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st-clements-steps · 2 years ago

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A Greysnow Meta

Let’s be clear this is not a ship theory, I find it very unlikely Jon and Theon will become romantically involved in canon. Someone much more interested in unravelling the textual clues of canon could surely make some interesting predictions about when and how Theon and Jon will meet again, and what state they might both be in at that point. And it would be up to each of us readers whether we wanted to read those clues as foreshadowing a romantic relationship or a platonic friendship or a strategic alliance.

Instead I am interested in the dynamic possibilities of Greysnow, what does Greysnow offer as a ship? And yes I do think a modern smut one shot can offer as much (or as little) interesting character exploration as a book quoting essay. Since shipping can be a very fun way to elaborate on any complex media, including asoiaf/GoT, the forces that would come into play in the ship can tell us a lot about Theon, Jon and our own fan responses.

(This mainly a book discussion but it does discuss the show a little)

Enemies to Lovers

My feelings on this trope are a subjective thing, I know that, but the twist from anger into passion can be a very compelling one and it works with Greysnow twice over.

As adolescents growing up together we know they have a mutual dislike:

Theon ignored him utterly, but there was nothing new in that. Jon I AGOT

The bastard was a sullen boy, quick to sense a slight, jealous of Theon's high birth Theon I ACOK

And here can’t we read how put out they each are but by what they perceive as the other’s disregard for them? They don’t like the other and yet there is an underlying sense they wanted to be noticed, or not to be treated with sullen disdain. This is Enemies to Lovers in the fun, frisson filled state that most fanfic (and romance readers) expect of it. The romantic and sexual tension offers a myriad of possibilities.

Of course there is also a much more violent Enemies to Lovers possibility with Greysnow, Theon sees it:

Jon would take his head off in a heartbeat. A Ghost in Winterfell (ADWD)

It's a possibility in which Theon immediately confronts the reader with the way Ramsay has been set up to mirror Jon:

Plucked from the clutches of one bastard to die at the hands of another, what a jape. A Ghost in Winterfell (ADWD)

And so the Enemies to Lovers trope can offer, the shippers, the writers, the hopers, something much more complex than frisson, if that’s the road they want to take. Canon offers it up to us, we can explore Theon’s abuse at the hands of one bastard by imagining the relationship he would form with the bastard central to the text. We can explore Jon’s relationship to his birth status by viewing him through the prism of someone who has experienced a man who lives up to the very worst of Westeros’ rhetoric against baseborn children.

Misunderstandings

Misunderstandings and their resolution make a story go round, they are a fundamental part of all the best stories. And Enemies to Lovers offers misunderstanding inherently as part of its dynamic, we can see that immediately in the quotes above. The hint they don’t want to be at odds, the narrow picture they have each assumed of the other.

And yet there is also the opposite misunderstanding, Theon believes Jon would take his head, Jon thinks:

They [Bran and Rickon] can't be dead. Theon would never do that. Jon VI (ASOS)

Whether he still believes this, come The Winds of Winter, well who knows? That’s the possibility the writer can play with, the shipper can daydream about, because there are so many different misunderstanding paths to wander off down, Jon, awakened from the dead, may not remember his previous animosity towards Theon, or he might demand the right to execute Theon himself, they may need to unravel together the mysterious intervention of the weirwood tree, or the complexities of having your own name take from you?

In a world where everyone’s identity is a slippery thing, like a flipped coin, Theon and Jon unravelling the misunderstandings of canon, either at odds or in tandem could be so interesting.

An exploration of Jon’s canonical attraction to men

Jon thinks of male characters in ways that read like he finds them attractive. GRRM may never explore this, and maybe he does not intend it, with Jaime it could be a platonic admiration I suppose:

Jon found it hard to look away from him. This is what a king should look like, he thought to himself as the man passed. Jon I (AGOT)

Try and convince me that you can dismiss his description of Satin in the same way though:

He was pretty as a girl with his dark eyes, soft skin, and raven's ringlets. Jon VII (ASOS)

And yes you could explore this attraction through writing Jon x Satin, or any number of Jon x male character ships but….

An mlm ship that explores 2 POV characters

The asoiaf (and GoT) fandom is oddly heterosexual (we have to discount HOTD here, where everything gets much more queer). I say oddly because most other fandoms appear to be much more about mlm shipping than anything else.

The five biggest mlm ships in asoiaf/GoT are all ships which include at least one non-POV character. Of course most of them are tagged with both show and book so perhaps this doesn’t matter? But as a writer, writing a character is much easier if they have a voice you can explore first. Even with show-only fics it is undeniable that the POV characters who survived to season 8 have a lot more screen time. I love side characters, even a few who are only graced with a few lines, but as a reader I can’t deny that my conception of a non-POV character could be wildly different to someone else’s. Even when someone is a thoughtful, considered writer, who has clearly used canon to build their characters.

If you’re writing considered fanfic the foundations of writing a POV character are so much stronger. And they offer so much more opportunity to reflect on the text, to comment on and discuss canon in a way that can be gentler and much less hostile than a lot of meta ends up being.

An exploration of Theon’s complex sexuality

Interestingly despite my above analysis on Jon’s sexuality it is Theon who features in the 2 most tagged mlm relationships in asoiaf/GoT. And yes here show dynamics clearly have some influence because actually Theon’s sexuality is strangely more elusive than Jon’s despite his greater apparent interest in actual sex.

In my mind Theon never appears to express attraction unless the other person has already clearly shown an interest (or fucked him). What he seems to like is to be wanted.

And so he flirts. It is Cat who tells us this time and again, describes his easy confidence and his cocky smile, his vault to lift her from the boat, tells us of him:

Enjoying a horn of ale and regaling her father's garrison with an account of the slaughter in the Whispering Wood. Catelyn XI (AGOT)

Theon plays down his attachment to everyone, Patrek is not too ill a fellow, and it is only when he gives the reader the tiniest hint of the liaison with a miller’s wife (so many miller’s wives, so little time) that we hear something softer:

Would that Patrek were with me now. Theon I (ACOK)

And yet despite Theon’s ambiguity, or perhaps because of it, people are drawn to ship him in mlm relationships.

And of course Greysnow offers the possibility that a simple cocky smile does not always work, the possibility of exploring how Theon copes when he is not overtly wanted? When the other person is as good at concealing his emotions as Theon himself is in many ways.

No one is quite what they appear in asoiaf, literally, they have identities that are taken from them, they are concealed, to abuse them on occasion, to protect them in other instances. What is more, as we get under the skin of every POV character, we see the ways in which those around them are misreading their true feelings, the ways they are dissembling to meet society’s expectations. And Greysnow is a lovely ship for peeling back the tricksiness of identity, the secrets both Jon and Theon are keeping and exposing the truths of both their characters.

#theon greyjoy #jon snow #greysnowweek #jon x theon #asoiaf #valyrianscrolls #I cannot meta the show I watched the show and had feelings #My feelings were mainly right (obv)#Yes yes there should be a lot more Jon x Tyrion (at least from an exploring characters through shipping discussion and fics perspective)#more jon x sam too #fic as a way to explore characters

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selkiewife · 8 years ago

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My Theon Centric Pairings: A Game of Multishipping

So I keep getting tagged to list my 10 ships from 10 different fandoms or 5 OTPs from 5 different fandoms. But the problem is I don’t really have any hardcore ships in any other fandoms- So, I made this instead. A detailed explanation no one asked for of all my Theon ships. (I may be Multishipping trash- but at least i’ll always have my OTC, Theon Greyjoy)

My Joint OTP (yeah I said it): Throbb and Theonsa

Well you guys know that I have totally gone down the rabbit hole of Theon ships BUT- I have developed an OTP (or TTP- Two True Pairings) and that is Throbb and Theonsa. Shipping BOTH Throbb and Theonsa seems to make an incredible amount of sense to me- because Robb, so tragically, IS dead… (cries forever) and I see Theonsa as a natural progression from Throbb. Both Sansa and Theon loved Robb and idealized him in a way. However, when it comes down to it, I think Sansa and Theon have much more in common with each other. And so I think the Theonsa ship is beautiful because in loving each other they can learn to forgive things about themselves since they are so similar and have been in such similar situations.

Throbb (Most Tragic Ship/ also my “across time and space they will always find each other” Ship)

(gif by @bericdondarrion)

This one hurts the most because of the death and betrayal the guilt and the tragedy of it all. But it remains one of the most beautiful ships of all time in my humble opinion. I also feel like there is often echos of Throbb in all the other Theon ships I am into.

Theonsa (The Most Hopeful Ship)

(gif by @greengableslover)

This ship is so pure and beautiful and I hope that they end up together. I really do. They are my endgame ship. This is also the ship that first brought me to Tumblr. Theonsa trash 5ever (as the kids say)

Theyne (Sweetest Ship of All Time)

(gif by @lochiels)

So yes this is the purest sweetest ship of perhaps all time. I love Theyne. The reason I love Jeyne so much with Theon is because she is the only one in the books or show who sees him as Theon- not as Reek or a Turncoat. Not someone to distrust or fear or be disgusted by. Just Theon- that handsome boy she used to watch in the practice yard. It is her complete genuine acceptance of him that I believe helps him reclaim his true identify

oops.. I guess that was Three True Pairings… Okay so you’ve read my Big Three ships that I think should could be canon. Come under the cut to follow me deep into the rabbit hole of Theon Shipping

My “We Could Have Had it ALLLLLLLLL” Ship:

Greythorn

I’ve always thought that Theon and Margaery could TEAR IT UP as a couple. I don’t think she would have wanted to marry him because of her ambition but they could have been amazing lovers- or just BUDS. They both are called out for smirking and smiling- they could have shared the slyest of smiles you guys! She could have soothed his self doubt and he’d have definitely benefited from her strategic mind. And it would have been interesting to see her in a non-politically motivated relationship. I mean seriously, if you don’t want to see the king and queen of sass take over Westeros then I just have to ask, what is wrong with you?? Even Alfie agrees

My “I will go down with this ship” Ship:

Theolyn (of course)

Well, if you follow me you know that every Thursday I talk about how much I LOVE this ship. It is total crack and I admit it- but Catelyn and Theon have a lot of parallels and I just LOVE the idea of Catelyn, who has always done her duty, having this torrid love affair with gallant slut pirate, Theon Greyjoy. It’s just such an interesting dynamic to explore- and I just love the older woman/ younger man thing. Plus Theon has a thing for MILFs in book canon. Wasn’t the first woman he slept with married with a child? And the miller’s wife… And he was even more attracted to Asha (pretending to be Esgred) when she lied and said she was with child. Mothers just turn him on. It is known.

My “I Wish I Could Quit You” Ship:

Greysnow

(gif by @asbraveasrobb)

Oh man, this would be such an intense and passionate love/hate kind of ship. The characters have so many parallels and similarities. Both outcasts, both known as “turncloaks” in the book. Both have heavy resurrection themes in their storyline- but they are also complete opposites in many ways- which would make this an incredibly dynamic ship. I just hope Greysnow gets more love after their big confrontation in Season 7 (and I hope the scene evolves Brokeback style with punches being thrown and wrestling because they just can’t DEAL with the love they feel for each other, and then all of a sudden they are making out…. Well, a girl can dream anyway, right?)

My Two True BroTPs:

Thasha/ Theyara

Seriously, I would watch an entire series of just these two! They have such an incredible bond- especially after not having the opportunity to grow up together and having such an messed up reunion (largely due to Yara/Asha let’s be honest.) Being with Yara is the only thing that made Theon punking out on The Dream Team okay for me lol. And when people say that Yara is going to die in the show or Asha in the books- that is NOT OKAY people- because I need these two together forever as power siblings. I need it for my SOUL.

(gif by @5by5brittana)

Thyrion

(gif by @princegrisejoie)

Okay so who doesn’t want to watch these two get drunk and talk about their appalling childhoods? Seriously Tyrion and Theon have so much in common. Before everything went down, they could have been drinking and brothel buddies. Now after everything they have gone through, I think they could be incredibly close allies and friends. I think they could help each other in so many ways. I know that their interactions with each other hasn’t gone very well up to this point, BUT! Has anyone noticed that Tyrion is the only character who acknowledges how fucked up Theon’s situation with the Starks was? And he also acknowledges how that must have effected him growing up. I think there is much more understanding to be found in this relationship and I will never give up hope for this BroTP becoming a reality.

My Dream Team:

Brienne, Pod, Sansa, and Theon

Like, do I even need to say anything about this guys? I was SO PUMPED when Brienne + Pod ex machina rode in to save the day- and for a brief, BRIEF moment of time (curse you D&D, curse you!) we had this incredible dream team. They are the dream team that got away you guys… *cries

My OT3 (The Angsty Threesome you had no idea you wanted)

GreyStoneSnow

top gif by @stephenarkley , bottom gif by @baelerion

Okay, I am only half serious about this but oh, I can’t even with these three- there are so many parallels within their stories, they all have such chemistry with each other, they are the embodiment of Tyrion’s “cripples, bastards, and broken things.” And seven hells, the HUGS! THE HUGS!! Is there any trio of characters who can give better hugs? The answer is no. No one gives better hugs than these three. Come for the dragons, Stay for the hugs (and GreyStoneSnow) ;)

***** Honorable Mentions *****

Most Fucked up Ship: Thramsay*

(gif by @tehnazzy)

*I don’t think I can rightfully call this one of my ships since it makes me feel like curling up into a catatonic ball in the corner of my room and never coming out. I really don’t want them together AT ALL- BUT… it is still an incredibly fascinating ship because thinking about it reveals a lot about both Theon and Ramsay… And this incredibly toxic, intensely disturbing, stockholm syndrome ship has also inspired some really illuminating and psychological Theon meta and fanfic. Reformed by DoubleBit is a really brilliant modern AU fic about the psychology of their relationship (which bonus, also has Throbb and Greysnow it in!) So even though I do not technically ship them- I do find it very interesting to think about.

“Swamp Trash and Squid Boy” (Theera || Theon x Meera Reed)

This ship is entirely blamed on the beautiful RPs of @ladyoftheneck and @slysmiles / @drownedandflayed-archived-deact Check out some of their lines- they are adorable together, trust me.

Thegritte (Theon x Ygritte)

And this ship is blamed on the lovely RPs of @theredheadwildling-deactivated2 and @slysmiles / @drownedandflayed-archived-deact and also on this great fanfic, Iron and Flint by VagrantWriter Ygritte and Theon actually share a lot of cultural similarities and they challenge each other in very interesting ways.

Thod

(gifs by @iheartgot)

Last but definitely not least, I give you Thod. Again, this ship is blamed on someone- @lordhellebore for her beautiful fic, Don’t do so well alone. I’m not sure if Thod is necessarily her intention- the fic seems to be more about the beautiful beautiful friendship developing between The Dream Team and a wonderful psychological portrayal of Theon’s struggle and journey from Reek to Theon (which of course didn’t end when he saved Sansa.) But the fic does depict Pod caring for Theon and even singing to him at one point. My heart! And when you think about it- Theon is Pod’s Knight in tattered rags shining armor. And could you IMAGINE- this ship, Pod and post Reek Theon. It would be so PURE

Well thanks for going on this journey of shipping madness with me- in retrospect, I feel like I should have just typed:

There Ain’t Nobody I Won’t Ship Theon With

and left it at that.

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