Ticket here, and after an implosion last episode we are back with the aftermath! While it looks like a numbers game, it may not be that simple…

Sidenote: I actually got this out much quicker than i thought. I'm talking pre-merge speeds.

Enjoy!

—

Vara: Snake, Ripley, Dante, T'Challa, Dylan, Peach, and Zelda

Jury: Skarlet, Wade, Price, and Slade.

—

Vara: Night 22

The remaining seven castaways return, each leaning their torch on that same tree. Peach breaths a sigh of relief without HIM here anymore.

Peach: A night without Slade is…relaxing? We don't have to worry about his schemes, or what he'll do at all.

Cut to her and Zelda sitting on a log together, discussing the events. "In a couple nights or so I can make a lock..maybe tape your bag shut." states Zelda, who turns to her ally. "Although I hope we won't have to worry. Everyone else doesn't seem like the type to stoop to Slade levels." she admits and Peach gets a word in. "I'll be keeping my bag next to me until then..I don't need it going anywhere."

Peach: Now that everyone knows about my half, I need to make sure this doesn't leave my sight…Zelda says she can create a lock, and I didn't know she was THAT inventive!

Meanwhile, Dante just kicks back in the shelter, both hands behind his head.

Dante: Price and Slade walked in like they were the big dogs, until I came in and cut them down. I'm the big dog now, and a dogs gotta defend his yard! Oh and T'Challa? He's the biggest dog I can bite into, can't have him winning everything anymore, not after the last challenge.

While Dante kicks back and the two princesses talk, the three men on the bottom scramble off to have a talk of their own.

"Sorry guys, but he did it to himself." defends Dylan, who gets immediate assurance from his friend in T'Challa: "It could have been any one of us, but if it had to be anyone, I'm glad it was him." After that Dylan turns to a noticeably silent Snake. "Snake…you good man?" asks the teen. Snake grumbles to himself, but manages to keep his cool. "Thought we should of just drew 'em, but it's like T'Challa said…should have been him."

Snake: It shouldn't have been him. Dylan put us at a disadvantage and now we have to pick up the pieces…but we can't pick up the pieces if we keep running out. First T'Challa has to do it and now Dylan, can't anyone just stick to the plan?

—

Vara: Day 23

It's raining, it's pouring, but no one is snoring inside the shelter. They are up, but not eating quite yet. Instead, conversation is going on, and with no downers in the room….well, maybe Snake, but he wasn't going to let them see his frustration.

Zelda leads the conversation, discussing events to the entertainment of her tribemates.

"The moon constantly threatened Clock Town, thanks to the evil of Majora's Mask." she explains, which makes Dylan start raising questions. "So your solar system just jumps back and forth…does that mean the sun is…"

"The sun does nothing. However there is a song that allows a shift from day to night, and night to day."

Dylan just looks dumbfounded.

Dylan: Hyrule breaks every theory about the solar system…but I would love the power to switch night and day, it would have done me wonders at Hacketts Quarry.

Back to the convo, Zelda catches his look. "Our world is complicated." Dante snickers at that one. "Got any demons in there?" he asks, and Zelda shakes her head. "We have a Demon King." Dante sits up after that one. "Tell me about him."

Zelda: Other worlds may not be as unique as ours. That's why I like seeing their reactions to my stories.

Peach jumps into the conversation next after the Demon King topic is done. "You aren't the only one with creatures. I've had to fight some myself." she says, and all eyes are on her. "One time, I had to get past a Piranha Plant so I could save Mario." That leaves Dylan with more questions. "So, wait, a piranha mutated into a plant?..that's terrifying." Ripley gets involved next. "It may have Crim from space. Mutations are common."

"He was actually hatched from an egg. His race is very fun to read about."

"Must not be fun to fight."

Peach: I spilled so they would see me as more than a damsel in distress.

It's T'Challa's turn in the rotation, where he spills information from Wakanda. "Our workers have built the greatest technology in the world. For a country seen as third-world, we are thriving…sadly the producers didn't let me take any with, but it's worth your time." he boasts, which catches Dante's attention. "Name something."

"Flying cars."

"Anyone would expect that..anything unique?"

"What's unique to you? Is it our holograms, retractable suits, what peaks your interest?"

Dante pauses after that question. "You got good suits?" T'Challa simply smirks. "With the best armor. Vibranium is a VERY powerful metal. I'm sure you'll enjoy it."

T'Challa: Wakanda may sound like heaven to these people. If they aren't into magic, we have the best tech in the world…now they do not know I'm the King of that heaven, and I'd rather they not know so I can become the King of Survivor.

—

As the rain dies down, Dante and Ripley make their way to the water well with Dante carrying the bucket. Before their actual talk starts, we get a Dante confessional.

Dante: I thought I'd keep big T around, then he just goes beast mode. How am I supposed to win challenges when I'm fighting God himself?

"So do you want to cut T'Challa first?" asks Ripley. "Yeah, he's a beast. We can't keep safety away from them if that cat enters god mode." states Dante, who hoists the bucket onto his shoulder and turns to her. "I know you want Snake to get the boot, but we gotta give it to T first. He's shot up to #1 after yesterday."

Dante: I've got one hurdle, and he's going to be riding my $$ across the world if I don't get him out now.

With Dante pitching the main plan, Ripley interjects herself. "Getting rid of Dylan is a bad idea…so if he WINS immunity, Snake can leave." she pitches, and Dante smirks at that. "Done deal…besides they (Peach and Zelda) actually like having him (Dylan) around. If we can just be happy and take out our threats, it'll be a joyride.

Ripley: Everytime I try to take out Snake, there's always a bigger target…but you know what? I'm going to relax, and just trust the process. If I don't, I could end up like Slade.

—

Elsewhere on the island, a lonesome Peach rips berries from a bush, with plenty of time to herself.

Peach: It's the small things that I enjoy on this island. The rain didn't even bother me.

She has the berries in hand and walks further down the trail she's on, where she runs into the cave on the island.

Peach: It's also the smallest things that mean the most. I have to make with what I have, but the time to lay back is done. After another guy leaves, I may have to run against my alliance at least once..but if I can get the jury votes at the end, it's what I'll have to do.

—

Near the shore of the island, T'Challa returns with a bucket of fish! Dylan, Zelda, and Snake all stand there. He tips his bucket over to reveal dozens of fish, as Dylan's jaw drops.

"What the hell? We're 24 days in and you just fish like it's nothing…" comments Dylan, who's bewilderment is taken down by Zelda. "Why weren't you fishing for us before?" she asks…he responds: "I was too busy chasing the animals. Dante took care of the fishing."

"Switch spots!"

T'Challa: I do like to provide. These are my people for five weeks, and even though it is a game, i can't let us starve.

He and those three head to a wooden bench, man-made with a "T" marked on it. He pulls the machete from near the fire, and gets to cutting.

Cut to his confession, where he's sitting on his bench, next to a burning fire and the machete in view.

T'Challa: But as I said, it is also a game. We are down and need a trump card to pull through: I call this "extortion." I still hold one half of the idol, and I KNOW Peach has the other half..but she doesn't know I do. So I will take her half, and use it to get her vote tonight. If I think she doesn't cooperate? I'll use it against her. That way she has stakes to join us. The advantage is transferable, sorry to the Peach fans out there.

The fire lowers behind him.

T'Challa: She has been showing off more so she may be insecure. That will work towards my end of the field.

—

Night 23

The moon rises for the 23rd time, and so does T'Challa. He takes a look at a down and out Peach, who is laying on her bag and saying sweet nothings in her sleep. He looks around and everyone else is out, so he slowly slinks out of the shelter…

T'Challa: In my head, I just wanted her to roll over already. There's not many chances to play dirty, not this late in the Maldives.

Peach snores, but stops for a split second as T'Challa slowly tiptoes away, trying to pretend he has places to be. There is some movement from the Princess, as she slowly rolls onto her back. The bag is almost free, all she has to do is roll further left…

…and she does. With the bag open, T'Challa scans his sleeping tribemates, and when nobody moves, he reaches his arm out, keeping one eye on Peach and one eye on her bag. He digs his hand in carefully, and manages to slip through objects and get her half! As he pulls her half out, she moves to the right!

But she's still out, and T'Challa wriggles his hand free and sneaks off!

In his confession, he links both idols together (they can be unlinked later) and pockets it.

T'Challa: This was nothing personal, you are a really kind woman, but maybe too kind to see this coming.

The Panther "returns" from a "bathroom break" and kicks back in the shelter, resting with deception in his pocket.

—-

Vara: Day 24

We get even more time with T'Challa, who pulls Snake and Dylan aside inside that same cave to discuss what happened last night…

"..If I didn't pull that half out quicker, she may have caught me." admits the Wakandan. The ending of that tale gets a smile from Snake.

Snake: It's about time he's getting cutthroat. When I applied there was nothing in the rule book when it came to stealing idols. It's evil, but this isn't a moral game. Besides, more blood on HIS hands than mine.

Dylan on the other hand, his jaw just drops, his voice lowering. "Holy $#|T dude." T'Challa looks his friend in the eyes. "I feel bad too, but extortion is our key to getting out of this."

"What are we extorting?"

"Her vote. If I think she's not voting with us, I'm connecting the pieces and using it against her."

Dylan: Damn…didn't know he would step to THAT level..buuut he's not Slade so he's cool.

Snake and Dylan keep their sights on T'Challa. "Ok big shot, who are we supposed to vote for?" asks Dylan, slyly smirking as T'Challa grins back. "Dante is the first choice. He's the King of the Maldives, and the moment he loses I'm suggesting she vote for him." he reveals, and Snake clears his throat. "Peach won't vote out Zelda, so Ripley should be the backup."

"That's what I'm thinking. Maybe she'll feel like she can boast about this to the jury."

Snake: Peach is insecure and just wants to do something, so stripping her power away and forcing her to vote out someone at the top? It's a power move that she CAN talk about at the end…but only because T'Challa put it into place.

He pauses in his confession and scoffs.

Snake: I should have pulled this first so I could claim that instead of him. When she freaks out they'll think I did it anyways.

—

While the men are in happy hour, Peach is far from it. She takes off from the shelter and rushes to Ripley, who's carrying a wooden basket.

Ripley: When I saw her coming at me, the switch just flipped.

"They took it!"

"Who?"

"I..DON'T KNOW!"

Ripley smacks her lips, and looks over to one Dante in the distance. She tilts her head towards Peach, and he just runs over.

Dante: That girl just can't have anything…her idol getting taken is just a casual Tuesday on the island, and if anyone did it this time, it's gotta be Snake. T and D just don't seem like the type to do that.

When he arrives, the princess tells him what happened. "Alright, show of hands, who thinks it was Snake?" He raises his hand instantly, but neither of the women budge. "Not the time.." warns Ripley, but before the situation can escalate, Zelda comes over and finds out!

"You have GOT to be kidding!"

Zelda: Thanks Slade, now she can't even get a moment of peace anymore!

Back at the aftermath, Dante and Ripley look at eachother while Zelda consoles a shook Peach.

"Snake?"

"Snake."

Ripley: One of the guys did it, and if the one we think did it is THE one? He has hell to pay.

—-

Not many scenes this part, BUT it may impact how the next vote goes down. Ticket out, I'll see you in 12B!