Episode IV - Confessional

[Mike]

START OF EPISODE AFTER PARLOR GAMES

Bad, bad, day. Tilghman's off, Laurel's away, and the tribe moves on as the other people rank me poorly. And there's a good chance that they'll group together based on who's the "best" of the tribe.

I can't say I'm THAT surprised about not finishing on top with social, er, "wallflowers" like Kevin and Lynne on the team, but those were some pretty bad placings.

Dead last in trustworthy? Which is funny because I have actually been honest with everyone. Maybe it's my shifty eyes or something, I don't know. And finishing lower than Lexie in socialness, yeah that hurts. I know that we were probably all close since we're all active, and I also know that I haven't done enough talking to people like Will and Lynne, but still.

And now, we also learn that FOUR tribes are going to go to TC this time. Well, that's certainly not good. We've done well, and I think we just might be able to pull it off again, but our luck has to run out sooner or later. And without Tilghman and Laurel around, I can't include them in strategy, and since we're just a group of three buddies and not an official alliance in any way, the rest of the tribe, namely Kevin, Will and Lynne can control what happens if they choose to. I'm just hoping that they aren't at that point yet.

So what do I do? I'm on my own for a bit, so I've just got to work on that reputation. I've got to go out and prostitute myself as a fun-loving, full-fledged member of the tribe and talk to those people that probably ranked me low. Wish me luck

[Mike]

BEFORE IMMUNITY

Well, I've gotten a chance to talk to everyone, which is a big step forward. It may come across to them as rather obvious, but with a possible TC looming, this isn't the time to be subtle. And I think that things went fairly well. Kevin's still Kevin. He's probably got all sorts of things planned, but he hasn't shown them to me yet, and I'm less sure that he's shown them to others.

Lynne, I like Lynne well enough. As I've said, I know lots of people like Lynne. I am not really friends with those people, though. But I can co-exist with them just fine, whether they annoy me or not. Her conversation with me really makes me think that she has at least one ally already.

And I'd bet it's Will. Will's a frat-boy guy (not as much as Lynne is a frat-girl, but a significant one nonetheless), but I can't entirely figure him out, and I always get the feeling he's hiding something.

Matt, well he still seems sort of clueless. I was THIS close to offering him a partnership, but I wisely declined. That would have been doing something that might have put me at odds with Tilghman and Laurel, and it would have been born solely out of my worry about the Parlor games. Of course, I'm still worried and wouldn't be entirely surpised if I get voted out should we lose, but I think I'm thinking a bit clearer.

[Mike]

BEFORE THE VOTE

Yep, we lost. Did better than I thought we might, though. And best of all, I GOT THE DAMN ANSWER!! THAT, THAT right there is what the people there will remember! I'm hopefully back in the thick of the tribe, and believe me, hearing someone yell "NO WAY YOU'RE GOING HOME, MIKE" was worth a loss.

And, also hopefully, it looks like the rest of the tribe is still holding their hands close, afraid of making first move. As a result, it seems that people are voting with their gut, not with their alliances. I talked to Kevin about the vote, and he said that he feels insecure himself, AND that he's still trying to decide.

Is he lying? Maybe, but after a bit of deliberation, I decided to trust him. I do think Kevin's sincere, and that he hasn't done any manipulating yet. That said, he's STILL a former winner, and I STILL won't believe that he doesn't have a plan.

Which leads to the bad news. My wingman is in danger. I had to bring up the subject of voting for Tilghman to Kevin, because otherwise would look suspicious. And my fears were confirmed as it looks like other people are at least thinking about it. It makes sense, he's away while Lexie is giving it her all in challenges. But I really don't want that, and neither does Laurel.

What I didn't get to do is get a chance to talk with Will or Lynne about the vote, and I still think they're a couple. They're the only people that I'm still scared might target me.

So it's Lexie or bust, then. And I'll expand on this during my vote, but just to clear my mind, voting her makes me feel bad. She's a different kind player, but she doesn't really deserve to get voted out first, especially with me casting the vote against her again. Keep in mind I'm saying this while fully expecting her to vote for me. But when it comes down to her vs. Tilghman, I've gotta do what I've gotta do.

If I go tonight, I'd be somewhat surprised, but I'd accept it fairly well. Be sure to keep that in mind if the worst happens and you're documenting my facial expressions, Sam.

OK then. It is, TIME TO VOTE!