bakerstreet | In Heat/Rut (not a/b/o)

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

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

You.

[He felt his cheeks flame from that, but he didn't look away from her.]

I... hell, Natasha. I don't want to put you in this situation. I'm not a job. I'm not your responsibility.

You're not. But you're also my friend.

[ which is actually quite a big thing for her to admit, because she can count the number of true friends she has on one hand. Not just allies or acquaintances, but actual people she'd probably spend time with outside of work. ]

That's an entirely different kind of friend, Natasha.

[There was a bit of an edge to his voice, his feet shifting as he moved a bit closer. Heat lit him from the inside, his body painfully aware of what it wanted.]

I know.

[ He's ridiculously flushed. It must be starting to really get to him. But she also knows that he probably doesn't want to endanger their relationship, whatever it happens to be. ]

Why don't you just take that shower. Bathroom's at the end of the hall if you want.

[It sounded like both the best idea and the worst. He wanted something cool, something to help rid that heat from him, but the more layers between him and... well, everyone, the better.

Yet his eyes flicked down over her and he had to bite back the thoughts that crept up when he did.]

Right. Shower.

[And yet it still took him a minute to actually push off the wall and step back from her. Each step away almost hurt with how much he wanted to turn back.]

[ She watches him go down the hall, noting how laboured each and every one of his steps were. When the bathroom door clicks shut, Natasha makes her way over to her own bedroom to change out of her uniform into some sweat pants. Sighing as she zips the suit down steps out of it, disarming her weapons in swift practiced motions.

It's been a hell of a day. ]

[He has a cold shower. It's almost painful, considering how hot he is. When he gets out, he stares at his clothes, realizing just how much he doesn't want to put them back on.

The towel he used is wrapped around his hips and he walks out, half hoping she'd taken him up on his offer for her to leave, half hoping she hadn't. Her scent is still strong in the apartment -- to him, at least.]

Natasha?

[ She comes out of the bedroom in a black tank top and some shorts, eyebrows raising when she sees the fact that he's only in a towel. Natasha has to give him a once over. ]

Feel better?

[It was the strangest feeling to have a rush of both pleasure and regret at seeing someone. He was almost sorry she was still here, because she should have left while the getting was good, but that part of him that picked up on her scent like he was hunting her was more than happy she'd stayed. Happy enough that he might have to... adjust his towel.]

Not really.

[Shouldn't she have put on more layers? He felt she should have put on more...]

I thought you would have gone.

I thought I told you that I wasn't going anywhere.

[ Clint sometimes crashes here when they're both in bad shape and he can't make it back out home. So she has a couple of men's t-shirts lying around, one of which she tosses over at Steve if he happens to want it. ]

Unless you'd like me to leave. But not before I order you some food, because you're gonna want it after all of this is done.

[ The aftermath of a heat is just pure exhaustion, right down to your bones. ]

[He caught it and held it, looking down at the man's shirt and frowning without realizing he was. It was definitely a man's shirt, if a bit smaller than his own. So... what men did Natasha have in her apartment? And why was that bothering him so much?]

Whose is this?

[Yes, because ignoring everything to find out about the shirt was the thing to do.]

Clint's.

[ Natasha already figures that most people have the wrong idea about what their relationship is, mostly because Clint keeps such a tight wrap on his family. The rumors have always been there, ever since they first became partners, and they're probably not gonna change. ]

Might run a bit small for you.

[It made sense; Barton's clothes at Romanoff's. They were friends. More than friends, they were partners. Steve was very aware that there was nothing more to it than that. So why did he want to tear the shirt in his hands into pieces? He looked up at her, a little confused at the sudden aggression that was trying to claw free.]

So... is that part of this whole rut thing? Wanting to break Barton's legs?

That's probably the most dangerous part of it.

[ It wreaks havoc on lives and relationships, and Natasha's a little bit concerned with how quickly Steve happens to be devolving into that urge, especially given his personality. ]

But you know there's nothing there, so you should be able to put that urge away.

[He dropped the shirt and moved closer, taking a few steps before stopping himself.]

I--

[He shook his head, lifting his hand to press against his eyes.]

I have this... urge. To be closer. And to burn everything he touched.

He didn't.

[ Her tone is soothing, low and calm. It's hard to stop someone from spiralling down into the rage and aggression that comes from being denied during a heat. Natasha steps closer, keeping her eyes trained on him. Assessing him like she'd assess one of her missions. ]

You should try and lay down. I can't guarantee you'll sleep, but I figure it might help.

I don't think I can. Not right now.

[He stepped closer again, closing that distance between them until he was wrapped up in that scent of hers again. It beat at him, slipping through whatever defenses he thought he had and making him want things that were fleeting fancies of his past.

He watched his hand lift, saw it move to stroke one of those red curls, his eyes finding hers.]

I'm fine right here.

In Heat/Rut (not a/b/o)

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