#swanfire month 2022

[elphabasthropp]

SWANFIRE MONTH 2022

day 15 • tallahassee or manhattan

[swanfireprincessmydear]

One of the best months of my life!

[deadlyflames]

Swanfire Month Day 14: Classic fairy-tale that reminds you of Swanfire: Orpheus and Eurydice

Emma was a poor girl. You might say she was touched by the gods. She would to bring the world back into tune, and fix what was wrong.

Baelfire was a hungry young boy. A runaway from everywhere he’d ever been. He was no stranger to world, no stranger to the wind.

It's a love song. It's a tale of a love from long ago.

It's a sad song. We keep singing even so.

It's an old song. It's an old tale from way back when.

And we're gonna sing it again and again.

This one is a bit of a weird connection. You can blame my obsession with Hadestown. I drew a lot of comparisons between Orpheus and Eurydice and Emma and Neal. Both work in either role. But I went with this interpretation.

I have this very specific image of a Swanfire version of the Underworld storyline. Like, it’s so easy for me to picture that arc being done for Swanfire. I mean, Rumplestilskin would obviously help Emma get to the Underworld for his son. Henry would follow for his dad. Regina would follow for Henry and Snowing would follow for their daughter. Even Hook would go with them for Baelfire.

But I think a really interesting way they could have used the Swanfire relationship in the Underworld was for Emma to do the Orpheus test. Because it makes so much sense for them.

(I think that’s what they were trying to reference with the true love test? Maybe? but it fell kinda flat in my opinion, but that’s a whole other thing)

Because it’s a test of trust and with their history, that trust was shaky, and still in the process of being rebuilt.

Just picture it though.

Emma walking through the dark.

She can’t look behind her and, for added uncertainty, Neal can’t speak either.

You can hear the echoing of footsteps and you can see the shadow behind her, but it’s uncertain. Maybe it’s a trick. Maybe it’s not.

Maybe he only said he would be behind her because he wanted to get her out of the Underworld.

She’s talking about all the hurt she felt after he abandoned her. All the pain they’ve gone through since they reunited. How he broke her heart and how she’s not even sure if he’s there now.

From Emma’s perspective, her and Neal are always being separated by powers beyond their control. When he left her when they were young, because of her destiny and his father’s curse. When he fell through the portal after being shot. When the curse was erased and they were ripped from each other again.

Why should this be any different?

It takes all her strength not to look behind her. To take that leap and believe that this will work.

When she’s just about to exit the underworld and return to the world above, she hits that pivotal fork in the road.

She can let her doubt take route, and turn to look behind. She can loose him one final time, and this time will be for good. But it will be the last time she gets her heart broken.

Or she can continue on. She can reach across all that hurt between them, and put her trust in him once again. She can open her heart up, even though letting him in risks the chance of losing him again.

The trust vs doubt dichotomy would be so interesting to tackle. Because that kind of blind faith is something that Emma has always struggled with, and it would be especially relevant to her relationship with Neal. It either ends in tragedy or a happy ending. I would lean towards happy ending because I feel like Emma choosing trust would be a good moment of growth.

Xxxx

Though the tragedy angle would break me. Can y’all freaking imagine. Emma turning back and Neal is there. She’s stunned and horrified.

“It’s you?”

He’s shocked but gives her a broken, comforting smile before he fades away.

“It’s me.”

Emma’s next arc is about the aftermath of guilt and grief. And then we all cry forever.

Anyway, sorry this part of the post was totally incoherent. The Underworld plot was a total missed opportunity. Hadestown is great, listen to it if you wanna cry.

[justanoutlawfic]

~Kierstan White

Swanfire Month Day 23 | Quote that reminds you of Swanfire

[mystical-flute]

SWANFIRE MONTH DAY 15:

"Tallahassee" or "Manhattan"?

Look, don't get me wrong, I love the adorable meet cute they had in Tallahassee, but Manhattan just has so much good stuff in it. Meeting again after 10 years, Emma's phone call with Snow, David's iconic line about Thanksgiving sucking because the family tree is a clusterfuck, Gold confronting Emma because he knows she's lying, Henry and Neal finding out they're father and son. Their scene on the fire escape.

But my favorite scene is when Neal works up the courage to defend Emma from Gold, even if it means seeing him after 300 years, and still being angry at him and scared of magic.

This episode is just *chef's kiss* in every way.

[mariaalrox-blog]

SWANFIRE MONTH 2022

Day 18: Scene that broke your heart the most

this scene of going home, because is here where starts the worst for Neal (and it's just a little after of when Emma decides to go on the date with Neal, with a little help from David)

in my opinion, it still doesn't have sense why Neal couldn't go with Emma and Henry. He wasn't cursed.

Ok, he was of the enchanted forest and even little Alex is supposed to come back to the enchanted forest because she was conceived there. But then, what happens with Lilith? Lilith didn't appear in the series yet, but she is there, out of the town, and she was conceived in the enchanted forest, and that doesn't affect her?

If at first, the fact of Neal couldn't go with Emma and Henry doesn't have sense, with the next season, it has less sense.

Besides, the way in which Neal insisted on saving his father in the enchanted forest doesn't have sense too. His father died as a hero, sacrificing himself, Neal wouldn't take that away, especially using magic.

[tinkerbelldetective]

Swanfire Month: Traditions

In the Swan-Cassidy Home, there were no missed birthdays. 

For Henry’s birthday, it switches each year between Emma and Regina’s houses. Henry gets presents from what seems like everybody, there’s no end in sight to the amount of buttercream frosting and lit candles, and now he has his family, all of the people he loves, looking at him warmly as they sing happy birthday.

Emma’s birthdays are no longer quiet, they aren’t single cupcakes or forlorn wishes. Neal bakes her a cake (with help from Snow, who shows up at the crack of dawn to wish her daughter a happy birthday). The cake gets crazier each year, sometimes adorned with candles, sometimes with sparklers. Neal greets Emma in the morning with donuts with googly eyes and silly kisses. Her birthdays aren’t lonely, but they aren’t loud anymore either, somehow just the right kind of busy, the one that doesn’t feel like busyness at all. It always ends with Neal gently kissing her forehead and softly singing her happy birthday.

Neal’s birthday is a party. It’s food and laughter, crazy board games, and wacky party games. He likes to play football in the woods. Emma rolls her eyes at his antics, but she adores him. When Rumple hugs Neal it’s full of tears. Neal’s favorite gifts are hugs and hot fudge sundaes. His birthday is on the calendar with a winky face. Many times, his birthday presents aren’t given to him, but rather experiences he shares with his family, he’ll plan a day where it’s just him, Emma, and Henry. He wants his family, and he wants to share the love.

For Neal and Emma, their birthdays are never missed, and always are filled with reminders, from each other, that they aren’t alone anymore.

[idkmybffjillyy]

Swanfire Month 2022 - Day 3 Song that reminds you of Emma and Neal / Day 22 Emma and Neal's favorite song

so i couldn't pick just one so i went overboard and made a playlist of songs of swanfire vibes (since luckily i tagged a lot well enough when i've posted about individual songs previously) - its songs that remind me of their story/relationship in canon but also in fanon/popular AU's, and also a few songs they could have listened to when they were together / songs one of them would have had in their music collection because it reminded them of the other one. disclaimer: order of the playlist is probably not great and i gave us trying to shuffle the too many taylor and ed songs so a bunch are hanging at the end.

[ljf613]

Swanfire Month Day 13: What made you start to ship Swanfire?

Short answer? Henry.

Long answer? I can honestly say I was rooting for this ship from the very first episode. I was still in middle school when I started watching OUAT. I had only just started getting interested in love stories, and was still finding my niche. I had a soft spot for first love, for second-chance romance, and while I knew having a kid together didn't automatically make two people soulmates, it meant there was something, some story to be told, something that deserved a chance. So when Emma said that there was a father, one who "doesn't even know," my brain heard, "somewhere in this world there is a man who is still alive and has no idea he has a child. This guy is definitely showing up at some point and there will be DRAMA and it's going to be great!"

As early as episode six or seven, when Graham was trying to figure himself out and seemed like he was about to get together with Emma, my only thoughts on the subject were, "I mean, they're cute together and all, but I'm still holding out hope for Henry's dad." (And while Graham's death was tragic, part of me was relieved because it meant less chance of love-triangle nonsense when mystery dad did show up. I've never cared for love triangles.) Then came episode nine, when Emma lied to Henry about his dad. It was immediately obvious to me that this dead fireman business was a lie, especially since she'd indicated in the pilot that he was still alive. If she was lying, then there was something she was trying to hide. So when Emma said, "Henry's father was no hero and trust me, he does not need to know the real story," what I heard was, "this man was the love of my life and a decade later I'm still absolutely devastated just thinking about him and I can't bear to talk about him with anyone, even Henry." I continued to hold out hope for the rest of the season (pleasantly surprised that season one let its main character actually stay single for a while, which I'd rarely seen in a show like this before), and all through the beginning of season two. And then came "Tallahassee." "Tallahasse," which just served to confirm everything I'd believed from the beginning: that Henry's dad was someone Emma had loved, that she probably still loved him, that he was a good guy who'd genuinely cared about her, that he was likely still crazy about her, and that he would be showing up eventually to find her. From then until "Manhattan," I was on tetherhooks, waiting for him to show up in Storybrooke and get drawn into the drama. (I think there was a point where I thought he might arrive while Emma and Henry were out of town with Gold, and everyone else was going to be so confused as to who this new stranger was, all while he would hear everyone talking about Emma's son and have questions of his own.) Once Neal was finally in the main storyline? Well, he very quickly became my favorite character (if he hadn't been already). And every scene he had with Emma just told me more and more that I'd been right from the beginning: these two were meant to be.

[orngtrs]

SWANFIRE MONTH DAY 30: Their Happy Ending

I had to join in because I have so many opinions on this! But I’ll make it short. I think once they got back together they accidentally got pregnant (again) and Henry is a teenager at this point and is so embarrassed that his parents can’t figure life out but love that his parents are finally together. So he will make due. They all live around family so that’s I guess the magical realm? I stopped watching after Emma started dating he who must not be named so not sure. But I can see them fitting back together in theirs lives like when they were younger. Emma can’t believe they actually did it, had a family together and Neal is just speechless that he gets a second chance with Emma and is able to be there for his children. So yeah, they have Henry and a little girl whose as head strong as her mama but has her daddy’s grin. So needless to say both grandparents are powerless to her. Her name is a Cory and her dad calls her Corny Cory and she hates it as a teen but loves her dad, so she just rolls her eyes at him. Emma tries to help the poor girl but Neal can’t help it, it’s his little girl! But once the children are old enough and are gone being whoever they want to be Emma and Neal one morning realize they have nothing else to do in the enchanted realm. They are sitting at their kitchen table drinking coffee and Emma looks out a window, pondering what to do next. Neal suggested they move to Tallahassee. She turns to him and asks if he is sure and if he means it, his reply is “Always.” Nothing will stop them now! And so they move to Tallahassee and their children love their new house and their grandchildren love it even more and I just picture them sitting on a beach drinking cheap beer in their 60’s proudly looking at each other like “we finally effing did it.”

[sassyandclassy94]

SwanFire Month Day 24 - Their biggest shipper

Prince Charming/King David/David Nolan

I was going to say Snow but you know what? I’d have to say Charming. Why? Because of the respect he gains for Baelfire.

In the beginning, Charming was unsure of Bae. He always had a great relationship with Emma and when he found out Emma had a secret boyfriend and that it had been going on for two years he felt betrayed and hurt by his daughter. Because of that, he blamed Baelfire and started out extremely hard on him.

David blamed Baelfire for “stealing his daughter”, and didn’t like that he wasn’t the only man in Emma’s life anymore. BUT, as he quickly saw Baelfire taking responsibility for his mistake, and right away wanting to do the right thing (marry Emma and raise their baby together), he had a slight change of heart toward him. Fast forward a couple months later, Charming would see that the two really do love each other and, as Baelfire is being taught the skills he needs to become a ‘royal’ and sees the young man’s dedication and determination, he gains some respect for him. Yes he teases him and roughs him up a little but, as the months go by, after Baelfire decides to become a Mist Haven soldier, Charming gains a little more respect. Eventually years go by, SwanFire’s family grows and as Baelfire balances his duties as a husband, father, and soldier, Charming realizes that he not only respects him, but loves him as if he was his own son.

[elphabasthropp]

SWANFIRE MONTH 2022

day 21 • favorite episode

you know, there's not a ton that i remember about my father that doesn't suck, but he used to tell me that there are no coincidences. everything that happens, happens by design, and there's nothing we can do about it. forces greater than us conspire to make it happen. fate destiny, whatever you wanna call it. the point is, maybe we met for a reason. maybe something good came from us being together.

[swanfireprincessmydear]

Swanfire Month Day 14 | Classic Fairy-Tale that Reminds You of Swanfire -> The Princess Bride

When he was saying, “As you wish,”

What he meant was, “I love you.”

This film is perfect for them! True love disappears only to come back later, from the dead no less. It fits the Swanfire narrative perfectly.

Okay, okay, I know that this isn’t technically a “classic” fairytale but I have read that anything over 25 years old is considered “classic,” so I think it counts.

[deadlyflames]

Swanfire Month Day 23: A quote that reminds you of Swanfire

“It’s pathetic. I knew I did from the first moment we met. It was...not love at first sight exactly, but - familiarity. Like: oh, hello, it's you. It's going to be you. Game over.” Mhairi McFarlane

I am of the opinion that, for Neal, it was love at first sight.

I mean, from his perspective, he wakes up cold and hungry in the back of a car. And all of a sudden, he sees this pretty girl carjack him with nothing but a crowbar, screwdriver and a rock. You can bet he was in love.

(Im gonna be busy the next couple of weeks so I probably won’t be able to make much more content for Swanfire Month, but it’s been really fun! This was one of my first ships and it’s so nice that it still gets some love 10 years later. I’m excited to see what you guys post for the rest of the days)

[justanoutlawfic]

Swanfire Month Day 24 | What character characters do you think would be most supportive of Swanfire?

I think there are many people who would be very supportive of them. Henry wanted them together very much. Gold called out his son still “held a torch” for Emma.

But I went with Snowing. From the start, they gave him a chance. They gently nudged these two together. All Snow and David wanted was for Emma to be happy and they knew she was with Neal. And we all know Snow’s planned their wedding since Neal stepped off that pirate ship.

I think to me the real reason why they stand out is they had every reason to hate and distrust Neal. He abandoned their daughter and let her take the fall. But they could see the good in him. They never once held him being Rumple’s son against him. Snowing is the epitome of true love and they saw this coming a mile away.

[mystical-flute]

"Is this what you really want?" "What I really want is you."

Swanfire Month Day 11: Favorite Swanfire quote.