Episode XIII

[thiago]

The vote went as I had hoped, so I'm certainly happy about that; however, there is no time to celebrate because the game is still certainly not over. Decisions, decisions.

I just wanted to start this episode off with a bit of a mini rant.

I personally would rather see Knox go this week, so Gloria or Ben winning immunity really doesn't affect my game at all.

However, I have to say, I think it's pathetic--and I hate to use that word but I really do believe it applies--that Gloria and Ben have stayed up all night in this challenge. Especially Gloria, given she works. Ben is a 19 year old kid who works, like, every other week or something, but it still doesn't make it any less pathetic if you ask me.

I get that they feel in danger and want to be immune. I totally respect fighting to stay alive. However, when you are depriving yourself of a basic human need for, wait for it, a game on the internet where there is no monetary prize to be awarded, I think that it's a bit much. I don't really understand people who are willing to interupt their daily lives substantially, like in Gloria's case her work performance, for a game online. No one else stayed up so I don't see why there was a pressing reason to stay up all night to hit people. I do think that it's sad and I genuinely hope that they find other things in their life to make them happy because to put your entire life on hold for a day for a game, to me, is not normal.

I'm sure some people disagree with that and I'm sure there are other PWs who are willing to do that, but I personally don't really understand it. Maybe when Gloria or Ben have something other than an internet game that brings them joy or satisfication in their lives, they will learn to know when to simply go to bed. When you're out of high school, and even then I don't find it appropriate behaviour, you really should have more adult things to attend to.

Anyway, rant over.

[thiago]

Let me try and robotically spit out what happened this round.

So the idol clues go up and we all freak out.

Ben wins immunity which was fine.

Gloria was very impressive in the challenge. She always gives it her best effort.

Mark and I begin freak out because idol clues are out and Gloria is Buffy the Idol Slayer so we had to act fast.

It had been planned for a while that Bree/Zac/Mark/myself were going to make sure Knox voted for Liam, that way we could vote for anyone we wanted and have a 4-3-1 majority. We ended up narrowing it down to Gloria or Knox.

Liam ended up talking to Bree hinting that the idol had been found.
The next morning--that is, earlier today--Ben tells Mark that he found 8/10 fish and sends him a link to one of the fishes he claimed to have found. He said that the fishes vanished so he knows it must've been found. He said the fishes were latin words for elements such as light, air, water, etc. Gloria also told Mark that "if the fishes are gone from the confessional then it's found, that's how Laela knew I found mine." I immediately went to my fishing thread and low and behold, my fishes still show up. I asked Mark to ask Ben to look in his confessional to see if his fishes are still up, and Ben said they aren't fish icons anymore because the idol was found. I immediately knew at this point that Ben was lying, and Gloria's oddly timed inclusion of the fish-vanishing rule also seemed suspicious.

At this point I felt that all 3 faves were in it together to try and create some idol havoc. It really became a detective case for most of the afternoon.

I couldn't find any fish for the life of me and much like the idol clue I figured out I really think the second clue will narrow it down. In order for the idol to be played at Judgment, the person had to have asked to go to Eden between 6:53 and 8:13. It is possible that someone was smart and said "I go to Eden" before finding it, using the 6 or whatever hours to search for the idol when they actually have to guess. I didn't notice any ticks, though, which made me suspicious.

Gloria was telling Mark that she knew the answer but she went to Eden too late. I began to try and piece together all the conversations Mark was showing me (because Mark was who they felt might flip) and see if they have an idol or not.

Gloria is a tight lipped person. She had her idol from Day 1. It didn't make sense for her to go along with pretending a fave had an idol. However, her admitting she didn't make it to Eden in time kind of sounded like an attempt to throw us off. She also asked me on a couple occasions if the vote was for her.

It got to the point where Mark, Bree, and myself were on and we could not for the life of us feel comfortable with any decision. It came down to two options:

We vote Gloria. She is the strongest in challenges and a big threat to find the idol, if she doesn't already have it. If she plays an idol, Knox turns on us at 7 and we lose on of our allies, so this was a risk that could completely destroy our game.

We vote for Knox. Safe vote. No one is going to protect Knox with an idol. Gloria even told me that she thinks that the 4 fan boys are F4. However, this keeps 3 faves in the game, 2 of which are challenge threats, all 3 of which can work together to find the idol and weasel their way in. We don't want a Nicaragua Fabio situation.

At this point I decided to take matters into my own hands. I needed more information to work with before we could make a decision.

I did something I'm not proud of, and I know it likely will have lost me a jury vote, but it was for the sake of my alliance and keeping us strong.

I used my relationship with Gloria to make her feel safe.

I know it doesn't sound god-awful, especially since I never met Luis until this game, but I do feel we have made a connection and I genuinely think his feelings for me in the game have been genuine, or so I hope.

However, I needed to make him feel safe, so I started to act panicked about Liam hinting at having an idol. I told her Liam must be mad at me for selling him out last round by telling Knox what Liam said, so I feel I'll be idoled out. I told Gloria that Mark is a huge threat to me. She said she likes Mark. I said if I agree to vote Bree off this round, will she be willing to take Mark out next week? She promised and gave me her word. Then Liam came on and we concocted a plan together, me/Liam/Gloria (Ben never messaged me) to take out Mark now. I told them to please say that Bree was the one who flipped because I'm nervous and I need them to take care of me. I think it was a fairly convincing acting job.

I don't know if any of them have the idol, but I couldn't risk it being played.
I knew that if I made Gloria feel comfortable, she wouldn't play an idol on herself. She kept saying last night she felt sure she was receiving our votes because it would be our smartest move, and she was right. It's very possible she doesn't have an idol and what I did was not needed, but I had no way of knowing.

I was also able to get Ben to vote for Mark. Mark and Ben have been close lately, kind of like Me/Gloria, I do see that Mark really likes Ben. In betraying Gloria, I need Mark to betray Ben. I'm thinking about jury votes, if I face Mark, he will be my biggest competition. I knew that Ben had told Mark he would never vote against him, so I knew this would anger Mark. Also, just before the vote Mark told me Ben told him "if you have an idol, play it," so I know where Ben's loyalties lie and this is information I can use to tell Liam, because if Mark used his idol, from what Ben thought was going to happen, Liam would have gone home. Ben's actions, if Mark played an idol, would have taken Liam out, so that's something putting in my back pocket for Liam later.

We knew that Knox was going to be online after the deadline so I had Mark send Knox a message saying "Oh it's Gloria, there might be an idol on Liam" so that Knox wouldn't be too shocked and would feel we tried to contact him before the vote. We couldn't trust Knox not to tell any of the faves in case they had an idol, again. I also knew that by having Mark do this it increases Knox feeling Mark looks out for him, and I know that Mark is going to betray Knox soon, so the more I can make that betrayal hurt, the better for me in the end when it comes to votes. I know Knox will not be happy that Gloria left over Bree and Liam, so imagine how Knox will feel about his buddy Mark when he takes Bree over him? I have to begin thinking about these things, because they will be important in the end game.

I'll have to deal with Liam later for lying to him. We'll see how he responds.

[thiago]

I'm relieved that Gloria is gone, but my human side feels so bad to see her go. I bonded with her and I really hope she takes it as a game move and doesn't feel emotionally hurt by it, although I understand if she is. It's so difficult to balance your heart and your head in this game, and I've decided to play with my head. Early on I struggled when making morally questionable decisions; however, I've come to realize that this deep in, decisions with your heart will only jeopordize your opportunities later. I can show my heart at the FTC, but not yet.

I'm not going to celebrate yet by any means. There's no time to rejoice over Gloria leaving. Ben is still alive in the game and he's a huge challenge threat. Liam and Ben could always find an idol and take me out, so my game is far from safe. Ideally, Ben/Liam/Knox will leave and the Final 4 will be Bree/Zac/Mark/myself. I can't believe Bree is still here.

I'm praying for no twist tonight because this game is so sensitive with the numbers so low. I really hope that I can find the idol if it's still alive, or it left with Gloria. I worry it's sitting in Liam or Ben's pockets...

[thiago]

LIVE ROUND:

Mark makes a stupid call and doesn't force Ben to face Liam in the challenge. Ben sadly wins.

We all decided to make it 3-2-2 so that if Ben or Liam plays an idol on Liam, then Knox will go.

However, Knox told us Gloria told him she had the idol. Not sure if it's true or not, though.

Anyway, Bree and Ben and Liam all decide to vote Knox. Mark wants me to vote for Liam. I decide to vote Knox. I couldn't morally keep Knox over Liam when Knox is the one who lied. Knox can understand why he was voted off, because he did indeed lie, he just doesn't know he was caught. Mark and Zac may think they look good in Knox's eyes; however, I certainly will let Knox know if I'm in the finals that they both were very aware of his demise before Bree.

Liam and I have been getting along so I'm still nursing a jury vote with him.

Ben NEEDS TO GO.

Ben/Liam offered Bree and myself an alliance. I said I'll think about it. I really need Ben gone. Liam keeps saying "the game is afoot" in regards to the idol. Mark or I will hopefully win immunity, give the idol to the other person, badda bing badd aboom FINAL 5 and no more idols to worry about.