bakerstreet | Stuck in this rut

Stuck in this rut

THE IN HEAT/IN RUT AU MEME
not an alpha/beta/omega meme

There's no need for elaborate backstories for this AU. You go into heat, rut, whatever you'd like to call it. You've always done so since you were of age to do so. It's a socially accepted norm, and people have gotten used to the difficulties that come with the mating seasons. Life goes on.

Isn't this alpha/beta/omega, then? No, not at all. In this meme, there are no gender-variant genitalia unless your character comes prepackaged with those. No giant cocks - again, unless your character is already packing - or self-lubricating assholes or anal wombs, and no knotting. Unless that's your thing. There's also no set in stone roles with regards to dominance and submission, and some people do not even feel the inclination towards either. Still, there are a few similarities, mainly being that the pheromones of others can put someone into heat that was not in it before and the bond between mates. In addition, some humans/human-stand-ins have created packlike dynamics in response, but this is not universal.

In this meme, it's just regular old human...oids feeling the urge for sex. And by "urge," we of course mean all-consuming drive. If characters choose to ignore that urge, it will backfire on them. The more they put it off, the more they will lose their control, becoming more irritable and aggressive, and eventually be nothing but a rutting animal until the need to mate is satisfied. Not all heats call for mating, of course, and most people can just relieve themselves, but when you do mate, you feel the urge to stay by their side and essentially "nest." These desires don't always pan out into offspring, and mating isn't forever unless it's mutually decided upon. However, impregnating your mate is said to be one of the most euphoric experiences a person can have, even if some people only mate because they want to utterly possess someone, as mates are bonded for a while.

If there's anything that's to your fancy that's been left out, go ahead and add it in. Play it how you'd like!

HOW TO PLAY

Comment with your character and preferences.

Include what you're interested and not interested in.

Respond to others!

PROMPTS

first heat: Baby's first heat. YOU'RE A TEENAGER/LATE BLOOMER AND WHAT IS THIS?

old hand: You've done this a million times, but it never gets any easier.

happen to be here: You're not picky. You can't afford to be. You'll take anybody who's nearby.

old faithful: You're going to the person you always go to in order to relieve your problem.

worked something out: The two of you aren't involved. You just help each other out.

unexpected: You never expected to rut with this person, but here you are.

forbidden: AKA the obligatory incest or age difference option.

volunteer: You've offered yourself up out of the kindness of your heart.

tribute: This isn't your offer. You're the offer from others, a gift for someone powerful to sate their appetite.

mating: You've decided to go one step further and make your relationship deeper.

nesting: Aaah, (temporary) domestic bliss. And lots of fucking. Lots and lots of fucking. Like, you'll barely be able to stand.

bonding: The bond, which is mildly psychic and intensely physical, makes sex even more intense.

the natural conclusion: Heat calls for pregnancy. Get someone pregnant.

already pregnant: Unfortunately, being knocked up doesn't abate your partner's desires. Or yours.

mates for life: Now you're absolutely certain that you want to be with no one else. Of course, this means you'll be in synch with their heat for the rest of forever.

save you: You've been saved from the advances of an undesired mate by someone who may be much more suited. Show your gratitude?

cockfight: Two people want the same mate. That won't do. There are ways to figure that out, not always involving fists.

increase in dominance: Exactly what it says.

increase in submission: Again, exactly what it says.

unexpected dominance: No one expects you to ever be dominant. Prove them wrong.

protect: You want to protect your mate from others, and that means putting your scent all over them.

set off by someone else: You were doing fine until you got a whiff of someone else's pheromones.

resisting temptation: Your heart belongs to someone. You want to stay out of this "heat" thing. You want to rise above it. Whatever it may be, you just have to not take the bait. Easier said than done.

all worked up: You're beginning to lose control and yourself. Quick, do something before you're jumping anything that moves.

pack: As mentioned prior, some people, especially those far out from civilization proper, have formed packs that hold to the more traditional alpha structure. Of course, these packs come with their own rules when it comes to heat and mating.

suitable partner: The desire for certain mates can come from a subconscious level, and you can find yourself aroused by someone showing how strong they are (they can protect you), how curvaceous they look (that must mean they're fertile), or any other number of traits that can benefit you.

desperation: You'll take anyone! Anything!

final release: You've reached your breaking point and your mindless. At least you'll get relief.

fighter: Part of your process is seeing who's worthy of you by testing their mettle. That, or you want to fight anything.

off your meds: It's fairly rare, but some can get blockers for their heat. What if those blockers run out? Why, it makes your heat ten times worse!

noncon: They don't want this. You don't want to stop this.

dubcon: You say no, but your body says yes and you can't stop loving it.

calm you down: Whether it's to fuck or to fight, you're going mad, and they have to bring you back down to Earth.

territorial: How dare someone look at what belongs to you? You'll have to make things right.

odd man out: For some reason, you don't go into heat. Never have. Being with you is pretty relaxing, and some find it appealing to not have to deal with pheromones that aren't theirs. You do have to learn how to appreciate their problems, though.

WILDCARD

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[ felix is not having this conversation. he starts walking again, this time more quickly, ignoring sylvain entirely. what is he, a healer? as though has any business telling felix what might be wrong with him. ]

( he makes a frustrated huff despite his brain telling him to remain as calm as he can. )

You can’t be serious. You tell me to throw out that letter, then you run away.

I'm not running away. I'm retiring to my room.

[ totally normal. felix can already feel himself growing warmer, vaguely feverish. there's sweat at the back of his neck. ]

I told you to throw the letter out because you don't need it, and had no intention of reading it. Were you just going to leave it on the table?

( this logic does not track. not for sylvain. )

You pretty much ordered me to throw it away without even opening it.

( which he had established he wasn’t into the girl or anything but. still. )

Did her scent really bother you that much?

[ yes. yes, it had. thinking about it makes felix’s stomach roll, and he has to stop again to settle himself. ]

No. Although, with how strong it was, it would have bothered anyone.

[ honestly, the audacity of the girl who left it there is irritating. ]

( they’re talking in circles.

fuck it. )

It bothered you because you’re going into heat, Felix.

( he hadn’t even been sure felix was an omega. )

[ felix has never told sylvain; he expected either he’d just known, and not mentioned it, or… that felix had hidden it well enough. he turns, and the glare he gives sylvain would be enough to make anyone else fear for his life. ]

Excuse me?

[ as though it’s ridiculous, the most insulting thing felix has ever heard. it is. ]

( oh.

sylvain’s expression falls. )

Do you… have you not had one before?

( his voice is very, very quiet suddenly. )

[ oh, felix wants to strangle sylvain with his bare hands.

he’s had… one. back when he first presented. felix is absolutely not going to tell that to sylvain, though. instead, he does the ignoring tactic, turning away and making a beeline towards his room. ]

( oh gods. sylvain’s brain is all sorts of scrambled. he hurries after him and starts waving his hands around. )

If you don’t want me too close, I get it. But I—we need to make sure you have water and supplies.

( especially if felix is stubbornly going to bare this alone. )

I keep telling you, that’s not what this is.

[ felix reaches the door of his room, hand on the handle. he knows sylvain is right, and that with how long he’s been pushing this off, if it really is what he thinks, felix will be out of commission far more than a couple of days. ]

…Can I help?

( bring water. food.

or give him clothes or—well, just about anything he’d do to help felix. he likes to think it would be for any of his childhood friends, but he knows this? it’s a little felix-exclusive. )

I don't want to discuss this.

[ there's shame washing over felix - one of the main reasons he has never mentioned this to anyone, let alone sylvain - but at least he isn't lashing out. he doesn't want to admit that he needs help, that it would be beneficial for someone to bring him water, at the very least. ]

We don’t have to.

( to discuss it. or even say words about it.

sylvain rubs the back of his neck restlessly. he sucks in a deep breath and then tugs at the sleeves of his compression shirt to tug off his magic-patches, aiming to hopefully rid himself of the remnants of the letter’s scent and also, perhaps, set felix more at ease. )

[ so far, felix has still been able to deny that it's anything other than being sick, but the second those patches are gone, the denial evaporates. sylvain's scent hits him, and for a moment, he feels like his knees are going to buckle and he's going to pass out right there on the floor.

at the same time? the foreign scent bleeds away, covered up by only sylvain, and it's going to make him crazy. felix's heart is going to pound out of his chest, matching the rhythmic throbbing in his head. ]

Leave me alone.

[ but there's a lack of felix's usual bite; he sounds more desperate than anything. ]

( sylvain won’t overstep. he can’t. not when it’s felix. never felix.

even so? his smile is a sad one. he’s glad he’s at least been able to do this much. )

I’ll drop some water and breakfast off in the morning. If anyone asks, I’ll tell them you’re running regiments by yourself. It’ll be fine.

( no one has to know why felix is more absent than usual. )

[ why does he have to be so nice about this? why can't sylvain just fuck off and at least not make felix feel guilty about brushing him off and pushing him away? felix's resolve to ignore this entirely wavers. ]

I can't have this happen now.

[ so, he's moved on from complete denial. this is why he's been pushing it off for... years? it was always a bad time, not to mention that first time was absolutely awful. ]

I know.

( sylvain presses the heel of his palm to his temple. think, think. he needs to come up with some sort of solution that doesn’t involve felix punching or kicking him. )

Listen, I… I’ve heard it helps. ( he says this as he shrugs off his jacket and wordlessly extends his arm. an offering. he hadn’t actually been around an omega in heat before so he’s really grasping at what knowledge he’s gained second-hand. )

[ felix can tell what sylvain is handing him even before he turns to look. he should be insulted, but the scent that extends towards him as sylvain's arm reaches out makes him dizzy. felix takes the jacket without really thinking about it, as though his arm is moving of its own accord.

he stares at it. ]

...I'm sure you have plenty of experience with this.

[ and that's what felix hates, too. the idea of sylvain's scent on someone else, or someone else's scent on sylvain. felix sounds awkwardly bitter, and he wants to toss the jacket back, but can't bring himself to do so. ]

Can’t say I do.

( with his hands freed, sylvain awkwardly crosses his arms. he stares up at the ceiling, lightly kicking at the floor as he puzzles out the best way to word this. )

Avoided it, actually. There was always a difference between this and messing around.

( he hadn’t wanted to send too many mixed signals or, goddess forbid, accidentally mate someone and bond them together. so he had resigned himself to only “chasing skirts” when he wasn’t in rut and when he was certain the girl was either a beta or an omega nowhere near heat. )

[ when felix looks at him, he's genuinely surprised. then again, felix knows that sylvain avoids serious relationships, so maybe it shouldn't be shocking that he's never been with an omega in heat before. still, has he never been tempted? but felix believes him, and lifts a hand to pinch the bridge of his nose.

he doesn't want to ask for help. hell, he doesn't even want to accept this jacket. ]

I don't need help.

[ but felix doesn't toss it back at sylvain. he's barely resisting pulling it closer, holding it out awkwardly between the two of them. this is... not good. ]

( the problem is, if felix asked, sylvain would. without a second thought. he’s come to that painful conclusion years ago and it’s certainly calmed down his string of failed dalliances.

sylvain takes another deep sigh. they certainly do keep going in circles tonight, huh? )

Do you want me to go? ( he can’t ask the opposite: to stay. probably doesn’t want to hear the likely answer of “go”. )

[ the truth? no. felix wants anything but that. but he can't ask sylvain to stay; that's a recipe for disaster for the both of them. what he needs is to lock himself in his room, and ride this out. ]

You should.

[ felix feels hot, and he forces himself to turn away, to push open his door. what does he need to do? ]

Tell Manuela.

Sure.

( yeah. yeah he can do that.

sylvain frowns when he’s certain felix’s back is to him. he isn’t sure why he had even thought for a second there would be a different answer. )

Just—take it easy. ( he knows it’s lip-service but he does mean it. with a deep breath, he turns on his heel to go to the infirmary. what a nightmare this day is turning into. )

[ manuela is going to give him hell for pushing this off for so long, and felix knows it. he also knows that someone needs to know, and that she's the safest. in the meantime, felix needs to push through the fog that's trying to cover his thoughts; he's pretty sure he's stuck like this until it passes.

he pushes through the door, stumbles, and falls forward. it's suddenly difficult to put one leg in front of the other. ]

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