bakerstreet | Alpha/Beta/Omega

Alpha/Beta/Omega

THE ALPHA/BETA/OMEGA MEME

In our world, sexual roles are commonly defined by genders -- male or female or other, by sexualities -- gay or straight, bi or asexual or in-between. But what if they were defined by something else entirely?

Alpha/Beta/Omegaverse is a fusion of fanfiction tropes and animalistic behavior. In this world, sexual roles are divided into three categories: the Alphas (the dominant, the protective and the aggressive), the Betas (ordinary humans) and the Omegas (submissive, fertile and able to carry children).

RESOURCES:
Fanlore on the Alpha/Beta/Omegaverse
Alphas, Betas and Omegas: A primer.

CONTENT WARNING: Below the cut contains descriptions of animalistic sexual behavior as applied to humans, situations of dubious consent, explicit situations, mpreg, and scenarios of societal oppression. Click with caution!

ROLES:
1 - The Alpha.
* Stereotypically type A personalities.
* Anatomically: Males have a penis; females may have a penis in addition to a vagina.
* Alphas knot their mates, meaning that the base of the penis swells and locks them inside their mate while they produce copious amounts of semen in an effort to breed.
* Strong sense of smell.
* Near an Omega in heat, they experience a compulsion to mate that is almost impossible to overcome.
* Alphas may go into rut, which is their equivalent of Omega heat, and drives them to mate.

2 - The Beta.
* Ordinary human being.
* Males have penises; females have vaginas.
* Can mate to anyone.
* Might be able to smell hormones of Omegas and Alphas, but will not be overwhelmingly affected by them.

3 - The Omega.
* Stereotypically submissive, quiet, intelligent and less physically able.
* Female anatomy is similar to Betas; males are self-lubricating and may have either an external or internal vaginal setup.
* Regularly go into heat, which involves being overcome by the urge to mate. They are unable to consent while in heat.
* May be made compliant by a bite to the neck. However, that may also induce a mating bond.
* Often regarded as second-class citizens or prizes to be won.

SITUATIONS:
1 - Bonding - Love at first sight. You've spotted your soulmate. You can smell them, you can feel them, you know that they'll be with you until the end of your days. Unless there's something between the two of you. It could be age - maybe one of you has to wait until the other has reached maturity. It could be that the bond is one-sided, and the other has yet to fall in love. It could be an unwanted bond, or society could have divided you into different places. Is your love strong enough to conquer?

2 - Heat/Rut - The need is coming on you strong. Everyone for a half-mile around can smell it. Better find someone to ride it out with, or hole yourself up in a room with a few bottles of water and a durable sex toy. And you'd better hope that there isn't someone out there who will take advantage of your pliable state. Best case scenario, there might be a Beta who can take care of you, or fend off anyone too predatory.

3 - Pregnancy - Whether through a heat or not, you're pregnant. Congratulations - or condolences. Is it time to start a family, or time to start panicking?

4 - Suppressants - You're using suppressants to keep yourself on an even hormone cycle, skipping heats, or maybe pretending to pass as a different class of society. After all, Omegas might want to be in the military, where they're not usually allowed - or an Alpha might want to take a job in a university or as a nurse. Shouldn't they be allowed to, if their hormones are suppressed? Just hope that you don't miss a dose.

5 - Mistaken Identity - That friend that you always thought was an Alpha, or an Omega, or a neutral Beta, turns out to be something entirely different, and your world is turned absolutely upside down. Does it challenge your preconceptions? Or does it just ruin the balance between you two?

6 - Unlikely Pairs - After all, there's no actual reason that Alphas have to mate with Omegas. Maybe two Omegas can satisfy each other. Or two Alphas. Or your intended mate could easily be a Beta. Maybe this is just about breaking out of your pre-established role and becoming something new.

7 - Manifestation - In some cases, an individual may not know they are Omega, Beta or Alpha until their first heat/rut/manifestation, usually happening in early teen years. It may take you by surprise; it may be a blessing, or may be a deep disappointment.

8 - Other - Adventures in getting jobs, making families, fighting bad guys, and anything else you can come up with!

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[ neck, armpits, and genitals—the three regions of the body that exude the most pheromones. arthur had learned that during his private schooling, but in that moment, he didn't need his past teachings to tell him that merlin's movement of his head caused the air between them to become heavier—muskier.

he grabs his servant's arm before the boy can take a step, and without much thought, he shoves merlin against the wall—next to the door.

and his nose presses to the boy's neck, this time actually scenting him. yes, it was an act usually reserved to lovers—husbands and wives—but merlin was his, literally, so he could do what he wanted when he had any reason to. ]

[And of course he tilts his head back, he makes it easier for Arthur-- god, he nearly moans, eager for it. His body is screaming for it, for him to rut his hips forward and submit to Arthur--]

Don't--

It is you. [ his nose trails upwards to just below merlin's ear. he's intoxicated by the hormones he can smell within the other boy, though he knows that everything—the whole situation—was wrong.

…oh. yes, that was right.

wrong. illegal, even.

arthur stands up straight, pulling back from merlin—but not too far back. he looks upset—not angry, just… betrayed, really. ]

You're an omega.

[He stares at Arthur, face pale, eyes wide. It's not Arthur discovering his magic, no, but-- it's bad.]

I . . . I didn't want to be. I-- I'm sorry.

[His eyes dart down, checking out Arthur before glancing up at him. He can't help it; it's hard to ignore Arthur at the best of times, let alone now.]

I just-- I take pills for it. I'm sorry.

Pills? Merlin, when I met you, you were a beta! I don't—

[ it doesn't make any sense. is it supposed to? the boy lied; that's what this was. but merlin doesn't lie—he is pure truth. he is pure truth and heavenly smells—wood, herbs, spice, safe. ]

Can I even say I know you, now?

[He steps forward, panic clear in his eyes-- no, no, he can't lose Arthur, not just because they're connected but because he can't now, he's too fond of Arthur to lose him--]

I've never lied about anything else. Just this-- Arthur, you have to believe me, it's always been me. I'm still your friend. I just didn't want to be some-- some prize to be won at a tournament, something lesser; is that truly such a bad thing to desire?

[ he can smell the desperation and fear rolling off of merlin in waves. though he's furious and hurt, that doesn't hold back the instinctive urges within him that make him want to comfort the other boy. alphas were not only meant to claim omegas, but protect them, too. submissive and passive emotions felt by the less superior race, especially when in times of fear or discomfort, softened the intensity of an alpha's rage.

so he tries to see reason. tries. ]

It is a matter of legality that is the issue, here. Your lie has greatly disappointed me, yes, but I… it is something that I can overlook.

[ he releases the other boy where his hand still had a grip on him. it's not fully the truth that he isn't upset about the lying, because he is.

but having his servant give off such a melancholy scent… he had to try to lessen the boy's guilt. ]

You've broken the law, Merlin… anyone else in my place would have you arrested. Do you understand that?

I know.

[He doesn't care about the law, not really. The law is wrong; most of the laws here are wrong, from killing those who practice magic to arresting those who try and better themselves. But Merlin knows better than to bring that up now.

Instead he shifts forward a little, getting closer to Arthur-- not a conscious move, truthfully, but one that might help.]

I am sorry. I never wanted to lie to you.

[ arthur is silent for a moment, fighting with himself—what he had grown up with as the rules he lived his life by, and what the entirety of his being was urging him to do. ]

…you swear this is the only thing you've been hiding from me?

[He glances up, meeting Arthur's eyes. Smoothly, without hesitation:]

I swear.

[ …a loud sigh, and arthur runs a hand through his hair. ]

Alright—I won't press charges. [ dropping his hand and letting his eyes flicker over merlin's face and briefly over the boy's body. ]

What's changed? You said you've been taking medication… how come I can smell you, now?

Because Gaius isn't here-- which, thank you very much. He left me instructions, but obviously I'm not precisely good at following them.

[Merlin shrugs. There's a little pool of heat in his stomach, something that expands as he notices Arthur's eyes on him-- but just because he knows he's an omega doesn't mean anything.]

I . . . need the day off. I can't run into anyone.

[ oops on his part. but arthur's secretly glad that his plan had worked out—not only had he successfully detected that something was up with his servant, but he was also getting to surround himself with the pleasant scent the boy was giving off.

but then merlin says he needs the day off, and arthur fears that meant in gaius's chambers and not with him. no, he couldn't have that. ]

You'll stay here. [ his tone suggests that this decision is not up for debate ] Just because you now smell differently doesn't mean that you're unable to work. Though society may say otherwise, I know that omegas are not completely incompetent.

[Dourly:]

And what happens when an unscented omega is found wandering the halls? I'd rather not be dragged off in a room ten times today, thank you.

[ well those words certainly went straight to arthur's groin. he coughs into a hand and looks off to the side, trying to calm his hormones down. ]

I meant here—in my chambers. And if you need to leave for whatever reason, I'll just… bury you in layers of my own clothing. It might help mask your scent. [ that's the best idea he has, sadly. ]

And what about you?

[It's more direct than Merlin usually is, but he can't help it. He noticed that shift, the way Arthur's eyes glanced down-- and god, with the way Merlin is now, it won't be long before he's throwing himself at his master (but perhaps that wouldn't be such a bad thing).]

[ it's forward enough that even arthur gets it—can smell it—and he is quiet for a brief moment as he tries to select the best decision for the moment.

but there really wasn't a right or wrong choice to be made, here. ]

…I will stay. [ and then, added quickly: ] For protection—and supervision! Can't have you destroying my room, can I? [ nice save. ~~bad save.~~ ]

[He pulls a face.]

I'm not going to-- what do you imagine I'll be doing, exactly, that I'd destroy your room?

I've no idea what you omegas do when left to your own devices. [ but he likes to imagine—likes to fantasize. ] Who knows what I'd come back to after leaving you here?

[ his voice is slightly deeper—heavier—and the way he looks at the boy in front of him isn't as innocent as it should be. ]

[He stares back at Arthur, his eyes going a little darker-- there are a hundred things he could come back to, each dirtier than the last, and his stomach flips again as he thinks of it. He's not even that dirty, not really-- and it's Arthur, abusive idiotic prat Arthur, Arthur who constantly insults him, who disrespects him, who mostly refuses to admit they're friends--

--friends. Friends. He shouldn't be thinking this about his friend-- but he is, he can't help it, and with each passing second he wants him more and more.]

That's-- that's entirely unfair. I wouldn't do anything that you didn't want. I-- I never do. I'm not nearly as disobedient as you like to paint me out to be.

[ arthur can sense that something is present between them—he'd be daft not to. however, whether or not it was only due to their biology or something deeper, he was still trying to find out.

but it was becoming harder to think. where his brain should be was seemingly hollow—filled with smoke and the scent of his friend. what was rational thought?

it was becoming more and more enticing to just act on instinct. ]

Oh, but you are disobedient. I'd even go as far to say that you're acting against my wants at this very moment.

I-- really.

[His fingers twist around his tunic. It's a stable thing to hold on to, something firm and unwavering; it helps him clear his mind just a little.]

How do you mean?

For one, you're talking.

[ he can't help himself. arthur's voice is low, and when his body urges him to reach out and grab merlin's hands to still them, he doesn't fight the action.

and he's rewarded with the touch of the omega's flesh to his own. ]

Really, Merlin—like you need to deplete the quality of your wardrobe any further.

[And that's it, then. As soon as Arthur touched him, that was it; he was gone. And he's always hated subtlety, it's always irritating and makes him second guess himself, so:]

Come on already. [A beat. A little wryly:] Don't tell me you're normally this hesitant.

[ arthur lets out a laugh which eases into a sigh, and he presses closer to the other boy—his hands leaving merlin's to go to his friend's hips and grip the boy's chin (each appendage doing its own act). his eyes switch between staring at merlin's mouth and looking into his servant's eyes; his whole body was humming with need, completely on edge, and he hoped merlin was feeling the same. ]

Nothing about this situation is normal. [ the side of his mouth cocks upwards in a grin—predatory, a touch unkind. ] Patience is a virtue, my dear idiot. Shall I teach you?

[ arthur knows very little of patience. when he finally leans forward to capture merlin's mouth with his own, it is passionate and fierce—slightly uncomfortable, but he disregards the way his teeth clink against the other boy's. after all, he needed this five minutes ago. ]

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