Post by mark on Jun 24, 2013 16:11:30 GMT -5
My my my a lot can happen in a single round. I'm still reeling so I think I need a moment to catch my breath. Lawdy, I don't even know where to begin. Brace yourselves, kiddies, this may be long...
Mark 17:5
If someone is not strategizing with you, then they are strategizing with someone else, and you are not included.
That sounds like a proverb rather than just a morsel form the Gospel of Mark, but it rings oh so true. Ben and Ellen...your silence is quite loud. I'm just sayin'.
Ok, so...when I saw that Gloria had become the last addition to this cast, my bowels just about poured forth. You know...renting garments, sacklotch, ashes, the whole nine yards. While I do think Gloria is a powerful player, contrary to what I said in my tribute at the end of Extinction, I don't think she's a good one. I think she's blinded by self. She needs to have the idol, she needs to be the smartest she needs to be in control, she needs to make the decisions, and on and on and on. And she's so closed off! You have to have to have to have to talk to people whether you like them or not. Force yourself to! Put on a happy face! Put up a smoke screen so you don't give people a reason to doubt you. She is just not good at that. Honestly, our first conversation of the game was amazing, and I thought it was the start of a stable working relationship. Then as the days moved on and we became more comfortable around one another, she just began dropping things that raised flags to me that she was holding stuff over me. I'll just post some snippets:
Gloria: To be honest, I went into that final judgment ready to vote for Zac. Anyone that knows me, knows I'm a sucker for a good final performance. You swayed me.
Mark: (honestly and stupidly flattered) Wow....thank you!
Pause.
Gloria: I didn't say I was impressed. Just swayed.
And the sound of the bubble bursting rings around the world. Ho.
Here's another. We're talking innocently about the events leading up to Gloria finding the idol back then and how that all played out, and she was "shocking" me about how it was all Thiago's fault the target go switched to me when...
Mark: All this time I never knew.... ( lie...ooopsy)
Gloria: That didn't piss me off like your smiley did after the vote reveal.
Mark: ...
Narrative....ok...so you know if you're playing volleyball or something and you spike the ball in someone's face, and in the heat of the game you're like, "boo-yah!" or face in the net saying, "You don't want none! You don't want none!" Well after Gloria left last time, and after the vote switched to me, I was...in the zone. I felt like I had just spiked the ball after such a stressful day, reeling about where that wretched idol was. And Gloria left, just like that. I sent her a smiley. I didn't mean anything by it. Much. Just in the moment.
Yeah...I barely even remembered that, and she had to refresh me. Girl held onto that...like the knife I know she was ready to sink into my back.
Here's another: (mind you, she already knew of this idol, thank you, Dominic):
Mark: I found the idol.
Gloria: I wish I had your brain! Can we swap brains!?
Ok, we can stop there. Really? Girl, you gotta be more transparent than that. I knew she knew I had it, and it was just confirmed in my head that Dominic was doing more behind the scenes than he wanted me to know.
Let's talk about Dominic. I am not stupid. I knew going into this game Dominc had a repuation for villainy, and I was willing to take a chance, as I can get involved with some good sound villainy. But not for the sake of it. I originally wanted to experience the duration of this game with him. But that has modified to only until I need him. Gloria showed me texts of how he baited me about the idol when he was working with her more closely to find it, asking her if she thought he should ask me to help. I guess he didn't expect that I would find it. Thought he could manipulate a little trust out of me. I'll admit, it did. But I was always open to the possibility that he had other things in mind. Well, they are just confirmed now. And throughout all the Gloria fiasco, I've learned that he has been doing a lot of Ellen bidding.
Now let me just get something straight here. I'm neither for nor against Ellen as an individual. I am not erratic enough to go after Ellen just because she has the highest profile of the game. But I'm prudent enough to know that she, at the very least, needs to be cut off at the limbs. Through all this...just based on how Eduro played out, Gloria using Knox to cut Emily (because Emily, Michael, Annie were a faction against Ellen), Perry leaving because he had made a move against Luca, Hannah leaving because Selena did a bait and switch on voting Luca...that tells me Ellen has (had) these followers:
Luca, Selena, Gloria...and per Gloria, Ben, and Dominic.
That's quite a large following with a lot of their influence on multiple angles of this game. Now I am, admittedly, a conspiracy theorist, especially where all star games are concerned. But this just all makes sense. Why Dominic wanted Annie to go so badly. Why Emily left. And Perry. Now Gloria was, indeed, my push because she was planting some seeds of distrust in Knox about me, trying to pin Thiago and I back together. And than all of her subtle droplets that she's holding things over, I wanted her gone. Why Dominc and Ben were quick to jump on that train...that's what I'm trying to figure out. That part doesn't make sense.
The only thing that does make sense is this: that day while Gloria was clawing, I became paranoid that there was an elaborate scheme doing down to get get me out. But it seems that I may have been half right. I asked Ben if he thought I should play the idol, and he seemed aghast that anyone would vote for me. But asked me what my gut was saying. Well, I told him my gut was saying I should use it. Then he says:
Ben: You should follow your gut.
And then this:
Ben: :-)
Just a side note...an improperly used emoticon can speak volumes.
So this tells me the whole Gloria set up might have been a ploy to get me to use my idol. I might be overthinking, but it's the only thing that makes sense. Anyway, Gloria went ballistic like Dominic warned me she would (because he didn't want me to believe the wealth of information she had). But her going out was the abosolute right move for my game, for a bazillion reasons. Now I don't feel like she will spend the duration nipping at my heels, but she also threw everyone under the bus. She even told the targets of Ellen and Co...which revealed another group. AJ, Chase, Cassie. I don't care if it's true or not. It's a group exposed that takes away a target from me.
So Ben. You don't have me fooled now. Maybe a little at the beginning. But I know what you're trying to do. I'm gonna act like nothing is going on, but if I have my way about it, he will be the next to go if we attend judgment as Legatu. Thiago and I have already started laying the ground work. I told Wendy that Ben was still after her, and of course, Wendy has that character complex that makes her think she's intimidating or something. My eyes just glossed over when she just did a virtual hair flip and said, "He must not remember me in my season."
Pardon me while I ess em aitch. For a long time.
I will go right along letting Wendy believe I saved her out of the goodness of my heart. Let's not forget that it takes more than 3 people out of a tribe of 6 to eliminate someone. But I won't remind her if she loves her some Gospel of Mark.
To make a long story even longer, where does this leaves me? Well, I believe it leaves me in the middle of two warring factions. As I said before, I'm neither for nor against either one of them. I'd just as soon chip away at each one so that I can come up with the middle with my real allies. Who are they you ask? Well that's a good question my loyal readers. It seems that they will probably change throughout this game for no other reason but that I'm going to have to be adaptable, and these people are so flighty that I feel like I need a shepherd's cane. I know...that's so Old Testament.
Chase I'm still pretty set on going as far as I can with if not the end. If you would have asked me last night, it would be Chase and Knox. But today Knox has suddenly clammed up, and I don't know why exactly. Though I shouldn't fear too much. It's not like Knox has much room to go anywhere. AJ is still high on my list, but I'm going to have to chip away at the likes of Cassie, maybe Colleen, maybe Quincy. Who knows. Thiago is under the impression they lean Team Ellen.
And now every sits at the edge of their seat while I bring up Thiago. How anyone can be the bane of my existence in this game and my calm in the midst of the storm at the same time is beyond me. We have the same brain. Seriously. But there is no way on God's green earth that I am going to sit with him in the end. And I am totally aware that he could be playing me for all I'm worth...even as we speak. I'm hoping I have enough coverage to pre-empt that.
Well, that's the lay of the land as I see it. Sorry for the novel, but this has been a long time in coming, and all this transpired in like a day. So until next time...peace be unto you. Selah.
Mark 17:5
If someone is not strategizing with you, then they are strategizing with someone else, and you are not included.
That sounds like a proverb rather than just a morsel form the Gospel of Mark, but it rings oh so true. Ben and Ellen...your silence is quite loud. I'm just sayin'.
Ok, so...when I saw that Gloria had become the last addition to this cast, my bowels just about poured forth. You know...renting garments, sacklotch, ashes, the whole nine yards. While I do think Gloria is a powerful player, contrary to what I said in my tribute at the end of Extinction, I don't think she's a good one. I think she's blinded by self. She needs to have the idol, she needs to be the smartest she needs to be in control, she needs to make the decisions, and on and on and on. And she's so closed off! You have to have to have to have to talk to people whether you like them or not. Force yourself to! Put on a happy face! Put up a smoke screen so you don't give people a reason to doubt you. She is just not good at that. Honestly, our first conversation of the game was amazing, and I thought it was the start of a stable working relationship. Then as the days moved on and we became more comfortable around one another, she just began dropping things that raised flags to me that she was holding stuff over me. I'll just post some snippets:
Gloria: To be honest, I went into that final judgment ready to vote for Zac. Anyone that knows me, knows I'm a sucker for a good final performance. You swayed me.
Mark: (honestly and stupidly flattered) Wow....thank you!
Pause.
Gloria: I didn't say I was impressed. Just swayed.
And the sound of the bubble bursting rings around the world. Ho.
Here's another. We're talking innocently about the events leading up to Gloria finding the idol back then and how that all played out, and she was "shocking" me about how it was all Thiago's fault the target go switched to me when...
Mark: All this time I never knew.... ( lie...ooopsy)
Gloria: That didn't piss me off like your smiley did after the vote reveal.
Mark: ...
Narrative....ok...so you know if you're playing volleyball or something and you spike the ball in someone's face, and in the heat of the game you're like, "boo-yah!" or face in the net saying, "You don't want none! You don't want none!" Well after Gloria left last time, and after the vote switched to me, I was...in the zone. I felt like I had just spiked the ball after such a stressful day, reeling about where that wretched idol was. And Gloria left, just like that. I sent her a smiley. I didn't mean anything by it. Much. Just in the moment.
Yeah...I barely even remembered that, and she had to refresh me. Girl held onto that...like the knife I know she was ready to sink into my back.
Here's another: (mind you, she already knew of this idol, thank you, Dominic):
Mark: I found the idol.
Gloria: I wish I had your brain! Can we swap brains!?
Ok, we can stop there. Really? Girl, you gotta be more transparent than that. I knew she knew I had it, and it was just confirmed in my head that Dominic was doing more behind the scenes than he wanted me to know.
Let's talk about Dominic. I am not stupid. I knew going into this game Dominc had a repuation for villainy, and I was willing to take a chance, as I can get involved with some good sound villainy. But not for the sake of it. I originally wanted to experience the duration of this game with him. But that has modified to only until I need him. Gloria showed me texts of how he baited me about the idol when he was working with her more closely to find it, asking her if she thought he should ask me to help. I guess he didn't expect that I would find it. Thought he could manipulate a little trust out of me. I'll admit, it did. But I was always open to the possibility that he had other things in mind. Well, they are just confirmed now. And throughout all the Gloria fiasco, I've learned that he has been doing a lot of Ellen bidding.
Now let me just get something straight here. I'm neither for nor against Ellen as an individual. I am not erratic enough to go after Ellen just because she has the highest profile of the game. But I'm prudent enough to know that she, at the very least, needs to be cut off at the limbs. Through all this...just based on how Eduro played out, Gloria using Knox to cut Emily (because Emily, Michael, Annie were a faction against Ellen), Perry leaving because he had made a move against Luca, Hannah leaving because Selena did a bait and switch on voting Luca...that tells me Ellen has (had) these followers:
Luca, Selena, Gloria...and per Gloria, Ben, and Dominic.
That's quite a large following with a lot of their influence on multiple angles of this game. Now I am, admittedly, a conspiracy theorist, especially where all star games are concerned. But this just all makes sense. Why Dominic wanted Annie to go so badly. Why Emily left. And Perry. Now Gloria was, indeed, my push because she was planting some seeds of distrust in Knox about me, trying to pin Thiago and I back together. And than all of her subtle droplets that she's holding things over, I wanted her gone. Why Dominc and Ben were quick to jump on that train...that's what I'm trying to figure out. That part doesn't make sense.
The only thing that does make sense is this: that day while Gloria was clawing, I became paranoid that there was an elaborate scheme doing down to get get me out. But it seems that I may have been half right. I asked Ben if he thought I should play the idol, and he seemed aghast that anyone would vote for me. But asked me what my gut was saying. Well, I told him my gut was saying I should use it. Then he says:
Ben: You should follow your gut.
And then this:
Ben: :-)
Just a side note...an improperly used emoticon can speak volumes.
So this tells me the whole Gloria set up might have been a ploy to get me to use my idol. I might be overthinking, but it's the only thing that makes sense. Anyway, Gloria went ballistic like Dominic warned me she would (because he didn't want me to believe the wealth of information she had). But her going out was the abosolute right move for my game, for a bazillion reasons. Now I don't feel like she will spend the duration nipping at my heels, but she also threw everyone under the bus. She even told the targets of Ellen and Co...which revealed another group. AJ, Chase, Cassie. I don't care if it's true or not. It's a group exposed that takes away a target from me.
So Ben. You don't have me fooled now. Maybe a little at the beginning. But I know what you're trying to do. I'm gonna act like nothing is going on, but if I have my way about it, he will be the next to go if we attend judgment as Legatu. Thiago and I have already started laying the ground work. I told Wendy that Ben was still after her, and of course, Wendy has that character complex that makes her think she's intimidating or something. My eyes just glossed over when she just did a virtual hair flip and said, "He must not remember me in my season."
Pardon me while I ess em aitch. For a long time.
I will go right along letting Wendy believe I saved her out of the goodness of my heart. Let's not forget that it takes more than 3 people out of a tribe of 6 to eliminate someone. But I won't remind her if she loves her some Gospel of Mark.
To make a long story even longer, where does this leaves me? Well, I believe it leaves me in the middle of two warring factions. As I said before, I'm neither for nor against either one of them. I'd just as soon chip away at each one so that I can come up with the middle with my real allies. Who are they you ask? Well that's a good question my loyal readers. It seems that they will probably change throughout this game for no other reason but that I'm going to have to be adaptable, and these people are so flighty that I feel like I need a shepherd's cane. I know...that's so Old Testament.
Chase I'm still pretty set on going as far as I can with if not the end. If you would have asked me last night, it would be Chase and Knox. But today Knox has suddenly clammed up, and I don't know why exactly. Though I shouldn't fear too much. It's not like Knox has much room to go anywhere. AJ is still high on my list, but I'm going to have to chip away at the likes of Cassie, maybe Colleen, maybe Quincy. Who knows. Thiago is under the impression they lean Team Ellen.
And now every sits at the edge of their seat while I bring up Thiago. How anyone can be the bane of my existence in this game and my calm in the midst of the storm at the same time is beyond me. We have the same brain. Seriously. But there is no way on God's green earth that I am going to sit with him in the end. And I am totally aware that he could be playing me for all I'm worth...even as we speak. I'm hoping I have enough coverage to pre-empt that.
Well, that's the lay of the land as I see it. Sorry for the novel, but this has been a long time in coming, and all this transpired in like a day. So until next time...peace be unto you. Selah.