spoilers in comments, you know the drill

[unvarnished]

You're disappointed in me, I can tell. What else did you expect from me?

Comments

[instinctual]

What did you do?

[unvarnished]

I did what I had to do keep Emma on her destiny.

[instinctual]

I don't see why that should earn you disappointment. That destiny woke us all up.

[unvarnished]

I think it was more how I went about it that upset the mun.

[instinctual]

Don't think about it too much. I'm sure we've all done things that don't exactly please these muns. It seems like they rarely look at the bigger picture.

[unvarnished]

Probably. They forget we can't always fight our nature. [she above all will understand that]

[instinctual]

(More than she would like to, given what appears to be in her immediate future) As long as you didn't physically hurt her, them I'm sure your mun will get over it. If you hadn't done what you did, we'd all still be cursed.

[unvarnished]

Thanks, Ruby. I hope everyone else sees it that way.

[conscience]

Apparently, not what actually came to pass.

[unvarnished]

Archie... [so many feelings here] Do you recognize me?

[conscience]

Now, yeah. Why? Is it something you need an ear for?

[unvarnished]

No. [lie lie total lie] I was curious to see how much I changed.

[conscience]

[yep, he caught it.]

You know, somehow I think you've got a good idea of the answer already.

[unvarnished]

I tried to change. Didn't work out so well.

[conscience]

Improvement doesn't have to be the same thing changing. Every single one of us has things that we can work on, but if we try to do too much too soon, it just - [archie just shrugs, defeated, almost. 'doesn't work,' is the way to finish that sentence.]

Is that why it didn't work out?

[unvarnished]

It didn't work because I ran. I wasn't brave, honest or unselfish.

[swanprincess]

[Emma just gives him a look. You know, that one where she really wants to just blow up at you, but is trying really hard not to? Yeah, that look. So enjoy that look, August. Because in her mind, she's ripping you to shreds.]

[unvarnished]

[he knows he deserves whatever she is thinking of doing to him. He failed her in every possible way]

Nope. No icon is own is angry enough for this.

[swanprincess]

How dare you... How dare you interfere with my life?! Do you have any idea the hell and misery I went through because of what you did?

[She was furious, and it was visible. For once her feelings were written all over her face.

Hell, were it not for that stunt August pulled, keeping her and Neal apart, she may have actually believed him when he first came to her about breaking the curse.]

I had my son in jail because of what you did. What the both of you did!

[unvarnished]

[he endures her anger. It's not even close to what he thinks he deserves]

He only did what I asked him to do, Emma. Let me take all the blame for it. Not him.

[swanprincess]

Oh, no. You best believe you're both screwed.

[She could hardly articulate at the moment. But one thing was certain. She wanted to punch him. Bad. But had more self restraint than that. But damn was it tempting.]

What made you think anything you and Neal did was actually going to help me?

[unvarnished]

[he opens his arms as if to give her a bigger punching target]

You broke the curse, didn't you? Think about it, Emma: everything in your life after that moment brought you to Storybrooke.

[swanprincess]

So let me get this straight. You think that by convincing the man I loved to sell me out for a crime he committed, have his child in jail, put my son in the foster system, and having him find me ten years later was all your well thought out plan to get me to come to Storybrooke to break the curse?

Oh, yes, that's completely genius on your part. You want to know what would have probably worked out better? You actually being there, like you said you would. That would have been better, August.

Instead, through your actions and your magnificent plan, I ended up having one hell of shitty life. Yes, that's absolutely genius.

[Well, it wasn't all bad. She did get her son back after all. but most of those 28 years? Yeah, they were hell.]

[unvarnished]

I never pretended to be perfect, Emma. I was a kid in a strange new world. I was scared, and I didn't want the burden of looking after a baby. So yeah, I ran away.

I wish I could go back and do it differently but I can't.

[swanprincess]

No, then how about when you showed up and spoke with Neal? You were there then, why didn't you stick around?

I'm tired of you and your "behind the scenes" antics.

[The anger had subsided slightly. Now she was just upset. Really upset.]

[unvarnished]

[why didn't he..? That is a good question]

I thought I was doing what was best for you. Ever since I came to this world I've felt restless. I can't stay in one place for too long. What kind of life is that to give anyone?

[swanprincess]

The same life that I've been living since I was old enough to be tossed around in the foster care system. The same life that you left me to live on my own.

[unvarnished]

Yeah, and with me you'd be twice as homeless.

[swanprincess]

At least I would have had someone, August.

[She sounded almost desperate, knowing that, aside from that small time with Neal, she was alone. But had August actually stuck around. Maybe things would have been different.]

[unvarnished]

[what was he supposed to say? He messed things up really badly, and waited too long to fix them]

You're right.

[prefera]

Whether we mean to or not, we are bound to disappoint someone.

They will understand, your mundane.

[unvarnished]

I think it's going to take a while before mine understands. It's a pretty big thing I messed up.