What do you say?

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I just want to take a moment to appreciate the complete and utter difference between the Killian Jones of old and the Killian Jones of today because it is striking.

Killian is a man that is generally rash and prone to anger when frustrated or upset. We’ve seen him fly off the handle and bite out harsh words time and time again. This is especially true when it comes to matters of The Crocodile and his revenge, or his Swan.

Yet, here, Belle makes a comparison of one to the other, is justifying his once mortal enemy’s actions, and instead of getting defensive or angry he merely gives her a small shake of the head and a quiet, but logical, rebuttal.

What a contrast to the interaction we see in The Outsider, all angry threats and clenched teeth. He uses no sarcasm, no sneering expression and curled lip here. Just a small frown and head shake and a gentle reminder.

This moment absolutely killed me:

It killed me because it’s such a huge transition, it’s such a difference.

It killed me because it’s yet another affirmation of how far he’s come.

It killed me because it’s a true testament to their level of respect and friendship that he handled her emotions this way.

His words were not defensive or judgmental they were a gentle reminder. They were a warning. They were advising Belle that while Emma was tempted by the darkness it had been barely two months for her while Rumple has conceivably had centuries.

This moment was small but so powerful and it said so much about Killian’s transformation, his headspace, and his relationship with Belle.

All this

Well, if you’re concerned he’s here, there’s one way to know for sure. Use the dagger. Command him to come face you. If he’s here, he has no choice.

He's trying to kill Emma.

ONCE UPON A TIME 6.04, Strange Case

ONCE UPON A TIME 6.02, A Bitter Draught

belle french + saving killian from rumplestiltskin: 2x11 vs 4x12

(credit)

what a combo 😍

ONCE UPON A TIME 5.02, The Price

there’s one more thing

This really just wrecks me on a lot of levels, their friendship. Especially in an episode where Belle is presented with pretty much iron-clad confirmation that Rumple will never rise above his demons and become the man she knows he could be. He will never be able to be there for her in a supportive, healthy, loving way. He will never embrace the goodness that she believed to be in him for so many years. 

One of Belle’s greatest strengths comes in her belief in people, in her ability to see beyond the darkness that they are wrapped in and discover the good heart inside. She is smart and supportive, but most of all hopeful for better people that create a better world. Her hope encourages people to change and grow, but as we learned with her story arc with Rumple, that hope can only do so much. The other person has to truly want to change, want to be the better person. And Rumple just does not. 

Which is why Killian Jones and Belle French’s friendship is so flingflangin’ important. 

Hook and Rumple have always been foils of each other, and it continues with Belle. They both started in a bad place with her, they both let darkness consume them to the point where she was hurt in each of their dark quests. BUT. Whereas Rumple only continued to hurt her, time after time, Hook did not. As he began to reform – genuinely reform – he made atoning with her a big part of that. He actively worked to earn her forgiveness, support her efforts and protect her from harm. And when she told him she forgave him, he wasn’t ready to quite believe that, but you could see that her hope in him inspired him to keep working to become the good man he wanted (and she knew) he could be. 

Flipside, this friendship helped show Belle that her hope in people is not always misplaced, that it is valid and powerful. Killian Jones proved that people could overcome the darkness of their past if they wanted to, if they accepted people’s help and faith in them. He showed her one of her greatest strengths helped him to find his strength again, and from that blossomed just the loveliest of friendships that will only to continue to make them both happier people and me a weepy mess. 

Viva la Captain Book, y’all.

ONCE UPON A TIME 4.07, The Snow Queen

Belle and Killian are beautiful and noble toward each other. Despite their shared past they are so worried about the other well being and have a sincere conversation about redemption and past mistakes. They have such a good progression since the first time Killian attacked Belle and the best arc from enemies to friends.

Top 15 Once Upon A Time 6A Moments (as voted by our followers) ↳ #14 Captain Beauty in 6x04