The 411 on Remus Lupin

[themostepotente]

I'll be the first to admit -- I don't write Remus Lupin well.

I know that I 'prefer' him submissive. I have a harder time wrapping my brain around alpha Remus, especially paired with Snape or Sirius.

I think people associate his lycanthropy with 'aggressive' tendency and sometimes forget that not all wolves are alphas of their packs.

So for those of you that write Remus Lupin on a consistent basis, do you prefer him aggressive or docile? Or perhaps a little of both?

Comments

[artimusdin.livejournal.com]

The Remus I usually envisions is a bit in the middle as far as dominance goes. A beta-wolf if you would like to say. *grins* Neither top of the pack (because that would be James and Sirius), nor the bottom (because that would be Peter). As far as Snape goes, in wolf terms he'd be the lone wolf. When he's with Snape, I usually picture Remus as a quietly snarky around him, but not really challenging him. Not because he's really docile, but because he's just really laid back. Kinda like me. I'm not the sort to quibble on someone putting on a dominance show around me, because I just don't care. By no means would I be an omega wolf, but I'd be perfectly happy to have a competant leader in charge so long as they ARE competant. I kinda picture Remus to somewhat similar to that. Dominant, but not too much so. If that makes any sense...

[themostepotente.livejournal.com]

Makes perfect sense to me.

I know you are an artist, Dina. Do you write as well?

I guess I should have made myself clearer. 'Anyone' was welcome to answer this :-)

[scribbulus-ink.livejournal.com]

I prefer him portrayed as strong, no matter whether he's a dom or a sub. I like dom!Remus -- I like him a lot -- but it doesn't have as much to do with the fact that he's a werewolf as it does the fact that he's a strong survivor. He's capable of telling both Sirius and Molly to sit down and shut up -- and they do -- and he's capable of commanding the respect of a classroom of adolescents. Speaking as a teacher myself, I know from experience that no matter how quiet and reserved you are, the best teachers are also strong people with "dominant" personalities. I'm 5 ft. tall and weigh less than 100lbs, but I can reduce a class full of hormonally charged 18 yr olds to wide-eyed silence just by staring at them. I can make them squirm in their seats if I quietly add, "You're not listening, and that makes me unhappy."

I see Remus as someone who doesn't exert his strength and authority often because of what he is -- getting in someone's face and being confrontational isn't a good idea for a werewolf, because it could be perceived as a serious threat -- but it's there for him to call on when he deems necessary.

So basically, I love the idea of this strong but quiet man turned aggressive in bed -- that's just insanely hot to me. *G*

[artimusdin.livejournal.com]

Hear, hear! Well said. ^^ Definately one of my favorite ways to picture Remus. *purr*

[arionrhod.livejournal.com]

I absolutely adore how you write Remus. He's so there, so real, so tangible in your stories!

[themostepotente.livejournal.com]

Ooooh, I was hoping you'd answer this, SI!

You make a very strong point about Remus being able to take charge of his classes despite being soft spoken.

Remus has their respect. Snape has their fear.

I wonder if Snape is aware of this, and if he is jealous?

Snape 'could' have their respect. Hmm... *coughplotbunnycough*

You know, I want to pick you up and spin you around now :-)

[alchemia.livejournal.com]

passive agressive =)

[isiscolo.livejournal.com]

Bingo! I mean, from the books he comes across as acting mild and inoffensive - but he controls the situation as much as he can. He doesn't tell Dumbledore what he knows about Sirius, in PoA, for example.

[themostepotente.livejournal.com]

Passive aggressive works!

[arionrhod.livejournal.com]

It depends on the circumstances. I tend to write him as an alpha most often, but as it being something that he suppresses as much as he does the rest of his 'dark' nature, only coming out in times of challenge or stress.

I even see that a bit in the books, too. I don't have OotP right here with me, but one scene that stands out particularly in my mind as him "alpha"ing over Sirius is when Harry firetalks to them just after the pensieve incident. Remus rather sternly informs them, IIRC, that he will "take care of Severus." There were other incidents, but that is the best one I recall offhand.

I think if he were truly submissive, he wouldn't be able to stand up to Severus' as well as he does. He is not cowed at all by the snarking, he meets it and lets it move past him because he *chooses* to do so. Or, at least, that was my impression. Only JKR knows for sure. ;)

So, I suppose in answer to your question, I prefer him to be calm and centered for the most part, but that when he loses his cool, it is definitely all Alpha!Remus who is determined to have his way. :)

[themostepotente.livejournal.com]

Oh, I agree. Remus does take care of business. He just has a different way of showing how.

Remember when he 'quietly' put Peeves in his place?

[its-art.livejournal.com]

All right... I write Remus a lot.

I think he can easily take either position, depending on who he's with, what the time of the month is, his mood.

Remus is, I think, an easy going guy. He can go either way. Both are DAMN hot.

[themostepotente.livejournal.com]

Agreed, dear! :-)

[puppy-tenchan.livejournal.com]

I prefer Remus dominant, but not aggressive. He is definatly a strong, self-secure man and his calm reason renders him superious to many. ("Sit, Sirius!")
However, aggressiveness is nothing he is ever characterized with in canon texts. The only moment in the books yet in which he showed aggressive behaviour towards someone, are as a wolf (duh) or against Peter (duh).

[themostepotente.livejournal.com]

Sit, Sirius! Ha! You can read so much into the most simplistic statements made by JK. What I love about this fandom :-)

[iibnf.livejournal.com]

I think he'd be scrupulously fair and not really concerned with who was dom or who was sub, as long as he and his partner were both happy.

[themostepotente.livejournal.com]

Fair -- oh yes, definitely, Bernice. Fair and stern like Minerva. He did demand the map back from Harry. It was the right thing to do.

[misted-oracle.livejournal.com]

hmmm that's a hard one. Personally, I like the idea of a docile Remus, just because I love the idea of the quiet, timid calm man, being equally docile in the bedroom. But usually when I write him this way it just doesn't work, probably because it's not really Remus whom I'm picturing as quiet and calm, but more of a fanon version.

I think regardless whether he's sub or dom, he's a strong guy. Not quite strong like Sirius, who lets you know it, but in more of a passive agressive manor.

That said I think it may also depend on the pairing. When ever he's paired with Sirius when they're in their teens I look at him as much more of a sub, while after Azkaban, I think with Sirius he would be the strong alpha. With most other pairings, regardless of whether he's on top or bottom, I think Remus is the stronger one, in a quiet, stoic sort of way.

[themostepotente.livejournal.com]

Hmm, now I think he'd be beta with Sirius and Snape -- an alpha with Harry. Again, passive aggressive fits nicely too :-)

[tradesland.livejournal.com]

I have a thing for submissive!Remus, I can´t help it I don´t want to help it lol, I also have a very sekrit thing for slightly girly Remus and eyeliner remus and...

[themostepotente.livejournal.com]

Same here! scribbulus_ink writes a lot of lovely Remus stories that fit your preferences. But I'm sure you already knew that :-)

[contrariwise.livejournal.com]

Hm... I tend to see him as in control, but not controlling, if you know what I mean.

He's definitely more in control of his emotions (at least publicly, in front of Harry) than say, Snape (or Sirius). The wolfsbane scene in PoA shows that--Snape's trying to get under Remus's skin, but Remus just calmly brushes it off (which infuriates Snape more).

I find it hard to get into a Remus who's utterly docile, but I don't see him as overtly dominating, either.

So I guess that's c) a little of both! :D

[themostepotente.livejournal.com]

Hm... I tend to see him as in control, but not controlling, if you know what I mean.

You hit the nail right on the head, dear :-)

[ani-bester.livejournal.com]

Hmm well I don't write him too much, but I do try and draw him a lot. What I always try to convey is a person who has a strong since of self(at least when he's an adult). I think he's less likely to have his opinion changed by peers and also. He would fight for his opinion, but perhaps not as openly as Serious would. He's the quite objector, who shows displeasure more from action or lack there of then out right confrontation, if he can.

I think as people have said, he's middle of the road. His dominance depends on who he's with and what battle he's choosing to pursue. I think he would be less likely to stand up to Dumbeldore or Sirius, but he would to Molly, or err most everyone.

I guess he's not by nature submissive, but if the other person has clearly denoted some form of seniority (as with Dumbeldore) he will not openly opposse them unless they ask him something that violate his sense of morals (and those are a whole other back o' worms)

I guess basiaclly he knows what authority he does have and stays within that box, as for as who he's going to be aaggressive around.

I think an older Remus is actually much more likely to talk back to or argue with Sirius than he ever would ahve as a child. I see him as much more submissive when he was in school.

[themostepotente.livejournal.com]

Ooooh, girl, you should know better than not to leave links. I want to see your Remus piccies!

[anathdemalfoy.livejournal.com]

I'd say he's somewhere in the middle, too, as far as dominance goes... I think he has the potential to be either dominant or submissive, depending on who he's paired with.

The few Remus fics I've done, I mostly write him as able to take either role with an adult male. In chan fics, he's sub if he's the boy, and dom in a caring, nurturing, training-the-cub sort of way if he's the adult. In the one het pairing I like him in (my AU-ficverse where he's paired with Fridwulfa) he's definitely submissive because his wife is just so damn BIG. :)

Love & Serpents' Kisses,
Anath.

[themostepotente.livejournal.com]

In chan fics, he's sub if he's the boy, and dom in a caring, nurturing, training-the-cub sort of way if he's the adult.

Totally agreed on that, Anath.

[naltariel.livejournal.com]

I really really think he tops from bottom.

[themostepotente.livejournal.com]

Now see, I do love to see him topping from the bottom with Snape :-)

[soawen.livejournal.com]

I don't write much Remus, so I'm basing this on what I prefer to read:

I don't care. As long as he fits the story, I'm happy. Though I recently have read a lot of dom!Remus because I got an overdose of sub!Remus who seemed to be crying all the time. Argh.

[themostepotente.livejournal.com]

I can't see Remus crying -- despite all of his plights. I'm going to 'argh' with you on that, dear.

[shadafakup.livejournal.com]

My friend, so sorry for not realizing you've friended me. *is honoured to have you on her list* Thank you muchly.

And you have a total of 36 piercings. *dies of heart attack* I want you in my bed NOW. Just kidding.

I love Kawasaki Ninga you're riding. (If you don't mind me having read your bio before I added you back.)

The two characters you liked in LOTR were my favourite too, I like you already. (If not more for the fact that you own two guns and I'm not even allowed one.) I've always wanted to take Karate. My dad took Tae Kwon Do.

No idea why you would want to be reading my entries since I'm not entirely a fandom person, but its nice all the same.

Back to the Remus question. I think I actually prefer him bottom, but being an agressive bottom. You know, this oxymoron thing. But yeah. Something like that.

~Shadafakup

[themostepotente.livejournal.com]

My friend, so sorry for not realizing you've friended me. *is honoured to have you on her list* Thank you muchly.

The honour is all mine :-) *winks*

[pinkwafer.livejournal.com]

Adorable. ;)

No, I see him as preferring to stay quiet and out of petty agruemnts. I see him as the peacemaker. I see him as knowing he's likely to have many afraid of him, and not wanting to upset those friends he has. I see him as calm, able to ignore Snape's insults when he has to.

And yet, I see him as a strong character, having to cope with lycanthropy from a young age. I see him as unafraid to argue when pushed to it. I see him as doing so as politely as possible, but nonetheless I see him as able to stick up for his point of view in issues that really matter. Although I think in his youth he didn't have enough confidence in himslef to stop Sirius and James from hurting Snape. I think he was still revelling in the joys of friendship. Maybe even knowing that is he objected they might turn on him instead.

I see him as Ravenclaw in several respects. I see him as intellectual, I see him having books as his only friends throughout the majority of his life, and I see him being content that way.

I see him as mischeivous and teasing but only among people he knows very well. I see him as scrupulously polite with people he knows less well, such as Snape. I see him being able to appreciate the good side in people.

Heh, I think I idolise him a tad too much though.

[themostepotente.livejournal.com]

You know...I'm glad I wasn't the only one to see him as a Ravenclaw. And yes, the man stays out of petty arguments. He does have that advantage over Sirius and Snape -- a sort of quiet cool.

[froda-baggins.livejournal.com]

I'm totally with scribbulus_ink on this one. Someone above said "passive-agressive", and I think that's a pretty good way to characterize Lupin. He is a control freak, to a certain extent. Because of his condition, not having control scares him, I think. But this control he wields isn't very obvious, most people don't even realize he's wielding it.

In bed, I don't see him as exclusively dominant or submissive, but I think he would be very careful as to who he gave control to.

And, Sirius is *so* whipped. ;)