Professor Carla Explains...

"You don't have to, but there will be a test on this, so... your call," Carla smiled. "That's what I tell every student who asks me that question."

"So, there's politics in Harems?" I brought us back to the topic at hand.

"Always, Brent. Always. You're just lucky that we're getting all of the drama and backstabbing out in the open. Look up some of the Persian kings sometime. It can get ugly."

"Well, I'm not a king, so there's one thing we don't have to worry about," I pointed out.

"Yes, we do. You might not think we need to worry about it, but it's going to eventually start happening. The fact we're all fucking, well, it doesn't really help. Historically, I mean. Unless you've got something in place to head off the inevitable conflicts that are going to occur, shit's going to happen. And if you don't think so, why are you and me trying to sort out problems in a hotel room while your wife is trying to sort them out in another house?" Carla raised one palm in a questioning gesture.

"Always?" I asked, trying to fathom the concept.

"Pretty much. That's why the smart women make rules before stuff happens. Fair ones. Because that's what screws these things up, at least what Charlie said." Carla looked up at the ceiling for a moment, before continuing brightly. "We had a whole talk about it while Kaila was using the Hot Tub. Apparently Charlie was in a thing with another woman and a guy once."

"Damn, she didn't tell me about that, she just said these things were trouble," I nodded.

"Right, well, apparently the other gal liked to play games. Mean ones. Usually involving trying to get her to do something to Surprise him, and then making sure he didn't show up." Carla groaned. "Totally High school, and he wouldn't do anything to stop the other gal because she'd always apologize sweetly to him and he'd just forgive her."

"So, why did she go along with your little games then?" I asked, trying to figure this out.

"You think it's only straight guys that fantasize about having twin sisters?" Carla smirked. "She said she'd try, but if anybody started getting hurt she'd quit. Heck, she joked that when she was younger she probably would have just stood up and pouted until you drove her home."

"So, that's where the Harem Politics thing comes into play, I assume?" I tried to bring the conversation back around to what I thought the point was.

"Well you know what happens when you assume..." Carla grinned. "But yes, that's where this comes in. So, we need to take a look at what works and what doesn't. We could always go with Imperial Chinese, because that one's pretty detailed, and seems to be the one with the longest track record and legal precedents."

"You are pulling my leg here," I smiled. This had to be a joke, had she actually thought about this? In Detail?

"Nope, the good news is that since there's only four of us, I think we'd be Okay with the Islamic tradition... but with your track record, Ehhh... And add in the fact that they'd stone us all to **** for fucking each other... And I really like having my hair visible, not the best option. Plus, no Booze, so fuck that noise."

"You did actual research on this?" I asked, "Like was this something that you've thought about for a while?"

"So, Qing dynasty system worked pretty good. Even on the small scale. But I really don't like the subordinate role always given to the women other than the first wife. Nothing personal, but I want something a little more egalitarian for my relationship. I am NOT going to be called a consort or a concubine, thank you very much." Carla smirked. "I mean it FITS, but it implies a power dynamic we don't have going on here."

"Okay, well how about modern examples?"

"Ah, a good question!" Carla pointed at me as if I'd asked a question in class. "Modern examples don't work so well either, because once again the emphasis on women as part of the man's household. Therefore, almost all the current examples involve one man and the women taking his name, and being dependent on him. We even have modern American examples, and nearly every gal who comes out of it always has an awful story to tell. Africa has a system that kinda works, but once again, backstabbing and politics, usually followed by a bloody power struggle a generation later. Fun, Fun, FUN!"

"So, is there ANY positive examples?" I asked, hoping.

"Well, they don't get talked about if they do. I'm noticing a trend with almost every system that does work. It stays quiet. Happy, healthy relationships don't make good stories. Audiences really likes it better when the evil sinners have their heads ripped off and the entire structure falls apart because of their evil hedonism." Carla deadpanned the last. "That was a joke."

"I understood that reference." I deadpanned back.

"Right," Carla ran her fingers along the fabric of her pants, digging her nails into the cloth gently before continuing. "So yeah, Seems like the groups that make it work are either very quiet or cults."

"We can do you quiet, or cult. Or Both!" I snickered at the last.

"Oh yah, let's all break out the white hoods and red dresses," Carla wheeled her fingers in the air. "I mean if you're going to do something, fucking DO it! Oh, you're not exiling any sons we have, just putting that out there, and I'm not wearing a fucking prairie dress. Just in case you're not clear when I'm making bad jokes. You're also not fucking any daughters we have. "