Be Honest: How Does It Look?

I don't think Sandi is properly appreciative of Quinn's contribution to Hairstyle Appreciation Day, but I've always thought that the short haircut suited her. But I'm not part of her nightmare sequence, so I guess my opinion doesn't count. It was an honest opinion, though, which makes it perfect for National Honesty Day. I'm betting this is one of Daria's favorite holidays, because she celebrates it year-round.

Fanfic Update!

• Am I A Grownup Yet?, by jones2000 (part 1): "It was a week before her thirty-fourth birthday when she came to the stunningly bitter realisation that she had become a world-class sell-out."


• Carousel, by atiyatortilla (parts 1 and 2): "Neither the deafening music, the heavy scent of weed, or the harsh light of the sun could distract Jodie Landon from a fact that was glaringly obvious. She didn’t belong at this party." (Part 2)


• Circle Of Stryfe (Life After Thirty), by WildDogJJ (part 1): "Five year old Quinn Morgendorffer is laying awake in her bed. It's nighttime and she's visibly frightened. The source of the little girl's fear was loud, angry yelling coming from the living room. Her parents were fighting."


• Daria Ravenclaw: The Highland Years, by Meester_Lee (parts 62 and 63): "Daria’s birthday came around a week later. She’d been through a lot this past year and hoped that her tenth year would be far calmer than her ninth." (Part 63)


• Daria the Vampire Slayer: Hell Comes To Texas, by Charles RB (part 6): "When school let out, Rick slimed over and told her he was going to train her in the fine arts of hand-to-hand combat. So Daria said, as she had to: 'Or hand combat, in your case.'"


• David M., by ST91 (COMPLETE!): "Life is strange. David thought as he took the sun. Last year he was rotting in Highland, now he was on the private beach of the Ruttheimer summer residence."


• The Flashin' Club, by Kristen Bealer (COMPLETE!): "Daria pushed the stack of money across the kitchen table with disgust. 'I can't believe you're trying to bribe me...with singles.'"


• Nothing Else Matters, by YouthofOz (COMPLETE!): "Daria wasn't sure when Casa Lane had become more of a home than the Morgendorffer residences in Highland or Lawndale, but it definitely didn't feel like a home now. It felt as genuine and welcoming as a film set, a facade set up to impersonate something real." (Part 36) (Part 37)


• Sleeping Brittany (IC: Blank Brittany), by Serrallonga (part 4): "Daria made an effort to put her best poker face in front of the Principal, Angela Li. She would never admit, but that fifty-something asian woman attired in a grey suit, with those cold-blooded eyes behind her glasses, made Daria feel like she was facing a poisonous snake."


• Three Devils, by atiyatortilla (part 9): "McGrundy’s was the typical brew pub, nothing fancy or remarkable about it. The cheesy Irish themed decor left much to be desired and the water-stained menu advertised some awful sounding shovel full o’ onion rings but Daria had seen worse."

"I just found out that poems don't even have to rhyme. How easy is that?"

Everyone quiet down, because Andrea wants to share another masterpiece about rotting bags of flesh for Great Poetry Reading Day. Don't complain; it could always be Quinn's stupid greasy fry poem instead.

Also, nine years ago today, fans began to receive their long-awaited Daria DVD sets. Although the sets were hardly perfect (the edited version of IICY? Really?), it was an important day for fandom.

Fandom News!

• Has Trump screwed over Palestine? Talk about it in the thread.


• TheBrodsterBoy posted a new Iron Chef: Poker Face.


• Create your own city with the Medieval Fantasy City Generator.

Or You Could Hug an Australian Tree!

I don't think Arbor Day feels very appreciated right now, but that just might be because people keep picking on his sandals. Why not cheer him up by planting a tree and/or memorial crutch?

If you're not into tree-hugging, how about hugging an Australian for Hug an Australian Day? I would, but Australia is about a 24-hour trip from me, so I'd get there tomorrow. Or would it be yesterday? Time zones are weird.

Fanfic Update!

• Daria Ravenclaw: The Highland Years, by Meester_Lee (parts 60 and 61): "The following day was Sunday. Daria begged off Farrah's invitation to return to the ranch and help with spring shearing." (Part 61)


• Daria the Vampire Slayer: Hell Comes To Texas, by Charles RB (parts 4 and 5): "A side effect of fighting a vampire and seeing a man be shot dead in front of you turned out to be actual parenting, as her mother actually came over despite it being before 8PM in a wailing and crying about her poor daughter." (Part 5)


• Dirty Little Secret (Life After Thirty), by WildDogJJ (COMPLETE!): "Sandi and Quinn are trying to revive an unconscious Jim. Quinn: Jim! Jim, wake up! Sandi shakes him. Sandi: Jim, come on!"


• Fates Entwined, by Deep Metal (part 29): "After much self-doubt, Daria finally worked up the courage to walk up to Butt-head in the playground."


• Nothing Else Matters, by YouthofOz (parts 28 - 34): "Penny ignored any changes made to Lawndale since she was last there, always assuming she noticed them. The night painted most of the houses and buildings black to match her mood." (Part 29) (Part 30) (Part 31) (Part 32) (Part 33) (Part 34)


• Thrill of the Fall, by atiyatortilla (COMPLETE!): "It had taken three more drinks and a lot of cajoling but Tom finally agreed to go on stage." (Part 5)

Squeak!

Three cheers for that brave little mouse from "The Lab Brat" on World Day for Laboratory Animals. Fandom named the mouse "Roger," but I just call him cute. Who's a cute widdle traumatized rodent? You are!

Today is also Administrative Professionals Day, but Marianne is much too busy to celebrate. Helen might let her have a five minute break a week from next Monday, but don't count on it.

Fandom News!

• Check out 'You're Standing On My Neck: A Daria Fanzine'!


• TheBrodsterBoy posted a new Iron Chef: Lost at Sea.


• Share your experiences with learning to cook.


• Discuss the attack in Sri Lanka.


• Talk about what you think is in Daria's CD player (assuming she has one).


• Where do you see the world in 30 years?


• Join the discussion about Star Trek in general.

Why Kant Tom Keep His Eyes Open?

Tom's just riveted by Immanuel Kant's writing, and who wouldn't be? I'm sure the late philosopher would be happy to know his work is being appreciated on the anniversary of his birth in 1724.

Today is also Girl Scout Leader Day, and I hope Jane celebrates it by getting together with her old troop to singing a round of "John Jacob Jingleheimer Somebody."

Fanfic Update!

• Daria Ravenclaw: The Highland Years, by Meester_Lee (part 59): "Early the next week Jake invited Daria to take an introductory Hebrew class at Temple."


• Daria's Great Adventure, by dmsfanman (part 23): "Tom had Mia on-screen over a highly encrypted channel. Everyone stood around the screen."


• Daria the Vampire Slayer: Hell Comes To Texas, by Charles RB (parts 1 - 3): "She'd had one of the dreams again. She was another girl in another time and place, and then a vampire had eaten her. Honestly, they were starting to drag." (Part 2) (Part 3)


• Dirty Little Secret (Life After Thirty), by WildDogJJ (part 2): "Jim, Vito and Linda are sitting down and talking. Jim and Linda are coming to grips with the revelation that they're related. Jim: When you came over to my house nine years ago did you know I was your nephew?"


• Erin Chambers, by OzFerret (part 23): "Erin arrived at work to find the other PA's gathered around Zoe's desk. 'What's going on?' Erin asked. 'We don't know.' Zoe replied. 'An all of management emergency meeting, which none of us got any warning. All the bosses gone, who knows where?'"


• Nothing Else Matters, by YouthofOz (parts 23 - 27): "It was Trent. It was him. Not a lookalike or a dream, but horribly, undeniably Trent moving towards them out of the flames like a remarkably dishevelled Terminator." (Part 24) (Part 25) (Part 26) (Part 27)


• Sleeping Brittany (IC: Blank Brittany), by Serrallonga (part 1): "Brittany woke up that morning feeling great, as usual."


• Thrill of the Fall, by atiyatortilla (parts 2 and 3): "The quest for a table was proving fruitless until a pair of friendly strangers lent Daria a helping hand." (Part 3)


• Unnamed story (Scenes No Daria fanfic should have: The Saga Goes On), by Shiva (COMPLETE!): "There were many things that Daria had expected to happen when she actually used the free trip to Las Vegas she had won by entering that damn raffle at Jane's prompting."


• With Apologies To Mayall (IC: Apartment Life), by Charles RB (COMPLETE!): "Tom had thought he'd enjoy his time at Bromwell until he rented an apartment in a student-friendly area and found he was sharing it with Upchuck, who should not be."

Don't Tell ME That Cough is Just a Cold!

Trent's already gotten started celebrating 4/20, although he's like that pretty much all the time. Odds are he doesn't actually know what the date is.

Today is also Look Alike Day, which might remind fandom of Canadibrit's controversial fanfic series, although it just makes me think of that girl who looks like Stacy. Or maybe that girl who looks like that girl.

Fandom News!

• Which of the Daria cast could you see joining the military, and why?


• TheBrodsterBoy posted a new Iron Chef: Realization.


• What if Donald Trump was a huge Daria fan?


• What makes a good crossover? Share your thoughts in the thread.


• Talk about movies you just can't watch anymore.


• Discuss the (redacted) Mueller report.

Juggling Jodies and Crazy Columnists

Jodie's taking a break from her usual juggling act to try a slightly easier workload for International Juggler's Day. She looks much more relaxed this way, doesn't she?

Today is also Newspaper Columnists Day, and I recommend writing to the "Dear Brittany" column of the Lawndale Lowdown with any problems you need solving. I mean, you won't get any actual solutions, but it'll be entertaining! I'd suggest reading Future Daria's newspaper column instead, but that's a bad idea. Not only would you get outraged but, being part of a fantasy sequence, it doesn't exist.

Fanfic Update!

• David M., by ST91 (part 9): "'Come in.' David said when he heard a knock on the door. 'Hi David, do,' John began to say before David interrupted him with a dry, 'Go away!'"


• Dirty Little Secret (Life After Thirty), by WildDogJJ (part 1): "The garage is open. Jim is working on a car with a blonde man in his late twenties. Naturally, he's filming this for his YouTube channel. They finish and Jim takes the camera off of the tripod. He holds it up in front of himself and the blonde man who's helping him."


• Nothing Else Matters, by YouthofOz (parts 18 - 22): "Afternoon, all! Yes, it's me and my compatriots again - we were so disappointed by the Game of Thrones finale we took a wrong turn through causality and ended up in a reality where Jane Ianuzzo had butchered half of Baltimore but she did with such a happy smile." (Part 19) (Part 20) (Part 21) (Part 22)


• The South Wall Cornerclub (Outlander Vignettes), by welltemperedclavier (COMPLETE!): "'Just watch your pockets," Jane warned. "There are a lot of greedy hands here.' Daria's right hand closed around the five copper drakes in her pockets as Jane ushered through the doorway of the South Wall Cornerclub."


• Thrill of the Fall, by atiyatortilla (part 1): "Penn Station was bustling with people, residents and excited tourists alike, and Tom Sloane was one of many. He fit into the former category, though he was Jersey born and bred."


• Unnamed story (IC: Apartment Life), by welltemperedclavier (COMPLETE!): "Quinn was just settling down with the new issue of Waif magazine when she heard the footsteps in the unit above. One-two-three-four pause, one-two-three-four pause. Quick short steps, the kind made with a rigid gait, done when you just have to do something other than stand still."

Shhhhhh!

Mr. O'Neill is portraying silent film star Charlie Chaplin in honor of the man's birth on this day in 1889. I have to say, this is one of my favorite alter egos of O'Neill. Not because the two have anything in common, but because can you imagine a silent Mr. O'Neill? It would be heaven.

I'd also just like to point out that today is National Librarian Day, so if you'd like to buy any gifts for a librarian you know (cough, cough), then this would be a good opportunity.

Fandom News!

• View and discuss the new trailer for Star Wars Episode IX.


• TheBrodsterBoy wonders what episodes of South Park he should watch.


• Talk about why we write (and draw).


• Shiva posted a new art Iron Chef: Mecha Ensign Daria Art.


• TheBrodsterBoy posted a new Iron Chef in the Creative Writing forum: Blank Brittany.


• Discuss the burning of the Notre Dame Cathedral.

They Call Her Chipper, Chipper....

Just when you thought Brittany couldn't get any perkier, she goes and turns into a dolphin for National Dolphin Day. She's probably a lot smarter now, too.

Today is also the anniversary of both "The Lab Brat" in 1997 and "Of Human Bonding" in 2000. No dolphins in either that I can remember, but Brittany did have to change the water in Upchuck's fish tanks in the former. Does that count?

Fanfic Update!

• Business Boom, The Aftermath, by WildDogJJ (COMPLETE!): "Jim is cowering in a fetal position on the floor while a visibly concerned Quinn, Daria, Tommy, Timmy and Teddy look on. Quinn immediately rushes to her husband and gently shakes him. Quinn: Jim! JIM, LISTEN TO ME!! You're going to be alright!" (Part 3)


• David M., by ST91 (part 8): "John felt strangely nervous that night. It wasn't due to the fact that he was going to a very important party but to his brother's strange behavior."


• An Invitation, by welltemperedclavier (COMPLETE!): "Loredas evening arrived, the rosy sunset haze carrying with it a whiff of brimstone. The sulfurous quality struck Daria as weirdly fitting as her family trekked to the elegant manors of High Town." (Part 4) (Part 5) (Part 6)


• Nothing Else Matters, by YouthofOz (parts 16 and 17): "I hate Jane Lane. I hate her. It is that freaking simple." (Part 17)


• That 70's Fanfic (IC: Apartment Life), by Charles RB (COMPLETE!): "Once, Mirage had been dotted with a hundred hippy communes and now it had five die-hards gasping for air, and everyone who couldn't or wouldn't go to their parents had to crawl into town for wage-slave jobs to pay private rent. 'It's like a metaphor,' Jake had said a few times, which was actually a similie."


• Unnamed story (IC: Blank Brittany), by YouthofOz (part 1): "Voices. Movement. Strange noises she somehow knew were words. Actually, was she a she? Cautiously she tried to move her limbs, and the weight on her chest and the gap between her thighs confirmed that much. It also made damn certain she knew how much her head hurt right now."


• Unnamed story (World's Shortest Crossover XV: A New Era In Crossovers), by TheBrodsterBoy (COMPLETE!): "Daria sat next to Tom, the two eating pizza. 'So, Tom.' Daria said, in an almost provocative manner. 'Yes, Daria?' Tom replied, leaning in for a kiss."


• Woe, by atiyatortilla (part 1): "Everything in Lawndale was grey. The dirt, the sky, the people. It was like someone had drained all the color away, leaving the world muted and dark. Kevin didn't feel any which way about it; that's just the way life was."

One Pizza With Entrails, Coming Up!

I see Jane is totally on board with Walk on Your Wild Side Day, and can I just say that I'm quite glad that she went with getting an actual jungle cat over having Daria paint tiger stripes in her hair for her again? It's probably safer for everyone that way.

Fandom News!

• The 2018 Daria Fanworks Award winners are in! Find out who the Written and Visual winners are.


• Talk about the new movie Us.


• Discuss inadvertent politicking and how it relates to Brexit.


• Have you had any experience with toxic art communities?


• Keep up with the news on Assange being arrested in London.


• How do you think a hypothetical Daria Season 6 should have been done?

FORE!

Jake's sure getting all he can out of Golfer's Day, and he seems so darn happy I can't bear to interrupt him. Jodie's probably golfing, too, but far less enthusiastically.

Meanwhile, Helen's still stuck trying to get along with her sisters at Erin's wedding in honor of National Siblings Day. Unless they've killed each other by now, which is...not an unrealistic scenario, honestly.

Fanfic Update!

• The Ballad of the Birthday Burden, by YouthofOz (COMPLETE!): "It was pure coincidence that Tom happened to be passing the telephone when it rang. Liesurely, he picked up the reciever and any potential observer would have been impressed at his seemingly-rehearsed casual attitude." (Part 5) (Part 6) (Part 7) (Part 8) (Part 9)


• Business Boom (Life After Thirty), by WildDogJJ (COMPLETE!): "Trent and his bandmates are sitting at the table catching up with Daria. Trent: You look good, Daria. Twenty years ago that would've made her blush, but she's long over her old crush on Trent now."


• Business Boom, The Aftermath (Life After Thirty), by WildDogJJ (part 1): "Tom is seated at his desk doing some work despite the fact that it's Saturday. He hears a distant sound of thunder. Tom: (thought VO) Strange! The forcast was for clear, pleasant weather today."


• Daria (and other characters) on the Defiant Round Robin, by Brother Grimace (part 65): "The lights in the entirety of the Defiant went low for several seconds, and then began to pulse wildly before they returned to normal."


• An Invitation, by welltemperedclavier (parts 1 and 2): "Daria took off her heavy glasses and closed her eyes, then raised her right thumb and forefinger to massage them through the lids." (Part 2)


• Nothing Else Matters, by YouthofOz (parts 13 - 15): "No one appeared to be on the sixth floor when Daria and Trent arrived. Karen had remained at Raft in case Jane rang that number once more." (Part 14) (Part 15)


• Ooh, Baby!, by Lady Evil (COMPLETE!): "'You wanted to see me, Vixx?' He had come right over to her house when she texted and asked if he'd come over so she could ask a favor. Vixx was standing before him with her wife, Ollie."


• Three Devils, by atiyatortilla (part 8): "A comfortable calm had fallen over the tiny apartment, blanketing Jane as she sank down into her worn mattress."


• Unnamed story (LLH Short Entries #2), by Roentgen (part 182): "Sandi looked at her jacket to make sure that it looked smart and spiffy. She wore a circle-and-ribbon broach on her expensively-tailored business suit. 'Well, how do I look?'"


• You Want It Darker, by LSM (part 10): "It was strange having someone in bed next to her. Jane was used to having that wide space of cool sheets next to her, the sense of air and emptiness."

Extra Points if You Draw Travis Stuck in the Mall Air Filtration System!

Jane's way ahead of us for Draw a Bird Day, especially since she's already got two and I've drawn...let me count them up...zero. If you've got artistic talent, today's the day to show it off as long as you like drawing birds!

Fandom News!

• Discuss pairings you think coulda maybe, MAYBE, worked out.


• SNL gave Game of Thrones the Daria treatment.


• What do you think of the question "What do you do?" as small talk?


• Celebrate National Library Week!


• atiyatortilla posted a new Iron Chef: Apartment Life.


• What are your thoughts on Digimon anime?

But What's He Wearing Under His Kilt?

Joey's dressed in style for National Tartan Day, but if he thinks Quinn is going to stick around for bagpipe music then he's in for a rude awakening. To any Scottish fans (or fans of Scottish descent), have a good one!

Fanfic Update!

• Babysitting Pretty (Life After Thirty), by WildDogJJ (COMPLETE!): "Tommy, Timmy, Teddy, Lauren and Ultra are seated on the couch. The kids are behaving themselves (so far). Lauren is grateful that Ultra is behaving himself as well. Cut to the TV and we see that they are watching 'Shreck 2'." (Part 3)


• The Ballad of the Birthday Burden, by YouthofOz (parts 1 and 2): "It was Daria's birthday. She found it hard to get excited about the anniversary of her birth at the best of times." (Part 2) (Part 3)


• Business Boom (Life After Thirty), by WildDogJJ (parts 1 and 2): "Jim Carbone is walking through the aisles of Allmart (this universe's Walmart). He's trying to find the electronics section." (Part 2)


• Daria (and other characters) on the Defiant Round Robin, by Meester_Lee, Brother Grimace, EntrancedCat, and Roentgen (parts 60 - 64): "It drifted through the corridor like a cloud, unseen and unnoticed by the Defiant's crew. If anyone were to see it as it slowly through the Defiant, they'd see a dark, formless mass drifting about three feet off the decking of the ship's corridors." (Part 61) )Part 62) (Part 63) (Part 64)


• Erin Chambers, by OzFerret (part 22): "The Sunday morning crowd in the park differed from the previous day. Less people, less tourists, less hurry. Fifteen pale blue tablets in twenty hours, a good night sleep and 2 decent meals had cleared Erin's blisters. The shame of her behaviour and her medical condition still haunted her."


• Nothing Else Matters, by YouthofOz (parts 9 - 12): "Quinn and Stacy headed away from the BFAC campus and across the street to the college's single residence block, Summerlin Hall." (Part 10) (Part 11) (Part 12)


• Quinn, the talking Dog, by OzFerret (part 3): "Quinn's walk invariably ended at the house of Jane Lane. Jane smirked as she let Daria and Quinn inside, 'Taking some exercise M'Lady?' Daria glared at her friend, 'Too ... tired ... to ... kill ... you.'"


• Three Devils, by atiyatortilla (part 7): "Every person in the Lawndale Diner craned their heads to ogle at the two sisters as they made their way to an empty booth. The piercing looks left Daria unfazed but Quinn could feel the burning heat of embarrassment creeping up her face."


• Unnamed story (LLH Short Entries #2), by Roentgen (part 181): "Greg Adams walked down the corridors of the Legion Academy. He was lost in thought. Esra had moved out of the Legion Academy's quarters and was now over at the Tower."


• You got a fast car (Scenes No Daria fanfic should have: The Saga Goes On), by Serrallonga (COMPLETE!): "(Dariarotica porn studios briefing room) (Almost all “Daria” characters are sitting around a big squared table, mumbling. A door opens all of a sudden. The NEW DIRECTOR enters)"

"Gimme cheese! I want cheese!"

It's World Rat Day, or as Jake calls them, squirrels without fluffy tails. Wait, that doesn't seem quite right....

Today is also Walk Around Things Day, so if you see something in your way, don't run straight into it. That goes double for you, glasses-free Daria from "Through a Lens Darkly"!

Fandom News!

• The deadline to vote for your favorite Written and Visual fanworks for the 2018 DFAs is almost here!


• Does canon matter? Share your thoughts in the thread.


• Welcome Lawndale-High's new moderators, Atiyatortilla and WellTemperedClavier!


• Commiserate and share your woes in the "My Life Sucks" venting and pep talk thread.


• Advise DocForbin on something weird happening in regard to his computer.


• TheBrodsterBoy posted a new Iron Chef: DVD of Destiny.

A Sandwich and a Book...What Could Be Better?

Caution: this is not the recommended way to celebrate National Peanut Butter and Jelly Day. If you want a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, please make a fresh one and do not eat any antique sandwiches that have been in contact with either the Tank or Daria's backside. Thank you.

If PBJ isn't your thing, how about a nice kid's book for Children's Book Day? Daria can recommend Black Beauty, The Prince and the Pauper, and A Journal of the Plague Year. Wait, maybe not that last one.

And no children's book would be complete without artwork, so it's especially appropriate that today is the anniversary of the episode "Art Burn" in 2001. A lot of great lines in that one, especially Tiffany's "We need someone to break his fingers, like on that show about those guys." Anyone else have a favorite line? Quote it in the comments!

Fanfic Update!

• Babysitting Pretty (Life After Thirty), by WildDogJJ (part 1): "Daria and Quinn are nervously awaiting the results of her follow up. The doctor looks at the results and smiles. Dr. Conway: Good news, Daria, you're now cancer free. Also, the full metabolic panel has shown your hormones to be back at normal levels."


• Daria (and other characters) on the Defiant Round Robin, by Meester_Lee, Brother Grimace, and Roentgen (parts 57 - 59): "Amanda Waller was scheming. It was her usual occupation, although if she were questioned she'd deny it and say that she was currently making contingency plans—plans that would go in motion if Admiral Morgendorffer and her away team failed to return from the Ferengi casino ship." (Part 58) (Part 59)


• Daria's Great Adventure, by dmsfanman (part 22): "Daria looked out the rover window. It occurred to her that this was not all that useful an action. They were in a cave (or more precisely a lava tube) after all!"


• Fates Entwined, by Deep Metal (part 28): "The young six year old Daria looked around her classroom. Class had not yet begun and she had no particular inclination to be at school either."


• Hello, I'm the Doctor. Basically, go to Hell (Iron Chef: Very ILL), by Serrallonga (COMPLETE!): "(At Cedars of Lawndale Hospital) (Jane enters Daria's room) Daria - Hi. Jane – Yo. How are you doing?"


• Jane's Real Father (Scenes No Daria fanfic should have: The Saga Goes On), by TheBrodsterBoy (COMPLETE!): "'Well, turns out Vincent isn't my real father.'"


• Nothing Else Matters, by YouthofOz (parts 1 - 8): "Daria reached the dorm room she was looking for and politely knocked. The journey from Raft had been more tiring than usual, but then everything seemed tiring these days." (Part 2) (Part 3) (Part 4) (Part 5) (Part 6) (Part 7) (Part 8)


• Temple Visit (Outlander Vignettes), by welltemperedclavier (COMPLETE!): "Stale air and the spiced smoke of incense burners settled into Jane's clothes and hair as she entered the temple, her head bowed in a show of reverence. Hoarse murmurs echoed down worn adobe corridors lit by braziers and scented candles, shadows of guttering flames dancing on the walls."


• Three Devils, by atiyatortilla (parts 5 and 6): "Daria watched a squirrel dart about the grass while Jane studiously committed her likeness to paper, the charcoal drawing shaping up to be quite the portrait." (Part 6)


• Unpredictable, by Val-Creative (COMPLETE!): "Jane's brushes dry and fleck with saturated greens and blues under an opalescent white coating. Out of the corner of her eye, Daria scrutinizes the tray of palettes knives and tubes smeared in black and shiny, smeared grey."