#interactions : sansa & lyanna m

[papcrrings-arch]

“Well that’s good, that your memories came back. I can’t imagine what it’d be like to have to live without them,” Lyanna nods. This place was confusing enough already, there didn’t need to be added confusion on top of it. “Hm, that’s odd,” They hoped that never happened to them, it was important to Lyanna to know the life they’d lived and where they had come from. “This place is much more advanced than back home.” They had still been struggling to figure out how to use a cellphone, whilst trying to figure out everything else. “A queen? Did you become queen in the north?”

"I suppose I did not know any different," Sansa replied, "But it is weird to think about now," she nodded, "It certainly is. One of the perks of having other memories is that I kind of get it," she smiled proudly at the other as she asked after her position, "Yes, that was what happened in the end. It was rather odd how it all turned out but it felt right."

“Well that’s good, that your memories came back. I can’t imagine what it’d be like to have to live without them,” Lyanna nods. This place was confusing enough already, there didn’t need to be added confusion on top of it. “Hm, that’s odd,” They hoped that never happened to them, it was important to Lyanna to know the life they’d lived and where they had come from. “This place is much more advanced than back home.” They had still been struggling to figure out how to use a cellphone, whilst trying to figure out everything else. “A queen? Did you become queen in the north?”

"I suppose I did not know any different," Sansa replied, "But it is weird to think about now," she nodded, "It certainly is. One of the perks of having other memories is that I kind of get it," she smiled proudly at the other as she asked after her position, "Yes, that was what happened in the end. It was rather odd how it all turned out but it felt right."

[princesssarcastia]

GOT S8E3

DD I FORGIVE YOU FOR EVERY SIN YOU’VE EVER COMMITTED HOLY SHIT THAT WAS SO FUCKING AMAZING.  I CRIED, MY MOM CRIED, YOU CRIED, BRAN CRIED HOLY SHIT.

Guys, look, I saw endgame yesterday (no spoilers) and I just want y’all to know that this episode made me completely forget about it.  completely.  on this channel its all thrones all the time, now and always. 

I just, I can’t even,  I cannot even.  

SO!!! (god, I'm so happy to be excited about game of thrones again)

Ten minutes of building dramatic tension would be a lot, but by god they did it beautifully.  Using sam as the pov for this worked so well, because he's like benchmark normal people reactions for the show. 

Melisandre showing up to light up the Dothraki is so good; she and Berric Dondarrion, who I'll talk about later, both fulfilling their purposes to the Lord of Light was the fulfilling end of a narrative arc.  It made me cry.  And god, the cinematic beauty of that wave of firey swords racing across a field toward the dead was......poetic.  

And Daenerys abandoning the plan to go and save the remnants of the Dothraki, and Jon following her, was such an echo of Jon’s actions in Battle of the Bastards.  I love cinematic parallels, guys, they are my life’s blood.  The wheel turns. 

When the white walkers brought the storm I about flipped my lid, y’all.  

All those shots of Grey Worm standing fast against the dead were so true to his character, and so,,,,righteous??? is that the word??? it made me want to pick up a sword and help him is all I m saying.

Melisandre to the rescue again with lighting the trench; she’s super fucking helpful in this episode.

JAMIE AND BRIENNE, SAVING EACH OTHER TIME AND TIME AGAIN. YESSS

*announcer voice* WHO’S READY FOR A DRAGON BOWLLLLLLLLLLLL

(not me I WASN’T READY)

Tyrion attempting to drink himself to death in a crypt because he feels useless while Sansa has a slight fear breakdown and Missandei throws shade for Daenerys was,,,,hilarious.  also I want to know who decided to put everyone in a crypt for the zombie apocalypse.  a crypt, you know, where they bury dead people????? I wasn't expecting that either and it just about killed me like it killed those women and children. 

Sansa and Tyrion, having a moment? Courtly love?? yesss, whispers my romantic goblin brain. 

I also appreciated the show runners’ commitment to Sandor Clegane’s PTSD with fire.  the man cannot handle his fire, it gave him a panic attack even now, and I really like that.  I also like that he snapped the FUCK OUT OF IT when he saw arya in danger. (note: I don't know if thats how ptsd works, or panic attacks work. probably not.  but u know what idc it gave me character interaction warm fuzzies)

Edd’s death?? Sad but satisfying. 

Sam being scared shitless the whole time but still showing up ready to two-fist it with dragon glass was excellent; its consistent with every bit of how he's acted thus far. the first man in a thousand years to kill a white walker makes it to the end. 

Lyanna Mormont taking out a giant on her way out was 100%.

I would like to announce that DD giving Bran his one (1) slotted emotion for the rest of the series about Theon fucking Greyjoy was not the move I was expecting, but by god was it incredible to watch.  Even Bran can’t watch this man die for him, kill dozens of zombies to protect him, without crying because soon he’ll be dead. it’s a mark of true redemption for Theon, dying protecting the child who was part of his first, biggest fuckup. 

I guess ghost is dead?????? we’ll see. 

That bit with Drogon being swarmed by dead was fucking terrifying.  I bout died when they started swarming him. 

And then Jorah, Jorah, JORAH.  JORAH RUSHING TO HIS QUEEN’S RESCUE; JORAH NOT COLLAPSING UNTIL HE KNOWS SHE’S SAFE; JORAH MORMONT, GIVEN THE HONORABLE DEATH HE DESERVES, I fucking cried y’all, and so did Daenerys.  That’s the best scene Emilia Clarke has given us for Daenerys in one and a half seasons. (and then drogon curling up around her while she cries, d’awwwwww)

finally.  you know I had to save it for last.

What do we say to the god of death?

oh man, oh MAN, Arya “No One” Stark being so good with her pole arm that even Davos is like “oh shit”; panicking in the face of the dead, which was a series of nice human moments for everyone’s favorite badass; running into the Hound and Berric to save her;  

Berric dying, fulfilling his grand purpose, the one the Lord of Light brought him back from the dead for twelve times ( think about that. a great god brought a man back from the dead twelve times so he could save Arya stark. god I'm in love)

Brown eyes.  green eyes.  BLUE EYES. 

What do we say to the god of death?  Well, if you’re Arya motherfucking Stark, you don’t say anything to him.  you kill him. 

you kill him with the valerian steel dagger your brother gave you, the checkoff’s gun I didn't even think about. 

Arya, tears in her eyes, looking at her brother because they won, and she saved them all.  Does this make Arya the prince who was promised?? lets crown her immediately and let her do whatever she wants without consequence. 

guyssssssssss I'm going to go watch it again now.  I'll probably cry again too.  I'm real fucking excited to see where they go next for the first time this season. 

[mcdynamite]

Live reactions to Game of Thrones 8.02 (I’m dead enjoy):

1. Damn ok we’re getting right into it with Dany and Jaime okay

2. Lmao Tyrion’s face when he realized Cersei lied

3. BRAN HAS NO CHILL

4. Brienne!!!

5. Jaime’s lil smile when Brienne defends him 😍

6. Oh hey there Jo- nvm Aegon

7. Oof Jon’s avoiding her

8. I don’t like Dany anymore

9. GENDRY!!!

10. Omg he’s so worried about her I love it

11. And now he’s not heh

12. Oh Christ here we go

13. Why is Bran so dramatic like stop

14. My favorite bros reuniting!

15. “I’m sure about it” Tyrion stop she’s starting to act crazy don’t be so sure

16. He’s just standing there looking at her! 😱

17. I love them

18. Jorah coming in clutch

19. I love this convo between Dany and Sansa

20. Dany loves Jonnnnn

21. Shit this took a turn

22. Theon oof

23. This is too much omg Theon and Sansa hugging and crying send help

24. Dadvos pep talk

25. Gilly being amazing I love her

26. This little girl omg she’s gonna do such a good job defending the crypt

27. Lmfao Tormund

28. So like when are we gonna address the whole Jon is a Targaryen thing

29. “The big woman still here” I’m dead

30. So the plan is legit to wait for the Night King to come get stared at by Bran

31. I have a bad feeling about the crypt

32. YALL I AM STRESSED

33. Omg I’m so mad those girls walked away from Missandei

34. Missandei and Grey Worm I love them one of them is about to die

35. GHOST IS BACK

36. This interaction between the three guys is amazing

37. I miss Grenn and Pip

38. I have SUCH a good feeling about these four hanging out

39. Mama Brienne stopping Pod from drinking

40. DADVOS JOINS

41. AND TORMUND

42. I love this

43. Wtf Tormund that’s so weird

44. Arya and the Hound YES

45. “I fought for you didn’t I” crying

46. Arya and Gendry are aloneeeeee

47. Jealous Arya hehehehehehe

48. O M G SHE WENT THERE

49. This is the best day of my life it’s finally happening

50. And we’re back to our gang of misfits

51. I love Tyrion

52. “Ser Brienne of Tarth” YAS

53. Is Jaime about to knight her????

54. OH MY GOD HE IS

55. The look Pod gives her ugh I love it

56. I’m crying I adore this scene

57. Oof Lyanna and Jorah

58. Sam gave his sword to Jorah and I am HERE for it

59. “I’ll see you when it’s through” I AM SO NERVOUS

60. Damn Pod got PIPES

61. ..........why do I ship Sansa and Theon

62. Missandei and Grey Worm 😭

63. Oh shit is he boutta tell her?

64. It’s happening

65. Oh my god this bitch doesn’t believe him?????????

66. Oh my god oh my god oh my god oh my god oh my god

67. STRESSED

68. I really like this song

Final thoughts!!

Dany is starting to act really weird and I’m getting concerned that her drive for power is going to fuck things up.

Bran is the most dramatic person in the whole world.

Arya and Gendry finally did it and my heart is happy.

I ship Brienne and Jaimie SO HARD after this episode!

I ship Sansa and Theon now? That’s super new? Idk how I feel about it?

So many great, little moments in this episode. Jaime knighting Brienne. Bran seeing Jaimie again. Sansa and Dany until it got weird. Arya and Gendry when she showed him she’s lowkey deadly af. Theon coming back. The whole sequence with the 6 drinking in the great hall. I love it. I absolutely love it.

[trinuviel]

ALL IS SUBTEXT - A Case for Jon and Sansa (part 5)

This is the fifth installment in my analysis of the romantic subtext in the scenes between Jon and Sansa in seasons 6 and 7 of Game of Thrones (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4). I’ve examined the different techniques that the show employs to create this subtext through primarily visual means. This post is is a direct continuation of part 3 and part 4 where I began examining the romantic tropes that inform the scenes between their. Once again I’ve had to break up my analysis because there are so many tropes in play and I am trying to be meticulous in my analysis. So here is yet another very long post.

KNOW YOUR TROPES

The ambiguous romantic subtext in the scenes between Jon and Sansa exists almost entirely on the level of the visual - and that means that we have to pay close attention to non-verbal cues, costume design, image composition and editing. 

I have previously mentioned that tropes are excellent tools when it comes to creating subtext because they function as a narrative shorthand. They rely on audience familiarity and genre conventions, which mean that there’s no need to spell things out - and subtext exists at the level of the unspoken.

So without further ado, let’s have a look as some more JonSa scenes where romantic tropes are in play.

Gentle readers, gird your loins - this post is hella long.

Declaration of Protection. This trope occurs when the hero’s motivation is built around protecting another person. This is usually the love interest but it can also pertain to other kinds of relationships (as well as larger entities such as a home or the realm as per Jon’s season 7 arc).

Both seasons 6 and 7 make it clear that Sansa is the hidden reason for many of Jon’s actions. She’s the one that gives him the will to live and fight again. She shakes him out of his depression and disillusionment after he’s been resurrected - and he is determined to protect her at any cost. The night before the Battle of the Bastards, Jon issues a solemn declaration of protection when Sansa states that she’ll never let Ramsay take her alive, hinting that she’ll kill herself if Jon loses the battle.

(GIFs by https://giffferrplanet.wordpress.com/2016/06/23/game-of-thrones-the-night-before-the-battle/)

Sansa’s reaction is heartbreaking. No one has be able to protect her since her father died and her scepticism in the face of Jon’s promise is understandable yet so very sad. However, the thing to notice here is Jon’s sad puppy-dog face when Sansa leaves - now it isn’t just Winterfell that hangs in the balance, Sansa’s very life rests on his shoulders as well.

Battle Couple. This trope pertains to a couple who are partners in combat:

This is the kind of couple where bullets figure prominently in the story of their romance. Where “war buddy” and “significant other” are synonyms. If you harm either one of them, the survivor will kill you as surely as the sun rises. (TVTropes)

Jon and Sansa may not fight side-by-side in the physical sense but Sansa’s presence at the parley with Ramsay (as well as her involvement with raising troops, etc) puts them into the territory of Battle Couple. Furthermore, the visuals repeatedly puts them side-by-side to emphasize them as a team.

The parley with Ramsay offers a number of shots that presents Jon and Sansa as a united front. 

In short, they look “beautiful and majestic” together  (as the script explicitly states).

Ruling Couple. This trope is generally used in relation to a monarchial setting:

A ruling couple, on the other hand, are equal or near equal partners, and may even be Happily Married. Rather then one ruling and one staying in the palace they jointly rule. The rulers will rely on each other as trusted counselors and they will be The Good King and The High Queen in one. Perhaps they will show this by receiving audiences on two thrones. Perhaps the consort will have a regular seat in the royal council and a vote. Perhaps even the two of them will discuss deep and labyrinthine affairs of state during matrimonial activities.

On many occasions, they will also be a Battle Couple. (TVTropes)

Jon and Sansa may not be a Ruling Couple in the traditional sense (not yet anyway). However, the visuals repeatedly show them sitting side-by-side, looking regal, when they interact with their bannermen.

The shot below is an especially strong visual because it offers a simple yet effective image composition. Jon and Sansa are placed firmly in the centre of the shot, framed by the large hearth that forms a pale background against which and they stand out visually. They are further framed by the black silhouette of the bannermen. This, along with the slow zoom in, serve to highlight them visually in a way that ruling couples often are presented. Once again, Jon and Sansa look beautiful and majestic together.

This shot is not only visually striking but it may very well be narratively significant as a piece of subtle foreshadowing. The kingmaking scene follows the most narratively important reveal in the entire show: the revelation of Jon’s true parentage as the son of Lyanna Stark and Rhaegar Targaryen. Immediately after this revelation, Jon is chosen as King in the North based on his status as Ned Stark’s bastard son and he’s thus elected under false pretenses even though he is unaware of his true parentage.

Placing the parentage reveal before the kingmaking is an interesting (and very deliberate) editing choice because it introduces the possibility that Jon’s parentage may become a problem for his kingship in the future. Jon’s true parentage relates to several popular tropes: Really Royalty Reveal, Hidden Back-up Prince, Secret Legacy - or as I like to call it: the Hidden Prince. When a narrative employs this trope, the truth will ALWAYS come out and it is always be of extreme narrative importance. While Jon relinquished his kingship in season 7, his status as a leader in the North may very well be further imperilled when the truth comes out. There’s been written several metas on how a marriage between Jon and Sansa would effectively unite the competing claims to North and unite House Stark firmly under Jon’s leadership, so I won’t go further into this argument here. 

Rather, I’d just point out that by placing the parentage reveal right before a scene that invokes a visual iconography of a ruling couple in such a strong image composition, the show simultaneously teases the likelihood of a  future conflict as well as its possible solution - in one single image!

When Jon is declared King in the North, despite Sansa having the heriditary claim to Winterfell, he turns to Sansa to gauge her reaction. he wants her to approval before he accepts the kingship - and she smilingly approves without uttering a single word. Yet another instance of them being in accord.

It is a move that is similar to this interaction between King Leonidas of Sparta and his queen Gorgo in 300 (2007) - spouses in accord, there’s no need for words.

Whilst Sansa isn’t Jon’s formal co-ruler, the show continues to seat her next to Jon when he exerts his authority as king. This is especially important since Winterfell’s Great Hall lacks the visual stage-setting of power that characterizes the Red Keep and Dragonstone. Jon’s “throne” is just a regular chair and he is placed on the same level as his subjects - yet he maintains a certain distance by standing behind a separate table at the end of the room, right in front of the visual centre provided by the hearth. The table acts as a physical and visual barrier between him and his bannermen so even though he’s not physically elevated above his vassals, he does inhabit a space that is sectioned off from them (though he quickly moves beyond it). Sansa inhabits this same space, right by his side!

However, Davos also sits next to Jon, at the same side of the table. Here it is important to pay attention to the image composition! As you can see, Davos is seated a bit farther from Jon than Sansa - and this slight separation is visually emphasized by the hearth where the light reflected on the lower mantel creates a visual barrier between Jon and Davos. No such barrier exist between Jon and Sansa - and the slightly skewed perspective also makes them look closer to each other. In short, though three persons are seated side by side, Jon and Sansa are grouped together in a visually distinct manner that evokes the iconography of a Ruling Couple.

Even their costumes support this trope! @jonsalways has penned an amazing costume meta that about Jon and Sansa’s costumes in seasons 6 and 7. She notes that the colours and the overall silhouettes of their costumes match each other, which not only makes them look good together but also serve to underscore them as a team. I’m going to quote her here because she cuts to the heart of the matter in such a succinct manner:

When you look at the items they wear (it) is also wonderful. They both have a cloak, a cape, a dress/shirt, a “metal necklace”, a collar over the necklace and a belt. Every single detail in Jon’s costume has a equivalent on Sansa’s. It’s almost as they wear the female and male version of the same outfit. 

When they are side by side, they look beautiful because their costumes match in pieces and their silhouette look just right. It’s comfortable to look at them because they look so similar. It’s almost like you don’t see two characters wearing two different concepts. You see them together as one whole concept. If they could switch their cloaks/capes, the colors would work just fine. And they are the only Starks whose costumes do that. Michele Clapton does it for a reason.

The elements mentioned in the quotes work on the level of the visual sub-conscious, i.e. we simply notice that they look aesthetically pleasing together but it is seldom something that the general audience give much thought to.

However, there are obvious symbolic elements to their costumes that we are most definitely are meant to notice; elements that also work as statements about their characters and their narrative journeys. In the case of Jon and Sansa, the symbolic element is the Stark direwolf, the heraldic sigil of their House - and this element tells the story of two characters travelling towards the same destination in season 6 and on parallel lines in season 7.

In season 6, we see Sansa visually reclaim her identity as a Stark through an act of (literal) self-fashioning: she makes a beautiful dress where the bodice acts as the canvas for the presentation of the Stark direwolf, made with materials that probably are supposed to evoke the natural landscape of the North - such a irregularly cut squares of mother-of-pearl (that made me remember the wonderful mussel shell necklace that Karsi wore in season 5).

Sansa’s homemade dress is a profound act of self-reclamation. She emblazons her chest with the ancestral symbol of her family - almost as an answer to the way the Lannisters put their heraldic stamp on her neck in season 3:

Throughout the season she’s repeatedly insulted as being no Stark - Lord Glover tells her House Stark is dead and Lady Mormont snidely calls her both a Lannister and a Bolton. Sansa answers that she will always be a Stark - and it is written on her body for all to see.

Jon is also wearing a single direwolf on his costume to match Sansa. However, his symbol is much more discrete in form and placement - probably both for reasons practical and symbolic. Sansa is the trueborn Stark after all. Jon’s cloak is a gift from Sansa, she made it herself - and the show actually takes the time to show us this:

We don’t see Sansa make the dress that is so important to her identity - but we get to witness her make a garment for Jon that is invested with a profound emotional, symbolic and political value. When Sansa gifts Jon with a cloak stamped with the Stark direwolf she wordlessly acknowledges and claims him as a Stark for all the world to see - the very thing that always has been Jon’s greatest wish! It is really very beautiful - she’s the one that makes a matching pair out of them (since she probably also made her own Stark fur). 

Politically, Jon’s new cloak is also significant - not just because of the Stark sigil but also because it is just like the one Eddard Stark wore! The patriarch whom the North once were sworn to, for whom they went to war! It is a politically savy move because Sansa Stark understands that clothing isn’t just about covering your body, it is also a language.

(the two edits below are by @baelerion)

Season 7 builds on this symbolic aspect of Jon and Sansa’s costumes. Now they both wear a pair of direwolves facing each other. Notice how they wear the Stark sigil on the same part of their bodies in both seasons - on the chest and then at the neck! Once again they match. 

The double direwolves are interesting because, unlike season 6, their stories have moved beyond becoming Starks (again). Now their narrative journey is about their partnership and that is signalled by the double direwolves. They have to learn to act in tandem. While they have their differences and instances of miscommunication, season 7 is about them acting as a ruling team, as King in the North and Lady of Winterfell - two titles that originally belonged to just one person. Once again they are being posited as two halves of a whole - the ruling pair of the North, which is formalized when Jon names Sansa his regent before he travels south.

Interestingly enough, Jon and Sansa’s double direwolves have their echoes in two earlier costumes. When Bran acted as Robb’s regent in season 2, he wore a gorget just like Jon’s - and when Robb attended the Red Wedding as KitN he wore a pair of direwolf clasps just like Sansa’s! Now the costumes are reversed, the gorget for the KitN and the clasps for his regent. An interesting detail that very likely is significant, considering Michele Clapton’s symbolic and narrative approach to the costumes of GoT.

Even down to the smallest detail, the costume design presents Jon and Sansa  to the audience looking like a ruling couple; a couple that are on parallel narrative journeys. It is also worth noting that it is only Jon and Sansa who wear the Stark sigil in season 7! Neither Arya nor Bran appear to wear the Stark direwolf even after they’ve returned home to Winterfell. Perhaps that is because it is Jon and Sansa who are the leaders of House Stark and the North.

I’m going to return to the issue of image composition in relation to the Ruling Couple trope. When season 6 aired, HBO released this wonderful and very memorable photo. (I’ve reversed it for visual variety)

This beautiful image doesn’t actually match what we see on out TV screens! This is a still photograph, taken by a separate photographer (a unit still photographer). Not only do we not see this exact pose in the episode in question but it is also clear that this image has been through a graphics editor since the bluish tint from the episode has been removed in favour of a stronger visual contrast with the background so Jon and Sansa’s figures capture the eye immediately.

Still photographs like this are created specifically for publicity and marketing. This image became very popular with the media outlets that cover the show - not surprisingly since it is one of the most visually arresting images among the promotional material released to the press. This image became a very popular header picture in several reviews, think pieces and post-season articles, such as this one in TIME where a possible Jonsa marriage is discussed.

I hesitate to name this photo “iconic” because I think it is too early to use that designation. It is, however, an extremely striking image with the clear-cut profiles, the matching costumes and the sharp silhouettes against the light background - there’s no visual “clutter” to distract the eye from the regal couple. Jon and Sansa really stand out against the background and everything from the direction of their gazes to their matching colours and silhouettes tie them together visually as a couple. They look like a king and queen in this image and since it was a popular choice with the media outlets, it is an image that has repeatedly been presented to the people who follow the coverage of the show online. That kind of image repetition can also work to plant the idea of Jon and Sansa as a couple on the subconscious level.

This image is pretty much the incarnation of the line from the script about Jon and Sansa looking “beautiful and majestic”.  They look like a King and Queen, there’s no need for crowns here.

No other couple has looked as regal as these two in the entire show! 

In contrast, one of the most popular stills of Jon and Dany from season 7 is markedly different. @jonsalways has noted how Jon and Dany’s costumes never truly match, neither in colour nor in silhouette. That also is very apparent in this image. What is even more interesting is the fact that this composition doesn’t convey harmony and togetherness like the regal image above, which makes sense since Jon and Dany isn’t one the same page in this season. Not only do they have conflicting interests and goals, the one is also intent on subjugating the other. In short, they don’t look like a romantic couple.

In terms of body language Jon and Dany are completely out of sync and there’s a distinct lack of communication between them. Whilst Dany is gazing at Jon, her body turned towards him, Jon’s attention is elsewhere. He faces away from her and doesn’t even seem to acknowledge her presence. When compared with the JonSa image above, the background almost feels visually “cluttered”, which also means that it is much less attention-grabbing than the first image. When it comes to drawing visual attention to something, less is generally more.

As said, the regal image of Jon and Sansa doesn’t appear in the show itself. The closest the show matches the promotional image is this double profile shot:

This shot is of particular interest in relation to the Ruling Couple trope because the image composition adhere to a common iconographic schema for portraits of royal couples.

Fx in this coin minted for the 70th wedding anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip.

Or this design for a stamp featuring Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary of Denmark. These are but a few example from a vast number of offical royal portraits.

Throughout seasons 6 and 7, the show presents the audience with a large number of visuals that depict Jon and Sansa in a manner that is associated with ruling couples.

Interestingly enough, the Stark-centric cover of Entertainment Weekly in 2017 positively screams Northern Royal Family! This is of course a group portrait of a group of siblings (even though Jon is actually their cousin). However, not only is Sansa placed next to Jon (instead of fx between Bran and Arya), the combination of a standing male and a seated female evokes a time-honoured compositional template for official royal portraits. I’ve included a couple of examples for comparison.

Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel of Sweden.

King Frederik IX and Queen Ingrid of Denmark.

Then there’s this lovely portrait of Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary of Denmark.

This is a slightly different variation on the pose but it is also a popular one in royal portraiture. Notice how we also have a very similar image of Jon and Sansa in the last episode of season 6?

It is unclear whether the cinematographer consciously chose to model these shots of Jon and Sansa on popular visual conventions for royal portraiture. It is entirely possible that these similarities are coincidental to a certain degree. By that I mean that when we see a lot of pictures, certain types of composition becomes so familiar to us that we don’t register them consciously. However, I do think that the similarities between the image composition in the shots where Jon and Sansa are placed side-by-side are the result of some conscious choices, especially since directors and cinematographers often turn to art for inspiration (like Dan Sackheim took inspiration from Caravaggio’s art for Jon’s resurrection scene). 

To be continued...

(GIFs and edits not mine)

[poetdameron]

warm | jonerys [got] fic | jonerys week

Title: Warm Characters/Pairings: Jon/Dany, Arya, Bran, Ghost Rating: G Spoilers/Warnings: R + L = J, post-season 7 Word Count: ~3,245 Summary: Three days had passed since Bran told him his true origin, and two had gone by after he had called up his bannermen and Daenery’s armies to prepare a plan and get ready, for the Dead were marching from Eastwatch. He had felt her stare on him during the whole reunion, everyone seeming to mind the way he had refused to look at her more than necessary. A/N: I know it sounds sad, but it isn’t. I swear. This was made for Jonerys Week, day 1: Fluff. Also, Dany/Arya interaction was totally inspired by late night conversations with @queerafdonna.

AO3 | Read on my blog:

Warm

Winter had never been this cruel, Jon concluded as he recalled every season at top of The Wall and beyond it. He remembered the outstanding chill of his every step in the True North and the way it forged him different until he didn’t felt the cold anymore.

Not until now, at least.

Perhaps it wasn’t just the weather, he realized as he walked pass soldiers and curious faces, Ghost at his side like he has been ever since he returned home. They went down Winterfell, searching for answers again.

Three days had passed since Bran told him his true origin, and just two had gone by after he had called up his bannermen and Daenery’s armies to prepare a plan and get ready, for the Dead were marching from Eastwatch, Tormund on his way back with the very few men left, and the world seeming to come to an end.

He had felt her stare on him during the whole reunion, everyone seeming to mind the way he had refused to look at her more than necessary. It wasn’t his intention to be a show for anyone, the few that know his birth-name and birthright should remind as much, and he was— he wasn’t ready to face the rest of it.

Down in the crypts was silent, somehow warmer than the rest of the halls, and there he could rest his mind and hide from whoever wanted to approache him. Or that was the intention today, until soft steps and whispers stopped his walking towards Aunt Lyanna’s —his mother’s— crypt.

“That’s her.” He heard Bran’s monotone voice. “Aunt Lyanna.”

Whoever he was talking to stepped in, walked slowly, probably to watch her statue closer. “She’s beautiful.” Said Daenerys’s voice and Jon swallowed, wanting to turn around and leave, but his feet didn’t respond. Ghost sat down at his side, looking up, like encouraging him to walk over and be part of whatever Bran and Da—

“My Lord Father used to say, I was like his sister.” Arya said, and Jon blinked a couple of times. Could it be his blood calling his mother, that he and Arya would had grown so close since she had been just a babe?

“Indeed.” There was a smile in Daenerys’s voice and Jon sighed realizing how well he has come to know her voice. If he had been seeing her, he may recognize what she was feeling, maybe even what she was thinking. “Beautiful, definitely.”

Arya giggled. The sound made his heart beat faster. She had always been a friendly girl, and the thought of she growing into a friendly woman made him happy. Bran had changed so much, he was barely recognizable from the little kid that had trained with them before, and Sansa had to grow too much from her age in order to survive.

His little sister had changed, too. None of them would ever be the same, but it was a relief to know Arya’s good heart reminded.

“You just say that because I look like Jon.” Arya joked, Daenerys’s laugh echoed in the crypts and Jon waited.

“Was Lady Lyanna like this, too?” She asked, probably to Bran. “Did she not accept a compliment?”

“She did.” Bran answered. “It’s just that Arya has a point.”

“Oh!” Daenerys exclaimed, Arya laughed louder. “And I thought you did not had a sense of humor.”

“Is it humor when it’s true?” He insisted. “Perhaps yes, since I agree with your Grace. You are beautiful, Arya. You’ve become a beautiful Lady.”

“And you as charming as our brother.” She bit back, it almost sounded like their banters from when they were younger and Arya would beat Bran at archery.

They went silent then, and Jon turned over, ready to leave and left them to their conversation. Ghost didn’t move with him, he stayed put as if waiting for him to change his mind and stop hiding. His red eyes looked right into his and he swallowed, his companion always seemed to know what was going trough his mind, even if he couldn’t voice it as people would.

“This is our Father.” He heard Arya and Jon swallowed, silently walking to Ghost who moved his tail before standing and walking at his side. “What do you think?” She murmured.

“I...” Daenerys didn’t say more.

Jon licked his lips as his steps got him closer to them, Arya looked back first, hands on her back, and smiled softly when she saw his face. Bran and Daenerys looked then, his expression was vacant and hers curious, a bit surprised.

“You made no sound...” Murmured the Queen, Arya shook her head.

“He’s been creeping on us for minutes. Glad to know you decided to join us at least.”

“I’m sorry—“

“Come with me?” Arya asked Bran, he only nodded. “Dine with us later, Jon.” She said, pushing Bran in front of her. “You can’t hide forever.”

His chest felt heavy, “Arya.”, every beat of his heart hurt as she turned around and waited.

Jon didn’t had any words left, hadn’t know what to say since he heard the truth from Bran, so he walked to his little sister —cousin, family she was— and kissed her forehead.

Bran had tried to assured him he was still Jon, “you are who you are”, he had said with no expression. This time, when Jon looked at him, his eyes weren’t so dead and Jon wished he could smile again. Bran had been the sweetest kid, always happy and with an easy laugh, and he had suddenly become more than a man, even if so young still.

“I’ll see you later.” He decided, one hand on Bran’s head. He could swear he almost saw his brother smile.

Arya nodded to him and turned to Daenerys. “You too, you should keep dining with us. It’s fun to see someone make Sansa act like Mother.”

“Arya...” Daenerys murmured, amusement trapped in her voice. “Thank you. To both of you.” She said.

Bran shook his head. “It’s nothing.” He answered and Arya nodded to her before going back to push Bran out the crypts. “Can you take me to the Godswood?”

“Of course...”

Their voices died as they got farter and Jon looked at Daenerys from the corner of his eyes. She didn’t mind him, probably angry at him for ignoring her for three days straight after they had shared most nights coming here. He’ll be frustrated, too, and he hoped to find it in him to explain himself.

“Oh, hello.” He heard her saying. When he looked around, she was leaning down towards Ghost. “You’re beautiful!”

It didn’t occur to him he hadn’t had time to introduce the two of them since Bran had delivered news after news, and his happiness of seeing his siblings alive and well only lasted as much. He and Daenerys hadn’t been alone in as long, and Ghost had been glued to his side since he stormed to his chambers to be by himself after Bran and Sam’s story.

She looked content while stroking Ghost’s fur as the wolf moved his tail, like a happy dog. The fact that she hadn’t been scared of him at all was endearing to him and Jon wondered if this is how she had felt when Drogon had let him touch his snout.

“His name is Ghost.” He finally said, his voice sounding like a whisper, like if he hadn’t use it in days. And in a way, maybe he hadn’t; maybe he had started talking different to her and only now he had noticed. “He seems to like you.”

“What?” She looked up with a big smile. “He usually doesn’t like people? Hard to believe, look at him...” Ghost was melting into her touch and he smiled, she was using both her hands to pet him now. “I’ve never seen a wolf so big before. When you mentioned him, I thought him a small animal like any other.”

“He’s a direwolf.” Jon explained. “There were six of them, we found them years ago when they were just pups. One for each Stark kid.” He sighed, the memory now bittersweet for what and who was gone. “Ghost was the smaller one, weaker. Now is the only one.”

She looked up at him, then back at Ghost before standing and facing him with a firm face, waiting for him to say something else, to talk to her. Jon opened his mouth, although he didn’t had anything to say, and then closed it, eyes lowering to her hands.

“I’m sorry I interrupted.” He said. She offered him her hands and Jon put his over hers. “I see you and Arya have got used to each other.”

“She’s fantastic.” Daenerys answered, her voice so sweet. “Very curious, too. She has become good company.” Her thump caressed over his globed hand and Jon smiled after hearing that. “She’s your favorite, isn’t it?”

“Well--” His smile widened. “I shouldn’t, but I guess yes.”

“It doesn’t mean you love them any less.” She assured and he wondered if she was talking about this particular subject only. For the way Daenerys was looking at him when he finally glanced at her, he figured not. “They have been kind to me.”

“I’m glad...” He swallowed. “I’m so sorry I haven’t...”

She shook her head. “I’m sorry, too.”

Jon frowned at that. “For what? I’m the one that ran, I—“

“Yes, but I let you go.” She guided his hands up to her, he could feel the warm of her breath as she talked. “I thought so many things I can’t speak of now, and none was fair. I know you, and I doubted you for a second too long. I’m sorry.” Her lips touched his fist, kissing it softly and making his stomach drop.

“I needed to be alone.” He insisted. “None it’s your fault, It’s… It’s been difficult to digest. I didn’t thought of what you may be feeling, I’m sorry.”

Daenerys smiled at him, letting go of his hands that quickly landed on her waist. Gods, he had missed her, all of her. The warm of her body, her perfume, her rare smiles, her laugh. She smiled, her whole face brightening.

“Are we going to be trapped in a circle of feeling sorry? Seeing who can apologize for this mess the most?”

Even if for a moment he questioned what was between them, she didn’t felt any different in his arms and he couldn’t see her as anything else but Dany, the woman whose neck was sensitive and laughed easily if kissed on her belly, whose small feet he had kissed to her own surprise, who had kissed every scar on his body in return.

Jon shook his head and she sighed, part in relief. Licking her bottom lip, she lowered her eyes to his chest and her hand soon landed where his heart beat.

“You want me any less?” She asked in a thin voice, he didn’t like the sound of it.

“Never.” He answered after shaking his head. “Do you? Even knowing who fathered me and what claim I could have?”

By all means, he wasn’t hungry for any title. But he knew what importance the throne had in her plans, and while he didn’t doubt her commitment to save the realm from the death, there was still the chance he could represent an obstacle she deserved to know did not exist. He would never claim that throne, not for his own interest or desire.

Daenerys looked at him, there was a spark of disappointment in her eyes and he squeezed her waist, like trying to make her understand, to make her see the truth in his face. He just needed to know if it was somehow a problem to her.

“Is there a part of you that wants the throne? I don’t believe you.” She said instead. “Regardless of what I know from your mouth, I’ve seen your heart. I doubt that’s something you’d want.”

“That doesn’t answer my question.” She opened her mouth, then closed it. “But, aye. You are right.”

It was her who shook her head now. “You should want it, anyone would. Yet you don’t, you are not like any man I’ve ever known.” Her hands warmed his chest, caressing up and down slowly without looking at his face. “Which is why I’ve grow to love you...” She said in a murmur.

He grabbed her hands from his chest, making her look up to his face again and he hoped she would see everything she made him feel that he thought would never be for him. Ever since coming back, he had wanted every moment of him to be of use and her love was one of the very few things he wanted for himself, not for anyone else but him to deserve and enjoy.

If any doubts creep on them, Jon wanted to erase it from her mind and claim her heart as she was offering with her words. So he kissed her, his arms rounded her waist as hers rounded his neck and Ghost’s pads sounded far away.

Jon had missed her lips, their moments alone. He shouldn’t had ignored her, but now he knew he didn’t want to let go ever again. If somehow he had been allowed to live again and found her when she had been on the other side of the sea, then he wasn’t wasting any second again.

Whatever it cost, he’ll pay any prize.

His mouth opened over hers, tenderly kissing his way in, her tongue recognizing him and allowing the exploration. She had told him a good kisser, and Jon had never thought of him as a man of ego, but every time she wore his arms and talked of his skills with delight, all of him felt full of power.

When they pulled apart, Jon rested his forehead against hers, eyes still closed, chest going up and down. Her hands returned to caress his chest and his lips went for a kiss, two, and one more before she talked again.

“You’ll rule with me.”

What case was in say otherwise? He looked into her eyes, knowing he wouldn’t renounce to her, nor see her married to another man. Jon nodded and her smile widened for a second, she swallowed visibly and he moved one of his hands to her cheek, thumb caressing her skin.

“I can’t give you children...” She reminded him, Jon couldn’t help but smile. “Jon, I mean it.”

He cradle her face in his hands and kissed her forehead. “Have you ever hear the way you say my name?”

“What?”

“You make it sound important.” He closed his eyes and smiled, when he looked at her again she seemed confused. “I’ll rule with you.” He said, she swallowed again but never took her eyes off him. “We’ll survive this war and I’ll march south with you, whatever is necessary.” Daenerys looked around his face, stopping once more on his eyes, probably searching for doubt. But there was none in him now. “And you shouldn’t be so sure about what that witch said.”

“Jon...”

“It hasn’t been long yet.” He reminded her, she gave him a weak smile. “We’ll have plenty of time.”

She looked down for a second, then back at him with small smile, this time real, a glimmer of hope shining in her eyes. That was enough for him for the time being. Even if they never make a daughter or a son, his place was at her side for he wanted her, not the prospect of giving a heir.

Jon hoped she felt the same, although he knew she was a mother. It would make him happy to be the one to father her blood children, in spite of every enemy, prophecy or witch.

Her eyes left his face and looked at his back, she smiled slightly and broke their embrace to walk in front.

“Even in stone, she’s beautiful.” She said and Jon looked up to Lyanna Stark’s grave. His mother. “You are all her.”

Which wasn’t wrong. He and Arya were the ones closer to Father’s looks, Arya always reminding him of his lost sister. Jon thought of his mother like he had since he was a kid, and this time, he had a name and a face in the stone, but the image of Arya’s smile and Eddard Stark’s soft eyes.

“I’ve been so confused.” He rounded Daenerys’s waist from behind, her back against his chest. “I used to dream of her, when I was a kid. Always highborn… beautiful and kind. Seems like I wasn’t so lost.” She leaned into his chest, her hands over his as she sighed. “Makes me wonder… what would she think of me now, had she lived long enough to be here?”

“She’d love you.” Daenerys answered. “What a man you are, so humble and yet fierce. She’d be proud of you.”

He said nothing, trying to imagine what his mother’s voice sounded like and if her eyes sparkled with mischief while messing up her dress and hair like Arya’s did. It still made him uneasy that he would never know, no matter what Bran had offered to say from his visions. Jon hide his face on Daenerys’s neck and shoulder and he heard her laugh before her fingers touched his hair.

“You’re warm.” She said with a soft sigh. “I’ve missed you at night.”

He chuckled in her neck and kissed a spot with a noisy motion. “I thought you said you were a dragon, therefore the winter wouldn’t touch you.”

“The north is true to its sayings, I’ve never felt a cold like this.” She sighed and moved her head to face him. Jon pecked her lips before she could keep talking. “Dine with us tonight, then come to me.”

“Of course.” He kissed her again and this time parted from her when she started to laugh, he tried to give her his best indignant stare. “We shouldn’t… we shouldn’t be talking of such things in here.”

“Oh.” He looked up at his father behind him and then to his mother in front and nodded, leaving her to walk away from him. She took his hand then and waited. “I’ll be there.”

“You better.” She said, tugging at his hand so he would walk at her side. “Let’s allow us at least tonight, tomorrow we’ll be closer to war.”

She glanced one last time to his mother’s stone and then smirked up at him, Jon could see Ghost waiting for them at the entrance.

“So, I heard interesting stories from your sister.” She said. “Like how you would struggle with dancing and pretend to forget you had lessons with your brother.”

“Gods be good...”

“Jon Snow, are you bad at dancing?”

He sighed, Ghost stood and shook his large body before yawning. “Ghost, to me.” And the wolf ran to his side, Daenerys laughed at the other, waiting for his answer. “I make up for that in other things.”

“Such as…?”

He smirked at her, having to let go of her hand for they were about to face the rest of Winterfell. “I’ve been told I got a wicked tongue.”

Daenerys’s cheeks went pink and she shook her head with smile on her face, but didn’t fight him on that either.

~0~

[ao3feed-gendrya]

Nothing Burns Like The Cold

read it on the AO3 at http://bit.ly/2wNysE6

by ThePeachLioness

Jon Snow is on his way to Dragonstone. Daenerys is settling in at Dragonstone. The story is a slow deep burn of their off screen journey with plenty of inner dialogue and lusty angst building among our main characters.

The story takes place between episodes of Season 7 with some speculation of Season 8 and beyond. I am not interested in rewriting scenes or canon, only creating more substance and intertextuality to characters’ motives and interactions in their off screen moments.

Words: 1931, Chapters: 1/?, Language: English

Fandoms: A Song of Ice and Fire - George R. R. Martin, Game of Thrones (TV)

Rating: Mature

Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings

Categories: F/M

Characters: Jon Snow, Daenerys Targaryen, Sansa Stark, Arya Stark, Missandei (ASoIaF), Wyman Manderly, Davos Seaworth, Bran Stark, Tyrion Lannister, Varys (ASoIaF), Grey Worm, Drogon (ASoIaF), Viserion (ASoIaF), Lyanna Stark, Lyanna Mormont, Brienne of Tarth, Tormund Giantsbane, Ned Stark, Samwell Tarly

Relationships: Jon Snow/Daenerys Targaryen, Arya Stark/Gendry Waters

Additional Tags: Slow Burn, Fluff, Angst, Inner Dialogue, Off-screen Relationship(s), Between Episodes, slow burn smut, season 7, Post Season 7, afterboatsex, Sex, Rough Sex, EventualFoodPorn

read it on the AO3 at http://bit.ly/2wNysE6

[raviposting]

i don't understand, elia and rhaegar's children were born when they were married, how do they suddenly become illegitimate of their parents are no longer married?? I feel like people are making shit up lmao. anyway the only way I'll be okay with that is if elia, rhaegar, and lyanna were all together, and elia understood that l and r's baby needed to be legitimate for the whole prophecy thing? or something? I don't have enough faith in the show to think that'll actually be a thing tho lmao

l m a o honestly I don’t get it. I feel like that was a...poor writing choice that didn’t really think about the situation, similar to when Tyrion/Sansa’s marriage got annulled in 5 seconds because they never had sex lol. 

Personally I would love if Rhaegar/Elia/Lyanna were all together! I like headcanoning Elia as aromantic/polyam tbh (esp with things like there being no record of Elia’s reaction when Rhaegar gave Lyanna the rose, the fact that she and Rhaegar were fond of each other, but no real confirmation on if there was love - which can obviously be an arranged marriage thing as well but I really like aro polyam Elia). Not something that’ll happen in canon obviously but hey since I don’t think we’ll ever 100% know the true intentions between those three and their interactions, a girl can dream. 

But yeah, back to your question...I really don’t get the whole “Elia and Rhaegar’s children are suddenly illegitimate” thing. They were still born when the two were married so it just doesn’t make sense to me. 

[papcrrings-arch]

empathiie

“You forgot about Westeros?” They ask, curiously. They had heard a little bit about that happening here, but not much – this place was still very confusing to them. It was much different than what they were used to, much different than home. “Did you feel like something was off, when you couldn’t remember it?” More curiosity from Lyanna’s part, since they had no idea what it was like to lose their memories. “Thank you,” They smile, “I appreciate it, truly. I am glad I could fight for the north.”

"For a time, yes. But it all came back eventually," Sansa explained, "I'm not really sure about that. Maybe I did but everything was foggy until the memories came back," she continued, "I do not fully understand it myself. This city is strange," she paused and smiled, "And it was not in vain. We did defeat them and, in the end, the North became its own kingdom with a queen."

empathiie

“You forgot about Westeros?” They ask, curiously. They had heard a little bit about that happening here, but not much – this place was still very confusing to them. It was much different than what they were used to, much different than home. “Did you feel like something was off, when you couldn’t remember it?” More curiosity from Lyanna’s part, since they had no idea what it was like to lose their memories. “Thank you,” They smile, “I appreciate it, truly. I am glad I could fight for the north.”

"For a time, yes. But it all came back eventually," Sansa explained, "I'm not really sure about that. Maybe I did but everything was foggy until the memories came back," she continued, "I do not fully understand it myself. This city is strange," she paused and smiled, "And it was not in vain. We did defeat them and, in the end, the North became its own kingdom with a queen."