Now that we're in the jury portion of this game, I thought now would be a good time to review where I stand with everyone else in the game! I think I've definitely been slacking lately, so I'm mostly just using this as an opportunity to reflect on how I've gotten here and work out what I need to do and who I need to talk to in order to advance myself best. Excuse what will undoubtedly be a case of word vomit.
Ana is a member of the Enlightenment alliance that I've been riding the coattails of for quite a number of rounds now. I really like Ana, I think she's charming and funny and I think our approaches to the game are pretty similar, which is what has made us pretty good allies to this point. At the same time, I think she's developed quite the resume as a threat in this game. That means that she's both a huge asset to me, as she can keep me safe when she's winning, and she has a bigger target on her back than I do when she loses. It's difficult to say I want to go all the way to final four with her because I know that she's definitely going to be hard to beat as a physical competitor, but I'm really reluctant to cut any bonds that I have with her.
One thing to note is that Steffy actively wants her out right now. I could do a lot of damage by leaking this information to Ana, but I'm not going to. If there's going to be a fracture, I want to be right in the middle of it. I don't want to have to pick a side and I want both sides to need me.
Another person that I'm currently aligned with, and another person that has established themselves as a physical threat in this game. I think that Cass is definitely in this game to win it, and for that reason I'm never going to be able to completely and fully trust her. Like with Ana, I think she's someone who is very charming and fun to talk to. I have no real handle on who she talks to outside of me, Ana, and Steffy, and I think she has potential to be playing the field. That said, I'm weak as hell and probably won't be able to betray her either because of my personal relationship with her. I always seem to fall into that trap. I think it's possible for her, Ana, and Kota to bounce challenge wins off of each other until the end game, and as long as they don't come for me, I think I'm fine with that.
I think if it comes down to it, she would choose Ana over Steffy or me. It sucks, but it's the reality of it.
Just stop for once, Dexter. I think he has no real grasp on the game, and he tried to get Kota to put up Ana and myself this round. Clearly, that didn't work out, and currently, the plan is to backdoor him this week and send him up and out. I think he's the new Charley in this game in that he hates my guts and wants me out and will stop at nothing to do it even though I haven't even done anything to wrong him personally. I don't really talk to him and have no desire to at this point in time, especially if he can't keep my name out of his mouth. With any luck, he's gonna keep that jury bench real warm, and it's a shame his lover Charley isn't around to keep him company.
Gabrielle is the person who is the biggest question mark for me personally. I think she's a nice enough girl, and I saved her in week two with my vote to generate some goodwill between the two of us, but it just hasn't happened or really panned out. I think her and Ana are tight, which I get and appreciate, but this girl can be so hard to talk to. She just lets conversations die and sometimes it can be a real challenge to get her to bond or open up with you. I think part of it is my fault for not really allowing myself to form a bond with each and every person in this game, but I think some of the blame is on her for being pretty damn standoffish. I'm hoping to develop more of a relationship with her in the coming weeks, but I don't see a scenario where we have each other in our endgames.
Her relationship with Ana worries me, and it worries Steffy. I'm wondering what's really going on there.
If you had told me a few weeks ago that JJ would be the biggest wildcard in the game right now, I would have laughed because I was so sure he was against me. While I'm not entirely sure that he's not, I think that things aren't really that simple. Dexter apparently told Kota that JJ "flipped" or "chose" Ana and I over him, which I find pretty funny because I haven't so much as spoken to JJ in a round or two. It makes me wonder if Ana also has a thing with him on the side, although I doubt that. However, Dexter mentioning that JJ isn't with him to Kota is definitely eye opening, and it makes me want to grow closer to JJ in general. Definitely someone to watch.
Biggest pawn in the game. Now that we're in jury, I think she's going to sail right through the game, and I can either take advantage of that and scoop her up under my wing, or I can take her out before someone else does and she becomes a nuisance. It's a balancing act, and I think it might be too late. I would prefer her to go sooner rather than later, but not this week. I feel like wasting a week on Jordan when there are still people legitimately and confirmed to be after me left would be idiotic, but who knows how she feels about me.
My boo! I love Kota, and I'm so happy that he's back in the game. I was originally planning on cutting him in favor of the Enlightenment, but now I realize how stupid of an idea that is. He isn't coming after me and we've had each others backs since day one of this game, and I'm glad that he's back. It's public knowledge that he gave me the box before he left, so I think us as a pair is pretty out there by now, but I think that's a small sacrifice to make. I think he's trustworthy, and I really do feel like his number one, which is more than I can say for Ana or Cass at the moment. I'm debating proposing a side alliance of myself, Kota, and Steffy, but I know that could easily blow up in my face. I just need to start exploring other options.
Noemi loves to play the middle, and I think the time is coming where she's gonna have to pick a side, and I don't think that side will include me. Steffy seems to think that she, Gabrielle, and Ana/Cass have a thing going on and at first, I was thinking that was a little preposterous, but as time goes on, that is starting to feel more and more apparent. She's another person who lets our conversations die and doesn't put a ton of effort in. I don't feel super safe with her as is, but I want to work on fostering that relationship, because when one of us has a shred of power, we're very open to dialogue and exchanging information I feel. That seems to be the only time we have conversations of worth though, and it's cutting it a little close when I already have a shortage of friends in this game. I need to make myself indispensable to her, but I'm not sure how to go about doing that yet.
My boo, and another person I have absolutely no shot of winning against at the end. Steffy is playing what I believe to be the best game out of everyone right now. She's playing both sides flawlessly, and it would be so easy for me to expose her as an untrustworthy rat since she tells everything to me. I think we're almost exact opposites because Steffy is pretty widely liked but her loyalty is very very shrouded in doubt. I think I have few friends, but I'm ride or die with those I'm friends with. If I'm sitting with her in the end (doubtful), then I feel like we would have two very different cases to make.
Love her though, and she's probably the one person I absolutely under any circumstances will never backstab (even if I'll have trouble doing it to others)
When will you stop slipping through the cracks? Seven weeks and you have yet to so much as say hi to me. Die, die, die.