#citrus scale

[duckprintspress]

Fandom 101: The Origin of the Citrus Scale

A guest post by Aeryn Jemariel Knox. (@jemariel)

Ah, the citrus scale. It’s like a cryptid roaming the edges of modern fandom communities. Long-tenured veterans speak of it with affectionate mockery while newcomers google curiously. A relic from a bygone fandom era, the citrus scale saw a brief resurgence in 2018 during the Tumblr porn ban, suggested as a way to avoid the new bot censors trawling for posts with the NSFW tag—though never, I think, in seriousness. 

That may have been jocular and short-lived, but it does point to the reasons why the citrus scale was created in the first place. Certain fandom activities have always had to fly under the radar to one degree or another. Whether you’re trying to evade legal action or simply avoid deletion based on explicit content, a certain level of obfuscation is sometimes worthwhile.

It’s not hard to find the generally agreed-upon definitions of the citrus scale’s levels. According to Fanlore, KnowYourMeme, and others, this is more or less the “official” citrus scale:

Orange: Light stuff, kissing, nothing below the waist or under the clothes. 

Lime: Groping, implied sex without details, fade-to-black, no intercourse or intimate contact.

Lemon: Sex, in full detailed glory. Woo-hoo! Regardless of the actual acts performed, if you can tell who had an orgasm (or, perhaps, had an orgasm denied), how, and where, it’s a lemon.

Grapefruit: We’ll get into this later.

But these tidy categories are clear thanks to the benefit of hindsight. In the Wild West of the early internet, it was not so easy to pin down exactly what you might be getting into based on which term was used.

At its origin, the citrus scale wasn’t a scale at all. It has its roots in hentai (and was always more popular in anime fandoms), stemming from a specific early hentai film by the title of Cream Lemon (1984). Hentai being what it is, this led to certain subculture communities referring to any story with explicit sexual content as a “Lemon.” And for a while, that was the extent of it. Then came fanfiction.net purging explicit content (2002), Livejournal suffering Strikethru (2007), and other events that pushed burgeoning fandom communities out of their growing hubs and back into smaller, isolated communities centered on a single fandom or pairing. In the relatively sparse early ’00’s internet, anybody could spin up an Angelfire website, pass the link around to their friends, and get a reasonable amount of traffic.  Websites devoted to the works of a single author or small group were common.

I mention this to describe the landscape in which fandom lexicons grew and evolved in the early-mid 2000s. Each pocket community had its own rules, lingo, and expectations; venturing outside of your home pocket could lead to some pretty major miscommunications. 

“Lemon” was established early and its definition has hardly shifted. It means that the labeled content (art, fic, mood board, etc.) includes sex. Intercourse, bumping uglies, etc. However, some yaoi fandom niches used it specifically to mean gay sex of the male variety. In some communities, “lime” developed as a corresponding term for feminine gay sex, while other communities brought it up with the usage that eventually “stuck,” “not quite a lemon.” Given that lemon and lime often go hand in hand when discussing actual flavors, the fact that we had some divergent term evolution is not surprising. But coming in from a different pocket of fandom and seeing “lime,” thinking you’ll be reading semi-softcore sexual tension and instead being confronted with graphic sapphic antics? Bit of a shock, I’m sure.

A more dramatic example is the rating level of “Grapefruit,” which occupies two completely different ends of the scale. In some circles, grapefruit was defined as “less intense than lime,” G or PG-rated stories that were more soft or cute than sexy. In other circles, it was used to mean the exact opposite. Kinkier than kink, smuttier than smut, grapefruit art and fic was where you went to have your eyebrows singed off. Some communities were even more specific, using grapefruit for stories featuring non-consensual sex. This was where darkfic lived – in modern day parlance, your “Dead Dove, Do Not Eat” works. To say that this usage difference caused some disagreements would be putting it mildly.

Nobody really worried about orange. Orange just existed, not bothering anybody.

When these terms were coined, the internet was not an assumed aspect of everybody’s daily life the way it is today. There was no Tumblr, no Facebook, no social media to speak of. There were no large repositories of internet lore and knowledge such as Urban Dictionary or KnowYourMeme. It was a playground. And what do you do on a playground? You make friends! The citrus scale, like so many fandom tropes and concepts, was defined by groups of friends that created them ad hoc to meet their own needs at the time. No one could have predicted that it would become so much a fandom history that it’d be enshrined, nor that I would be writing a blog post about it two decades later. From the common source of lemon, people extrapolated what the rest of the scale might look like, and there was no authority to tell them they were wrong. (Except other fans. That hasn’t changed.)

In conclusion, it’s best not to take the citrus scale too seriously. At best, it’s a cheeky way to avoid censors who try to bar a community from engaging with explicit works, but it’s also varied to a fault and open to interpretation. If you and your community have come up with a use for it that suits your needs, then congratulations: you’re part of a fandom tradition stretching back to the roots of the internet. Just don’t try and tell anybody else that they’re wrong. You might start a flame war.

References:

Prokopetz: Orange and Grapefruit

She’s Got Plans: What is the Citrus Scale in Fanfiction?

Unwinnable: Lemon and Lime

Past Fandom 101 Posts:

Everything About A/B/O Dynamics You Wanted to Know (but were Afraid to Ask)

How to Diversify Your To-Be-Read Pile

Recognizing AI Generated Images, Danmei Edition

#duck prints press #guest blogger #fandom 101 #citrus scale

[theficlistpodcast]

If you don't remember the citrus scale, you might not be old enough to watch this panel 😂

On this Easter Sunday, learn about the real Alpha and Omega in our absolutely unhinged primer on spicy fanfic and fandom's path to the Omegaverse! Click here to watch it on YouTube!

#omegaverse #alpha/beta/omega dynamics #smut #smut fic #fanfiction #fanfic #fic #fandom #fandom history #fandom culture #ao3 #archive of our own #citrus scale #the fic list #tiktok #another queue bites the dust

[thoughts-and-gayers]

it's appalling that there are people still using the citrus scale in the year of our lord 2024. we really tagging ao3 fics with 'Lemon'? just say smut this isnt the wattpad surveillance state

#ao3 #citrus scale #fanfiction

[aces-to-apples]

"the lungs love the chase"

Written for zeddwashington

Rating: Explicit

Archive Warning: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings

Relationships: Darth Maul/CT-7567 | Rex/Ahsoka Tano, Darth Maul/Ahsoka Tano, CT-7567 | Rex/Ahsoka Tano, Darth Maul/CT-7567 | Rex

Additional Tags: Past Character Death, Time Travel, First Time, Dubious Consent, Dubious Morality, Seduction, Aphrodisiacs, Non-Consensual Drug Use, Sexual Inexperience, Vaginal Sex, Manipulation

Words: 2,620

Collections: May The Fourth Be With You Fanwork Exchange 2023

Summary:

Tfw your reluctant criminal boyfriend gets captured and executed by the empire thus activating a previously unknown ride-or-die protocol that has you going back in time to trick his younger self into bed with you so you can wreck the empire's plans together and also make sure that boyfriend never dies in the first place. Classic.

#star wars #sw fic #by apples #may the 4th 2023 #darth maul #ahsoka tano #captain rex #maulsoka #rexsoka #maulrex #maulrexsoka #citrus scale #lemon #not safe for whales

[pinayelf]

Sketchy pose study that turned into amihan and nate because

#nathaniel howe #warden amell #nathaniel x warden #nathaniel x amell #dragon age origins #dragon age awakening #dao #da:a #art tag #amihan amell #amihan x nate #hello everyone I feel insane #Posting this now cause it’s 4am here lol #citrus scale #lime

[foxesscreamingafterdark]

The Manic One Lore Post

Please Read the Tags Before Reading.

The 'deity' that Leo and his cult worship and feed is named The Manic One. That is not it's true name, none of it's followers have ever known it's true name. The Manic One declares one follower as it's 'enforcer' for lack of a better way to put it. This Enforcer is the one that leads the group in the name of their 'deity.'

The cult is generally seen as fun loving partiers by outsiders, which is by design. They allow outsiders to take part in their festivities like their holidays or holy days. What really happens is a mystery to people outside, which I think is standard cult behavior.

Along with a Enforcer, The Manic One 'blesses' one person. That person becomes the community fuck-hole, as per The Manic One's wants. If this is not followed, the 'blessed' person and the Enforcer are killed by the monster itself. Why is a mystery, but its assumed that whatever is done to the 'blessed one' feeds this creature.

And it's not like they can't see this thing, no; it's tangible. Whether you want to see it is debatable. It resides in a completely closed palanquin that the group carries with them from city to city. Inside it looks endless and all you can see of the creature is hundreds of slimy, wet, wriggling tentacles. Some have razors on whatever is considered the bottom. Others can deposit egg-shaped things. What these things actually are is unknown. Many followers theorize that they're the monsters unfertilized eggs. The Enforcers and the 'blessed ones' are the only ones who've seen more than the tentacles; The Enforcers see the creatures eyes and are subjected to its whispers. Ex-followers say that, from then on, it controls that person or drives them insane.

And the 'blessed ones' are taken completely into the palanquin and subjected to countless brutal fucks, forcing them to rapidly get used to their new role. Then, when they're ready, they're spat back out. If they do not conform to their role before they leave the palanquin, they're never seen again. If the 'blessed one' does not conform once they're out of the monsters domain, they're thrown back in. Usually that's where they stay.

The group travels around, recruiting as many people as possible and feeding their 'deity' when necessary. Aside from taking in people, it's not known why The Manic One makes them travel. It is known that it dictates where they stop and when they pick up again.

#Eldritch? #monster #tw cult #dark #Tentacle monster #writing #tw oviposition #oc #oc stuff #lore #worldbuilding #I tried to proofread this but idk how good I did with that lol #lemon #citrus scale

[leondxs]

@looking-for-lost-stars

Leondas could ignore it no longer. The burning heat had only grown worse as the night went on, and it had only begun. He had attempted to satisfy himself shortly after awakening at dusk. With how tightly his pants fit against his groin, it were as if he'd done no such thing.

He paused by a tree, pressing a hand against it as he groaned softly. Thoughts of a lover flooded his mind, their flesh against his, bodies intertwining, catching one another's breath... But there was no lover for him. Only an aching desire he decided he must fulfill himself.

He made quick work at unbuckling his trousers. Leaning against the trunk of the tree, he'd already begun to stroke himself slowly as he slid down to the ground. HIs mouth parted in a faint moan, his eyes closing in bliss. He hadn't even considered that he might not be alone. HIs normally heightened senses were clouded by his overwhelming desire.

#citrus scale #suggestive #looking for lost stars #||❧ ƒσℓℓσω мє ιηтσ тнє єη∂ℓєѕѕ ηιgнт ;; ic ☙||

[thediktatortot]

Lets go back to the citrus scale.

It was really easy to point out and understand with the fact that many citrus fruit have a range of sourness, giving really good 'at a glance' ratings.

It's all one type of 'thing' making it easier to remember the scale by sourness = how high the romantic/sexual content gets in a story or piece of art.

Underground It's sort of like a little secret code that the average populace doesn't know about, so you might feel more comfortable with posting your works under those tags without being found by IRL people.

It's a much more succinct scale of rating works because you have more options than "SFW" and "NSFW". Neither of those truly describe how much romantic or sexual content is going to be the work. Thus, this makes it much easier to know how comfortable you might be before getting into something.

#Citrus Scale #Citrus #Orange #Lime #Lemon #Grapefruit #We should honestly go back to this because it was so much more helpful.

[whumpshaped]

what would bite look like?

oh look i can still write! sorry that this is the one i come back to ambac with

masterlist bingo card

tw vampire whumper, mind control, very suggestive themes, dubcon drugging, dubcon bloodsucking from the inner thigh, dubcon kisses, conditioning, manipulation

Beck wasn't surprised when Helle pushed him onto the bed, nor when they climbed on top of him, nuzzling against his neck. They had been quite affectionate lately, and he didn't mind one bit — sometimes he wished they'd be... even more affectionate.

His thoughts were a confusing, tangled mess most of the time, and he didn't want to be alone for long enough to make sense of them.

What was surprising however was when Helle pulled away without biting, sliding down his body until they could untie the drawstring of his sweatpants. That... was definitely more affectionate than usual. A tad bit too far, even to Beck's enthralled mind, and he grabbed onto Helle's wrist with an alarmed look.

"Master...?"

Helle stopped and gave him a reassuring smile. "Nothing to worry about, dear. I shall have nothing but your blood, as usual."

A new wave of magic crashed into him, making him release his hold and even stealing his breath for a brief moment. Of course there was nothing to worry about. He never had anything to worry about when Helle was around. "Yes, Master," he mumbled, unbothered by the sensation of his pants being pulled off and tossed aside.

"Good boy," they purred before hooking a hand under his knee and gently guiding him to slide his leg up, until his inner thigh was completely exposed. Ah. Of course. That made sense.

But rationalising it didn't stop his heart from racing when Helle lay down on their stomach and pressed their lips against the sensitive skin. Beck had never had a single person be so close to him, especially not in this way — but there was no resisting the amount of magic that was already in his system. He wasn't afraid or uncomfortable. It was... something else.

"M-Master–"

"Mhm?" They gently kissed his thigh before looking up at him, clearly pleased with what they were seeing. "What is it, darling?"

What was it? He couldn't think when Helle was looking at him like that. It made him squirm, which only prompted them to slide an arm under his leg and pin him down by the hip, locking him in place as they kissed him again. He couldn't think. He couldn't get a word out.

"I'm afraid I am not a mindreader yet," they murmured. "You will have to use your clever little words. You can do that for me, yes?"

"N-no, I–" He cut himself off with a gasp when Helle sucked a hickey into the soft flesh, gripping the sheets like he thought he would fall otherwise. With how dizzy he felt, it wasn't an outrageous fear. "I can't– I c-can't–"

"What a sensitive body you have... I am not the first one touching you, am I?"

Beck swallowed, his face flushing even more. He turned his head in an attempt to hide just how mortified he was, but the pillow couldn't keep out the sound of Helle's low chuckle.

"Oh, that is precious. But you have nothing to fear — it is merely another feeding."

It was not merely another feeding. No other feeding had ever included the vampire's hot breath against his thigh, fangs scraping the surface of it and making him shiver. He mustered up the courage to glance down at them again, to urge them to just get those fangs inside him so the venom would take all these unnecessary doubts away, but the sight was too much to bear.

Thankfully, he didn't need to beg for it. Helle gave him one last dirty grin before they bit down, and all his remaining thoughts turned to dust.

Beck threw his head back against the pillow with a sharp gasp, and suddenly he was very grateful that the vampire was holding him in place. His exhale turned into a high-pitched, broken whimper, but he couldn't find it in himself to care. The venom flowing into his body was pure bliss in liquid form, and everything else only added to the experience.

He didn't realise he was crying until the tears became distracting enough to notice, and even then, he didn't exactly know why. It was all so overwhelming, he couldn't keep himself from sobbing. Helle pulled back and licked the wounds closed, leaving him panting and incoherent, staring up at the ceiling without a single thing in his head.

"Aw, did I make you cry?" they cooed. "I had no idea you would hate it so much." Beck shook his head frantically, because no, no, he didn't hate it. He didn't hate it at all. "Hm? What was that?"

"I– p-please–"

"Please what, dear?"

"P-please more."

~

taglist: @whumpsday @the-scrapegoat @hidden-dreamland @dismemberment-on-a-tuesday-night @delicateprincepaper @whumppmuhw @florissimps @nicolepascaline @oliversrarebooks @thecyrulik @pirefyrelight @there-will-always-be-blood @pigeonwhumps @echo-goes-mmm @whumpycries @morning-star-whump @d-cs @watermelons-dont-grow-on-trees @tauntedoctopuses @blueyellow8green @typewrittenfangs @whumpsoda @steh-lar-uh-nuhs @auroragehenna @whumpedydump

#whump #whump writing #at my beck and call #helle #beckett #citrus scale #vampire whumper #mind control #very suggestive themes #dubcon kisses #conditioning #manipulation #dubcon drugging

[tee-hee-heidi]

Getting even spicier! I swear I'll draw something wholesome next (either that or Diavolo in ropes huehue).

Hhhhhhhhot angel lady...

#inner angel inner demon #heidi art #nsft #citrus scale #lemon #illustration #artists on tumblr #angel #shibari #rope #angel girl #monster lover #exophilia #also Sara I know you're reading this #this is the phat pssy I sent you all that time ago #AND I EVEN TONED IT DOWN!

[flash-bastardd]

Who remembers the citrus scale?

Those who do deserve a senior discount!

#fanfics #fanfiction #lemon #lime #citrus scale #meme #fanfic meme

[selkiewife]

ASOIAF Rare Pairs Week 2022 || @atypical-asoiaf-pairs

Alyasha Canon AU- “There was only one bed...”

#asoiafrarepairsweek2022 #atypical-asoiaf #asha greyjoy #alysane mormont #asha x alysane #asoiaf #alyasha #ashagreyjoyedit #alysanemormontedit #asoiafedit #valyrianscrolls #citrus scale #lemon #op

[aces-to-apples]

"a beast within you"

… that can drink till it is sick, but cannot drink till it is satisfied."

Written for Maria_Antonina (@moosemonstrous) for the 2023 Smut Wars Exchange (@smut-wars-exchange)!

Rating: Explicit

Archive Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply

Category: M/M

Fandom: Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008) - All Media Types

Relationship: Darth Maul/CT-7567 | Rex

Characters: CT-7567 | Rex, Darth Maul

Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Percy Jackson Fusion, Demigod CT-7567 | Rex, Monster Darth Maul, Transmasculine CT-7567 | Rex, Tentacle Sex, Consentacles, First Time, i originally intended this to be dubcon, but it seems like i just can't do that to my boys so it's actually, Enthusiastic Consent, mentioned crying during sex, mentioned multiple penetration, mentioned anal sex, Bittersweet Ending, Smut Wars 2023 Treat

Series: Part 1 of "teeth marks on everything he loves"

Collections: 2023 Smut Wars Exchange

Words: 4,842

#star wars #the clone wars #sw fic #by apples #smutwars2023 #citrus scale #lemon #maulrex #darth maul #captain rex #captainsith #percy jackson au #camp half-blood au #not safe for whales

[pinayelf]

Can you feel the love tonight 😳

🌶🌶🌶 panel under the cut

#nathaniel howe #warden amell #nathaniel x warden #nathaniel x amell #dragon age origins #dragon age awakening #dao #da:a #art tag #lemon #citrus scale #amihan amell #amihan x nate #ok technically this STILL follows guidelines lol #im posting it now cause it’s spicy and I feel like that’s weird to post at 7am #so yeah fhcnyfcyhcf

[drowxiv]

Loving how they gave my boy a slice of lime...( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡° )

#ffxiv screenshots #elezen #ffxiv #citrus scale #I'm just being stupid