HC post about Goblin Imprinting:
Goblin’s also Imprint.
But not in the way werewolves imprint, or the way baby ducklings might imprint on their mothers.
Due to werewolf imprinting being more common terminology. Goblin’s don’t really use the term around other species (to avoid confusion).
But Imprinting in Goblin culture is when a Goblin feels an incredibly strong pull to protect the person they’ve imprinted on. To the point that they disregard all matters, including themselves, to ensure that that person is safe. They might become frantic or feral when that person is in danger, and if the imprintation is strong enough, they can get an unsettling and jarring feeling that something is wrong if their imprintee is in danger and not in their line of sight. Goblin’s have talked about feeling a spike of instinctual protectiveness even if their imprintee is simply being talked to casually or regarded passive aggressively (similar to the feeling of someone you absolutely hate opening their mouth to speak). Goblin’s will be known to extract their claws and bare their canines subconsciously in instances such as these. To other Goblin’s, this reaction is commonplace, and in response they’ll often give a sign that signifies ‘I’m no harm to your imprintee, promise’. But with other species, this reaction is seen as aggressive and hostile, which encourages some of the stigma against Goblins.
This imprintation can be familial, platonic, or romantic. And Goblin’s will often imprint on more than one person. Most parents imprint on their first child, sometimes couples imprint on each other, it’s very commonplace for a Goblin to imprint on their adventuring party.
Children sometimes imprint on their parents if they believe their parent is in need of protection. Goblin children have the highest cases of interferring in abusive parental disputes to protect the parent theyve imprinted on. Similarly, child physical abuse cases are incredibly rare in Goblin culture due to how common and primal the instinct are for the parents to imprint on their child.
Goblin’s can sometimes be seen as clingy in this aspect, a few extremely strong cases of imprintation have the Goblin insisting to stay by their Imprintee’s side 24/7. This heightened version of imprintation is often caused by a certain trauma the Goblin has endured, or their imprintee being prone to getting in physical danger.
Imprinting can fade over time, but cannot be abruptly broken. Parents will feel less of that protective pull when their child matures to a reasonable age and leave home. But if an imprinted relationship (familial, platonic, or romantic) were to take time apart or break up abruptly, the first few weeks and month will be filled with constant worrying and anxiety about the others safety. OCD type symptoms may arise, and persistent extraction of claws, bared teeth, and what other species call ‘aggressive behavior’ will often be seen. If symptom’s persist, Goblin’s will often see a doctor or therapist to work through their imprintation.
Goblin Imprinting isn’t often discussed among other species or frequently discussed among Goblins. It’s seen as a regular part of life, something that doesn’t necessitate ‘the talk’ unless it relates to a romantic partner. Younger Goblin’s are simply taught the difference between their imprinting versus other races imprinting, and that it’s rude to tell your imprintee that you’ve imprinted on them, as it can be perceived as some sort of pressure or domination (specifically regarding other races).
Goblin’s can imprint at any age once they’ve recognized that they have the ability to protect. Imprinting is not necessarily a measure of how much they love or care for that person. Imprinting is simply an instinctual reaction that can be formed from perceiving a persons weakened mental state, their proneness to harm and danger, naivety, or their personality; all of which can trigger a Goblin’s protectiveness and imprintation.
All that being said, a Goblin can also never imprint. They perhaps are too focused on their own safety, or have no individuals in their lives who trigger that protectiveness.
