Jeff Probst wrote: ↑Wed Feb 03, 2021 10:14:24 pm
5 down. 19 More to go.
1- The first Veteran to leave the game since the mandatory first council. Is the playing field leveling out and becoming a true competition?
2- What was your role in the boot and why was it the best decision for your game, if so? if not?
3- Does tonight's boot change your long term plan or solidify it? Are you willing to work with anyone in this game? Have you reached out to the people outside of your current alliances, kept your options open?
4 - What intel has your partner given you about the other tribe, and who would you like to work with on it going forward?
See you tomorrow ! 
Wow ok so I was wondering why I didn't have access to the butt emoji and then I clicked on the "plus" next to smilies and it opened up a whole new world for me. GAME CHANGER.
Anyway...
1.) So I have no way of knowing if this is true, but based on info from Rocker and Stephannie, it sounds like Hannah thought she was/would be in control on old Te Poto. Elizabeth told me last night that everyone on her tribe was shook over Hannah's boot, which tells me we probably made the right choice in taking her out last night. I do think I may have made a good impression on Hannah because she had no problem coming right to me and pitching Shamar's name (which, yikes Hannah...but also wow I have managed to keep my relationship with Shamar more under wraps than I thought), which was bold and I respect. I realized a little late that I probably would have rather taken out Aurora--she completely ignored me before the vote and I've had fairly minimal interaction with her (although the interaction I
have had has been mostly fine--it was just a huge wake up call that she just didn't even bother to discuss the vote with me.
Plus, Elizabeth had been lightly encouraging me to try to work with Aurora and Hannah. Not that I wanted to go against her wishes, but the more I make her (and subsequently Jess, but we'll see about that) have fewer returnee options to work with in a swap/merge, the more she will have to rely on me + those I am closest to over here. That's not to say I want to weaken Elizabeth, but I do want to decomplicate us working together after time on separate tribes.
SO TLDR; I think the Hannah boot was good for my game overall--I doubt I would have been in her long-term plans, especially not that I hear she had some strong relationships. Stephannie fed me some info about her being dominant during the Garrett boot, so I feel decently about the choice last night.
2.) I just realized I kind of combined my answer to this question with #1...oops. My role in the boot was basically talking to Steph and Rocker and making sure they were on the same page. I also told Hannah I had heard Tai's name, and Michael told Aurora to vote for Tai...not sure which one of them did, but probably Aurora (I think Hannah stuck to her guns and voted Shamar, which I still think was a weird choice, and poor Shamar's little heart shattered).
3.) I think tonight's plan solidified my long-term plan, and I've been making an effort to talk to Rocker, Stephannie, and Tai to keep my options open. I had a good talk with Stephannie this morning about everything. She was definitely strategic in what she said to me and I can tell she was avoiding telling me any names of who she wanted to work with from Old Puka (I don't blame her because I'd probably do the same thing), but I think at best right now we have a working relationship. And Rocker sent Shamar and me an encyclopedia on the returnees this morning over PM, which I am still digesting, so I think I'm in a decent spot.
I just need people to...not compare notes on me.
4.) Elizabeth has told me she's tight with Jess, and that Wardog and Missy are her two targets right now (in that order). She also told me today that Allie and Hope said hi, so I feel like I'm in an ok place for the time being. I definitely want to work with her and Jess, since Jess and Michael are partners and I think it's in our best interest to band together. But at the same time, I find the increasing number of players without partners to be a liability--Stephannie was partnered with Eddie and at this point is pretty much a free agent, Rocker had Brandon (I am less worried about this), I don't know who Hannah had (or Liz told me but I forgot lol oops). So I just need to keep an eye on that in the future. Partners are 100% the worst kept secrets at this point.
So right now, the NuTe Poto people I'd be most keen to work with are Liz (obviously), Jess, Hope, and then Laura and Allie if necessity calls for it (Allie is extremely sus of everything and it's pretty stressful to deal with, but good on her for hustling I guess). I have heard a plethora of things about Stephanie and I don't know what to think . I am expecting Missy to come in like a wrecking ball if/when I end up meeting her.
Aaaaand that's all I got
