Emma + Baelfire = Swanfire

[Slurpeez]

Yes he is a pirate but I really hate that excuse. If he wanted to show that he believes in good form, man was this the wrong way to go–from drining, to asking for a quick bathroom romp, to lying to the woman he claims to love’s face. To me it goes deeper than just “he’s a pirate” (RG is still upset with Hook)

For sure, I’m upset with him too! You won’t see me giving Hook a free pass just because of his good looks. Yet, what I believe Phee was saying is that by showing his BAD FORM it’s really a win for Swanfire, since if Hook really were a man of honor, then he might actually have a lasting chance with Emma. By showing his true colors he’s revealing himself to the audience to be a man of dubious character (well at least to those of us who haven’t been blinded by his “devilishly handsome” good looks), which Hook is quick to point out to everyone in earshot. “Hey, look at me, I’m hott!” To me that sounds like Hook needs constant affirmation, praise and attention, and instead of telling his “good friend” Neal he’s laying off Emma due to some bro code, it’s really about getting Emma to notice his good looks, while hoping to arouse her jealousy by allowing her to believe he’s unfettered by her and Neal by hooking up with Tinkerbell. RIIIIIIGHT. That’s the way to a woman’s’ heart. *That was me being heavy on the sarcasm, in case you couldn’t tell. *

[astrawoid]

I just love this scene! They are so cute! 🙂

 

 

 

http://qilbert.tumblr.com/post/69444685732/are-you-trying-to-ask-me-on-a-date

"We were happy."
"Because... it was born out of true love."

[Phee]

What I love about Emma’s smile in that scene is that it’s not an exasperated “dude leave me alone already,” smile. It’s like she’s thinking, “Resist the urge to smile at the adorably understanding puppy, resist, res-oh-screw it, he’s just so adorable and understanding and I’m so happy he’s here.”

I hope Neal doesn’t think that Emma doesn’t want to try because she didn’t show up for lunch, but I’m betting that’s how it will go. So while Neal “will stop bugging” her–his words–this means that Emma will hopefully openly persue him. Meaning that it becomes her choice if she wants to tell Neal that she was coming to see him.

Oh Neal will totally think that Emma doesn’t want to try, seeing as how she didn’t show up. That’s how ship angst works! 😉 But yeah, it’ll mean that the control of the situation really has been put into Emma’s hands, and it’s up to her if he knows she was going to see him or not, and I think that’ll be a good thing.

For sure, I’m upset with him too! You won’t see me giving Hook a free pass just because of his good looks. Yet, what I believe Phee was saying is that by showing his BAD FORM it’s really a win for Swanfire, since if Hook really were a man of honor, then he might actually have a lasting chance with Emma. By showing his true colors he’s revealing himself to the audience to be a man of dubious character (well at least to those of us who haven’t been blinded by his “devilishly handsome” good looks), which Hook is quick to point out to everyone in earshot. “Hey, look at me, I’m hott!” To me that sounds like Hook needs constant affirmation, praise and attention, and instead of telling is friend he’s laying off Emma due to some bro code, it’s really about getting Emma to notice his good looks, while hoping to arouse her jealousy by allowing her to believe he’s unfettered by her and Neal by hooking up with Tinkerbell.

Yep. I think he wants to believe he can be that man of honour again like he was way back when, but really, he can’t just flip off the negative traits that have been a part of him for the better part of a life that’s lasted a couple centuries. He’s sort of a hot mess and is unable to do what’s truly right at the moment, and I think that’s actually fitting for him right now. Much as I’m longing for some sincerity between CaptainFire, with the way they’ve written Hook lately, I wouldn’t find it believable if he did claim he was backing off because of the bro code. In NL, when Emma was all, “Well, you’re a pirate,” he sorta looked like, “Yeah, everyone’s kinda stuck on that, huh,” so it’s not a stigma they’re letting him easily shake off, or let go of himself.

(But he is right about the devilishly handsome bit IMO, and that line actually made me literally LOL. 😉 /shallow)

[astrawoid]

I was so sad for Neal.  Poor Puppy!  🙁

 

http://aboardjollyroger.tumblr.com/post/69456557385

"We were happy."
"Because... it was born out of true love."

[PriceofMagic]

For me this episode cemented SwanFire as the one Emma should end up with.

When Hook was talking about backing off and being devilishly handsome (which was funny), I genuinely thought “hmmm I could actually ship CaptainSwan” even when Hook said he was in for the “long haul” I thought “fair enough, he’s giving Neal a fair shot” then Hook proceeded to ruin it.

He threw Neal under the bus. I think Hook knew Emma wasn’t in the mood to be courted so he gave Neal enough rope to hang himself. He backed off whilst telling Neal to go for it then put doubt in Neal’s mind that Emma wouldn’t want him back. Hook’s killed two birds with one stone, he’s eliminated his competition whilst at the same time seeming like he’s giving Emma the space she wants which would’ve made him look good in her eyes. Hook set Neal up to fail.

As for the Tinkerbell thing, I think Hook had two reasons for doing this, 1-He was slightly worried that SwanFire could become a thing and wanted to make out that he didn’t care and 2- He was trying to make Emma jealous and pressure her into making a decision. Considering he said he was in for “the long haul”, throwing himself at Tink doesn’t seem like the brightest idea. But the message he was basically trying to send to Emma was, “You better pick me soon because there are other women lined up who want me”. Hook was trying to make Emma think there was something going on with him and Tinkerbell when there wasn’t.

Hook is playing a game but trying to hide it under the pretense of being honourable.

All magic comes with a price!

Keeper of Felix

[RumplesGirl]

When Hook was talking about backing off and being devilishly handsome (which was funny), I genuinely thought “hmmm I could actually ship CaptainSwan” even when Hook said he was in for the “long haul” I thought “fair enough, he’s giving Neal a fair shot” then Hook proceeded to ruin it.

The line was funny but I’m with Slurpeez on interpretation. Hook has this need to make sure everyone knows that he is really good looking. He falls back to it and like most bullies it is because of insecurity, I know. But if it was like he was trying to throw it Neal’s face that women find him to good looking to resist.

Hook is playing a game but trying to hide it under the pretense of being honourable.

I agree. And it goes against what he said in 307 about winning her heart without any tricks.

 

"He was a lot of things to me" "The only conclusion was love"

[RumplesGirl]

A nice little early morning observation from Schmacky

So Emma hasn’t worn her leather jackets since getting back from the Enchanted Forest. We know from JMo that Emma’s leather jackets are a representation of her armor. What happened the night before she put on that leather jacket?

 

Neal asked her out on a date. She is scared. Terrified. Not sure if she’s ready. She needs her armor.

It’s heartbreakingly beautiful.

And this one

Call me crazy but I don’t find that being passive aggressive to a woman and wanting to make her jealous is being in it for the long haul.
Trying to make someone jealous means they’re butt hurt and being childish about it. I hate that type of behavior.

Also, going back to that scene between Neal and Hook: Hook claims to be doing “this” (not perusing Emma) for Henry but I agree with POM, he’s giving Neal rope with which to hang himself. But he’s doing it in the name of Henry. He’s using her son to get what he wants. Sorta like how he used Baelfire to get information about Rumple.

"He was a lot of things to me" "The only conclusion was love"

[ems14]

Hi all, I’m Ems. I’ve been lurking reading all your wonderful thoughts and decided to post and join in the Swanfire discussion.

Forgive my jumbled thoughts and basically repeating everything that’s already been said 🙂

I must say after first watching I felt a little deflated but it wasn’t really as bad as I had imagined. The moment Neal and Emma cute/awkward date conversation came up, I got that horrible feeling in the pit of my stomach knowing that Emma would likely not turn up and I’d be seeing Neal’s adorable but heartbroken face. But the reality of how things actually happened wasn’t as bad for SF as I had been anticipating.

I knew the second that Neal approached Emma that it could be seeing as him being too full on. But Neal came just asking to talk, it was Emma that jokingly brought up the date part. And really who can say Emma and Neal don’t need to talk. A lot of stuff about their feelings and past came up in Neverland and even if they never moved forward again romantically, conversations need to be had so they can move forward them a way that allows them to get along and be co-parents to Henry. I liked how casual Neal was about it and didn’t pressure Emma into it. Emma’s smile was adorable too, like she didn’t want to smile but couldn’t help herself.

I do love Snow/Charming flashbacks but, before this episode, I was a bit annoyed they were getting a second one before some of Neal, Emma or Neverland crew (Tink, Hook, Bae) got one but I loved the flashbacks and they fit perfectly.  The whole idea of enjoying the moment woven throughout the episode and Snow of the past paralleling Emma of the present. It allowed for some beautiful Daddy Charming moments that played nicely into Swanfire.
The sight of Neal in Granny’s was heartbreaking but I loved Charming going to Emma and convincing her to enjoy the moment and give Neal a chance. It’s nice to see that Emma’s parents view Neal as a source of happiness for her. And the best part Emma was going to meet Neal. She was going to go on the ‘date’. When the SF conversation first happened I really didn’t expect Emma to show so the fact that in the end she did intend to come was huge for me.

Of course storyline wise to add the angst she didn’t get there and no doubt Neal will think she just bailed. And maybe he’ll back a bit. This might not necessarily be a bad thing though. Neal gets a lot of hate for leaving Emma/not fighting for her etc etc. But as a certain point he can’t continue to force his romantic feelings on to Emma. I really believe at some point the balance in the SF relationship and them moving forward together romantically will have to sway to Emma. We know they both love one another. We know Neal thinks being together again is a possibility and wants that but we don’t know if Emma realistically thinks that is possible. Right now Emma doesn’t believe she’ll ever have happiness without something lurking to ruin it all but when she accepts the idea of enjoying the moment, I think she will have to take the lead with Neal.

As for Hook, sigh. Actually it was enjoyable to see a glimpse of the old Hook, since the handling of Neverland Hook was mostly a fail, IMO. I’m sure Hook’s action in the episode will try and be defended it but spin it how you want he did not come out well of this episode. Saying he’ll back off but doing the opposite in reality, trying to make Emma jealous by using Tink. He may say he’s in it for the long haul but I don’t think he knows how to do that. A quickie in the bathroom with Tink is certainly not the best way to go about it (although they do have great chemistry).

Also RIP to CaptainFire. They could have had it all. But in all seriousness it’s sad that such a complex relationship has been reduced to having all their interactions centred around Emma. I’m starting to feel that the past, Milah and all that may never come up in the present with these two.

[RumplesGirl]

Hi all, I’m Ems. I’ve been lurking reading all your wonderful thoughts and decided to post and join in the Swanfire discussion.

Welcome! All newbies and delurkers get cookies and hot cocoa with cinnamon

I knew the second that Neal approached Emma that it could be seeing as him being too full on. But Neal came just asking to talk, it was Emma that jokingly brought up the date part.

That’s a really good point. Neal never said date, Emma did.

Also RIP to CaptainFire. They could have had it all. But in all seriousness it’s sad that such a complex relationship has been reduced to having all their interactions centred around Emma. I’m starting to feel that the past, Milah and all that may never come up in the present with these two.

For me, Hook is at his most complicated and layered when he’s interacting with or about Neal EXCEPT in this season. This season whenever he is with Nealfire, he’s just a pirate. They have yet to discuss what Hook did to Bae, Emma has yet to learn about Milah or that Hook gave Baelfire to the Lost Boys. It’s getting really frustrating that the writers are sweeping their history under the rug and reducing them to “guys fighting over girl”

"He was a lot of things to me" "The only conclusion was love"

[RumplesGirl]

last thing I’m posting

Some people seem to think there has to be a difference between “I’m never going to stop fighting for you” and “if not I’ll back off”, when really, there isn’t. Not to me, at least. Neal is never going to stop loving Emma, he’ll never stop being there for her, but he’s not going to push. He’s not going to expect too much or force her into something she’s not ready for, that’s not who he is.

He (very adorably) gave her an opportunity to take things forward with them now that they are back home and things had seemed to calm down and she very adorably smiled at him when he did so look at how in love she is, but if she’s not ready then he’s not going to fight her on it. He respects her and her choices, quite frankly I would’ve been surprised if he said something other than what he did.

I also like that Emma is hesitant, it’s true to who she is. Her life has been one crisis to the next ever since she became the savior, I mean she doesn’t think she’ll ever have a chance to be happy, so of course she doesn’t feel ready to let her guard down long enough to work through the pain and enjoy herself for a few minutes with the guy she loves. And everything that happened in this episode just further proved her point, and now she has to learn on her own time that she can have that happiness, that her life can be more than just each crisis and bad thing that happens, that she does owe it to herself to enjoy those little moments.

Seeing Neal sitting there waiting for her shattered my heart into a million pieces, but at least we know Emma was on her way when everything took a turn for the worse again. She was ready to open up and give it a shot. Honestly, I think he probably figured out what happened, because he was there right afterward with the gang after they all heard the scream. I’m hoping he realized that Emma had to of been right outside before that. And if not, then I’m sure… someday… they’ll get to have that conversation. can we stop separating people though because I can’t take much more of this hopefully that someday won’t be too far off.

Emma loves Neal. Neal loves Emma. Neal will never stop fighting for her, but he respects her enough to give her the space she needs and knows not to push her or force anything on her. Emma will never stop loving him, but she needs to get to a place where she can believe that she deserves to be in love and have those moments of happiness. In time, they’ll find their way home to each other, it won’t be easy, but true love never is.

 

"He was a lot of things to me" "The only conclusion was love"

[Author]

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