How Quietly Can He Play?

Nick isn't so sure he likes the idea of National Nicholas Day, or maybe that's just the look he gets when Max says something dumb. I bet he gets that look a lot.

I just hope he doesn't get it into his head to play the bass, because it's Quiet Day and that would completely defeat the purpose. This is probably one of Daria's favorite days, or it would be if she was ever able to celebrate it.

The episode "Partner's Complaint" aired on this day in 2000, and things were anything but quiet during the many altercations that took place. Unless you count the occasionally chilly silence between Daria and Jane.

Fanfic Update!

• Daria Ravenclaw: The Legend of Sporting Joe, by Meester_Lee (part 22): "Julia stood motionless and stared at the car that had come up behind her. The Coppers or someone very much like them had found her."


• Daria's Great Adventure, by dmsfanman (part 43): "Daria sat at her desk in the Martian Mission to the UN staring out the window. It was a beautiful morning. On her computer stood her finished speech for the upcoming opening of the General Assembly."


• Flustered and Burned, by janendaria4life (COMPLETE!): "Daria stood in front of the door of Casa Lane, twisting the knob of the unlocked door as she casually walked in, almost as if the house were her own."


• Spider Quinn 14 Battle and Consequence, by cfardell_Brenorenz29 (COMPLETE!): "SpiderGirl climbed out onto the roof at the usual time. ‘Lawndale sounds slightly better,’ she thought."

No Complaints About Quiet Bass Playing!

Nick looks a little wary about today being National Nicholas Day, but maybe he's just worried that he's behind on his child support payments. Anyone know of a venue looking for a bass player?

On second thought, never mind, because it's Quiet Day and we really don't need any second rate musicians breaking the peaceful silence. Especially if Daria's reading a good book right now.

Lastly, it was on this day in 2000 that the episode "Partner's Complaint" first aired. Nick didn't make an appearance in that one, but it did feature a lot of music not getting made, so I suppose that's still appropriate. Way to blow it, Trent.

Fandom News!

• The last Chinese steam locomotive has been retired.

Bang!

Something tells me Daria's not really that into Pistol Patent Day, but that may just be because the specific pistol is pink. I wouldn't want to touch that with my bare hands, either.

Today is also the anniversary of the episode "Partner's Complaint," which aired on this day in 2000. No pistols were involved, and considering how many people lost their tempers it's probably a good thing.

Fanfic Update!

• A Criminalé Summer, by LadySparrow (COMPLETE!): "Jane called Daria soon after getting off the phone with Tom, and gave her the update on the fire’s investigation."


• Daria: Spin the Bottle, by Meester_Lee (parts 4 and 5): "Daria lay flat on her back and staring at the ceiling. Hellfire and damnation, she thought. I thought I left all that crap behind when I left Highland, and here it is coming back to smack me in the face." (Part 4)


• Doctor Who - Changes in Time and Space, by cfardell_Brenorenz29 (part 3): "'Unscheduled off world activation!' Sgt. Harriman called out as the gate activated. 'Closing the Iris.' The Iris closed."


• Lawndale Homecoming, by LadySparrow (parts 1 - 3): "Daria looked outside her apartment window in New York on a Tuesday afternoon, as she pulled the last cigarette out of its pack and lit it up." (Part 2) (Part 3)


• Lawndale Splendor, by Two-Eyed Charlie (COMPLETE!): "NOTE FOR HIERONYMUS BOSCH: All right Jane, here we go. First new script in a while but...well, you'll see why."


• Made in America, by ladyevil (part 9): "Alfred woke up at five in the morning to the ringing of his phone. 'Hello?' He grumbled, having answered with his eyes closed."


• The Youngest Barksdale (Iron Chef: Daria The Youngest Barksdale), by cfardell_Brenorenz29 (part 2): "Daria arrived at Lawndale High twenty minutes before homeroom. It was larger than her old school, but then that was a rather small (and exclusive) school."

Aw, Shoot!

As if anyone needed one more excuse to avoid Upchuck, now he's packing heat to celebrate Pistol Patent Day, or the anniversary of the day Samuel Colt patented the revolver in 1836. Without that weapon, Daria could not have been accidentally framed for Kevin's murder in her dream sequence and--you know what? I'm going to stop now before that sentence gets any weirder.

In other news, today is also the anniversary of the episode "Partner's Complaint" in 2000. Jane and Daria made their peace over Jane dating Tom, but if only they'd known how much worse things could get. I guess we should be glad they didn't have any revolvers, huh?

Fanfic Update!

• The Crooked Smile, by YouthofOz (COMPLETE!): "(Daria and Jane walk to school. Daria hums happily to herself, skipping as she walks.) JANE: I'm surprised you're even getting out of bed. Or using a toilet properly." (Part 5) (Part 6) (Part 7) (Part 8) (Part 9) (Part 10) (Part 11) (Part 12) (Part 13) (Part 14) (Part 15) (Part 16)


• Daria's Makeover, by Meester_Lee (part 6): "Daria presented her note to the school nurse and got an endorsement excusing her from PE. After that, it was back to classes. Her afternoon was—different."


• Daria The Temptress, by WildDogJJ (parts 5 and 6): "Daria and her boyfriend, Paul, were relaxing in the apartment she and Jane shared. They sat on the couch watching TV." (Part 6)


• The Date, by elainefr (part 8): "Daria lay on her back looking up at the ceiling of her room. Things were going well for her on all fronts."


• Freefall, by atiyatortilla (part 6): "It was 2:00 in the morning when the rousing chorus of ‘It's Gonna Be Me' startled Tori awake. She nearly fell from the couch as she scrambled to locate her silver flip phone."


• Home, by Rémi (part 4): "A bookshop in Lawndale. Daria and Quinn are searching the sets of shelves, picking books as they do."


• Journey into Misery, by Captain Marbles (parts 1 and 2): "Daria awoke to the grating sound of pop music coming from her sister's cell phone. She wondered for the umpteenth time what had possessed her to come along on this family retreat to Norway, of all places - then she remembered." (Part 2)


• Life Is A Four-Letter Word, by YouthofOz (part 1): "Quinn Morgendorffer was good at not thinking about troublesome things. It was a brilliant skill that let her compartmentalize life, focusing life into certain areas where it was best needed."


• Right in the Genes (Iron Chef: The Daria Gene), by nightbeast37 (COMPLETE!): "Helen, Jake and Daria literally rushed inside the doctor's building just to have a 'little talk' with him. Jake was still quite skeptic on Daria having her own gene, so he felt that if he talked to the doctor about it, they could sort it out once and for all."


• A Spring Afternoon, by JPAGC (COMPLETE!): "Later, Daria, alone in her room, worked on another problem. This time it regarded strings attached to weights and how much potential and kinetic energy was being displayed."


• Together, by atiyatortilla (part 1): "From a young age, Tom realized that his life had already been mapped out for him."


• You Want It Darker, by MedusaLSM (part 6): "At the weekend she was moving in with Daria for a while, volunteering as catsitter to Godzilla so Daria wouldn't have to keep dragging her ass across the city to babysit Jane at night then return to her actual dependent in the afternoons."

Pop the Cork!

Although today is Open That Bottle Night, that's probably not the kind of bottle they have in mind. Then again, no one said you have to drink it once it's opened, so use your own best judgment here.

Today is also the anniversary of "Partner's Complaint," which aired on this day in 2000. Faced with the prospect of working on an assignment with Brittany again, Jane will probably accept whatever bottle you have to offer.

Fanfic Update!

• Consequences, by Zetor (part 3): "Daria felt a twist in her stomach that had nothing to do with hunger as her mother brought a tray of lasagna to the dinner table and started to serve it to the seated Morgendorffers."


• Esteemers in the Year 2000, by Kuriamo22 (COMPLETE!): "Daria awoke abruptly as the alarm in her bed turned on the lights of her and Quinn's spacious one hundred square feet room. She groggily hopped down from her top bunk which immediately retracted into the wall for auto cleaning."


• The Great War of the Dale, by Wassersauefer (prologue): "She knew exactly what was going on. Not many thought it, but she was smart. Not as smart as her older sister and not as crazy smart as her oldest sister, but she understood well enough. Especially for a girl her age."


• Harmonize, by Princess_Pasta (part 4): "Knock! Knock! Knock! The sound was enough to rouse Trent from his sleep but not enough to actually drag him out of bed."


• Nearly two years now (Iron Chef: Jake Goes To Sober Meetings), by Wassersauefer (COMPLETE!): "Say something. This silence is awkward. Your kids need you. Go on, be a good father. This is something that is really important to them, show them that you care."


• Telling Tales Out of School, by Kristen Bealer (part 1): "As David walked past the football-shaped mailbox and up the sidewalk to the home of his first tutoring client, he fought the urge to turn back around and walk away. If he didn't need the money for tuition, he might have done just that."


• To Reflect, by vlora (part 3): "'Daria,' a voice grated, O'Neil it's source. 'Can I have a word, ah, if I may...' 'Iguana.' 'I'm afraid I don't follow.' The nervous chuckle from O'Neil only made Daria frown."

Rrrrr...Draw!

It's Pistol Patent Day, the anniversary of the day Samuel Colt patented his revolver in 1836. I'm not sure if Upchuck with a gun is scarier than Upchuck without one, but I'd feel better if he wiped that cheesy grin off his face.

Today is also the anniversary of the episode "Partner's Complaint," which first aired on this day in 2000. I think Jane should be glad Daria wasn't carrying a pistol when she kept going on about Tom, although they did work things out in the end. Without pistols, I mean--although that could be a fun AU fic.

Fanfic Update!

• Acquainted (Ideas!), by Princess_Pasta (COMPLETE!): "The brisk wind hit Daria Morgendorffer full force as she rushed from the parking lot, the icy chill tearing through her auburn hair as she hugged her gray peacoat closer to her body."


• Action Stories #6: Struck by Lightning, by NightGoblyn (parts 1 - 3): "'Ugh,' Quinn said, wrapping her arms around herself. 'Out of the fire and into the icebox.' She pulled out her Legion phone and powered it up, frowning at the small 'no service' icon." (Part 2) (Part 3)


• Invader Quinn Season Three, by Anguirus1955 (part 1): "'No! NOOO!!! You'll pay for this,' Miss Bitters said into the phone. 'Well, students, despite my moral outrage, Principal Li is allowing you all to celebrate Valentine's Day today,' Miss Bitters said to her class with clear distaste in her voice."


• Take a Walk in my Shoes, by DIsaac (part 5): "To say it was a normal at Lawndale High the day after that shooting star was a flat out lie. Things were Topsy Turvy."


• Unnamed story (Iron Chef : MMORPG, Lawndale style), by Waylander (part 14): "Darlene wasn't sure what to expect as she approached the wrought-iron gates of the Old Cemetery. Was it going to be infested with zombies? Or she was supposed to find a passage to a secret dungeon in one of the old crypts?"

Put 'Em Up!

Happy Pistol Patent Day! This holiday celebrates the anniversary of Samuel Colt patenting his "revolving gun." Daria is thrilled, I'm sure.

Today is also the anniversary of the airing of "Partner's Complaint" in 2000. Daria and Jane work on a class project with different people because they're mad at each other over Tom. I think a pistol would have made the whole argument much simpler.

Fanfic Update!

• Agreement (IC: Criminals of Lawndale), by Charles RB (COMPLETE!): "'You're wrong.' 'Oh, I don't think anyone wants to hear any more self-righteous—' 'No, I mean you're wrong that I didn't plan to fight,' interrupted Daria."


• As Though She Had Done It All Before..., by Shiva (part 4): "But sleep didn't come right away. Instead Daria found herself in a lucid state between being awake and dreamland. Strange flashes and images began to fly in her dimming vision once more, but they were all much to quick to make any sense. Then sleep claimed her."


• A Cynical Earth, by RLobinske (part 5): "Cheerfully, the Doctor circled around the center console, operating controls seemingly at random. 'Next stop, Piccadilly Station.' Teasing, Dorothy said, 'Are you sure we'll get there, Professor?' 'Have I ever arrived at the wrong location?' 'Frequently.'"


• The Dale of Lawn, by Wassersauefer (part 12): "'You actually plan on besieging them?', she asked with a deadpan voice. 'Yes', answered the brown haired overlord without turning around. Silence followed as the others seemed to wait for an explanation but she gave none."


• DW: The Many Doctors, by cfardell_Brenorenz29 (part 13): "'So, Felicia is in an earlier version of the TARDIS?' Jia'hale (now dry but still au naturale) asked as she entered the console room. The Doctor pointedly made eye contact with Jia'hale as he said. 'Yes, she is. Now we need to find out which earlier version.'"


• Freewheelin', by peetz5050 (part 16): "'Quinn was talking about how you changed, you know, since your accident of course but even since you came to Lawndale, she says you used to avoid people before and stayed on your own but you seem friendly enough to me. Were you really that... I don't know, what's the word? Not lonely but.. a loner, were you a loner?'"


• Free Will (Daria and the Gang Thread), by Roentgen (COMPLETE!): "'Okay, Jodie. Let's use a test subject to see which of us is right. Brittany, you believe in the laws of science, right?'"


• The Game of Six, by Erin M. (prologue): "Celestia smiled and let out a small sigh of contentment. Yes, things were going to change now that Twilight Sparkle was a princess. The ivory alicorn was certain her faithful student would have questions needing answers soon enough."


• Hanami, by Staticblast (COMPLETE!): "Life had become very cold for him. His love had left him, traveled to a place he could not yet follow."


• Heroes and Villains Part Three: The Madness of Quinn Morgendorffer, by Reven384 (parts 1 and 2): "Daria watched as the feed cut to what was on the tape. It was her sister! Daria stood up and had to fight her elation at finding out her sister was alive. What happened next would turn that elation into nausea." (Part 2)


• Heroes: The Dark Side Of The Moon, by Brother Grimace (part 1): "WAYNE JOHNSON lies asleep in a recliner, a HUGE terrycloth robe wrapped around him like a blanket. Black, in his mid-thirties, there is a look of peace on his painfully ordinary face."


• Lost in Translation (Scenes No Daria Fanfic should have: Delightful and Naughty), by SinisterExaggerator (COMPLETE!): "'The school received a call this morning from a Mrs. Johanssen,' started Ms. Li. 'She said...WHO THE HELL IS THAT?' The duo turned around to follow her eyes. There was a tall, bald man, who looked somewhat like Keegan-Michael Key."


• Mack the Esteemer, by Shiva (part 17): "'Heh,' Jodie laughed out loud, 'When I told Rachel she'd have to fight for her independence, I'd didn't think she'd have to do it so quickly.'"


• Mine (Iron Chef: Fresh takes on Veronica Morgendorffer), by Vukodlak (part 1): "Jane opened Daria's door and her mouth hung open with shock. If Jane hadn't seen it with our own eyes she'd never have believed it. There was Daria cradling her baby sister Veronica in a carrier sling gently rocking her back and forth and cooing at her."


• A New Man, by SinisterExaggerator (part 2): "He eased himself out of bed and picked up the phone. A gruff voice greeted him on the other end, with a jaded color that could only belong to a newspaper editor. 'Uh, Morgendorffer...I've kinda got some bad news. Well, for you.'"


• Of Hearts and Minds Book II: Present, by mac (part 3): "Quinn was almost power-walking as she sped out of the cafeteria, the news she just heard repeating in her mind. Daria and Kevin are working together on a project. I'll need to wait a few days, let some time pass, then use this to my advantage."


• Sexy Daria: The Misery Sex, by Shiva (part 2): "Jane smirked as she and Scarlett got comfortable on the floor nearby. 'Well,' Jane began to explain, 'Tommy Sherman was the Quarterback that won the State Championship about three years ago for our school.'"


• Tom and Quinn Have a Little Chat... (Scenes No Daria Fanfic should have: Delightful and Naughty), by Shiva (COMPLETE!): "While waiting for Daria to come downstairs, Tom Sloane found himself sitting next to his girlfriend's sister, Quinn. He decided to break the fourth wall by asking, 'I wonder why there aren't more fanfics of us as a couple."


• Unnamed story (Another bit on my Addams crossover), by Ranger Thorne (parts 4 and 5): "'They walked? No running or screaming, this time?' The last to speak was a thin woman who seemed slightly younger than Helen. Shee was pale, with her equally pale blond hair cut short. Pale eyes looked with amusement and disappointment as she looked at Quinn. 'Aunt Amy,' Quinn said, with a slight frown, 'it is tradition to wait three days to cause a riot in a new school." (Part 5)


• Unnamed story (IC: Criminals of Lawndale), by PrecambrianStudios (COMPLETE!): "Quietly, the SWAT team carefully and quietly advanced up the apartment stairway to number 211838. The night helped them stay discreet; if any of the other residents knew that they there was a dangerous psychopath right next door, they'd run away screaming and the target would probably escape unnoticed. No, this had to be done very, very quietly."


• Unnamed story (IC: Words Don't Kill People. I DO.), by mac (COMPLETE!): "'Guns don't kill people. I do.' Steve yelped. She was BEHIND him! 'Does my voice annoy you?'"


• Unnamed story (IC: Words Don't Kill People. I DO.), by PrecambrianStudios (COMPLETE!): "'This can't be good for me....' Trent said as he and the rest of Mystik Spiral and the Harpies all smoked their joints together in the back room of the Zon on a circular couch. 'But I feel great!'"


• Unnamed story (Scenes No Daria Fanfic should have: Delightful and Naughty), by PrecambrianStudios (COMPLETE!): "'Jane, you are not going to believe this.' 'What?'"


• Unnamed story (Scenes No Daria Fanfic should have: Delightful and Naughty), by SinisterExaggerator (COMPLETE!): "Quinn looked deeply into the eyes of her latest squeeze-for-a-night, Jimbo or Jambalaya or whatever his name was."


• Unnamed story (Scenes No Daria Fanfic should have: Delightful and Naughty), by SinisterExaggerator (COMPLETE!): "Daria examined the photographs in Jane's living room. 'Ever notice your father's porno 'stache?' asked Daria."

Looking Down the Barrel of a Gun

Happy Pistol Patent Day! Today is the anniversary of the day that Samuel Colt received a patent for his Colt Revolver pistol. Daria is surely quite glad of that, although I think Quinn should be feeling a bit nervous right now.

This is also the anniversary of the original air date of the episode "Partner's Complaint," in which Daria finally made her peace (sort of) with Tom. The beginning of future horrors, right there.

Fanfic Update!

• After the Disaster :: Chapter Five, by Fhujeth_x (COMPLETE!): "Tiffany quietly stared at the bottle of medication in front of her, contemplating what life after death was really like. If people would miss her or even care. She knew Brooke wouldn't care... her parents might... but they'd be better off without having a mentally deficient daughter slowing them down. They both had bright careers ahead of them and knew what they were doing... and Tiffany couldn't stand to let them just bring them down." (Part 4) (Chapter 5.5)


• At the Crossroads... (Chapter 6), by oni (parts 2 and 3): "'Joking aside Sandi, I am afraid of your mom. When I called here last Friday, she picked up and really chewed me out over the phone,' Stacy said in a serious tone. The girl with pigtails adjusted her clothes while Sandi sat upright. The older brunette went for a kiss on her girlfriend’s lips and slowly pulled while she replied, 'I’d protect you if my mother tried to attack you in anyway, baby.'" (Part 3)


• Clique Swap, by psychotol (part 2): "Scene: Lawndale Airport, Stacy, Quinn and Tiffany are stood next to their suitcases, each holds a Legal sized folder, their parents vehicles wait nearby, each fashion clubber’s mother stood next to their respective vehicle. Voiceover: 'The day for the swap has arrived. Any minute now the spacecraft carrying the Sith will arrive.'" (Part 3)


• Daria - Double Down, by neonhomer (part 29): "'Tilly? This is Tristan....' 'HOW in the HELL did you get my phone number? I don’t even know this number yet!' 'I lifted it from your file in the guidance office.'"


• A Distant Lawndale, by Arena del Sur (part 4): "Why I am not my name... Why I am alone and I can't be... Because today I've been born. Just today sun burnt me, and the wind of living wake me up. It's almost Zen, don't you think?"


• God Save The Esteem ep40: This Is No Fun, by Charles RB (part 1): "He knocked on her door. 'Open up, it’s the Thought Police.' Nothing. Tom pushed the door open and Daria was sitting next to her computer. The screen showed a Wikipedia page but her eyes showed no sign of reading anything. Her clothes were crumpled and several days old, her hair uncombed."


• Lawndale and Sandi Griffin’s Genie (Chapter 6), by cfardell_Brenorenz29 (part 6): "Meanwhile, Dennis was plotting. 'More than an earthquake!’ he thought. ‘A volcano!’"


• Living up to your Potential, by BF110C4 (parts 1 and 2): "Her parents were going to be out all night, on one of the few parties from a friend of theirs that was actually fun, to end on a local hotel to continue the celebrations long after the party was over, of course since in this particular reunion they weren’t any politicians or powerful people to impress with her accomplishments she wasn’t invited, leaved behind to take care of her sister Rachel and her little brother Evan." (Part 2)


• My New Life, by ST91 (COMPLETE!): "'I swear it to you Quinn. You'll pay for this .' said Dario while they were returning home 'Oh come on Dario . It was only two outfits .' 'TWO OUTFITS ?! Quinn you and your little friends used me as a mannequin for over an hour.'" (Part 6)


• Return of the Runaway 01, by cfardell_Brenorenz29 (part 2): "'Name?' 'Lillian Adams.' 'And why are you after the Morgendorffer's information?' 'I happen to know where their lost daughter, Daria, is.' 'Oh, but many people may come claiming to know where Daria is.' 'Of course, but I know the proof that the Morgendorffer's may have required.'"


• Rude Awakening Ep.10: Sandi vs The EPT, by DIsaac (part 3): "CHIPMUNK: Guys... Sandi is expecting. DARIA: A raise? CHIPMUNK: A baby. She's pregnant!"


• Sandi, Meet Sandi (Rude Awakening X-Tra: You meeting You), by DIsaac (COMPLETE!): "SANDI: Answer me this.....I'm a model? RA SANDI: No. SANDI: Well there is no more to say. (Sandi gets up from the table when RA Sandi grabs her arm.) RA SANDI: Oh no you don't......You aren't control this conversation! SANDI: What do you want? RA SANDI: To tell what's REALLY up. A reality check you might say."


• Sandi :: Well... This Sucks :: Chapter 6, by Fhujeth_x (COMPLETE!): "Marz's voice picked up with a sign of joy, relief even, but he tried to hide it, 'Oh? What's been going on?' He had an idea that Sandi was a werewolf but before making a drastic move he had to be sure... Then he could continue with his plans of... well... Revenge." (Part 2) (Part 3) (Part 4)


• Stacy is a Horrible....... Torturer (Iron Chef: How did we get here?), by Fhujeth_x (COMPLETE!): "Ah, a nice morning to start another imperfect day of... Where's Sandi? She knew she fell asleep next to Sandi but... Glancing at the handcuffs she was wearing, Stacy Rowe sighed, 'Aww... she got away....'"


• Unnamed story (PLOT BUNNIES: free to good home), by Roentgen (plot bunny): "'Now Daria,' Jake said, 'the entire family is counting on you.' 'I know that, Dad,' Daria said somberly. She didn't bother remarking to Jake the graffiti 'OTHER SIDE' that she saw marked on a wall near a telephone poll. Maryland, frankly, was not safe, too Southron to ever really relax. She felt the family should have kept going until they hit Vermont, but Helen's mother wanted them close to Virginia."


• We Only Hurt the Ones We Love (IC Runaway Daria), by deneich (part 6): "No one will ever accuse me of being a huggy, touchy-feely sort of person, but, hearing the tone of Jane's voice screaming need and apology far more strongly then her words ever could; I, spontaneously, without a thought, turned and wrapped Jane in a strong, reassuring embrace. Feeling Jane tense noticeably my reaction was to lessen the intensity of the embrace – stupid acting without thinking, then, just as I was about to release my hold, Jane relaxed, Gently placed her hands on the small of my back and melted into our now mutual embrace."


• X-men: Daria’s Evolution, by Reven384 (part 5): "Quinn’s eyes darted around looking at the grey walls that held her. There was nothing else. It was almost too dark to see. She had wires and tubes coming in and out of her body. It hurt so much that she cried sometimes. But the electric shocks were worse. She did as she was told simply to avoid the electric shocks, but even without the shocks she was in constant pain."

The Curious Case of Tom Sloane

I was watching "Jane's Addition" a couple of weeks ago (too). It’s interesting to see how much Tom changed between his first appearance in "Jane's Addition" and the following episode "Partner's Complaint."

When I look at Tom's character design in "Jane's Addition" (right), I don’t think of a 17 year old. He looks…old. His hair was disaster, his ears were too big, his expressions made him look ancient – that line next to his nose that adds about 30 years on him.

At the risk of sounding like Quinn, let me just say that the worst part of Tom's early character design were his clothes. He was supposed to look casual preppy not old-fashioned! Sweater – awful, trousers – terrible, shoes – that buckle makes him look like a gangster, belt – horrendous. His outfit would have made more sense if Jane had met Tom at Studio 54 in 1977 than at The Zon in 1999.

Young Thomas was a complete trainwreck.

Fortunately, the art department took notice of this – and fast. By "Partner's Complaint" (left), Tom had mutated into his usual self. His hair looked much better than Disco Tom's hair, and his clothes looked like they belonged to a 17 year old. New (longer) sweater – OK, baggy trousers – OK, sport shoes – nice, no belt – phew! And, his face looks fresh.

We have a teenager now.

Never to Be

"Partner's Complaint" first aired ten years ago today, kicking off the fourth season of Daria. In retrospect this episode was a sad one. It became clear that things between Daria and Jane would never be the same, but that was unavoidable, too. They had to grow up and find other people sometime. It was sad for me, too, that Daria and Jodie were clearly never going to connect as real friends. Jodie was a hard-core go-getter, the distillation of type-A Helen Morgendorffer, and Daria was a depressed slacker with brains but no drive, and no desire to get any drive. Daria did not come off looking well at all. I'm not sure anyone came out looking good. Life is like that, I guess.

Funny, I was thinking that seeing Daria and Jodie try to work together reminded me a lot of Daria interacting with her mother. A lot of the same dynamics, the Irresistable Force and the Immovable Object.

Your opinions? What are your thoughts about "Partner's Complaint"? Ignoring Tom, that is.

Partner Acquisition

Jodie finds herself in Robo-Brittany's visual crosshairs when a school project is due and a new partner is needed, in "Partner's Complaint," the first fourth-season episode. It premiered nine years ago today. Daria sure is a touchy one in this story, isn't she? Not nice at all.

I seem to recall (perhaps wrongly) that the pseudo-RoboCop scene inspired a story in which Brittany is a robot, but I forgot everything else about it. Oh, well.

The episode had a curious effect on one Daria fan, Daniel Suni, who wrote the following story after watching "Partner's Complaint." It was his last fanfic, I believe. I've heard that fans came and went throughout the seasons, sometimes directly as a result of a particular episode. Anyone have a story about that, a personal experience or remembrance of an episode that ended a fan's fixation?

Latest DariaWiki page: Heartbeat in Iambic, by Dennis. (Great story, too.)


PPMB

• Acts of Cupidity, by Disco316 (Part 3): Quinn Morgendorffer walked down the stairs, dressed to the nines. She greeted each of the boys before her. “Hi Joey, Jeffy, Jermaine.” Jamie White frowned. “It’s Jamie!”