Problem is, I'd have to research the specific physiological effects of certain hormones.

[magibrain]

...I find myself vaguely wanting to write A/B/O fic, except less with sex and more with navigating tricky power dynamics and slews of body dysphoria, and with a heavily tweaked version of the whole A/B/O premise.

(Basically, the idea in my brain is that Alpha, Beta and Omega are just psychophysical modes people operate in, and while people tend to have "baseline" modes that they operate in for long stretches – sometimes even their entire lives – people can switch from mode to mode in response to various physical or psychological stimuli. Like, a baseline beta might find themselves going omega or alpha after a major trauma, for example. And there would be drugs and such which could affect what mode people operated in. Plus, while the modes would have specific physiological effects – people operating in alpha mode might have overactive adrenal glands and produce more testosterone, while people operating in omega mode would experience heat and all its attendant fun – it would only affect personality in as much as, say, gayness does. In that there would be a ton of stereotypes and there would be established cultures which people might or might not do any social commerce with, and aside from that, it's not really something you could tell by looking at someone.)

(...though you could probably tell it by scent. Because that seems to be a thing?)

(Also, people would be able to resist physical urges, with varying degrees of difficulty from "I am having this strong craving right now!" to "I am experiencing this with the intensity of an addiction." And there would probably be a lot of discussion on medical and political stages about that.)

I don't know. I've read a grand total of two A/B/O fics in my life – feels like the start of something and The toppiest girl in the school, and ironically neither of them is for a fandom I'm actually in – and I feel like this may just be a continuation of my picking at the assumed conventions of tropes I don't actually write or read (see also), which always makes me feel a little weird. But I feel like, given some of the discussion in the prompt thread for feels like the start of something, it might be a weird little space to explore which other people are also interested in seeing explored. And it does seem like there's a healthy movement in A/B/O writing areas to dissect the heck out of the trope, from what I've read.

Of course, it also doesn't help that I already have way too many other projects clamoring for my attention. Including the one where Neal is stuck on a magical Greyhound for five years.




This is one of the ways you can tell I'm ace. I find tropes that are deeply rooted in kinky sex and then expend considerable time and energy carefully plucking out the sexybits so I can nest in the kinky power dynamics. <_< One of these days I'll write and post my WC OT3 fic and it will be 80,000 words of neither sex nor romance, continuing my trend of OT3 fic which is neither sex nor romance, and everyone will be able to tell me that I'm doing it wrong. AND I WILL LAUGH FROM ATOP MY ASEXY THRONE, I SHALL EAT THE CAKE THAT IS MY BIRTHRIGHT, AND KNOW THAT I AM THE OVERMIND, THE ETERNAL WILL OF THE ACE COMMU – no, wait, that got away from me, sorry.

Comments

[thebestman]

Yeah, I don't like huge power splits, not all the time? Like. I could maybe use a little more "putting my foot down, Mat" from Birdie sometimes rather than long-suffering "please, I've asked you three times?" even though that tends to get through too, BUT we mostly save the power splits for in bed, and not even always then.

But that's sort of what I do for Birdie, even though she can't always write? I like to be able to do the groceries, earn most of the money, deal with making phone calls and shit, so that a) she doesn't have to worry about her anxiety and depression fucking things up (she does anyway, but it's mental illness sparked worry more than actual issues worry, and that's better at least) and that b) when she CAN write, she has the time and ability to do so, and the space to try to get there when she's having trouble.

And also I try to make sure she eats and everything.

It's a nice dynamic, for me - I'd like to have other sorts of dynamics at least from time to time? But not necessarily with HER, just... in general. If that makes sense.

[magibrain]

•nodnod• I actually like being the primary breadwinner, when I have the capacity to be. And it's one of those dreams of mine to be able to get there, purely doing fiction. But yeah, as for the rest of it, taking care of food and mundane concerns and being a sounding board for fiction is pretty much What I Want, even if I'm uncertain how exactly to find it.

But yes. It's a cool, comfy dynamic. There are other awesome dynamics, some of which I've fallen into, but that's one that definitely factors into my ideal future plans.

[thebestman]

One day we're gonna end up sharing a house and I'll just sit in the living room so you and Aub can both come out and bounce things off me and I'll remind you to eat and shit and to make sure everyone's contributed to the utilities fund before it's due and so forth.

[magibrain]

Hahaa, yes, excellent, I approve.

...well, my ideal living situation is actually a big plot of land with a ton of little Earthships on it and a common room we can all hang out in, so we can all have our own space and still not be isolated. (Part of this has to do with the fact that I am the twitchiest person in any of my friends circles when it comes to mess, so me having my own space would be best for the mental state of all involved. Or I could just, like, have a room with a private bathroom and set up a minifridge and induction cooktop in there and be able to hermit as long as I could possibly want.) But yes. Clearly we need a transdimensional living space so all of us can live together and still have our climate needs met.