Aaaaaand the shit has hit the fan. I avoided Rob because I didn't want him telling me to vote against Pete and Natalie (which I absolutely would not do) and cast my vote for Kat and Morgan. I knew that they were safe and there were already enough votes against Rob and Eddie, so I just decided to waste my vote by throwing it to a random team. Rob and Eddie were voted off and the drama began. I signed on today to see this message from Rob:
The next message in my inbox was from Rafe, urging me to get on AIM so he could fill me in on the drama.
Rafe: Rob is naturally stirring drama up, but it’s okay. He thinks that you voted for him though. Did you clean that up with him? I did not say you did or did not, even though I knew.
Stephanie: He sent me a PM basically saying that I hurt his feelings. I messaged him back and told him that I voted for the Red Team, and he responded saying, "Oh, if you did that, then that's okay." Who's been taking credit for voting Red?
Rafe: Corrine and Brenda I believe. But who did Boo vote for?
Stephanie: Corinne's a fucking liar. I believe Brenda. But Corinne is lying.
Rafe: I think Brenda voted for Rob too. Well, I know she did…which makes me think that you and Boo both voted for Red. I don’t know who else would have. Corrine is definitely taking credit for it and she didn't do it. Brenda and Corrine voted for Rob, and then I think you and Boo voted Red. Also, Rob started to immediately tell me, "There's a women’s alliance." What have you heard about that?
Stephanie: Rob has told me repeatedly about his suspicions of a girls’ alliance because of what Morgan told him when Buyima first formed. Morgan told him that the four girls on our tribe were voting him out no matter what…that Natalie, Gina, and I were forcing Morgan to work with us and take out Rob. The funny thing is...I hadn't talked to Morgan in three rounds and I’d never talked to Gina.
Rafe: Hahaha, so it doesn't exist, right?
Stephanie: There is no legit girls' alliance, no.
Rafe: Okay, I trust you 110%. More than likely Rob will win and get an Infinity Crystal.
Stephanie: I really hope that Eddie wins. I'm scared of what will happen if Rob wins.
Rafe: I know. I want Eddie to also, but I don't think thats going to happen.
Stephanie: I'm just worried about what Rob will say to me. I don't want him threatening me and yelling at me. And if he stays and has some kind of power, that's even worse.
Rafe: I told Rob I'd "have his back" but I don't intend on having it too much. He's just trying to make me worried more.
Stephanie: I don't like his intimidation tactics.
Rafe: I know, I feel like it’s his only strategy. I don't know if I like even being associated with him because of death by association.
Stephanie: Yeah, tell me about it. You're the only person I told that I was working with him, and I trust that you didn't say anything to anyone, but I feel like it's common knowledge now.
Rafe: I don't think anyone knows honestly, I've tried to cover up as much as I could at least.
Stephanie: thank you for doing that, I appreciate it. I want to sever my ties to Rob. I feel like I'm losing my grasp on the game...I thought I had a really good gauge on everything and now I'm not sure that I do anymore.
Rafe: Why do you say that? :-(
Stephanie: Because I'm just worried that Rob has been dragging my name through the mud, which will make it harder for people to trust me. And the less people trust me, the less accurately I can assess what's happening in the game. I trust you 150%, honestly, so I'm going to support you in this game no matter what.
Rafe: I've always got your back. There were two people that I really loved talking to and working with in the game, and it was you and Marcus. (Both of you said the same thing about Rob.) I'll always have your back. I'm making up a prediction chart right now (just for fun) and you and I are in the finals... Don't worry! :-D
In the meantime, I was working damage control with Rob. Because the likelihood of his re-entering the game is very high and I need to make sure that my bases are covered. When he comes back—with a special power to boot—I need to ensure that I'm not his target, that I can continue to feasibly work with him in a way that won't destroy my own game, and that he will learn from his mistakes and revise his strategy to minimize the target on his back.
Stephanie: I want you to know I didn't vote for you. You have my word and you should know that I didn't.
Rob: It’s weird ‘cause I know two people voted Kat/Morgan and it definitely wasn’t me, Eddie, Kat, Morgan, Rafe, Pete, Gina, or Natalie. One person showed me a screenshot and Brenda also said she voted red. So I’m just confused.
Stephanie: My parchment is the one that says Kat & Morgan. It's in the same font I've used for every single tribal council all game. And to be honest, Rob, if you're going to believe Corinne or Boo over me, that's not cool at all.
Rob: See, I had a feeling Brenda might've been lying. You have to also understand where I’m coming from. Six people told me they are going to vote one way and five voted another...so I’m a bit worried. I think Brenda is very crooked and playing all sides. Also, I haven’t spoken to Corinne yet.
Stephanie: I do understand where you're coming from. I'm just a little hurt that the first person you suspected was me.
Rob: I never suspected you first, but it can only be one person between you, Brenda, and Corinne. I haven’t spoken to Corinne but I’m sure she voted me. And Brenda CLAIMS she can show me a screenshot, but I don’t really buy that.
Stephanie: Are you going to make me show you a screenshot too?
Rob: Nah, I haven’t asked anyone to. People suggested. I can’t force people to send me a screenshot. I don’t know, just that I get a weird vibe. Not saying from you, but just people in general. Everyone was so hyped to discuss strategy and in the past week everyone is just quiet.
Stephanie: Listen, on principal, I shouldn't have to send you a screenshot because you should trust me not to break my word to you. If the situation was reversed, I wouldn't doubt you the way you're doubting me.
Rob: I never doubted you nor asked for a screenshot. One person sent it to me only ‘cause I guess…well, I don’t know why, but he did.
Stephanie: You can say Boo.
Rob: Right.
Stephanie: Well, you didn't ask for mine either but there you go.
At this point, I decided to swallow my pride and send him a screenshot of my parchment. I didn't want to but it was in my best interest to satisfy him and convince him that I had, like I said, voted for Kat and Morgan.
Rob: You didn’t have to send it, I’d never ask you.
Stephanie: But I know you'd still doubt me.
Rob: Was anyone campaigning against me? Like came to you against me?
Stephanie: Of course they did! Rob, almost
everyone was campaigning against you...does that surprise you?
Rob: Well, I mean if boo was campaigning against me, that would be a shocker. But Corinne and Brenda, no way. At this point, I’m a bit screwed. I’d rather you win at least, or have a shot. And no matter WHAT, I’m not going to go after you at all. We said we were going to the finals and we'll figure out a way.
Stephanie: I've been trying my best to protect you but it's really hard...people are out for blood and it's hard for me to change their minds.
Rob: I hear you. All I ask is just tell me who and when and not to vote against me. And I promise I’ll never vote you ever either. Makes no sense for me to be in the finals and you not there. You'd call me out and that'd look horrible. If I can’t win this game, I HOPE you win. You’ve been real to me from the beginning.
Stephanie: I'm not going to vote against you. I didn't this time and I'm not going to any other time. I gave you my word, that's serious to me.
Rob: Do you think it’s pointless for me to reach out to anyone?
Stephanie: No, not at all. I don't think it's pointless. But, if i can be totally straight-up and blunt with you, you need to change your approach.
Rob: PLEASE be blunt. Obviously, I’m getting nowhere.
Stephanie: The way that you talk to people sometimes comes off as threatening and intentionally intimidating. Like sometimes, you scare even
me and I've been talking to you from the very start. You can't order people around and throw your weight around without expecting people to get upset with you. Most people don't like being told what to do and they react against authority figures that they haven't had time to cultivate respect for.
Rob: Ahh, I hear you. I don’t even try to be like an authority figure on purpose either. I guess it’s how I talk. But I understand you 100% and think you are right.
Stephanie: It's okay, what's done is done. Now we just move forward and hope for the best.
Rob: Definitely one round at a time. Thank you for that, by the way.
Stephanie: I just wanted to be honest with you. I do care about you and that was hard for me to say.
Rob: No, I don’t mind. I can take criticism, especially when it'll help me and it’s true.
Stephanie: Okay cool, thank you for understanding.
I think I'm moving in the right direction. If Rob comes back into the game, I'm confident that I have his trust again and I'm well-equipped to position him against Corinne (whom Rafe wants to target next). Targetting Corinne in the next round is the perfect way to keep Rob around while satisfying my other allies. The only problem in that case is how to assuage Brenda, who will undoubtedly be upset by Corinne's elimination. I think I'll tell Brenda that Corinne has been taking credit for voting against the Red Team, which will have made Brenda seem like a liar in Rob's eyes. If I tell her this really close to voting time, maybe it'll throw her off-kilter and she'll vote personally instead of strategically and write Corinne's name on her parchment. I'm not sure just yet; I'll cross that bridge when I get to it.
For now, I'm happy that I worked things out with Rob and made it through this round with no blood on my hands and no more fallout to sort through. We'll see how things go after the results are revealed for the duel between Rob and Eddie.
