Mark remembers the fallen

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I never got to meet Naomi. I don't think we ever even crossed paths in this game. I was too busy saving my own neck from being the first canned out of this little shindig. All I heard about Naomi was that she was too slow at the challenge...which was better than I did. But none of that even mattered to me. Her eviction started my path to the end, so thanks for that.

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I'm seeing the trend of the early days of this game. Pilar and I crossed paths maybe a couple of times...always as she was coming and I was going. However, I did enjoy the cat fight on her way out the door. It opened up a window of opportunities for me that I hope to be able to expound upon later.

Though I'm dying of curiosity...What tricks did she have up her sleeve exactly?

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Laela was a polarizing personality even from across tribal lines. Of course I never got to meet her, but I did think for the longest time...Well until sword "A" flashed out of nowhere and cut us at Starr...that she went out with the first sword in her pocket. I mean it only made sense as the clues for the next sword came immediately after. I think my game was better off not ever having Laela in it. Sorry you worked so hard to find the sword only for Gloria to steal it out from under you. I hope you didn't feel too much like an "ass".

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No vote in this game has been particularly hard. But Reese's vote wasn't particularly fun. Reese and I hit it off very well, very quickly, and once Pilar was out of the picture, I knew he was free for the taking and am certain he would have been a fast ally as I quote him:

"I'm ready to trust the shit out of you."

Of course, Pilar leaving was the start of his downfall, and I, fresh off the chopping block still two rounds warm, didn't have the clout to save him. Yet. I wasn't about to stick my neck out for him. However, Pilar's removal did give me an idea, if the trend was to be that the defender of the previous round's boot was to always find themselves in front of the train. More on this later, but I loved Reese. He was fun, spunky, albeit off the wall. "Dance academy drunk" most definitely paints his portrait, and this game was better with him in it, if only for a short time.

Let's meet again, Reese!

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I don't know if there was anyone else in this game that I instantly loved and instantly wanted out all in the same stroke of my heart. Dion was, without a doubt, a power to be reckoned with. She was the first person I met, and the first person I latched on to in round one to save my cute bee-hind from the axe. Ironically enough, it was her power to get that vote (not single-handedly, I'm sure...but handily at the very least) changed to Pilar that made me instantly suspicious, and I'll admit, jealous of her power. She also knew...a lot. She is the one that told me someone had found the idol on Admonitio without clues...which meant she was connected, not only on Reliqqum but over there as well.

There's more to the story between Dion and me, and I hope to be able to explain later. At any rate, I loved her. She only fell victim to someone's need to advance further without her influence. Otherwise, I have no doubt she would have run with this game.

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What can I say about Zoe, but that her name holds special meaning to my heart? And there's only one person in this game that knows why. Though it's missing one minute detail. Zoë...there, fixed. All Zoë's need an umlaut , otherwise they are just like everyone else.

I digress. I don't know anything about her but that her reputation proceeds her, and it's one I'm not impressed with. Her persona is beaten to death in these games. Reminds me of a hot chick on a soap opera. No thank you. But thank you for leaving when you did.

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So many favorites I didn't have the pleasure to meet. All I can say about Beau is that his departure was completely expected. So...ummm...yeah. I guess he was broken instead of made.

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I think Julian and I had one of my favorite exchanges in this whole game.

Julian: Mark, como estas!

Mark: Bien! Estas fluido in Espanol?

typing...pause...pause...pause...typing...pause...pause...pause

Julian: Let's just stick to Ingles in our convos.

Mark: Tu deseo es mi comando.

This, of course, was after I knew he was already gunning for me. His own alliance ratted him out on that one, so I had to have some fun with him. Julian was very large and in charge for as scarce as he was, and I just wonder what the game would have been like had he stayed into the merge. Ironically, his choice of voting bloc after the sacrifice twist was Gabe and I, but there was no way I was turning on my Knoxie and Zac-attac. I believe he was doomed any which way he turned, but I'm glad he found me at least noble enough to become his partner. We never really connected on any level, and I blame the schtick.

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I'm beginning to sound like a broken record when it comes to the pre-merge favorites. But this is also a testament to my noob-ness in this series. Just when I was thinking there was no way I could play a game without knowing 3/4 of the cast, I land here. It's refreshing. And I'm totally off topic about what I'm supposed to be speaking. Tina. Thank you for going instead of a former Reliquum. Or should I thank, Gloria?

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Here is where the game got interesting, and I don't know, I kind of believe that Stephenie might have been the beginning of the end of Admonitio. From what I've gathered, Steph's ousting was a power play, and I think the ramifications were felt throughout the entire merge. Just imagine if personalities like Selena and Stephenie had been in place of others in the merge. *That* would be some game.

Really, Stephenie, this is a tribute to you because, I hear you are a fantastic player, and I hate it that you got the short end twice now. My hat's off to you.

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Oh, my man Gabe. The early part of this game would not have been half as fun without you there. I do remember that I peed a little when you brought Zac and I into a chat together to solidify an alliance. It was a bold move, and while I appreciate bold moves, I didn't want to be exposed. But pre-merge was a blast discussing votes with you and working on challenges together. I think I peed a little bit more when we just couldn't get that bucket challenge together, and I knew you would be leaving if we lost it.

I'm still convinced we made the right decision. I think both you and Knox would have tried to cozy up to the other side...you might have been a little slier. And I may not have seen it coming.

Seriously dude, you are in the cool kids club, and I'm glad to have been able to sit at the lunch table with you.

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Why do the actual trustworthy get backstabbed? It's a survivor conundrum, really, when you think that in this particular game, the truly good rarely do prevail. Of all the favorites I didn't get to meet, you and Stephenie are the ones I was really hoping to meet. I don't know why. Just an aura from your legends, I guess.

Though it really, *really* sucks to have been voted out of a judement you didn't actually attend. Two apples, no dice. Those are tough breaks. Viva, Selena!

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Oh Chadwick, you horny piece of spunk, you! The game was infinitely more exciting with you in it. I really did enjoy our short time of banter, even if behind the scenes you were politicing to not only get me out of the challenge, but to get me out of the game. Because of my allies, and, well...your ally...I was able to stay one step ahead of you. I played very wrecklessly the round you left, and there's more to explain on that one.

But of all the favorites I merged with, you were one of two I was most intimidated by and needed gone stat. That means, I value you as a player, and I truly mean that. Here's me giving you a *fist bump* and hoping to run into you again in the future.

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We had one conversation the first round of the merge. Much like to Thiago, you said something that had me going...'huh?" I can't remember, to save my life, what you said, but I certainly cocked my head and asked myself, "is she serious?"

But anyways, we only really connected when you came at my like a bull with all the strategy to get me to flip. Something like, you come over to my side (where you will be outnumbered 5 to 1) and I'll guarantee you a spot in the finals. While it was valiant, and tempting, I'm sorry I had to decline. At any rate, your attempt to stay proved to me that you might have been more of the glue to the Carly/Liam/Ben alliance. I always say, the most silent are the most deadly. And I'm not calling you a fart. I'm just saying, it's the quiet ones that scare me the most.

And for those who don't use acronyms and aren't hip to the chat lingo...what, exactly, do you do when you SALTS?

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My shining Starr!!! I hate hate hate that you went the way you did. Hate it. Loaaaathe entirely! But if I'm to be honest, you leaving at the hands of the others made this next decision only slightly easier. Not that it was you, or anyone in particular, I wanted this to happen to, but you know what I'm saying. You were the second person I met right after Dion, and you did some work on my behalf. But, much like Dion, your high profile and power to make things happened made me very suspicious, let alone the burgeoning alliance of Thiago/Bree/Julian/Starr. I was always being kept in the loop. But instead of trash the people I liked, I decided to ingratiate myself...and I'm so glad I did. You were the first....well, actually second person to tell me Julian was after me, so for that I am grateful. You were very much a high point to my game, and I value the strategy we had together. I wish you were here, but I hate to have to think of who I would put in your place too.

You are Starr. That is one piece of some good advice. Always stay mentally upbeat. Love you, girl!