Hey guys. I know you probably forgot about me since I was voted out first at merge, but I have been watching each of you closely, and paying close attention to what your fellow jurors have had to say about you. I would like to think I am unbiased in this decision because I think it's a fair statement that we were not close at all in the game. Mostly because for 2/3's of you we were never on a tribe until the 24 hours of my boot round. I want to start off by saying congrats to three of you, I think for you guys to make it to the end in this game is such a great thing. I know from just the pre-merge stage that it was not easy. Unfortunately being the first juror means I missed a lot of the gameplay that went on, I heard from the other jurors, but I want to hear from you guys. I am here to say that my vote is up for grabs for any of the three of you. I'm preparing some questions for you guys because I really want to vote for the person who played the best game. Some questions will be about my boot round because I still want some questions answered, and lets be honest, it's my thread so it needs to be about me a little am I right? (Totally kidding). Anyway, I'm glad you guys gave me the honor of joining some of Sausage Island's Elite group of people who were voted out first at merge. (Love you Stephen and Sherri <3 :* )
Liz, I think you probably have the hardest route if you want to win. I also was probably the most disappointed with you out of the final three when I left the game. I would like to say we talked quite a bit on NuMushu, so come merge when my neck is on the line and you flat out ignored me and I have people tell me you're responding to them really left me not wanting to vote for you. I'm not basing my decision solely on that though, because there could be a lot more to your game than I know of, seeing as I was first juror and missed pretty much everything. I think you did do whatever it took to make it to the end so I congratulate on that. You may receive some hate here but I think you should be proud of yourself, because you did what we all couldn't.
Neal I actually really liked you a lot more than the other two while I was in the game. During my boot round you messaged me and said you were voting to keep me. After I find out I'm leaving I messaged you again, and then you never respond to me again. You vote me out with the vast majority, but you also left me with a bad taste in my mouth because you not only lied to me, but then ignored me. I know you wanted to keep me, I'm not doubting that fact, but the fact still stands that you lead me on thinking I had someone in my corner. On a more positive note, I think you were a very likable guy, at least from what I could tell. You were obviously a beast in challenges, I think you went 26 hours or something in endurance, so rock on. Congrats on making it to the end, you should be really proud that you made it.
Rachel, I'm not going to act like we got aLóng in the game, because quite frankly we never met until merge, and there was nothing to be done about that. I'm really glad you liked me though, because I was never trying to be mean or anything to you. My main flaw with you is that you chose to use that HORRIFIC pink text color on AIM. I seriously hated seeing that, and I think it may have been your worst game move. I never really trusted you coming into the merge so I'm not surprised in the least you wanted me out, and from the outside looking in it looks you did whatever it took to make it to the end, so congrats, Tyson would be proud. I'm glad one of the brunettes could make it to the end as well :)
Once again, seeing as I got to miss a lot of this awesome game, all I have to go on is what other people say and what you guys said in your opening statement. I have prepared some questions for you all to answer, because I really want to make the best decision when deciding who should win this game.
1. I want each of you to compose a TL:DR version of your opening. I don't want all the fluff you guys put into it, I want to know the big moves that got you here, and why you deserve my vote to win.
2. I want each of you to talk me through how you handled me in my boot round. This is mostly directed at Liz and Neal who ignored me, but I want to know if you think you could have handled that any differently.
3. Post your favorite song off Lemonade :)
4. Compare your game play to any survivor contestant of your choosing. Compare mine to one as well cause I like the attention. Explain why you chose it. This is also not my one comparison question because I just want to know more about your games and I like hearing what people thought of my game :p
5. Compare every Juror to an Orange is the New Black Character. If you don't want OITNB please reevaluate why you do not.
1. I want each of you to compose a TL:DR version of your opening. I don't want all the fluff you guys put into it, I want to know the big moves that got you here, and why you deserve my vote to win.
TL:DR
-Made strong social connections so people would always feel like they could use me in their plans.
-Gave an idol to an ally so I could protect him and take out a huge threat.
-Overcame backlash from move mentioned above and got out of the hole I dug myself.
-Flipped on OG Mushu to take out Hunter, someone with lots of social connections, so that it gave me more leverage in the game.
-Used immunities and social bonds to keep myself safe.
-I was a big target for people late game. Final 7-Final 3, I received votes every round I wasn't immune.
-A vote for me is a vote for ice cream.
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2. I want each of you to talk me through how you handled me in my boot round. This is mostly directed at Liz and Neal who ignored me, but I want to know if you think you could have handled that any differently.
You were the person I talked to the most pretribes so I really didn't want you to leave that round. When I told you I was not going to vote you out I had every intention of sticking to that. Nick had not yet talked to me and I didn't want to vote out the person who had at least asked for my help. I spent the night trying to push for Nick to go because I hadn't talk to him yet and I also viewed him as a huge UTR threat. My fear was that if he didn't go that round, with all the attention on him, he was bound to stay in the game for a Lóng time.
It seemed like the more I pushed for you to stay, the more awkward my convos got. It didn't take Lóng for me to figure out that it wasn't going to happen. I was really frustrated with the situation and didn't know what to do. I should have updated you on the situation and how I felt like I needed to go with the majority. I remember after finally making my vote, I went out to get some nuggets because I stress eat when the game didn't go my way. *This would a reoccurring thing*. I should have told you I was changing my vote. I'm sorry.
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3. Post your favorite song off Lemonade Smile
I love this song because it’s so different from a lot of her songs. Plus I love me some Jack White.
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4. Compare your game play to any survivor contestant of your choosing. Compare mine to one as well cause I like the attention. Explain why you chose it. This is also not my one comparison question because I just want to know more about your games and I like hearing what people thought of my game :p
The final 4 tribal gave me severe Gabon flashbacks. It's pretty ironic because Bob is one of my least favorite winners. I guess you either die a hero or live Lóng enough to see yourself become Bob Crowley.
Regardless, I feel like my game was a lot like Tyson from BvW. I lost my strongest connection, Joe really early. (RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACHEEL) but after that,I kicked into high gear, had my people that I kept close, and blindsided the big threats early *Jaison, Hunter*. People tried taking me out late game, but I was kept safe because of my strong connections. I think Tyson and I have the same sort of personality, very goofy but can be a smart ass. He was also really strong in challenges.
Forgive me since you and I didn’t get to play together until merge but I think you remind me a lot of Kass from Cagayan/Cambodia. You’re someone that isn’t afraid to speak their mind, even if it’s an unpopular opinion. You had the bad luck of a frequent ticket to TC premerge like in Cagayan, so you had to do a lot in order to survive. Like Kass in Cambodia, I think when she made merge, there were players that had an axe to grind with her, and unfortunately it meant an early end to her game. Just like Kass, you were the Queen of Ponderosa.
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5. Compare every Juror to an Orange is the New Black Character. If you don't want OITNB please reevaluate why you do not.
Just giving you an update, my weekend as been non stop OITNB. I'm like halfway through season 2 right now and I have a pretty good idea of what I'm gonna do for the comparisons. I should hopefully have these done by late tonight.
Alright everyone, I've finishing this up now as I'm finishing up season 2. I gotta say, I didn't realize how this show was going to consume my life for the last 3 days. This was like a second endurance tbh. Hope you guys like my comparisons!
Alina
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Red
Just like Red, I think that you are very complex. She’s sensitive but can also be tough as nails. You guys are very kind and you care about your people but if someone gets on her bad side. Holy shit!!! You know how to be super serious but you’re also very sentimental.
Jaison
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Claudette
Probably one of my favorite characters from season 1. You’re very endearing and have a really interesting personality (backstory). When Claudette left, it left a void in the show. Idk if she comes back but I hope she does.
Kenny
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Joel
Joel is such a dry motherfucker, I love it. You guys seem like you have the same sense of humor. You can be stern SOMEtimes but most of the time you’re just shooting the shit. You pass off serious moments with humor.
Jeremiah
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Yoga Jones
You and I really didn’t talk much game but the one thing I could always count on every day was a message from you asking how my day was. You are so Yoga Jones. You’re super kind and friendly and willing to just talk about a person’s day. I doubt you shot anyone though.
Jenna
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Nicky
I figured this one out in the first episode of the show. Your sarcasm is an art form and you’re fucking hilarious. You’re both also on pornhub. Thankfully Nicky doesn’t send me zit gifs though.
Hunter
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Alex
A big character on the show. I think you both are very perceptive. You’re street smart but also intelligent. You really know how to talk to all different kinds of people.
Hope
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Lorna
You’re both super adorable. Everything she says I get so into, even if its really nothing. You just know how to talk to someone and pull them in. Super endearing.
Natalie
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Sophia
You a bad bitch that does what she wants. You’re super personable and easy to talk to but you also now how to be stubborn in order to get what you want.
Nick
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Poussay
Poussay starts off in the background but slowly becomes a big part of the show. The big connection between you guys imo is when she sees through what Vee is trying to do in the prison. I feel like you were catching on really quick with what was going on.
Rita
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Taystee
Hilarious and outspoken. You can be really friendly but you know how to flip the switch and beat a bitch up. You’re outrageous and also incredible smart. She has slightly better hair than Rita, but I mean whadda gonna do?
Woo
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Bennett
You guys are both genuinely good people, but sometimes you get caught up in the activities of the people that are close to you. At the end of the day, you’re a straight shooter who will do whatever he needs to do to protect the people he cares about.
1. I want each of you to compose a TL:DR version of your opening. I don't want all the fluff you guys put into it, I want to know the big moves that got you here, and why you deserve my vote to win.
I tried to create as many connections as I could early on, and I tried my best throughout the early game to cultivate a few that I could really trust and lean on later on. I successfully kept the target off of me throughout premerge and, I believe, throughout the merge as well. Coming out of premerge I knew I had an issue of me being absolutely gone after about the first round. This wasn't something I prepped for mostly because I overestimated how much internet access I was going to have >_> So, strategy then became a bit survivalist, don't be seen or heard much for a bit and let big people take flak, plus add on the impending Anaria threat, I knew I wanted to lay low. I tried my best to set up a group of Woo, Hope, Jere, Ken, Me, Neal, at least just to get through the couple of rounds, which I think did succeed in having enough people to not vote me. Once I came back, then it was survivalist since by that time Ken had just gone, using connections with Woo/Hope, plus given there would be a group size of 6, that's where I went to repair things mostly, try to work myself and Neal back into there. This resulted in Jere/Jenna boots, and then moving into the Hunter vote which I was pushing for from the start of that round. The next round, I really wanted to continue to use my Woo/Hope connection yet again, plus I knew Neal could work on Rachel. Then the round obviously didn't go so well, but hey yay for auction rewards that basically gave me immunity for that round :P The auction reward I also tried to use to make Rach more comfortable with Neal and I, as well. Moving forward from there, the game became a lot of trying to make sure I wasn't being targeted, but I did know Neal would generally take more flak than me, and very likely Woo too. So since I lost the person I wanted to move aLóng with and have as a connection to keep solid numbers, I knew I needed another number that wasn't going to vote me. Rachel was that answer, and it was a relationship of Neals that I absolutely wanted to use! At the same time, I was ensuring that Woo knew this was going on and consistently saying "Hey, we're just doing what we need to do" type stuff. So I used that, it went well, and from that point on I was felt fairly confident in being able to make the end.
(Maybe Lóng for a tl;dr but hey it's much shorter than the speech!)
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2. I want each of you to talk me through how you handled me in my boot round. This is mostly directed at Liz and Neal who ignored me, but I want to know if you think you could have handled that any differently.
At the start of your boot round, I wasn't aware of some issues that had taken place coming out of the second swap and into the merge. This is something the heavily developed the next day. So, coming into the round I knew we had connected fairly well on NuMushu and I wanted to come back to this relationship. Most of the information I had got on you was from Woo since I had the dragon connection and it had sounded like you might be on the chopping block on there and Nick & Jaison had a line drawn in the sand there. So, when I was talking to you early on and you gave me the information that Jaison and Nick had told you they didn't trust you, I wasn't shocked at some separation, but rather that it was so overt, based on how nervous Woo felt on that tribe. I was still really confused at why this happened, but I intended on trying to work with you. Then the next day comes and a lot of word had spread around on what happened there. More or less, you had this perception by many as someone who could fly of the rails at any time and that's something that started to make me nervous. Even though I enjoyed talking to you and there was a relationship built there, I got worried that a blow up could happen at any time there and cause me issues. One big thing I wanted in the merge was have some quiet time and that threatened that. I knew if I was coming to talk to you later that day, I was going to tell you you were going so I stopped myself from doing so. I was worried about any kind of freak out or something, and that's why in the end I ignored you throughout the round.
I don't think it was a great way to handle it, no. I had reasons which I think may have been valid, I was worried about more public of freak outs and my name being dragged into things. I could have handled it differently, just being open about these facts since I think in retrospect we did have a good relationship and I think you would have respected that enough to keep things gucci between us! I don't think there was going to be any switching of that vote around though, in all honesty.
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3. Post your favorite song off Lemonade :)
Okay, so honestly I've never heard this album, so I'm just going to go through every song and then tell you which I liked the most!
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SORRY
The beat flows nicely into the spoken word verses, something I think can be SUPER difficult to achieve, but quite excellently and seamlessly coming off here. Definitely going to be a strong contender on the second listen through.
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[center
FORMATION
Ok this one I have heard a bunch, it's actually on my work playlist! I didn't actually know it's from this album though. I think this one is actually hilarious and wonderful "I got hot sauce in my bag" is gorgeous and I connect with it completely :P Even though it means a baseball bat she can smack shit with, I think carrying hot sauce in your bag is a good idea because you never know >_> I'm not sure if it tops Sorry for me, but still strong and maybe repeat listen of Sorry will drop it a bit!
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PRETTY HURTS
A wonderfully sad song that has a lot of hope to it! I enjoy this quite a bit more than the other two so far. The emotions are strong!
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PRAY YOU CATCH ME
I think this is a slight step down for me. I got into it enough, but not the same level as the others. Excellent addition, but not the peak for me!
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HOLD UP
This song feels a lot more innocent and lighthearted than the rest so far. I think its a nice change of pace, but I love the darker themes explored in the others, personally.
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DON'T HURT YOURSELF
I gotta say I'm pumped from the get go on this one! Jack White, Beyonce, feels like an odd pairing but I'm ready as fuck. The initial groove of this song I loooove. I mean, I'm a sucker for a bit of rock and this genre exploring song I am so down with. This is easily topping the list of my favourites right now.
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DADDY LESSONS
Oh wow wow, I did not expect something for folk focused in the album. This is also fantastic and I'm now conflicted on favourite >_> God this is fun and soulful and it sounds so gorgeous. I just feel like this is one I can listen to over and over again. Hot damn. It's got me fired up.
(I've listened to this 5 times since. I think I have a standout on the album!)
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LOVE DROUGHT
This song is very smooth and an interesting change of pace from Daddy Issues. Enjoyable but I think it would have to be a dark horse at this point to beat the others.
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SANDCASTLES
Ugh this is beautiful and ~emotions~ errywhere. This is amazingly showing off her vocal skills and some amazing story we hear throughout, this is a big yes!! Another contender here.
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FORWARD
A very intermission type song, but I really think there's a lot of merit in these. I think this is fine! Nothing standing out too much.
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FREEDOM
This is almost something I'd expect to hear from The Heavy. Badass song of the album and it hits the note very well! I see why there was a transition to this from Sandcastles, it's almost a complete turn from there and it makes the album as a whole flow.
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ALL NIGHT
This is a nice bit of a lead down in the album. Something coming closer to an ending note to this eclectic mix! Not bad at all, but favourite...I don't know!
Okay! So that's one listen through, and I'm going to give it one more before the decision is made >_>. ...{46 Minutes Later}... AND the second listen through is done, but Daddy Lessons is coming out as my favourite. This is an instant playlist add and I'm falling in love.
It's a bit disappointing though, since I absolutely can't find a copy of it that I can share online >_> Maybe I'm bad with technology D: So I will have to post my second favourite for you, which in the end was the wonderful Sandcastles:
Wait shit I can't find this either. Ok. So. Third favourite... umm... I really did enjoy Freedom. I'm a sucker fot the more badass songs and I think this will take my third place spot, but it was NOT an easy decision!
Honestly seizure warning on the video, I could only find a live version of this >_>
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4. Compare your game play to any survivor contestant of your choosing. Compare mine to one as well cause I like the attention. Explain why you chose it. This is also not my one comparison question because I just want to know more about your games and I like hearing what people thought of my game :p
Firstly! Neal giving the Sugar context over here with his Bob comparison ;) I see u, Neal!
I'm going to go with Dawn Meehan on this one though. I think she's someone who broke a lot of relationships in the merge phase and in the end that hurt her, as well as being seen as a tag aLóng to Cochran. Probably a dangerous comparison from me! But I'm trying to go for her merge game, not the FTC one :P Anyways, I think Dawn is someone who on the surface can be fine and alright, but pulling back a bit there's ugliness there and maybe hers is more physical with the teeth bit, but I think I have some of that in other ways!
I also think she was fun to watch and I hope I was toooo a bit >_>
As for you, I will have to go ahead and compare you to ... shit Neal took Kass. Fuck. Okay. I will have to dig deep on this one. I am going to compare you to RC Saint Amour! Now why RC? Well I think she was consistently a stronger woman in the game. Maybe different than the rest, set out at a slight outcast that still had connections. Sometimes keeping her cool was her absolute strongest suit, but at the same time she was matched with Abi :P Of course, being the merge boot it is a bit apt, but I think the rest makes this the best comparison I can make! (Ignore the whole...being immune for the premerge thing though!)
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5. Compare every Juror to an Orange is the New Black Character. If you don't want OITNB please reevaluate why you do not.
ALINA
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{ALINA} In the macro sense, no. You're one Cheerio in the bulk box of life. But, you f*ckin' tickle me, so I think it would matter.~Nicky Nichols
I've chosen Nicky for you, Alina! I find her to be a take no shit person, but someone who can have their moments of having a louder mouth that can get them in trouble. She can be impulsive, when she sees something going wrong, she's on top of it, giving comments, being there and present. She'll take a taxi and steal it if she thinks it's right! She's both a riot and a bit of a mess, but in the end it's gorgeous.
JAISON
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{JAISON}
"Freedom of press shouldn't only be a privilege of the free, right?"
I found you to be someone obviously intelligent from the get go. You were someone who talked of academia and research, two things I've tried to excel at for a Lóng time, so I carried some respect for that. I think Larry is this kind of intelligent person in the show. Not just that though, he's someone that got placed in a position he didn't really expect, and the conclusion of which seemed to be foregone without him having an effect. He also carried good with with him. This wit and intelligence is what I thought embodied you in this game!
KENNY
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{KENNY} "You don't go Jessica Simpson when you've got Rihanna." ~ Lorna Morello
I've chosen Lorna Morello because I thought you were adorably hilarious and wonderful through everything. Always a positive light in the show, and in this, you were someone like that for me. You always had an undertone of fun, wanting to inject that everywhere you went. I think Morello is someone who also does this, just helping up the room just by adding their presence. Someone who might not come across as super deep because of this layer on the outside, but when you dig a bit you find it and it continues to show a wonderful existence!
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{JEREMIAH} "Sometimes you just wanna feel something." ~ Yoga Jones
You are an incredibly calming presence of a person. Yoga matches with that well. She'll speak to you and things will feel okay for a little bit!
JENNA
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{JENNA} In the morning when I wake up, there are these few seconds before I realize where I am, and then I do realize, and I can't breathe. And I want to cry, and throw shit, and kill myself. When does that end? ~Piper Chapman
I picked Piper for Jenna because I viewed Piper as someone smart, but also screwed by both others and just being in crappy situations. Things started out well, but then drifted and everything came quickly crashing down. She's someone who I thought had emotional intelligence but at the same time can hold her own and be a tough bitch when she needs to be.
HUNTER
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{HUNTER} "I'm gonna make them cry all right. Make em' cry like they going through a haunted house!
A haunted house called life!" ~ Poussey Washington
I always saw you as kind of a goofier, dork who loved Yu-Gi-Oh and I think Poussey has a lot of dorky qualities. She's funny, she'll be entertaining, and she's good-natured. At the same time I think she can be this very to the point and tear you the fuck down. Fun, a little scary from time to time, and dorky. 3 things I think that embodied you both for me!
HOPE
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{HOPE} "Would it help if I used a deeper voice? 'Move along, Sister.'" ~ Susan Fischer
I think that if there is anyone that's close to pure of heart in the show, it's her. She is adorable and hilarious and a sweetheart. She'll drag you in emotionally and never let go! She'll you a bone, give you a shot and be a great friend. I think that pretty well embodies what you were to me in this game! (Plus I just love Lauren Lapkus)
NATALIE
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{NATALIE} "You've gotta hit rock bottom before you know which direction to go in." ~ Red Reznikov
You get Red! I thought you were that lone person a lot of the time in this game. It was a rocky start for you, but you persevered through a lot of crap until finally shit wound you up in jail/jury/etc. Red is a badass hardworker, which I think you most definitely are.
NICK
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{NICK}
"This shit, that shit, blue shit, bat shit! It doesn't matter what you do. It's the doing that makes you dirty." ~ Pornstache
I always saw you as someone kinda in the way of a lot of things >_> It was something that frustrated me a lot and Pornstache is someone that was a constant frustration for a lot of people on the show! So, I'm giving you him!
RITA
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"I don't fuck dudes for Big Macs." ~ Dayanara "Daya" Diaz
{RITA}
I found you as someone who had a lot of potential throughout this entire thing, and someone who was one second away from making the move to win it all, but got snubbed before any of that could happen leading up to you're actual leaving. I saw Daya as someone like this. Someone who has every bit of promise and could get out of that shit situation and hopefully take life by the reigns. I think she's sneakily smart and someone who will go out and have that biting side (see what happened to Pornstache!). Daya is one of my personal favourites from the show, and I think that's pretty well suited here.
WOO
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{WOO} "I'm not buying gay porn." ~ John Bennett
As much as I'll hate to admit it, Neal nailed this one on the head. Straight-up dude, someone who I would want to call my friend. Someone I'd want to chill and have a beer with and just shoot the shit. Bennett is that guy. Woo is that guy.
