On the potential for castmates and tonight's episode

[wegotlucky]

I don't want him around anymore.

Papa is gone, and I'll be fine.

But you can't let Hook here now. I don't want to see him, I can't see him, I...

[He's really not okay with the idea of losing Emma forever, even if she isn't picking sides. Even if he doesn't expect her to go back to him, the idea of her ending up with him instead is... a bit much.]

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[itsapirateslife]

Pardon me for trying to do the right thing.

Would you rather I hadn't told you?

And if I recall...she chose neither of us, mate.

[Isn't too happy about the idea of not even getting a chance with Emma or ruining his friendship with Neal but he's accepted the fact his life has never been fair]

[wegotlucky]

[Different from the Neal that Hook has known so well, this one has been through the ringer long enough to feel rather defeated and that it's inevitable.

He also is running on the assumption that Emma is dead and now a twisted and unrecognizable shadow.]

It doesn't matter.

[itsapirateslife]

[To be fair, Hook thought Neal was dead. Whether he might have pursued Emma if he'd known otherwise is another matter but he'd like to think he wouldn't.]

[Though granted, Emma did kiss him.]

You get all heated and then say it doesn't matter? I never knew you to give up so easy Bae.

[wegotlucky]

[He hasn't known Emma in years.

Had he taken her and ran, maybe things would have been better. His father could never had found him, then.

But then he would have been keeping her from her family.]

I said it doesn't matter, all right?!

[itsapirateslife]

[Life is full of what ifs. Hook knows that all too well.]

[You clearly haven't met the Charmings have you, Bae? That might not have been a bad thing.]

Funny, you seemed fine with me last we spoke. Clearly it does matter.

[wegotlucky]

[He has not! This is possibly for the best.]

Sometimes things change.

[itsapirateslife]

As much as this might pain you to hear, she kissed me, mate.

[wegotlucky]

Shut up!

[itsapirateslife]

And she didn't tell you about it. I assumed you heard my secret and she told you and tried to do that right thing be clearing the air. Next time, I'll try to think less rationally. I am a pirate after all, it's not in my nature.

Must have been the Charmings wearing off.

[Or so he acts anyway]

[wegotlucky]

Why on Earth would you think she'd tell me?

It's been eleven years!

[itsapirateslife]

Because everyone else already knew! I told everyone that I loved her so we could get you out of a damn cage in the Echo Cave!

[Takes a deep breath]

Eleven years or not, you still matter to her. [Not jealous at all]

[wegotlucky]

[He shifts uncomfortably.]

That... that's different.

[No, Neal. It really isn't.]

[itsapirateslife]

And how exactly is that different? Please, explain it to a simple pirate.

[You started it, Bae]

[wegotlucky]

It just is, okay?

[itsapirateslife]

No, it's not okay.

The least you can do is tell me my crimes. We were friends once.

[wegotlucky]

Emma has moved on from me, it's not important any more, Hook.

[itsapirateslife]

[laughs, oh so hard, he can't breath]

Clearly it is, mate.

To all of us. All three of us.

[wegotlucky]

[He sighs.]

I'm not stupid enough to ask her to come back.

[itsapirateslife]

Not brave enough either.

[wegotlucky]

[He's got a point.

It's also why Hook doesn't get much of a response besides a look.]

[itsapirateslife]

[Hook is just going to smirk at Neal because he knows he's right]

[trulybecomedust]

It wasn't my choice to leave you.

[Not that Neal would believe him about that and would probably blame him for it anyway, but it's okay, he'll deal with it.]

But what has Hook done to make you feel that way? [There's an unsaid but obvious now at the end of that sentence.]

[wegotlucky]

[Oh he knows that it was Zo losing his grip on his father, at least on a rational level.

But to him it feels very much like being abandoned all over again.

To the question, however, he's not going to respond.]

It's not important.

[The unsaid bit being "to you."]

[trulybecomedust]

[Gold really can't win in any situation involving Neal. It's the true constant fact of the universe.]

It's important if he's done something to upset you.

[wegotlucky]

I know how you deal with people, papa.

[trulybecomedust]

[Yeah, he can't really deny that because it's the truth.

He deserves it.

You'd feel better if I hit him with my cane a few times. I'll even let you have a go.

...Shit. He's really bad at this not being a terrible human being when it comes to Hook. Give him a moment, he'll come up with something good to say.]

I think saving Henry is a higher priority than getting back at him for whatever slight he's done against you. Instead, I would be willing to listen on the off chance that talking about the problem might make you feel better.

[...oh lord, he's starting to sound like the cricket.]

[wegotlucky]

Henry is dead!

Don't you get it?!

The version of you I know is dead, too! Probably crawling around asking people for candy because Ruana is a sick bitch!

[untilmylipsbled]

Don't you think you might need his help to get your son back?

[wegotlucky]

...it's not that simple.

There's no way to save him where I am. Not easily.

Saving Henry would also mean saving the one who kidnapped him.

[untilmylipsbled]

...Okay, you were right in your assessment that it's not simple. But surely there must be something you can do.

[wegotlucky]

Whatever happens it's not anything I can do alone.

Not that I won't do whatever I can.