[Joaquin Souberbielle]

Congratulations! You've made it to the Final 18 and the second swap!

You're probably busy socializing with your new tribemates, but when you get a chance, answer these questions! Or don't!

1. So yeah, we swapped tribes. Who are you excited to see? Who do you hate to see?

2. At this point, there are nine new players in the game and nine returnees, and even split. Do you see the game as returnee vs. newbie or have the lines blurred?

3. Do the partnerships play a role in your voting strategy, at this point? Are you trying to split up partnerships, leverage them for votes, or not really thinking about it?

[Stephannie]

I will answer these questions later but I'm coming in here to say... did that really just happen?

Did the only two folks that I came into this anxious about - because we've had beef in the past - just leave back-to-back in the first week?

Now I'm not going to be stank. I'm not going to celebrate and I'm not going to dodge accountability. Yeah. We had fights in the past (lol) and many (most?) times they were my fault. The "Harry Potter Meltdown" is a meme for a reason. Like with Hannah especially it was one-sided and I own that.

So more than anything else, I'm just feeling "free" now. I don't have kind of.... that paranoia hanging over my head that maybe they secretly hate me and are plotting to get me out type of thing. Steph absolutely would have after that challenge where I talked shit, lul, so yeah this was a pleasant surprise.

Tentatively feeling good about this swap too even if it's 4-5.... except for Liz's idol. That's going to be anxiety-inducing for sure. I hope my friendship with Alexis bodes well for our relationship, and doesn't make Liz view me as a massive threat to get rid of type of thing.

[Stephannie]

1. So yeah, we swapped tribes. Who are you excited to see? Who do you hate to see?

I feel good! On paper Puka 2.0 is in the minority, and the vets are outnumbered too, but I'm optimistic and not overly worried.

Sherri, Reynold, and Matt were among my favorite people. I had a legit alliance with Matt. Sherri and Reynold I haven't had official dealings with beyond liking each other a lot, but I feel great about them.

I'm really glad to see Wardog too. But... he doesn't seem to have his shit together as much as I expected? So idk, but apparently he was left out of the vote last night so I figure he'll be looking to me for an ally still.

Laura is Tai's partner so it's important we get along too. That could be a thing. Even though I'm worried about Tai low-key looking at the other tribe? Anyway I was happy to see her too.

Elizabeth not so much. Not for any personal reason, I like her, but I'm the player on this tribe she's spent the least amount of time with. Alexis is her partner and has told her good things about me... which could go either way. Overall with her I'm just intimidated. She has that public idol, and I need to be careful... and make a good impression on her without just being an overt threat type of thing.

Oh and Jed. There's still something off with him. Idk. We talk but it never feels genuine. I have mixed emotions on him being here... because it gives me someone to target (lol) in theory which is always good. Better than being swapped to a tribe with eight of your friends.

2. At this point, there are nine new players in the game and nine returnees, and even split. Do you see the game as returnee vs. newbie or have the lines blurred?

For me it's very blurred. And I hope it's blurring for everyone else too. I feel good that it is... but yeah, it needs to, because on paper I'm "outnumbered" here in a few ways if we go purely by tribal lines by being the only vet from Puka 2.0. I can make it work here though like I said. I'm on alert and aware, but not worried.

3. Do the partnerships play a role in your voting strategy, at this point? Are you trying to split up partnerships, leverage them for votes, or not really thinking about it?

Not yet, at least. I need to go back and read the full extent of the twist... whether the reward is two idols, just a round of immunity, or something else. But for now it's not really on my radar. It would be good to know who can talk to who though.

Elizabeth knows the full list... I've kind of dropped the ball, but let's try it...

Stephannie - Eddie
Tai - Laura
Rocker - Brandon
Elizabeth - Alexis
Wardog - Shamar
Hannah - Allie or Hope
Aurora - Allie or Hope
Jed - Sherri, Matt, Michael, or Reynold
Stephanie - Sherri, Matt, Michael, or Reynold
Jessica - Sherri, Matt, Michael, or Reynold
Missy - not Sherri unless she's a great liar

So I know more of them than I thought. And as of now there's like seven of them intact so whatever. I'm not about to target people for who their partners are. I don't think Matt found the idol half so his partner isn't Steph. Eh. No point spinning about it any more now, I'll find out the others over the weekend.

Kind of worried Liz has a super strong partner.... would she try targeting someone like me since Eddie is out? To prolong the amount of time before folks start getting heat for the twist? I'd kind of understand her strategy if she did that... but again, it's a reason I need to make a good impression on her this weekend. To get along with her without coming off as TOO big of a threat.

[Stephannie]

Finished work at 9pm tonight and I I am feeling ~crazy~ .....yes. I need to direct this energy into trolling elsewhere. Send everyone some nice messages and then peace for the night so that I don't put my foot in my mouth. Because I am feeling that ~craving~ for drama or at least for rambling and that has no place in this game if I want to win. lol

[Stephannie]

Feeling a bit more anxious about these dynamics this morning than I had thought initially, but oh well.

This challenge can be optimized if we have five folks who know what they're doing. :25

[Stephannie]

And just have tabs ready to with pre-assigned timestamps not even waiting - and assuming our tribemates posted at the right time - so making someone post at :01, :02, :03, 04, :11, :12, etc. ...in theory

:48

[Stephannie]

This manager who isn't even my manager at work is pissing me off. Here's why. Let's call them Adam, let's call the head of engineering David, and let's call me Steph. Roleplay. We are in a group chat.

2:00:00pm David: Hi Steph [tagged] I committed the new code. Run it when you're ready!
2:02:00pm Adam: Steph [tagged] please proceed with the guidance above.

FUCK YOU!!! Like what? Why are you tagging me immediately after I'm already tagged, telling me to do shit I can clearly read for myself. In the comment right above, when there was no other chatting and it had been two minutes. So rude. Monumentally disrespectful. An unnecessary flex of power and it's taking everything within me not to post something passive-aggressive back.

[Stephannie]

So I feel good here, but less than Puka 2.0. Much less..... yeah. We have a foursome with Reynold, myself, Matt, and Sherri that I feel great about. I love them and would have been looking out for them here regardless but now it's official.

Then on paper it's easy, because Wardog is coming in on the bottom and he has a busy weekend. So we either sweep him up for a 5-4 majority vote, or we play into the division and let him get voted out. Either way someone from Te Poto 2.0 would leave.....

But I'm concerned. Because Elizabeth has that public idol, and she's sitting pretty here. She's arguably the most powerful member of this tribe right now, and I am the ONE player here she's never gone into a TC with. So she has zero reason to need me around unless I do a good job getting to know her.

Which is why, like... I wouldn't call myself paranoid. I'm not. I like how I'm doing socially and my position. But I'm feeling increasingly anxious about that public idol... or even the hidden one wherever it may be... because if Liz wanted to protect Allie, Laura, and Jed? I'm just looking at the obvious. Why wouldn't she get rid of me in that situation?

So all that to say, we need things to feel more fluid here. Or at least bring Elizabeth on board with us in some way? So that we can get rid of a Te Poto 2.0.... preferably Jed in my mind, but realistically it would be Allie/Laura.... but yeah we need to allow for that to happen while also having Liz consent. I mean we could go the "blindside" route too. But then we're still on these tribes and we've just lied to someone with an idol, so no. We need to be careful.

[Stephannie]

Partnership guesses...

Alexis - Elizabeth
Allie - Aurora
Brandon - Rocker
Eddie - Stephannie
Hope - Hannah
Laura - Tai
Matt - Missy
Michael - Jed
Reynold - Jessica
Shamar - Wardog
Sherri - Stephanie

Because I was prodding Allie and giving a lot of lines like "my partner died early" and she didn't agree & say "oh I was with Hannah" so I assume she did have Aurora.

The Sherry/Reynold/Michael pairings are wishful thinking. Idk. But it would be great if Jed's partner wasn't here lol.

[Stephannie]

Something feels off... idk. It seems too easy? But also Laura was gone all weekend and we need reliable players in the challenges.

Why did Jed tell Wardog that Sherri was trying to get me out?? Did he misreport that? Idk... but if true, well, then that's that because I'm trusting her here.

Elizabeth is sketching me out a bit, she seems too agreeable.

[Stephannie]

Wardog

I will note I have heard through Jed that Sherii wants you out. Of course thats not going to fly but I figured I’d inform you anyways

Like. I try not to be a paranoid player, but this has me anxious. I trust Sherri a lot, and she's one of my closest allies.... I think? But now I'm worried. Idk. Making up random shit like that seems a bit extreme and too specific, so I wonder if there's a kernel of truth to it. Honestly, I'd be pretty hurt if like, she randomly turned on me here with the help of like, Liz, Allie, Laura, and Jed.

Whatever. The best I can do is trust the work I've done and the friendships I've made, and not do anything crazy.

[Stephannie]

No actually, I think it's fine. There have been some sketchy conversations, but... too many stories, opinions, and reactions check out with one another. I'm still not feeling as good as I'd like, but I think we're all kind of paranoid.

At the very least? I feel like the KASS of Stranded. Where I'm so controversial and infamous that, you know what? I should have been the first boot! And I wasn't! So every round beyond that as a returnee is an accomplishment.

JK though my goal is still to win. It's happening! Or at the very least single digits, we are getting there!

[Stephannie]

At the very least? I feel like the KASS of Stranded.

Okay I won't give myself this much credit. But y'all know what I mean!

[Stephannie]

I am blaming that two-hour window on my anxiety above! lol

Good to be through that vote though. And now, assuming Wardog would vote with us, Puka 2.0 can control the next vote if it ever came down to a division...

Ideally we win the next couple challenges though. And I knew we should have been starting on :08 instead of :01, but I didn't want to confuse everyone after we had our rhythm down - I thought the other tribe would fuck up. Oh well, we would have lost anyway with the timestamps, so whatever.