[10.1] Sword and the Stone

[bree]

...I definitely need a happy confessional pic.

Okay, Mark, I am so so so so ecstatic that you managed to pull a rabbit out of a hat. Oh my God...

That kind of glee, yes!

...I seriously need to remember that, for once, I'm not playing as Amanda... that's seriously taking a lot of getting used to, even after playing as Chelsea and Daniele one time apiece.

Yeah, I don't care that he kept it a secret from me. Hell, he probably didn't tell anyone, just so he could use it at the right moment... and on the right person. How did he know that the Favorites were voting for HIM and not for me or Knox? That seriously was an amazing move. I am so happy that I am aligned to him... right now.

Starr managed to tell me at least... some of the story.

Hey Mark, I'll just get right to the point. I couldn't help but notice that Thiago chose you to eliminate first out of all of the fans in the immunity challenge. I can't help but wonder if that has anything to do with where you sit in his alliance. To me, there are risks for you staying and for you flipping. If you do get to the end with us though, you'll have a bunch of favorites angry at being betrayed by a fellow favorite, and a pretty solid argument that you outwitted everyone. I 'm not going to BS you and say it's absolutely your best move. I will say it's something to consider though.

Liam: You are so wrong. Mark is 4th with us. Hell, he might even be a finalist at this rate. We might have to vote him out though because, after this stunt, he's a huge threat to win... that'd suck.

Starr continued relaying things to me:

Liam 8:15 pm
Ok. Well, that is good to hear.
Is there anyone you'd be interested in seeing go, because we're still undecided.


Mark Jeffcoat 8:16 pm
preferably one them from Ferrago
that group is an itimidating group



Liam 8:17 pm
Yeah. The 5 of them would definitely have power if they play it wisely.
Well, Thiago has immunity.
What are your thoughts on Starr? I think some people don't really like her to be frank.

Mark Jeffcoat 6:38 pm
anywho...
When I talked to Liam, he basically promised me 5th place
like I was an idiot or something
and confirmed that he has at least 4 in his inner core
He was trying to stear me towards voting, you...but I mean that to get his eyes on Chad
So I basically told him that Chad was planning on knocking off the Reliquum 3, then turning on the faves with his new group

Mark Jeffcoat 6:42 pm
I couldn't tell Liam that Bree had told me that, otherwise it wouldn't have made sense why I was "feeling vulnerable"
so I made up this story about Chad accidentally sending me something that was meant for someone else
and as Karma would have it, I did the same thing

Mark Jeffcoat 6:43 pm
I sent Ben something about Chad, thinking I was talking to Thiago
hahaha
but anyway....apparantly Liam and Chad went back to compare notes
because I guess I'm bad at lying

Mark Jeffcoat 6:44 pm
anyway, before I went to bed last night, I got this PM from Liam:
I'll be honest, people don't know if they can trust you. So, there are two main options for you. You can vote however the fans are voting and take your shot with them. Or, you can vote for anybody else and take your shot with us.

I realize this isn't the most satisfying answer, but it's all I can really offer you at this point. Sorry.
I knew immediately that they were voting for me after that

Mark is by all means a hero. That stunt was just awesome, and if anyone has the target on them... it might be him still.

I honestly think that, right now, I am in the best position in this game. No, I'm not being arrogant here - far from it, actually. Simply because I'm in a good spot, having tried to pull a big move and having an ally that had an HII is exactly what will make me a target down the line, and that's a concerning thought. Sure, I will be safe THIS round, but who's to say that, after we vote out another Favorite, that the tables won't turn on me because people know what I'm capable of? That's EXACTLY what happens all the time in Survivor. I have been fighting this entire game. I know that I may be in a great position right now, but that doesn't mean I will be after another Judgment. I have to KEEP that position, however possible. That's one of the toughest things a player has to do.

This next vote should be easy. We just need to take out another favorite. Nobody is going to flip unless they have the IQ of a tse-tse fly. I mean, why would anyone in their right mind do that NOW? Survivor is all about the timing. Flipping when you're six strong to an alliance where you're guaranteed to be sixth makes no sense at all.

The only person I am worried about flipping right now is Knox, based on what he is saying to me:

Fleur Du 11:07 pm
Based on everything they tell him, he figure it out
Knox O Pompillio 11:08 pm
oooooh
thats interesting, did Mark tell you that?
Fleur Du 11:08 pm
Starr tell me what Mark tell her. There are many things.
Knox O Pompillio 11:10 pm
Oooooh, interesting. Starr told me she didn't know anything :-\
You're literally the only person who has told me whats going on.
Fleur Du 11:10 pm
I do not get why she not tell you. When was this?
Knox O Pompillio 11:12 pm
Today
through PM earlier, and just now
I gues people don't really wanna share info with me, which is odd
Knox O Pompillio 11:12 pm
but I appreciate you telling me <3
Fleur Du 11:13 pm
<3
I do not get why she is not honest with you! We must stick together, oui?
Knox O Pompillio 11:13 pm
Yeah, I am down for that. The fact you're being honest with me unlike anyone else, makes me trust you far more than the others

Making the end is difficult enough. Making sure your allies have a brain is another thing. Starr... REALLY? We NEED Knox right now. We NEED him to vote with us. We can't keep this stuff inside our core four if we want to be the final four. We NEED Knox and Zac to vote with us for two more rounds. We NEED to ensure the favorites go. Who's to say that these two won't vote off, say, Ben with us next, then flip to an F5 deal with Liam, Taylor, and Carly and blindside Starr, I am suddenly FUCKED. Does Starr not realize that what she's doing is lining herself up for that betrayal?

See, I have to manage a jury. Starr isn't getting close to these people. Now, I didn't tell Chad that he was the target, because I couldn't afford to risk my game for that. I can tell Knox when that time comes closer, and perhaps even offer to make a move with him. Can I win against Thiago and Starr? Maybe, maybe not. I don't want to betray them - that's not who I am at all. I don't want to betray anyone. But that's something you have to do in this game. Whether it's cold-blooded or not is up in the air. I just don't want to be seen as a villain. Blindsiding Chad the way I did may be getting me that edit. But I don't know for sure. Right now, my focus is on getting rid of some more favorites. Do I expect a Pagonging of them? Nope. We'll see how it plays out.