I'm really excited to finally post this, as well as nervous! I've taken a few liberties with the Hang the DJ story and added a couple of my own twists, turns and backstories. Thank you to Shay and Lindsay for reading this over. Enjoy!


Beep.

It's a comfortable day in Misthaven; the temperature is just right, perfectly complemented by an occasional breeze. The landscapes are perfectly sculpted, with clear lakes and greenery, with forests so picturesque it's almost straight out of a brochure. For his first week here, it has been… well, perfect, and the only thing missing from Robin's current existence is someone to share all this with.

After all, it's what he's here for.

He digs into his jacket to retrieve the device that, essentially, controls his love life. Also called Misthaven, but known colloquially as 'coach', its existence is purely to guide those within the system. A system which guarantees its users the perfect spouse and a chance at true love and a happy ending.

"Coach?" he calls into the device, stopping to sit on a bench to gather his thoughts.

Robin, you have a match. Meet at Gold's at 7pm.

He grins. His first match. "Can you tell me anything about her?" he asks, excited, expectant.

No, I am disallowed to reveal the identity of your match. Please be at Gold's for 7pm.

That leaves me with little to work with, he thinks with an internal sigh. The blue suit will have to do.


Regina's a beautiful woman. She knows that, repeats it to herself as she stares at her reflection in the mirror, but what good is physical beauty when you can't find the one? In the real world, she knows that she's got no end of suitors, but, after her last relationship, she's tired of just testing the waters over and over. She wants certainty.

She wants true love. And the Misthaven Experience seems to be the best way she can find it.

Tonight, she's taking that first step towards true love. For once, it's within her grasp and she's not letting it out of her sight.


Gold's by name, Gold's by nature. It's a decadently decorated establishment, chandeliers hanging over every booth, the lighting offering the perfect ambiance to encourage a flourishing relationship. Regina, in her excitement, arrives fifteen minutes early and, as the waiter shows her to her booth, she simmers with nervous energy. Instead of staring meaninglessly at the empty seat opposite her, she fiddles with a loose strand on her purse, starting to tug on it, when she hears a greeting.

"Hello, milady." Regina looks up to meet the gaze of her temporary lover. His eyes are captivating and it's just as well she's sitting down, for that, along with his accent, has her heart stuttering.

It takes a second, but Regina shakes her head, clears her throat and stands, thrusting her hand out to greet her date.

"Milady? That's a little formal, isn't it?" she quips as they shake, a smile spreading across her face, one which he, thankfully, returns.

"Perhaps, but I don't know your name, so…" he trails off and she nods, amused.

"Mmm. Well, as long as you don't expect me to refer to you as milord, I think we're good." The two stand there looking at one another before realising that they probably should sit. "Unless you'd like to stand for the whole of the meal, but I don't think that's going to be particularly comfortable."

Robin holds his hand out, indicating for Regina to sit as he does. "First time?" he asks and Regina nods. "Me too. I sort of don't know what to expect."

"Mmm. Except the obvious," she points out. "We have nothing left to lose, right?"

"Right." Robin looks her up and down, yet Regina finds his gaze appreciative, rather than lecherous. "You look stunning, if I may say so myself."

"You may," she smirks. "You clean up pretty well yourself, my dear. Blue really is your colour." It really brings out his eyes and damn, are they mesmerising.

"And black is yours," Robin returns. This suit is a crowd-pleaser.

"Ah, well I've always said that," the brunette darts back.

Robin hums then, his eyes darting around the table, yet he can't find what he's looking for. "No menu?"

"Oh, I haven't seen one," she replies, looking at the other booths, but when her dinner is served at that moment - a chili salmon steak with wild rice and a side salad, alongside an aged bottle of pinot noir, she realises what's just happened. "Ah, I see it's not only our relationships that are decided for us," Regina muses as Robin's dish is also placed in front of him. "Not a clove of garlic in sight, though I think I'd of preferred a big, juicy cheeseburger." Robin's brows shoot up into his hairline at that. "What, didn't think a woman like I would have a penchant for burgers?" She throws him a sly grin. "Oh, you have much to learn." She likes this man already; he's handsome, British (a plus to her), plus he seems… honest. She doesn't know what gives her that impression, but it's something her gut just won't shake.

"To be honest, no. You don't look like a burger queen, though now you say it, I think the title does suit you." They both laugh at that and Robin finds he really likes it. She is beautiful, no doubt about it, but her laugh is so infectious.

"Just as well I like chicken tagine, isn't it?" he laughs and he's about to pick up his fork when Regina reaches over the table, placing her hand over his.

"Wait, before we start…" She pulls her hand back and digs into her purse, pulling out her Coach. "I believe we have to both look at this." She turns the gadget in her hand as Robin retrieves his from his jacket.

He looks at the device's interface, which states that both parties must be in range and must have their fingerprints scanned at the same time in order to reveal an accurate reading. He goes to press his thumb to the screen, but he pauses.

"Wait," he says, Regina freezing in place. "Don't you think we should know one another's names before we find out the expiry date on our relationship? Isn't that how most relationships normally start?"

The brunette laughs again, her shoulders shaking as her head does and Robin's captivated. "Well, this is hardly most relationships, is it? We don't live our lives by the seconds in the real world. Normally," she winks. "Besides, wouldn't it be fun to do this all kind of…" she waves her hands in the air as she searches for the right word, "... anonymously?" Although he doesn't say anything, Robin's face says it all - he's not in agreement. "Oh, fine then," she grins. "What's your name?"

"Robin Locksley." Regina nods and repeats his name. "Like what you hear?"

She hums in affirmation. "Rolls nicely off the tongue." Her teeth sink into her bottom lip and God, she's ramped up the flirting tonight. "Regina Mills."

Robin slaps his hand down on the table with a guffaw, yet Regina doesn't even flinch. "Regina Mills. Regina. The reigning queen! Now, isn't that apt! Seeing as you're the Burger Queen…"

"You'll find it's even more relevant when I don't get my way," she jokes, enjoying this encounter more and more by the second. "Talking of which, the timer?"

"Ah yes, I would have forgotten," he says and after a short countdown, they both press their thumbs to the screen, watching as the machine calibrates.

Twelve hours.

Robin's face immediately drops to a frown, an expression mirrored by Regina. "Twelve hours? Is that all?" he asks, staring at the device as if it would magically change, except all it does is start to tick down. Fifty-nine, fifty-eight, fifty-seven… "How do you get to know someone in twelve hours?"

Regina picks up her fork. "A lot of fast talking, fast eating and pure listening. Eat up, Locksley. We've got some acquainting to do."


Robin remembers from the induction what happens next; the couple is transported to a comfortable residential area within the compound, where they will live together for the duration of their relationship. In this case, very short relationship. Other than that, all other actions are their own.

It's she that has been entrusted with the keys to their new home, but it's pretty dark, save for the moonlight and dimmed sconce next to the front door. She rattles with the chain, cursing gently as she struggles to find the right one, but it's Robin who takes the set from her, nimble fingers expertly locating the correct key and pushing the door open for the two of them.

As they wander in, the lights flick on, the fireplace roars to life and soft romantic melodies play quietly in the distance. It's all too…

"Perfect," Regina breathes, familiarising herself with her new surroundings. "Very tasteful. Perfect temperature."

As Regina wanders the apartment, inspecting the amenities, Robin waits until she's out of earshot to whip Coach out from his pocket. He knows he has free will, but it's that free will that has him internally panicking.

"Coach. Coach, what do I do?"

There are no mandatory actions for you.

"But what happens next?" he whispers, almost frantically. "Do we have to have sex?"

You are free to do as you wish within the allotted time.

Great. Robin checks the timer again - nine hours - and takes a deep breath. He's been out of the dating game for far too long, so he decides to just go with the natural flow of the evening. Whatever that is.

Regina inspects the apartment, ending with the bedroom which, lo and behold, only has one bed. "Oh." Robin hears Regina's exclamation from above, so he climbs the stairs to join her.

"What's…" Robin enters the room, noticing exactly what she's referring to - there's only one bed. Large, certainly big enough for the both of them, but they've only just met. It seems a little forward to suggest they sleep together. "Oh. Well, it's okay, you take the bed and I'll take the sofa."

"No!" Regina protests, shaking her head. "It's big enough for the both of us!"

Ever the altruist, Robin insists. "The sofa looks very, very comfortable!" He heads to it, folding his limbs up and onto the cushions. "See," he grits out, knowing full well that this is ridiculously uncomfortable already and barely habitable for an hour, let alone a night, "Comfortable!"

Regina rolls her eyes goodnaturedly. "Come on Locksley, get ready for bed."


Regina stares herself down in the mirror again. She's in a comfortable, pretty modest seafoam silk nightie that would entice most men into her grasp, but that's not what she's going for here. Coach sits on the sink, reminding her, as she washes her face, that they have eight hours left together, of which most of them will involve sleep. It's now that she's wanting to cheat the system, to either jump the city limits or stop time altogether, because this feels right, no matter the limited time. However, no-one knows what lies behind that wall and, according to the horror stories she has heard whispered between others in the system, she's much better off staying here and letting technology run its course.

Robin sits on the bed in his boxers, staring at Coach, saying nothing, watching the seconds tick away. He really likes this woman, although they don't know a great deal about one another and, at any other time, any other place, in any other realm, they'd likely have time to unpick one another, piece by piece, grow to appreciate one another and see where time really takes them. He shakes his head, placing Coach securely on the bedside table as he lies back, staring at the ceiling, his fingers linked across his belly. He closes his eyes, yet it's barely a minute before Regina's back in the room.

"Eight hours," Regina states plainly, placing her Coach like Robin's before climbing under the blankets. "Is there any point in even getting to know one another?" She sighs sadly, putting a hand to her head; maybe knowing less will make this separation a little easier to take. "Is it always like this?"

"I hope not," he replies. "It seems like so much to fit into a short time."

"I honestly don't think it's going to be a sequence of twelve-hour relationships," Regina muses, pushing a tuft of hair from her face. "That's too much like speed dating. I'm hoping for the best."

It's silent then and just like what Robin is used to, he finds, but he's determined to break through the wall of negativity Regina is starting to build up around herself that he speaks. "What made you try Misthaven?"

Regina turns onto her side and props her head up on her elbow. "Daniel," she says simply.

"Daniel?" Robin replies inquisitively, turning to mirror Regina's position.

She hums. "The love of my life," she whispers. "I found him in bed with my best friend. After years of relationships that just kept failing… I met him and I thought that would be it, that I'd marry him and live happily ever after." She scoffs at herself, at her naïveté. "Real life is not a fairytale."

"That it isn't," Robin agrees. "Being here, what have we got to lose? My Marian died suddenly," he tells her, expecting the sharp, shocked inhale that she gives. "Hit by a car. I was told she didn't suffer, that it was very quick. That happened three years ago."

"I'm sorry, Robin," she whispers, reaching for his arm, squeezing the bicep. "That's terrible."

"I miss her every day. She had always said that she wanted me to be happy, no matter what, even if, for whatever reason, we could no longer be together. I couldn't stand the loneliness anymore and indeed, what have …"

"... we got to lose," they say together, Regina nodding in agreement. "Finding the one is so tedious, it's just so… convenient to be told exactly who we're meant to be with. I just hope it doesn't take too long."

"I also hope I don't meet anyone I really like that makes me regret being in this system," he responds, glancing at Regina. "Though I've got a feeling I may have already."

She gives him a close-lipped smile. "Who knows what the system has in store for us after these twelve hours, hmm?" She moves onto her back and stares at the ceiling again.

They fall quiet then and they're not sure just how long the silence lasts; it could have been minutes, it could have been hours, but they are both aware that the other is awake. Not wanting to disturb the calm between them, Regina shifts her hand ever slightly, her pinky brushing against Robin's as a test. Neither had realised just how much they had craved human contact, even contact as simple as a brush of the fingers and, overcome by such a revelation, Robin curls his fingers around Regina's, squeezing them gently.

"Regina?" Robin whispers after a while of simple hand-holding. She hums in response. "Can I hold you?"

Regina's head turns as she stares at him, his kind, handsome face, the eyes which almost plead with her for comfort and she knows that she needs it too. It might make goodbye hard to take, hard to say, but for now, this is their relationship; they have free will. One night of peaceful sleep will be worth it.

She nods and Robin moves closer, fitting his chest to her back, slipping his arm over her waist. It's soothing, she finds, to have a warm body against hers after years of casual flings and mistakes in the pursuit of true love.

Why are they only allowed twelve hours?


A minute is left on the counter as the two of them wait outside the apartment for their transport. They'd slept well, had cuddled a little when they both awoke, ignoring for a few precious moments, the lack of time hanging over them. Now though, with less than sixty seconds to go, time seems to speed up.

"Robin, thank you for last night," Regina says, turning to look at him.

"Thank you, Regina," he parrots, reaching for her hand, just as the night before. "Take care of yourself, okay? Maybe we'll meet again."

"God, I hope so," she breathes, stepping forward to embrace him, the counter hitting zero as they hold one another. Though they have no desire to let go, they have to say goodbye and face their next relationship, whenever Misthaven decides that will happen.

Robin makes a conscious effort to not look back as they walk away.

Regina glances over her shoulder at his retreating body, with an unshakeable feeling that this actually is not goodbye, but see you soon.

The Misthaven Experience is a big place, however, and she's not entirely sure she'll be that lucky.