Organizations and businesses are often advised to “start with why,” so I’ll do the same. I first discovered the Omegaverse about two years ago, and, while still a fan of many other genres and subgenres, I’ll admit the Omegaverse spoke to me in a way that no other has in years.

Why? I often asked myself. It began as a decidedly guilty pleasure. I am a feminist. I value partnership and respect in relationships. I’ve never really found appeal in shifter stories. I was aware I had some salty tastes, but this was a wholly unexpected new realm.

My first answer to why came from the fanfiction of the wonderful TawnyOwl95, specifically their story “Out of the Woods.” The Omega in the story has written out very specifically why he’s engaging in a hunt, despite some guilt about his fantasy, as it seems to run counter to what he stands for in the rest of his life as an Omega-rights lawyer. There are many good elements here, and I recommend the story whole-heartedly, particularly if you are a fan of the book or TV show Good Omens. One of my favorite lighting rods of explanation for myself came from the line that the Omega rights in his description of why he’s there. “The idea of being pursued as much as caught, that I’m worth the effort, the energy, I suppose.” A later line that also spoke to me was, “It wasn’t just the sex, it was craving someone to take care of him. Aziraphale spent so much time fighting for other people, giving so much of himself. He was exhausted.”

I have a busy life. I work hard, and care hard, and am objectively a very independent, self-reliant person. But it is tiring. So yes, the fantasy of being worth the effort for someone else to pursue has definite appeal, and even moreso the idea that “yes I can do it all, but it would be really freaking great if somebody else intensely wanted to help shoulder some of it. Preferably while wrapping me in a warm and comforting hug.” I’ve heard similar explanations for why age-difference romances have significant appeal for middle-aged women who are busy and tired and caring a lot for others and craving a bit more care for themselves. Even if it is not a romance we might ever pursue in real life, and even if we would not want to surrender any of the hard-won rights that have been won for women over the years, it’s still nice to imagine being cared of sometimes.

So, that is one piece of why I’ve found myself in the Omegaverse. I’ll share more soon!