Reply To: Emma + Baelfire = Swanfire

I think the single one reason why I prefer Neal for Emma over Hook is that Neal has RESPECT for other women that AREN’T EMMA.

Two come to mind: Belle and Tinkerbell

Belle:

Neal first met Belle as Lacey. He then met her again as Belle. At no point did Neal disrespect Belle or make any unkind remarks about Lacey. Neal first heard of Belle through the phonecall so he had no idea that Belle and Lacey were the same person. For all Neal knew, on their return from Neverland, it was Lacey that was greeting Rumple at the docks (though Neal did hear that it Belle that help get Pandora’s box to Neverland so when he saw her at the docks he probably twigged that it was Belle.

Hook shot Belle causing her to fall over the town line and lose not only her memories but her identity. He did that because he knew it would hurt Rumple. Belle was a means to an end, nothing more. And that’s the problem. Belle is a person, not a pawn to be used whenever someone sees fit. It really bugs when Hook fans say “Oh he only did it to get back at Rumple for killing Milah” as if that makes it all okay. By that logic, it would be perfectly acceptable for someone to harm Henry in any way in order to get back at Regina. Rumple did wrong, I get that, so Hook directing his revenge at Rumple would be fairplay. Hook stabbing Rumple in Manhattan was fair, Hook taking the shawl from Rumple was fair, Hook using Belle against Rumple was NOT fair. Hook hasn’t even apologised for what he did to Belle.

Tinkerbell:

Neal and Tink had a friendly reunion when they saw each other again. Even when Emma “rejected” him, Neal didn’t come on to Tink.

Hook did. Hook and Tink may have a sexual history together hence why Hook thought it would be okay. However, when Tink refused him, Hook still implied that something had happened between him and Tink, even though it absolutely hadn’t. I know some CSers like to justify it by saying “He was Drunk. He was hurting. He was just trying to make Emma jealous” How is any of that an acceptable excuse when Hook still knew exactly what he was doing?

Say CaptainSwan happened, then one day Hook and Emma had a massive fight. Hook goes out, he’s hurting emotionally, he gets drunk, then decides that he’ll flirt with that cute blonde at the end of the bar. It’d make him feel better with the added bonus that it would make Emma a little jealous. He starts flirting and the blonde responds. They get more drinks and before Hook knows it, thing have escalated and he’s spending the night at the blonde’s place. They sleep together.

Next morning Hook feels guilty about having cheated on Emma. He creeps out the blonde’s place and returns home to Emma. Emma wants to talk through the fight with Hook when she smells the blonde’s perfume on Hook. She accuses him of cheating on her. Hook admits it but says that “he didn’t mean it to happen. He was drunk, he was hurting, it meant nothing”. Should Emma instantly forgive him? Should she stay with him?

If Hook’s answer to emotionally hurting because of Emma is to get drunk and throw himself at the first attractive woman he sees, then CaptainSwan is going to have a big problem. What would’ve happened if Tink had been receptive to Hook’s advances and decided to sleep with him. Would Hook stay with her, or would he just toss her aside the moment it looked like Emma might be showing interest in him again. Emma has trust issues. How can she be confidant that the moment she and Hook have a fight, and he goes off and gets drunk, that he’s not sleeping around