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katherine_b at 01:52pm on 20/03/2007 under pretender survivor
katherine_b at 01:52pm on 20/03/2007 under pretender survivorChapter 14 – Peter’s Choice
Kaunitoni
Annabelle-Marie
Candy
Hayden
Jarod
Louise
Michael
Peter
Rachael
Sarah
Peter looked at the eight people opposite him. “Well, I always said I’d take Louise if I won anything like this, so I guess she’s definitely my first choice.”
“Knew it,” Broots remarked in detached tones.
“If he’s smart, he’ll take one of Jarod’s allies,” said Sam. “But I don’t think he’s that clever.”
“I’d love to take all of you,” Peter began, “but as I can’t, I choose Michael.”
A shot showed that Jarod had clenched a fist at his side and Hayden’s face showed a faint grin. However the most cutting judgment came from Sam.
“Idiot,” he remarked snidely. “If he’s not voted out next, it’ll only be because he wins the individual immunity necklace.”
On the screen, Peter, Louise and Michael headed for a boat that would take them to their overnight treat while the other six members of Kaunitoni returned to camp. There was no lack of conversation and even some celebration by Jarod, Hayden and Rachael that their plan had worked and they were temporarily rid of their biggest threats so that they could plan more openly.
“Hey, and we get the wine to ourselves,” giggled Annabelle-Marie as they steered the outrigger canoe down to the water.
There was a lot of laughter from the other Survivors, even Sarah, who did not appear sad to have lost Michael for a time. In fact, she stuck quite close to Hayden, which prompted some raised eyebrows in Sydney’s living room.
“Playing the game,” suggested Miss Parker snidely.
“As much as anyone else is,” Broots told her. “Annabelle-Marie, for instance. I can’t believe she’s as genuinely attracted to Jarod as she’s making believe.”
“And I do not believe Jarod has any feelings for her,” added Sydney, with only the slightest glance at the woman beside him on the sofa.
“So why would they bother?” the woman snapped.
“It’s a way to play other members of the tribe,” Broots explained. “If you get the right people on your side, you’re that much safer, particularly if you can see contradictions in what they’re telling other people. Then you’ve got a hold on them and you’ll stay in the game for longer.”
“Makes sense,” admitted Miss Parker, before draining her glass of white wine.
The evening in the Kaunitoni camp was not particularly interesting in terms of strategy, but the sight of several people staggering drunkenly in the light of the fire and the green night-vision camera prompted rather unkind sniggers even from Miss Parker. Even Jarod appeared intoxicated, but Sydney shook his head.
“Pretence,” he stated. “Jarod would not do that to himself.”
“Agreed.” Broots nodded. “He’s too smart. It’s gonna be way harder for some of those people to hide their actions tonight. In a way, I’d have loved to see Louise affected like this. She couldn’t keep her mouth shut if they taped it.”
As the next scene showed Louise giggling and gossiping with Michael and Peter, there was some point to his remark. They clearly enjoyed the massages that made up part of their reward, and then indulged in the food and wine with which they were presented.
“If you eat all that chocolate, you’ll be ill, Lou,” Peter warned, even as he drained a third glass of wine.
Any response from Louise was drowned out by the sound of Michael falling off his reclining sofa.
“That would’ve hurt,” said Sam drily.
“I don’t think he felt it,” came Broots’ response, even as giggles from Peter and Louise were drowned out by heavy, drunken snores from Michael.
“Pathetic,” snapped Miss Parker. “And stupid. Absolute waste of the time he has there to plot against the others.”
“Agreed.” Sam refilled his empty beer glass. “But only what I expected from him. He’s already proved how dumb he is by pairing up with Sarah. Generally couples are the first people out after a merge.”
“But Broots said it was a smart idea,” Miss Parker objected.
“There’s a difference between playing at being a couple and actually being one,” said Broots. “Michael is clearly besotted by Sarah and so he’s not going to really play the game. If someone decided to vote off Sarah, they would have to see that they can’t rely on Michael for help. On the other hand, Annabelle-Marie isn’t so far gone that, if Hayden or someone wanted to vote Jarod off and could give her good reasons for doing so, she’d probably go along with it.”
“Oh, I get it.” Miss Parker nodded. “Keeping herself safe. Smart move if you can pull it off.”
“Yes, survival is all-important,” said Sydney quietly, half to himself.
The return to the absent three to the camp the following morning made for an interesting dynamic. Michael at once disappeared with Sarah, but Peter and Louise were clearly making an effort to ingratiate themselves with the group that had been left behind. Their efforts were not helped by Louise’s realization that the alcohol had been drunk in her absence.
“Hey, I thought that was being kept for all of us!”
Hayden, who was sitting beside the fire and clearly suffering from the previous night’s libation, winced and then looked up.
“And how much did you three have to drink last night?” he asked, with some point.
Louise scowled and deliberately turned her back on him. Jarod glanced over the fire at his fellow conspirator and arched an eyebrow. Hayden clearly understood what was meant and nodded before lying back against a cushion and closing his eyes.
“She’s gone,” said Broots with certainty. “And she’s gonna hate Hayden and blame him for having her voted off. Oh, boy, is Jarod ever playing this well!”
“Jarod has been voted off once already,” Sydney reminded his colleague. “He could go again.”
“He won’t let that happen,” declared Sam. “There won’t be any more confusion about voting now. I’d even go so far as to suggest that the only person who votes against the group will be the one being eliminated – at least once Michael’s gone, anyhow.”
“Do you agree, Broots?” Miss Parker wanted to know, and the technician nodded.
“He’s the smartest guy on that island and he gets the way people think. If he gets voted off again, I’ll – I’ll move into Raines’ office permanently!”
Everyone laughed at that and then settled down to watch the remainder of the episode.
Kaunitoni
Annabelle-Marie
Candy
Hayden
Jarod
Louise
Michael
Peter
Rachael
Sarah
Peter looked at the eight people opposite him. “Well, I always said I’d take Louise if I won anything like this, so I guess she’s definitely my first choice.”
“Knew it,” Broots remarked in detached tones.
“If he’s smart, he’ll take one of Jarod’s allies,” said Sam. “But I don’t think he’s that clever.”
“I’d love to take all of you,” Peter began, “but as I can’t, I choose Michael.”
A shot showed that Jarod had clenched a fist at his side and Hayden’s face showed a faint grin. However the most cutting judgment came from Sam.
“Idiot,” he remarked snidely. “If he’s not voted out next, it’ll only be because he wins the individual immunity necklace.”
On the screen, Peter, Louise and Michael headed for a boat that would take them to their overnight treat while the other six members of Kaunitoni returned to camp. There was no lack of conversation and even some celebration by Jarod, Hayden and Rachael that their plan had worked and they were temporarily rid of their biggest threats so that they could plan more openly.
“Hey, and we get the wine to ourselves,” giggled Annabelle-Marie as they steered the outrigger canoe down to the water.
There was a lot of laughter from the other Survivors, even Sarah, who did not appear sad to have lost Michael for a time. In fact, she stuck quite close to Hayden, which prompted some raised eyebrows in Sydney’s living room.
“Playing the game,” suggested Miss Parker snidely.
“As much as anyone else is,” Broots told her. “Annabelle-Marie, for instance. I can’t believe she’s as genuinely attracted to Jarod as she’s making believe.”
“And I do not believe Jarod has any feelings for her,” added Sydney, with only the slightest glance at the woman beside him on the sofa.
“So why would they bother?” the woman snapped.
“It’s a way to play other members of the tribe,” Broots explained. “If you get the right people on your side, you’re that much safer, particularly if you can see contradictions in what they’re telling other people. Then you’ve got a hold on them and you’ll stay in the game for longer.”
“Makes sense,” admitted Miss Parker, before draining her glass of white wine.
The evening in the Kaunitoni camp was not particularly interesting in terms of strategy, but the sight of several people staggering drunkenly in the light of the fire and the green night-vision camera prompted rather unkind sniggers even from Miss Parker. Even Jarod appeared intoxicated, but Sydney shook his head.
“Pretence,” he stated. “Jarod would not do that to himself.”
“Agreed.” Broots nodded. “He’s too smart. It’s gonna be way harder for some of those people to hide their actions tonight. In a way, I’d have loved to see Louise affected like this. She couldn’t keep her mouth shut if they taped it.”
As the next scene showed Louise giggling and gossiping with Michael and Peter, there was some point to his remark. They clearly enjoyed the massages that made up part of their reward, and then indulged in the food and wine with which they were presented.
“If you eat all that chocolate, you’ll be ill, Lou,” Peter warned, even as he drained a third glass of wine.
Any response from Louise was drowned out by the sound of Michael falling off his reclining sofa.
“That would’ve hurt,” said Sam drily.
“I don’t think he felt it,” came Broots’ response, even as giggles from Peter and Louise were drowned out by heavy, drunken snores from Michael.
“Pathetic,” snapped Miss Parker. “And stupid. Absolute waste of the time he has there to plot against the others.”
“Agreed.” Sam refilled his empty beer glass. “But only what I expected from him. He’s already proved how dumb he is by pairing up with Sarah. Generally couples are the first people out after a merge.”
“But Broots said it was a smart idea,” Miss Parker objected.
“There’s a difference between playing at being a couple and actually being one,” said Broots. “Michael is clearly besotted by Sarah and so he’s not going to really play the game. If someone decided to vote off Sarah, they would have to see that they can’t rely on Michael for help. On the other hand, Annabelle-Marie isn’t so far gone that, if Hayden or someone wanted to vote Jarod off and could give her good reasons for doing so, she’d probably go along with it.”
“Oh, I get it.” Miss Parker nodded. “Keeping herself safe. Smart move if you can pull it off.”
“Yes, survival is all-important,” said Sydney quietly, half to himself.
The return to the absent three to the camp the following morning made for an interesting dynamic. Michael at once disappeared with Sarah, but Peter and Louise were clearly making an effort to ingratiate themselves with the group that had been left behind. Their efforts were not helped by Louise’s realization that the alcohol had been drunk in her absence.
“Hey, I thought that was being kept for all of us!”
Hayden, who was sitting beside the fire and clearly suffering from the previous night’s libation, winced and then looked up.
“And how much did you three have to drink last night?” he asked, with some point.
Louise scowled and deliberately turned her back on him. Jarod glanced over the fire at his fellow conspirator and arched an eyebrow. Hayden clearly understood what was meant and nodded before lying back against a cushion and closing his eyes.
“She’s gone,” said Broots with certainty. “And she’s gonna hate Hayden and blame him for having her voted off. Oh, boy, is Jarod ever playing this well!”
“Jarod has been voted off once already,” Sydney reminded his colleague. “He could go again.”
“He won’t let that happen,” declared Sam. “There won’t be any more confusion about voting now. I’d even go so far as to suggest that the only person who votes against the group will be the one being eliminated – at least once Michael’s gone, anyhow.”
“Do you agree, Broots?” Miss Parker wanted to know, and the technician nodded.
“He’s the smartest guy on that island and he gets the way people think. If he gets voted off again, I’ll – I’ll move into Raines’ office permanently!”
Everyone laughed at that and then settled down to watch the remainder of the episode.
cheerful