UST - Fanlore

Definition

UST is an abbreviation used to refer to unrequited sexual tension between two characters or unresolved sexual tension between the same, depending on the context. The former involves a character undergoing angst at the reality of another character not sharing their feelings, and the latter, a character or characters expressing such tension in an alternative way, such as anger, denial, or even 'kisses that don't go anywhere'. Such tension can be in the realm of a het-oriented fanwork or a slash-oriented fanwork.

Etymology

Usage

In The X-Files fandom, UST most commonly stood for unresolved sexual tension and often lead to RST, or resolved sexual tension. For many Mulder/Scully shippers, UST was a favorite device both in fic and on screen. UST was such a big part of the fandom that the Gossamer archive suggests using UST as a possible keyword for fic headers.