Board Thread:Season 55 - Nakuru/@comment-37911756-20191025154641/@comment-24277959-20191026193233

Hi Natalia,

I was actually really really curious as to why you mentioned pregame relationships but now hearing you bring up mine and Chris' sheds a lot of light on that, so let me explain!

You can ask Chris on this one, did Chris and I know of each other for roughly 5 years heading into this season? Yes absolutely, but our relationship was actually verrrrrry rocky when the game started because of how the last game we played together ended. So if we want to take a dark trip down memory lane, and sorry Chris for having to bring this shit up, but the last time I played with him, I actually blindsided him at Final 10 in 703 Legends. Then there was this huge controversy where I initially was lead to believe that he influenced my subsequent elimination at final 9 from outside the game (he didn't don't worry) and that lead to me unfriending him and not talking one word to him in private from then all the way up to day 1 of this season. So actually, it's almost a miracle that Chris and I worked together this season and as well as we did, because the last time we did was the equivalent of waving 500 red flags in our faces. If anything, WE had a better pregame relationship heading into this, because I hosted you and knew you were a badass player and supported your Carribean game, than Chris and I did, aka not talking at all and my emo ass unfriending him.

I actually do want to stick to my guns though for the game reasons I had to stick with Chris, but after hearing what you had to say, I do believe that both of you were closer in terms of being shields than I initially was lead to believe. You're right, a lot of people targeted you, but by that same token targeting Chris was like the gospel as well. But like I said too, it wasn't just a you vs. him ideal, it's actually easy to look at votes as just between who your choices are, but there's also the respective sides I had to consider. I was closer with Nicole/Jack at the time than I was with Cali/Nora, and in addition to that Nicole had the idol which I knew I may have needed down the line. If I kept you at the time, I would've broken off all my inroads with Nicole/Jack, and then become a large target at F6, especially considering Nora would be more than willing to vote me out. I think we would've been the targets on the chopping block over Cali in that hypothetical, but you obviously had a better relationship with Nora at the time, thus more than likely making me the target at 6 against an idol and rock draw pass that Nicole had.

I know you're asking for an EMOTIONAL reason as to why I chose Chris over you, but the fact of the matter is I had no emotional reason! One because I genuinely loved every time we got to get on call and strategized, and two I don't exactly make any moves entirely fueled off emotion (god that makes me sound like a sociopath). But like I said, the calls we had plotting and just talking about anything and everything was so real and enjoyable for me, I'll absolutely treasure every opportunity we had to do so. I do need to acknowledge though that I did get on calls and strategized with Chris, Nicole, Ashlee, and Nora all at various times of the season too. And this is not at ALL to say infer or imply that I would operate over any idea of "I liked Person A more than Person B in our calls and that's how I'll base my vote".

So mine and Chris' pregame relationship has definitely nothing to do with why I chose him over you, but instead for the game reasons I said above. I'm so sorry again Natalia and please let me know if this clears everything up!