Chapter Text
The higher-ups in show business usually had an allergic reaction to anything that sounded remotely lawsuit-inducing. Entire careers had been quietly buried because someone thought high-stakes competitive knitting was the next big hit.
Yet somehow, Chris McLean was currently sitting in a glass-walled conference room with two sweating executives, finishing the final batch of auditions for a show that practically guaranteed property damage and emotional trauma.
Twenty-six teenagers. One dumpy island. A hundred thousand dollars. Potential PR disaster, but it sounded like ratings gold.
“Let’s just get through these last four before legal calls back,” the first executive groaned, rubbing his temples.
Chris grinned, pressing play on the remote. “Trust me, gents. The last batch is always where the magic—or the madness—happens.”
[AUDITION 1: START]
The tape opened with a chaotic shuffle.
“Panagiotis, no—tilt it up! That is the ceiling. Lower... perfect, stop touching it!”
A soft Greek voice barked orders off-camera before the lens finally locked onto a girl sitting on a balcony overlooking a foggy city skyline. Even through a grainy video feed, Xenia Agelaos commanded the frame effortlessly. Above averagely tall with long dark hair, posture like royalty, and a warm, inviting smile that felt completely natural.
“Hello there!” she greeted, waving gently at the camera. Her accent was smooth, lingering just enough to draw you in. “My name’s Xenia Agelaos, but everyone just calls me Xen. I recently moved to Canada from Greece—which, honestly, has been an absolute fever dream.”
She leaned forward, resting her chin on her palm, her eyes locking onto the lens with unsettling focus.
“Starting over in a new country teaches you one thing very quickly: survival isn’t about fitting in. It’s about reading the room before you even step through the door,” Xen continued, her tone conversational yet deliberate. “I know when someone is lonely, I know when someone needs space... and I usually know when someone is trying to play me.”
She gave a small, self-deprecating laugh, smoothing down her sweater.
“I’m applying because I want the money—I won't pretend I don't—but mostly because I love people. Throwing a bunch of strangers into high-stress situations is the absolute best way to see what someone is made of. I make friends easily, I keep my cool, and I’m a lot smarter than I look."
She then gives the lens a closed-eye smile that can only be described as sultry without needing to try.
"Put me on that island, and I promise you won't regret it. Αντίο!”
She blew a quick kiss to the camera just before the screen cut to static.
[AUDITION 1: END]
Silence stretched across the conference room for a beat.
“Well,” the second executive said, leaning back. “She’s dangerous.”
“She’s phenomenal,” Chris corrected, spinning a pen between his fingers. “High IQ, sharp social awareness, flawless presentation. She’s the girl everyone wants to be friends with, right up until she quietly decides who gets voted off next.”
“You think she’s a potential manipulator?”
“I think she has adaptability,” Chris smirked, sliding her folder to the top of the stack. “And on an island full of loud egos, an adaptable beauty with a brain is pure gold. She’ll definitely be a star.”
[AUDITION 2: START]
The next video opened on a sunlit meadow. The camera angle was slightly crooked, clearly held by someone who cared more about keeping the lens steady than framing a masterpiece.
In the center of the frame sat a petite, feminine looking boy cross-legged in the tall grass. He looked less like a reality TV applicant and more like he was mid-nap. Within seconds, a songbird dropped from a branch onto his shoulder. A couple of sparrows settled into his messy hair. Then a wild rabbit calmly hopped right into his lap, resting its chin against his knee.
“Jayme! Come on, man, talk!” a girl’s energetic voice called out from behind the camera. “We’ve been out here for twenty minutes! The battery’s gonna die!”
The boy exhaled a slow, quiet sigh. “I’m talking… don’t yell, Em, you’re scaring the sparrows.”
He turned a sleepy gaze toward the lens.
“I’m Jayme Randall,” he said in a low, soothing tone. “I’m submitting this tape mostly so Emelia leaves me alone and I can go back to sleep. Socializing drains my battery, and honestly… this audition is already more human interaction than I planned for the week.”
As if on cue, a squirrel scurried up his jacket and perched on his head like a tiny fur hat.
Emelia’s face popped into the frame next to him—tomboyishly athletic, crimson short hair, grin wide. “Don’t let the permanent exhaustion fool you! He’s literally a walking Disney movie. Look at this! I’m half-convinced a deer is about to show up and start singing back-up vocals.”
“They don’t sing back-up,” Jayme corrected softly, gently petting the rabbit behind its ears. “They just listen. Animals don't lie to you, and they don't pretend to be your friend just to turn around and gossip. People do that constantly. Animals are simple. If they trust you, they stay.”
He looked directly at the camera, his eyes surprisingly clear despite his languid posture.
“I don’t care about the fame or the screaming. But if your island has quiet spots in the woods… I wouldn’t mind winning your money while hanging out with the local wildlife.”
“And if anyone tries to bully him out there,” Emelia added, flashing a cheeky flex at the camera, “I’m personally sneaking onto the island to throw them in the lake!”
“Em, please…” Jayme mumbled, though a faint smile flickered on his face just before the tape cut out.
[AUDITION 2: END]
Chris immediately burst out laughing, clapping his hands. “Oh, that’s gold! The kid has a woodland creature union backing him up!”
“Is that visual effects?” the first executive asked, leaning forward to stare at the blank monitor. “Tell me those birds were edited in. Real animals don't take direction like that.”
“Totally real,” Chris grinned, flipping through Jayme’s file. “Quiet, super observant, zero tolerance for fake social games, and a literal animal magnet. Imagine dropping a guy who hates loud noises and people into a camp full of screaming teenagers.”
“He’ll either crumble in forty-eight hours,” the second executive observed, “or he’ll stay completely unbothered while everyone else destroys each other, quietly winning over the island wildlife.”
“Exactly,” Chris smirked, marking the file with a big checkmark. “Unintentional psychological warfare. People try to start drama with him, and he just stares back blankly while a raccoon steals their luggage. He’s an easy pick.”
"That girl could be an interesting pick too," the second executive says while leaning back in his chair. "She looks athletic and like she has zero tolerance for bullshit. Put them together? Potential power couple." He shrugs, and everyone else considers his words for a moment before Chris waves a hand, dismissing the notion.
"Food for thought. Next!"
[AUDITION 3: START]
The next clip clicked on to reveal a bedroom decorated in soft pastels and warm string lights. Sitting center-frame on a pristine chair was a petite girl with short, blonde curls framing her face in a bob cut, resting a plush fox on her lap. Her smile was practically radiant, picture-perfect from the very first frame.
“Hi there! I’m Mavis Van Dael!” she announced with an energetic little wave, her voice bright and cheerful. “I’m originally half-Romanian and half-Dutch, but my family moved to Canada a couple of years ago after... well, a tiny bit of drama back home. But hey! We don't need to dwell on the dark stuff, right?”
She tilted her head, giggling softly. But as her eyes locked onto the camera lens, her posture stiffened for a fraction of a second. The warmth vanished from her eyes, replaced by a razor-sharp, chilling deadpan before the cheerful persona snapped right back into place.
“Seriously,” she added in a flat, quiet tone. “Let’s not talk about it.”
Then, instantly, the sweet grin returned as if the pause had never happened.
“Anyway! I ran track in high school, I dance, I adore foxes, and honestly? A reality show sounds like the absolute best way to make memories—and maybe find a cute boyfriend along the way!” She leaned into the lens, eyes sparkling with innocence. “I’m really, really good with people. Whenever my friends have problems, they come straight to me. I just love holding onto people's secrets.”
She leaned back, giving a sweet wink before muttering under her breath in smooth, quiet Dutch: “Zolang ze me maar niet irriteren...” (As long as they don't annoy me...)
“I’d just love a shot at the island!” Mavis finished, her smile twisting into a sly, confident smirk. “I promise I’ll play nice...” Her expression shifts back to normal as she waves at the camera. "Tot ziens!" (Bye for now!)
[AUDITION 3: END]
The monitor flickered to black, leaving a sharp quiet in the conference room.
The first executive leaned back, slowly crossing his arms. “That girl rehearsed that smile in a mirror. At least a thousand times.”
“Oh, minimum,” Chris chuckled, opening her folder with a satisfied snap. “Mavis Van Dael. Academic overachiever, athletic, ridiculously charming on paper. But check the sealed notation—incident report from her previous school before the move. No charges filed, but official involvement.”
The second executive leaned over to look. “Is she a liability or just guarded?”
“Why not both?” Chris grinned, tapping the folder. “People who build masks that polished usually have a lot to protect. She presents as the sweet confidante everyone spills their guts to, but the second someone crosses her? She’ll use those secrets as ammunition.”
“That mask is going to crack under the stress of the island,” the first executive noted.
“And when it does, it’s going to be absolute gold for television,” Chris replied, sliding her file into the approved stack. “She's a fun pick, to be sure.”
[AUDITION 4: START]
The footage snapped open with heavy, rhythmic breathing. A towering, tanned teenager was mid-rep on a pull-up bar, his back muscles straining under the harsh garage fluorescent lights. He did three more explosive reps before dropping to the concrete floor with a heavy thump that rattled the tripod camera.
He flicks his head back, moving the medium strands of dark hair clinging to his face while he wipes sweat off his brow with the back of his hand, smirking straight into the lens with absolute, brazen self-assurance.
“Viktor Popović,” he said, his voice deep and rough. “I’m saving you guys time. I’m applying for three reasons: the physical challenge, the hundred grand, and the girls.”
He stepped closer, leaning into the camera's frame until he took up almost the entire shot, towering over the lens.
“Look, I know what I bring to the table. I’m built, I don’t lose, and I know how to use distraction to my advantage. If a pretty girl loses her focus because I’m in the lane next to her? That’s not my fault. That’s just basic tactics.”
He began pacing back and forth in front of the camera like a caged animal, flexing absentmindedly.
“My stats and athletic history are in the file. Track, combat sports, strength training. I don’t waste time talking about my past—what matters is who dominates in the ring right now. Just make sure my name is on the final roster.”
His posture suddenly stiffened, his eyes darkening as he leaned back into the camera, pointing a blunt finger at the lens.
“Being listed as an alternate once was a mistake on your end. Doing it twice…” His jaw clenched, a flash of raw, aggressive tension breaking through the smooth alpha facade. “…would be a very bad decision.”
He caught himself, taking a sharp breath before smoothing his posture back into a smug grin.
“Anyway. Thanks for your time, mali prasići.” (Little piggies.)
He let out a short, sinister chuckle before slapping his hand over the lens, killing the feed.
[AUDITION 4: END]
The room remained quiet for a moment as the static faded on screen.
“Well,” the first executive muttered, adjusting his tie nervously. “He certainly doesn’t suffer from low self-esteem.”
“Or he suffers from it so much that he built a fortress of muscle around it,” Chris corrected with a wide grin, tossing Viktor’s folder onto the desk. “Viktor Popović. Peak physical condition, competitive fighter, severe authority issues, and a psych evaluation that practically screams ‘overcompensating.’”
“He’s going to clash with every single guy on that island within twenty-four hours,” the second executive noted, scanning the file. “And his flirting sounds like it’s going to alienate half the female contestants by day two.”
“Which is precisely why he’s a producer’s dream!” Chris laughed, leaning back in his chair with his arms behind his head. “You put a guy who thinks he’s an unstoppable alpha into a camp full of teenagers who refuse to take him seriously, and you get instant, glorious friction. He either sweeps the physical challenges or goes down in a blaze of wounded pride.”
“What about the sealed background notation?”
“Confidential disciplinary stuff,” Chris waved a hand dismissively. “Nothing that stops us from putting him on a boat to an island. He’s in.”
Chris gathered all four folders into a single stack, tapping them against the wooden table with a broad, satisfied smirk.
“So! We’ve got Xen—the smooth social strategist who reads everyone like an open book. Jayme—the exhausted animal magnet who might accidentally lead a raccoon army. Emilia - tomboy with a protective streak for Jayme. Mavis—the cute girl next door hiding a terrifyingly cold tactical mind. And Viktor—the walking vanity project looking for a fight.”
He looked up at the two executives, his eyes gleaming with reality TV ambition.
“Four wildcards and one extra. Two available slots left for our main spotlight. Gentlemen… who are we letting loose on the island?”
The two executives look at each other, and they have a silent conversation with their eyes before they nod and turn back to Chris. Each of them take one file and open them up before holding them up for Chris to see.
Upon seeing the images of the two selected candidates, Chris' smile widens. "Well, Gentlemen... This will be very interesting."
(IMPORTANT DECISION)
Who will you choose?
A.) Xenia Agelaos
B.) Jayme Randall
C.) Emelia Wilde
D.) Mavis Van Dael
E.) Viktor Popović
Character Profiles:
1.) Xenia Agelaos
Stereotype: The Girl Next Door.
Likes: Socializing, making new friends, memorizing facts.
Dislikes: Bullies, Two-Faced people, having someone cut in front of her in lines and student loans.
Known For: Always being the nicest girl around, though she WILL be ruthless if someone close to her gets hurt and doesn't deserve it. She's also known for being so beautiful that some guys have been said to prostrate themselves before her.
Orientation: Bisexual
Pros: You will almost always have a positive interaction with whoever you interact with, and challenges that require intelligence will be significantly easier.
Cons: If you have a negative interaction, affection will go down twice as fast as normal.
Difficulty: You will have a slightly easy route with Xenia, and will be loved by almost everyone, but you run a risk of being eliminated early due to being bad at physical challenges.
2.) Jayme Randall
Stereotype: Animal Lover/Disney Princess.
Likes: Animals, sleeping, nature and hanging out with his loved ones.
Dislikes: Meeting new people, animal abusers and people who are unnecessarily loud.
Known For: Almost always staying calm in any situation he's in, but hurt any animals around him? Expect to get chewed the hell out!
Orientation: Pansexual
Pros: You will sympathize will animal lovers more and he is almost always cool-headed. Intelligence based challenges will be easier for him.
Cons: It will be significantly harder for him to connect with new people than any other person and any person who hurts an animal in his presence will immediately go to Hate. He is also basically useless at physical challenges, due to his low-energy.
Difficulty: You will have a medium difficulty route with Jayme. He is likely to get eliminated early, but if you can find a few friends, perhaps he will survive longer.
3.) Mavis Van Dael
Stereotype: Two-Faced Bitch
Likes: Bringing suffering to others, cute boys, manipulating people to get her way.
Dislikes: Excessively nice girls, ugly people, being told 'no' and the Winter.
Known For: Always being the girl to talk to with your problems. Too bad none of them know that she would use it as ammunition if they ever betray her. She is also known to use her beauty and charm to get her way.
Orientation: Heterosexual
Pros: You will gain double the affection for every positive interaction.
Cons: If your conniving nature is ever found out, your relationship with that person will drop to the lowest level.
Difficulty: You will have a very hard route with Mavis. Later into the game, the mask will slip more often, leading to more negative interactions than usual.
4.) Viktor Popović
Stereotype: Athletic Playboy
Likes: Hot women, working out, feisty girls and watching Japanese Baseball.
Dislikes: Not being able to work out, other Men, going hungry and people who thinks he needs 'fixing'.
Known For: Always flirting whenever he can, and when he isn't, he is working out. He isn't known for his intelligence, but to any that doubt that ability, he makes sure to make them pay.
Orientation: Heterosexual
Pros: Any physical challenge will barely pose a threat to you, and you will blow through them with ease.
Cons: His excessive flirting doesn't stop, not even when in a relationship and he will almost always have a negative interaction with men.
Difficulty: You will have a very hard time getting through this route. His flirting makes him easy to eliminate, and the fact that he isolates himself from the men is a factor in that.
5.) Emelia Wilde
Stereotype: Protective Tomboy
Likes: Sports, Jayme, animals and stargazing.
Dislikes: Playboys, bullies, animal abusers and people who say she isn't a girl.
Known For: Always sticking around Jayme, and for having a bad temper whenever someone calls her something that doesn't start with 'pretty' or 'cute' or when someone badmouths Jayme.
Orientation: Bisexual
Pros: Physical challenges will barely break a sweat for you, and positive interactions will come more easily.
Cons: She will always be thought of as boring, so affinities won't go up easy and the only max relationship you'll ever have is Jayme.
Difficulty: Honestly? This route will be easy for you, but she has a very high chance of being eliminated early on in the rounds.
