So I've been using this in RP for a long, long long long long time and I've developed it quite a bit, so I figured I would make a post sharing the details and everything you need to know about forehead booping in miqo'te culture from a headcanon perspective, that could potentially fit in the lore to an extent (or not, but I think it does)
To start, a forehead boop is similar to that of any genture of physical contact between humans, such as hugs, hand shakes, pats on the back, and the like. There are many different kinds of boops that all differ in meaning depending on how it's done and what happens before and after the actual touch happens!Â
The 'hello and goodbye' boop, similar to a hand shake!
When greeting a friend, a short, very brief and gentle knock to the foreheads can be a proper greeting. Typically done with the eyes closed, this boop means 'hello! I trust you, and I'm showing you respect!'. There is no 'dominant or submissive' within any of these forehead touches, as it's a simple greeting.Â
When saying goodbye it would be the same brief forehead knocking, and possibly a wish of good travel and safety along the way!
The challenge boop.
Miqo'te, especially seeker males about to battle for nunhship may use this more often than others, however it is not exclusive to just them and anyone can use this to initiate a challenge.Â
The two would place a hand at the back of each others neck to draw them in, press foreheads together and look into each  others eyes, and push their opponent back. This is to say 'I respect you, and I trust you won't break my neck while we're this close and holding the necks, but I am challenging you and you better be ready."
The close friends boop!Â
Similar to one of greeting, this one involves closed eyes and a longer touch of foreheads and smiles. It is to show love, respect and trust much the same, but also serve as a much warmer hello or goodbye with scent marking due to being so close.
The lovers boop!
This is the one that lasts the longest and must have the eyes closed at all times. Hands can be placed on either the cheeks or back of the neck to bring the other in, and typically the two hold each other there for quite a while in comparison to the other touches of the forehead. They may even have a conversation or share I love you's while still together like this.
Forehead kisses!
Now these are the special kisses, shared by only the strongest love bonds of romance, or parental love for a child. ONLY the parents of the child may kiss the childs forehead, otherwise it may come as an insult for another adult to do so to someone's child (unless that child was adopted under that adult, in which case they would be considered family and it would not be insulting).Â
Speaking of insults.Â
To touch the forehead in any way other than with your own or your lips in some cases, would be a huge insult to the person on the receiving end. This of it like any equal to flipping someone off or outright disrespecting them.
Say, you flick or slap or hit someone in the forehead. You're basically saying 'I dislike you' 'fuck off' 'you're worthless' 'I don't trust or care for you at all and you can go to hell!'
Between siblings this might happen and be taken much more lightly, however outside of harmless family feuds this may be a huge insult and would not be taken lightly.Â
Back to boops!
A shoulder boop!
Pressing ones forehead into a friends shoulder and giving a light push would be a comforting action, much like a pat on the back and a 'you'll be fine', or a 'I'm here to support you', or even a 'ahhh buck up it's no big deal you got this' depending on the context and what the booper says afterward.
I came up with this headcanon and developed it like so based on lions nuzzling habits for claiming and scent marking!Â
Over time, I've come to think that miqo'te foreheads would be somewhat of a special area of the body connecting them to their god, or, to their inner minds and spirituality as a whole. This is up for debate and what the forehead could mean for your own miqo'te! It could mean nothing and just be a cultural habit like handshaking is in western culture and bowing is seen in some eastern culture!
This is all up for your own interpretation, and you can use it as you like in your own RP! I use it all the time and it has really developed a culture and quirk I can use to round out my character and make him distinctively miqo'te outside of the tail and ears!Â
Thanks for reading, I hope you enjoy, and if you have any further idea's please feel free to post here as well! I would love to hear if any of these inspired other types of forehead boops and what they could possibly mean so that myself and others may use them in our own RPs!!
Thanks!
To start, a forehead boop is similar to that of any genture of physical contact between humans, such as hugs, hand shakes, pats on the back, and the like. There are many different kinds of boops that all differ in meaning depending on how it's done and what happens before and after the actual touch happens!Â
The 'hello and goodbye' boop, similar to a hand shake!
When greeting a friend, a short, very brief and gentle knock to the foreheads can be a proper greeting. Typically done with the eyes closed, this boop means 'hello! I trust you, and I'm showing you respect!'. There is no 'dominant or submissive' within any of these forehead touches, as it's a simple greeting.Â
When saying goodbye it would be the same brief forehead knocking, and possibly a wish of good travel and safety along the way!
The challenge boop.
Miqo'te, especially seeker males about to battle for nunhship may use this more often than others, however it is not exclusive to just them and anyone can use this to initiate a challenge.Â
The two would place a hand at the back of each others neck to draw them in, press foreheads together and look into each  others eyes, and push their opponent back. This is to say 'I respect you, and I trust you won't break my neck while we're this close and holding the necks, but I am challenging you and you better be ready."
The close friends boop!Â
Similar to one of greeting, this one involves closed eyes and a longer touch of foreheads and smiles. It is to show love, respect and trust much the same, but also serve as a much warmer hello or goodbye with scent marking due to being so close.
The lovers boop!
This is the one that lasts the longest and must have the eyes closed at all times. Hands can be placed on either the cheeks or back of the neck to bring the other in, and typically the two hold each other there for quite a while in comparison to the other touches of the forehead. They may even have a conversation or share I love you's while still together like this.
Forehead kisses!
Now these are the special kisses, shared by only the strongest love bonds of romance, or parental love for a child. ONLY the parents of the child may kiss the childs forehead, otherwise it may come as an insult for another adult to do so to someone's child (unless that child was adopted under that adult, in which case they would be considered family and it would not be insulting).Â
Speaking of insults.Â
To touch the forehead in any way other than with your own or your lips in some cases, would be a huge insult to the person on the receiving end. This of it like any equal to flipping someone off or outright disrespecting them.
Say, you flick or slap or hit someone in the forehead. You're basically saying 'I dislike you' 'fuck off' 'you're worthless' 'I don't trust or care for you at all and you can go to hell!'
Between siblings this might happen and be taken much more lightly, however outside of harmless family feuds this may be a huge insult and would not be taken lightly.Â
Back to boops!
A shoulder boop!
Pressing ones forehead into a friends shoulder and giving a light push would be a comforting action, much like a pat on the back and a 'you'll be fine', or a 'I'm here to support you', or even a 'ahhh buck up it's no big deal you got this' depending on the context and what the booper says afterward.
I came up with this headcanon and developed it like so based on lions nuzzling habits for claiming and scent marking!Â
Over time, I've come to think that miqo'te foreheads would be somewhat of a special area of the body connecting them to their god, or, to their inner minds and spirituality as a whole. This is up for debate and what the forehead could mean for your own miqo'te! It could mean nothing and just be a cultural habit like handshaking is in western culture and bowing is seen in some eastern culture!
This is all up for your own interpretation, and you can use it as you like in your own RP! I use it all the time and it has really developed a culture and quirk I can use to round out my character and make him distinctively miqo'te outside of the tail and ears!Â
Thanks for reading, I hope you enjoy, and if you have any further idea's please feel free to post here as well! I would love to hear if any of these inspired other types of forehead boops and what they could possibly mean so that myself and others may use them in our own RPs!!
Thanks!