live-in jongho thread

[cw: "dating the help" type power imbalance, discussion of medical issues, and also implied age gap]

JH doesn't have a lot of big dreams, so he does what any ambitionless young alpha does: work as an alpha live-in for an omega cluster, hoping to become a kept mate.

// not me being like "i'll just clean up this idea i told @hotelfetish about" and ending up with over a thousand words of this. this is what i meant by "i don't think this is what most people do when they write a half-baked idea thread"

how gender works in this au

the social hierarchy here goes dominant betas, betas, dominant alphas, alphas, dominant omegas, omegas. "dominant" here means, like, gender+? think of it like being xyy intersex in the sense that it's like. genetically different from being a regular alpha, beta, or omega. so an alpha naturally defers to a dominant alpha and everyone defers to betas because their role in a pack is being peacekeepers so beta word is law. it's not super important honestly! just know some of the omegas are higher than others.

having different genders is important for pack balance, but not necessarily cluster balance! that is to say a big pack needs all three genders in mostly equal proportion but small clusters can be heavier on one gender or all one gender with one or two members of another gender (usually a beta) and it's usually fine. 80z are an omega-only cluster, which is both unusual and bad for general health reasons.

quick terms lesson

• CLUSTER is a family unit within a larger pack
• LIVE-IN is a paid service worker who performs a role a cluster lacks (it's like a butler or a caregiver)
• MATING RUNS are an outdated tradition where omegas in heat used to go hide in the forest to get "hunted" by alphas (it's mostly roleplay)
• MATING RUN SYNDROME is a disease where an omega does not produce slick unless "hunted"
• BITCHING is going from another gender to omega
• STUDDING is going from another gender to alpha

the thread

so 80z pack with groups from Kingdom headed by B2B but 80z are an omega-only cluster. they had a single beta (MG), but he was recently bitched and they thought it'd be fine! YS and YH are dominant omegas, so they've got balancing forces and they're looking for an alpha anyway.

they've been looking for an alpha even before MG got bitched! HG is, like, adamant they're fine! please don't question why YS's doing HRT (they nearly studded him on accident bc he went through 5 heat cycles in a row as the primary partner). they're handling it.

It is not fine.

Eungkwang remains unconvinced. he lets them flounder for 6 months and then steps in as pack leader and hires them an alpha live-in.

JH's a college-aged alpha whose biggest dream is to play video games and be eye candy for his future mates. he's studying physiotherapy.

he applies as a live-in after his first semester bc he's uncomfortable living in the alpha dorm on campus. raised in an omega-heavy cluster, JH's not used to dealing with so many alphas. he figures most alpha live-ins get hired by omega-heavy clusters, so it'll be easier for him.

he's not expecting to get hired almost immediately bc the agency explains a pretty fucking severe case needs immediate placement. JH's one of the few alpha candidates they have at the moment. it's unusual for alphas to apply in winter—usually they apply in spring for summer work.

ofc there's a trial period where everyone makes sure nobody's allergic to anybody's scent. halfway through his semester break, JH's settling into his new cluster.

he got a brief rundown of them at the agency. despite not being the oldest or a dominant omega, HJ is their leader.

suffers from extremely irregular and sudden heats, often triggered by other people's heat pheromones, which regular alpha exposure should help.

SH is the oldest, but doesn't have cycle-related problems. YH's running ragged being their dominant omega and recovering from HRT.

he needed it after MG's bitching, so YS ran the heat gauntlet instead which is why he needs regular alpha exposure, as part of his HRT regimen. they separated him from his primary mate SN so the HRT can settle. SN doesn't have cycle problems, but isn't taking the separation well.

MG is, of course, in need of alpha exposure to settle his bitching.

which just leaves WY. the agency was cagey about what WY's issue is, stating the cluster prefers to disclose in person. JH hopes it's not a deal breaker, but it's more likely just something embarrassing.

that's fine—the pack's obvs rich, since his weekly stipend is 715k won and that's not including food and board like some live-in gigs. JH didn't sign with one of the seedier agencies, so he's spending time with his new clustermates and scent anything they want for their nests.

at most, he might do scenting sessions with YS and YH. maybe WY, depending on what his issue is.

they're all cagey about that for the first month or so, then WS sits JH down and says "i have mating run syndrome. you can't really help, which is why they didn't want to tell you. i'm telling you because hyung aren't sending you back to the agency, so you should know. my heats are... bad. the pack will pay for your hotel when it happens."

WY accepts his situation but JH wants to help somehow. he keeps that to himself and nods looking up the disease later.

it's brutal, an overreactive body that doesn't produce slick as a defense mechanism, and JH can see why they didn't tell him about it.

most omegas, having JH nearby would help with mating cycle issues. with WY, only simulating a mating run—not in JH's job description—would help.

he's not... opposed. JH thinks his new clustermates are hot, and if they courted him, he'd accept. it'd be an honor, frankly, but...

their relationship's professional and doesn't include chasing WY through the woods and pinning him until he submits. that's unprofessional as fuck.

still the idea sticks with JH until he's daydreaming about being the kept alpha of his successful clustermates. HJ's some kind of popular fashion designer. SH and YS are sought-after models. YH's an actor. MG's a music producer and rapper who does all of SN's popular solo stuff. WY's an influencer with multiple millions of followers and a hotshot photographer.

JH's... an alpha.

his presence seems to help the cluster—YS finishes up his course of HRT and doesn't need another. HJ's heats get slightly less irregular. MG settles into his new gender.

but what JH's got going is he's an alpha and he's pretty hot.

when his yearly contract's up, they renew. in the 2nd year, things get... strange? JH notices the others ask for scenting more and scenting him freely in return. he doesn't recognize it until WY makes dinner for him.

nobody moves to eat, but JH's never eaten first. it's only when WY says "are you going to accept?" that JH realizes it's a courting gesture.

it's not a typical omega-alpha gesture, is the thing. it's omega-omega courting. JH still accepts, because he knows what's happening.

it's cute seeing them court him clumsily, the first alpha they've needed to court. he lets them but sometimes pretends not to understand. they're cute when they pout about their plans not working. 2 years turns into 3 but JH's still waiting for HH. everyone else has courted him.

JH's accepted the courting. HJ though... well. JH's starting his senior year by the time HJ gives him the jacket.

it means JH's a bit stressed, between his last year and courting back in earnest. he quits being their live-in during the semester break and starts being their bf.

using what he's saved, JH takes each of his clustermates on a date, gets formally added to the pack.

he graduates just before HJ's heat, pressing him to the wall of their foyer and kissing his scent gland while HJ swallows down a whine. JH smiles, moving to whisper in HJ's ear.

"you'll let me help during your next heat... right, hyung?"

HJ's stuttered whine is answer enough.