Ticket here, welcome back. This chapter has fewer scenes and will probably be shorter. So with that being said, here's 3B!
Fatu: Gordon, Toriel, Bandana Waddle Dee, Luigi, and Infinife
Roku: Matt, Sonic, Li Mei, Little Mac, and Monty Mole
Toka: Kano, Kabal, Tremor, Kristine, Red, and Blu
Roku: Day 8
Idols. It was a matter of time until someone on the tribe actually tried to find one. In this case, it wasn't just "someone." Mac and Mei are going their separate ways to cover more ground.
Cut to Mac on the walking path, looking around for that idol.
"It's usually on the walking path. Two hours out, no luck. Mines not good anyways." Mac says, interacting with the cameras while he continues the search.
Cut to Mei, who's approaching three tall, treacherous rocks. From her POV, nobody's up there.
"Don't believe anyones found an idol between the rocks yet." She's absolutely right. In the past, players like Peach, Slade, Doofenschmirtz, Michonne, and Nefarious found them deep in the woods or on the walking path.
What are the odds?
Li Mei searches around the smallest rock. No idols buried in the ground, so she decides to stick her hand through the cracks. As she feels around..she feels a sphere in there…
…she rips it out…
..it's a rock.
Li Mei: ..I despise idol hunting.
When she turns around, there's a shadow with a few spiky hairs in the back. She looks up for the source..
..and Sonic standing on a taller rock, looking down on her.
"You can keep going, just don't make too much noise!" Foiled. "It's a great day for a nap!" he says, as the sun starts to shine on both of them.
"Sleeping on a rock?"
"Anything's a bed if you're tired enough."
"Mmhmm." she responds, turning her back to him and continuing to search the area. The hedgehog watches her ignore him for a few more seconds. "Good luck."
Sonic: Those two are already searching for idols and they better have one because the easy target's out. I'd like to get an idol in front of everyone too but if their goals to keep this a secret…
He wags a finger, and clicks his tongue.
Sonic: A first grader could see what you're doing.
The hedgehog takes this information to the Mii, the plotting of Mac and Mei spreading around.
"Caught her in the act. We played it cool though." Matt turns to him. "Did she find anything?"
"No. Didn't see Mac with her so he was definitely on the prowl too." the hedgehog says, and starts to smirk. "Looks like we have competition."
"Best news all week."
Matt: Those two are smart as #£||. Right when we scoop up Monty they want the idol as a backup. That's good gameplay! If they could never find it, that'd be even better.
"If we lose again..Mei." The hedgehog knows his target. "She's closer to Mac but isn't really close with us."
"You just want to get your win back."
"Oh I'll get it back."
Cut to Sonic taking the plan to Monty.
"Mei's our best bet. For someone who talks about honor, she's a real sneak." The hedgehog says, and Monty huffs. "Well not everyone does the honor thing. I try my best."
"Good for you. So, we vote for Mei?"
"Three to two."
IMMEDIATE cut to Monty and Matt speaking alone.
"Sonic's tryna call the shot on Mei. Did he talk to ya about that?" The mole asks.
"Yeah, and I agree with him. Mac's better to keep around in the long run."
"Well…Mei it is." Monty's folded almost instantly, but he's trying to build more trust with Matt and Sonic, so maybe it's for the best. Then again, maybe he's being too passive. Up for interpretation.
Matt's in a different spot.
Matt: Sonic's making the plans, and you know what? i WANT him to stick out more. He's like my big blue shield. If someone's trying to target us, he's going to take the bullet for me. It's not really "honor and integrity" of me but I came to play. If Sonic gets the hit first? So be it.
Matt, more cutthroat than some on the island think. Speaking of the island, Mac and Mei would need ONE idol to stay alive..
..if they couldn't get it, it's game over for Mei.
Fatu: Day 8
Infinite is sitting cross-legged, letting the wind blow through him again.
Infinite: These people are too fortunate to understand my struggles. Imagine you meet your hero, you look up to this hero, and he beats you down and undercuts your efforts. You have no friends or family to speak of. It's almost like when you aren't treated as an equal, you grow to despise people. What a surprise that is.
He rolls his eyes.
Infinite: Now these people want to play nice with me, keep me comfortable in a game where we're supposed to betray each other. Spare me the pity..
Well..not shocking he's a cynic. Definitely hurts his social game though. His brooding's interrupted by Gordon, who has a wooden spoon in hand.
"Dinner's ready in five."
No response. Gordon decides to step forward. "Did you hear me?"
"I heard you well, now leave me be."
Uh oh.
"What a rude response. How are you supposed to get anywhere acting this way?" Gordon calling out the guys number one flaw.
"I've been considered for elimination since day one. You don't need to keep me comfortable, I know what these kind acts are for." Infinite shoots back. Giving him some credit here, not many people want to pick a fight with Chef Ramsay.
"We're not going to starve you, just eat with us for once. Why are you doing this to yourself?" For someone like Gordon, he's being reasonable. But again, Infinite still doesn't like him.
"Trying to include me is all about social capital. You want to advance your game."
"Ok."
….
He's lost his patience.
"Why are you sabotaging yourself? Chip on your shoulder? Are you just stubborn?" The chef asks. Infinite turns around, facing the chef. "You don't know what I've been through."
"And I don't care. You know why? Because you're a d*ckhead. You wouldn't be on the outs if you pulled your head out of your $$, but no you've got it crammed so far up there you love the smell of your own sh*t." Gordon has lost it…
"It's not my fault everyone I come across—"
"Hey, guess what? People can be cruel but if you think everyone is you'll be getting nowhere. Not on the island, and definitely not on your world." The tragic tale of shut-ins. "You're the strongest on our tribe. Strategic. And you're still missing the social aspect."
"Social game isn't everything to me. That's just how my life is."
"OH PLEASE do you want a pity party? Am I supposed to let you walk over everyone because you're sad? You think that's how life is, but that's not how life works." Infinite just scoffs. "Scoff all you want but you need to hear it."
"Whatever."
Go figure Gordon's fed up, now going a week with little food..but this soon? Either the lack of foods got to him, Infinite's social game is that bad, or both.
Ramsay breaks the silence.
"The chickens getting cold. You can either come with me or stay behind."
Gordon: You get the same respect you show to others. He has no respect for anyone, and I'm over it. We've tried small talk, doesn't work. We extend the branch to him and he's done NOTHING but snap it in half! Ladies and gentlemen: this is how you LOSE Survivor!
Toka: Day 8
Kano and Kabal roam the Walking Path(tm). They've had yet to attend a Tribal Council, but one man looks to end the streak.
"I'm not afraid to throw tomorrow. We gotta vote off someone eventually." Kano says, and Kabal snaps his head to him. "It's too early. We shouldn't throw anything yet."
"There's always a swap after the fourth boot. If the dinos get to a swap, we're f*cked." Kano points out, aware of the infamous swap-screw moments.
"Then we can just throw next time. Easy fix."
Kano: I'm tempted to throw the challenge now, just to see the look on their faces. These dinos don't know that this tribe belongs to the Black Dragon. Do they actually think a shady turtles on their side? Do they actually think TREMOR'S gonna get along with them? They're delusional!
While the Black Dragon want to throw a challenge, the Yoshi sit in the shelter and discuss winning it.
Blu wraps a cover around herself. "Are you ready for tomorrow?" Red asks, wrapping a cover around himself too.
"I PRAY it's not physical…if it is I'm so screwed."
"You're a Yoshi, you have advantages people don't even know about! More hops, a tongue that cam trip anyone up, and a tail to whip people with!" Red lists, prepping her up. "It's not a BIG tail but it still works!"
Blu: Red's my best friend out here! Every time before the challenge he's like "how are you doing?" "How do you feel?" He's like a coach, he actually cares, and gives me tips for fighting! We need more people like this on the Toka tribe.
There's still more questions from her. "What if I'm up against a giant?"
"Just be sneaky! Slide under them, hit him from the back, throw an egg on their face..it'll be distracting enough!" Red responds.
"As long as it's not Tremor…"
"Oh yeah…I wouldn't mess with him either."
Red: Lifting people up is a casual hobby for me. I'm a softie at heart, and cutting somebody down just doesn't work with me! Like imagine if I talked down to Blu, I can't do that she's so sweet! And we have a lot in common: dinosaurs, fear Tremor, all of that! And I'm glad she's my number one.
Inevitably though, Red switches to game-talk. "While we're talking Tremor, is it too early to vote him out?" Blu bites her lip. "Hmmm…I'm feeling Kano more than him."
"Yeah. Kabal's quick, Tremor's strong. Kano's funny and all but we don't really know each other. You know what I mean?" The red Yoshi asks, and the blue nods. "That and..something isn't right about him."
"You think he's got like a cruel heart?" The blue Yoshi shakes her head. "No he just seems snakey. I don't know if it's his looks, or his accent, or what, but..I'd like him."
"Maybe it's because he's Australian?"
That gets a chuckle out of her.
Red: I don't want one person running the aliiance! Everyone needs a voice, so if Blu wants Kano out, I'll let her have agency, and we'll vote him out first. There's still a problem: we don't know what side Kristine's on. She and Tremor are the votes we need, and if she doesn't pull through, one of us is leaving pre-merge..and WHO wants to leave pre-merge?!
Cut to The red Yoshi discussing the plan with Kristine.
"If you get Tremor, it's 4-2 on Kano. If you can't, we may have to take a big risk..and draw rocks. Rocks DON'T scare me, but if Kano's vulnerable to draw the purple rock, we need to take that shot." Red pitches.
"If we go 3-3, we'd have to vote for Kabal."
"No chance we vote for Tremor. We kinda need him."
Kristine: Apparently Kano is on the table and after he said that I realized: there's a chance to flip Tremor. Kano annoys him so maybe, JUST maybe..we can split those guys up.
It wasn't looking good for the Yoshi yesterday, but this conversation has opened up the game for them.
"Do you have my back after this?" the koopa asks, and Red turns to her. "All the way."
Let's see if either can keep their promises.
Ok so next chapter is the challenge and Tribal Council. All three tribes have their strategic dynamics lines up: Infinite versus everyone, Matt/Sonic/Monty versus Mac/Mei, and the continuing Black Dragon versus Yoshi battle with Kristine and Tremor REALLY needing to pick sides.
Who's winning these dynamics? Find out in 3C!