Could it be that R was preparing his “arsenal” to counter the dark curse? I think he has been playing EQ all along. We know he knows who he really is, who Regina really is, and where they come from. I suspect he allowed himself to be captured when he contracted with C knowing she was tricking him, to throw off suspicion and move his plan along. After all, he created the dark curse, and is way too clever to give its power over to anyone else much less anyone as dangerous as EQ unless he wanted it used for some reason, and knew how and had the “tools” required to counter it, according to his own timetable, of course. I believe his ultimate motive is personal release and redemption.
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