The dynamics of each personality either meshing well, bonding new relationships. Or clashing like two Grecian gods clamering over who holds domain over what. Either living on this island like a small family or brilliant, intense fires waiting for more fuel to feed the desires of resentment, hatred, and bitterness.

Only time will tell when the preasure is on. As it was once said the true test of one's humanity is how they handle themselves in the darkest of times.

As I am prone to do, my mind delves to deep into any situation. Over analyzing each and every aspect tell I have my mind convinced of the worse case scenario, leaving me nearly frozen in my tracks.

Will I find anyone on this island I will truelly like? Will anyone even like me? Sure before this whole game started we where all nice to each other, but now that its on. What will stop some of them to sneak and connive behind other's backs. Eliminate the weak links early, pick out who you think will beat you out in the end and conspire to have them taken off early. Will I still be able to enjoy and respect these people when this is all through?

Shaking my head in hopes of knocking these foul thoughts free. I shuck my back higher up on my shoulder as I make my way down the beach. My hand instictively reaching inside my bag to feel my own personal item allowed to me. A small stuffed puppy given to me by my father for christmas when I was six. When first packing for this trip it seemed like such a good idea to bring it. It gave me so much pleasure and security as a child, surely it could help me through the rough times on this island. On the boat ride here I felt completely foolish for bringing such a childish thing. Then proceeded to stuff it deep down in my bag in hopes no one sees my moment of weakness.

As I walk down the sandy shores I look up and see a fellow castaway to this island. Sitting on a thick, aged log with her head tilted back. Her personal item obvious with the headphones pressing against her ears, cord running down to compact CD player loosely clutched in her hand. As I make my way closer the sounds of Stabbing Westward flow from her headphones, mingling with the soft noise of waves crashing.

Moving closer I wave a hand in hopes of catching her attention. Her eyes open ever so slowly as a soft smile creeps across her face. I extend a hand as she casually takes off her headphones and sets down her CD player.

"Hi, I'm Chrome."

"Pleased to meet your Chrome. My name is Angeline" She extends her hand in kind.

I take a seat next to her on the log and take a good look around at this paradise given to all of us.

"Christ this place is truelly beautiful. I've never dreamed it could be this amazing." My eyes drinking in every rich color of nature, mind in complete awe at its wonders.

"I've been admiring it for a good hour now. I can hardly believe I'm here."

As the two of us sit quietly and admire the beach. Up walks a woman with a kindly deamenor with the look of life's wisdom etched into her eyes. Clutched tightly in her neatly manicured hand sits a dog eared copy of The Corrections.

"Oh good, I'm glad I'm not the first person to show up. Hey you two, they call me Alterna Mommy."

A loud crash in the trees behind us followed by a cry of "OH FUCK!" quickly ends our greetings. Curious, the three of us rise and check out the comotion as out stumbles a young man pulling pieces of leafs out of his hair, limp to his walk.

"I thought I spotted an ATM machine up there. Oh hey, I'm Matt. This is the set for Real World, Bahamas, right?"

"Um, no Matt this would be DS4 actually." I look over at the two ladies seeing the slight confusion I feel mirrored back at me in there faces.

"Oh yeah. I had a sneaking suspicion it wasn't when I didn't see the house anywhere."

Gathering around what was quickly becoming base camp. The four of us got aquianted with each other, discussed how thrilled we all our to be her. Wondered out loud how will this all will go.

Walking up the same path I took to get here is a man and a woman deep in discussion. The man very vocal about making his point as the woman walks along with a slight bored look on her face.

The identities of these two quite obvios to the rest of us. The woman affectionately known as Loud Woman. The man in his brightly colored shirt, Kinetix.

"Hey there, I'm Chrome."

"Do I look like I really care. Thats a rhetorical question. That means you don't answer it." Says Loud Woman off handedly as she finds her own spot on the beach and watches the sun slowly set over the horizon.

"Man, those kind of look like bowling shoes, but I really like them."

"Hey thanks." Kinetix smile shines brightly, lighting up his whole face with a sense of mirth. Though I could feel a sligth air of suspicion flowing around him that I can't quite figure out. Curious.

Discusions quickly turn to means of building a fire before the sun dips into the ocean. Which is the only way I could explain missing Heather showing up and quietly sitting down near us. A look of lost concentration fills those eyes so much older then her soft with youth face.

"Oh, hey there." Alterna Mommy blurts out, echoing the suprise of her apearance I felt myself.

"Hi, I'm Heather. I really shouldn't be here. I feel like I'm not doing all those poor animals justice. Not being there for there last moments giving them comfort as they are put down gently." Her voice soft, but resolved.

"Hey now, you can't hold that all on your shoulders. This is a beautiful place to get away from all that if only for just awhile." I do my best to comfort this deeply sadened soul, but fail miserably in my attempt.

The moment is followed by an akward silence that no one seems able to fill with words. So instead we fill it with action, some of us seeking out dry branches for the fire as Angeline and Matt try and work out starting up a spark for our fire.

The silent work is shattered by a loud yelp of joy as running up the beach is a woman swinging a soft ball bat around. Skidding to a halt she gives us all a cheeky grin as she casually leans on the bat.

"Hey all, I'm Ms-M. Who's ready to kick some ass!"

"Whats with the soft ball bat Ms-M?" I eyed it wearily as I try and judge the distance of her swinging range.

"Well I figured I could use it to beat our food into submition and any of you men who get a little to lively! Haha I'm just kidding about that last part....maybe."

Just then Angeline growled in frustration as she tosses the piece of wood she had been working to start the fire.

"Damn it! This is impossible!" She bellows out before sitting back down on the log, face contorted in a deep hatred, arms crossed as she stares death into that little stick."

"Maybe I can help." Comes a voice from the woods startling us all.

"Holy shit, you nearly gave me a heart attack woman." Loud Woman looks at the woman aproaching through the bush towards us.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you all. I'm Magpie. I have a whole zip lock baggy full of shiny objects I brought with me. I'm sure we could use one of them to shine the sun off of and get that fire going."

"Unless you have a miracle or a lighter in that bag. I don't think thats going to work." Alterna Mommy says to her in a slightly amused, but reasuring voice.

"If its a lighter you want, a lighter I have." Says a woman walking out from behind Magpie. "Its not like I need it for anything else, the confisicated my cigarettes on the way here. Yeah I'm Gingerbug in case any of you where interested."

"Shit, they got yours too." I exclaimed, not so suprised that I won't be the only one who has to suffer.

"Damn glad I gave them up awhile ago then." Says Angeline as her and Heater sit down to discuss life in general.

Producing her lighter, Magpie soon sets the fire we will rely on to protect and help nourish us on this hard, but exciting adventure.

Within moments we can hear the voices of Scud and July laughing at each other's stories of idiot customers. Voices laced with happiness to be away from such troublesome neccessities of life.

Our group nearly complete, fire blazing on the sandy beach lighting the now darkening sky. Despite our diffences we all find a common bond when we look up at the night's stary sky and see it for what feels like the first time every. So full of tiny points of light scattered so far out to elude our realities.

The moment of peace we all experienced is shattered by the frustrated voice of Raw-Voice.

"Son of a bitch! How the hell is there THAT much fucking traffic in the middle of the fucking ocean! Sorry I'm late people, damn grid lock near the Panama canal. Can you believe that shit."

We all look at Ms-M in complete suprise as she bursts out laughing, hands pressed against her stomach as she falls to the sand below. Her laughter infectious we all soon find ourselves laughing uncontrollably with the freshness of all this filling our minds.

So ends my first day on a island full of such unique and interesting personalities with a cheer we don't all end up in the funny farm by the game's end.

It's about time - Wednesday, Jul. 07, 2004
An Honor for Chrome - Friday, Feb. 20, 2004
A great loss - Monday, Oct. 20, 2003
a terrible announcement. - Tuesday, Sept. 09, 2003
Chrome speaks: - Friday, Sept. 05, 2003