[takes a deep breath and lets it out shakily, considering his words before he speaks. keep his relationship fears quiet.]

… I do not think we are going to stay low. We are in a good position for teams to raise us… And it is too easy to imagine reasoning for someone to vote on Bugbear. Should a team join the pile on the lowest ones, or if Bugbear is defending themselves, raise them only two? Even if the votes are spread as evenly as possible, the middle ranks will be crowded in the next round.