Modern AU.

I want to address that I'm not taking prompts directly for this anymore. Occasionally if I don't get a long enough prompt to fit as it's own one shot, I'll post it here. But I'm not going to take requests for this series on a regular basis

Mary Margaret shifts in her short red dress, the fabric irritating her fair skin. It's going to leave a rash, that's attractive.

She looks around the room at the crowd of room waiting for her and sighs, sloshing her martini glass in hand. She hates martinis, she'd much rather down a beer at any point. But the producers say that martinis look better in a girl's hand.

Why did she agree to this again?

Oh right, her father. Leopold Blanchard was a high level executive of Fairytale Productions. They wanted to create a dating show to rival the other networks but needed a test bachelorette. So, they picked his daughter. Mary Margaret had said "fuck no" at first. Then her father told her if she did this and dumped the fiancé after the press died down, he'd agree to pay for her new condo. She couldn't turn down the offer. Not on her teacher salary. So, she put on a smile and was trying to figure out who she hated the least.

If she could send someone home right away, it'd for sure be Victor Whale. A slime ball from the minute he stepped out of his limo, Mary Margaret just had a bad feeling. He wouldn't stop following her around, interrupted her conversations with other men and kept bragging that he was a doctor. She had wanted to make him leave the first night, but the producers claimed she had to keep him around for "drama". So, now she just avoided him like the plague while he instigated the other men.

There was Killian Jones. Piercing blue eyes, Navy vet. He had shown up in his dress uniform and a guitar, serenading Mary Margaret whenever she wished. When the cameras went away, she texted Regina and found out that he was an aspiring musician…with a girlfriend named Milah. He was doing this to push his music career. Another one she wasn't allowed to vote off for "drama purposes".

Harry "Herc" Olympus wasn't too bad. A lumberjack from Kansas, he was kind and liked that Mary Margaret was into archery. Apparently, he was too. According to the producers, he was the "fan favorite". Cute, sweet, polite. He'd make someone a fine husband, just not her.

She needed a break. As the guys debated who would ultimately win her heart like she had no choice in the matter, she snuck out of the brick mansion overlooking a gorgeous pool that she wasn't allowed to swim in. Mary Margaret made her way down the steps, far away from the cameras and the noise of the gathering. She dug through her beaded black clutch and pulled out a pack of cigarettes and a lighter. She lit one up, taking a long drag. Drinking was okay on air, but not smoking for some reason.

"Can I bum one of those?"

Mary Margaret stiffened, wondering which guy had followed her. She turned and slowly lightened, smiling when she saw it was David. Over six feet tall, shaggy blonde hair and blue eyes, he wasn't one of the many fawning for her attention. He was on the camera crew.

"I thought you were Victor for a second," she said, holding out the pack.

"I don't know if I should be offended or not," David replied, taking one.

Mary Margaret chuckled. "He's everywhere I turn, it's annoying."

"If it helps he's a pain for us too, yelled at me for not filming his good side."

She rolled her eyes and David held out the cigarette, so she lit it for him. "What I wouldn't give to vote him out."

"Any idea when they'll allow it?"

"Final four."

"Ew. I'm sorry."

She shrugs. "I sort of signed up for it."

They each take a drag of their respective cigarettes, staring out at the pool.

"Who do you think you'll pick?" David asked after a bit.

"I honestly don't know. Herc, maybe? He's the most down to Earth. But it won't last long."

"What do you mean?"

"I don't like any of these guys enough to date them, let alone marry. Once press for the show is done, I'm breaking up with the guy."

David raised an eyebrow. "Why do it at all then?"

"My dad asked me to."

"Ah. Hollywood politics."

"You get it?"

"Sort of. My mom tried to become a singer for years and used to drag me on auditions. I learned about to the business along the way."

"I take she didn't have much luck."

"Not really. She ended up in her own swing band, they did gigs and stuff but never the real thing. It's how I got interested in camera work, I used to record all their performances."

Soon, they're sitting by the pool, David showing her videos from Ruth's old band and some of their other work. They talked about their interests. David wants to make documentaries, took this job for the resume but doesn't like it. Mary Margaret told him about the kids she works with as a teacher. She's never liked being in the spotlight. For once, she could tell someone how uncomfortable she felt.

As they talked, Mary Margaret felt the most comfortable she had since she started the show. David was kind and not because he wanted anything from her. They could just talk, without someone yelling cut and telling them what to stay instead.

Eventually, David looked back at the house. "They're gonna come looking for us and we're not supposed to talk to you alone."

"That's a stupid rule."

"I know, but they don't want you falling for one of us instead."

Too late for that.

Mary Margaret smirked. "Yeah, that'd be a shame."

David smiled. "Tomorrow they'll be filming the guys' diaries at 7:30 AM. I don't start until 9. Fancy a hike?"

"I'd love that."