#cs camelot

[stubblesandwich]

No middle ground. Go with your gut. Leave nuanced reasoning for the tags if you got it. ✌🏻 Reblog for a wider sample size.

[killianxswan]

part I of my III part camelot what-i-think-happened fic!

all mentioned in the notes, but thank you so much to my amazing betas and friends @caught-in-the-filter, @kmomof4 & @veryverynotgood (can't recommend all of their fics enough)

shameless smut with feelings ahead <33

[ouatsnark]

hi again, i have one more ask lol if i can fit it in, i saw a swanfire say hook was the most useless one in nl besides being the tour guide & all he did was derail everything by chasing emma around like a dog, he didn't know where pan's camp was or how to get off the island (neal and tink did), and neal got so much done while cutting through the dark foliage while hook was telling emma he'd win her heart, he just latches on like a flea. oh so neal is suddenly this upstanding hero? girl alright

Wow! I didn't know this was such a big talking point. I've come across this a few times now.

I've already kind of answered this over here:

If we're all being truthful... Neverland was indeed a group effort. It took everyone working together, under Emma's leadership, to save Henry and get out of Neverland.

It's important to mention that the only thing Regina was good for was almost getting David killed (whom Killian saved) and being a psychopath that doesn't regret destroying the Charming family's lives.

I have covered this a little bit here:

But this is a new one:

"all he did was derail everything by chasing emma around like a dog,"

How did Killian derail anything? You mean derail the search for Henry by RESCUING NEAL??? Are they actually mad about that? Or the time when he saved David because Regina's ego nearly got him killed?

"he didn't know where pan's camp was or how to get off the island (neal and tink did)"

Tink was a current resident. Of course she did. It's like the logic here is "Killian Jones didn't do EVERYTHING so therefore he is useless!"

Actually, Killian did know how to get off the island. He knew that Neal had done so and was spearheading a search to figure that out. Upon finding Neal's coconut, he realized what it was... a map off the island. And how did Neal know how to create a secret map to navigate off the island? Because Killian Jones taught him how to map in a coded way only he would know.

So yes, Killian knew how to get off the island: Find Neal. And without Killian Jones they wouldn't have found Neal in order to get off the island!

"Neal was cutting through the dark foliage while hook was telling emma he'd win her heart"

Hey y'all! Neal is good for something! Give the man a beer! He can cut his way through foliage!

Anyways, the 300 year old experienced pirate was right. Emma wasn't going to give Neal another chance to break her heart. And that he, Killian Jones, would win her heart. And it wouldn't be because of any trickery. It was because Emma Swan wanted Killian Jones.

[theinquisitxor]

Series Countdown Tag

I had an idea for a new bookish tag game (not sure if something like this already exists, if it does, please let me know).

What is it: sharing your favorite book series by the number of books in the series. Your favorite 10 book series, 9 book series, etc. Feel free to start from a different number if you want.

Rules: #10 is for series of either 10 books or more. #1 is your all time favorite series. Everything else just corresponds to the number.

10 (+). The Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan

9. The Expanse series by James SA Corey

8. The Throne of Glass series by SJM

7. The Chronicles of Narnia by CS Lewis

6. The Queen's Thief series by Meghan Whalen Turner

5. The Graceling Realms by Kristin Cashore

4. The Books of Pellinor by Allison Croggin

3. The Daevabad Trilogy by SA Chakraborty

2. The Texicalaan duology by Arkady Martine

1. (all around favorite series) The Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien

Tagging: @the-forest-library @bookworm-of-camelot @e-b-reads @friendly-neighbourhood-librarian + anyone else who wants to!

[zaffiri-saffici]

Here's a screenshot of my fic's tagline from the SQSN Blurb Generator. (if you want to use the generator yourself to read the other taglines for the amazing fics being released, click here!)

Ahhhh, y'all don't know HOW excited I am about this!

Not many know this, but I've been in a big writing slump the last 10+ years. I used to write Sweenett, Bellamort, Bellamoine (my how the times have changed lol) and when I got a corporate job, I lost a lot of my motivation to be creative from a storytelling perspective. Going into 2023, I decided it was time to change that.

This year's SwanQueen Supernova Challenge was just the kick I needed to get motivated to write again. Over the last few months, I've put together a ~86K retelling of the Camelot arc, a story that does the arc justice and gives us the SwanQueen tale we should have gotten on screen - the real story that was being set up since the beginning of the show.

This arc was especially impactful for me when it first aired years ago. After Emma sacrificed herself in place of Regina to become the Dark One at the end of season 4, I thought to myself, Yes, this is it. This is how the writers are going to finally give us SwanQueen. The greatest magic in OUAT is about True Love, and love is sacrifice - the ways in which we demonstrate, through our actions, what oftentimes words fail to do, right?

Wrong. A&E shat the bed, turned the Dark Swan arc into a complete mess, and slapped a big CS stamp on it at the end. Outside of just the blatant queer bait, 5A was simply: unfulfilling. It was lopsided, lazy. It did not fit the countless messages we were receiving as watchers and fans of the show, in all the ways the writers would define what 'True Love' was, to then push the story in a direction that made no sense to those definitions.

Well, this October, as part of SQSN, I'm here to change that. I am so excited about this piece. I am so proud of myself, too. I have never put together something so large (my longest fic was 18K words and is still incomplete). Further, I've never put together something as complex and full as this piece. It not only rounds out that arc, along with lots of the unanswered concepts that the show introduced in earlier seasons that eventually went nowhere, it does it in a way that feels right. Good.

This story was a practice in healing; I hope it can offer you the same.

Sneak Peak 1 | Sneak Peak 2 | Sneak Peak 3

Stay tuned for the reveal and the fic link drop this October 3rd!

10/3 Edit: The fic is officially here! Enjoy, my friends!

[whimsicallyenchantedrose]

Christmas Reruns 2024–Day 2: A Christmas Miracle (2/3)

Merry Christmas if you celebrate it and happy holidays if you don’t!  One of the things I love about Christmas is watching reruns of all the old classic Christmas movies–Christmas is a big time for nostalgia.  A few years ago, I decided to incorporate that tradition into my fandom life and post my CS holiday reruns.  So here you go!  Enough holiday (mostly) fluff to get you to New Year’s Day. (With a new story posting on Christmas Day.)

Rating: G

Word Count: 1240

Other chapters: 1 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Note:  This is chapter two of my 2013 story A Christmas Miracle.  It was written just before the end of the Neverland arc and it fits within my “A Wish Your Heart Makes” universe.  References to curses and Camelot refer to that verse!

Hook adjusted the collar of his leather coat and then stepped from the hallway into Granny’s dining room. The chamber had been utterly transformed. A huge pine tree decorated with brightly colored lights, tinsel and hundreds of ornaments took up an entire corner. Red and green streamers, sprigs of holly and huge paper snowflakes adorned the wall and ceiling. Several small tables had been pushed together to form one long table elaborately set for nine.

As he sauntered into the room, Hook looked over the gathered assembly. Baelfire stood with Belle and the Crocodile, talking and laughing. Belle gazed adoringly up at the Crocodile, and he raised a hand to tenderly stroke her face. Hook waited for the familiar burning hatred to steal over him at the sight of his erstwhile enemy, but it never came. For that matter, it hadn’t come in quite some time. When had he given up the last vestiges of his vengeance?

Hook looked past Snow and Charming, busy with last minute preparations, to Emma and her lad who stood talking and laughing near the booths. Suddenly he knew exactly when his hatred for the crocodile had vanished. It was the moment he had finally let go of Milah’s memory, the moment he had fallen deeply, passionately, irretrievably in love with Emma Swan.

The lass was beautiful this evening. She wore an ice-blue tea-length gown and a matching lacy bolero sweater. Her golden hair was swept up at the sides and fell in riotous curls down her back. Hook didn’t think he’d ever seen her in formal attire, and the effect nearly stole the breath from his lungs.

As though feeling his gaze, Emma looked up and caught his eye. She colored slightly at the look he gave her, and then dropped her eyes. Hook sighed and walked forward toward his lady and her lad. Would he ever succeed in scaling that well-fortified fortress that she had built around her heart?

“Hook!” Henry called joyfully when the pirate was a few feet away. “I didn’t know you were coming too!”

Hook grinned and tousled the boy’s hair. “Aye lad; that I am.”

“Cool!” Henry beamed at him. Hook had spent quite some time with the lad during their last adventure, and he found he genuinely enjoyed the boy’s company. It gratified him that Emma’s son seemed glad to see him as well.

The diner door opened, and Regina stepped in, brushed the snow from her dark hair, and shrugged out of her coat.

“Mom!” Henry called, walking over to the queen.

Hook looked back at Emma, and she looked suddenly shy.

“You’re stunning, love,” Hook said with a soft smile. Emma’s blush grew.

“But then again,” he continued, his grin turning wicked, “I’ve no doubt you would be stunning in whatever you wore…or didn’t wear.”

She rolled her eyes at that, but he noticed she couldn’t quite stop the grin that spread over her lips.

“Please,” she said, “You are so full of it, Hook.”

His grin was pure pirate. “Full of charm, charisma, astonishingly good looks?” he drawled. “Aye lass; that I am.”

She laughed and playfully shoved his shoulder. He caught her hand and brought it to his lips. He was making headway, he knew it. He was starting to see a slight crack in that wall of hers.

“Ok, everyone,” Snow called from the table where she had just placed a fragrant, steaming turkey, “dinner’s ready.”

“Shall we?” Hook asked, gesturing with his hook.

Emma nodded and Hook followed her to the table. She took a seat next to Henry, and Hook seated himself on her other side. The Charmings had procured a veritable Christmas feast complete with turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes, steamed vegetables and cranberry sauce. Hook’s mouth watered at the delicious aromas. He suddenly remembered it had been hours since his last meal.

At the head of the table, Charming stood and tapped his wine glass with a knife.

“I would like to propose a toast,” he said, encompassing the whole group with his gaze. “It has been a rough year for all of us. We’ve dealt with difficulties, setbacks, danger, and heartbreak.”

Charming glanced at Regina, and the queen dropped her eyes. Hook felt a surge of pity for the woman. She had found Robin Hood, her true love, in the Enchanted Forest, and it looked like she would finally get her happy ending. Then they had found a way back to Storybrook…a way that couldn’t include Robin Hood and his little son. Hook knew all too well what it felt like to be separated from the one you love.

“But it has been a good year, as well,” Charming continued. “We’ve faced our challenges, and we’ve overcome them. We’ve succeeded in breaking not only one, but two curses, and we’ve succeeded in rescuing Henry from one of the most evil villains in any realm. Through it all, we’ve come to be a family. We’ve been able to put aside our grievances, our difficulties, even our hatred and work together toward some pretty difficult goals.”

Charming raised his glass higher and once more swept his gaze over the entire assembly. “So I ask you to raise your glasses. To family and friends and all those we love!”

Hook got to his feet with everyone else and raised his glass filled with ruby-red wine. Clinking his glass against Emma’s, he looked into her eyes. He held her gaze as he repeated “To family and friends and all those we love!”

Emma’s heart raced. She should look away, turn in the other direction, anything. But she simply couldn’t do it. His blue eyes were simply mesmerizing. That look on his face! What was she to do? There was no denying the attraction she felt toward him. After their kiss in Neverland, she couldn’t even pretend to herself that he meant nothing to her.

But he was a pirate! He flirted with anything in skirts. How could she possibly believe that he loved her and would fight for her? How could she let her guard down enough to give her heart to another man?

Besides, she was the savior, and, well, it seemed that meant she didn’t get her happy ending. She ensured everyone else had a chance at a happy ending, but it wasn’t in the cards for her. Hadn’t everything that had happened over the last few months proved that? As soon as one crisis ended another began.

“Uh, mom?” she heard Henry ask from her side.

The spell was broken; she was finally able to tear her gaze from Hook’s. Looking around, she saw that every single person at the table was seated but her and her pirate…and every single eye was on them. For the love of all that was holy, what was wrong with her? She dropped hastily to her seat and drained her glass of wine.

“You don’t happen to have an extra flask on you?” she asked Hook in a low voice.

“No, love,” he answered, laughter in his voice.

“Shame,” she said ruefully, “I have a feeling I’m going to need a whole lot of alcohol before this night is over.”

NEXT CHAPTER->

[captain-aralias]

9 books that are my favourites

tagged by @arenee1999 a few days ago, thank you <3 as i was writing this list in my head last night, i thought - this could be read as a list of my favourite fandoms and television/film adaptations, but hey ho. i did a degree in english lit or something.

harry potter and the prisoner of azkaban by JKR - no book has been so important to my life and i also just think it's a really fun mystery and i still like it, so - it's here, it's staying.

carry on by rainbow rowell - but of course. this one was quite important too.

pride and prejudice by jane austen - i don't think this has ever made a fav book list before, i think because i thought it was too basic, but damnit - this book is great, it influences the way i write enemies to lovers, i love the 1995 adaptation and all of austen's novels are bangers except mansfield park, which i keep trying to like but it sucks.

the once and future king by TH white - all my life i loved the movie 'camelot' and it's depiction of arthur. i only learned as an adult that it was TH white's gentle, earnest, thwarted arthur that they'd used <3 he's perfect. 'ill-made knight' is the best of the series, IMO

lieutenant hornblower by cs forester - i haven't read the books in ages, so maybe it's time for a re-read. the ioan grufford adaptation is great, i wish they'd do the later/earlier books too! BUT this early (in hornblower's life) book is my fav - the only one told from bush's POV as he struggles with how he loves hornblower but worries the guy wants to do a mutiny (which he totally does)

the folk of the air by holly black - a new entrant even though i've loved it for years, but i've decided i don't just think it's really good, it's so good that it's one of my favs. maybe the best of the trilogy is the middle book, 'wicked king' where jude is in power with limited support and they fall in love (or do they???). how the king of elfham learned to hate stories is also brilliant.

'the emperor mage' by tamora pierce. i've been waiting my whole life for the numair book and it was terrible, but her first three trilogies are my absolute crack, and this is the best book of those series IMO. the bit where numair tries to hit the emperor for implying he loves his student daine (which he does) while she's listening but disguised as a bird - and then he fakes his own death, and daine goes crazy... that bit has stayed with me for decades, i love it so much.

'night watch' by terry pratchett. i still feel late to properly loving pterry, but i've always liked this one and now i love it - vimes is my guy, i love the time travel, that he trains himself, that he resists both passively and when required actively. v good. my next fav is probably ... 'monstrous regiment', which i think is a bit more of a weird choice (unlike this one which is mega popular and also about all the things i like), but it just does everything right! oh, 'and 'going postal'.

'the princess bride' by s morgenstern william goldman. i haven't read this for ages either so maybe it shouldn't make the list, but i expect it's still pretty great. a mindfuck for a young child who has only seen the film and thinks all of the frame narrative must therefore be real... also, the film is like one of the best films ever and i have seen that super recently. if you haven't seen the home movie, do yourself a favour and watch it because it's a great way to enjoy the movie a-new.

no idea where this meme has been already. so just saying hello to some folks and if you'd like to do this meme and haven't done it already, please do! @giishu @orange-peony @you-remind-me-of-the-babe @carryonvisinata @alleycat0306 @fight-surrender @cows4247 @messofthejess @mysterioussheep

[snowbellewells]

Happy Happy Birthday Jennifer!! @whimsicallyenchantedrose

So, while I wasn’t able to write you a brand new birthday story this year, I thought it might be fun to highlight my all-time favorites of your stories. You were the first fandom friend I met and interacted with, we talked the show and plot points and character development together, and you helped me begin to navigate Tumblr back when I first joined. It’s been a gift to know you all that time, and your writing is a gift to us all! You’ve written so many GREAT stories that it was hard to narrow down, but I have settled on my top half dozen at last to highlight for your special day -- with some cover art for a few of them!!! 💖 Hope this gift serves to remind you of all you’ve written and created and how much all of it - and you!! - are loved. 🥰

The Strongest Magic - This short MC is one of your very early works - a Neverland season 3a divergent tale, but where it diverges gives us powerful adventure and emotion, sacrifice, and much earlier admission and acceptance of the love between our Pirate and Princess. I simply adore it - it squeezes your heart for sure, but it also wraps you up in a wonderful happy ending by the time you are finished.

A Wish Your Heart Makes , Getting to I Do & Mysterious Fathoms Below - This series of longer, connected multi-chapters (The "By Land or By Sea" trilogy) is simply EPIC!!! I don't know how to sing the praises of this story half as much as it deserves. There's adventure in the Enchanted Forest, Camelot, and even under the sea! There's so much beautiful love story for CS (and even some lovely, redemptive Outlaw Queen as well), and @whimsicallyenchantedrose even incorporates some unexpected and perfectly cast characters of myth and legend and her own creation alongside our faves. I don't want to give too much away, but these stories MUST BE read! Once you do, you'll want to read them over and over again.

Happily Ever After - This short MC was originally part of your Fluffy Fridays compilation, and I have often revisited the few chapters of this on their own and definitely think of them as their own little stand-alone story. I love the family recipes, the competition, the rivalry that becomes something much sweeter.... it's a truly delicious addition to your collection of writing!

Caribbean Shores - This lovely little MC reads more like a modern day AU, though they are in Storybrooke and many of our favorite characters still appear. I love the cute sweetness of this one, and the adorable addition of a few scheming cuties from MM's class when she takes them for a field trip tour of the Jolly Roger from Killian. ;) All the sizzle and attraction is there for Emma and Killian right from the start, and though she tries to resist (Why is she always so stubborn?!?) She can't do it for long...

Under the Apple Tree - It's hard to even express how much I adore this fic originally written between season six and season seven of canon. The way @whimsicallyenchantedrose wove in what we knew might be coming in season seven and then supposed what still could happen (a lot of which I would have loved to really see!) is simply brilliant. I love the relationships explored and the way the plot unfolds. It's a special and unique version of our beloved characters, and of course the unstoppable power of Captain Swan to always find each other again is fully on display too! ;p

Until the Stars are all Alight - Wow, this story must have been such a daunting task to undertake - one I would have been afraid to tackle, but the skill with which the OuaT world and the LotR world are woven together, how the plotlines come together and reach fruition, and how the characters coincide for best use so seamlessly is truly admirable and just adds to the depth and power of this full multi-chapter adventure. It has heart and hope and True Love conquering all - all the best things we love so much from the world of fairy tales and the brain of J.R. R. Tolkien!

[saptaincwan]

Top 5 Captain Swan scenes? <3

YAYYY they honestly have SO many great scenes and my personal ranking changes a bunch depending on mood so here goes, in no particular order except for #1!

(under cut bc it got long lolll)

tl;dr

underworld goodbye

liam's ring

5x21 reunion

tallahassee bandaging scene

"im going to choose to see the best in you"

,, and i'll sneak in. proposal #2

so without further ado,

i wrote something long and insane about this but tumblr deleted it and i couldnt ctrl+z it back this is so sad. lemme try again

this felt like a climax of sorts in not only their relationship, but their character arcs. jen and colin's absolutely stellar acting here only supported that.

i specially think this scene is so poignant because of the whole arc leading to this moment. further by this episode's theme. and most importantly because of the scene directly before this one: "you're holding on too tight-- let go"

emma is finally able to let go, and to keep accepting others' love in her life. she loves killian too much not to. in turn the same goes for killian: he loves emma too much not to move on to a better place. this is peak "they made each other better" exemplified.

the juxtaposition of them desperately holding on to each other just one last time. finally getting to say goodbye. and of, at the same time, saying goodbye forever. peak romantic cinema!!

LIAM'S RING!!! see i love this scene i love camelot cs the aesthetics are peak.

but i love this because it's one of the few scenes in which they get to say i love you in a more "relaxed" way. as in. they're not about to die in the next 2 secs LOL. and emma looks just. so HAPPY here. definitely one her biggest, most sincere smiles in the show i think

this coupled with killian sharing a bit of his past, and in a way bringing "together" his love for liam with his love for emma. aaaAAAA

also emma's disappointed face at him not proposing honestly what's NOT to love

WHAT CAN I SAY. that hasn't already been said omg

i think this is a beautiful resolution to cs's s5 romantic arc. i talked a bit about this earlier today but-- after everything was said and done. after they loved each other SO much. fate itself saw that. they saw that, they saw how they were separated!!

they saw how they did everything to be together and then how they loved each other enough to let go! and so the rules of force and nature and life itself bent themselves backwards to let them be.

not because they were meant to. but because they weren't!! but the world and each other were so much better with them by each others' side that it let them have this.

how many romances can i say that about LIKE cs is in a whole different league of their own and it drives me insane

i like this bc after acquiring media literacy this is the moment i think. in which it becomes obvious cs will be canon 😭

but mainly ALSOOOO bc i believe this to be the first moment in which emma really connected with killian. a follow up of them hiking the beanstalk!

bc you see, going up, he understood her. he got under her skin, and that can get one uneasy enough. but here? he is just like her. it casts his understanding of her into a new light! he knows that not only has she suffered loss, but saw his own mirrored in her.

i think this is the scene that sets up the rest of the ep, and most importantly, emma's betrayal at the end. he sees her. and she knows that. and she sees him! and he knows it too!

how far can things go, if she allows it? so it ends: she doesn't. and this!! ^^^ this is why!

WE DON'T TALK ENOUGH ABOUT THIS SCENE I THINKKKK because once they're together fr, i think this is one of the first few larger hurdles they face as a couple.

killian is still majorly processing his shame in regards to his past and it really comes to smack him in person. and they hadn't dealt with that! (onscreen at least)

and it's one thing knowing someone trusts you but it's another to put that in a real situation which requires that trust. and emma gives it so freely. they are talking about this.and we get to see that!

this is such a normal issue that i think takes place eventually for Every couple ever. it goes a bit beyond trust even. it's about knowing they can rely on each other when things get tough.

i really strongly think love is about, and is, a choice. there are rough patches and there are issues, minor and major, but ultimately you made the choice to be there for this person and support them, and in turn, you have the absolute reassurance they'll do the same for you. i've always known this to be a sure thing for cs but i just really like getting to see a scene directly addressing that. i love that we got it

i sneaked this scene so no major thoughts but i think we all love this ep and this scene and why. personal fav s6 ep actually

[deckerstarblanche]

Random WIP Thursday: Going to Hell (not sure what this is, but it typed itself onto this page!)

Emma was pissed off, and it wasn’t just because she was tired of fighting their way through Hell’s waiting room. No, she was pissed at Liam Jones; unpleasantly surprised that he turned out to be a self-righteous prick instead of the paragon of virtue Killian always idolized.

“Killian blames himself for being here…he’s been fighting darkness his entire life, and you pushed him off the cliff….Stop thinking of your own desires, and let him go…”

Liam’s harsh words kept repeating themselves inside her head, stomach-churning as they were.

Some of what he said was undeniably correct: She had been selfish as the Dark One, so desperate to keep her true love alive that she’d sent him hurtling backward; back down into the black void that had filled his soul for centuries. Maybe she really was the anchor keeping Killian from his destiny, and being forced to follow this endless clue path was her punishment. Emma shivered at the thought as a deep shame washed over her.

“What’s wrong? Aren’t you coming?” Killian asked, the gentle concern in his voice breaking through her negative thoughts. She looked down, wishing she could melt into the floor instead of meeting his eyes. Emma had never met anyone whose eyes were actual windows into his soul before, but she had gotten to know him so well that she could read him like a book — most of the time. Right now, she knew his gaze would be soft and loving, and she didn’t deserve that.

“Oh…yeah, sorry. Let’s go,” she replied, hearing the lifelessness in her own voice, so she knew he’d pick up on her feelings. He always knew. Even though her legs felt leaden, she tried to exit the room, but his hand gripped her wrist, keeping her close.

“No, wait. We’re not leaving until you tell me what’s going on. I know when something’s bothering you.” Killian reminded her, and when she finally looked at him, the love and understanding she could see in his eyes made her want to sob. Why would he willingly stay when she could save him?

Her heart thudded in her chest as she answered. “It’s Liam…I’ve had a bad feeling ever since we met,” she admitted, and it physically hurt to watch that sweetness fade from his eyes as he looked away, shaking his head in disbelief. She forced herself to continue, knowing that he always valued her perspective. He may hate her for it, but she couldn’t turn back now.

“At first, i thought it was just because he didn’t like me, but I think he’s hiding something.”

Killian gulped as he stepped back, narrowing his eyes and lengthening the space between them. She already felt colder, as if an intangible connection that linked them was slowly falling apart.

“That’s preposterous! My brother wouldn’t lie.”

It was Emma’s turn to gulp. “Maybe there’s stuff about him you didn’t know. Maybe he does know what his unfinished business is down here,” she reasoned uncomfortably, hating herself for making him feel worse than he already did. The man was dead after all, and had only recently been released from Hades’ own private insane torture chamber.

“No, you’re wrong about him,” he replied, eyes softening in a plea to make her see reason. “I know who my brother is.”

Emma could practically hear his voice in her head, begging her to trust him like he had in Camelot. She felt devastated, but clearly Killian’s long held reverence for his older brother was clouding his vision. She was about to open her mouth and point that out, but he turned away from her, heading out of the library.

It was the start of him leaving her, she could feel it.

“I’m going to go help my brother find those pages.”

Tag List: @kmomof4 @cs-rylie @ishoulddefbedoingotherthings @booksteaandtoomuchtv @jonesfandomfanatic @pirateswhore @teamhook @jrob64 @ultraluckycatnd @everything-person

[bvck-barnes]

Hello again from your Santa - Christmas is drawing nearer!

I must agree with you about the stellar content provided by Season 3 of Ouat, particularly in the pining and gradual development of the CS journey. The movie to cap it off was indeed superb, and definitely a highlight. The angst of Camelot was also wonderful. I sometimes find myself lecturing to the elves about how much more they could have done in Camelot if they had stayed longer, or brought in Morgana le Fay, etc. etc., but it was still another very interesting arc. Mrs. Claus wants me to add that we also really loved the original season, Season 1 - how new and inventive and tight the storytelling was at the start of it all. Of course, we all know that season has one major flaw though: Killian Jones had not yet arrived!

Were there any adventures you would still have liked to see Emma and Killian undertake in the show? Was there a realm/place you wish we could have seen the show travel to? Were there any characters from fairy tales/legends/myths you would have liked to see on the show that OuaT didn't get around to?

Also - Santa is sorry for all the questions! - I remember you've said the Christmas season has not always been your favorite, but are there any Christmas movies or Christmas songs you have enjoyed?

hey santa ♡ christmas is indeed so close!! 

so much more could’ve been done, and also i wouldn’t have minded if they kept merlin alive longer, god i loved him, and i think he was one of the best additions we had in the last seasons of the show. oh and yes tell mrs. claus she is very much right, s1 was so well done, it set everything that ouat was.

i think i would’ve liked to see them have some time for themselves instead, i'm very sad we didn’t get to see emma raising her baby and both of them building that family with grown henry too. i think it was nice to see henry and regina when he was older but god, i would’ve liked to see emma and killian helping him too.

thinking of places… my favorite place in the world is nyc lol so seeing them there always makes me happy but also i’d have loved seeing them in the enchanted forest but not like in the castles and stuff but instead just wandering around in the smaller villages, at a market or a cottage or at the port.

AND characters i’m a sucker for mythology so i would’ve loved to see idk apollo or other greek gods.

also i love answering questions so pls send them all djfhdsj i actually made a playlist of christmas songs i like which is here and movies… i like anything queer (or kristen stewart related) so ofc happiest season lol but also spencer, and little women if it counts, and love actually and the holdovers, which ones do you like santa? pls send some recs!

[jrob64]

Awesome! I think I’m getting more of a sense of what I’m going to make. Just to be sure, are there any captain swan arcs/seasons you DON’T like? Like I know some people really don’t like the Season 6 lying about killing David’s father arc for example, and I don’t want to make you anything with bits you wont enjoy :)

—Your CS Secret Santa

I really hated when Emma thought he left her and was getting rid of all of his stuff because everyone, including her, believed he would just leave and not come back. So, basically the whole time they were separated would be my least favorite. I also didn’t like how she kept shutting him out when she was having those visions of the final battle. It was like she didn’t trust him.

Those are the only parts I can think of. I wasn’t thrilled with her as Dark Swan trying to manipulate him at times, but him being Dark Hook was too insanely hot to leave that arc out! And how he was trying to help her in Camelot was lovely and a little heartbreaking.

[mionedray]

🎄 Ahoy there! 🎄

Guess what? I’m your Secret Santa, and I’m here to whip up something awesome just for you! But hey, I’m not a mind reader, so I’ve got a few questions to help me nail it. Answer as much or as little as you want—spill the tea or just drop me some breadcrumbs!

What’s your favorite thing about Captain Swan? Are you into swashbuckling adventures, tender moments, or something else entirely?

Do you prefer your stories sprinkled with fluff, drenched in angst, or served with a side of humor? Or maybe a mix?

Any favorite tropes you adore? (Enemies-to-lovers, hurt/comfort, daring rescues... I’m all ears!)

Is there anything I should steer clear of so I don’t accidentally land us in the Underworld?

If there’s anything else that would make your gift extra perfect, don’t hesitate to share! Can’t wait to bring some holiday joy your way. 💌

Cheers! 🎁✨

Hallow Hallow!

I knew it Santa was real! See, see *points at imaginary people* Santa is gonna sue you guys for defamation. Now, now its time to put the cringe humour aside and apologize for late response (exams *sigh*). A-KNEE-WAYZ I hope you've been doing well dear Santa- your ask was such a joy to read! Now to answer!

1. This one is hard to answer. I do love the tender moments very much and swashbuckling adventures as well. Like when they went back to the past, camelot or the underworld (almost forgot the season 6 rescue). As for the tender moments I have so many favorites (mostly from season 3 and 5). If you would like me to elaborate on that I will. I don't want to overwhelm you 😭. I have a tendency to ramble.

2. So I am a happy endings girlie (loveeee fluff) and humour is just peak tehee. I don't mind angst (the emotional moments it brings are just so in the feels). Tho knock yourself out I'd love to see anything you come up with.

3. Okay so I enjoy almost all tropes i think. In CS my favorite trope is Captain Duckling (with a dash of enemies to lovers) but in modern Au's- i like friends to lovers (helping each other grow). Oh God (I'm thinking of a million of my favorite fics now 😭). I also like the soul mates trope and I love fics with a Christmas vibe too. Almost forgot the whole dark hook saga too (some of those fics were phenomenal). Basically i like everything 🤣

4. OooooO, I actually do like the idea of being in the underworld (probably not OUAT's tho lol). But yes...umm no tragedies. I also absolutely hate Neal and August and I'd appreciate it if we could avoid tropes like teacher/student or stepcest. Hope that isn't too much 😭

I also want to apologize for this response being a mess 😭 *cries in doing this during breaks*. If you want me to go in detail about anything or just have any other questions let me know. I'll try and answer as quickly as possible. Take care dear Santa- stay safe a hydrated!

[ouatsnark]

one more thing i'm adding. someone make a gif set comparing all the times cs tried to parallel snowing with tlk and it not working therefor they aren't "true love!" using examples from 3x11 (seriously come on), 5x02 (like emma in camelot when regina emotionally blackmailed her into saving robin and when she kissed killian and her curse got worse, it's certainly not bc SHE USED DARK MAGIC), or when emma saved killian in 3x17 stripping her of her magic (how is that in the same category-) like omg

Can the antis get any dumber?

The CaptainSwan moment from 3x11 was meant to be a failure because the writers were deliberately paralleling it with Snowing.

This was too deliberate to be a coincidence.

As the show said back when David failed, the kiss doesn't work when one party doesn't remember/know who the other one is! So of course it was going to fail.

Did Dark Swan attempt a true loves kiss?

I don't know. Maybe? We see Emma's skin sparkling moments later so I feel like the kiss did ward off her becoming a full fledged Dark One...

But we learned from Rumple that true loves kiss doesn't work unless the Dark One wants to be cured. Rumple rejected it. We learn later that Emma doesn't want to let go of the darkness because she fears that if she does she won't be able to protect her family. Emma may not be fully controlled by the darkness but it doesn't mean she isn't struggling or feeling the effects from it.

Also I don't think you can compare one couple that was consumed by darkness to a couple that never was... its like apples and oranges. Larger things are at play here.

Did kissing Killian really strip Emma of her magic?

Cause everyone acted surprised that her magic returned?

I also maintain that it did work because there was a ripple and a kiss can't revive a drowning. Her kiss brought Killian back from the dead.

But OK lets get out of the head canon and move over to canon for this. No, according to canon Emma kissing Killian there wasn't a true loves kiss.

However. So what? Emma and Killian weren't even together yet. Emma's walls were still up. She hadn't let herself love again, yet. How is she going to let true love in when she's holding back because of everything in her past? And the show very much does hammer in the idea that "true love must be shared."

Plus. That moment does parallel Snowing.

Besides, True Love kisses became popular

CaptainSwan deliberately paralleled Snowing in so many other ways that were much more meaningful. And had many of their own unique ways of showing that they were indeed true love. All of which can be found below.

[colinoeyebrows]

Hi Hi!

It’s your Secret Santa again with more questions :)

1. What is (are) your favorite CS moment(s)?

2 . What do you prefer more - reading or watching something?

3. Do you have favorite Emma and Killian outfits?

Hope you have a great day ;)

Hey Santa,

I love some of the tender moments that they have shared in s4 all the hugging scenes and the soft scenes. But I think one of my fav cs scenes are the angsty scenes in s5, 5x11 Killian sacrificing himself and also in 5x20 when they say goodbye in the underworld or their reunion scene in 5x21. There are so many great scenes ahha.

I love reading but I haven’t had much time lately so I tend to watch more than read but I should read more again. I like their Camelot outfits, but also their outfits in the cs finale. ☺️

Hope you are having a good day/week too.

[whimsicallyenchantedrose]

Christmas Reruns 2024–Day 1: A Christmas Miracle (1/3)

Merry Christmas if you celebrate it and happy holidays if you don’t!  One of the things I love about Christmas is watching reruns of all the old classic Christmas movies–Christmas is a big time for nostalgia.  A few years ago, I decided to incorporate that tradition into my fandom life and post my CS holiday reruns.  So here you go!  Enough holiday (mostly) fluff to get you to New Year’s Day. (With a new story posting on Christmas Day.)

Rating: G

Word Count: 1868

Other chapters: 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Note:  This story was originally written in 2013, at the very end of the Neverland arc.  It fits within my “A Wish Your Heart Makes” universe, so when there’s talk about “the second curse” or Camelot, it’s referring to that, not canon events.

A Christmas Miracle

“No offense, Mary Margaret,” Emma said skeptically, “but that sounds like a terrible idea.” She walked quickly beside her mother, her head down and her gloved hands in her pockets. It was cold!

“Oh come on, Emma,” Mary Margaret coaxed, “It’ll be fun! And it’s Christmas; families should be together.”

“Yeah,” Emma answered with a sidelong glance, “normal families should be together, but what we have…well we should be the poster family for ‘dysfunctional’.”

They continued walking through Storybrook’s main street. Emma looked up into the sky. It looked like snow. Great, just what she needed!

“Now Emma,” Mary Margaret said, “you know that’s not really true. Look how well we’ve all worked together lately. First Neverland and then the new curse. I think we’re all starting to meld together.”

Emma sighed. “Let me get this straight. You want to have a party on Christmas Eve with the whole family…me, you and David, Henry, Neal, Regina, Gold and Belle?”

“Yeah!” Mary Margaret said looking eagerly into her daughter’s face. “I’ve thought it all out! We’ll rent out Granny’s. We can decorate a tree and have a white elephant gift exchange and sing carols and just…you know…follow all the Christmas traditions!”

“There better be a lot of eggnog at that party,” Emma muttered, “because we’re gonna need it.”

The two women turned the corner and headed toward Granny’s. Emma sighed again. It had been a week since they had broken the Camelot curse and everyone had come home to Storybrook. A festive atmosphere pervaded the whole town. Christmas was only a few days away, and it seemed Storybrook’s residents planned to celebrate with a vengeance this year. They had put up the largest Christmas tree Emma had ever seen in the town square. Everyone had contributed their own unique ornaments, and Regina and Mr. Gold had used their magic to deck the upper branches, too high for anyone to reach…even with a ladder.

Emma should be happier, she knew she should, but she couldn’t help the feeling of dread that covered her like a blanket. She kept waiting for the other shoe to drop. She didn’t trust the calm and the peace. Between the original curse, she and her mother being transported to the Enchanted Forest, Henry being taken to Neverland, and the new curse…well, it seemed that every time they had a chance to take a breath something else terrible happened.

“What on earth is that all about?” Mary Margaret asked laughing as she pointed a gloved finger toward Granny’s. Emma peered in the direction her mother was pointing and couldn’t help the laugh that burst forth from her. There stood Grumpy dressed in a Christmas elf costume, complete with hat and pointy boots. He sang “Jingle bells” at the top of his lungs while somehow simultaneously scowling with all his might.

“Grumpy,” Mary Margaret said through her laughter, “what are you doing? I’ve never known you to be overflowing with Christmas spirit.”

“Let me tell you sister,” Grumpy said frowning in their direction, “if Happy ever offers to make a bet with you. Run. As fast as you can. In the opposite direction.”

Emma laughed as she opened the door to Granny’s and gestured Mary Margaret in. Mary Margaret headed to their favorite booth and Emma followed. She glanced quickly through the diner as she slid into her place opposite her mother. She refused to admit, even to herself, that she was looking for him, but she couldn’t deny the wave of disappointment she felt when she found the diner completely lacking a certain leather-clad pirate. They had worked so closely together over the past few weeks, first in New York, then in the Enchanted Forest, and finally in Camelot. He had become such a normal part of her life that it felt weird if a day went by when she didn’t see him. Surely that was the cause of her disappointment at not seeing him; surely there was nothing more.

But the fact was, she had wondered those last few days in Camelot whether…something…was starting to develop between them. He had been so, she didn’t know, devoted to her. Sometimes she would look up and see him gazing at her…and his gaze was as tender as a caress.

He had as much as told her he loved her in Echo Cave on Neverland, but then they’d gotten back to Storybrook, and he’d been so distant. It was almost like he was pushing Neal on her. She just didn’t get it. How was she supposed to figure him out? If she couldn’t even figure him out, how the hell was she supposed to figure out how she felt about him?

“So,” Emma said, idly picking up a menu from the rack near the window, “is David meeting us here?”

“Yeah,” Mary Margaret said glancing at her own menu, “He said he’s running a little late, but he should be here soon.”

The radio blared “Santa Baby” as several more people rushed into the diner, each clearly in a hurry to get out of the cold winter wind.

“Emma,” Mary Margaret said hesitantly, “you don’t really mind, do you? I mean about the family Christmas party.”

Emma dropped her eyes. “No, I guess not,” she answered, “Just don’t get your hopes up, ok? You get this group of people together, there’s bound to be fireworks.”

“Well,” Mary Margaret said with a smile, “that’ll just be more decoration for Christmas!”

“You are such an eternal optimist!” Emma said shaking her head. She couldn’t stop the small smile that draped her lips.

“Eternal optimist,” David said as he slid into the booth next to Mary Margaret and gave her a quick kiss, “you must be talking about my wife.”

“The very one,” Emma said unwrapping the straw Ruby had just brought with her iced tea.

“Henry not coming today?” David asked after giving Emma a hug.

“Nope,” Emma answered, “he’s with Neal today.”

Her parents exchanged a quick concerned glance.

“How’s everything going,” David asked, “you know, between you and Neal?”

Emma looked down. She supposed she might as well tell them. They’d been subtly…and not so subtly pushing her toward Neal for the past week. Why did they insist she be with him?

“There is nothing between me and Neal,” she said looking straight into her father’s eyes. “We had a talk the day after we all got back. I’m sure there’s a part of me that will always love him, but I’ve moved on. We’re both different people now. We had our moment, and now it’s gone.”

“Are you sure, honey?” Mary Margaret asked, reaching over and taking Emma’s hand. Emma smiled at her mother. After a lifetime of being on her own, it was nice to have someone care about her…worry about her happiness.

“Yeah, mom,” Emma said. The joy on Mary Margaret’s face at her use of that one little word was well worth it. “I’m sure. I’ve seen true love. I see how you and Dad are together, and, well, that’s not how it was with me and Neal.”

“But..” her mom tried again. Why was she so insistent?

“Mom,” Emma cut in, “If we’re going to have a Christmas party the day after tomorrow, we better start planning.”

Mary Margaret looked up at her for another moment and then slowly nodded. They talked and laughed throughout their meal. It was wonderful to just have a nice normal dinner with her parents. No curses, no lost boys, now evil shadows, no life-or-death catastrophes, no imminent danger.

“So then Archie slipped on the icy sidewalk,” David said, “he managed to stay upright, but he dropped his grocery bag, and it spilled all over the road. Before he had a chance to pick anything up Pongo shot past him, grabbed his deli meat and had a nice little feast!”

“Hm,” Emma said sipping the last of her iced tea, “I guess I better get on city management to put down some salt on the sidewalks.”

“Yeah,” David said glancing out the window, “looks like it’s starting to snow.”

“Ugh!” Emma groaned following the direction her father was looking. “I hate snow.”

“Oh, come now love,” came a silky voice from her right. Emma’s heart skipped a beat at the sound of his voice, “surely not.”

Emma looked up into Hook’s blue eyes and smiled in spite of herself. She scooted to her left and patted the seat next to her. He smiled and took the seat she indicated.

“Yep,” she answered him, “detest it. Snow means traffic accidents, icy sidewalks, and general headaches for the sheriff’s department.”

Hook turned toward her and smiled. His hook brushed her hand, and a jolt of electricity shot from the spot throughout her whole body. What was wrong with her? “No, love,” he said, “snow means snowmen and sleigh rides and snowball fights.”

“I don’t have time for any of that,” Emma said, looking up at the handsome pirate.

“Perhaps you should make time,” he said. Was it just her imagination or had he put a little emphasis on that last word?

David cleared his throat, and Emma started. Had she really just been looking deeply into Hook’s eyes? In front of her parents? What was wrong with her? She needed to get a grip!

“Hook,” David said with a nod in the pirate’s direction.

“Charming,” Hook answered with an identical nod of the head.

“At any rate,” Hook said to the table at large picking up the conversation where it had left off, “with Christmas only a few days off, it is only right we should get some snow.”

Emma glanced up at him and saw a small wistful expression on his face. Did he have anyone to spend Christmas with or would he have to spend a lonely day by himself? The thought hurt her somehow.

“Speaking of Christmas,” Emma said before she could think better of it, “we’re having a little family celebration the day after tomorrow. Would you like to come?”

Now where had that come from? Wasn’t the party going to be awkward enough as it was without adding Hook to the mix? Did she really want him there? Yes, said the small, honest voice in her head. The fact was, it seemed he belonged with them. With me the voice insisted. She gave her head a tiny shake as if to clear it. What was wrong with her?

He smiled down at her, but shook his head. “I don’t wish to impose on a family celebration.”

“Oh come on,” Emma cajoled smiling up at him, “after all you’ve done for us, both in getting Henry back and in helping to break the new curse, you practically are family”

“We really would be happy to have you,” Mary Margaret said, reaching out to pat Hook’s arm.

His smile grew. “I wouldn’t miss it for all the rum in the Caribbean.”

NEXT CHAPTER->