#michaela's concern about zeke

[fandomcentral101]

Michaela Stone and Ben Stone

Manifest 1x12

[reneemauricesings]

Hey folks! My first Benvi fic.

I truly believe these two are soulmates, and that doesn't necessarily mean they belong together romantically but I do think they will be an important part of each other's lives and be there for one another through the good and bad times.

If you haven't watched the end of Season 3 of Manifest you might not want to read because there are obvious spoilers for what happened in the final episode.

This story is set near to the end of Season 4.

I hope you enjoy it!

Peace and love,

Renee.

...

There were looking down an aisle. Not the aisle of an airplane like in many other callings before. A different kind of aisle, set firmly on the ground. Beautifully adorned with flowers and ribbon. They were out in the fresh, open air. A string quartet playing a well worn score. 

People sat to the side in decorated chairs. There were no looks of terror, but many smiling faces. Smiling directly at them. 

At the end of the aisle, Michaela, Olive and Eden stood to one side all dressed in flowing pale pink chiffon gowns. Zeke, Cal and Ben stood on the other, dressed in gray three piece suits with ties color matching the ladies’ dresses. Ben stood at the front, he looked on with an expression of wonderment.       

A priest stood waiting at the end of the aisle. His face was patient and kind. The sort of face that said there was no need to rush. They had done their waiting, and now the world would wait for them.  

The bride turned and looked at her Father who smiled and kissed her cheek before going to sit with his wife in the front row. 

The couple turned and smiled lovingly at one another and turned to face the priest.    

“Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to celebrate the union of Benjamin Stone and Saanvi Bahl…” 

…

Ben strolled through the halls of Eureka’s base, briefly acknowledging the staff who greeted him. He was both nervous and impatient to speak to Saanvi. He didn’t know what it had all meant, or if she had seen it too. Should he even ask her about it? What if she hadn’t had the calling he’d had? What if she had had it but didn’t want to talk about it?    

Saanvi meanwhile was hard at work in the lab, her head resting on her hand as she scanned the computer to find anomalies in the blood charts she was studying. Her eyes were droopy. She hadn’t been able to get back to sleep after waking from that intense and vivid calling. She’d awoken from it with her mind reeling and her heart pounding. Unable to make sense of it. Surely it wasn’t a precursor of reality. The thought was absurd…wasn’t it? One thing she knew was, it had been a long time since she had seen Ben Stone smile like that. Even if it was just a dream, it made her glad to see it.    

It was one of the clearest callings they had ever experienced. No distortion, no muffled sounds or blurred faces. It had all looked so…real.  

Ben knocked on the door before entering, then shook his head at himself. Since when did he knock on Saanvi’s door? 

“Um…come in?” Saanvi called out in a suspicious, confused tone. 

“Oh, it’s you”, she said, looking equally relieved and panicked as Ben walked in through the door. 

“Yeah…just me. Are you OK? You seem a little jittery.” He shoved his hands in his pockets,feeling anxious all of a sudden.  

“Yeah”, Saanvi’s face softened at his concern. “I’m just tired. I woke up in the middle of the night and couldn’t get back to sleep again. 

She turned her eyes back to her computer screen. Why had she told him that?  

Ben stepped up to her desk and looked at her sideways. “Did you have a calling early this morning?”  

“No! What calling? No”, the doctor flapped quite uncharacteristically. 

Ben wasn’t buying it for a second. “Saanvi…” 

She took a calming breath, trying not to get too flustered. “OK, yes I did. I wasn't sure if it was a calling or...or a dream. You…you saw it too?” She looked at him meekly.  

Ben raised his eyebrows at her. “Yeah, I did. Have you…had dreams like that before?” 

“Of course not”, she answered a little too quickly. “It was weird, it was...scary.” 

“Scary?” Ben scoffed trying not to sound too offended. 

Saanvi was quick to defend her statement. “Well, not the plane on fire hurtling through the sky kind of scary, but yeah...didn't it scare you?”  

Ben gave her a grounded look, though he had to admit he’d been both frightened and enthralled by the vision.“The callings don't predict the future, Saanvi.” 

“But we both had the same one.”  

“Yes, true. But this kind of thing is not something we wouldn't have any control over.”  

“I guess”. Saanvi blinked. Ben could tell she was holding something back from him. 

“Would you be open to that happening at some point in the future?” He asked her carefully.  

“Getting married?” 

Ben tilted his head, looking shy and uncertain. “Getting married to me”. 

Saanvi's eyes bulged in shock at his question. “Are you asking me to marry you?” 

"No!" Ben answered quickly. He had to laugh, if for no other reason than to release some tension. "God, we're not even in a relationship. That would be way out of left field." 

The two of them looked at each other nervously, awkwardly until Ben took a deep breath in and addressed her again. "I've been in a pretty dark place for the past few months, as you know. Perhaps this calling was simply a way of showing me that there is life ahead of all this. There's hope and a future." 

Saanvi felt tears sting her eyes. Damn it. She did not want to get emotional about this, not in front of him but there were so many reasons to be overwhelmed by it all.

She shook her head, dabbing her eyes with the back of her hand. "I...I want you to be happy Ben, I really do, but I just don't know if I could ever step into Grace’s shoes. It just wouldn't feel right." 

Ben looked at the floor, speaking gravely. "Saanvi...Grace is gone. I'm still learning to accept that, but it is the truth. Even after all these crazy miracles that have occurred in our lives the past few years, there's nothing any of us can do to bring her back." 

More tears slipped down Saanvi's face. She and Grace had been wary of each other at the start but the two of them had become good friends and reliant on each other in the end. 

"Grace trusted you completely. What you did for us, what you did for Cal…She was so grateful to you. We all are." 

"You don't marry someone out of gratitude, Ben. At least I couldn't." 

"No. You marry someone out of love." 

Her eyes cut to his in surprise as he stepped closer to her. 

"Grace loved you. The kids and I, we all love you, Saanvi." 

Saanvi's heart thumped wildly in her chest as Ben reached out for her hand. "This is not me asking you. This is me saying that if it does happen one day, if I do make that kind of commitment to someone again, I think we'd all be happy if it was with you." 

"Ben…" She sobbed as he pulled her into his arms. 

They held each other tightly for quite some moments. Ben kissed the top of Saanvi's head to give her comfort and at the same time, to reveal a little more of his feelings to her. 

Slowly, they both pulled away and met each other's eyes. 

Then, some force pulled them back together. Not a force they were fighting or unwilling to meet. This force they were choosing to let take over them. 

They pressed their lips together tentatively. The kiss was quick, just a test to see how right it felt. For Ben, it was the most right thing he'd felt since Grace had died. For Saanvi, it was the affirmation of feelings she had been pondering about for over three years. 

They pulled back from one another again and shared a gentle smile. "Still scared?" He asked her caringly but with a teasing lilt. 

"Terrified", she answered honestly, though she too was only partly serious. "Can I ask you to do just one thing for me?" She asked him timidly, looking up into his eyes which had finally regained some of their sparkle. 

"What is it?" He smiled softly at her. 

"Lose the beard…please." 

Ben laughed, his heart feeling lighter than it had in a very long time. "Yeah, OK." 

Saanvi simpered, before her expression became serious. “I wasn’t ever really sure that marriage was going to be on the cards for me. I guess I’ve always been so career-focused, and after the last disaster of a relationship, I guess I’ve been left a little scarred.”    

“Look, just because it was in the calling doesn’t make it a done thing. As I said, we get to choose whether to make it real or not. I certainly wouldn’t force you if it wasn’t what you wanted.” 

“It might be”, she said bravely. “It might be what I want…in the future.” 

He looked at her in surprise. 

She met his astonished gaze. “You and I, we’ve just always had this connection, and it’s more than 828.” 

Ben nodded. “Yes”, he confirmed quietly. 

She shook her head, releasing a breath. “The past few years have been hard and insane.” 

Ben nodded in agreement. 

“But through it all, it was you who kept me grounded. I always felt I could trust you. Despite our ups and downs, you were always there for me to rely on.” She swallowed. “I…I felt ashamed of myself for the way I thought about you at times, for the feelings that I had.” 

Ben raised an eyebrow at her, amazed by the revelation. 

“But you know, you had a family and I would never have crossed that line, I respect you all too much. When Grace got pregnant with Eden, I was really happy for you, I truly was…” 

“Saanvi…” Ben stopped her abruptly and she closed her mouth immediately, looking admonished, fearing she’d overstepped the mark and upset him. 

But he didn’t look angry, he had that far off look as if he’d just made a remarkable discovery or come to an incredible realization. 

“Eden…In the calling, at the altar.” He paused. 

“Yeah, it looked like she was a flower girl. She looked so sweet”, Saanvi said, feeling quite emotional to be talking about it. 

Ben stared at Saanvi intently. “She looked grown up. About five or six, wouldn’t you say?” 

“Yeah, but it was definitely her.” Saanvi stilled, her eyes growing wide as she came to the same conclusion that Ben had. “Ben…” she croaked, reaching out for his arm to steady herself. 

“I still wouldn’t say it’s a safe bet, but if this is what’s written in our future…”, Ben choked, his emotion getting the better of him.   

“Then we’re definitely going to beat the death date”, Saanvi finished for him, tears already forming in her own eyes. 

“We’re going to beat it together”, he promised her with sincerity in his eyes and in his voice. 

Saanvi let out a whimper and reached for his face, pulling him to her and kissing him much more deeply than before. He wrapped his arms around her small frame, wanting, more than ever, to protect her. 

She dropped her head down and sobbed against his chest. He held her tightly, understanding the conflicting emotions she was feeling. Relief and elation, but of course feelings of guilt and sadness that the two of them would survive while Ben’s late wife had not. 

“It’s OK, it’s OK”, he whispered against her hair, then kissed her temple. 

He rubbed her back soothingly until she stopped crying. She squeezed his arms affectionately in thanks. 

Ben cleared his throat. “It’s taken me a lot of time and a lot of pain to realize that Grace wouldn’t want me to stay like this, stuck in this rut. When she thought I was gone, she was strong enough to realize that she had to move on. I know that she would want me to do the same.” 

“She was a good woman”, Saanvi said resolutely and Ben nodded. “She really was, and you know that. If there was ever anyone who could stand by my side in full acknowledgement of that, and with as much respect as I know you have. Someone who will be there for our kids, to make sure their Mom’s memory is kept alive.” 

“I would never let Eden forget her Mom”, Saanvi promised him and he smiled emotively. “I know.”  

“So…”, he said gently, brushing a lock of her hair out of her face. “After what has been an incredibly challenging and difficult year, I’d say this could be something which deserves celebrating.”   

Sniffing, she nodded in agreement. They looked at each other silently for a few moments, both trying to figure out what the next step should be. 

“Can I buy you breakfast?” They asked each other simultaneously, then both laughed. 

“We’ll figure it out”, he assured her, wrapping his arm around her shoulders and leading her to the door. She inhaled a deep breath and lifted her hand to stroke his back, replying affirmatively. “Yeah, we will.”    

[theatreslave]

Recovery

Chapter One

Drea Mikami silenced her cellphone for the third time in ten minutes. It was ringing incessantly, receiving calls from a number she didn’t recognize. She was supposed to be concentrating on paperwork but the sinking feeling that had started in her stomach two weeks ago when the number called her for the first time, was growing.

The phone rang again and she silenced just as her partner Michaela Stone-Landon reached her desk.

“You’re popular.” Michaela said with a raised eyebrow.

“It’s nothing just asking about my vehicle warranty or whatever. I swear those telemarketers are trying to annoy me to death,” Drea replied with her usual sass, trying not to show her nerves to her partner. Her amazing partner who was soon to be leaving her for a while. “Did you finish up everything? Are you excited?”

“Yeah I tied up loose ends and I have the rest of my paperwork done. Any open cases have been transferred to different detectives, barring the ones you wanted of course,” She said fondly. Silencing her friend’s phone for her the next time it rang. “In a couple hours I will be on a flight to my honeymoon, stress free!”

“I’m really happy for you Mick. I hate you for leaving me here by myself but how could I stop such a happy couple from enjoying their private time! Just make sure to have a few margaritas for me. Or better yet a few mai tais.” Drea laughed.

“You gonna be ok? I know Bowers assigned you to work with Jared while I’m gone.” Michaela asked, feeling a bit awkward.

Drea scoffed, “It’s just Jared. Afraid I’ll steal him away?”

“You can have him. Just don’t let him sulk too much ok. And take it easy on him. Your unending enthusiasm might actually make him smile and he might get a cramp in his face.” She joked.

“Oh trust me Mrs.Landon, I will make sure your ex-boy toy has nothing else to worry about except how to shut me up.” Drea stood up next to her partner and gave her a hug. “He’ll be ok Mic. He’s a big boy. I’m sure under all that brooding he is happy for you. Jared is just a passionate guy and you were all he was passionate about for a while.”

Drea released Mick from her hug. Mick nodded in agreement. “I know. He was all I knew for a long time too but Zeke, he’s everything and more. I can’t explain it. We are more than just soul mates. It’s deeper than that.”

“I know it is. I mean he survived against all odds because of you. So don’t worry, a dose of MIkami and me gushing over all the nauseatingly cute pictures you send me from your trip, will turn Jared off of you forever.” Drea was more than confident that she would have some fun while Mick was away. “And speak of the Devil.”

Jared Vasquez, newly appointed lieutenant, strode into the precinct confidently. He shrugged off his jacket and paused before scanning the bullpen and spotting the two women next to Mikami’s desk.

“It’s our big strong lieutenant back from a successful mission,” Drea teased. “I was just saying ‘bon voyage’ to the newly wed before she leaves tonight.”

Jared chuckled a bit then turned to Michaela, “Have a safe trip, and come back on time. Or if you’re going to disappear, take me with you this time.”

Michaela smacked the man’s arm, then gave him a hug as well. “I’ll be back, I promise. Be nice to Drea ok. I don’t wanna come back here and find out that you made her cry.”

“Like he could make me cry!”

“I’m not that mean!”

Drea’s phone rang and she absentmindedly silenced it again. Jared noticed but ignored it, figuring that she didn’t want to interrupt the conversation.

“So Vasquez, was it a successful mission?” Drea diverted.

“Yup, finally caught those Irish mobsters after, what, 6 months of tailing them. I am ready for something simple after all that.” Jared said as he loosened his tie and unbuttoned his top button.

“Congratulations! That’s great I know how that case has been bothering you. Using their prep-school sons as drug mules was a new low.” Michaela said with a sad look as she started packing up her bag at her desk just across from Drea’s.

Drea’s phone rang again and this time she flinched. Michaela reached over and silenced it again. Before Jared could ask what was up with that Michaela was ready to head off.

“I will see you guys in a month. I’ll send you guys some pictures. Call me if you need anything. But only if it’s urgent.” Michaela said with a wink and then waved as she walked out of the precinct.

“Aww they grow up so fast.” Drea said, wiping away a fake tear.

Jared stared at her for a second before rolling his eyes, “Make sure your weirdness doesn’t rub off on me.”

“I’m not weird! I’m just confident in my uniqueness.” Drea stuck her tongue out at him, “At least I know how to have fun.”

Her cellphone rang again. Jared finally lost his battle against his own curiosity and swiped Drea's phone and answered it. “Hello, you’re calling this phone an awful lot and it’s really starting to get annoying.”

Drea’s eyes were wide as saucers as she tried to take the phone from the much taller man in front of her. “Jared, what the hell! Give that back.”

“Who are you? Why are you answering this call?” A male voice answered. The tone he used alarmed Jared.

“Hey man, just stop calling this number ok. She doesn’t want to talk to you. And you’re making it so I can’t even enjoy the silence of a nearly empty precinct.” Jared scoffed.

“Are you that bitch’s new lap dog? She’ll curse you like she did to me. She’ll ruin you. Drea I know you’re there! You fucking bitch!” The man would have been foaming at the mouth if he were in front of Jared.

Drea finally pulled the phone from Jared’s grasp and disconnected the call. Jared was shocked then angry. “ Drea what the hell was that? Who was that? Are you in trouble?”

“Jared, it's nothing. I promise. Just some guy that’s mad that I didn’t go on a second date with him. Don’t worry about it. I was gonna get a new phone tomorrow anyway.” Drea just shut her phone off and tried to busy herself at her desk.

Jared took a moment to stare at her then went to his desk to grab a couple things, threw his jacket back on and then found his way back to her desk. “Grab what you need, the day is over and I am taking you to get a new phone.”

“Jared you really don’t have to do this,” Drea refused.

“I don’t but I’m not going to have a sleepless night thinking about that grim reaper calling you every ten minutes, so let’s move Mikami.” Jared said jokingly, trying to lighten the mood. At first Drea hesitated then grabbed her things and followed the Cuban man out of the precinct.

Drea sat in Jared’s passenger seat, having taken the bus that morning instead of her own car. It was silent as they made their way to the closest AT&T store. She played with her fingers feeling nervous for some reason.

“Do you need help getting a restraining order?” Jared asked, keeping his eye on the busy evening streets of New York.

Drea considered being honest but decided against it. Her and Jared weren’t very close and she didn’t need to involve him. “Yeah but it’s not like he’s stalking me. I probably should have given him a social media account instead of my actual number.”

“Don’t take any of the blame here, Drea. If this guy is really just being an asshole because he can’t take rejection. That’s all on him. You’ve blocked his number?”

“Yeah but he just calls with new ones. But it’s ok, I have my knight in shining necktie taking me to get a new phone so everything should be fine.” Drea teased, hoping the topic would be dropped.

“Brat,” Jared glanced at her, “If you ever need my help with some dude, don’t hesitate to ask. I know I may not be the best guy but I won’t stand for any of you girls getting treated like shit.”

“Thank you, Jared. Really it means a lot. But I don’t think this will be a big deal so don’t worry too much. That wrinkle between your brows will just get deeper.”

“I do not have a wrinkle!” Jared shot back as he parked the car. “Come on, let's go.”

“You’re coming with me?” Drea asked, surprised.

“And what, leave you here to take a night bus or taxi by yourself? Not a chance, especially after that phone call. We are getting you a new phone then you are buying me dinner for driving you around.” Jared said as they both exited the car and made their way across the street.

“How about I just cook you something? I was going to make some ramen when I got home anyway.” Drea said, smiling at Jared, honestly relieved to not be alone.

“That sounds like a deal. Just don’t poison me ok.” Jared joked as he pulled the store door open for her.

“You’ll see. Unlike Michaela I am an amazing cook!” Drea smacked Jared’s shoulder lightly as she walked past him.

The process of getting a new phone was a bit of a hassle as it always is. The minute Drea turned her old phone on, to transfer data, it started pinging with ‘missed call’ notifications followed by more calls from mystery numbers.

Jared looked a bit concerned but as soon as the service was cut off the phone stopped chiming. Drea opted for a Samsung, switching her allegiances, as the sales rep called it. It made transferring her phone numbers and data a little incomplete but Jared made sure to grab her phone and edit his contact information for her.

“Hey I literally just got that!” Drea said after saying ‘goodbye’ to the young man who helped her with her phone.

“I’m just making sure you have me saved properly.” Jared said with a laugh before snapping a picture of himself. “There ya go.”

Jared handed her the new phone as they both made it back to his car. Once they were both seated and Jared had her address in the GPS, Drea finally had a chance to look at his contact info. He had taken a quick selfie with a smile on his face from that dumb angle that guys always take it from. And had saved himself as Jared “Knight in Shining Necktie” Vasquez.

“You’re honestly a giant dork under all that machismo, aren’t you?” Drea smiled as she looked over at him.

“Only around my friends. So keep it a secret. Now are you really going to cook for me or am I just dropping you off? I’m starving after that kid couldn’t stop talking about Samsung being better than Apple blah blah blah. “ Jared said as he made his way down her street.

“Hey, we made a deal. Plus you were right, I definitely prefer this over taking the bus or subway. You can just have the valet take your car. Jonathan will take care of it.” Drea said as they pulled up to an upper class apartment building. Jared let out a low whistle.

“Your apartment complex has a valet? I knew you came from money Drea, but come on now.” Jared said, looking in awe as he stopped the car and spotted the valet driver.

“Jonathan, you’ll take care of Jared’s car won’t you.” Drea asked happily as she made her way into the building.

“Of course, Ms. Mikami. Will the Sir be spending the night?”

“Jonathan! You’re scandalous. Jared is just having dinner with me as a favor so don’t you go reporting to my mother about anything.” Drea teased the older gentleman.

“Of course Miss. Have a wonderful dinner.”

Jared watched the exchange and couldn’t help but chuckle at Drea’s cheerful manner. He followed Drea through the lobby to the elevators which were just as extravagant as the front of the building. “I’m guessing your mother likes to keep an eye on you.”

“She’s always been a tiger mom. She never did forgive me for going into law enforcement and now she wants me to apologize by getting married to one of her friends’ sons.” Drea scoffed. They made it to her apartment and she swiftly let them in.

Jared was pleased to see that her apartment was rather simple but lived in. She had a cat, or he figured she did from the litter box in the corner of the living room that opened up from the front door.

“You can hang your jacket up right there. And take off your shoes please!” Drea called as she rushed into what he assumed was the kitchen to work on their dinner. “Have a look around while I cook. And if you see Mimi, she’s friendly, I promise!.”

“You named your cat ‘Mimi’?” Jared asked as he made his way further into the apartment. He noticed a VR headset promptly displayed next to the TV, a bookcase filled to the brim, and that most of her furniture was a dark cherry color. The depth of which was offset by her cream colored walls and the shine of her lights off the various mirrors that helped make her apartment feel larger than it was.

“Yeah, why? You don’t like it?” Drea called back. The sounds of running water and then the telltale chop of a knife on a cutting board filled the apartment.

“Mimi Mikam? It’s cute.” Jared said with a laugh. He stood at the threshold of the kitchen.

“And she’s cute. If you haven’t seen her then she will come out when I bring her food out,” Drea said absentmindedly as she busied herself with the bowling water and what looked like noodles.

“Where’s your bathroom? I wanna wash up.” Jared asked, not wanting to try and find out himself in case he got accused of snooping. Not that he wasn’t a little interested in the inner workings of his silver spoon fed coworker.

“Just keep going down the hall past the living room. The first door on the right. The door on the left is the guest bedroom. The one at the end of the hall is my room, and across from it is a closet.” Drea answered not looking up from the meat she was slicing.

“Thanks. Not that I needed a full floor plan,” Jared replied as he turned to the hallway.

“I’m just being thorough. Like I am with this food you’re going to love by the way,” Drea shot back.

Jared just chuckled to himself as he walked down the hall, flicking a light switch as he went. The hall was longer than he expected. He found the bathroom easily and washed his hands. He pulled off his tie, finally letting himself relax after the long day. The Lieutenant looked at himself in the mirror, taking in the littering of grey hairs and the deepening crease between his brows. Jared let out a long sigh, he really wasn’t getting any younger. He shook his head and let his mind focus on the enigma that was Drea and her mystery caller. He had a feeling there was more to this than some stilted “nice guy” but he didn’t want to pry. He wasn’t as close to Drea as Michaela but hopefully a month as partners would remedy that.

Jared exited the bathroom only to hear the sound of something falling in what he now knew was Drea’s bedroom.

“Jared,” Drea called from the kitchen.

“Yeah?” Jared called back, his sense on high alert and his hand on his gun which was still at his belt.

“Can you make sure Mimi didn’t knock over the glass I keep on my bedside? She does that sometimes when she realizes I’m home,” Drea requested.

“Yea sure,” Jared let out a sigh of relief and then made his way down the hall. The door to her room was already ajar. Knowing that Drea asked him to check made it easier for him to flick the light switch and enter her bedroom. Jared chuckled to himself, “I guess this is one way to get into a woman’s bedroom.”

Drea’s bedroom was the definition of feminine sophistication. She had a four post canopy bed with light gauzy curtains that were pulled open. Her sheets were a cream color with mauve accents. The wood of her furniture matched the furniture in the rest of her apartment. Her side tables matched and had gold filigree lamps atop them. The carpets were plush and squishy under Jared’s socked feet. He noticed an empty glass laying haphazardly on the floor and moved to pick it up. The glass was placed neatly back on her bedside table.

Jared took a moment to snoop, unable to help himself. There was a small porcelain tree next to her lamp. A ring holder. He did notice she always wore a pinky ring on her left hand and a plain gold band on her right ring finger. A simple brush lay next to it along with a novel. Something horror related from the looks of the cover. Across from the foot of the bed was a dresser and next to that a vanity. In the opposite corner was a desk and a door that he assumed led to the master bathroom.

His attention turned at the soft mewl of Mimi who made herself known. She appeared and with the usual agility of a cat, hopped on to the vanity. That’s when Jared noticed that Drea’s window was open. She hadn’t been in here since they arrived and he doubted that she left it open by accident. Jared shut the window and did a quick sweep of the room. Once satisfied that no one was hiding in the room he turned back to Mimi.

“You wouldn’t be in here if there was an intruder right?” Mimi just blinked up at him. She was a short haired cat. Small and white, with striking blue eyes. She mewed at him and made a movement trying to rub up against him. Jared wasn’t a cat person but he had to admit she was cute. He stepped closer and tentatively reached out a hand. Mimi happily bumped her head against his palm asking for pets.

Jared smiled down at the cat just as Drea called, “Dinner’s ready! Quit snooping and come back out here.”

Jared slowly picked up the snow white cat and was surprised to see how easily she curled into him and purred. He held her to his chest, scratching her head as he made his way back to the kitchen where Drea had set a table for two at the small dining table. “Hey, I wasn’t snooping, I was bonding. See.”

Drea turned and smiled at the sight of the normally stoic detective holding her purring white cat while he scratched her head. “ Aww that’s so cute. Mimi likes you.”

“By the way did you leave your window open? I closed it for you. You should be more careful.” Jared said as he took a seat. Finally he relinquished his hold on Mimi who was more than happy to make her way to her food bowl which Drea had filled.

Drea hesitated then sat down as well, “Uh, yeah I must have forgotten about it when I went to work this morning. Thanks. I really should wake up earlier. Anyway, here we are, a Mikami special. Tonkatsu ramen and shredded seaweed chicken rolls with a side of rice.”

“Wow, it definitely smells better than anything Mick has ever tried to make,” Jared joked..

“Dig in. You had a long successful day and this is our first time hanging out as partners.” Drea said, “Thank you for coming with me to get a new phone too.”

“If I get fed like this every time I might have to do you more favors.” Jared happily dug in.

They chatted throughout dinner enjoying the food and eventually opening up a bottle of wine. Drea reasoned that they were both off tomorrow anyway. Jared, having loosened up, asked Drea about the VR headset he saw and she was more than happy to teach him how to use it. And that’s how they ended up in the living room, Jared exhausted after playing a shooting game and Drea exhausted from laughing so hard at his irritation.

“You know, I should get one of these. It’s like working out without a gym.” Jared said between breaths as he turned off the headset and returned it to its stand.

“I never took you for a gamer. But I must say that was definitely entertaining. You get way too competitive.” Drea said with a laugh. “You should just bunk out in my spare room. It’s late and we drank the whole bottle.”

“Are you sure? I’m not drunk or anything.” Jared realized it was nearing 2 a.m.

“You still drank. We’re cops Jared, we have to set a good example. And you won’t have to worry about me drunkenly jumping you in bed, the spare room has a lock.” Drea said cheekily as she started cleaning up the errant wine glasses and napkins.

“Let me do that then. You cooked and let me stay so I will wash the dishes. Go get ready for bed.” Jared insisted as he started picking up bowls and utensils.

“Yes dad, “ Drea joked as she let him take over, a yawn escaping her mouth.

“I prefer Daddy.” Jared quipped before he could stop himself. Drea let out a laugh and threw a pillow at him. “In your dreams Vasquez.”

He caught the pillow laughing as he cleaned up the remains of their dinner. It wasn’t until he was nearly done with the dishes that he felt the wine headache coming on. Drea met him in the hallway with some extra towels and a pair of sweats that were much too large to be her actual size.

“Here. So you can wash up and change. You’re lucky I like to wear big mens sweats when I’m home by myself. I will be off to bed now. Goodnight Jared.” Drea said nonchalantly as she handed him the pile then made her way back to her room, picking up Mimi who had been winding around her legs.

“Thanks Drea, goodnight.” Jared said. He washed up in the bathroom then went into the guest bedroom to change. It was simpler than her bedroom and slightly smaller but still had the plush carpet and elegant side tables. He took off his shirt and pants, hanging them up in the empty closet, then unfolded the sweats. They were a bit loose on him but were worn in. He could tell from the creases that Drea normally folded the legs up quite a bit. His eyes barely staying open, he hopped into the bed, thinking for a moment about how he ended up here. A ghost of a smile on his face as he drifted off to sleep.

Saying goodnight to Jared was an odd feeling but not bad. Drea definitely didn’t think her day would end with Jared Vasquez sleeping in her apartment. But as she went over the events of the day, it seemed to be an appropriate ending. Drea was about to climb into bed when she noticed something green on her vanity.

As she walked across the room and started to recognize the object, her blood ran cold. She stood less than a foot away, staring down at the handmade Valentine’s Day card wishing it would burst into flames. She looked up at the window next to the vanity, the one that had been open. For a split second panic filled her at the idea that he had made his way into her apartment. But Jared would have noticed, he wouldn’t let her get hurt. He wasn’t here but he had been.

Drea swiftly walked to the kitchen and grabbed some chopsticks and a ziplock bag, hoping her movements wouldn’t wake Jared. She was back in her room with the door shut behind her. She paused again, staring across the room at the offensive item. Until she let her anger surge up within her and drive her forward. She used the chopsticks effortlessly and put the card into the ziplock bag before shoving it in a bottom drawer of her vanity.

Breathing heavily she made her way to her bed. Hoping she would be able to get some sleep. Hoping the vents of the past two days wouldn’t send her spiraling back into her nightmares.

AND THATS IT FOR CHAPTER ONE. SOON TO BE ADDED TO AO3 and FANFIC.NET

[misscrazyfangirl321]

Manifest, your choice + "Don't you knock?!"

Decided to go with some good old sibling hurt/comfort with Ben and Michaela.

-

"Don't you knock?" 

Michaela blinks, concerning welling up inside her. Before the flight, her brother was always the level-headed one, but lately he's been a constantly-lit fuse, just waiting to snap. 

"Sorry, but seeing as how it's my living room and you broke in…" 

He winces, sitting back in his seat. "You're right; I'm sorry. It's just… I didn't know where else to go. I didn't want Grace to see me like this. Mick, I did something. And the worst part is, I don't regret it. Not at all." 

There's something dark and dangerous in his eyes that sends chills through her. He's been walking the edge of something for a long time, something she doesn't have a name for but she knows enough to fear.

"Does this have something to do with Olive joining the Believers?" 

He grimaces, and she knows his answer before he even says a word. "Every second that she spends with them, she's in danger." Then he pauses, looking around her apartment slowly. "Where's Zeke?" 

It's her turn to wince, pasting a smile on her face. "With his wife. In the kitchen." 

At the very least, it snaps him out of whatever funk he's found himself in, at least for the moment. He blinks once, then twice, before clearing his throat. "Sorry, his…?" 

"Wife. Yep." She runs a hand through her hair. "It's a really long story. Apparently, anyway. They were trying to explain, but I couldn't listen, so I came out here." 

"And I bit your head off." Regret's thick in his tone, and she shakes her head, sympathy replacing any hurt in an instant.

"Don't worry about it. Sounds like you had a rough night." 

A wry grin. "So did you." 

No kidding. 

He reaches out, patting her arm gently. "Go talk to them. Find out what's going on. And then… Come talk to me. I'm here for you, you know? Always." 

Heart swelling a little, she nods. "Thank you. And whatever you did, I promise we'll get through it. Together." 

[girlysword]

Manifest: Pre-Season 3 Predictions and Thoughts

Now that the season 3 trailer is out, here is an overview of my holdover theories from the last two seasons and any new thoughts sparked by the trailer

Dangers:

Death Date and the Major: I was not expecting these conflicts to be resolved so quickly, although new conflicts were introduced. Adrian believes 828 is a sign of the apocalypse, he will probably stoke the fire of 828 hate. Also, since the key to the Death Date seems to be “follow the callings, no matter what,” our heroes may be torn between doing sketchy things and possibly dying (especially since the trailer seems to confirm that they did die and were saved by the supernatural callings [and that the plane blew up in season 1 because there couldn’t be two planes at the same time]). As for the Major, someone will inevitably take her place and will be more guarded than she was. There is also the question of whether this was just her pet project or does this go higher up? If, say, the President called Vance and told him to stop helping the 828-ers, would Vance betray his new friends?

Disappearances: Cal’s kidnappers disappeared, suggested that they went the way of 828. This would be the 4th time after Zeke, Griffin, Fiona and Billy Daly. Are these disappearances increasing in frequency, suggesting an imminent apocalyptic event? Or have these disappearances always happened, it’s just widespread info in the modern age and the fact so many people disappeared with 828 that highlighted the phenomenon and this has always happened? History buffs, find mysterious disappearances where the person suddenly reappeared. Here’s hoping that the Agatha Christie disappearance was an 828 event and her novels published after her disappearance hold clues. I still believe the fortune teller Olive met had her own 828 episode. There is also still the question of how Al-Zuras is tied into this. I predict TJ will return from Egypt, riding on a white horse, with critical information just in the nick of time (which means he’ll probably be absent, bar Skype calls, for the first half of the season, but sometimes quality is better than quantity).

Xers, Meth Dealers and Kidnappers, O My!: If there is a time jump between seasons, the first episode could see the return of Cal’s kidnappers. It would be cool if their Death Date were the end of the season, so the finale’s tension is waiting to see whether or not they croak (like a villainous version of the tension of the season 2 finale, wondering whether Zeke was gonna die). They could feed into Adrian’s doomsday theory if it seems that they are following their Callings. The Xers are still a threat, Tamara may take on a leadership role with her brother in jail and the group may team up with Adrian.

Saanvi: She is not a danger, but boy is she in a lot of danger. Her attempt to cure the Callings/Death Date will definitely continue to have side effects and it may have even ensured that the Death Date kicks in. She also murdered a high ranking military officer. She’ll definitely be laying low if not in complete hiding at the start of season 3. Thankfully her shipping prospects provide her with enough plot armor that I don’t think she’ll die in season 3 (I am worried about her after that, though). As it is I think we’ll see a storyline divide between her and the other main characters. She and Vance will team up to take on the government and the other characters will deal with the supernatural stuff, with Ben bridging the gap.

Shipping:

I still think that Jared and Michaela are going to get together at least one more time, that’s just how shows like these work. Hopefully it’ll be brief and then it’ll be done. What could lead to troubled waters for Zeke and Michaela you ask? Well, a couple of things. Now that Zeke no longer has a ticking clock pushing his self-betterment, he might fall back into bad habits, and/or Zeke and Michaela could become complacent in their marriage, letting all the other drama in their lives take precedence. Be on the lookout for either or both of them starting to keep secrets from each other, the best part of their relationship in season 2 was their honesty and immediate airing of any possible issues. I do hope that Zeke and Michaela are endgame, because when their relationship is good it is great. I also hope that Jared and Drea get together because I think they could have a really fun dynamic. They would be the sarcastic couple that gets exasperated with their psychic friends (just think of the background side glances!).

I definitely think Benvi is going to happen but it is definitely a slowburn, so I don’t expect them to get together until the end of season 3 or even until season 4. We haven’t even gotten to Ben coming to the realization that he might have feelings for Saanvi, which I don’t expect to happen until either right before or during the straining of his marriage to Grace. I predicted before that Grace might lie about Eden’s parentage to protect her, and I still think that’s a good theory, especially since Grace’s first Calling was telling not to get a DNA test. Ben would understand, but that would still be a tough situation. Also, Grace was 100% supportive last season, but last season also showed that Ben’s obsessive tendencies can get him into trouble. Grace and Ben might fall out over the interpretation of a Calling, particularly if the well-being of their kids is concerned. I am starting to think that Benvi might not be good for Saanvi’s health. Saanvi has picked fights with a supernatural force and the US military, it would take some serious plot armor to protect her from the serious danger heading her way. I feel like the writers might kill off Saanvi after her and Ben get together to twist in the knife. But, I was wrong about Zeke’s chances of survival, maybe I’m just a pessimist.

Olive and TJ are flipping cute together and I hope that they are a relatively drama free couple to provide a breather from the other couples. One of my favorite things about TJ and Zeke is how well they fit into the family, I feel like if OlivexTJ or ZekexMichaela ever broke up TJ and Zeke would still be close friends with other members of the family. I really hope that TJ becomes Ben’s son-in-law someday (with Zeke’s dad in the background shouting, “I called it!”).

Characters:

Olivia: I hope Olive doesn’t go to college (I don’t have anything against college, I loved going to college and i believe that people should continue to learn after high school, even if its just Skillshare. I just don’t think it’s a practical choice for everyone and that it would be interesting to watch Olive follow a path different from the “norm”.), beyond taking mythology classes and the like at community college. I still think that she’ll take over the Church of the Believers, especially since Adrian thinks the 828-ers are harbingers of the apocalypse. The Church could split between Adrian and Olive.

Ben: Believing that they died on that plane is not going to help him chill.

[douxreviews]

Manifest - ‘Vanishing Point' Review

"Sometimes the things he draws, they've happened already but he couldn't have known... Other times, they haven't happened yet..."

What makes for a great episode? I would submit that one template for a great episode is an episode where the characters you know and love, faced with a critical situation, band together and take it on with everything they've got--and have two or three plot twists thrown at them for good measure.

Grace called the cops, like any parent would upon finding her kid missing, but Ben is concerned that The Major may have informants in the NYPD.  Michaela enlists Jared to falsely report that Cal is with his grandfather, which ends the police investigation.

Ben takes a look at Cal's sketchbook, and they quickly realize that the pictures are clues to finding Cal, and that Autumn tore out one of the pages.  Grace recognizes one of the pictures as the town square in Tannersville, in the Catskills--someplace she and Olive went the previous summer (with Danny, no doubt), but where Cal has never been before.  While Michaela and Jared go to work giving Autumn a thorough and well-deserved grilling, Ben and Grace borrow Danny's big honking 4WD pickup truck--that must have been a really awkward conversation, but we didn't get to see it--and head for Tannersville.

For the rest of the episode, our main characters are hitting on all cylinders, and each of them contributes to the effort to locate Cal: Ben, Grace, Michaela, Jared, even Olive, who finds a key message in Cal's secret hiding place.  It turns out that Cal wasn't taken by The Major or anyone else, he left on a calling of his own.

The drawing Autumn took from the sketchbook was of Autumn and the daughter she lost custody of when she went to prison--the source of The Major's leverage.  On the back of that page is a drawing of a cabin near Tannersville, where Ben and Grace eventually find Cal.  About two minutes later, a man bursts in and promptly collapses, suffering from hypothermia.  Inside Cal's backpack there is a sleeping bag and first aid supplies, exactly what is needed to treat the injured man.

His name is Zeke, and he relates that he was on an extended camping trip when he got caught in an intense blizzard.  (There is no snow on the ground outside the cabin.  This is not a plot hole or a continuity error, as you'll see in a few sentences.)  He holed up in a cave and tried to stay warm by starting a fire, using the December issue of Celebrity Dossier Magazines for kindling.  The cover story of this issue ("Four Years Later, and Still No Answers") was about the people lost on Flight 828.  The last page had a picture of Michaela, and when he saw it Zeke felt a compulsion to go out in the snow, repeating to himself, "Find her."  (That's right, Michaela's (and Cal's) snowstorm vision was from Zeke's perspective.)  For his part, Zeke has never heard that Flight 828 returned.  As the cover date on the magazine reveals, Zeke's camping trip, and the blizzard he got caught up in, took place, not in the show's "present day" of 2018, but in December of 2017.

"828" Watch

Blink-and-you'll-miss-it sightings of the arc number on the pages of Celebrity Dossier Magazines.

Also on the manifest....

The scene at the end of the first act, where it cuts from Cal's sketchbook drawing of his parents and his aunt to closeups of his parents and aunt looking at the sketchbook, to the final shot of the three of them standing in the exact same composition as the drawing, was probably the coolest thirty seconds of the series so far.

Over the course of the episode, Grace and Ben have the conversation they should have had eight or nine episodes ago.  Grace finally comprehends just how mysterious and ominous the callings are, and how hard Ben has been working to protect his family.  Ben finally realizes that his OCD tendencies got the best of him and he should have read Grace in on the full story concerning the callings, the missing passengers, and The Major, much sooner.  It seems they are on the way to patching things up.

Speak of the devil, we finally get to meet The Major.  She's seen taking a call from her underling while standing on the balcony of a really high end New York apartment she's thinking of buying or renting.  She's played by Elizabeth Marvel, an alumna of Person of Interest.

Given that foster care and adoption records are not open to the general public--in many states, even an adoptee has to jump through bureaucratic hoops to get access--it's pretty impressive that Michaela tracked Autumn's long-lost daughter down in just a few hours, with no court orders.

Tannersville is a town of 539 people, according to the last census, and bills itself as "the painted village in the sky."

Now playing in-universe at the Lafayette Theater in downtown Tannersville: What Lies Beneath.

The page of Celebrity Dossier Magazines with Michaela's picture on it has quotes about her from Olive, the precinct captain, and the rector of Michaela's church.

Quotes

Michaela to Autumn: "You know, for a con artist, your poker face sucks hard." Ouch.

Olive: "I can feel him, just like last time.  I think he's in danger, and he's terrified, and it's like he's trying to send me, like--oh my God."

Grace: "Sweetie, how did you get here?" Cal: "I took a bus to Tannersville, got a ride from Max at the gas station, then I walked up from the road." Grace: "I don't understand.  Why?  Why did you do this?" Cal: "This is where I'm supposed to be."

Grace: "You were trying to take care of us, all of us, all this time.  I didn't see it." Ben: "I didn't let you see it."

The Major: "If I've learned anything running point for 22 years, there's no need to chase the enigma when it lives right in our backyard."  What does that mean, and what enigma did she start "running point" on back in 1996?

Conclusion

The best episode of the series yet.  Tense, exciting, well written and acted.  Four out of four borrowed pickup trucks.

Baby M prefers small, agile sports cars to big 4WD pickup trucks.

[aion-rsa]

Manifest Season 3 Episode 2 Review: Deadhead

https://ift.tt/3cIpzCa

This Manifest review contains spoilers.

Manifest Season 3 Episode 2

Secrets abound in Manifest season 3, and the promise of a payoff when those secrets are revealed is enticing in the extreme. Again, there’s always a few bumpy moments when the callings clunkily manipulate characters into their convenient narratives, but once everyone is in place, the story really has a chance to shine. Even minor details, like the fact that Zeke can read Saanvi’s mental state remarkably well these days, evoke curiosity and wonderment about how these developments will play out.

Let’s be real, though; Manifest has the irritating habit of expecting us to accept feelings and hunches in place of legitimate character motivations, and these meanderings were on particularly awkward display this week. For example, when Olive is convinced that she is meant to help Angelina with her calling, breaking up the family in a time of danger, she might as well add, “It says so here in the script,” at the end of her line. That’s how mechanically those machinations come across in the moment.

Read more

TV

Manifest Season 3 Presents a ‘Fundamental Shift’

By Michael Ahr

TV

Manifest Season 3 Episode 1 Review: Tailfin

By Michael Ahr

But at least we got to see Angelina come to terms with the faceless angel that’s been haunting her, and the friendship that’s sure to blossom between her and Olive is warmly anticipated. That burgeoning relationship makes it easier to overlook the sometimes bizarre path the callings inspire: leading the two girls from the defaced stained-glass window to the time capsule to the photo taken outside of King Cone, a reminder of happier times when Angelina’s parents weren’t abusive captors.

Somehow it feels more real when the callings compel the returned with words like, “Go to her!” rather than pepper them with obscure symbology. The trio of kidnappers were pulled to the King Cone like magnets, even if Jace thought it was his idea to return to his former employer to grab a little spending money. Manifest set up in season 2 the reluctance of the other minions to engage in criminal activity, and the most fun in this episode came from speculating what might happen now that Pete has seen himself in Angelina’s photo and been separated from his crew.

Admittedly, it was nice to see Michaela playing by the book in her investigation of the three men, even if her rule following is not meant to last. Her partnership with Drea and the support she gets from Captain Bowers really reinforce the official nature of her contribution to the overall investigation, something Ben sometimes lacks. But even his interplay with Emmett and Powell and the visit to Vance’s wife gave us hope that calmer (and more qualified) heads would prevail.

The same sense of hope surrounds Grace and Cal as they work together to make amends with Tarik and create a safe haven for themselves and Eden in a time when news of the tailfin will make it harder for the returnees to escape scrutiny. That same approaching danger is present each time someone mentions the Major, reminding us that Saanvi has told no one about what she has done to the group’s most formidable enemy.

cnx.cmd.push(function() { cnx({ playerId: "106e33c0-3911-473c-b599-b1426db57530", }).render("0270c398a82f44f49c23c16122516796"); });

Add to those impending conflicts the mystery of Ben’s glowing hand, and Manifest has built quite a solid foundation for its third season mythology. That’s without even considering the unanswered questions concerning Al-Zuras, the missing Captain Daly and Fiona Clarke, and any remaining threat the Major’s faction might pose. In fact, if the show can avoid using its own premise as a narrative crutch too often, the season ahead could be the best yet.

The post Manifest Season 3 Episode 2 Review: Deadhead appeared first on Den of Geek.

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[ianrosenberger]

Heather’s Game Changers Cast Ranking/Analysis

My Absolute Faves:

1. SANDRA

Okay I can’t even describe how excited I am that Sandra is on this season. She’s my favourite survivor player ever and is the EPITOME of a game changer. Sandra delivers the perfect combination of strategy and entertainment for me and the survivor franchise should consider itself blessed that she agreed to return. As for her chances of going far, everything in me is saying she’s bound to be a premerge boot, but it’s queen changa! In pearl islands and heroes vs villains she was still screaming premerge boot but clearly we know how that turned out. I’m rooting for her above everyone else which is redundant to say when she’s already #1 on the list but... had to let that fact be known again.

2. TONY

I think I would say Tony is my third favourite survivor contestant ever (behind mother sandra ofc and Kim Spradlin). He’s crackedt out of his mind and it’s pure entertainment gold. I’m never not fascinated by trying to figure out the logic behind what Tony is doing. I don’t see how it would be possible for him to get far again sadly, but whatever happens I’m sure he’ll go out in a blaze of glory. Apparently he’s already been jumping out of bushes and whatnot at the pregame ponderosa like . .. . crackedt legends only.

Love these casting choices:

3. CIRIE

Cirie really did THAT strategically in Panama and Micronesia. Unlike the other two legends I already talked about, I do see a good chance of Cirie going far in the game again. I haven’t watched Micronesia or Panama recently (and I lowkey forgot what panama was and typed casaya for the season name while making this post), so I don’t have a crisp memory of everything she did, but..basically I remember that I stanned it. The only thing I’m concerned with is her rivalry with Sandra or whatever their relationship could be called. I’m not gonna lie; when I heard that she said Sandra didn’t deserve to win either of her seasons, I was....disgusted. Tbh. That doesn’t take anything away from the fact that Cirie’s gameplay was everything but girl...don’t come for Sandra like that.

4. ANDREA

Andrea has really grown on me since she first played. I don’t think I had much of an opinion on her in redemption island because I really didn’t care for anybody in the cast at all dfsndjfndsj but in Caramoan I liked her! She gives me constant conspiratorial vibes which I need to really STAN a survivor contestant. I just think she needs to fix her social game a bit because strategically I do think Andrea has the capability to win. Other than that I just enjoy her presence on my TV. I don’t think she’ll be targeted for a while by anyone but dumbfucks like Caleb or Brad for the same reason sexually deprived men usually target her *eyes emoji* so..yeah I have high hopes for her!

5. MICHAELA

I don’t think I appreciated Michaela enough while MvG was on (also because I missed a ton of episodes for school and had to binge watch the season in chunks of like five eps at a time). But Michaela has the makings of a legend - she gives me the blend of entertainment and strategy that I referred to in describing Sandra. A different blend than Sandra of course, but Michaela is a unique character in my mind, and I think if she can get past the barrier of being an unknown variable to the rest of the cast, she could do really well. I’m excited to watch her on the season regardless.

6. HALI

MUVVA! The ONLY good thing that I remember about W*rlds Ap*rt excluding Carolyn. Honestly half the reason I love Hali as much as I do is because she’s hot and that’s just the tea. Her weird analogies in confessionals and unintentional comic relief at tribals are great and I’m looking forward to them, as well as her renewed motivation to actually be a strategic force in the season. In worlds apart she at least TRIED to do something strategically, so now I’m hoping she can maybe tune her social game up a bit in order to be able to implement some of her schemes.

7. MALCOLM

Yeah I absolutely am thirsty for Malcolm. Sure am. Is that why he’s this high on the list? Britney_spears_crying_yeah.gif . SNkjdsfhjdskh I’m only half serious about that. Based on the pregame ET Canada interviews, I think his ego either got bigger or he’s just more comfortable showing it now that he’s played twice and feels like there’s less to prove, so I could see him being more of a villain this season than an underdog like his first two seasons. He is strategically adept, and I don’t think there’s a chance he could become someone’s goat and get super uninteresting, so all in all I’m happy he’s coming back.

8. JT

Ohh JT. If I remember correctly, he was the first person to play a perfect game and I think that makes him a game changer. What bumped him up in my rankings was the fact that in his interviews, his passion for the game is burning up like Russell’s hat in the fire. JT is NOT here to play games this season. I liked him in both Tocantins and HvV; I think he gives a level headed and still insightful perspective into the game, and in spite of him giving Russell that idol, I do think JT is one of the smartest people on this cast in terms of not only being able to come up with good strategic moves but being able to implement them. I agree with what he said in his interviews that people will more remember his blunder in HvV and extreme loyalty to Stephen over him winning and probably be more inclined to work with him, so I think JT could definitely make it far and maybe win again.

Happy with these casting choices:

9. ZEKE

Something about Zeke’s personality I’m drawn to. I wasn’t a humongous Zeke stan in MvG (because I was rooting for David’s side I’m sorry Zeke), but as the game went on, he went from initially annoying me because he looked too old to be on the milennial tribe to being really endearing and pleasant to watch. Maybe it’s recency bias but seeing him and Michaela going into this season for some reason feels like two new players being cast into a season of allstars, and automatically makes me want to root for the two of them.

10. TROYZAN

Let me take a minute and fasten my wig on before saying this but um..I like Troyzan. dnsjkgfhjkhd if you want to block me after that I understand. He pissed me off in One World of course because he tried to act like he could compare to the legendary Kim Spradlin when he clearly could not, but now that Kim isn’t here I think he might be more tolerable. He’s an independent thinker which is the main quality that makes me like Troyzan. It’s a mess that the main thing he’s remembered for is screaming “this is my island” at a group of women who then steamrolled over his corpse, but it at least proved that he’s not only extra and will add some drama to the show, but he will pave his own way strategically.

11. AUBRY

No one can deny that Aubry was a strategic force in Kaoh Rong. That’s the main reason that I’m happy that she’s returning because I think she definitely earned it with her level of gameplay. For some reason there’s a disconnect for me with Aubry that I hope this season will patch up and I’ll be able to fully stan her. She doesn’t have that quality for me that I love in players like Sandra, Tony and Cirie, where they are not only amazing strategically but also have that entertainment factor. In summary, I have no qualms with this casting choice, but I’m going to have to wait until the season starts to know whether I’m going to root for her or not.

Lowkey not doing it for me:

12. SIERRA

I remember really liking Sierra in W*rlds Ap*rt until the moment she rejected Hali’s plan, then let herself get dragged behind the likes of D*n F*ley and W*ll S*ms. That was just sad. Her only moment of redemption was voting for Carolyn at FTC, but it was too little too late for me. I still really like Sierra as a person, but for me to sit here and start saying I think she’s a game changer in any way would be a complete load of shit. I don’t see why Carolyn wasn’t given her spot, but she wasn’t, so I hope Sierra can really prove herself this season as a strategic player, because at this point I wouldn’t give her that label.

13. CIERA

I’ve seen enough of Ciera. I understand why she’s a game changer, and as such I understand why she’s on the season, but I’m just tired of her. I think it’s because of her political views that I just haven’t been able to reconcile. I really liked her on Blood vs Water and she was pretty good during Cambodia, but every time I think about her I just start thinking about how she’s a Republican and I’m like okay................ . . . .. um.... I can’t. I’ll know that I’ll never root for Ciera over the top nine people on this list, but I don’t HATE her, so if she goes as hard as she did at the end of Blood vs. Water I think I’ll end up liking her more. I think my opinion is also based on the fact that I don’t see where her storyline could develop from here on the show. Anyways.. I like? Ciera? At least somewhat? So..I think she will at the least deliver some quality conspiracies on the show.

14. TAI

I like Tai but the only thing I remember about him is him loving a chicken and him being very wishy washy at the end of KR. I could see him going far again for sure, but not on his own strategic merit; I think he could easily become the goat of a stronger player ie at least 80% of this cast. I mean if that has to happen I hope it’s Sandra :)) but yeah...in general...I don’t think he was THAT popular to merit a spot on this season in spite of not really being that great of a player. I’m sure he’ll have some other cute moments with animals and nature and whatnot so I’m looking forward to those I guess?

15. OZZY

Ozzy is the lowest person on my rankings that I would consider to be a game changer. The reason why he’s this low in spite of that is because I think even though he has changed the game, the game hasn’t changed him. He’s played THREE TIMES before this and I still get the sense that he’s going to use the exact same strategy this season...yikes. In South Pacific, he was being more strategic I think..but that may just have been because he felt like the leader of his tribe, so the narrative of the season centred around his thoughts for the tribe and his influence on the tribe. Were his ideas actually strategically sound? Not really, even though I think it’s good that he recognized that physicality was his biggest asset so he took advantage of that (referring to him getting himself voted out to go win duels on redemption island). At least Ozzy has gained some self awareness over ten years? Maybe? I hope so for his sake.

Yikes:

16. JEFF

I’m sorry but how is he a game changer. I can’t fully speak to Jeff’s abilities because I still haven’t watched Australian Outback but based on his game in Cambodia, he was serving some hot mess teas. He did deliver some entertainment like him calling Abi out at the challenge (or getting called out by her I lowkey dont remember), so my best hope for him is that he delivers some more of those. I could see him aligning with Sandra, so if that happens he will almost definitely shoot up in my rankings. As of now though, I don’t have any expectations for him. He’s at least not loathsome and completely deluded.

17. DEBBIE

I’m over Debbie’s shtick. I feel like she’s going to get herself embarrassed by the players this season who are ACTUALLY strategic. I think the reason she’s on this season is supposed to be for entertainment value, and in a regular cast filled with slightly more boring people that’s fine, but this is game changers. Everyone here is entertaining in their own right and Debbie is just annoying to me. Honestly she’s only above Sarah because I feel like she won’t last long and therefore I’ll have to deal with seeing her less and get less annoyed. If she targets players that I don’t like, maybe I’ll starting warming up to her and she’ll rise in my rankings, but for now I’m not hype about her.

18. SARAH

Girl. Her dealing with the Kass situation that resulted in her voteout was one of the most embarrassingly bad displays of strategy - or LACK OF strategy rather - in a minute on Survivor. Sarah really doesn’t entertain me at all and my impression of her from Cagayan leads me to believe she will probably not be that strategically adept. I’m in disbelief that she was even cast, like...really??? CBS couldn’t find anyone either more strategic or more entertaining than Sarah? damn. The one moment I can remember liking her was in Morgan’s ponderosa video when they were putting on makeup together because ok that was cute but it had literally nothing to do with the game. I could see her going far which annoys me even more because I wouldn’t want her to stay in the game over anyone higher on this list, maybe just Debbie. I hope Sarah can get it together this season because I’m almost done with her and the season hasn’t even started.

Good riddance:

19. BRAD

Brad is totally a game changer! He invented getting his wig torn off by Candice Cody and Marissa Peterson!! KWEENT Bread <3 God I can’t believe he’s on this season. Based on the previews, they’re going to try to give him a redemption arc of some kind which I’m already over. The good part about him is that I can’t see him winning even if he gets to the final three, so as long as a smarter player that I like can get control over him, I can support him being on the season as a meat shield. If Brad does manage to at least fake some humility and become a better player, good for him I guess. I just know it’s highly unlikely I’m going to end up rooting for him unless he targets the very last person on this list.

20. CALEB

Bye. Bye. Literally bye. Whose dick is Caleb sucking at CBS to not only get on survivor the first time after being a complete embarrassment on BB, but get to return?? ON A GAME CHANGERS SEASON?????? Mike Skupin got airlifted first and he did it in a literal blaze of glory so Caleb...hunty..please explain how you changed anything. His interviews are even more cringeworthy, with him saying dumb shit like “I’m just happy I can return so I can be a warrior for my tribe” GIRL......B Y E GO HOME!!!! Maybe he’ll become an actual game changer if he gets medevaced twice. That’s the only hope I have for his legacy.