The Rules Of the Show

They all gathered round the TV in more comfortable positions as they ordered food. It really was strange television. Camera angles went all over the place. There was some pre-emptive talking to a dear, a darling, and a bastard. Each of them showcased different personalities for the woman that lived with them.

The darling spoke about always wanting a chance to have a woman with a family, and how he'd cherish each of them so much. The dear was a little more offish, like he knew this was what he had to do so he'd just enjoy the adventure of life no matter which way it went. The bastard outright said he was going to sweep her off her feet as much as possible, take her to a bedroom and then leave after experiencing the time of his life.

"Did that ass really just say that to the camera?" Lily said out loud. "Goodness. Bastards are not going to be fun at all to death with."

"If only there was something that was a dead giveaway they might not be nice," Billy teased her. "Apparently darlings have lots of money and want children. The dears want a kid or two and might have money or not. Bastards are just there to enjoy the chance at being with a woman. This stuff is crazy."

"Not really. It sounds like real life, except with more men at once, untagged," Jill offered. "Just be careful of everyone, Lily."

"I have someone. I am not messing around with anyone," Lily said. "You are the one who's only been dating three months. Once he finds out what's happening, he probably won't stick around."

Ooh. Jill growled at her, turning away. "This is not my fault."

"It's not mine either," Lily said. "My Benny will stick around, I know he will. It won't be long."

"Commitment is about more than time duration," Grayson actually said out loud. "There's no guarantee anyone will or will not stick around. This needs done though, there's no choice."

Lily gave a small whine. "I was doing so well. I never signed up to save the world through a reality show. Do I really have to play this part, because he won't like it."

"Everyone needs to act like they want to get into some kind of relationship with at least one," Devin said to Lily. "You might get bumped off the show if you aren't showing any interest in anyone."

"What if we are gay? We could be gay, I mean women can be gay," Lily pointed out. "That'd rack up viewership. Hey Mattie, do you want to be gay with me? I think Benny will take this easier if I'm making moves on you instead."

Mattie just looked at her a little stunned.

"The rules state the choosers need to be a woman and into men to take part in the den. You can be bisexual, as long as you like men too. Wolf Islands is all about having children to survive."

Lily scoffed. "What about men then?"

"They have to show signs of liking women and wanting to have them at least in a way that will produce kids," Devin said. "It can be physical or through invitro, but kids will be expected. You can be bi on the show, if you are it in real life. Don't pretend."

"Lily is bi in real life," Jill said to Devin.

"I'm not, at all," Mattie said to Lily. "Sorry. I really want to snag a darling. Also, help save the day."

When the show came on, it mainly followed the woman, but it also caught glimpses and quick interviews with the men she associated with. From the start of the show, she was throwing out names about who she might be getting rid of.

There were rules apparently to who could go. Apparently there had to be five bastards, three dears, and two darlings kicked out in each episode. An episode was the average of a week, which explained how they got interviews after events so much. Each season ran 26 episodes.

So, they could be wrapped up in that house for 26 weeks.

"Man, that's a long time. I thought an episode was a day. This is going to be more than a couple of months," Billy pointed out. "Did you guess that, Gray?"

"I don't watch reality television, let alone heard of these dens," Grey said. "To make it shorter, we have to get in the top of the ratings."

"How long is 26 weeks?" Lily started to look at her fingers to count by weeks. She was still having issues. "140 plus more. Jill?"

"Twenty six times seven, Lily," Jill said to her.

"182," Devin eventually said. "About half a year. That's good. While we are here, it gives more time for Wolf Waters to move to safer spots. Just in case. The humans have the area tracked, but they can't get into our dome. Safety precautions for leaving to pirate will be much more severe."

"Jobs will have to have less pirate experience as a result," Mattie said. "Now would be the time to have a chance at a job. How much do we make here?"

"They will cover us," Devin said to her. "Along with clothes and all the food."

They watched toward the end of the episode. At the end, everyone had a suitcase. The ones who opened it up and had nothing in it? Were the ones that had to leave the den that night.

They watched a middle season episode, and the ending season episode.

"Challenges are going to be a pain," Billy said for everyone. "They could ask anything, and the more an audience will react to it, the more likely they'll ask it. I wish we had seen more, maybe there'd be a better way to see what could be challenges."

"No way, it'd be too boring," Mattie disagreed. "Who wants to see someone do the same challenges? They'll all be brand new each time."

"Do you watch reality shows?" Billy asked her.

"I've seen enough," Mattie said. "They are going to choose things that are going to make some people really happy, and others super mad. Whatever causes tension makes great TV. I don't know the way it works for dens, but I bet it's similar."

Well, they'd be learning soon.