The essence of Snupin romance
Aug. 15th, 2006 04:21 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
schemingreaderYou can write the Lupin/Snape pairing in any number of ways. You can write them young or old, loyal or disloyal to the cause, light or dark. One can betray the other--there's so much canon evidence for that. You can even write hatesex between them. But the reason that I enjoy reading Snupin so much is that a lot of the stories are about the redemption of mature adults. In some ways we don't need to write the "hurt" part of the hurt/comfort story, because canon is full of hurt for these two characters. Instead we see them overcoming their inner demons and old psychological hurts, to reach out to each other.
I was thinking of that when I saw this incredible piece of Snupin fanart posted in the![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
reversathon last night. It shows Remus and Severus, not in their beautiful youth, but as mature, grey haired, imperfect men in their 50s. It reminded me of the quintessential Snupin story that ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
innerslytherin is still in the process of writing, the Redemption series. Two people who don't want to impose on anyone, two people with intense dignity, able to let their guard down for each other and really, for no one else.
If you missed the picture or the stories, go catch up with both now.
I was thinking of that when I saw this incredible piece of Snupin fanart posted in the
reversathon last night. It shows Remus and Severus, not in their beautiful youth, but as mature, grey haired, imperfect men in their 50s. It reminded me of the quintessential Snupin story that innerslytherin is still in the process of writing, the Redemption series. Two people who don't want to impose on anyone, two people with intense dignity, able to let their guard down for each other and really, for no one else. If you missed the picture or the stories, go catch up with both now.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
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Date: 2006-08-15 09:23 pm (UTC)So elequently put!!!
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Date: 2006-08-15 10:41 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-08-15 10:50 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-08-16 12:17 am (UTC)Off to write my Snupin.
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Date: 2006-08-16 01:24 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-08-16 01:54 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-08-16 03:04 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-08-16 12:22 pm (UTC)Oh, my. I think you've just explained something that I've never really been able to articulate -- why I (almost) exclusively prefer happy-ending fics in such an angst-ridden pairing. Unhappy endings tend to leave me feeling like the fic is unfinished, in a way that, say, a fic with an ambiguous but hopeful ending doesn't. (And in a way that pure angst in other pairings/fandoms/original works doesn't.) I'm betting that's why; I'm reading it like a a H/C fic without the comfort part. :( This would also explain why I'm perfectly happy with pure fluff in the pairing, when it tends to make some of the other shippers sick.
I knew I liked H/C, but now I must embrace the fact that I am actually a H/C junkie. *sigh*
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Date: 2006-08-16 09:35 pm (UTC)When I was faced with actually having to think about Snape and who he might best be paired with, I considered all the characters in the series equally. I knew it had to be someone with enough characterization to not be a Sue, which threw out 90% of the characters in the books. Then I threw out under-age characters because my mind doesn't usually work that way, and significantly older characters for the same reason. And then, finally, no bad guys or dead people because I wanted Snape to be good and have someone after the war.
Thinking about the criteria I used, I realized that I like it when couples compliment each other - when they can be supportive and understanding of everything the other has been through. Shared history is very important to me. It's why I shipped Mulder/Scully way back when it was uncool to ship them, and why I kinda like it when Action Hero gets his Action Girl in movies.
There really is no one who can possibly understand and appreciate Snape the way Lupin could and vice versa. And, with Sirius gone and Tonks becoming a wet noodle, I don't see a better match for Lupin, either. Whether she meant it or not, by my shipping standards, Rowling made Snape and Lupin for each other.
Which is why I also appreciate so much fics like the Redemption series and McKay's Spark, and TheTreacleTart's Evolution. Snape and Lupin are each other's comfort - each other's reward for a lifetime of pain. Them getting together after all is said and done is the comfort to me, while all the canon that came before is the hurt.
love, lore
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Date: 2006-08-20 10:13 am (UTC)In some ways we don't need to write the "hurt" part of the hurt/comfort story, because canon is full of hurt for these two characters.
This is what draws me most to Lupin/Snape, I think. I love the two characters, and canon IS so full of hurt for them. I want them to be happy. I want them to find some measure of comfort amidst the cruelty of what war and life have done to them. And it makes so much sense for them to find it together.
That art is fabulous! I just keep looking at it and I love the expression on Severus' face. (And I love their feet, too. Hee) I love that Severus can find such joy with Remus.
Mmmmm. *is in happy place*
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Date: 2006-08-20 10:15 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-08-20 10:18 am (UTC)