#loserchic

[wantonreader]

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

"Marry me." Derek says. "Come on, you stubborn asshole! Give me one good reason you shouldn't marry me."

Stiles is a transient single omega in times of political change and social upheaval. When new 'Omega Protection Laws' are passed Stiles is forced to choose between being mated or sent to government omega camps until he can be assigned a mate. Frightened, Stiles returns home after nine years of having no one and nothing to call his own where he reunites with his childhood best friend, alpha Derek Hale. Derek is now a pillar of the community and a wealthy land owner with a wife and a young daughter. With the passing of the new laws Derek offers to take Stiles as his second wife to save the omega from a life of uncertainty and danger. Stiles reluctantly agrees and now he must come to terms with his new place as the lesser wife of a powerful public figure, and all the unfinished business between him and his former best friend. All Derek knows is after years of confusing estrangement, Stiles is back and he doesn't want to ever loose him again. But can Derek keep Stiles when the omega knows deep down he'll always be second in Derek's life?

[cooperwest-wtr]

And then sometimes you realize we haven’t made much progress at all...

I’m reading a Teen Wolf AU (WIP, fair warning) called War Crimes. It’s well written and has taken some pleasing plot twists and I’m enjoying it.

What I’m not enjoying are the comments.

It’s important to establish that this is an A/B/O fic, with very rigid gender norms. Omegas are property for the most part, is what it boils down to.

It’s a very angsty story but the heart of it is that Stiles is an omega who is trying to break free of his social position and gain autonomy, however he can do it. From a terrible orphan childhood on the streets to being adopted by a noble family, he’s had both good and bad luck. The worst luck is that Lord Derek Hale fell in love with him.

Derek in this story is a man blinded by his social position; the word “privileged” describes him to a “t”. He’s had his own tragedies but he’s an alpha in a society that grants alphas autonomy, a fair amount of freedom, and endless respect. All the things that Stiles, an omega, can’t even earn.

And what’s upsetting to me is how many readers seem to blame all the unhappiness on Stiles. It’s a lot of “he’d be happy if he just accepted his place and let Derek love him!” and it’s CHILLING.

It’s chilling because Derek, at this point (ch. 59) still hasn’t really come to the understanding that Stiles is not just an omega, but an actual person. He’s fought every step of the way to keep Stiles from being his own person, and treats him like property to be taken or lost. It’s chilling because people are arguing that Derek’s happiness is more important than Stiles’s freedom.

And I feel like I’m one of maybe two readers who actually gets that.

In the story they are a tropey “mated pair” and so there is a level of mutual romantic despondence to the fact that Stiles does not want to be property and so has rejected Derek’s advances repeatedly, but it’s just absurd how many readers are angry at Stiles for making Derek sad.

And I’m just, do you fucking understand what you are saying? You’re saying that a person should just fold up and accept literal slavery because, awwww, big ol’ handsome alpha WUVS DEM!!!! 

What the fuck, people. 

“True love” never, ever makes up for loss of autonomy or freedom or respect. Never.

I really hope those readers are not so naive in real life. :(