I HEARD OMEGAVERSE AND I MUST HEAR YOUR HEADCANONS OR WHATEVER YOU HAVE ABOUT IT!
Aaaa it’s one of my favorite tropes, and I just get stupid excited with anything about it, and to hear one of my favorite writers does too aaaaaaa
- noodle
*ascends*
Dude, I fucking love omegaverse!!! I have an in-progress fic with platonic a/b/o, featuring dad!Warden Ingo if you want some world building in action, but please allow me to regale you with my personal headcanons!
(I had to split this up into pieces because it was getting kind of long, so I'm gonna keep the first few entries SFW and probably do a separate thing for any NSFW~)
and shgkjhdsjhg bro, buddy, honey, what do you mean one of your favorite writers?!! 😭 no you!!
(cw: one brief mention of children. SFW)
Part 1: Biology
Ω I don't personally like writing anything that portrays all alphas as aggressive assholes that can't take no for an answer. Likewise, I don't like writing when omegas are portrayed as helpless or incapable of making their own decisions - in any situation but especially when in heat. (It's a writing preference, is all.) I also don't particularly like versions of omegaverse where omegas are treated like second class citizens, some kind of rare commodity, or just outright property. All three secondary genders are equally prevalent in the world, all are treated equally (minus the usual shitty people, of course), and accommodations for each are the norm.
Ω Betas have heightened senses just like omegas and alphas, but they aren't nearly as affected. It's a bit of a misconception that betas can't smell an omega's heat or sense an alpha's rut - they can, their instincts just don't react the same way as the other two secondary genders might. This is so, in the event of an emergency or someone else's instincts going haywire, there's a reliably neutral and calming option for an alpha or an omega to seek aid from.
Generally, betas have a pretty even disposition and often take on roles of protection or peace-keeping - or things like daycare and social work.
Ω In my head, secondary genders are actually a residual biological trait - leftover from previous generations that dealt with harsher conditions and fewer resources dwindling the populations. (Probably in places like Hisui, I'd imagine.) Back then, the secondary genders would insure there were always at least a handful of members in a community that could potentially produce new offspring; adolescents would present as a specific secondary gender relative to their environment. (Like those frogs that can switch between male and female depending on the population. ...Kinda.) Too many betas and not enough "breeding pairs"? Boom. Half a generation winds up presenting as omegas. Food scarce and you need stronger (and more "disposable") members to go forage and hunt in potentially dangerous areas far away from the rest of the group? Oops! All alphas!
Nowadays, with modern cities and different pack/community dynamics, it's honestly just a roll of the dice as to what you present as. Genetics can play a part in it, as well as environment still, but since it's residual now, there's no longer a set pattern.
Ω (Brief mention of babies and pregnancy.)
No mpreg unless we're counting trans individuals - simply because "traditional" mpreg in general has always made me a little uncomfortable, and also... how??? do I even begin to make that work here? I choose not to try.
Anyway. Basically, if you have the right parts and they function normally, then you can have pups. Yes, alphas are more likely to get somebody else pregnant, and omegas are more likely to get pregnant (especially during ruts/heats), but it still varies from person to person for the most part. Any gender can get any other gender pregnant, any gender can be pregnant, and any primary gender can present as any secondary gender. The possibilities are endless!
Second installment of my a/b/o headcanon series, for @smallestapplin~
<- Part 1: Biology (sfw)
(cw: none. purposefully made to not be gross. under cut for length.)
Ω Presenting usually happens anywhere between 13-16. An omega's first heat and an alpha's first rut are considered one of, if not the roughest they'll ever go through. It's puberty cranked up to 11 and, in a sense, all at once - which means their body is now rapidly trying to readjust itself and it's Not a Good Time™️.
Betas usually get the (slightly) better end of the deal, since they only go through about a week's worth of what feels like the worst case of allergies they've ever had... with the added bonus of being able to smell everything. After that, however, they're pretty much home free.
Ω Heat and rut cycles are biyearly, meaning a person will typically have one heat or rut every six months, two total in a year. Less isn’t entirely unheard of, though not all that common if someone isn’t taking suppressants. More is... well, it’s not immediately concerning, but speaking to a doctor is still advised, just to make sure everything’s alright.
Ω For the first few years after presenting, up until roughly the age of 20 or so, an alpha/omega's body will still be going through a bit of a transitional period - thus their cycles are completely separate from any sort of typical puberty hormones. At this stage, heats are mostly just like a bad fever, skin sensitivity, and heightened senses to the point of being almost unbearable. Ruts, on the other hand, are more akin to a bad ADHD episode, with loss of focus, directionless overabundance of energy, and a weird mix of both under and overstimulation. The instinct to find a heat/rut partner is completely absent until physical adulthood to allow the body ample time to acclimate. It is not uncommon for individuals to experience a physical revulsion to the idea of a heat/rut partner until that threshold of adulthood is reached; this is the body’s natural defense against unwanted attention.
Ω (I.e. No. Underage. Anything!)
Ω Nestmates, and heat/rut partners are not the same thing. Heat/rut partners are pretty self-explanitory, but nestmates are nonsexual partners (oftentimes family, close friends, or other packmates) that act as a companion during a heat or a rut. Sometimes, especially in the case of siblings or parents with very young children, nestmates will share a communal nest for most of the year up to a certain age, with a secondary nest being made specifically for heats and ruts. This promotes pack bonds and later allows newly-presented adolescents to practice building their own nests as needed.
Ω For heats, a nestmate will usually act as a cuddle-buddy and will generally offer support and comfort throughout the worst of the heat. For ruts, the role is very similar but can also include play-wrestling to help expend the alpha's excess energy.
(Packmates unconsciously recognize the pheromone signature beneath the scent of heat/rut, and so the only instincts triggered are platonic, typically focused on protection.)
Ω For an adolescent omega in heat, let them build a nest in a nice dimly-lit, climate controlled room, with plenty of comfort snacks and their favorite soft things to snuggle with - preferably scented by someone they're close to, like a parent or other packmate. This will help them to feel secure whenever they have to be left alone for whatever reason. (Sometimes having another person nearby is too much for their senses to comfortably handle, and sometimes it's just not feasible to have someone there with them all the time.) It's also best to check in on them at least once a day to make sure they're alright.
For an adolescent alpha in rut, the setup is mostly the same, though some form of external stimuli is highly recommended. Stress balls, stim toys, chewy foods like jerky, or anything tactile. (Things like handheld videogames can be used, but there's always a chance something might get handled too roughly, so proceed with caution.)
Ω Heat/rut drunk is a thing, but not quite what everyone assumes it is. The "drunk" state typically only happens either with a trusted heat/rut partner, and/or in an environment where the individual feels completely safe and secure - for example, a well-stocked, well-scented, nest in a locked apartment. Neither an omega nor an alpha are ever truly unaware of their surroundings - especially if they're spending their cycle alone. At no point will they be so far gone that they won't negatively react to any unwanted attention, such as an intruder in their nest or an unapproved would-be partner. (It’s all consensual here, folks!)
In the event of such, preservation and/or territorial instincts will kick in, effectively overriding the heat/rut to make sure the alpha or omega is clear-minded enough to react accordingly. This can lead to what is known as a Botching.
Ω Botched heats and ruts are, sadly, exactly what it says on the tin: a heat or a rut that has been either interrupted due to unsafe conditions, or was doomed from the start by virtue of being stress-induced. Either way, it's a case of the person's body and instincts (and sometimes the environment itself) actively warring with each other.
(Think of it like how your body produces adrenaline to cover up pain in order to get you out of danger; the pain and injury still exist, and you'll be even worse for wear once the adrenaline wears off, but until then you at least have a chance to get out of the situation.)
Ω While going through any sort of botching is utterly terrible, it can be argued that botched heats are the worse of the two experiences; an omega in heat is in a very vulnerable state, whereas an alpha in rut is already loaded with excess energy and stands a better chance of bouncing back more quickly.
Ω In a normal heat, an omega's instinct tells them to find a safe place to nest down; in a botched heat, survival mode kicks in to try and suppress the heat symptoms long enough to get to safety, but it's essentially a bandaid over a proverbial bullet wound. Paranoia and panic can set in, making it difficult to consider anyplace as a safe and suitable nesting site, and, in extreme cases, their instinct might be screaming at them that nowhere is safe - especially if moving to another location means leaving behind (or simply not having) any nesting materials, comfort items, or food and water.
(Symptoms include fever, chills, abdominal pain or muscle spasms, extreme fatigue, extreme anxiety, body tremors, and insomnia.)
Ω Botched ruts tend to look more like an extreme hangover or a concussion. They come with sensitivity to light, sound, and scent, an aversion to touch, heightened irritability, insomnia, headache, and sometimes nausea. An alpha in a botched rut will have their instincts rattled, making them defensive and territorial. Just like in a botched heat, an alpha will find it difficult to trust anyone around them or find anywhere “safe,” as paranoia and anxiety override the typical rut symptoms in a bid to scare or fight off any perceived threat.
Ω Unfortunately, a botching usually lasts for at least a couple of days, as the body still has to flush out the last of the heat/rut that should have been - which means the poor soul going through it is going to be in pretty rough shape, both for the duration and for about a week afterwards. Post-botching, the alpha/omega with be exhausted, jittery, unfocused, possibly dehydrated, and sore - as though arthritic or anemic. They may experience depression for a month or more afterwards, as well as mild anxiety.
The best remedy for a botched heat/rut - both during and after - is to give the individual a safe, secure place to hide and spend the remainder of their cycle. The presence of trusted nestmates is almost always immediately effected, with items scented by them at a close second; favorite nesting materials or personal items are also advised, as are small, dark, quiet, well-stocked (sometimes over-stocked, to alleviate any fear over lack of resources), well-fortified areas for new nests to be built. Closets with locks or a spare room in a packmate’s home are good examples.
(The heat/rut itself can rarely be salvaged entirely, but the negative symptoms can be lessened or quelled with the introduction of familiar people, places, or things that typically bring the alpha/omega comfort or elicit thoughts of safety. As with many things, cuddles are often the best remedy.)
I hope you’re healing up well! (Usually two weeks for the sockets to fully heal, longer if it’s the bottom sockets for some reason-)
It usually takes 7-10 days to stop worrying about a dry socket, just no suctions (like drinking from straws)
I think you’ll be okay, tho I know it hurts like a bitch.
I couldn’t fall asleep without taking my pain meds 😂
I hope you’re taking it easy and staying in bed for some comfort, I’m sending you lots of love!
I’m virtually giving you a very soft and squishy squishmellow to rest your face on and giving you some warm soup.
- Jes
Ahhhh, thank you, my guy! 😭💕 You're so fucking sweet, what the hell~
I'm about a week in, had three days off work after the extraction, and so far it's going pretty well; been taking my own weight in ibuprofen to stave off the ache, but the swelling has gone way, way down - and I'm also up to soft foods now! Right now I'm just... very aware of the extra space in the back of my mouth.
(I only got the two upper teeth out this time because the lower two have to be cut out, so that's for a later date. 😣)
But ye! I hope you're doing well, too! You've got a couple weeks on me in terms of healing but still.
