Round Six, and into the Merge!

[nax]

Tonight, I won my first immunity challenge. I'd LOVE to take a ton of pride in that fact, but nobody seemed to be playing very hard. Ricky, Nicole and I basically owned that challenge, but I kinda wish the competition would have been stronger. Or, you know, existent. So, while it's a victory and not devoid of pride, it rings a little hollow. Hell, I kinda feel a little robbed.

DAMN YOU COMPETITIVE NATURE! DAMN YOU!

(ehem)

Anyway, now I have a choice to make, and a lot of this choice will not just be protecting my alliance, or my expanded alliance. Hell, they're all pretty safe this time around. Ricky, Nicole and I have Immunity, and Jedda, Brookie and Quanz have majority. Who's left?  That's right. Nobody... that I'm currently aligned to.

But for the first time I have a tool that will allow me to get one leg up on Ricky. I control this bitch, and he can suck it. He's my bud and all, but this sumbitch is MINE to give.

Here's what I'm thinking: Everyone "we" care about right now is safe. Beyond that, I have mild relationships with Joe and Brenda, and am friendly with Animal and Jermainey. So, the question is, do I want to give them a chance to look at me as a potential friend for further down the line? We're going into this merge with a core three, and an expanded six. But EVERYONE seems to know about the core three. And that's a problem. If any of these people decide they want to actually start PLAYING this game - with 10 people left (two voted out, one returning from RC), it would take only one to flip to create a tie, and two to turn the tables completely around.

Basic Math. I KNOW, right?

Quanz is a likely flipper, if only because he's made it clear he's a lone gunman. Jedda is tight, but also smart. If he actually wants to win, he's going to have to break the three of us up. Brookie is... well, she's Brookie. She's just having fun, but when does she decide that having fun is flipping this game on it's ass?

And then there's this. Ricky and Nicole are way tighter with each other than I am. If it's a F2, I'm out. Period. And, as things stand right now, I'm in no way convinced I could beat either one of them in front of the Jury. So, even if I never turn on them, I'd be fucking STUPID not to have a plan to do so, in case I feel I need it.

Which brings us back to the amulet. Right now, it's looking like my best move it to save either Brenda or Joe. Give them a good reason to like and trust me, as opposed to the constant stream of assurances that have been all I've had to offer up to now. I've got a little over 24 hours to decide, but that's where my head's at right now.

[nax]

First round of considerations

Ricky wants me to give it to Jedda. Of course he does. Jedda's his game toy. Ricky will always be able to rely on Jedda's vote.

Nicole hasn't been very specific about what she wants. She tried to lay low during the call.

We're all agreed that Zack should go on Shudra, so we considered giving the amulet to Brenda to make sure that happens (Ricky thinks both Jermainey and Zack are voting Brenda... I'm not so sure.)

The call ended, and both Ricky and Nicole got real quiet. I *think* they went on call together to discuss how best to work me around to giving it to Jedda. I've known from the beginning that those two were working a lot more closely together than they were with me. It took me reminding them to + me during the challenge so that I was guaranteed Brahmin. I could almost hear their wheels spinning, figuring out how to get Jedda in, instead of me, or to ensure that one of them got the amulet.

Or, maybe I'm just paranoid. It's not inconceivable.

When I suggested saving Joe in favor of sending Animal out, I got strong pushback from Ricky. Ricky made the mistake of mentioning to me this afternoon that he'd been talking constantly with Animal for a couple days. "6 hours" he said. Uh-huh. Why would I want him to have his own personal bitch preserved?

I have a better hold on Joe than Ricky does, and that's his real concern. Well, that's true, and I'm not eager to let Joe go. Or even to make him fight to get back in for the merge. I'd rather lock him in so I have something to use when and if Ricky, Nicole and Jedda make a move.

Or, maybe, just maybe, I'm being paranoid.

But paranoid or not, I'd be stupid not to have things lined up in case I need them. So, I'm going to work to preserve Joe (without the amulet, for now, reserving that for ... probably Jedda. I don't need Ricky being suspicious of me, just yet, and this will alleviate his fears, if any exist).

I still need them both for awhile. But if they start knocking off people I think I can work with, that could change in a quick hurry.

Wait. Watch. Listen. Strike.

[nax]

I'll update this in the wee hours. Trying to get a couple hours to relax after a big day of activity in 3 separate ORGs!

[nax]

[nax]

Conditions in the Field of Battle:

Axis of Evil: Me, Nicole and Ricky. Whatever Ricky might think, Jedda is NOT our friend in this game. He can't be, because he's playing to win. He's kept himself low profile til now, letting the three of us paint huge targets on ourselves - something I'd been trying to avoid, but Ricky can't keep his mouth shut. Everyone in the game know that we three our together. We are HUGE targets going into this merge.

The Animals: Animal, Zack, Joe and maybe Jedda. They've made themselves appear as thought they're not threats (or maybe they really aren't, I'm still trying to figure it out). But if this was by plan, it was well played. None of them were worried about this last vote at all, though Joe put on a good show. Zack was blindsided because nobody expected me to reward Brenda for her apparent betrayal when she saved Woods. They are strong numerically, but I don't think they have the strong connections outside of their group.

Buddy Cop Movie: That's Brenda and Woods. If woods re-enters the game, those two team up for sure. If that happens, I'm the only one of our three that has any real connection with them (though I'm positive Ricky tried to grind something out with Brenda after I mentioned - on Tuesday night - that I was leaning toward giving the idol to her. His sudden change of heart this afternoon bears that out.

Brookie: Pretty much a free agent, but with strong ties - and demonstrated loyalty - to the Axis.

Quanz: will likely come back to us if he wins at RC.

Jermainey: I have no idea where he'll plant his flag, but I suspect he'll lean toward the Animals. He's one I need to rebuild a relationship with QUICK.

Scenario 1: Zack returns and The Animals have a strong numerical advantage. Best thing to do there is pull in Brenda and work Jermainey hard, and see if there's any way to sway Joe.

Scenario 2: Quanz returns, and the Axis has half the tribe's strength. Target Jedda, if I can convince Ricky of his danger, or Animal if I can't.

Scenario 3: Woods returns, and I make DAMNED sure that he and Brenda are with ME.

One thing I know for sure, I'm not putting any eggs in the Jedda basket. Not one. That boy is definitely playing for himself, and likely playing WITH Joe or Animal. I'm beginning to suspect that he's been their spy since very early on.

The game is very real right now, but I need to survive one or two more TC's before I start taking control, personally. Because Ricky's made too many wrong reads along the way, and can't be trusted to make these decisions on his own anymore.