Helen (to Brian): And now, we wonder if Penny will join up with Asteria to boot me this round.
I'm thankful that I don't have to talk to that shithead anymore though.
I can't believe it worked... and yet... I'm so grateful...?
On a more serious note, though, did that mean he didn't find the idol? Or that the expiration is/was actually F5?
Brian (to Helen): How Penny actually pulled that off shocks me. I didn't think she was going to back down as far as voting Rob went, so I said we should vote for him just so I didn't stupidly get voted out because the 3 of us didn't even vote together. I guess I would've rather been idoled out of the game than taken out that way.
As far as the idol goes, I have no idea. What you saw on the tracker with him launching a PM could've been Christy or Joanna first finding it and then him responding to them? Or would you have caught that? At this point, our fate is 100% in the hands of Penny and we have to hope that she doesn't swap.
I haven't spoken to Christy or Joanna forever. If Penny does work with them, they probably won't even include me in the decision.
Helen (to Brian): I'm still shocked. It still probably would've been better for us to all vote Joanna so that Penny could target Rob this round, but alas. I have no idea about the idol. I wish they would tell us the goddamn expiration; we should be entitled to that.
I don't like the idea of Penny switching right now. She'll probably try to take out me and Christy? So if either of us win immunity, she'll gun for the other. I'm wondering if you should tell her that you'll vote me out at F4 (hopefully you won't, though) so that she knows to stay with us and take me out at four, whereas you can't do that the other way around, because Joanna won't vote for Christy and she'll force a 2-2 tie. Does that plan make sense? It'll convince Penny it's in her best interests to stick with us this round, because if not, she'll potentially be voted out next round.
I still talk to Joanna/Christy amicably, but would imagine that they'd side with Penny if given an offer
Brian (to Helen): Yeah, you and Christy are the logical next two to go based on taking out the players most likely to win if she sticks to that philosophy.
If I tell her that I'll vote you out at final 4, if Christy wins immunity here, will that just assure that she'll want to take you out when she can, though, this round? That's my biggest fear with telling her I'll swap. She also may suspect something is up and that you're getting me to tell it to her out of suspicion since I haven't said anything about going after you this game (besides pretending to Rob that I was entertaining his offers), so before I initiate that plan and approach Penny, I want to make sure you're 100% comfortable because I wouldn't want my discussions about you being taken out actually causing you to be taken out if Penny's somehow still legit with you at the current time.
Yeah, I'm sure they've approached Penny. My PMs have been 0 besides the ones you've sent and the ones Penny sent right after the vote.
Helen (to Brian): I've just been chatting with the Asterias about how we ALL agreed that no communication was best, and Rob is a gigantic dumb ass
Penny doesn't look to be doing anything PM-wise... let me know if you've seen otherwise. That makes me wonder if she's even considering approaching them. Maybe we just need to pamper her about what great moves she's made and how she deserves it over us, only to show the jury at FTC the madness, stubbornness, and ignorance that she's actually capable of.
I see your point about the hoax actually turning out to be real. You're probably right to hold back. I'm also hesitant that she'd wait until after the IC. I don't know how else we stop her...
Brian (to Helen): I had to step out after that vote. I'm actually glad we didn't have a tiebreaker that was a posting competition or endurance because I would've probably struggled to do that at this time.
I'll send her some personal thanks (because she really, really helped save me) to see her thought process but won't bring up actually tageting you. I doubt it'll amount to anything though. And yeah, after that move, she'll hopefully be more confident that she has a chance of beating anyone in the finals. I don't think I should make a move tonight specifically about recruiting her against you. If anything seems off tomorrow a few hours before the challenge, then would possibly be the time for me to talk to her because votes can be changed in a matter of seconds (as tonight showed). I'll let you know how our individual chats go, but I have a feeling she'd want to keep me out of the discussions almost entirely unless I'd bring it up. So we need to wait a bit and then make a judgment call on if I should.
Helen (to Brian): Yeah, definitely keep those thoughts on the back burner, as potential, but as of yet, unnecessary. Joanna just mentioned that Penny never talks to her, but I have, so she said that she'd rather side with me over Penny this round, if it comes down to it. So I think we have a contingency plan there if Penny does go to make a move. If that were the case, I don't know if it would be best for us to 2-2-1 (with Penny on one of us, you/me on Jo or Chris, and Jo/Chris on Penny, so that the revote to take out an Asteria) or to take Penny down outright and risk the 2-2 at F4. Hopefully none of it is necessary, at all. I'd say it's better that we play reactively than proactively here, and Joanna has luckily given us the opportunity to do so.
Brian (to Helen): I don't think any of that is necessary, but if Penny does strategize against you, hopefully you'd get some kind of confirmation from Joanna forwarded and then if Penny wouldn't tell us what she was doing approaching them, we could capitalize on that to take her out.
I sent her a thank you, what a big move, etc, PM. It's going to be so much quieter now with Rob gone, and Christy's in bed for the night...so the PMs will likely be pretty short that are exchanged. Which is fine with me.
Helen (to Brian): Yeah, my holiday break is finally over now (January 23rd, right?), so I'll be in bed earlier than usual (although tonight and tomorrow are the only nights where that really matters). Didn't mean to lag on my response here, but saw that Joanna was still online for me to respond to, and you weren't, so I wanted to make sure we leave the door to Plan B open if we do so need it.
I guess that the board is basically setup... and there's nothing more for us to do, aside from make sure that Penny has faith to stick with us. I am so relieved that the idol is out of play, finally. And so shocked that Rob didn't have it
He legitimately went from HII, to PM, to offline. It just seemed so... fishy, that I was convinced. Oh, well. I'm also baffled that we've managed to avoid a tiebreaker after expecting ties at F10, F9, F8, F7, and F6. It couldn't be scripted any better.
I'll be checking online sporadically throughout the day. We'll be in touch. Excited that it's all worked out though. Or, at the very least, relieved. Have a good night
Brian (to Helen): It's fine that you lagged on my response. I'm pretty sure that I unexpectedly just left the board for about twenty minutes anyway.
Everything does seem set up right now for success. Penny responded really short with a Helios F3. <3 So that basically gives us nothing new about her direction, so I assume we just proceed as planned for now.
I'll be on throughout the day tomorrow as well. Tomorrow night, after it's over, I'll definitely be calling it an early night because Tuesday morning is a very early one for me (my holiday break has long since ended), but it hopefully won't really matter that much. Have a good night, too!
Helen (to Brian): Brian wrote:
Tomorrow night, after it's over, I'll definitely be calling it an early night because Tuesday morning is a very early one for me
I'm petrified of an endurance challenge tomorrow night, since we're ending on an IC. But I guess there's nothing more to predict on that until we see it happen (and hopefully we do see it happen, the F4, that is, not the endurance challenge). For that, though, the only person we'd really have to worry about is Penny, and I think I'd be willing to stay up all night to make sure that we get through it unscathed.
Night, again!
Brian (to Helen): Oh my god, thanks for the reminder. I looked at the schedule when it was posted but didn't even observe anything besides tonight's events and when the game ended. That final challenge is going to be really, really rough. At least we don't have to wait on an idol, so hopefully the vote goes quick and we can start it relatively early. And most importantly, hopefully we're still around for it. If it is endurance, I'll stay up all night for it also even if I have to function the next day on no sleep. I don't think Penny would actually be as much of a problem because she's teaching and almost surely has to take breaks.
Night, for good. Logging out now. I'll update my confessional during the day sometime tomorrow!
Helen (to Brian): Brian wrote:
I don't think Penny would actually be as much of a problem because she's teaching and almost surely has to take breaks.
I forgot about that! I was just thinking about the time zone. Good catch, there.
Brian (to Helen): Hey, anything happen today? I was essentially away for most of the day and had about one line PMs from both you and Penny. Otherwise, all seems dull.
Helen (to Brian): Nothing on my end. Haven't talked to Joanna since yesterday. Penny replied to my ridiculously long thank you and "Helios F3" discussion with a one-line confirmation. Been talking to Christy here and there, but just about history and no planning. Monitoring the number of PMs getting sent, there have only been two or three that I haven't been aware of, so I don't think Penny is trying to pull anything (although, she might wait until after the IC).
We need to figure out whether it's better to take out Joanna or Christy this round given the choice. I still like the idea of bringing Christy to F4, but I think I'd trust Joanna more (since she wouldn't team up with Penny, it seems, if Penny turned). Joanna would be less of an F3 threat, obviously, as well as less of a threat in F4 IC, but part of that makes it more appealing for Penny to turn. All of this is basically just explaining pros/cons that you surely realize already, but just transcribing them.
What's your gut say? I'm leaning towards keep Joanna but undecided.
Brian (to Helen): Penny wrote:
Its all easy now, just gotta worry about the challenges. So im not even worried about strategic plans at this stage.
That's what another attempt to initiate conversation with Penny resulted in a reply of.
My gut says to vote out Christy. I agree. Even though the two of us don't talk (although I intend to send her a few sentences between now and the challenge based on a joke we made right after the merge) she's still by far my favorite Asterian. But I think Penny would be most likely to stick with us this round to vote her out realizing that she's a threat to win (if she's voting with that philosophy here). And then hopefully Joanna and Penny wouldn't team up at final 4, but even if they did, it would only force a 2-2 tie.
I think you winning immunity would again be best to make sure Penny doesn't work with Joanna and Christy this round, but I'll still be trying my best.
Helen (to Brian): *sigh* Yeah, I think Christy should be the boot based on IC threat, and that she's more likely to expose Penny if Penny does turn. But even so, it's better to face Joanna in a tiebreaker than Christy, so still good decision.
I'd rather win immunity next round than this round, and almost prefer not to potentially win three in a row, but I'll still try my best. I have a feeling, with the challenge being short, that it won't even matter much.
This is what paranoia gets me too. Anything between you and Penny that you could have to fill in the blanks?
3088: Joanna to Helen (2am)
3089: Helen to Penny (2am)
3090: ???
3091: Penny to Helen (8am)
3092: Helen to Jeff (11am)
3093: Christy to Helen (3pm)
3094: Helen to Christy (4pm)
3095: ???
3096: Helen to Helen (8pm)
3097: Brian to Helen (8pm)
3098: ???
3099: Helen to Brian (8pm)
3100: ???
3101: Brian to Helen (9pm)
Brian (to Helen): 3090: Penny to me
3098: me to Penny
3100: Penny to me
3102 was a one-sentence joke about fish to Christy.
Helen (to Brian): Penny wrote:
Definitely. It should be Christy unless she wins Immunity. If she wins the F4 IC and gets to the end she'll win, so she needs to be our primary target.
Brian (to Helen): Alright, with 30 minutes to go, we at least all agree on a target. I hope Penny doesn't come up with a last minute plan again.
Tonight into tomorrow is honestly the worst day ever for me as a far as a posting challenge goes, which it sounds like it will be, but I'll still try to find every minute I can into it. To hopefully at least eliminate Penny and Joanna.
Brian (to Helen): 3109: Christy to Brian
3115: Brian to Christy
If you're still logging.
Helen (to Brian): I'll dedicate as much time as I need to, to get through it. I'd be surprised if it was elimination based, I'd expect it more to be a personal-best-score kind of thing, since FIC should be entirely within your own control and not dependent on others, at least IMO. Hoping that if I pull through it all night, there'll be enough of a lead so that I can stop worrying when it should be time for Penny to go to bed in her time zone. But this is all just useless speculation. I'm drawing out scenarios about whether Penny tells the truth / Joanna lies, or visa versa. The only dangerous situation looks to be if Penny/Christy vote one of us, Joanna votes for Penny (if I ask her to), and we both vote Christy. Then on re-vote, Joanna/Penny take me/you out. I was trying to figure out, if anything weird goes down post-IC, if it would be favorable for you and me to split votes, but that's the only scenario that it would help, so it'd probably be overkill. </overthinking>
Helen (to Brian): I am. Missing 3113 to 3116, and 3118.
Brian (to Helen): Right, I don't think it'll be elimination based. I just meant I'd put enough time to hopefully make it so that Joanna or Penny would be least likely to win. I expect that, hands-down, you'd probably beat me just thinking about the different places I need to be tomorrow and how difficult it would probably be posting on a phone there.
I think you're probably overthinking and overcomplicating this vote, too. At least I think most scenarios make the most sense for the two of us to vote the same way to get at least 2 on a number.
Christy wrote:
Do you like your fish fried or seared?
(PM 3122)
I don't think she liked me bringing up an old joke, resurrecting a conversation from weeks ago. :lol: I'm bored though, and there's nothing else to talk about.
3115 = me to Christy
Helen (to Brian): Penny wrote:
Cool beans. They are trying to get me to flip on you, although they've been trying all game.
If you win Immunity like I expect you to then you'll be right.
So I'm missing quite a few recently, and it probably isn't worth continuing to track it. As long as Christy doesn't win this immunity, it should be cake. Otherwise, I'll need to play double talk with Penny/Joanna. I told Penny that Joanna would sell her out to eliminate Penny, so hopefully that puts the cabash on any worst case scenario plans. I need to stop being so paranoid. Bathroom break before challenge, now...
Brian (to Helen): 3142 = me to Christy, and this PM will probably be the last I send prior to the challenge. The number is increasing high now.
I think we'll be fine, but you winning immunity obviously is best.
Helen (to Brian): What took the other three so long? lol That seemed relatively easy... right?
Brian (to Helen): Yeah, they were relatively easy. My windows all grouped together because I had so many open, so I had to launch a new browser window and navigate to the thread.
I think you're just exceptionally good at the challenges. And now I hope that Penny doesn't turn on me here, but congrats on final 4!
Helen (to Brian): Thanks. If you're worried about it, we could do a whackjob thing where we get Joanna to vote for Penny, to try and split their votes, but I don't know if that would even help at all. I think we can feel comfortable that Penny wouldn't turn without reason, and taking me out seems like the practically only logical reason.
Brian (to Helen): I just confirmed the vote with Penny. I think we're completely safe, and you don't have to bother the whack-job thing.
Penny (to Brian, Helen): Rob doesn't necessarily have the Idol! He lived on it for the entire merge and he didnt even have it! Vote Rob!
Brian (to Helen, Penny): Okay, fine, let's vote for Rob.
Helen (to Brian, Penny): We're voting Joanna. If you don't, Brian is out in 3-2-1
Penny (to Brian, Helen): I am so glad you listened to me guys.
I told ya!!
Helen (to Brian, Penny): Penny, I owe you SO many apologies and SO many congratulations. TRULY kudos to you! *clapclapclap* thank you thank you thank you
Helios 4Ever! (F3)
Penny (to Brian, Helen): I spent all weekend greasing him up and thats why you needed to win Immunity.
Sorry I had to yell at you guys at Tribal. But everything truly is easier now!
Brian (to Helen, Penny): Helios.
Thank you, Penny! For saving me. And I can't believe we actually took Rob out!
Helen (to Brian, Penny): I was yelling back, even if it was just at my screen
So no hard feelings on that part.
So, wait... really... how DID you get him to do it? All weekend? What were you saying? omgsh it doesn't even feel real
Joanna (to Helen): hahah he was such an idiot. well congrats on the win there is no way you are losing now
Helen (to Joanna): Definitely not true. But thanks for the accolades nonetheless (even though I definitely can't take credit for the move that got to here).
Was he actually telling you guys about what was going on? And, for the record, I don't even know all of what it was that WAS going on. But... how the fuck did that happen?
Joanna (to Helen): lol you're guess is as good as mine. like what the fuck i can't even get over how stupid it was i'm like laughing i'm not even mad thats the sad thing
Helen (to Joanna): Well, props to you, because I would be fucking irate lol did you guys know or suspect that he was turning? I thought he was bullshitting the entire thing (including TC) since he had an idol.
Joanna (to Helen): no because it would be an idiotic move. i'm guessing he made a final three deal with Brian/Penny because theyre easiest to beat according to him but lol at him ever thinking they would be honest.
like i sent both of them a fucking long ass paragraph to not trust anything you guys said and i THOUGHT both of them finally understood. god he's just such a fucking idiot.
it was noobs v vets this game me and Christy have been speculating that all along.
Helen (to Joanna): EXACTLY! Thank you. That's why I SWORE that Rob was conning Penny because I'm like "he can't be this stupid... he's playing you... stop listening... and stop giving him any indication (true or false) of who we're voting for." I was baffled. I went on and on and on about how Penny has been eats up lies like a kid eating chocolate... and... it worked? They left out my voting comment in the flash which said "this is a fucking stupid decision and i already regret it"
noobs v vets? Of Stranded you mean? I was thinking that, too, actually, until Brenda pointed out in my confessional that players are informed when former Stranded players are playing the game (and who they are) much like the actual series. Which baffles me even more, because that means near 15 seasons now of generally new people, which is a mindblowing influx of participants.
Joanna (to Helen): yeah i mean Christy and i did that exact thing you said like not give any indication either way like her and i didn't talk to ANY of you guys at all this whole weekend because it would be stupid but i guess that's rob's idea. i have never had someone so consistently tank my game before like seriously it's insane. i've been paying for the dumbass ever since the mutiny plan. and no i still think it's noobs v vets she's trying to trick you i bet because i posted it in my confessional too and taj was like:
Helen (to Joanna): Honestly, if the four of us actually knew what was going on between those two crazies over the weekend (apparently talking a lot? not even to my knowledge?), I'd not be surprised if we'd have just made an F4 agreement to take out their rivalry entirely and force a tie at the penultimate TC. Yeah, he's really broughten you guys down time and time again with believing his instincts... meanwhile, no one else ever believes him
And that would have to mean you guys are the vets. Because I haven't played an ORG in years, and never heard of Stranded before this.
Brenda wrote:
No player in this game is a returning player. If they were, it would be public knowledge from the start of the game like in last Season's Noobs vs Veterans twist.
If you ever partake in Stranded again, you will play/lurk/host as Helen, and no-one else will ever play/lurk/host as Helen in your place.
Joanna (to Helen): lol whatever you can only try and help a retard who thinks they are smart so much. the thing is i knew you guys would target rob because he talked to your group the most therefore reinforcing that he doesn't have the idol. like he is literally so stupid.
but i know that the only thing that stands between you and a win is Penny so if you for some ungodly reason need me i'm here. i mean quite honestly i'm not a fan of either of you but you have taken the time to talk to me while she hasn't so that's the only reason i'd pick you over her.
Helen (to Joanna): I'm glad that I wasn't the only one that had that assessment of him
It's not that he's bad... but he just... thinks too much of... you know? Like, him approaching all three of us with conflicting deals honestly made us more unified when we otherwise might've actually fractured. And to be totally honest, I was never opposed to his game. But these past few days, he's practically been trying to emotionally manipulate all three of us ("if you don't take the most deserving people to the end, then you're a horrible person and a hypocrite blah blah blah" while giving totally different moral arguments to the other two about eliminating sides or eliminating the deserving ones). It was only then that I'd had enough, and was like "no, I'm not responding to his three page monologue about why he hates me, it's a pointless argument, it's not going where, and I'm ignoring it."
But, I get what you're saying
And I was actually CONVINCED that he did have the idol (but that was based on what I was watching people do immediately following the clue going out, not what he said). That's why I avoided any name talk with him, even when he brought it up, because I didn't want to give him any indications about anything to have him guess or second guess...
And on the topic of "win" and "sides" and "ungodly reason" looking to the next two rounds, I really, truly do actually appreciate you approaching me. I think it says a lot about your character to be willing to stand up for that kind of a principle in defending one person over another, strategic reasons aside, as a way to credit polite or social play. I obviously can't say anything on the topic right now, because nothing has happened, to my knowledge, and considering how loyal she and Brian have both been to me (in spite of my immunities these past two times, staying true to the three of us, anyways, targets or threats aside), it would be unfair of me to unreasonably turn on either of them when they've done so much and given up so much to not only get themselves here, but me with them. But, in the even that you do hear something, or an offer comes up, I'd obviously appreciate you mentioning it, because nothing is set in stone. And further, as it would be in my best interests to, I'd likely match that same offer to the best of my ability, but with names exchanged. I have no idea whether it will come up, or the likelihood of it, but I do appreciate you approaching me with that, and if you have any questions about the above or any ambiguities about it, please let me know, because I want to be as clear as I can, about both my intentions and my thought process to get to them (especially considering how you've had very good reason to question my morals these past few rounds, and this paragraph might sound in stark contrast to the side of me that you've been exposed to simply because of the randomness of tribes).
Joanna (to Helen): Ugh he was so stupid like did he think you guys just wouldn't talk? My plan was actually to do Brian this whole time (because I though you had the idol or someone would give it to you since you were targeted last time) but I didn't tell him till last minute (plus you won immunity anyways) because I wanted his idiotic attempts at stragetizing to sounds genuine. Guess that may have not been the best idea.
And I completely agree about the loyalty thing because I would do the same if I was in your position. I mean I still was thinking about going to the finaly 3 with Christy (before this vote obviously) even though I knew she would probably beat me just out of sheer loyalty. But if you eer sense that greed coming on just know I am just a PM away.
Also holy lol that is the most politically correct I have ever heard someone be in a PM
Helen (to Joanna): Rob and I talked a bit about deservingness after we first met, and agreed that, like, this is an ORG, not a million dollars. I was using this as an opportunity to just test my attempt at playing the game, so the best way to test that was not being afraid to bring other deserving players to the top so that I could be judged. That's when he proposed the F6 deal between... well, who *actually* ended up being the final six, with an F4 inside of that excluding you and Penny (not sure if he'd ever mentioned the latter part to you, but Penny knew about it, since, well, I'll keep going here...).
As I tried to explain to him the other day (where he basically just responded calling "bullshit" and attacking me) is that I do want to bring the deserving to the top, but I also have, what you could call, a "self-preservation" clause and a "loyalty" clause that supersede that. Like, look, if it appears to me that you (as Asteria as a whole at F10, as you/Rob/Christy/Ted at F8, whatever group) stand good reason to team up and eliminate the rest for whatever reason (even if you haven't yet, or pledge your loyalty otherwise, if it STILL would appear to be in your best interests to team up and kick off everyone else) then I had to preemptively keep myself safe by attacking that group, or an integral part of it, hence "self-preservation." Also, for loyalty, we already talked about it.
Point being, he said "I don't fucking believe you. You should bring me and Christy to the top or your values were all lies, and you're an awful person" (summarized, obviously). Then, he voted out Christy...
I just wanted to appropriately explain everything (in the last PM) is all
Like, make it clear that there are greener pastures you can ride to, but that it's not right of me to offer them without reason, out of loyalty unless something were to happen to mistrust said loyalty. And to phrase it in a way that was intended to sound "reactive" and not "actively disloyal." I'm assuming that it made sense then, based on your response lol
Joanna (to Helen): No yeah it makes sense like don't be disloyal if there isn't a reason to be. I actually use to play games like that where it doesn't matter who you take to the end because it isn't a mil but that fucked me over because others weren't thinking like that.
And now you might me pleasantly surprised that I do kind of believe that you don't lie all the time...
Like you don't have to be telling me the truth right now but you are so that's a refreshing change of pace.
And holy shit you're final plea to win the game is going to be a BITCH to read hahahah seriously.
Helen (to Joanna): Oh, you have NO idea. I've gotten a lecture from Brenda about how my confessionals need to be more split up. Then, after you guys idoled Erin on Thursday, I thought I saw Rob get the new idol, and then you came to me (drunk, I think) and were like "you're the target, btw, so good luck"... and I was just like "fuck... they have it in the bag... I'm done"
I wrote this hugely long reflective soliloquy about (omg)... so much... I was talking about poker, and quantum physics, and epic poems, and relating it all to the game and how it was a positive experience regardless of the outcome, and that I was satisfied, just being demoralized and expecting defeat tonight.
Point being, I'm pretty sure that EVERYONE thought it was too long to read (with good reason), so it's now just my personal seven-page long reflective essay.
I'm thinking of (if this is possible) doing my speech in spoiler tags (if I even get to F3, that is, not getting overconfident, really, always gotta be on toes), and being like "you don't have to read it all, really. just open whichever ones interest you" bad idea?
Joanna (to Helen): No good idea because I will probably skip most of the shit at the beginning especially premerge.
It's really funny because I'm sure you can tell from my consistently short PMs but I feel like the hosts are always trying to get me to talk MORE. It's like pulling teeth. I don't say shit on what I want to do and just joke around half the time.
Helen (to Joanna): You did talk to Ted, right? For the record I really do <3 him, and he's probably the only boot (of my doing) that I truly feel bad about. But the number of messages from him that were just like "It's fine. I just had lunch." LIKE THAT'S A MESSAGE? REALLY? loljk And then, trying to get information about Asteria out of him, and your idol, and team dynamics, and all of that after he rejoined us at the merge... I would ask him like 10 questions about Asteria and he would just respond "Nothing much interesting." which, to his credit, is part of what made him such a great and unpredictable player. But yeah, that's what I thought of.
Joanna (to Helen): Thats why I always thought he was lying! I actually saw it as kind of dumb because it made him seem untrustworthy to me. Like he shouldn't have made the merge that was my biggest fuck up of this game. Forever regret.
Helen (to Joanna): Oh, you know why he originally went over to Asteria, right? Since he had our idol, which we treated as cursed, basically, because like you said, his short-wordedness implied that he was being untrustworthy (not to mention, he admitted to finding the idol, and claimed he didn't take any clues...). So Penny went all batshit and decided to pressure him to mutiny to use the idol to get rid of Rob to carry out her personal vendetta on him and flush the idol (genius, right........?). Are you noticing a pattern here? Every round is a new plan to get rid of.... Anyways. So, of course, we all sat here shitting ourselves seeing Ted lead you guys to victory round after round. But yeah, it turned out he was just trying to assimilate. And keeping him ended up allowing for our 6-4 when it could've been a 5-5 (actually, Daniel might not have even turned, then, dunno). But that's all a bunch of hindsight, everything looks different from that perspective, it's impossible to see, at the time. We just couldn't believe that Ted survived multiple TCs on the opposite tribe without having to play his idol. Rob must've told the trust about what it was like to talk to most of the pre-merge Asterias
Joanna (to Helen): Yep not getting rid of Ted was my number one mistake and now that just solidifies it.
Christy and Rob swore that he was "trustworthy" and I of course went with them. But yeah you're right it is all in hindsight what can you do.
Joanna (to Helen): can i know who you guys are voting for at least
Helen (to Joanna): Yeah. Christy. You're safe, as far as I'm concerned. I thought you realized that when we were talking last night?
Joanna (to Helen): no we talk when i'm getting screwed too. i figured since she's the bigger threat but i didn't know if you guys thought differently fort some reason. i'm still going to do the "im going home" though b/c it's kinda my thing...
Helen (to Joanna): Oh, and I love that being your thing
Christy goes as long as you stay true to what you said yesterday about not siding with Penny. Meaning, if she turns, and you make me aware of it, we flip the script, making you safe. If you stick with her, it would end up being a 2-2 and you'd stand a chance of going home in a tiebreaker anyways. But otherwise, like we discussed, I can't unnecessarily betray people that were not untrue to me. Does that make sense? And seem fair? For a spot in the F4.
Joanna (to Helen): What are you talking about you think Penny is trying to flip it or something?
Helen (to Joanna): Well, I know that Christy is talking to her about trying that. But that's a different story, and doesn't appear to be happening.
I'm talking about this from yesterday...
Helen wrote:
And on the topic of "win" and "sides" and "ungodly reason" looking to the next two rounds, I really, truly do actually appreciate you approaching me. I think it says a lot about your character to be willing to stand up for that kind of a principle in defending one person over another, strategic reasons aside, as a way to credit polite or social play. I obviously can't say anything on the topic right now, because nothing has happened, to my knowledge, and considering how loyal she and Brian have both been to me (in spite of my immunities these past two times, staying true to the three of us, anyways, targets or threats aside), it would be unfair of me to unreasonably turn on either of them when they've done so much and given up so much to not only get themselves here, but me with them. But, in the even that you do hear something, or an offer comes up, I'd obviously appreciate you mentioning it, because nothing is set in stone. And further, as it would be in my best interests to, I'd likely match that same offer to the best of my ability, but with names exchanged. I have no idea whether it will come up, or the likelihood of it, but I do appreciate you approaching me with that, and if you have any questions about the above or any ambiguities about it, please let me know, because I want to be as clear as I can, about both my intentions and my thought process to get to them (especially considering how you've had very good reason to question my morals these past few rounds, and this paragraph might sound in stark contrast to the side of me that you've been exposed to simply because of the randomness of tribes).
Yes, you stick around. There's a good chance that the three of us stick together, but you still have FIC. And also, in the event that she does turn (next round), it would be in your best interests (aside from your personal interests that you've already mentioned) to expose that Penny has turned so that you'd be safe that round, whereas, if you'd actually join Penny and tie up the vote, you'd be in the tie and still stand a chance of going home at F4. But if all three stay loyal and none of that goes down, you still have a chance at FIC. Make sense?
Joanna (to Helen): ok yeah i gotcha i was confused at first because i thought you were talking about this tribal!
Helen (to Christy, Joanna): I had absolutely no idea that was going to happen. And I'm truly sorry that Rob fucked up your guys games (albeit, I've certainly done more fucking-up of them, but an enemy versus an ally). It never feels right for people to be put in bad situations because of the mistakes of others.
Brian (to Penny): THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SAVING ME THERE, FRIEND!
I am seriously shocked that Rob actually did that. And now I think we have a very clear path to the final three with idols out of the way.
Penny (to Brian): Its ok. I had no idea which way they were voting.
But Helios F3 was the dream! <3
Brian (to Penny): Lol, I had no idea which way WE were voting until TC because you really wanted Rob out, and Helen really wanted us to vote for Joanna. I'm seriously thrilled that I picked Rob, and you made a great move convincing him to vote for Christy.
I also have no idea what was up with no idol being played there, but I'm thankful for it.
I'm happy we're going to make this alliance work (I hope!) that we made like the second day of the game. That rarely happens in these games, and this was one that was full of blindsides too.
Penny (to Brian): I dont think anybody found the Idol lol. It was pretty difficult, I searched all weekend but just couldnt find it. I assumed someone else got it.
This gets pretty easy now. Assuming we can just walkover Christy and Joanna in the challenges.
Brian (to Penny): I haven't really been around, but today's the first day I even recall signing on to single line PMs in my inbox. I'm used to getting complex plans from you and Helen.
I'm relaxed, focused, and ready to go. Hopefully we can finish this off.
Penny (to Brian): Its all easy now, just gotta worry about the challenges. So im not even worried about strategic plans at this stage.
Brian (to Penny): Are we on the same page as far as voting Christy out here because she's the biggest threat to win from Asteria?
Penny (to Brian): Absolutely. Joanna wont beat us next challenge, but Christy is a slight chance. She should go tonight.
If she wins her way through to the end she'll win easy.
Brian (to Penny): Alright, sounds good. I've confirmed this with you and Helen now, so I think we're good to the final 4.
Penny (to Brian): #Winning.
Penny (to Helen): I just spent all weekend sweet talking him.
Originally he wanted me to go to the end with him and Joanna. So I was all like, yeah no worries ill flip on Helios I dont even like them.
Then I managed to convince him that Brian would be better to take to the end than Joanna. Unbelievably he bought it. Then I told him I'd give him inside info about Helios to help him with his Final Tribal Speech if he took me that far. Then today, I sent a fake PM from Christy saying that if Helen won Immunity she would vote Rob out for being a threat. I told him that I would rather him stay alive than Christy so thats why I was sharing the info.
Helen (to Penny): So, consider this my personal "THANK YOU"!
You are so awesome. And I was in so much disbelief when it all went down. You have mad skillz, and (assuming the same thing would've happened if Brian had won immunity instead of me, and I'd have gotten the votes that he otherwise did, even though you've said the plan wouldn't have worked, but let's just pretend it would've) you definitely saved my life tonight, and Brian's life, and the life of Helios moving into this final stage.
I was going to repeat that whole schpeel about loyalty, and "tell me about if anything comes up, just so we can talk about it to see what we can do," blah blah blah. But you've heard it all before and know that it still applies, even more so now with the idol (thankfully) out of commission.
And, although I also suppose I don't have to say anything about this, I will anyways (again): I'm so excited that everything has panned out for our Day 01 alliance. It's amazing how far we've come, and I'm so glad that we should (hopefully) get to sit next to one another in the final.
One thing that I touched on in a few of the conversations with Rob between the past few days and long long ago was the topic of criteria for who to be in the finals with. And I explained to him that I (like, him, or at least as he so claimed) favored the concept of deservingness, but that loyalty usurps that, because it was far more important to me (in an ORG, not worth a million dollars
) to be able to show the same trust to my allies to go to the end with them as they were willing to do with me, without betraying that loyalty that's existed for the entire game. He called bullshit and said I should bring him and Christy to the finals, no questions, at which point, I stopped responding. But the point is: I'm so glad that with the three of us on Helios, it's fulfilling both of those things---the loyalty and the deservingness.
Because we've worked together for so long, and stood by each other, like today, to protect the others of us no matter the situation, that no matter what I want to sit in the finals beside you guys, win or lose. But also, between my moves and Brian's moves for some of the past few rounds, and then your moves that salvaged us tonight, and bringing Daniel in which won us the merge TC, we've clearly proven that we're the three best candidates to be sitting at the top, and no one can deny us that. And I truly want the jury to decide which of us is most deserving of the win, with all of the knowledge at their disposal. You have such a great argument for FTC that no one seems to be able to see, yet, and I want to let you know that I will absolutely go to bat to defend the moves that you made and show the jury that they were yours and you're deserving of the credit for those. And same for Brian and his, because only with that honesty is the win going to mean anything at all to any of us. It's truly anyones game between us, and I'm excited to see it play out.
So, I'll stop being all sappy and shit
But since it was a thought that came up in the past, it seemed worth revisiting tonight because your move really hit it home that this is the perfect group and perfect endgame for all of us, and I wanted to share it because it's something for us all to be so very proud of
This is just me rambling, so you don't even have to respond to any of this
But Helios F3 4Ever!
Penny (to Helen): That was quite a read Helen! Haha.
But all very valid points. I think we all have a chance to win! But you'd be the favourite at the moment. I dont mind though, a Helios winners makes us all winners. <3
Helen (to Penny): Haha, excellent!
What are you thinking for tonight, if given the choice between Christy/Joanna? Obviously, if one wins immunity, it has to be the other. But if one of us win it, should we target Christy for being the bigger IC threat for F4?
Penny (to Helen): Definitely. It should be Christy unless she wins Immunity. If she wins the F4 IC and gets to the end she'll win, so she needs to be our primary target.
Helen (to Penny): Completely agreed. Sounds like this'll be an easy one! And thank god the idol is out of play.
Okay, so I think I'm 100% convinced, then. I'm more comfortable with the odds of Joanna or Penny avoiding the tie or that one of us would win tiebreaker, over the 25% chance of Christy winning FIC... I think.
So, we have 24 hours for FIC... I'm almost positive that Joanna wouldn't win a posting challenge of dedication. Christy would probably try her best, which would be tough. So, that reinforces it... I think.
Penny (to Helen): We just have to keep her from winning Immunity and we're all set.
Helen (to Penny): Yup! Sounds good!
Penny (to Helen): Cool beans. They are trying to get me to flip on you, although they've been trying all game.
If you win Immunity like I expect you to then you'll be right.
Helen (to Penny): I'm guessing that Christy is probably taking lead on it? Because I told Joanna last night how the three of us would be staying loyal regardless, and she responded saying "I talk to you more than Penny" so she said she planned on selling you out if you tried to flip so that she could turn the tables on you, and I was like "that... probably won't be necessary. but thanks! :-P"
Just help keep us from having a messy TC to deal with later
Thanks for the updates!
Penny (to Helen): Yeah its all Christy haha.
Penny (to Helen): You keep winning! Hahahaha.
Helen (to Penny): Haha thanks! Happy to be of service!
So, Christy? We're set?
Penny (to Helen): Yep. Ive already pre-voted.
Joanna wont beat us at anything unless the final Immunity challenge is go out and get drunk and come back and use Skype.
Im almost 100% sure that wont be the Final Challenge.
Helen (to Penny): .... I'm kind of wishing that it is now. That would be fun!
Penny (to Helen): Not fun if Joanna won.
Helen (to Penny): Well, that would be a fair point... yes... so, let's not have that be the challenge... but we can do it anyways in celebration AFTER the challenge.
