So this idea that after eight years Hal “didn’t know” anything about James and the Hamiltons is just – wild to me and having spoken to @intolerablexsacrifice it is pretty much canon on this blog that Hal knew. Which then leads to the question of – if Hal knew why did he seem confused at times, or like he didn’t know – and why would he knowingly trip into the one thing certain to get Flint to snap on him?

We’ve established that when something is important for Hal to remember, he takes measures to make sure that he does. And when he learned Flint’s backstory, he did take down some very basic notes on it just so the most salient points wouldn’t slide off on him. 

The truth is though – it wasn’t that important at the time. The fact Flint was a homosexualist who was exiled from the Navy on account of his practices with a young and idealistic lord meant – jack shit to Hal in the long run. Who Flint loved, how he fucked, had nothing to do with his capacity as a captain. It had nothing to do with his skills in leadership or sailing, no impact on his capabilities as a fighter or a negotiator – so why hold on to it? 

This is why his realization and understanding of Flint as a very Dramatic Gay tends to be pretty consistent and repetitive. He’s encountering that realization anew rather frequently. Dude didn’t even write it down, to be perfectly frank with you. His notes, if anyone deciphered them at all, would simply come down to love lost, only family is Barlow, very angry at England and admiralty for it. 

Which, really – what more does he need to remember? It paints a clear enough picture, after all. This does mean that Flint’s secrets are safe with Hal – but it also means he Knows Everything but never uses it, never mentions it, and tends to trip over it unintentionally in ways that look planned BECAUSE he knows. 

Except he doesn’t, because he plum forgot.

Sorry Flint >: