omegaverse-guide

[omegaverse-guide]

Studding

alright, I still haven't elaborated on bitching yet, but whatever, who needs that! (for the overview of it that this reply is referencing, go here)

you're correct that the opposite of bitching does exist, and it's generally referred to as studding. it is, however, much less common. even if you're into omegaverse and read it regularly, you may have never come across the term, which is why I didn't include it in the common tropes.

and part of that lack of popularity is that a commonly appealing sexy way of studding someone has yet to be found/spread. bitching is similar to forcefem kink, and there's just something compelling about fucking someone so hard their biology changes in response, whether they want it to or not.

that... doesn't really work for studding, though. in order to become an alpha, the omega would have to be the one to assert dominance and do the fucking, after all. I guess fucking someone so hard your own biology changes to fuck them even better could also be an interesting concept, but it's not one that has caught on.

so, official answer: there isn't really an established way of studding, the way there is for bitching.

now, two more answers

studding as in transitioning. this, while still not super common, I've seen a few times. this comes from a perspective that sees a/b/o dynamics as a secondary gender and therefore assumes people can trans their secondary genders just like their primary ones. these stories may include characters changing from any secondary gender to any other, including from omega to alpha, but betas aren't excluded either. the process then looks very similar to real life gender affirming care - the omega will take alpha hormones which will then cause their body to change, possibly including the growth of a small knot - or that can be added through surgery. the alpha hormones will stop heats and replace them with ruts, though if the omega has a pussy, they won't be able to change that, you'd need bottom surgery.

my theory of sexy studding. (fair warning I haven't read this anywhere this is just me speculating how it could be done because yes I've thought about this and talked about it with friends before lmao)

this is probably gonna require the omega to want to be studded, or at least instinctually desperate to be dominant during the act.

one way to do it could be through an omega/omega relationship. as in, one omega goes into heat, and the other has to do his best to satisfy him with only his omega assets - repeat over a couple days with both of them driven to near insanity because of the unsatisfied heat, and boom! the studding omega may start releasing their first alpha pheromones, or even pop a small knot. logically, the actual change should probably take a while longer, but it's easy to say once the process has started, it won't stop unless you intervene in it, and the omega grows into a real alpha over the next couple months or so as his body starts producing more and more alpha hormones.

alternatively, if the partner is an alpha, the trigger could be the ability to make the alpha submit against their instincts (with their consent or through force, doesn't really matter). making an alpha come purely through him getting dicked down by omega cock is pretty hot, I'd say, quite possibly even hotter if it turns the omega into an alpha. hell, you could say it doubles as a bitching process, too.

either way, depending on how biology works in your verse, one crucial part could be the mating bite. assuming omegas are supposed to be only on the receiving end of it, them biting someone else's mating gland during heat/rut could also function as the initial trigger for the studding process.

what this really means is that studding can work however you want it to! if you wanna read it, write it, and hope someone else will see your vision so it may eventually catch on~

[omegaverse-guide]

The Tools Of The Omegaverse

This post summarizes and explains common tools people in omegaverse stories have developed to deal with the ramifications of their biology. Some are entirely fictional, while others are items that do exist in real life and have been repurposed. Not every story will have all of them available, but these all have widespread usage within the trope.

Alpha/Omega Perfume - Don't have a scent because you're a pup/beta? Don't like the one you have? Want to hide your identity? Want to attract alphas/omegas to you? Well, just spray on whatever scent you want, often including actual pheromones! Notably though, these fake scents are stagnant, so they won't change according to the users emotions, meaning the charade may fall apart once the desired partner is trying to get you off and there is no arousal to be smelled. Obviously, the scent will also fade with time and will need to be reapplied.

Collars - These have two main uses in omegaverse, though in both cases they're primarily worn by omegas. Collars can be worn by unmated omegas, especially in heat, to obstruct their mating gland, making it impossible for an alpha to mate them. On the other hand, they can be worn by mated omegas as a sign of the alpha's ownership of them.

Heat(/Rut) Inducing Drugs - While these can have medical uses or be taken willingly to synch cycles/have fun sexytimes/conceive, they usually are used to make an omega helpless and horny, enabling an alpha to take advantage of them. Which is why they mostly seem to exist to induce heats rather than ruts, though if modern medicine is available and you can make one, it's very likely you can make the other as well.

Heat/Rut Rooms/Hotels - Safe places for people to have their heat/rut outside of their own home, either in public locations like schools, or as a paid service. These usually serve as a solution for when a heat/rut hits unexpectedly and for whatever reason the omega/alpha can't go home. They're outfitted with basic nesting materials, often provide sex toys, as well as a bathroom, and they're usually sound- and scentproof.

Heat/Rut Suppressants - Generally assumed to be pills you can take that will stop you from going into heat/rut even when you otherwise would. They may not work indefinitely, with the heat/rut breaking through them at the worst time, or have side effects such as making the person taking them irritated or overly emotional, and often are unhealthy to take consistently, implying the body needs heats/ruts at least occasionally. While they usually are a product of modern medicine, they can be substituted with magic or oldtimey medicine such as chewing certain herbs.

Knot Dildos - If an omega goes into heat but doesn't want to/can't/isn't allowed to spend that heat with an alpha, they need to take care of themselves. While fingers and normal sex toys may still work, something that simulates a knot is often seen as the best one can do, though it never reaches quite the satisfaction an actual alpha can provide. The dildos are often still made out of silicone, with a base that can swell/inflate with a switch, sometimes having multiple settings for the knot size.

Muzzles - Just like a collar on an omega's neck, a muzzle can be worn by an alpha during their rut/an omega's heat, to enable them to have sex without mating when there's the worry the alpha can't/doesn't want to control themselves and will mate the omega otherwise.

Scent Blockers - Generally assumed to be pills you can take that will suppress your scent. It will make other people unable to discern a character's secondary gender, as well as any emotions their scent may have otherwise given away. Sometimes this will make them seem like a beta, other times it's obvious their scent has been blocked. The blockers will often fail if the scents get too strong, such as during heat/rut, or someone experiencing extreme emotions. They generally have few side effects, but may dull a scent (semi-)permanently if taken without pause.

Scent Patches - Literally small patches one can plaster over their scent glands like a band-aid, that will stop the scent from reaching other people. They usually lose their effectiveness over time and must be continually reapplied. They're sometimes required to be worn in modern societies where everyone is supposed to be equal, though usually only in select scenarios like job interviews or competitive sports.

Did I forget anything? Let me know!

[omegaverse-guide]

The Run

This post is meant to explain the trope generally called "The Run" in the context of its usage within the larger omegaverse trope. If you don't know what that is, refer to Omegaverse 101 first.

The Run is neither necessary to include in a fic to make it omegaverse, nor is it exclusive to omegaverse fic. You may also encounter it in werewolf/other animal shifter fics, fantasy AUs, or tribal AUs.

The Basics

A Run refers to an event set up outdoors, most often in a foresty area. Specifics may vary, but omegas are released into the designated area with the express purpose of being hunted down by alphas. The alphas will choose an omega to pursue, usually based on scent, hunt them, and mate their chosen target upon catching them. Omegas are expected to run, but they're also expected to be caught. A lot of the time, all pariticipants are naked from start to finish. Alphas may have dens built to take the omegas back to after having caught them, or they may simply mate them wherever they ended up catching them. Generally the intention is to mate for life, though in some cases there's no bite and it's only done for the thrill of it.

Context

The Run is most often used in more primitive settings. Tribal AUs, medieval fantasy, historical AUs and the like. If used in more modern settings, it has usually grown out of those same circumstances, and may have the stigma of being outdated or regressive. It is (or used to be) a tradition that holds great cultural and sometimes even religious significance to the societies hosting it, and often serves as a way for multiple tribes/packs/communities to meet up and mate their young in a world without modern transportation and communication methods.

Consent

If you like your stories to be always safe, sane, and consensual, this is probably not the trope for you.

Participation is often mandatory for young omegas and alphas, and while an author may choose to let their omega protagonist to be able to outrun and escape any alphas they don't want, there is always the implication that not everyone is able to. It also often comes with pressure and expectations, as omegas are supposed to be mated, and being able to shake all alphas has the same result as being chosen by none of them. Even for alphas this is true, while they get the choice of which omega to mate, they are expected to choose and mate one, and failure to do so is just as shameful as not being chosen.

Even if participation is voluntary, there still isn't really a way to revoke consent or give specific boundaries, especially since the event is purposefully set up to coincide with heats and ruts, so participants are not fully in their right mind for the duration of it.

Appeal

This trope appeals to people who enjoy a hunter/prey dynamic in their ships. It's a perfect setup for feral and animalistic sex, and noncon/dubcon enjoyers can get their fill as well, whether it's just through pure smut or a deep discussion of the kind of culture that would create a tradition like the run.

Fics almost always include a chase scene, often as a direct substitute for other foreplay. They may also include multiple alphas chasing the same omega, and either the omega escaping all but one, the alpha driving all the competitors away, or even the alphas working together to catch their target omega and reaping the rewards of their success together.

Variations

In werewolf fics, the run is usually held under the full moon and performed with everyone transformed. Sometimes, the omegas are still human during the run, and the mating bite at the end is also the bite that turns them into werewolves. Whether the smut happens while they're still transformed or back to human form is up to the author's taste.

Rather than a group affair to choose a mate, the run can also be a marriage tradition and only include two people (or a group of people intending to form a pack) who have already chosen to mate, and simply perform the run as a ritual to consummate the marriage and bond through a bite.

There may only be one (or a very limited number of) omega(s) to hunt, put up as a prize for whichever alpha can claim them against the competition. It may be a particularly high-class omega, or simply a universe where alphas greatly outnumber omegas, with the run as a way to decide which alpha deserves the honour of mating them.

On the other end of the spectrum, the run may also be a last ditch effort to pair up any alphas and omegas who failed or refused to find a mate otherwise.

[omegaverse-guide]

Boring(?) Betas

This post is supposed to summarize and explain betas in the context of the omegaverse. If you don’t know what that is, refer to Omegaverse 101 first. To see the corresponding post about alphas, click here. To see the corresponding post on omegas, click here.

Biology

Beta biology is very, very easy to explain. For the most part, they're just humans. Literally nothing to differentiate them from real life (unless your canon/au makes them different somehow, but that has nothing to do with being a beta).

Fertility

Depending on the story, betas may be as fertile as a regular human, slightly less so, or even entirely infertile. The last option is usually used to really put the pressure onto alphas and omegas to get to breeding, though it can just as easily be used for some beta-focused angst or just smut with no threat of annoying babies.

Sex drive

Betas still tend to have one, though it's just normal. Possibly even dull. Certainly not the feral need otherwise associated with the omegaverse.

Scents/Scent glands

May or may not be present on betas. If they do have their own scent, it's usually something neutral or calming. A lot of the time, though, betas are classified by never developing a scent. Whether they perceive others' scents is also up to the author, though they're almost never influenced by those scents.

Mating glands

Betas often lack those, meaning they can't mate the way alphas and omegas do, though some kind authors have given them the ability at least to be mated, or even to mate someone themselves.

Societal standing

Betas are in an interesting spot, socially speaking. If you give the traditionally masculine traits and roles to alphas, and the traditionally feminine ones to omegas, where does that leave the betas, who are often described as the most common secondary gender?

The worker

This is the standard, most common answer. Betas are neutral, nothing in particular, but they're needed to keep society running while the alphas and omegas have all that crazy sex and power play and whatnot. They're the answer to "but how do they get their food? who babysits all those pups during heats? who's keeping the 9-5 office running while the main characters are busy with the plot?". That usually means they have some societal power, as well as financial independence, but they're often still kept from the highest leadership positions or may be passed over in favour of an alpha.

The academic

This posits the clear brain as the betas' one shining feature. After all, they're not influenced by hormones or pheromones, and don't have any times where they're unavailable due to heat or rut. In this society, betas may hold equal or more power than alphas, not gained through strength or dominance but through strategy or academic virtue in a society that values these traits. Any individual beta may gain access to status and power, though they still need to continually prove to their beta peers that they deserve their position, as there's always other betas around to replace them if need be.

The owner

If both alphas and omegas are simply breeding stock, this leaves betas as their owners. It's rare to see, and even rarer to establish anything much about the betas other than that they look down on the alphas and omegas they own and breed, considering they're still usually not part of the action.

The slave

Also rare, but this posits that betas truly don't have anything of value, often leaving them infertile, so they're owned by alphas and/or omegas. Not even for sexy reasons, just for manual labour. And even this is rarely willing to explore what this means for betas, only using them as convenient tools for the ruling class.

Beta Instincts

They... don't have many. If any, beyond what humans have anyway like fear or hunger.

Keeping the peace

The only somewhat frequent instinct they have is to try and make sure everyone else calms the fuck down. As alphas struggle for dominance and omegas vie for their attention, it's the betas instinctual desire to make sure the pack or community doesn't fall apart over it.

And that's it. There isn't nearly as much to say about betas as there is alphas and omegas. Some stories even remove betas entirely. There's a lot one can do in terms of worldbuilding with betas in the mix, but they do not lend themselves well to pwp omegaverse stories, after all, why make it even omegaverse then? Since they're just us, any story is required to focus on alphas and omegas in contrast to the betas, even if you do want to focus on them, otherwise you gain nothing from adding the trope.

[omegaverse-guide]

Do you have any recs for some really long/emotional/good omegaverse fics? I fear that I enjoy emotions and plot along with my smut which can be hard to find. Tumblr or Ao3 are fine I just want something good to read and you seem like you’ve read a lot :)

I have, indeed, read a lot!

it's still a bit difficult to rec you anything - I'm not sure how much you'll get out of reading fic of fandoms you're not in, and I'm (shamefully, I know, I know) not in the biggest fandoms usually... like I haven't even seen supernatural where omegaverse was named! I've only watched minimal amounts of star trek and never read any fic! I've been on tumblr for over a decade and I've confidently passed by all of superwholock as well as homestuck, and basically everything else I've seen flood my dash. sorry.

with that said...

This is the series by Evilpixie that actually got me into omegaverse. I still follow some of its worldbuilding when I write my own omegaverse fics, years and years later. It's superbat, so I figure you'll at least know who superman and batman are, vaguely, which is enough for the first two fics in the series iirc, though you might have to google some robin backstories for the later fics if you get that far. the series is 450k so definitely long enough to keep you occupied for a while if you choose to read!

I'll also recommend Kingfisher's Refuge by LaVERose. It's a haikyuu fic, but set in a complete AU, and most important characters save for the main ship are OCs anyway, so you should be able to have a good time not knowing anything about haikyuu, and it's a meaty 150k.

...yeah, off the top of my head, that's kinda it. ^^; the thing with plot heavy fics is that they tend to expect you to be familiar with the source material, and know like at least 20 different characters and their backstories and relationships because why else would you be reading a 100k+ fic of them if you're not obsessed...

my tip would be to go on ao3 and look for the ship (or fandom if you're into smaller scale stuff), use the alpha/beta/omega dynamics tag, and sort by fic length, then see if any of the top results seem at all appealing to you.

[omegaverse-guide]

ur account is currently saving my life holy shit i’ve read a few a/b/o fics but i’ve always been interested in the nitty gritty of how it works and then i came across ur blog. i have ascended beyond the mortal plane thank you

you're very welcome!!

I'm a big omegaverse fan myself (if you couldn't tell lmao) and I get caught up in the possibilities and the worldbuilding aspects of it a lot! Not to say I don't enjoy a good pwp, but I like my horny reading with a side of politics and internal conflict of desires ahaha

you got lucky and sent this ask on a day off for me, so I had time and motivation to write a big post on omegas, so thanks for that!

[omegaverse-guide]

On Omegas

This post is supposed to summarize and explain omegas in the context of the omegaverse. If you don’t know what that is, refer to Omegaverse 101 first. To see the corresponding post about alphas, click here. For betas, click here.

Biology

For the most part, people in omegaverse story are baseline humans and function as such, unless your canon (or AU of that canon) deals with aliens or magic. The difference is mostly in the reproductive system, which, in the case of omegas, can vary quite a bit, though the important shared conclusion is that all omegas regardless of their primary gender, can give birth.

So there is a womb?

Yes. Male omegas do have all the internal parts to make babies. This usually does include wider hips to enable childbirth, though in some fics it can be more difficult for them to deliver babies compared to women, or even require a c-section (though this realistically only makes sense if omegas were genetically engineered because for most of human history we did not have c-sections so this is rather unbelievable from a natural selection standpoint).

But how do you get to that womb with your (alpha) dick??

Good question. There is no definite answer, but omegaverse authors usually choose one of two options: ass or pussy.

If you choose ass, your (male) omega now gains self-lubrication in the form of slick to his ass, as well as a connection to his womb from said asshole. Usually this also makes the hole loosen itself with arousal, diminishing or erasing the pesky need to prepare and stretch before you get to the fun breeding part.

If you choose pussy, well. Your man's got a pussy now and it works like a functioning pussy on a real afab human. Easy.

You could also make up something else, though - I've seen extra holes just below the asshole that function like a vagina and only open noticably after presenting. The only limit is your creativity and your reader's suspension of disbelief (but don't let that one stop you if you got a vision).

So are there dicks?

Usually, yes, but not necessarily. Omega dicks tend to be small. How small? Hard to tell. Some of them are tiny, like an inch or less, and practically useless, while others are small only in comparison to the ridiculous alpha dick sizes, and could reasonably belong to an adult human irl. It's also entirely up to the author if these dicks are necessary for orgasm, if they can even get properly hard, and if they have the ability to eject real semen that could get someone else pregnant. Sometimes, though, there are no dicks at all, just a pussy, and all I ask the authors of those fics then: so how did you assign this baby as male then? Sure, in adulthood you see the difference through the lack of boobs, but baby girls also don't have boobs. I've never seen anyone explain this in fic, so I'm curious if someone has come up with a solution to this. Do you wait for kids to express their own gender identity if they lack a dick? Unlikely but cool. Do you just assign them all female and then go back on it if they get secondary male characteristics during puberty? Is there a magic or science way to know?

So no boobs?

Nope, not usually. Importantly, omegas can frequently lactate and breastfeed if they do end up getting pregnant, and they may grow boobs during this process, but they tend to be rather small and then disappear once there is no more baby to feed. Though if your fav fictional male is already well-endowed in the chest area you can always claim those are just his boobs and they're always there. Nobody's stopping you.

...Do I need to worry about periods?

No. They're rarely mentioned, so we can just comfortably assume they don't exist or just not talk about them. It sounds kinda like a pain to bleed from your ass anyway. Though it also is a pain to bleed from your pussy so. I mean. It's up to you. Wolves don't have periods so you could take another helpful piece of their biology and get rid of them for everyone including women! Nobody likes them anyway! You'll be doing society a huge service! Unless of course you wanna make your fav male blorbo go through that shit, then of course he has them. He probably deserves it, anyway. Or at least he deserves his sweet alpha boyfriend to pamper him and/or go buy pads and ask him what size pussy he wears.

Heats

Here it is, perhaps the most defining feature of omegaverse besides mpreg. All omegas (at least past puberty/presentation and before menopause) frequently enter heats. How frequently? Often once a month, so around an actual human's cycle, but it may be once a year for a mating season, or only happen when triggered by meeting their fated mate.

The heat itself is the period of time when an omega is fertile. It expresses itself with increased levels of horny, unstoppable production of slick, and a raised body temperature similar to a fever. This heat may just be an annoying itch, or it may make the omega completely bedridden and also overwriting their higher brain functions, being reduced to nothing but a willing, desperate hole for any alpha passing by. Though if an omega is mated, those desires may only be directed towards the mate, with all other alphas losing their appeal.

Heats do tend to pass after a select period of time (anywhere from a day to a month, though there is no upper limit and it usually depends on the frequency - more frequent heats tend to be shorter, though of course there may always be exceptions), though they're usually at the very least not comfortable to spend on your own. Even if the omega can bring themselves to orgasm, it won't have the same effect as being knotted by an alpha, or being filled with an alpha's cum. Of course, if you're looking for a fuck-or-die, heats can easily be repurposed to last forever and drain an omega of all their energy until they die unless a generous alpha fucks them.

Mating glands

A staple, typically located around the neck. I've seen them on the back of the neck a bunch, though personally I usually assume they're on the sides, where neck and shoulder meet, though you can do whatever you want. These glands can be bitten into by an alpha and form a bond that attunes them to each other. This could go as deep as being able to share thoughts, though it's not usually that, more often it means the mates will only be attracted to each other, recognize each other's scents from far away, be more affected by their partner's scent, make them want to take care of the other, and of course synch their heat and rut cycles. For the most part, this is a one-sided thing - the alpha bites and the omega is bitten, though it can be made mutual in some fics, or it may only work if the omega is aroused and willing, or it can be forced regardless.

Scent glands

Like most omegaverse inhabitants, omegas have a stronger scent and/or a better sense of smell than your average real human. The scent may be anything you desire and fits your blorbo, though omega scents tend to be on the sweet side. They also often have a calming effect on others, especially children or their mates, though they may also make their mates very horny and possessive. The glands are also usually located around the neck area, though extra ones may be placed on the wrists or inner thighs.

Societal standing

Omegas are generally thought to be sweet and caring, traditionally relegated to very specific roles such as child-rearing. If you don't wanna think about it for some pwp or incosequential fluff, just. Women. They're treated like women, generally, you live in a society, you've seen what that means.

Unlike for alphas, the inclusion of betas rarely changes much for the omegas in the stories, they're the lowest in the pecking order regardless, however, there is still some variety in how they're treated, depending on what kind of story a given author wants to write. I'll lay out a couple trends, but be aware that there are infinite amounts of nuanced takes and worldbuilding out there, and I can't possibly cover them all in this post.

The sex slave

This one tends to suck the most for omegas. In this version, they're not (or barely) seen as people, and their only purpose in life is to get fucked and give birth, rinse and repeat. They may be sold like goods or traded between packs, owned by a singular alpha or used by the entire pack come mating season, but either way, they do not get to choose.

The perpetual minor

Taken from historical restrictions imposed on women, this one doesn't treat omegas as objects, but they're not seen as full members of society either. Lip service may be paid to their important role, but their role is still limited and usually not their choice. Omegas in these kinds of worlds may not be bought and sold, but they're prohibited from many jobs, may not be able to open a bank account on their own or inherit property, or need permission from someone else for medical procedures, especially concerning their reproductive health. That someone usually being their father until they get mated and married, at which point it switches to their mate.

Omega Rights

This is the common trope you see in modern AUs. It assumes omegas have been oppressed in the past, but society has changed due to a political campaign similar to the real women's rights movement, and won them personhood status. More often than not, these societies are still in the process of change, even if most or even all legal barriers have been removed, old views and stereotypes as well as some structural barriers still remain. This can be chosen for the ease of writing what you know, or because you have shit to say about how things currently are, or just because you don't love dub or non con.

The Queen Bee

In a subversion of the usual standard, it's absolutely possible to make omegas the most powerful members of society. Omegas may be genuinely revered for being able ot give birth (esp if betas do not exist or are infertile), they may be rare and chosen as royalty, or be seen as closest to some kind of god. Playing with the tropes, they may be able to manipulate alphas according to their will with their scents, or become the ultimate prize to claim only for the most succesful alphas to give them a chance to reproduce. You might have to do some math on how to sustain the population if you get too crazy with it, or you can just forgo that and say it works somehow if you don't feel like math is worth your time for a horny fic with a subtop alpha and a dombottom omega.

Omega instincts

Whether it’s just nebulous feelings or a distinct inner voice the POV character can actually talk to, omegas have instincts that are stronger than what a normal human experiences - perhaps even impossible to resist, if the author so chooses. So, what are they compelled to do?

Mate & Breed

Obviously, that’s the first and most important one, the one the whole trope is famous for. An omega wants to be mated and bred by an alpha, especially if the omega is in heat. That’s just how it is.

Nest & Nourish

Not quite as integral but still wide-spread, omegas will feel the need to build a nest, especially if their heat is close, for themselves and their alpha if they have one. That nest is usually made of pillows and blankets (or whatever else they have available that's comfortable), and is the ultimate safe space for the omega. Outsiders are usually not allowed inside, and the nest is the place where they take care of themselves, their mates, and their kids. Omegas are usually not depicted as particularly aggressive, but the exception is often when they feel their offspring (or any children) are threatened, though omegas tend to naturally show affection more through taking care of others rather than physically fight for them.

Submit sexually

Whether they like it or not, omegas tend to be natural subs. They are turned on by alphas being dominant, possessive, and often rough/aggressive. It's up to the individual author if this is just a fun, healthy kink, an issue of consent the main couple has to work around, or an internal conflict for the omega as they enjoy (or are at least aroused by) alphas forcing themselves on the omega.

…And that’s about it! You’ve made it all the way to the end!

Remember, I’ve been generalizing - if there is any one thing you don’t like, you can remove it from your fic! This is your playground! Everything here can be changed and challenged, adjusted to fit your fandom and your blorbo and your own desires. This is just an overview.

Have fun writing and reading!

[omegaverse-guide]

All About Alphas

This post is supposed to summarize and explain alphas in the context of the omegaverse. If you don't know what that is, refer to Omegaverse 101 first. To see the corresponding post on omegas, click here. For betas, click here.

Biology

For the most part, people in omegaverse story are baseline humans and function as such, unless your canon (or AU of that canon) deals with aliens or magic. The difference is mostly in the reproductive system, which, in the case of alphas, mostly means their dick.

So how big are those dicks?

Big. A lot of the time, that's all you get, and all you need. The alpha has a big dick, usually even for alpha standards, and the omega likes it. It's up to you, the reader, to then imagine whatever size of dick seems appealing to you. When measurements are given, they vary wildly. Some will give you reasonable sizes of ~16cm/6in in erect length, that an actual human with above average dick size could reasonably have and put into someone, while others will throw reality to the wind and double that size, all while making the dick as thick as a thigh, and it'll still feel good stuffed into someone else. Somehow. Don't question it, just imagine, with every horny cell in your body.

Orgasms

Those are mostly the same, though they may occur more frequently. I mean, who really needs refractory periods? We got all the soft cuddling out of the way while the knot was in, so we can immediately go again! Unless the knotting was like six hours and involved like 20 orgasms. Maybe at least a snack is warranted. Some sustenance may be needed to produce all that cum anyway. How much cum? A real human male manages perhaps 1-2 teaspoons of it. The average omegaverse triples that, but don't be surprised to see way, way more. 10 times, 20, 30. Upper limits are for cowards, and omegaverse authors may be known for many things, but cowardice is not one of them.

Knots

Not every omegaverse contains knots, but the majority do. The base of an alpha's dick has the ability to swell during sex, which will lock the alpha to their partner for a period of time if the knot forms while the alpha is inside. This ensures their come is trapped inside for a while, and increases the chances of pregnancy if the partner is capable of it. The knot can last however long the author likes. Sometimes it's only ~5min, on average ~20min, but it can last multiple hours as well. The rest of the dick may go soft directly after ejaculation, or stay hard for the entire duration of the knotting. Or, if it's on the longer side, it may go soft and get hard again, to ejaculate multiple times. Even if the dick stays hard the entire time, it may still ejaculate more than once, and/or provide more than one orgasm to the alpha.

Fangs

While they're not as common as knots, some stories provide alphas with fangs. These may be an extra pair of teeth that drop and retract, or it's simply their canines that are either larger all the time or drop and retract as needed. These fangs exist to create a mating bite that will result in a mating bond, usually with an omega. They can ache when an alpha is really horny. Sometimes they dispense a chemical that forms the bond, though sometimes that chemical is simply mixed into the saliva, or does not exist at all.

Scent glands

Alphas have them, usually. They tend to be around the neck/shoulders, often with additional ones on the wrists and/or inner thighs. Alpha scents are generally described as musky, and while they can be anything that fits your blorbo, they don't tend to be sweet or unobtrusive, which is associated with omegas and betas.

Mating glands

Those are far from as common as the scent glands, though also usually located around the neck somewhere. Alphas tend to be the ones doing the biting, so they don't need a mating gland unless the author wants the bond between alpha and omega to be mutual and equal, or another alpha is gonna bite down on it.

Ruts

Fairly common for alphas, though not as integral as the omegas' heats. They can occur periodically, often once a month, or only happen if triggered by an omega's heat. Though even if they do happen on their own, an omega's heat may still trigger them. While they sometimes function as an equivalent to heats, their intensity varies much more. A rut could leave an alpha unable to control themselves, trying to bone every omega and fight every alpha in their vicinity, or it could just make them slightly horny and aggressive, but still perfectly capable of functioning in regular society with a modicum of self-control.

The elusive female alpha

Generally, they exist. Rare is the fic that outright states only men can be alphas. However, it's usually the badass female character the main m/m ship is friends with, or one of their parents, or some other side character. Regardless, she's not involved in what's going on in the bedroom, so we don't need to figure out her genital situation. Of course, some authors have still done it, always eager to go where noone else has ever gone before. It can be as easy as saying she has that dick on top of her pussy, and it's always been there, though then you have to deal with the ramifications of female alphas being identifiable at birth even without modern medicine. It can also grow inside of her and only pop out during puberty, or even remain retractable through life. It could also just be her clit growing into a dick during puberty. Maybe her balls always stay inside her body, maybe not. It's a mostly untapped market, and no consensus has been found, so if you, dear reader, are intrigued by this, venture forth with your own ideas!

Societal standing

Alphas are naturally dominant, and thus are generally imagined to be in a position of relative societal privilege. You live under patriarchy, you know how it is. For a pwp fic, you don't need anything else, and the same goes for some pure and innocent fluff.

One key difference though is the existence of betas. Not that this really has to change much - but at least it probably means alphas aren't seen as the standard default human, that privilege now gets handed over to betas. In turn, alphas get to be a bit special, the obvious leaders, whether it's just the pack or an entire nation or the whole galaxy.

Still, if you get really into the trope, there are an infinite amount of variations, that are much harder to summarize than the biology. I've compiled a short list of ways alphas can fit into society, just know it's incomplete and I have no way of incorporating every nuance of every 100k+ omegaverse fic out there. Many omegaverse fics even include societies in the process of change, or clashing cultures, so there really is no one way to write alphas and their role in society!

Total alpha domination

In this society, alphas rule. Whether it's by force or law or both, alphas decide everything in society, and hold all the important positions. Even if there is nominally equality, everyone defers to the alphas, and their power structures hold. Or perhaps there is no equality even on paper, and people largely agree alphas are superior or are scared enough to follow even if they disagree. This isn't the most common scenario, but it lends itself to darker stories rather well, as well as stories set in primitive societies.

Alpha leadership with beta backup

This is what I've seen most often. Alphas have traditionally been the leaders in this society, the ones who become kings and make all the important decisions, but with a network of betas behind the scenes. Alphas in this still hold privilege, but can be questioned, not just by other alphas but by betas as well. On smaller scales, laws tend to be in place to protect betas and omegas from being at an alpha's whims. Most modern AUs fall into this category. It can even leave space for powerful omegas without changing society itself.

Alpha brutes

In this case, alphas aren't the leaders. It's the betas, though it could also be the omegas. Alphas with their competitive and aggressive nature are seen as suited to physical work and combat - but not decision-making. They are the footsoldiers with no hopes of rising to an officer rank, the dangerous beasts driven by instinct in a modern society who has progressed past physical violence as a means to attain power. They may still hold some privilege simply through biology and instinct (and they may still score most omegas), but face oppression as well in the form of negative stereotypes about their intelligence and self-control, or being denied certain jobs and important positions.

Breeding stock

Alphas are reduced to nothing but their ability to procreate. Again, it's likely the betas calling the shots in this case, but it could also be the omegas. Whatever physical or natural dominance alphas have is taken from them in this scenario, so they're either left to try and attain a semblance of it when they're with omegas, or even that is outside of their power. Again, this is rare, but fun if you're into certain stuff.

Alpha Instincts

Whether it's just nebulous feelings or a distinct inner voice the POV character can actually talk to, alphas have instincts that are stronger than what a normal human experiences - perhaps even impossible to resist, if the author so chooses. So, what are they compelled to do?

Mate & Breed

Obviously, that's the first and most important one, the one the whole trope is famous for. An alpha wants to mate and breed an omega, especially if said omega is in heat. That's just what they do.

Protect (& Provide)

Not quite as famous, but almost as integral. Once the alpha has acquired the mate and possibly even impregnated them, they must be defended. It's incredibly common that this same instinct also compels the alpha to provide for their mate/pack, usually by bringing them food (even if it's just stuff they bought from the grocery store). If you so choose, this also makes them naturally inclined to take of their kids, though far from all fics do so, as child rearing is often relegated to omegas.

Establish Dominance

This is important. At least in bed, alphas generally want to dominate their omegas instinctually. But this also drives them to compete with other alphas, whether it's over a potential mate or not. Whether it's petty or violent, if an alpha doesn't control themselves, they'll be fighting a lot, with a win boosting their ego and a loss seriously bruising it.

...And that's about it! You've made it all the way to the end!

Remember, I've been generalizing - if there is any one thing you don't like, you can remove it from your fic! This is your playground! Everything here can be changed and challenged, adjusted to fit your fandom and your blorbo and your own desires. This is just an overview.

Have fun writing and reading!

[omegaverse-guide]

WHY would you read that?!

Let's admit it - upon encountering omegaverse for the first time, we all thought it was weird. Maybe someone reading this still thinks so. There's certainly enough people out there who wouldn't touch it with a ten-foot pole.

But it's popular. I love it, personally, and I'm clearly not the only one. There are tv shows being made with a concept that a singular person put into a fandom-specific kink meme a mere 14 years ago. My grandma could walk into the bookstore and see a manga with omegaverse terminology in the title and ask me what it is. That's wild.

So, this is an earnest question - not necessarily of how it spread this quickly, but what's so appealing about it. This is based on my own personal experience and what I've heard others say, not necessarily representative of everyone who enjoys the trope.

From what I've seen, omegaverse has four major draws:

1. Porn

That's kinda obvious, and the one most people would put first, or perhaps as the only reason. And I'll argue the other points later, but I think it'd be stupid to understate the importance of this one. If you're into certain kinks, even if it's exclusively in fiction, omegaverse is great for you. Big dicks, breeding kink, excessive amounts of cum, biting, marathon sex, dubcon, feral/animalistic sex, dom/sub dynamics, possessive behaviour, maybe a dash of furry stuff, it's all there. There's a reason so much omegaverse is pwp, and it's that these are common kinks, and they work well together. People are horny, that's how omegaverse got made and spread, and that's beautiful.

2. Mpreg

Yes, there are other ways to knock a man up. Make him trans. Use magic. Or science, which is essentially the same thing anyway. You can come up with any amounts of ways to make this happen. But the beauty of the omegaverse is you don't have to. You don't have to do any research, you don't need to come up with a reason, and you don't have to figure out what the implications are if you don't want to. This man can get knocked up, and it's totally normal to everyone around him, and everyone reading will know and accept it, so you can get all of that out of the way and just focus on your guy, or all the guys, getting pregnant and having and raising a bunch of kids you made up for them. This gives you the satisfaction of letting any character you want produce babies with any other character you want, while also giving you the chance to torture any man you want with pregnancy symptoms (very cathartic). Or maybe you just have a pregnancy kink! Either way, it's convenient.

3. Social Commentary

Okay, to anyone who's never read omegaverse, this probably sounds like a joke, but I'm dead serious. At the core of omegaverse is one basic assumption: if a group of people is capable of bearing children, society will do anything and everything to make them have kids, and restrict them from whatever other roles they can, and they'll find whatever excuse they can find. It exposes sexism by stripping away all pretense of logic: in omegaverse, omegas are the stand-ins for women, and are treated as such. but anyone can be an omega. it has nothing to do with physical or mental capabilities how you're treated. you could literally be batman, the moment people find out you could theoretically give birth to a child, it's all over for you. the reality of our world is, sexism is still here. it's gotten better in a lot of ways, but sexism is not over. and sometimes the best way of realizing just how not over it is, is to put a man into the exact same situations we experience and go 'hey would that be fucked up or what?'.

4. Free For All

Because omegaverse is, by and large, a fanfiction thing, it's popular with the kind of people who enjoy reading and writing fanfiction. Do you know what the best thing about fanfiction is? No, it's not the gay sex, though that's a close second. The real answer is: it can be whatever the fuck you want it to be. Fanfiction has one major selling point: it doesn't need to be sold. Which means no author ever has to consider a target audience, or god forbid, a mass audience. Someone can just pour out their passion onto the page, and sometimes thousands of people will read it, and other times it'll just be you and three other freaks, but there's no reason to only produce the first type of fic. Most fic writers don't even have an editor/beta reader. And omegaverse is the same in that regard, at least in the realm of fic. It can be literally anything. It can be nothing but porn, including all the kinks, and only all the kinks you personally enjoy. It can be fluffy family stuff. It can be deep drama in a 200k epic, with biting social commentary. It can be all of that at once. Omegaverse has no rules. It's an author's playground, and fic writers love their playgrounds.

So that's my thesis on what's good about omegaverse. Why do you like it? Did I miss anything? Let me know!

[omegaverse-guide]

Basic Omegaverse Tropes

This is intended to be a guide for common tropes associated with the omegaverse. If you don't know what that is, check out Omegaverse 101 first.

None of these tropes are necessary to classify a story as omegaverse, but they're ones you'll have definitely seen if you read omegaverse. If you don't like a particular one, don't read or write any stories that contain that trope, there are enough others.

I'll just give brief overviews here, but I plan on going into detail for each of them later (let me know if there's a specific one you'd like me to tackle first, or something I missed)!

Animal Hybrids

As a trope closely associated with werewolves, it's no wonder omegaverse characters can often be part wolf. But if some other animal fits your particular blorbo better, why not go with that? All animals have the drive for sex, after all. Whether these hybrids just have ears and tails/other defining features like wings, are almost entirely animal, or can shift freely is up to the author. Regular humans may or may not exist alongside these hybrids, and they may or may not have a/b/o dynamics if they exist.

Bitching

The process of turning an alpha into an omega. May be done through hormone treatments, but is generally done through having lots of sex with the bitched alpha as the bottom/submissive. Bitched alphas may or may not be able to bear children, but they generally do experience heats and can be mated. Consent is typically not required for the process, nor can it be reversed.

Commands

Generally, only alphas are able to issue commands over omegas. These commands are spoken with a growl or the emmission of a scent, in a way that makes omegas unable to resist the command, even if they consciously want to. This trope tends to be associated with dubcon/noncon, even if only for the main alpha to free the main omega from the bad alpha's commands.

Inner Alpha/Omega

While almost all omegaverse deals with the instincts that come with being an alpha or omega, some take it a step further, by giving these instincts a distinct voice. That inner alpha/omega will urge the POV character to give into their urges. Primarily the sexual ones, but not exclusively. Inner omegas may seek safety from an alpha, while inner alphas may insist on doing something to provide for the omega, and they'll preen if the (desired) mate is pleased. Especially characters who are in denial of their feelings will argue a bunch with these inner voices.

Mating/Mating Bites

A mating bond is formed between two people, usually by an alpha biting the mating gland of an omega, which is located somewhere around the neck/shoulder. Sometimes only alphas and omegas can mate bond, sometimes anyone can. That bond attunes the mates to one another, and often makes especially omegas no longer smell attractive to people they aren't bonded to. The bond can go as deep as being able to read each other's minds, or be as shallow as nothing but a visible, unfading mark on the neck. In some fics, the bond can be broken - through hormone treatments, prolonged physical distance, another mating bite placed over it, or death. In other fics, it's forever. For a bite to be permanent, typically a rut/heat is required, sometimes a knot as well.

Mpreg

Men get pregnant. Specifically, male omegas. This is generally seen as normal. Depending on the anatomy, it might be more difficult for them to give birth than it is for women, or it might not be. Most omegas come with the innate breeding kink to make this happen, as do the alphas they mate with.

Nesting

Typically done by omegas, especially during heat. They just build a nest to be comfortable and safe. Generally it consists of pillows and blankets or whatever they usually sleep in, scented by their mates or other people they trust. They may get upset if they can't build a nest, or if someone they don't approve of enters their nest.

Packs/Pack Bonding

A pack can be anything ranging from a poly relationship to a family, with harem and friend group also somewhere in there. Just a group of people who are important to each other, and formed attachments, usually through bites or scenting, or both. However, there is usually sex involved. How much depends on the vibe the author is going for, and also how many of the pack members are children. If adult pack members have kids, those kids usually are immediately part of the pack and may be parented by all pack members, though they may leave upon reaching maturity.

Presenting

This can be confusing because it means two separate things.

At some point in their life children (often called pups before this point) will present as either alpha, beta, or omega. This usually comes with their first rut/heat, and happens around puberty age. Or later, if the author is uncomfortable with pushing all this sex stuff on a 13 year old. There really is no upper limit, if you want your guy to surprise-present as an omega in their 40s, that can still happen. Sometimes betas have no noticable presentation and it is simply assumed you're a beta if you don't present as alpha or omega by a certain age, other times their scent changes to tell them apart from pups.

Presenting during sex means, to put it bluntly, to put your hole on display for your partner. Typically done by an omega to show submission and inviting an alpha to rail them doggy style.

Scents/Scenting

People in the omegaverse - sometimes with the exception of betas - have very good noses. Each person tends to have their own personal scent that is unique to them, though omegas tend to have sweet ones, betas neutral ones (or none), and alphas something more on the musky side. By their scent, people are able to tell whether a person is an alpha, beta, or omega, whether they're in heat/rut, and what mood they're in. Sometimes people can control (to a degree) how much of their scent they emit, or do it on purpose, for example to soothe their mate. But a lot of the time it's subconscious, and especially during heat/rut can't be controlled. Scents can be hidden through scent patches on scent glands, or by taking scent suppressants. Scenting simply means to cover someone else in your scent, usually a mate, though it can be done platonically, usually between packmates or family members.

Soul Bonds

The omegaverse version of a soulmate AU. People can be fated mates, and they're able to tell by their scents, being immediately drawn to each other. Sometimes only fated mates can bond, or their bonds are deeper than regular bonds.

[omegaverse-guide]

Omegaverse 101

So you've encountered the term for the first time - maybe you're 12 or very offline, or you've heard it before but heeded someone's advice to not look it up - either way, you're here, wondering. What is omegaverse, or alpha/beta/omega dynamics, as AO3 puts it? Here's a brief overview for you!

What is the omegaverse?

It's a trope mostly used in fanfiction, that has been spreading into published fiction, manga, and recently even into anime and tv shows. It can appear confusing to outsiders, since there is no unifying canon a/b/o authors draw from, and the details vary wildly between each story. The core is simple: On top of your gender, which is still identified at birth and works the same as it does in real life, you're also assigned to be an alpha, beta, or omega, though this tends to happen later in life, usually around when puberty happens. Whether you're male, female, intersex, non-binary, or any other sex/gender does not determine what you present as.

Alphas can sire children, even if they're afab. They tend to be seen as aggressive, competitive, and natural leaders. Whatever you associate with stereotypical, hypermasculine behaviour in the real world, that's now associated with alphas. They can go into ruts, a period of time where they get extremely horny and often aggressive/protective, and they may or may not be able to control themselves during that time. They generally have big dicks, though exact measurements are rarely given. Those dicks can swell at the base during sex, to lock them and their partner together for a while, which is called knotting.

Betas are essentially just baseline humans. They can have sex and feel horny, but only in the same way a real human can. Sometimes they're infertile, but other times they reproduce the same way actual humans do. Storys are rarely about betas, but they tend to be seen as rational and calm, good to have around to diffuse whatever the alphas and omegas have going on.

Omegas can bear children, even if they're amab. They're generally seen as submissive, caring, and weak. Women, basically, just more exaggerated. They periodically go into heat, which makes them horny and extremely appealing/irresistable to alphas in their vicinity. This is also the time period where they're fertile. Male omegas tend to have small dicks. Sometimes they have a pussy on top of that, other times their asshole self-lubricates and is connected to their uterus, whichever the author prefers.

How did we get here?

The terms originate from behavioural studies of wolves, and so does some of the biology (yes, wolves do have knots. in real life. if you didn't heed the warning to not look up omegaverse, at least heed mine not to look up wolf dicks. or any other animal dicks). Parts of the trope are pretty old - what's a heat if not a Pon Farr (Star Trek) for werewolves? Then, in 2010, a request was posted to the supernatural kink meme, requesting J2 smut with what became the basic tenets of the trope. It fit the already popular werewolf fic in the massive spn fandom, and spread like wildfire in just a few years far beyond spn or werewolves, and here we are.

Notes

Almost all omegaverse is m/m. Het omegaverse has found success (and a lawsuit) in original books, though I can say I haven't read any. The only het omegaverse I've ever read was fic with a female alpha and male omega, so don't ask me about this. Rare brave fans do write f/f omegaverse, and they have all my respect and gratitude. However, they're the exception, so for the purpose of this and any further discussion on this blog, please assume all parties are male unless specified otherwise.

Omegaverse can be abbreviated as A/B/O, or A/O if you don't have/don't care about betas. Some people simply use abo without the slashes, but abo is also a slur for aboriginal people in australia, so proceed with caution if you insist on using it.

There is NO one true way to write an omegaverse story. Nobody has the copyright to it. People will expect some of the above framework if you classify your fic as omegaverse, but you can do whatever you want forever. If you've read published manga, many of them share an explanation graphic that gives some base rules, but you don't need to stick to those, nor should you expect others to. It's a wild west out here. Write and read stories that do the trope how you like it, and don't read the rest. It's that easy.