Chapter Text
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Prologue
This is an AU story, set in the Omegaverse, I´m not following fanon, since the alpha/omega/beta dynamic I´m trying to portray is based on my own views, mixed with the different ideas I have read in other fanfics, being my mayor inspiration, “The luxury of the wedding ring” written by nefariosity, since this story is kind of a sequel, you don´t need to read that first, but I totally advice you to, since it is a great story based on the idea of Alpha John and Omega Sherlock; it ends with the two of them together, but I kept wondering what of Mycroft, so I came up with this idea, hope you like it.
So now an explanation of how I imagine omegaverse:
Biology:
The number of Alphas, Omegas and Betas is really balanced, in other words, there are plenty of all of them, and they all share the same genetic bases, but alphas and omegas tend to develop intelligence, strength, resilience, artistic talent and/or fertility rates slightly above the average beta; existing cases in which they surpass by far the average (so the existence of the Holmes brothers)
Humans are born with a gender and a subgender; the gender being alpha, omega or beta; and the subgender male or female.
Among alpha-omega parings, for reproductive purposes, there is no relevance to the subgender, but among betas, only female-male parings may conceive. In case of beta-omega parings, the beta must be male and in case of beta-alpha, the beta must be female.
Alpha-alpha or omega-omega parings can´t reproduce.
Alpha-omega unions may produce a beta.
Beta-beta unions may produce an alpha or an omega.
Only alphas go on rut and only omegas go on heat, and it starts around the time they turn 16. They have them every three months, and they last 3 days.
Omegas can become pregnant in or out of heat, but during heat their fertility increases, so if they get pregnant during that time, it is highly probable for them to have a multiple pregnancy (the maximum being 3 babies) if they breed with an alpha. Betas can see their omega partner through their heats, even when they don´t have a knot; since it has nothing to do with pleasure, being a mere genetic tool to guarantee pregnancy.
All of them, alpha, betas and omegas produce pheromones when they are experiencing strong feelings like happiness, arousal, anger or fear; but alphas and omegas are more sensitive to them; therefor the general idea that during heat an omega would feel better with an alpha.
Female betas have a “normal” reproductive cycle.
Legal system:
For centuries, by law, omegas have been treated as underage persons, dependant on their alpha sire/beta father or their husband, due to the fact that during heat they are vulnerable and mentally impaired; but through the years, thanks to the development of medicine, different civil rights were granted to them:
- Once their heats beginning, they can take birth control and suppressants till they bond/marry; after that it is a decision they must make with the approval of their partner.
- There is no limitation to their access to education, and schools are organized in a way that omegas can miss class during heats, without falling behind in their studies; but in order to attend university, they must present a formal letter of their alpha sire/beta father or partner.
Despite this, there are fields traditionally seen as exclusive for alphas or exclusive for omegas; betas are accepted in every field.
- Omegas over the age of 21 are entitled to own properties, and administrate any and every income they receive, but each year they must present their financial records verified and approved by their alpha sire/beta father or partner.
- In order to get a job, their alpha sire/beta father or partner should inscribe them in an official register; this can be done as soon as the omega turns 21, or earlier if they have a professional career in the arts or sports.
The omegas must receive their wages directly, but their employer must inform their alpha sire/beta father or partner how much they earn, as well as any
rise or promotion they get.
- Widowed omegas are granted full citizenship, although they are under constant surveillance of the government, having monthly visits of social workers in order to verify the are doing well and haven´t suffered any kind of abuse or discrimination.
Social views:
Despite what the legal system institutes, there are a lot of old social conventions that limit the omegas, dictating the way they should lead their life, establishing the way they should act, talk and dress, as well as when to get married, what to study, etc.
Among the middle and low classes, those social conventions have lost importance with time, so omegas receive a more equalitarian treatment, although they must comply with the legal requisites, many of which nowadays are seen as simple formalities, since it is rare for an alpha sire/beta father or partner to refuse an omega the opportunity to study or work
Among middle and lower classes, there is no prejudice against the marriage between alphas-betas or omegas-betas
Upper classes are very traditionalist, and still treat their omegas as children, planning and deciding their lives for them; and as a rule, omegas are married soon after their first heat
They favour the idea that alphas should only marry and bond with omegas, to ensure the continuity of their linage; so they favour arranged marriages where the omega is usually younger than the alpha, because they believe that being older, the alpha would be better prepared to “handle” and “care” for their omega.
The marriage rite they follow is sexist, and reflects the fact than an omega is consider a possession, that first belongs to her alpha sire and then to her alpha husband.
The vows are as follows (taken from the story “The luxury of the wedding ring” by nefariosity, if you want to know how the whole ceremony goes, read the story, it´s great, the wedding is described in chapter 9):
“Name of the alpha, my love, my life, my husband. I give you my eyes, that you may be my guide. I give you my mouth, that you may speak through it your wisdom. I give you my heat, that you may fill me with your life.”
“Name of the omega, I accept your eyes, and pledge to lead you ever to the right.” The alpha takes a black cloth in hand and secures it over the omegas eyes. “I accept your mouth, and pledge to fill it only with righteous words.” The alpha places a white cloth across the omega's open mouth, to be tied at the back of his/her head. “I accept your heat, and pledge to care for this life, and any life that I may create of you,” the alpha ties a green sash around the omega's waist. “I am yours, and you are mine, now and always.”
After that the alpha sire and his lawyer witness the union and bonging of the pair.
Upper class Omegas are expected to remain untouched till marriage, while alphas are encouraged to have sex since their firs rut. Once bonded, omegas can only spend their heat with their alpha, but it isn´t consider necessary for them to have sex outside of it, not with their alpha and certainly not with someone else; but it is socially accepted for the alphas to have affairs, as long as they are discrete. For this purpose, alphas mostly choose betas or other alphas, saying that omegas are immature, needy and not as intelligent, although this isn´t true, and the differences between the alphas and their omegas are due to their age differences, as well as the limited education that omegas are allowed to receive.
Once married, upper class omegas are expected to devote to their husband, and children, when they have them. It isn´t expected for them to go to university but they may have jobs, as long as they don’t neglect their alpha or family obligations. They may choose jobs related to cooking or decoration, but it is preferred for them to stay at home.
Upper class Omegas are “trained” from an early age to become good wives and gracious hostesses, since they must exhibit the right social skills in order to shade the right light on their alpha and, in that way, promote his social standing.
Notes: This is a fictional world, it isn´t my intention to offend anyone. This doesn´t reflect reality, so what I explained doesn´t describe an actual society, country or group.