Ticket here, and before this starts I looked at stats as of Monday August 30th, and this story got 41 views in a day! Thank you for that! Anyways back to what you actually want, Survivor. 8A and B have been chunkier to take on, so prepare for a little wait before B comes out (not too long though).
This merge may get chaotic, so jump in your favorite seat and enjoy the ride!
—
Mara: Price, Snake, Skarlet, Slade, Wade, and Ripley
Vulsa: Dante, T'Challa, Dylan, Peach, and Zelda
11 are left, who will be voted out next?
—
Vulsa Tribe: Night 14
Night strikes Vulsa again. Everyone leans their torches on the tree as they get back, with Dante and T'Challa immediately taking fire duties. Dylan takes a seat, and Peach and Zelda head off to a private place…
When the two princesses are alone, the conversation begins. "Good riddance to him." states Zelda. "Now we have to rebuild which shouldn't be too much of a challenge. Dante and T'Challa are really reliable!" she exclaims, and Peach speaks up after. "They are reliable…however I want to discuss something with you." she says.
"What's on your mind?"
"Well…" she begins. "With Dante joining those two we are outnumbered. We must have eachothers back or else they'll get rid of us." Zelda's jaw drops slightly. "That is true..you did talk about the Mara men." she notes before going on. "Price, Snake, T'Challa, Dylan, and somehow..WESKER went home. He must have ratted them out."
"Exactly. Anybody who seems to go against the group gets eliminated."
"The same would have been said for Slade and Skarlet but now they got themselves into trouble."
Zelda: Getting rid of Wario is satisfying for the short term. Now we have to move forward, and when me and Peach realized that we were on the bottom, we had to plan ahead.
Peach spills more information to Zelda. "I was bonding with Ripley before the swap. If we can get with her then that's three, and we really need more allies. T'Challa and Dylan don't seem like the type to take us to the end." she states. "Slade and Skarlet don't seem like the type to be loyal either, so we may have to ride it out for a while." says Zelda, chiming in.
"If that's what we have to do Zelda, we'll do it."
Peach: I would love to be more active, but I'm not in that spot right now. None of the men will seem to be leaving
—
Meanwhile, T'Challa and Dante sit next to a bright fire.
"Saving Wario was a choice." says Dante. "I only did it because the Trainer wanted nothing to do with you. Thought HE would be nicer, but as we know Wario doesn't have one good bone in his body." he continues. That's when T'Challa looks him in the eye. "Neither of us could see it getting that bad. Besides, he was an option to cut last minute if we needed to. It is not your fault." he responds.
T'Challa: Dante is not close with me like Dylan, but when he had to choose allegiances he chose us. He not only did that but covered us against the Trainer as well, and that pulled me to him.
"You really have a way with words." starts Dante. "Hope everyone on Mara does too."
"You will like them."
Dante: Zente is out and Dante is in! I'm going to take the initiative even more now because I have the itch to punch through someone and get that blood on my hands. First I just gotta split Bonnie and Clyde on the other side.
—
As for Dylan, he crawls into the shelter and drops to his side, a full nights rest ahead…or so he thought.
Dylan: I was tossing and turning for a bit, and then realized a few..small things. Peach and Zelda are getting close, which could be really bad if they crush the patriarchy, and also…that Dante guy. He's fun, he's chill, all of it but I'm starting to notice he has a head up there. Not good for us at all because the Maracle Men have made a few mistakes…
—
Vulsa Tribe: Day 15
Everyone on Vulsa is awake, although groggy with discomfort on their faces. Zelda has a piece of paper in hand, meaning that tree mail has come.
"It's been two weeks, your clash is finished. That doesn't mean the threat has diminished." she reads, flipping the paper over so everyone else can see. "He's packing the big guns this time." says Dante, and Dylan piggybacks off him. "Instead of ten, he's bringing us in at eleven, because that's fun and quirky." Peach clasps her hands together. "A merge? That changes everything…"
Zelda: ..In the good way Peach. Even though voting those two out raised morale, we would still be in trouble, so a merge now will be a blessing later.
—
Mara Tribe: Day 15
Mara has the same situation going on, this time with Ripley holding the tree mail.
"It's been two weeks, your clash is finished. That doesn't mean that the threat has diminished." reads Ripley. "After what we saw last night, a merge would be good." she says. "Wario is immature but what he did just helps everyone here as a whole..." responds Snake, not looking at Slade and Skarlet. "Almost."
Snake: I will only play the "together forever" card until I break out on my own. I have spy nests everywhere so if I need to watch eleven people, that's what I will do…but watching eleven people at once will be difficult. I'll have to use some new strategies.
Everyone was thinking for themselves on Mara. Given we heard from all of Vulsa, all of Mara gets heard from as well.
Price: The swap was a challenge at first, but since T and Dylan survived, it's been no sweat. I'm always on the lookout, but this reunion is what I need to march forward.
Slade: Dante can work on his own. It's not appreciated that he turned on our alliance, but those two fools did it to themselves. The Trainer must have been naive and Wario jumped into his demise. He's one of my only lifelines left so getting in with him is a must, especially if his social capital is rising.
Wade: Who would have thought, ANOTHER fake idol! Odd..when P went home, fake idol. When Wario went home, fake idol. Both were on Vulsa grounds, and guess who's the sneakiest guy on Vulsa? SLADE! I cracked his code and now I can finally send him out!
Ripley: If Peach and Zelda are as close as i think, then I'll need to take a spot in that alliance. I don't trust any of these men to keep me around, and even if I'm getting better with Snake, he has a mind of his own and won't hesitate to get rid of me if he needs to.
—
Challenge Area
At the same time, the six new Mara and five new Vulsa enter…all of their things are in hand, but one Jeff Probst has a box in hand, and a few castaways immediately know what's up!
Wade: All three of my voices tell me it's merge time. I've been waiting weeks for this, and finally the Gods grace me!
T'Challa: I have to admit, I did enjoy being at the frontlines. But it is time to lay low and make my next move.
Skarlet: I wasn't making it out of that small tribe, so if this is the merge they were talking about, then I have a better chance..with issues along the way.
They come to a stop, facing Jeff as he opens the box..
"Mara, Vulsa, it must have felt like a long two weeks." Another resounding "yes" from the crowd. "Well..after this announcement, these coming weeks will feel even longer. Drop your buffs, we're merging." The energy shifts! A few people jump in joy, Wade jumping the highest, and some castaways reunite!
"How's it been?" asks Ripley. "It's a long story…" replies Peach. Reunions and excitement aside, there are still buffs to be retrieved. Jeff pulls out eleven white buffs and tosses them towards each castaway! One by one they are caught, until each castaway places the buff somewhere on their body.
"You guys will go by Vara. You will also be going to the Vulsa camp, and deal with what you have there. Everyone head there, I'll see you tomorrow for the first individual challenge of the season!" ends Jeff. The eleven head off together, some happy, while others are unsure.
Skarlet: On one end it's relieving. I have more spots to hide..but on the other end is dread. We may not fully be out of danger, especially with Wade lurking at every corner…but he's not going anywhere unless we make him leave us alone.
—
Vara: Price, Snake, Skarlet, Ripley, Wade, Slade, Dante, T'Challa, Dylan, Peach, and Zelda.
—
Vara Tribe: Day 15
The eleven Vara enter that Vulsa camp, introductions getting knocked out early. First, Dante walks up to Price.
"So you're the big bad wolf I've been hearing about." he begins, before extending his hand. "The names Dante." Price shakes his hand. "I'm John, but they call me Price."
"Yeah, John's a bland name."
"Why do you think no one calls me that?"
Meanwhile Dylan walks up to Snake and shakes his hand. "Any cool spots?" he asks, with a quick wink. "Not the coolest, but good enough." replies the mercenary.
Peach and Ripley also have a reunion, nodding as they walk up to each other. "You, me, her." whispers Ripley. Peach simply shakes her head, but then changes the topic. "How has Mara treated you?" she asks…
As for hostilities, Wade and Slade have hostile eyes..as does Zelda and Skarlet.
Zelda: As crazy as Wade is, we are on the same page once again. Their time here has run out, and now it's our time to take some power.
—
It doesn't take long for the strategy to start, as Ripley, Peach, and Zelda step out into the forest, roaming.
"The three of us could be a unit." starts Ripley. "We both could have left if we didn't merge right now, so let's make the most of it. Since the guys trust each other so much, we'll have to split them up soon…but we can't be too upfront about it." continues the Alien protagonist. "Our goal is to go to the end together, and if anyone has a problem, let it be known." she states. "There are no problems because you're right." responds Zelda. "We can't turn against them now, they will have the numbers to pick us off. It's best we wait in the shadows and strike when it's right."
Ripley hits back though. "Or the three of us could get dirty.
"Dirty?" (Peach)
"The guys have to go at it soon. They'll need us. Peach, you said Dylan and T'Challa were more trustworthy right?" asks Ripley. "Yes..more than Price and Snake. We haven't been bullied by them but they seem to work with each other better than us." answers Peach.
"We'll have the power to change that."
Ripley: Peach and Zelda take care of the social part. They survived the swap so I have faith in them. The strategy is left with me, and I'm being careful. Yes, I would like us to sit back but if we have to get active and flip around, we'll do it.
—
The water well is also occupied. Wade and Dante join the four Mara men there, two targets already in mind.
"Slade and Skarlet." states Wade. "We couldn't get rid of them because, thanks to SOMEONE, they're still here." He closes his eyes. "Easy pickings now." Dante just exhales through his nose. "You have one hell of a grudge."
"It's not a grudge, I'm just petty as f*ck."
Price huffs, giving his two cents. "If there are any shenanigans we can shut 'em down. It's two against nine, we can just split our votes to get 'em out anyway." he states, and that's when Dante jumps in. "Well we've had a bad case of idol-itis going around…so we should get rid of that. One of them has to have the real one." concludes Dante. "There's been what, two fakes already?"
"Good point, Dante."
Price: Wade and Dante are the keys to keeping this challenge on lock. We keep them onboard, we can cruise to the top six.
Dylan chimes in during the conversation, turning to Wade specifically. "Yeah, didn't you give Slade a dirty look last night?" he asks him, and Wade's eyes light up. "Yeah cause it's SUPER sketchy that two fakes were found on the same beach. He had some time alone, and after Wario made an $$ out of himself, it clicked!" he exclaims. Price makes another pointer. "He about went home at the Wesker vote and didn't play it once. Maybe he's confident he can slide by again…" Snake looks on at this convo, before chiming in himself.
"Both of them are strategists." he begins. "There may be a re-hidden idol around here, and with fakes around we'll have to be careful splitting them. We need to let the women in on the plan." T'Challa turns to Snake. "They have more trust with us than the enemy, even if it's small. I see them joining us." Dante glances at The Black Panther. "Well let's get this show on the road."
Dante: This group is ten times smarter than the people back at Vulsa. Yeah they could stab me in the back, or even the front, but I'll ride with them until I decide the time is right.
—
Speaking of the two targets, they are sitting in the sand, the inevitability smacking them in the face.
"It appears, Skarlet, nothing has changed yet." states Slade, clinching the idol in his pocket. "We don't have much room to move. The six men went off, as did the three women…and Zelda will not trust us anytime soon after we got exposed." he concludes. Skarlet doesn't seem to have any emotion on her face, looking out to the sun and the ocean under it. "…This is how the bottom must have felt. It's not at all comforting I will admit." she says, pulling out the fake idol Slade gave her.
"It's not comforting but it's our reality."
"Nothing we can fix except for who goes first…it's either you or me."
Both of them finally look at one another. "Truth. We are the outsiders after all, Skarlet. Whoever stays just had a better pitch." he says, turning back to the sunlight. "Neither of us will take pleasure in this, but what else can we do?"
"Exactly."
Skarlet: Slade is the only person who sees eye to eye with me. Now we have no choice but to clash. He fought to stay, but I intend to fight harder. The blood is moreso on his hands so that is what I'll use to my advantage.
With both looking in the sky now, it's a rare moment of peace for the duo…the game is still on their heads, but questions pop up within it.
"We made mistakes." states Slade. "But whoever survives will get the chance to learn from them."
"I hope you're right."
Slade: I could have beaten Skarlet at the end. Instead we will have to face off…I will admit, it will be hard to not have that one person to rely on, but I've relied on myself for years on end. Survival mode has kicked in.
—
Vara Tribe: Day 16
It's early morning. Dante and Slade have a raft in hand, actually going on a hunting session together while the other hunters (T'Challa, Snake, Price) are busy. "I know my place on this tribe, Dante. It's clear to both of us what we are talking about." says Slade, still lifting the raft. "Merge just started. I'm all ears." replies Dante, who casually turns the raft over.
"I'm not upset that you took out our alliance members." says Slade. "It's clear that they screwed themselves. You made the right moves to get into a good spot." he continues. "I talked with Skarlet and she views it as more of a betrayal than anyone." Dante halts his walking and wipes hair from his face. "The woman who takes things personally took it personally? What a shocker." he says.
Slade: Dante is what you make of him. Cocky, a dealer, sarcastic... I'll never bring him to the end, but he does have pull. He may be my only lifeline left.
Dante runs a hand through his hair. "I'm shocked YOU didn't take it personally. Your empire was pretty much destroyed." Slade remains stoic. "It's impossible to blindside me." he responds, his glove clenching the wood tighter. "I'm not only power-hungry, Dante. There is no room to be when I have none." Dante slowly shakes his head at this. "What I CAN do, is help those who I feel will need it. Like yourself."
If he didn't have Dante's attention then, he definitely did now!
"Oh really?" asks Dante, with a smirk. "Go on." Slade does exactly that. "You and Wade are the new kids on the block, but that doesn't mean you are the one on top. Here's the hierarchy as I see it: T'Challa and Dylan are the middlemen. Sure they can make a move anytime but they'll stick to Price and Snake right now. Then you have Snake, the second in command, and the most strategic. He has to know how dangerous we both are, and when he tells Price, we're done for."
Dante: I thought he would have gotten on his knees and prayed to a God, but instead he came in and threw facts at my face. Slade's going to try and stick that dagger in my back, BUT if I want to, I can just take him out later. Everyone likes me more, let's be real about it, so he's not too big of a deal for me right now. Wade's hate boner will be the biggest problem.
Dante stops his walk and they shift the raft on his back…setting it in the water. "Well since you're breaking it down, what about the women? Where do they stand?" interrogates Dante. "The women could be a dangerous pack of four if Skarlet stays. If they decide they want you out, it takes one talk and you're gone. If we get rid of Skarlet now, they won't be much of a problem AND we could bend the hierarchy." That legitimately gets the Sparda brother thinking now…
Dante: I thought we'd get rid of Slade right away but the more this guy talks, the longer I want to keep him. What if I need him later? He's spitting more facts than Skarlet is!
Once the raft is set, the two make eye contact once again. "You've made a whole address about why I should keep you over Skarlet. For the sketchiest man alive, that pitch sounds good." Slade smirks. "Consider it. You will do something wrong if I don't stay." he says. The two hop on the raft, fishing ahead as well as game on their mind.
Slade: We both know how this is going to end, but keeping ME here sounds good to Dante. If he doesn't do it, I will judge his judgement.
—
While Slade works on keeping himself safe, Skarlet gets to work on the three women, as they sit behind a bush with low voices.
"Keeping Slade will be worse for all of you. He has everything that makes someone threatening, he has the strategy, he has the body, and he has the manipulation." says Skarlet. "That, and he doesn't have a deal with any of you." Zelda looks at Peach, then at Ripley, and back at Skarlet. "You don't either."
"We can change that."
Attention earned. "There are seven men and only four women. Tell me, do you think those seven will let a woman in their inner circle?" she asks. "..Well, no." says Peach "T'Challa and Dylan seemed like our best chance, but with the others back I doubt they'll rejoin us. It's a shame because they are so kind…"
"Kindness and strategy don't go well together." rebuttals Skarlet. "You may get them later, but right now they are fixated on two people: you are speaking to one of them." Ripley moves closer to Skarlet. "Ok so let's say you stay. If we make you our fourth member, are you with us until the end?" she asks. "I have no other choice. If I rat you out, I'm finished. If I don't join you, I'm finished." explains Skarlet. "Sticking with this works for me, but it also works for you. Once Slade is gone, the target could move to you three or someone else. A fourth member will help you get further…"
Ripley: Pledging allegiance is a great way to save yourself. Hearing her reasons shows me that she really may NOT have a choice!
Skarlet continues her pitch. "If one of us finds an idol, they will have a hard time taking us out. Slade can't promise the same thing, he's more of a schemer than I am." she says. "With that, my pitch is over. Think about what's best for you three, not best for everyone else."
Skarlet: I'll promised them the world. If we do make it to the final four, then I could win out and use this moment to get the votes and take the win.
Little did she know, in a tree close by, one Solid Snake was listening in on the conversation…
Snake: The Spy Shack Strategy so far is a success. Slade has plenty of dirt but looking for some on Skarlet is key. She could be a threat in the future, and after that pitch, she's on the block.
—
Back to Slade's end, he gets with Price next to the fire next. It's no secret about the targeting, so he does not care.
"Ratting out Wesker was my plan. Working with you was my idea." says Slade, with Price tilting his head. "I'm more willing to stick with you than Skarlet is. She's probably off talking to the women right now, plotting your demise." he continues.
Slade: I might have gotten Dante, but the most important person to get to now is Price. He's been running the game for a while now, so locking him in will buy me some time.
Price has a response for Slade. "You could be doing the same thing, but you did me a favor." he says. "If you want to do me another, it won't be easy. Even if I wanted to make the call, if Snake backed me up, there are a few barriers."
"Wade."
"Not just him. T'Challa and Dylan haven't worked with you. If Skarlet pulls the women in, they aren't on your side. You'll need to pull an idol if my efforts don't work out."
Price: Teaming up with Slade again is tough because he's shown he'll stab anyone to win. It's one or the other now, and Slade's promised me more again, so a risk may have to be taken to keep him here. Skarlet just needs to outdo him.
With Price giving Slade that dose of reality, the DC villain leans in closer. "If I don't have it?" That question makes Price himself lean in.
"Then the effort wasn't enough."
—
Alone on the shore, is Snake, T'Challa, and Dylan. They walk along the bright sand, discussing the day…well, mainly Snake.
"Slade is a threat himself, but Skarlet could be problematic." says Snake, kicking some sand away. "I'll consider working with the women right now, but if Slade has strong arguments he will escape again. What about the both of you?" he asks, and Dylan speaks up first. "Well yeah both are bad but we still have the bracelets to worry about. We still need to hear from the girls too, maybe they know something we don't."
"Nine of us can split the vote, three of us cannot." says T'Challa, chiming in. "I just want an idea of who we can go for." replies Snake, sideying the Marvel hero. "I have Skarlet in mind mainly because Slade seemed more willing to jump ship."
"That can also come back to bite us if we keep him around."
"It could..but we're going off of what we know. Tonight we'll make our move and if we're wrong? Get to cover because whoever left will come back for revenge."
T'Challa: Snake is..over preparing for this vote. His strategy must run quickly, but knowing how he's the second in command to the biggest name here, it has to. Now this next vote, I don't trust either of them, but one talk can change their fates.
—
Well even though two names are on the line, everyone is scrambling to see who goes, and the targets are scrambling themselves! With an immunity idol in play, a fake one in play, and nine different opinions ready to clash, who will leave? Find out in episode 8B!
P.S: This is one of the longest chapters clocking in at about 4,500 words. 8B may get close, especially with the challenge and Tribal talk.