Round 09

[Russell Swan]

Taj: you lie to me about this vote too?
Russell Swan: Yes.
Taj: I can see that.
Taj: Well, good luck to you, actually.
Taj: You're the only one on this tribe that made me feel comfortable, and the reason I didn't play my idol.
Taj: So I'll give you credit where it's due.

I'm such a good manipulator that no one sees the betrayals coming before I make them. Taj was foolish and another of my victims. Unfortunately, now she'll spread what happened, and I will have a bigger target on my back.

Eliza's plan that we discussed also ended up saving Colby and sending Taj home. Last round really worked out amazingly. Now I want to go back to Ubirr and go to the middle to see if I can get Taj's idol if it went back.

[Russell Swan]

I feel safe. I really do, even if we lose. So naturally, the following post is the kind that someone makes right before they're blindsided.

Ralph won't turn on me because I have the idol that we're "sharing" even though I'll never think to give it to him. I don't think that Erik will ever turn on me unless he does it near end-game just because he'd take pride in beating me since I typically do really well at these games. Chicken is trying to enforce that the two of us are the closest pair in the game. Whether or not this is the case, he has no reason to turn on me because I've been 100% true to him and am giving him the impression that I'm closer to him than to Erik and Eliza. And if he did, he needs to tell people who will tell me. If Eliza turned on me, she'd at least tell Erik, who would stop her. Plus Eliza talked to just me and Erik about switching to voting Taj at the last minute last vote, so she must consider me closer to her than Chicken and Ralph. Colby probably will never fully trust me again, but I'm still trying to convince him I'm a good guy and on his side. So he should realize I'm the best chance has going forward in the game.

If Colby somehow was passed an idol, we need to be prepared. I discussed this with Erik, and Erik will likely vote for Chicken just to force a 1-1 tie or a 2-0 vote for Chicken going home (if Colby plays an idol and votes for someone random or Chicken) in order to idol-proof the vote. Preferably we need to win immunity to hopefully send out two more people I don't intend intend to work with down the road. I'll make a detailed post on this later, but it's fascinating how Erik actually wants to lose every challenge whereas I want to win. Our playing styles are radically different, and I think that's why we work together so well in this and our games are syncing together. Plus not many people associate the two of us as super-close yet although they probably realize that we have something now and they will with time.

[Russell Swan]

Erik apparently has issues with word searches and failed badly at that challenge. Along with Ralph, the two of them cost us a shot at winning immunity and now this vote has a more dangerous feel to it than I originally thought thanks to some idols out there that I don't have.

I also did way too well on that sliding puzzle and didn't realize it, so I'm more of a threat and feel more vulnerable tonight.

[Russell Swan]

I'm making Erik the decoy boot. Chicken, Ralph, and I all told Colby that we're voting for Erik. Erik may not be happy about this, but it is the most intelligent strategic idea. Erik can still vote for Chicken if he wants; otherwise, he'll be idoled if Colby plays one. Hopefully Colby doesn't have an idol, but since Erik should be fine even if the idol is played, then he hopefully won't object to being the decoy since he struggled so much at the challenge.

Colby's insanely annoying and not going to be an asset for me down the road, so eliminating him here shouldn't hurt my game. It just prevents a major wildcard. And I don't think I told Colby any dirt that can be used against me personally when he's ousted.

I still have an odd feeling about this vote. I lied to Colby about a vote, and he knows that I lied to Taj last round. So he could be playing me. If I had to guess right now, I'd say he wasn't.