---NOTE: Per usual, I appreciate comments/feedback. Um... I really AM trying to edit everybody in there so I'm sorry if you don't feel that you're being fairly represented - this is my first time going all out with a brant. Um... I had something else to say but can't remember so...
***At the Solanna tribe…
“We eating fancy tonight!” Drizella lifted the spices over her head. “Good job everybody, good job!”
“You’re welcome.” Max smiled and joked with her – but it didn’t come off that well. Dev laughed. Michelle smirked.
“Let’s just keep not losing and we’ll be good.” Ryan laughed.
“Sounds like a plan.” KC picked up her pace. “I don’t want anybody to go home any time soon.”
“I’m getting more water.” Ryan walked ahead of everybody. “Anybody else need?” They all declined.
“I’m about to enjoy a nice night with some salt and peppered rice…” Michelle ran to the camp.
“Girl, me too!” Dev and Max followed.
CONFESSIONAL FROM RYAN: So I go up to the well. -footage of Ryan at the well airs- And I drop the lid to my canteen. Lo and behold, at my feet, there’s a board with a tiny, black arrow in it. It’s pointing to the ground. And… I can’t tell if this is my brain wanting to see this or if I’m actually looking at a clue to the idol. -camera footage shows Ryan digging- So I start to rip into the ground, I have dirt all over my hands. But… there it is… wrapped neatly in a package for me. This thing… man oh man will this thing take you places.
***At the Apari tribe…
“It sucks that we didn’t win the spices.” Sindy was drawing in the sand with a stick.
“Yeah, but I mean at least we’re safe.” Michael looked at her. They were all sitting around with their spirits in a bittersweet area.
“I’ll take anything over another night like our last few.” James bit his nails. “Shit was brutal.”
“And to think, that was only one of many tribals…” Mike laid back. Caleb was just thinking, taking things in. He didn’t have much to say.
“Do you want to go get more firewood with me?” Caleb looked at Mike. He replied with a “Sure thing!” They took off into the woods making small talk. Caleb enjoyed Mike’s presence. “I just really hope things go like… smooth sailing from here on out.” Caleb took a few steps and waited for Mike to respond.
“I’m just going to take a day off from playing the game, I think.” Mike raised his arms up. “I mean come on, it’s a beautiful day.” Mike bent over and collected a few logs.
“Yeah but… I just don’t want to feel too safe. The game does go on, whether or not we’re thinking about it.” Caleb also bent over.
CONFESSIONAL FROM MIKE: Holy crap! So Caleb and I are out collecting firewood. All the while we’re having this conversation about how the game goes on and what not. And at the end of my log, I see a package neatly wrapped, tucked inside of it. We all know what this is.
“Wait a minute, do we have a good watch on Sindy?” Mike tried to get him to turn around.
“Yeah? James and Michael are at camp with her.” Caleb was a little confused.
“Oh okay.” Mike was defeated in his attempt to divert Caleb.
CONFESSIONAL FROM MIKE: Here’s the thing… this idol is literally two inches away from my nose. -camera shows him holding the log so the package is facing him- I can smell it. I don’t WANT to have to open it in front of Caleb, because that’ll force him to know and almost force an alliance… but he’s not looking away. -Mike is seen trying to untie his shoe by stepping on the lace-
“Gah fuck. Go ahead, Caleb, I’ll catch up.” Mike dropped his logs and started to fiddle with his shoe. He made sure that Caleb started to take himself back to camp and then he put the idol in his pockets. “Well… my saving grace.” He kissed his cupped hands and looked up at the sky.
***At the Luzon tribe.
“Why the fuck would you do that?” Cole didn’t hesitate to start grilling Gangey. “You cost us the challenge.”
“Why the fuck would you do that? Drop a full bucket – you cost US the challenge.” Gangey came back. “I mean honestly lean in with it… focus on your balance, dude.”
“I’m going to have to take Cole’s side here, that was a little fucked up.” Purple looked at Gangey. Micky nodded.
They went on and on about whose fault it was. It could’ve been Alex and Riley – they didn’t solve the maze quick enough. But their defense was that they didn’t have enough time. Gangey’s name was thrown around a lot, for he put too much water in the bucket. Cole’s name was out there because he dropped the buckets twice. Purple was getting blamed for not throwing the most water to Micky and Micky was getting blamed for not catching enough water. The arguments were circular and nothing was clear, for the group.
“I don’t want Cole here.” Gangey said to Riley, the two alone at the beach.
“So what’s the plan? Who do we have?” Riley was using a stick to clean his teeth.
“I think… Purple, Micky, and Cole will vote for me. So our only option at this point is Alex.” Gangey looked at Riley. “Right?”
“It sounds logical, that she’s our only hope. Those three ARE close…” Riley saw them chatting in the woods.
“I’ve got a trick up my sleeve, maybe.”
The camera went over to Micky, Purple, and Cole standing next to the trees near their shelter. “I think I’ve made it very clear, Gangey needs to go.” Cole exhaled. “He’s loud and abrasive and just can’t help us move forward as a tribe.”
“I agree. He’s the sole reason we lost today’s challenge.” Micky leaned in on the tree. “Like… how the fuck are you going to keep making the same mistake? And then not take responsibility for it?”
“I don’t know… dude is whack.” Purple sat down. “But we’re only three. We need Alex or Riley to solidify this.”
“I think we could work Alex over.” Cole mentioned that Gangey screwed Alex over on day 1. “Or we could talk to them both? Just to secure it? One of the two HAS to be on our side. I haven’t said any words to Riley, really.”
“I don’t think any of us have…” Micky thought about it. “Do you think if we pulled him aside – like if someone went and spoke to him separately, we’d be able to get him?”
“That depends… maybe we already got got.” Purple directed Cole and Micky’s attention back over to them. Alex joined in Riley and Gangey’s conversation.
“You want me to tie it?” Alex questioned Gangey.
“Yeah. I think I can get Purple to flip if it’s a tie.” Gangey was lying. They went back and forth for a while. “Riley, will you excuse us?” Riley said sure and went to speak with the other three (Purple, Micky, and Cole.)
“Listen. Alex.” Gangey stopped. “You wanted to work together, right?” She nodded. “So what’s the deal? If you won’t tie it with a vote to Cole, who are we voting?” Alex looked around. She realized by not offering someone else that it indicated she was voting him.
“Micky.” She lied.
“Okay fine. I’ll get Riley to flip. Did you find the idol?” Gangey asked her. “We can use it to save me tonight.” She shook her head no. “Well… we should start searching then. I’ll go talk to Riley and we can get to it.”
“Don’t tell him I have the clue.” Alex begged. He said of course.
Over at the conversation by the fire, Micky was defending Cole’s case. “Do you really think Gangey is being a good teammate by not listening to his team during an immunity challenge?”
Riley shrugged. “I mean… Cole, you could’ve caught the buckets…”
“If you vote with us, it’ll be 5-1. Us three, you, and Alex. Even if you don’t vote with us dude, we’ll promise you safety from the next tribal.” Purple was throwing an idea. Whether or not he was keeping his word, that was debatable.
Riley and the guys spoke in circles for a few and they eventually came to an end. No progress was made on either side. Riley and Gangey ended up chatting afterwards. “We have to find that idol.” Gangey kept pestering him. “It’s going to be three to three.”
“Do you really think Alex is with us?” Riley had his hand in his hair. “Because I heard it’s supposed to be 5-1 with me.”
“Oh really?” Gangey chuckled. “So she’s in the middle?” Riley nodded. “Well… I guess we’ll see tonight.”
CONFESSIONAL FROM GANGEY: Tonight’s tribal council will really show who lies where. I think I might have done enough campaigning to not have to use my idol. It really just depends on how I feel at that exact moment. But regardless, it’s coming with me.”
***At Tribal Council
“Come on in Luzon, grab a torch and dip your fire into the flame. Fire, in this game, represents your life. Once your flame goes out, you are also out.” Probst called them in and watch them take their seats. “Now… I have to ask you, Gangey,” he pointed to him. “What names have you heard?”
“I’ve heard every name on this tribe.” Gangey laughed. “I mean, it’s ridiculous.” He elaborated.
“I suggested Cole because he couldn’t catch the buckets, then there’s blame for Riley and Alex for not doing the maze quick enough, then Micky and Purple for not transferring enough water. Me, for transferring too much water…”
“You won’t hide that you’re putting Cole’s name out there?” Probst was intrigued.
“Nope.” Gangey shrugged. “Everybody knows it. We talked about this as a tribe.”
“So, Cole, do you feel worried at all tonight?” The heat was put on him.
“Not at all. I know I have the numbers and I’m feeling safe.” Cole didn’t seem the slightest bit worried.
“Nothing is promised,” Gangey said and looked at Alex. She gave a broken smile. “If you think for even a second you’re safe in this game, we’re not playing the same game.”
“Alex, why is nothing promised?” Probst interjected.
“I mean… it’s a tough situation, to be here.” Alex tried to stumble her words so nobody knew the outcome. “I don’t even think I’M safe, Jeff.” She sat there. “Like Gangey said, we’ve heard everybody’s name. So like… nobody is safe. I could very well be the one going home tonight.”
“Could be.” Gangey looked at her. He was just stirring the pot. “Micky, you’ve been quiet.”
“That’s my job.” Jeff looked at Gangey. “Micky, what are you making out of this?”
“Well… at camp, Purple, Riley, Cole, and I were discussing how important it was to be a team. And Gangey, if you’re not going to listen, what’s the point?” Micky looked down to Gangey. “For someone who isolated Alex for defying a tribe, you’re being nothing but a hypocrite.”
“I AM working for this team.” Gangey got loud. “I’m not going to take some baby ass steps if we can put on our pants, and take a big boy step to move forward.”
“Yeah well, your idea of a step forward put us three steps back so, thanks.” Micky shot him evil eyes.
“I guess with that, we’ve concluded the talking session. Are we all ready to vote?” Everybody nodded. “Alright, Purple, you’re up.” Purple got up and jogged over to the booth. They could hear him writing the name down and giving his reasons why. Then Micky followed, after him was Alex, then Gangey, then Cole, and finally Riley. “Alright… I’ll go tally the votes.” Jeff walked up and grabbed the urn. “Before I read the votes, I’ll take a second to ask if anybody would like to play a hidden immunity idol.” Jeff paused. Everybody looked around. Alex and Gangey looked at each other.
“You know, Jeff,” Gangey stood up. Alex gasped. “I think I would.” Riley inhaled sharply. He walked towards Jeff and Jeff took it from him.
“This IS an official hidden immunity idol, any votes for Gangey will not count.” Jeff watched them. Alex grabbed Micky to the left of her and Cole to the right. “I will read the votes.” Jeff continued.
“First vote… Gangey… does not count.”
“Second vote… Gangey… does not count.”
“Third vote… Gangey… does not count.”
Gangey looked over at Alex and he knew this was the make it or break it moment. “Fourth vote… Gangey… does not count.” He raised his brows in a “knew it” sort of expression. “Two votes remaining.”
“Fifth vote… Cole. One vote left.” The second Jeff said the name, Cole brought his hands to his face and his eyes got all teary.
“Sixth vote, second person voted out of Survivor Cagayan, Cole. Bring me your torch.” Jeff waited for Cole. He walked slowly and with his head hung low. He put it in the holder.
“Just know, you still aren’t the majority.” Cole looked at Gangey. His torch got snuffed and he headed out and down the path to leave the tribe.
“And with that, we learned nothing really is promised. Head on out, tribal council is over.” Jeff watched them walk off.
