Hi (Patreon)

It's newFriend (and me trying out some new brushes, haha). The "boomerang" part at the top of the crest is... inflatable? I'm trying to think of a similar structure in extant animals, but... aliens... haha. Anyway, it's a social signal, in the way that our facial expressions are to other humans. Fully engorged usually means interest, attentiveness, lack of guile, etc. Here it's shown "deflated," which around other individuals has a meaning too, but by itself doesn't really mean anything (sort of like how you wouldn't necessarily smile when you're by yourself, since nobody is around to receive it).

More soon!