prompt: two extras have to sit across from each other and pretend to converse on the set of a movie. fake conversation turns to real conversation and they are really into each other and the director calls cut because they are distracting from the actual characters who are supposed to be the ones making eyes and looking like they're falling in love, not a couple of random extras

then there's you

"So," Ruby says with a smile, holding her clipboard close to her chest as she leans down. "You two are just going to make some light conversation while the main leads come strolling past you. Then, as they hit their marks up by that tree, you're going to get up and head…" Ruby spins on her heel and points in a general direction. "That way. Keep it casual. Keep it light. Don't draw too much attention to yourselves. Have fun! If you have any questions, I'll be… around."

Emma opens her mouth and narrows her eyes at her roommate, watching as she scampers off to meet up with another cluster of extras. She turns reluctantly to her partner, a man with a devilish smirk and sparkling blue eyes. His hair is a wild mess and he's dressed in plaid and jeans.

She wonders how he got the part. Surely, he wasn't tricked into this by his roommate too.

("Emma! Come on! You need to get out and stop thinking about work so much. And you owe me for those times I lied about where you were to that guy."

"Ugh, fine.")

"What's your name, love?" he asks.

Emma's stomach twists when he speaks. He has an accent. Of course he does.

"Swan," she spits out, "Emma Swan."

His grin widens, teeth showing as he chuckles. "Good to meet you, Swan. The name's Killian Jones."

He holds his hand out and she shakes it, staring at him for only as long as their handshake lasts before she glances away nervously. She doesn't want to be doing this. But Ruby had been so excited and she'd promised her food, which she hasn't delivered on yet, and she's been waiting on set for about three hours now.

"First time?" he asks, drawing her eyes back to him.

She blinks and then nods. "Yeah. I'm not actually an actor, or whatever. Ruby's my roommate. She kind of tricked me into doing this for her."

Killian smiles again, tossing his right leg over his left and leaning back a little on the bench that they share. Emma glances away when she sees the main leads, David and Mary Margaret, starting to practice walking.

"How about you?" she asks after taking a deep breath of the early morning.

He tilts his head at her a little and shrugs. "This is my… twelfth time as an extra. I've been hoping to land a more substantial role, but… it's tough when you've got a business on the side."

She nods. It's then that someone calls for quiet. Emma glances over and sees Ruby smiling excitedly, throwing her thumbs up. It makes Emma roll her eyes, shifting on the bench to face Killian more.

She leans her elbow on the back of the bench and presses her fist to the side of her head, smiling a little at him because he's nice. He isn't all that bad looking, either.

"Action!"

Emma takes a soft breath. "So… what do you do?"

Killian shifts so he's sitting as she is, his eyes sparkling even more than before, and his smile wry. "I work at the docks. I take people out on cruises around the harbor."

Emma hums. "That sounds…"

"Touristy?" he offers. It makes her laugh. Probably a little more than it should, but it makes her laugh.

She hears the actors getting closer and she bites her lip to keep from erupting again. She nods. "Yeah. A little."

He shrugs. "It pays the bills."

Emma's right hand rests on her knee and she thumbs over the denim of her jeans. "What do you do, Swan?"

"I'm a social worker," she tells him. "And this is my only day off. So to say I'm a little upset with Ruby might be an understatement."

Killian chuckles and it makes her join him. She could probably get lost in his eyes, she thinks, and she does, because she only stops when he turns his head away from her.

She turns to find that the director has called "cut". David and Mary Margaret are currently in a deep discussion with Regina Mills, the director, and she doesn't look too pleased with them.

"I wonder what happened," Emma wonders aloud.

She looks to Killian and he shrugs, shaking his head. "Don't rightly know. Could be anything. Usually they stop them if they've messed up their lines too badly."

Emma hums in understanding. "So… this acting thing. Something you want to do professionally?"

He raises an eyebrow. "You're awfully curious, Swan."

She shrugs. "Maybe I'm interested."

His gaze softens, and he shifts closer to her on the bench, pressing his arm up on the back of it again. "I've always sort of wanted to do theater."

Again, she's interrupted before she can respond, by the call for silence on the set. The actors take their positions and Emma takes a deep breath before the take begins again.

She smiles at Killian. "Theater sounds fun."

"Aye," he grins, "I think so. Liam thinks I'm naive for thinking I'd ever get a role, though. His main concern is the company."

Emma gives him a confused look. "Who's Liam?"

"My brother," he supplies with a shrug. Emma smiles again. "He's a bloody pain in my arse, though, Swan. He's got a wife and child and thinks because I'm single he needs to set me up, constantly."

Emma can't help but laugh.

It's definitely too loud, because the actors are right there in front of them, and Killian widens his eyes playfully, a laugh on his own lips.

"Quiet down, Swan. We don't want to ruin their take!"

She laughs again, and then covers her lips with her hands to try and stop it from becoming any louder. She bites down on her lip and it only makes the noise come from the back of her throat and out her nose.

Killian gives her a playful chuckle, shaking his head as his tongue flits over his lower lip. "You're awful at this background extra bit, aren't you, love?"

Emma winces, shaking her head. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry. You're just… funny."

He smiles sweetly at her, but before she can even straighten out, they're approached.

"Excuse me," It's Regina.

Emma's eyes widen. "Yes?"

"You two need to…" She shakes her head, looking between them. "Quiet down. Keep the conversation quiet."

Emma nods. "Absolutely. I am so sorry. I just- lost sense of where I was."

Regina narrows her eyes at Emma and tilts her head back. "Okay. Back to one!"

The next take begins and Emma bites on her inner lower lip. "Don't make me laugh again, Killian."

He winks at her. "I don't know. Is that a challenge?"

Emma widens her eyes at him. "Don't you dare."

He grins at her, wiggling his eyebrows playfully.

She doesn't know why she finds him so easy to fall into conversation with. The last few relationships she'd gotten out of had been awful and messy. The last thing she needs right now is more of that. But there's something about Killian that's different. He's sweet and charming and fun. It's refreshing.

"So why did you get into social work?" Killian asks.

Emma stares at him for a few seconds and finds that she can trust him. Taking a deep breath, she looks down at her lap. "When I was a baby, my parents left me on the side of a freeway in Maine. So I figured… why not work to make sure kids get treated right, you know?"

His expression is serious and he nods. "That's very good of you, Swan."

She smiles a little, glancing down into her lap. "Well, it's a great job."

Killian smiles when he meets her eyes again and she feels his hand warm on hers, his fingers working to lace with hers. "I think you're brilliant."

Her heart flutters at his whispered words and she honestly is speechless. She glances away for a second, finding the actors have hit their mark, and tugs him up off of the bench with her, making herself laugh because of the expression on his face.

He laughs, too, and they walk, hand-in-hand, toward nowhere. "Where are we even supposed to go?" she grins, making his face light up.

"I've no clue. Let's just stop over there, by the bushes."

So they do, Emma releasing Killian's hand, her stomach twisting as she wonders just how she got stuck with such a man, and by the time they're called back, Emma can tell she did something wrong. Regina comes to them before they sit down again.

"What about keep it quiet do you not understand?" She demands. "You get one more take and if you don't stop… out performing my leads, you're out of here. Get it?"

Emma nods, though she doesn't understand what Regina could possibly be talking about, and settles in beside Killian.

"Hey, shouldn't we, like, have some idea of what this scene is about?"

Killian furrows his brow at her. "It's their fourth meeting. He's already in love but she isn't."

Emma gives him a look. "How do you know?"

Killian smiles wryly, shrugging. "I've got an inside man."

Emma takes a breath as the take is set up, and when action is called, she raises an eyebrow at him.

"Who is it?"

Killian shrugs. "Why don't I tell you over coffee?"

Emma can't help but smile. "Coffee? Are you asking me on a date during this date?"

She glances to the side as the talent start to near them.

Killian bites at his lower lip. "Perhaps." Emma just gives him a coy look. "What time did Ruby drag you out of your apartment?"

"Five," Emma groans, making him chuckle softly.

"Aye. Same here. So you must be running low. After they finish this scene, what say you we skip out on our duties in lieu of some coffee and lunch?"

He leans in a little as he speaks and Emma grins, nibbling at her lower lip because damn is he attractive, and every bit as interesting as he looks. She wants to know more about him, more than she ever really has with a guy.

"Alright, this is ridiculous!" Regina shouts. She comes storming up to the bench and Emma swears she's never felt more fear in her life. "You two are just background. You are not the main leads. You are ruining my scene with your yearning looks and doe eyes. Please, get the hell off of my set."

Emma stands and gives Regina a look. "I don't yearn."

She raises an eyebrow. "You might not, but he does."

Regina is off yelling at someone else about something before Emma can respond. She pivots on her heel to see Killian approaching her. She winces at him.

"Sorry."

He shakes his head, giving her a small smile. "Not a big deal, love."

She sighs, not sure if she can believe him, and then looks toward Ruby, who is long gone, scrambling for new extras.

"Seeing as the rest of your day just opened up," Killian pipes up, making her turn to him again. "What do you say we get that coffee?"

Emma can't stop the smile. "Why not?"

(It's after a coffee date that turns into a little something more than she expected that Ruby meets her in their shared bathroom with a raised eyebrow. "So I guess I'm a pretty good matchmaker, aren't I?"

Emma gapes at her. "You're the one he knew?"

Ruby raises her eyebrows again, humming. "And he's making you pancakes. You're welcome."

"I'm never helping you with anything again!"

"That's what you say now!" Ruby sings. "Talk to me again in a few months.")