BTS Subgender Fest
A fest to explore subgenders and second characteristics of all kinds.
About the Fest
What is Subgender?
For the purpose of this fest, subgender is used rather loosely to mean any kind of second characteristic that adds another layer to a character's (gender) identity.This includes omegaverse designations, hybrids, pistilverse, cakeverse, sentinel/guide, iceverse, day/nightverse or anything else you can think of! We are also including biological dom/sub in this definitions.
There are no limits for your worldbuilding, you can also combine any of these tropes!
If you need more information, you will find brief descriptions and additional links for each universe below.
These are not strict guidelines; writers are encouraged to put their own twist on the universe they choose!
(E.g. cakeverse does not need to include cannibalism)
Omegaverse
Also referred to as alpha/beta/omega universe, where characters are assigned biological designations based on a hierarchical system. Heavily inspired from older behavior research on captive wolves; characters can be fully humans with wolfish characteristics, or shifters.Important: Please use "omegaverse" or shorten it to "a/b/o" (with slashes), since without the slashes the word is a slur against aboriginal people in Australia!Some common tropes include (fated) mates, packs, mating bites, heat & rut cycles, breeding, mpreg, multisex omegas, scenting, bitching (an alpha turned into an omega), studding (an omega turned alpha), omegaspace, omegas being owned by alphas or generally discriminated in society.These tropes can also be applied to any other kind of hybrids/shifters!
Pistilverse
Universe where characters are assigned flower-themed biological designations.A calix has never been through their awakening (which usually happens at the end of puberty).The other categories are pistils, who, at their awakening, grow a tattoo-like bare tree on their back, and stamens, who grow a flower mark.When a pistil and a stamen have sex, the stamen will “flower” the pistil and their flower appears on a branch of the tree on the pistil’s back.There are also venom stamens, with poisonous flowers as marks. When they bond with a pistil, the pistil can no longer have sex with other stamens, or they will die.If there is no more space on the pistil’s back, they go through a second awakening, with more branches growing on their body. When every inch of skin is covered in flowers, they will die.Similarly to omegaverse, pistils may be discriminated against. Since virginity and number of partners can be seen at one glance, pistils with a lot of flowers may be regarded as whores.
Biological BDSM (Bio D/s)
Universe centered around BDSM where (almost) everyone is a dom, a switch or a sub.If someone doesn’t spend enough time in subspace or domspace, they’re at risk of becoming sick.The amount of care a sub needs can vary and is sometimes designated by numbers on a scale.Doms, switches, and subs may organise similar to omegaverse packs in an “eros”.Common tropes include dom/subspace, dom/sub drop, all sorts of kinks, sub neglect, forced caretaking, restraints, subs being discriminated against (similarly to omegas).
Sentinel/guide
Inspired by the TV show The Sentinel, this is a universe where sentinels are super-powered beings and guides help to control their powers and reach higher power levels.The Guiding Light Fest (@BTSsgfest) has put together a comprehensive guide to this universe, which will be linked below! We will summarise a few main points in the following.Zone-out: a state of sensory overloadSpike: painful irritation/overuse of one senseGuides may be comforting to sentinels with their scent, touch, or pulse, while sentinels offer protection.Other tropes include genetic imprint, bonding, mindspace/mindscape, spiritual guide.
Guiding Light Fest on TwitterGuide by one of the fest modsFanlore articleArticle with infos on iceverse, cakeverse and sentinel/guide
Cakeverse
Universe where characters are split between Normals, Cakes, and Forks. Cakes are people who taste sweet (or like cakes), but only to Forks; Normals won’t taste anything unusual.Forks are able to taste Cakes’ flavor by consuming their flesh or fluids; they slowly lose their sense of taste for anything else as they age, making Cakes more and more irresistible.
Fanlore articleArticle with infos on iceverse, cakeverse and sentinel/guide