Jaime and Cersei’s romanticized idea of being one soul in two bodies is so fascinatingly destructive. So much of their relationship is based on this notion of fundamentally refusing to accept the other as a whole. Both of them want to shove the other inside of a box of their creation that is kind of antithetical to them as people. Cersei uses Jaime and her children as extensions of herself to achieve things that society keeps from her grasp due to her gender. And as a result of her privilege in other aspects her internalization of her primary source of discrimination is more severe, which is why there is so much focus on Jaime on her part, as her male mirror image. She locks Jaime inside this box where he functions as her sword, essentially. Then the whole point of Jaime’s arc in ASoS is to establish that he is more than a sword. To me, Jaime’s obsession with Cersei continuing past their childhood mainly stems from a tight clinging to the past. Following Jaime’s trauma, disillusionment, and increasing isolation due to his experience with Aerys and knighthood, he views the relationship as the only concrete thing in his life and relies on it for affirmation and meaning. He also uses Cersei as a means of dissociation. He unconsciously never wants to move on from being that blissfully ignorant romantic boy that he was, so he desperately keeps the one thing that is constant (his twin sister - a constant from birth). He projects her onto a pedestal and obsesses over an ideal that does not exist, putting her into the role of a traditional woman (“I thought she was The Maiden”), just like the rest of society, that she does not actually fit. He puts himself in the position of a knightly protector figure to cope with his own identity crisis and the destruction of his self concept. Both of them in turn dehumanize the other. “You are my other half” is a twisted notion that prevents the autonomy and individualization of both parties, not to mention the possible consent issues it brings. Truly the dynamic of all time.
Jaime think he is Warrior to Cersei's Maiden. He wanted to fit them in roles all times. He forget that Cersei is also a Mother. He saw her as Stranger when he felt betrayed. People think that Jaime put her on pedestal so he feel betrayed by her when she step out of her role. But Cersei has many facets and it was him who wants to force one aspect on her and refused to see others.
Yeah, I think there's a great deal of symbolism in the way Jaime sees Cersei kneeling at the alter of the Mother, mourning their son, and decides to disrupt that image of maternal grief by forcing himself on her right on that alter, moon blood and all, next to their son's corpse. He felt nothing at his son's death, and neither is he comfortable with Cersei's grief. Jaime requires her to be focused on himself, on his needs, to be sexual available. The image of the Mother has to be desecrated and soiled.
Why?
Jaime had seen him born, that was true, though more for Cersei than the child. But he had never held him. "How would it look?" his sister warned him when the women finally left them. "Bad enough Joff looks like you without you mooning over him." Jaime yielded with hardly a fight. The boy had been a squalling pink thing who demanded too much of Cersei's time, Cersei's love, and Cersei's breasts. Robert was welcome to him. (ASOS, Jaime VII)
Cersei being a mother was always an issue for him because it took away her primary attention from him. He tries to blame her afterwards for preventing him from having a relationship with his children, but that's hardly the true and sole reason. Jaime rejected the children all by himself, for what they meant for Cersei.
He placed himself in competition with Joffrey, as if he were a child himself. As if Cersei was stealing something from him by being a mother to someone else.
Incidentally, the relationship to Cersei is something Jaime also places in opposition to his own mother:
Once their mother's maid had caught them at it . . . he did not recall just what they had been doing, but whatever it was had horrified Lady Joanna. She'd sent the maid away, moved Jaime's bedchamber to the other side of Casterly Rock, set a guard outside Cersei's, and told them that they must never do that again or she would have no choice but to tell their lord father. They need not have feared, though. It was not long after that she died birthing Tyrion. Jaime barely remembered what his mother had looked like. (ASOS, Jaime III)
Her death is almost framed as a relief, her interference punished by his lack of regard for her memory. Perhaps someone is overcompensating. Conflating his childlike confusion, the fear of punishment for something that had as of yet been innocent if alarmingly devoid of health boundaries, with a sense of guilt when she ended up dying, snatched away entirely.
How could Jaime not cling to his relationship with Cersei as a compensation, a replacement that he was entitled to? How could the introduction of competition not make him feel threatened in the same way, trying to force him out of the one bubble of childhood comfort he thought he had dug his claws into, out into full adulthood and actual responsibility?
At a later point, in another dream, Jaime comes closer to touching on that pain of loss, the same loss that drives so much of Cersei's rage.
A tear rolled down her cheek. The woman raised her hood again and turned her back on him. Jaime called after her, but already she was moving away, her skirt whispering lullabies as it brushed across the floor. Don’t leave me, he wanted to call, but of course she’d left them long ago. (AFFC, Jaime VII)
Which, of course, mirrors an earlier confrontation with Cersei, too.
Cersei wiped her tears away on a ragged brown sleeve. "Very well. If it is battlefields you want, battlefields I shall give you." She jerked her hood up angrily. "I was a fool to come. I was a fool ever to love you." Her footsteps echoed loudly in the quiet, and left damp splotches on the marble floor. (AFFC, Jaime I)
So when - in between those two hooded women - Jaime equated Cersei with another hooded image, as per your quote, we should not let ourselves be fooled.
He glanced about the sept, at the gods. The Mother, full of mercy. The Father, stern in judgment. The Warrior, one hand upon his sword. The Stranger in the shadows, his half-human face concealed beneath a hooded mantle. I thought that I was the Warrior and Cersei was the Maid, but all the time she was the Stranger, hiding her true face from my gaze. (AFFC, Jaime IV)
So close, Jaime.
Jaime can't accept Cersei as a mother unless he chooses to finally grow up - and accepts that more than a son, he is a father.
He may face something very important about all the gods:
The Father’s face is stern and strong,
he sits and judges right from wrong.
He weighs our lives, the short and long,
and loves the little children.
The Mother gives the gift of life,
and watches over every wife.
Her gentle smile ends all strife,
and she loves her little children.
The Warrior stands before the foe,
protecting us where e’er we go.
With sword and shield and spear and bow,
he guards the little children.
The Crone is very wise and old,
and sees our fates as they unfold.
She lifts her lamp of shining gold,
to lead the little children.
The Smith, he labors day and night,
to put the world of men to right.
With hammer, plow, and fire bright,
he builds for little children.
The Maiden dances through the sky,
she lives in every lover’s sigh,
Her smiles teach the birds to fly,
and give dreams to little children.
The Seven Gods who made us all,
are listening if we should call.
So close your eyes, you shall not fall,
they see you, little children,
Just close your eyes, you shall not fall,
they see you, little children.
(ASOS, Samwell III)
They all revolve around the children.
“Did you only sing of six gods? Craster always told us you southrons had seven.”
“Seven,” he agreed, “but no one sings of the Stranger.” The Stranger’s face was the face of death.
omg what happened, was it here? sending you love <33
Yes, it's happening here, I have a b*aime shipper harassing me for days now, coming under my edits to post bullshits and sending me messages. And long story short, they also drew the conclusion I was behind an account on ao3 who stole their fics apparently(?) and the person who did it was writing in french and since I'm French, they believe it's me which is literally WILD... I have other fish to fry than doing this stupid shit and scrolling their tags 🙄 Plus I only ever had 1 account on ao3 and I only write in english so... I'm literally staying in my lane and blocking any blog of them sending me their bullshits and yet, they keep harassing me one way or another. I def believe it's a troll but frankly, it's tiring 😐
And thank you for sending me love, it means a lot ❤️
She thinks I’m you or something 😭 She’s harassing me too and saying that I already told her that I wasn’t copying her fics 💀😭 I haven’t had time to finish reading one JC fic in MONTHS and she (and her 30 side accounts) keep thinking I’m the person who stole her content… atp she needs help. I’m sorry you’re going through this, you’re literally one of the best if not the best ever JaimexCersei poster 🫶
JAIME AND CERSEI WEEK 2022: Day 1 - November 8th: Golden
Robert’s hunting trips allowed her time with Jaime. Golden days & silver nights. It was a dangerous dance that they had danced, to be sure. Eyes & ears were everywhere within the Red Keep. Somehow the peril had only served to make their times together that much more thrilling.
JAIME AND CERSEI WEEK 2022: Day 1 - November 8th: Golden
Robert’s hunting trips allowed her time with Jaime. Golden days & silver nights. It was a dangerous dance that they had danced, to be sure. Eyes & ears were everywhere within the Red Keep. Somehow the peril had only served to make their times together that much more thrilling.
Hello JC stans, are you ready to have some fun? Because I’m very excited to announce the first JC Week!
I have selected 14 different prompts, 2 per day. For your entry, you are free to fulfill one or both prompts, there is no limit. Here is the prompt list for the week:
Day 1 - November 8th: Golden or Masquerade
Day 2 - November 9th: Sun or Letters
Day 3 - November 10th: Fire or Scar(s)
Day 4 - November 11th: Pregnancy or Secret
Day 5 - November 12th: Storm or Tears
Day 6 - November 13th: Morning or Ring
Day 7 - November 14th: Treasure or Garden
🦁 You are free to interpret those prompts the way you want and to use them as loosely as you wish. You can go Canon, Pre-Canon, AU, Modern AU… Be smutty, fluffy, angsty… You are free.
🦁 I will track #jcweek and jcweek2022. Remember to use those tags so I can find your creations and reblog it here.
🦁 All kind of fanwork is welcome. Be gifsets, fanarts, fanfictions, fanvids… even playlists!
🦁 Please, don’t forget to start your caption with:
JAIME AND CERSEI WEEK 2022:
🦁 If you have any question about the event, feel free to send me an ask on my personal blog. [here] The answer will be reblogged this blog.
🦁 No time to post your entry on the right day? Don’t worry, late entries will be accepted.
🦁 Reblog this post to spread the word.
🦁 Hate won’t be tolerated.
🦁 And last but not least, have fun little lions and let’s celebrate our favorite twins!
Jaime yawned as he rifled through his mail for the week. He was surprised at how much there was these days. He thought the Internet would do away with all of that. Finding nothing of note, he threw it all into the trash and went back to sleep. It was a Saturday, after all.
He awoke to a text from his sister. “Did you get my letter?” it read. Jaime shot out of bed and quickly typed out a response.
“No, when did you send it?”
“A few days ago. Check again. Don’t bother to reply.”
Jaime almost tripped walking down the stairs and started rifling through the garbage in the kitchen. He cackled loudly to himself as he finally found a small envelope that had been stuck on the back of some ad and started reading her pretty words.
Dear Jaime,
How are you? How’s your off season going? Robert and I are so proud of you. I want to hear all about it, it’s been so long since we’ve seen each other in person. My husband is off on a business trip for a week and I’ve been lonely with the children back in school. I would love it if you could stop by to chat one of these days. I miss you.
All my love,
Cersei
The letter looked quite innocent from an outsider perspective, nothing wrong with a brother and sister wanting to catch up. His sister did want to hear how he’d been, after all. But she also wanted to have sex.
Jaime yawned as he rifled through his mail for the week. He was surprised at how much there was these days. He thought the Internet would do away with all of that. Finding nothing of note, he threw it all into the trash and went back to sleep. It was a Saturday, after all.
He awoke to a text from his sister. “Did you get my letter?” it read. Jaime shot out of bed and quickly typed out a response.
“No, when did you send it?”
“A few days ago. Check again. Don’t bother to reply.”
Jaime almost tripped walking down the stairs and started rifling through the garbage in the kitchen. He cackled loudly to himself as he finally found a small envelope that had been stuck on the back of some ad and started reading her pretty words.
Dear Jaime,
How are you? How’s your off season going? Robert and I are so proud of you. I want to hear all about it, it’s been so long since we’ve seen each other in person. My husband is off on a business trip for a week and I’ve been lonely with the children back in school. I would love it if you could stop by to chat one of these days. I miss you.
All my love,
Cersei
The letter looked quite innocent from an outsider perspective, nothing wrong with a brother and sister wanting to catch up. His sister did want to hear how he’d been, after all. But she also wanted to have sex.
Jaime could notice the subtle threat in his sister’s voice but he didn’t care. She wouldn’t hurt him. Not now. Not ever. And surely not when she was carrying their child.
Their child. Cersei was pregnant with their child and this time, he would be its father for all the Realm to know. His head was spinning with a vivid exhilaration. The jokes about them, the war against the Targaryen girl, Euron Greyjoy and his request to marry Cersei, the empty threat… He couldn’t care less about anything else but Cersei and this little bundle of joy to come.
Jaime could notice the subtle threat in his sister’s voice but he didn’t care. She wouldn’t hurt him. Not now. Not ever. And surely not when she was carrying their child.
Their child. Cersei was pregnant with their child and this time, he would be its father for all the Realm to know. His head was spinning with a vivid exhilaration. The jokes about them, the war against the Targaryen girl, Euron Greyjoy and his request to marry Cersei, the empty threat… He couldn’t care less about anything else but Cersei and this little bundle of joy to come.
Hello JC stans! I know I’m a bit late and I’m sorry, but here a little recap of the prompts and the rules for the JC Week. Mostly I hope you all are having fun and are excited as I am!
— the prompts:
Day 1 - November 8th: Golden or Masquerade
Day 2 - November 9th: Sun or Letters
Day 3 - November 10th: Fire or Scar(s)
Day 4 - November 11th: Pregnancy or Secret
Day 5 - November 12th: Storm or Tears
Day 6 - November 13th: Morning or Ring
Day 7 - November 14th: Treasure or Garden
— the rules:
🦁 Remember, for your entry, you are free to fulfill one or both prompts. You are also free to interpret those prompts the way you want and to use them as loosely as you wish. Be Canon, Pre-Canon, AU, Modern AU…
🦁 Remember to use the tags #jcweek and jcweek2022 so I can find your creations.
🦁 All kind of fanwork is welcome. Be gifsets, fanarts, fanfictions, fanvids, playlists…
🦁 Please, don’t forget to start your caption with:
JAIME AND CERSEI WEEK 2022:
🦁 If you have any question about the event, feel free to send me an ask on my personal blog. [here]
🦁 Late entries are accepted.
🦁 Hate won’t be tolerated. We aren’t here to bash another character, ship or fan, but to have fun.
🦁 For the fanfics writers, a collection has been created for the event on AO3! You can find the Jaime and Cersei Week 2022 collection here and add your fic.
Hello JC stans! I know I’m a bit late and I’m sorry, but here a little recap of the prompts and the rules for the JC Week. Mostly I hope you all are having fun and are excited as I am!
— the prompts:
Day 1 - November 8th: Golden or Masquerade
Day 2 - November 9th: Sun or Letters
Day 3 - November 10th: Fire or Scar(s)
Day 4 - November 11th: Pregnancy or Secret
Day 5 - November 12th: Storm or Tears
Day 6 - November 13th: Morning or Ring
Day 7 - November 14th: Treasure or Garden
— the rules:
🦁 Remember, for your entry, you are free to fulfill one or both prompts. You are also free to interpret those prompts the way you want and to use them as loosely as you wish. Be Canon, Pre-Canon, AU, Modern AU…
🦁 Remember to use the tags #jcweek and jcweek2022 so I can find your creations.
🦁 All kind of fanwork is welcome. Be gifsets, fanarts, fanfictions, fanvids, playlists…
🦁 Please, don’t forget to start your caption with:
JAIME AND CERSEI WEEK 2022:
🦁 If you have any question about the event, feel free to send me an ask on my personal blog. [here]
🦁 Late entries are accepted.
🦁 Hate won’t be tolerated. We aren’t here to bash another character, ship or fan, but to have fun.
🦁 For the fanfics writers, a collection has been created for the event on AO3! You can find the Jaime and Cersei Week 2022 collection here and add your fic.
