maintenance
• Not attacking each other, stealing from each other, or griefing one another’s builds
• Ostracizing or attacking of a rival group
• Following instructions from a high-ranking member of the group (possibly a single dominant individual)
• Hunting as a group; keeping to the assigned position in the chase
• Allowing the lead individual to move at the front of the group
• Caring for low-XP, sick, or injured hybrids
• Sharing information within the group but not with those outside the group
• Fighting off predators as a group (as opposed to fleeing and leaving the rest of the group to defend themselves)
• Helping each other with projects, such as resource gathering or building
• Waiting for all members to eat and drink before leaving the area
• Sleeping near each other
• Watching each other’s backs while other members rest or work on a task that requires full attention
• Allogrooming
• Allofeeding

Each group will have its own behavior preferences. Individuals will often mimic behaviors common to their species, but are not beholden to those behaviors alone. Awkwardness and misunderstanding can occur when an individual’s behavior doesn’t match the expectations of the group; this may lead to correction (such as touching an arm, shoving, punching, biting, or a verbal warning) or ostracization from the group (temporary or permanent). Some individuals may become stressed when separated from conspecifics; others may not mind being separated from conspecifics so long as they are near the allospecifics in a social group they rely on.

• The species that express the most collective behavior are slimes, meerkats, guardians, pillagers, bees, wolves, silverfish, villagers, piglins, phantoms, blazes, salmon, sheep, shulkers, and creepers. By nature, they favor bonding with conspecifics over allospecifics and tend to be in conflict if their territories overlap, with rivalry increasing under the waxing and full moons. They may be more friendly towards each other under the waning and new moons

High-ranking individuals are those who have adapted well to the expectations of the group; they provide positive leadership examples, physical safety, emotional comfort, and/or social peace. They have learned to identify and respond appropriately to social cues. Individuals who are restless or mildly disrupted tend to be low-ranked. If an individual (especially a leader) doesn’t conform to the expectations of the group, the group may rally against them and force them out, even if they showed many desirable traits.

Targeting

Targeting is the detection of another hybrid’s presence. This behavior is part of Minecraft’s code for mobs; many are coded to aggro to provide challenge to Minecraft worlds, lending weight to the theory that this universe was designed to be a game. Many hybrids experience targeting behavior because of their mob sides (Much more during full moon nights and much less on new moon nights). Hybrids may only be able to target from a short distance away. Some may require line of sight (visuals) while others may be able to track a target as long as they can pathfind (follow a clear, uninterrupted path).

• Horde Behavior – Adapting to the behavior of a larger group; examples may include roaming, grazing, or attacking a target
• Aggro – A shorthand term for “aggression.” Aggro behavior involves locking onto a target with intent to attack (Usually intent to force a logout or kill the target)
• Hunting – A type of aggro that involves pursuing for the purpose of obtaining food (Ex: By pulling a soul from a body and consuming live code)
• Courtship – Honing in on and flirting with a potential romantic or sensual partner; associated with love hearts

Even independent individuals may be prone to horde behavior, even passive individuals may be prone to aggro, and even non-flirty individuals may be prone to pursuing touch. These behaviors are embedded in one’s nature; an individual who dislikes them may choose to mod them away. An individual who does like them may choose to devote Between dimension XP to them, which can increase their intensity or the targeting range.

Common reasons to dislike these behaviors include feeling a personal conflict with the behavior, feeling a loss of control, or feeling they waste time or cause frustration. Common reasons to like this behaviors include feeling part of a larger whole (such as one’s group, species, or the universe), showcasing abilities (such as locating food or navigating treacherous terrain), or feeling they’re stepping back and allowing instincts to take control (which may be preferable to making decisions).

Opinions can vary widely across Between (and even among individuals within the same server hub or group). I would encourage all to respect one another’s preferences; a behavior that you consider gross or scary may be a source of pleasure and comfort to another. One’s personal opinion on their level of enjoyment with their coded-in data seems like an insignificant thing to break a friendship over.

Hunting

There are no obligate carnivorous hybrids, meaning there are none who exclusively survive off meat. The hunting species include anivores and omnivores. While on a server, the moon is only full for one day each week, which means a hybrid is more likely to exhibit a burst of extreme behavior (as opposed to a steady transition through multiple behaviors). A hunting hybrid is one who is neither grazing nor obtaining food from farms, but is actively in search of food.

Hunting behavior can come in many forms, such as fishing, shooting, tracking, trapping, prowling, stalking, pouncing, and chasing. Hybrids who were last respawned beneath a waxing moon are more likely to hunt using their own body (strength, claws, and teeth) while hybrids last respawned under the waning moon favor tools, bait, and traps.

• Many hybrids have hunting adaptations, such as keen senses of noise or smell. These generally mimic the code the relevant mob displays. Vanilla, low-trait hybrid abilities include sharp eyes and sensitive hearing, but poor sense of smell
• Hybrids who lock onto a target are said to be targeting: a tracking behavior that may or may not require line of sight to be maintained. Some species don’t require line of sight as long as other elements (such as scent or a clear path) do not change

Hybrid bodies are comprised of light, not flesh. If a hybrid is bitten with physical teeth, this will cause pain (as the teeth collide with the physical skin). If a hybrid is bitten with soul teeth, the souls collide. The soul lacks the nerves for pain. The hybrid may feel a ripple-like sensation as the inside of their skin detects the presence of the teeth or the drag of the soul against the inside of the body, but they will not experience pain. Skins are like the rinds or peels of fruit; they provide little to no nourishment and are not consumed. What little energy would be gained by eating the skin would be outweighed by the energy costs of digesting its tough form.

Souls can be difficult to grip; they are pulled from the body by teeth, beaks, claws, hands, or specialized tools. They can also be punched or kicked free of the body, but only if the hunter hits with high power and the prey is caught off guard. Usually, souls must be dragged from the skin. Doing so requires surfacing one’s soul energy to the appropriate body location (i.e. hands or teeth) and passing the glowing soul energy through skin to make contact with the prey’s soul.

Anivores are capable of logging an individual out very quickly by delivering a very powerful bite, especially to the chest area (i.e. the soul slot, or where the soul crystal used to be). Some may choose to draw the feed out longer (Ex: for roleplay purposes, such as teasing a friend or partner they brought down). Low-XP individuals may have weak jaws or baby teeth, making it difficult to deliver strong bites. They might consume a soul in smaller pieces, or may tear a gash in the vessel membrane and lick the soul energy that leaks out.

• Wolf and raven hybrids frequently hunt together, with ravens identifying easy prey that the wolves bring down. It’s very common for wolves to drag a soul from a body and share it with ravens, who often have difficulty pulling them from skin

Archivist’s Note – [Minor Series Spoilers]
– The Pixels Imperfect series has a subseries called Bones to Pick [Phantom Flock]. I write several species that hunt, but the phantoms are prominent and have a lot of good swooping scenes.

Allogrooming: Preening

Grooming is a form of intimacy (familial, romantic, or platonic) that involves one hybrid cleaning the other; the term allogrooming refers specifically to grooming for a social purpose (as opposed to one’s personal grooming to achieve personal cleanliness standards or to attract a mate). Allogrooming may take many forms, such as:

• Dragons using their hooked tongues to scrape contamination from a spawnling’s soul
• Friends washing each other’s body with soap in public bathhouses
• Feline and canine hybrids licking faces, scalps, and hair
• Picking parasites from another’s fur or scales
• Preening dirt, leaves, and other messes from an avian’s feathers
• Hair brushing, braiding, and decorating
• Nipping a friend’s hair or skin to adjust it
• Anivores clipping off loose strings of code
• Endermites consuming excess ecto code
• Blazes picking off hardened areas of skin (i.e. where body heat has cooled and left rocky patches behind)
• A group welcoming a member of their species into their vicinity and grooming them to form a bond despite lack of familiarity
• Helping a friend dress in a skin or clothing; pulling at the skin or fabric until it’s in place
• Gently holding down another individual and brushing, chewing on, or picking at them

Allogrooming allows hybrids to build and examine their social networks even if they don’t speak the same verbal language. Acceptance, rejection, and additional social cues (such as long vs. short grooming sessions, rough vs. soft brushing, or the use of fingers and tongues vs. tools like brushes) may indicate where they stand in the social hierarchy and how close they can get to others (physically and emotionally).

• Ex: A hybrid may not mind if one friend puts pressure on their shoulder, holding them in place while they brush their hair. However, they may object to a different friend engaging in the same behavior. This would indicate the second friend has gotten “too close” physically without the proper social build-up

Social cue examples:

• Licking a family member’s scalp may be a sign of intimate caretaking, but licking a stranger’s scalp may lead to social rejection
• Licking a friend’s scalp may break a physical and social barrier that allows deeper relationships to form (more committed friendships or romance)
• Licking a romantic partner’s scalp may be a way of affirming care (while the absence of usual licks may indicate fading interest and emotional distance)

Allogrooming also allows opportunities to signal amorous desires and receptivity by creating a space where one can be personal and genuine- i.e. where roleplay is not usually present. In fact, bringing roleplay into an allogrooming space may allow social disruption, confusion, and irritation, and those who try may be pushed out of the group until they are ready to mirror the attitudes of those already present in the space.

• In other words, excessive playful or giggly behavior is not usually found in this relaxed space. I would compare it to a school classroom, nice restaurant, or a library- Those who disrupt the sanctity of the space may be ignored or ostracized from the group.

The combination of “creatures made of light who don’t build up sweat” and “widespread culture of social grooming desires” have led to public wash and grooming areas being very popular (as opposed to private baths or showers that may see infrequent use, thus risking the build-up of grime or mold without regular attention). Examples include:

• Washing together in rivers
• Public shower houses
• Public bathhouses
• Spas
• Salons
• Saunas
• Onsens
• Roosts
• Barns
• Beaches
• Parks
• Buildings I can only describe as social cuddle areas

Archivist’s Note – [Minor Series Spoilers]
– For anyone interested, some allogrooming and relevant scenes I’ve written:

– Grian power washes his skinless friends in “The Man He Sets His Spawn With,” which splatters loose bits of code and mods all over the place (and is generally not recommended since it can spread infection). This story takes place in the locker room / shower house and everybody’s wet. Emotionally intense story, but you can tell there’s some chatting in the background from people socializing.

– Martyn helps Mumbo wash in the shower in One and a Half Birds Chapter 14. He uses his hands to rub in soap like a human would.

– In Dog’s Life Chapter 32, Etho discusses cleaning tools with SnifferMyFeet and uses them to clean his code. In Chapter 33, he’s given up on that; instead, he pins him with one hand and uses his teeth.

Allofeeding: Food and Kisses (or Lack Thereof)

The majority of species can be classed as anivores, herbivores, piscivorous, insectivores, or omnivores, with the remaining categorized by less common food requirements. While dragons do provide milk to their offspring, many are unfamiliar with modern food prep techniques. Hybrids either learn from each other or experiment on their own, which often means setting out to explore at a young age.

Some species show a behavior called allofeeding. The broad definition can include portioning out prepared food for another person (or even handing food to another person for social bonding purposes), but the word is most commonly used to describe pressing lips together to pass food from one mouth to another. Lip-touching seems to be reserved for passing live code (i.e. souls) between bodies (usually by lifting a soul from the gular pouch into the mouth and feeding it into another’s mouth). Passing food via mouth is less common in non-anivore species. However, some dragons are unable to suckle (i.e. they are not mammals and have no teats), so they allofeed their spawnlings instead.

I previously said that sexual reproduction does not exist in this universe. Hybrids do not engage in it, and allofeeding is peculiar in my eyes. It is best described as an act of kindness and affection, but is not inherently romantic despite the mouth to mouth contact. Through my own experimentation and discussions with the locals, I’ve learned that hybrids lack the many thousands of nerve endings present in the lips of those from my universe. Since these nerves were not coded in, touching lips does not seem to be particularly exciting or intimate for the locals despite the fact that they are physically capable of brief contact before their pixels phase together. These mouth-to-mouth touches seem to be viewed as a way to pass live code, which is difficult to hold in the hands.

• It seems there’s a sense of intimacy involved with personal space (as allowing someone that close requires letting down your guard). Notably, Between’s hybrids have built their intimacy culture around touching foreheads more than lips; see my notes on carroting behavior in Chapter 9 – “Carroting, Co-Spawning, and Flares”

In other words, allofeeding involves touching lips and using tongue and teeth to grip the food (usually a soul) inside another hybrid’s mouth. I was raised to consider such a display embarrassingly passionate. However, it is not inherently perceived as romantic here. I believe it can be, but that’s up to the individuals and the context of the situation. For example, allofeeding is part of the courtship behavior of many winged species. Usually, this is combined with bobbing heads, rustling wings, and a desire to preen a partner’s feathers. Allofeeding may also be a non-romantic gesture; when this is the case, you won’t see it combined with the additional courtship signals.

A body’s food requirements are strict in Between (and difficult to modify); these seem to be locked among the species’ source code. However, when a player joins a server, the server can be set to a “plain vanilla” state. This temporarily gives everyone online an omnivore body. Non-omnivore individuals frequently report that eating the “wrong” food leaves them unable to enjoy the taste (as if eating sand or paper), but they can gain nutrients from it nonetheless.

• See also, Chapter 6 – “Server Hubs”

Those who prefer not to pass souls via mouth-to-mouth contact or need to carry souls in bulk may wish to invest in a soul lantern (x) or a satchel of snacks (x)- two artifacts that allow a hybrid to carry large amounts of souls outside the body. Both can be crafted at the artifact table.

• See Chapter 10 – “XP, Magic, and Tables”

Archivist’s Note – [Minor Series Spoilers]
– For anyone interested, some allofeeding and relevant scenes I’ve written:

– Platonic Drop-Off – Martyn | InTheLittleWood carries souls in a satchel in “Mum’s the Word.” Souls are bound in red string to prevent them from escaping after he drops them in people’s mail slots (a parallel of “the red thread of fate” said to bind souls together). Good example of phantom hybrids playing their leadership role by helping those who can’t or don’t want to hunt.

–> BdoubleO100 does the same delivery task later in the timeline in Dog’s Life Chapter 22, but caves into his phantom instincts and eats everything in the satchel. Good example of how he can store souls in his gular pouch.

– Courtship – Grian holds a piece of bread in his mouth and offers it to ZombieCleo in Dog’s Life Chapter 20. Good example of a scene played for romantic vibes (despite how peculiar it may seem to human readers).

– Platonic – In Chalaza Chapter 3, Bdubs realizes Martyn has low-XP teeth and can’t hunt on his own yet, so he feeds him a soul.

– Platonic – ZombieCleo feeds Martyn a soul mouth to mouth in Dog’s Life Chapter 21. Notably, they circle each other to check for courtship signals.

– Courtship – In Dog’s Life Chapter 26, Martyn and Cleo display courtship signs to each other and Martyn presses his lips to feed Cleo, who gently turns him down.

Courtship

Hybrids do not favor lifelong monogamy, which should be no surprise considering their lifespans (several thousands of years; potentially billions, so long as light and code exist), frequent separations due to servers and the Between dimension (which can cause individuals to experience time at different speeds), and the fluid nature of roleplay in Between’s culture. Many hybrids socialize widely; some may pick up partners for a season (or several years) before separating. Some relationships may last hundreds or even thousands of years. Both open and closed relationships are common; I think many would not bat an eye if they were introduced to a friend’s multiple partners. Many do choose monogamy. Variation is common between species and within the individuals of that species.

• Courtship behavior is often connected to one’s species, so I will describe notable ones in more detail throughout the species overview chapters
• As long as communication is clear, hybrids do not seem to favor conspecifics; they will flirt with allospecifics too

Courtship displays often include frequent proximity (which may mean the courting individual builds a base near the object of their affections), gift giving (food and building materials are common, especially those that are time-consuming to craft), and physical touch (such as allogrooming). Nonverbal signals (such as flaunting one’s wingspan, crouching low to the ground, or performing dangerous activities to prove skill and agility) are also common. When these signals are combined with social behaviors (such as allofeeding), a distinction is made between casually offering spare food and personally delivering food as a show of affection.

Hybrids who are courting will likely engage in longer and more nuanced resource gathering, cooperative building, allogrooming, and carroting sessions compared to the behavior patterns they showed before they began courting; it is not common for individuals to decrease these behaviors once courtship begins (unless they are limited on time or resources).

It is worth remembering that Minecraft seems to be a game engaged in by outside players. Some of them have their own partners. These feelings of affection are likely to pass through the sync-cord at some point, which can lead hybrids to pursue individuals with traits similar to their outside player’s partner- these tend to be traits they find physically or mentally attractive in other people (For example, excellent cooking skills, attention to detail, build cleanliness, and personal hygiene).

Hybrids who sense they are played by partnered individuals are often called betrothed. They may choose to engage in courtship behavior, but not necessarily; each are free to consider each other and will perhaps separate. It’s common for betrothed individuals to bond and live together, especially if they are both picking up signals from the outside world that encourage them to find each other’s traits attractive. However, betrothal is no guarantee that romance is present in the relationship.

Bonding

Pair bonds are social and emotional commitments between two individuals, many of which are long-term. These may or may not be romantic. They may or may not involve intimate physical touch (ranging from hand holding to hair brushing to carroting).

To be defined as a pair bond, the social commitment to each other must last a minimum of 100 days; anything less may be waved off as a fling (i.e. short-term courtship). This is approximately three cycles of the moon in the Between dimension. The 100-day courtship may exist both on-server and in Between; it may exist in only one. A 100-day courtship is considered a short-term bond. It may be considered a long-term bond after a year, though some individuals may believe it takes longer before it can be defined as such. There seems to be widespread agreement that a bond can be called long-term after 72 years of consistent socializing with one another.

• Betrothed individuals often form long-term pair bonds. Some describe themselves as lifelong pair bonded, although this does not necessarily mean they are in a closed monogamous relationship

Some species – such as evoker, allay, vex, villager, chicken, skeleton, spider, piglin, hoglin, wandering trader, and llama hybrids – notably show a preference for pair bonding with allospecifics over conspecifics. Species that are coded as riders and mounts will often gravitate towards each other and bond for life, even if one does not physically climb on top of the other. Many of these bonds do involve power dynamics, making communication critical between all parties.

By nature evoker and vex hybrids gravitate towards each other as their magic plays off each other’s presence. Vex instincts and culture encourage them to submit to an evoker. In some situations, a vex hybrid may trust an evoker enough to submit to them completely (i.e. turning over their name to their evoker, which means surrendering all ability to resist orders).

• This submission ritual is called the seravex ritual; it’s described in more detail in Chapter 20 – “Tradebonded Report”

Allay hybrids are also prone to forming long-term pair bonds, which may or may not be lifelong. They bond closely with a hybrid of any species whom they’ve determined fits well with their life and comfort levels, but only one at a time; other individuals may be very important in their lives, but allay magic can only attach to one. Allay hybrids will tidy areas that are frequently visited by the one they’ve bonded with; and shower their chosen individual in gifts. Under the full moon, allay are easily stressed by separation from their partner.

• Allay hybrids are capable of forming allay bonds, which are mental links between themselves and their partner. Like the seravex ritual, this bond requires a consensual power exchange; in this case, the partner submits fully to the allay

WARNING – The seravex ritual and allay bond are magical exchanges of willpower and should not be taken lightly. Do not commit to such bonds unless you are absolutely sure you trust your partner with your life, health, and safety. If an evoker or allay is the first to bring up this bond in conversation, it’s wise to step back, get other opinions, and even consider temporary separation while you consider your options.

• A partner who legitimately cares should be willing to give you space so you can consider such a large commitment
• Many evokers and allays will opt not to bring these commitments up so that decision can be left in the hands of their partner without any pressure

Pair bonds are tight links between two individuals. Pack bonding refers to long-term, potentially lifelong social/emotional commitments with more than one individual (All within the same group). These bonds are most common within the species listed in the Collective Behavior section above. Other terms such as mutual bonding are often used to describe an individual’s bonds with multiple people in non-overlapping groups, such as multiple close friends, family members, or romantic partners who may live in separate places.

Nesting

The last behavior I wish to discuss is nesting. Compared to the above, it’s simple: this is a powerful, often overwhelming coded behavior that prompts a hybrid to prepare a den or nest for a potential mate or offspring. Many hybrids experience it even if they don’t plan to spawn a spark. This behavior is commonly seen before, during, or shortly after the full moon.

• Silverfish are particularly prone to aggression while nesting

A hybrid experiencing nesting behavior may gather materials (such as branches, leaves, and cloth) to build a nest, seek shelter (such as a crevice in a build), dig a den, or stay underwater for long periods of time. They will frequently flirt with hybrids within their territory in order to woo a mate (though not to the same extremes as in love mode). While expressing nesting behavior, hybrids can become very possessive and agitated, especially if they fail to woo a partner and/or no offspring arrives.

• I suggest diverting a hybrid’s behavior away from nesting when possible, as hybrids often become aggressive towards those in their claimed territory, which can be inconvenient or even life-threatening if they take up residence near someone’s base, the roof of a shop, or in a position overlooking a busy street

Once the nesting spot is chosen, the hybrid may be reluctant to leave the area even if there are no eggs or offspring present. Behavior can differ between species, but protective and aggressive behaviors are common. The hybrid may come and go from the area, checking on it regularly, and may even abduct nearby eggs and spawnlings (even those that have already been adopted by other hybrids).

It can be difficult to pry a hybrid away from their nest for an extended period of time. To avoid attacks from a nesting hybrid, consider these options:

• Posture in front of the hybrid; puff yourself up and indicate this is your territory by showing no hesitation in killing the animals in the area and leaving marks, such as scent (Spreading wings is often effective if relevant, but elytra or pillows stuffed under clothing can also indicate a strong body). Consider yelling and waving your arms
• Attack the hybrid to show your strength and willingness to defend your territory (Be cautious when not in the Between dimension- A hybrid may have a bed in their nest or den to set their spawn)
• Tolerate their presence and avoid the area until the behavior passes (It normally fades as the moon decreases, but has sometimes been documented as lasting for weeks)
• Allow a hybrid to raise an egg it’s laid claim to
• Distract and replace; replace the egg, spawnling, or stolen item with a different one. Consider replacing it with a false egg or even with a domestic mob, such as a baby sheep (Not recommended for hybrids that eat sheep or have spent long periods of time smothering an egg with their scent)
• Create a hostile environment to shoo the hybrid off, such as by playing loud noises at irregular intervals or introducing predators

In the early stages of nesting behavior, when the hybrid is flirtatious, one could also consider playing the role of mate. This role does not always require carroting or extended touching, but a mate may be expected to guard the nest while the partner hunts. This may be viable option if you are familiar with the hybrid (Friend, family member, or romantic partner) and can spend a few days (or weeks) sitting near the nest and soothing their anxieties.

• Alternatively, one could volunteer to play the role of an offspring to be fawned over and fed

However, I don’t recommend subbing in for a mate or offspring (even temporarily) unless you are prepared to play this role long-term. A hybrid in the nesting stage tends to think with their mob brain. Even if they express understanding between nesting periods (i.e. that you are only there to watch the nest or provide platonic cuddles), they may not remember this once they begin nesting again. I suspect offering oneself creates reliance and leads to patterns that may become unsustainable in the future.

Cutting yourself off from a nesting hybrid that sees you as a mate (Temporarily or permanently) can leave them distraught, depressed, or aggressive. If you are considering fulfilling this role for a friend, family member, or partner, do further research before you commit. It can be physically or emotionally difficult to untangle yourself from such a situation once you’re in it and have a confused hybrid pinging after you, wailing and not understanding why their beloved mate has abandoned them.

Further reading: Chapter 5 – “Hybrid Biology” and Chapter 9 – “Carroting, Co-Spawning, and Flares”