did u put the pls respond on everyone's cuz the guilt is WORKING GARY
ok a lot of things this episode so I'll start chronologically. Sorry it's just after the tribal for this boot so hopefully it won't be too confusing to read - I'm writing this right after Alex got voted out. ALSO sorry it's so long, but I put (too much?) time into making sure there’s at least a flow to this.
1. MINORITY AT SWAP. With Alex, who was fine but not a ride or die for me. Thank God I didn't give him my intel on the old idol (idk he could have found it before 4p when the new clue was posted). Because yeah that kumbaya lasted about .2 seconds lol. Historically in a tribe of 6 with a majority of 4, the first boot will be one of those in the minority barring some crazy drama. BUT, after that? The NEXT boot is usually USING that last person standing to actually make a move.
So, fuck yeah. I'm ready to make a move, girls.
2. The challenge today was genuinely really fun! I really like these purple girls! I feel like with all those practice and test runs, and maybe this is stupid and naive to say, but I do feel like I've built a bond with them as a group - something I never had on old Fenrir. Like, I had individual friends, but never a GROUP that I felt an equal part of. I've literally known these girls a day and feel more a part of purple than I ever did on gold. I felt like I was taking orders and watching what I say then, but now I genuinely feel like I can talk strategy with any one of these girls! Will they actually work with me, who knows, but I play this game on gut and relationships and I feel at home here (now that I've survived that first one whewwww).
Can I just say too, that I'm actually having fun? Like, a couple of days ago, I thought playing this season was honestly a mistake because I just wasn't having fun. It felt like I was getting told what to do, no one actually wanted to talk strategy with me, and like this is just what this game would be like for me... the past-season alliances running things, and me just doing what I can to appease them. I'm at least having fun with these four!!!
But here's something I've been thinking about, and a way I need to change my game due to this being all winners.
I play based on genuine relationships. I AM here to make friends, because FRIENDS ARE JULIAS. FRIENDS ARE LJS. Real friends win games! But the people here... like... the people who I am clicking with, are the people who are GOOD AT THIS GAME. They are ANDREAS. They click with LITERALLY everyone, and that's why they are here in the first place - because they can make people like them organically. This is not just an ordinary group of people, these people are good at making (or faking) those genuine relationships that I seek out. I need to really watch out for those... and maybe make alliances based on things other than how well we "click."
3. Despite us practicing SO.... SO MUCH...... we lost and it was rough. First off, let me just have an Arya moment.
Loveita. Melinda. Penner. Cass.
That troll made me like ACTUALLY mad, just because we lost and we were sure we had it. Fuck that, I know it was a troll but IT WAS JUST UNNECESSARY!!! Like I know Penner is supposed to be my ally maybe but I lowkey hate them all at this specific moment. It was rude.
sO yeah immediately Alex and I are selling each other out. Like me and Alex were trying to get something going before, but especially after the challenge today, it was obvi those girls work well as a group. I make it literally immediately clear to everyone I will do whatever. I can vote Alex, or I can make a move with someone, I have NO FRIENDS on old Fenrir (not true, I do have friends... but it sure did help my case that I got votes every tribal so far), and I'm better at challenges than Alex (and pointed out how I did better in every single challenge we've had so far, from the puzzle to the power rankings to today's relay race). Apparently Alex was saying I was more in with the tribe than he was (truuuuuuuue! Probably! But I got the reCEIPTS of the past votes and last in power rankings!) and that because I knew what the power rankings would be that I'm too perceptive and dangerous. Just like with Steve in Socotra, it was Alex or me and we had to scramble, no disrespect intended, we both knew we were doing it.
Just before TC though, I got Cat and Stephanie's word that they're voting for Alex, and that I shouldn't worry. I wasn't getting the same from the other two but was feeling good. SO WHEN IT WAS A TIE I ABOUT DIED!??????????? I REALLY HAD THOUGHT I WOULD BE OK and honestly if I wasn't still here, I would have major regrets with how I handled that tribal. All I said was "i have a lot to offer." I have a lot to offer!??!?!?!?!?!??!?!?!?!?!?!?!?? I should have been throwing Alex UNDER THAT BUS!!!! I seriously thought I may have been going home, but that's all I said???????? Nah, that's not gonna happen again. I just froze, I didn't know what else to say, I didn't have any more receipts to pull, but I could have said SOMETHING.
But, it is good that I didn't go crazy, because as Cat and Stephanie told me afterward, they had planned that tie to start with! To split the vote in case of an idol! Just like Cochran and Jeff with the Ziggy stuff, I think I found my girls who will tell me stuff. Courtney and Val could have told me, but didn't for some reason... so even though they're cool too, I like when people tell me stuff. And immediately after TC, Cat completely told me everything about past tribals. And apparently part of the reason they picked me was bc I was more honest about the past tribals, which is good bc that was kind of a risky move.
Alex was mad about being lied to, which is comical to me. He apparently didn't have idols on his seasons (?), so I guess it didn't occur to him that people might be afraid of them. It didn't occur to me either to be fair, but like... people are going to lie. That's the game... idk, don't need that energy around.
So like, I know it's been a single day, but I feel really good about these girls. Reeeeally good! Which might get me into trouble come merge (if I make it there). Hopefully they won't go after my ride or dies, because since my ride or dies are already dangerous, idk who i would pick
God, everyone's dangerous though. Cat just screams social threat to me... SCREAMS it.
Ok onto questions!
"1. You know what to do. Analyze your swap tribe. Majority? Minority? Plan to survive?" Mostly answered this. Before tribal, Stephanie said that it's gotta be an old Fenrir person this time, but next time there may be "avenues"... so I'm in that sweet spot now, baby! Ideally we won't fucking go back but if we do, I'm actually feeling pretty good. There IS a crack here somewhere..... The hardest part was surviving this boot, I really think that doors will open for me if we go again... hopefully I'm not wrong, still have to do some sweet talking to figure that out.
Let's talk about first impressions!
Cat: Andrea. Andrea Andrea Andrea. So nice, so personable, so personal. Didn't give me a sad story like Cochran (lol it’s like the bachelor, requiring vulnerability to get higher on my ally rankings) but other than that, instant connection.
I love her, def wanna work with her, but also... SHE'S AN OBVIOUS ANDREA and she's threatening for that reason
Courtney: I like that she "likes my passion" and that she wanted to keep me partly because I wanted to be here (evidenced by me saying I was writing a confessional). She's different in that she's not an Andrea, which scared me at tribal bc I didn't know what she was doing, but she seems like extremely loyal and that we could be loyal to each other. Time will tell!
Stephanie: She seems like she most wants to make a move with me next time, and I'm definitely buying what she's selling. Like Courtney, she seems like she could be a good ally, but isn't giving me "insane social threat" vibes like Cat, Cochran, and Penner are. I can be comfortable and not wary of her - that's the kind of partnership I'm looking for.
Val: Alex said he had heard Val was terrible????????? Idk where he heard that but I think she's delightful. So nice and personable and easy to talk to.
"2. With three tribes of 6, there's gonna be a lot potential swing votes. Do you have a sense for how your allies can make it through their tribes?" This is a really interesting question. So current gold was obviously bad for me and Alex. Blue... I think blue will be fine. I think maybe Jeff might have a thing against Russell? I think I'm remembering that right? So pending Tammy and Yve wanting a shakeup (I don't think that'll happen), I think Russell will go in that tribe. Purple... I think if the old purple people play their cards right, Kim would flip. Penner and Cass have literally always played together, and I know Kim is worried about these pregame relationships. If they can latch onto that, I think Penner and Cass could be in trouble.
Which, again, I hate both of them right now for their trolling, so WHATEVER. As long as blue doesn't blow it and I make it out of this alive, I'm happy.
"3. Are you going to be looking around hard for advantages and idols? Are you worried someone has brought one here from their old beach?" I love idol hunting, so yes, going to keep trying to crack the code! I know SOMEONE from old fenrir (and presumably old purple too) has the thing they had to post in their confessional the first TC, so those are out there. Nothing has been played yet, if I can trust the purple intel. I actually don't think that someone found the old fenrir idol (UNLESS IT WAS LITERALLY THAT SMUSHED A AND E WHICH IS GONNA HAUNT ME), and if someone has the purple one... that's good for me, as someone with no power and who's looking to be the swing vote in the near future. I can't worry about who has idols because it could literally be anyone, and thinking on that level is paralyzing for me. I can only worry about relationships, and not live in fear of trinkets.
In other searching for idol news, did you know that burning at the stake is like, a porn thing? That people like that? I only know that because of this idol hunt, so... thanks for that
. Now entering the true test of maneuverability in survivor, shuffled tribes! I'm sure you've got a lot of grafting to do, but while you do, give us some thoughts!
