High School Never Ends, Daria fanfic Options

[WellTemperedClavier]

Apologies. For personal reasons, I'm choosing to remove this story. I may repost it in the future. This is absolutely not the fault of anyone here; you've all been gracious readers, and I'm so honored that you gave me your time. I only ask that you accept this and respect my privacy.

This post has been edited by WellTemperedClavier: Nov 13 2024, 07:43 AM

[Acadian]

I have to say, your opening sentence is a beautiful scene setter. Evocative, precise, masterfully word-crafted and lets us know exactly what time of year it is.

So Daria is in her organic natural setting on boring ol’ earth instead of nirn. Reminiscing – but she is right; that is better done with positive memories instead of unpleasant ones. The familiar Kevin is, unsurprisingly, totally reeled in by Daria’s improbable tales as a college party girl.

[Renee]

It's fine, Clavier. The story being during college days, that's an especially dramatic time for some of us. I think it's because of the WAITING4OBLIVION banner we've got. Not every story has to be about gaming though.

Heh, she's got her hipster coat, still.

Yeah, high school, man. Sucked for me, too. Only truly useful skill I got from it all was the ability to type! And a few of my teachers were quirky/fun. One English teacher had been in 'Nam. He would sometimes draw these really unique pictures while he graded our homework, so we'd get a doodle next to our grade. An example: one time he drew an ear of corn on one of my papers; except it was just that: an Ear sticking out of a piece of Corn! 🌽 There are also a few memories of some of the friends I had. Funny thing; I usually had a friend in each class during sophomore thru senior years. You know, like I'd get to know this one person really well because we sat next to each other. But none of these individual students were tight, so there was no big "group" of pals hanging after school, going off to the mall or whatever.

The friends I did have (after school) were druggies from middle school days. Mostly boys, I was one of two or three girls. "Burnouts" we were called. Back then (1980s) there were burnouts, jocks, preps (yuppie kids), and nerds. No goths, not yet anyway. Anyway, I eventually dropped the burnout group I hung with, dropped them all at once. Backstabbers, they were!

Junior prom sucked. I had my heart broken, big time, and I couldn't let it go for like a month. But then later that summer, a friend of my younger brother urged me to play some Fantasy Trip. Similar to Dungeons & Dragons. THAT changed everything! First campaign was a shortie, maybe three hours through just one cave or something. After it was over I was hooked. My first character was called the Blue Wizard. I hadn't yet become creative with names!

But let me shush. As this story is commencing, I'm actually picturing Daria (and the world she's in) as a cartoon. Wow, she's really getting deep.

She (her family) lived in Boston? Uh oh.

Okay, Kevin doesn't seem so bad. Just sort of annoying.

"Uh huh. I've been practicing my binge drinking skills, and hope to put them to good use.

Ha ha ha, good one! ---- What, did Kevin not graduate or something?

Principal Li. Corresponds to Magistrate Li or Lli.

so I was the running back. We had a good season. You know, 'cause I was on it."

OH my gosh! ... This does have some humor in it, Clav.

Cool, there's Quinn. That's good. Sister dynamics, you never know what's gonna happen next. Great start!

[SubRosa]

Neat to see Daria back in her home universe!

So it sounds like Daria is back home from college for winter break. Though apparently instead of gaining the Freshmen 15, she's lost it.

Back home again. It has not changed, but maybe Daria has, somewhat at least. She feels a bit lost among bittersweet memories of times gone by, and of a pair of familiar feet no longer beside her. *sigh*

Kevin is still in his football uniform. Of course, I think it is is the only clothing he owns. And he's doing about as expected.

And home sweet home again. With Quinn totally not really worried at all that she was gone so late. That is nice at least.

[Renee]

Cartoon characters only seem to own one outfit. Can't think of any toons which change their clothes

This post has been edited by Renee: Jan 31 2024, 12:33 AM

[WellTemperedClavier]

Removed

This post has been edited by WellTemperedClavier: Nov 13 2024, 07:43 AM

[SubRosa]

I had to look up the Alfred Joyce Kilmer Public Library. I thought you might have created it for this story. But wow, it was in the TV show. That is a deep cut.

24 Hour Photo. Now that is a real blast from the past. Remember film? Wow. Now I feel old.

Ouch, some really harsh words for Kevin from his 'friend' group. Not inaccurate, but still harsh.

Why do I sense a story hook here? Kevin needs to get his grades up to not flunk out again. Daria needs a job for the next two months. Failing that, just something to do.

And there it is. Welcome to the life of a tutor Daria. I am sure hijinks will ensue.

[Acadian]

Wow, harsh words from Kevin’s teammates. Fortunately his good nature and shortage of smarts help insulate him. Some.

So Daria’s taking a med break from college for a time. That explains the time on her hands and job hunting. Well, tutoring Kevin is actually a good job for Daria. Where else would she find a job where the customer does exactly what she tells him to? And, of course she’s, like, really smart.

[Renee]

Nice, you hung with nerds. I suppose I did too, after I dropped the burnouts. I didn't see my RPG friends as nerdy at the time. The main guy (DM I suppose, although we didn't use DMs, we just all trusted each other) was probably closer to an adolescent hippy, although anything related to table-gaming and lead figures on a hex board was considered nerdy, of course.

I actually would like to repeat High School, but with the Wisdom I've got now. Ha. 14 year-old looks & clothes with 50+ year old knowledge. Take that. Anyway, yeah, there were good parts too. Glad we both remember some of those.


Fantasy Trip started just after DnD but never gained massive sales. It might've only been semi-popular on the east coast/Midwest; pretty sure TFT was based in New Jersey or New York. It's what my brother's group were into. Like I said, it's a bit more down-to-earth. No humans with hundreds of hitpoints for instance, fighter types would use up ST as they took damage. And if you casted spells this drained your IQ. "To hit" was DX (dexterity) which was 3 6-sided dice rolled to see if your character or an NPC hit or missed. We also used Dungeons & Dragons books like Monster Manual, because they had thousands of creatures, dozens of religions, just a much bigger world to imagine.

Ah, you rolled dice, too. I think every RPGer should at some point, just to at least learn where it all started. Plus, that dynamic of actually sharing a game with your friends, staying up literally all night until the sun comes up, Where did the time go?.... lotsa fun, right? A 30-second battle in a videogame might translate to over an hour rolling dice.

-------------------------------

Nice, her parents are mentioned. Can't wait to see them!

"for a toxic combination of collegiate stupidity .." ha ha ha! ---- This is actually a bit dramatic in a way. Like, where will she finally get a job? I imagine a book store of course, but she could also survive in a record shop. Or Hot Topic. Somewhere kind of hip. Although those scenarios might irritate her.

Ah, so the jock DID flunk out.

""Yeah, well, if I flunk out again that means I can be on the team again! I'm totally in it for you guys!"

Kevin's in the Thirteenth Grade.

Uh oh. Okay, nice. So Kevin doesn't just blurt out "DARIA!" when he discovers her hiding spot. That's actually considerate. Hmm. So could it be that Daria might become a temporary tutor for the dumb jock?

Yup. $20 an hour. Wonder where he's gonna come up with that kind of scratch?

Hey, no song-link at the end!

This post has been edited by Renee: Feb 5 2024, 05:09 PM

[SubRosa]

Renee: Now a days you don't even need dice! There are virtual dice roller programs that will do it for you. You just pick the dice you want to roll and your bonuses and penalties, and it rolls it for you. Like this one. I think they are popular for online gaming.

Roll20 seems to be a whole suite created just for online gaming, and I think it has a dice roller built into it.

I have to admit though, as an old timer, the feeling of the dice in your hand and actually rolling them has what the French would call... a certain something. I can see the utility of the virtual dice if you have a fully remote group using something like Roll20 though.

[Renee]

That is good to know such a site exists. I agree, rolling actual dice in hand does have special something. We can blow on the dice for good luck, for instance. 🎲

I still have a 4-sided die and a couple 10-sided dice, along with a couple 20-siders. I lost my 30 somewhere over the years, so good to know online sites allow us to roll those too.

[WellTemperedClavier]

Removed

This post has been edited by WellTemperedClavier: Nov 13 2024, 07:44 AM

[SubRosa]

I guess you might think of Daria as following in dear old Dad's footsteps here. She is consulting for Kevin.

"With a training montage that leads to him acing the exams in a test-taking scene scored by Journey."
That is how it would work in the movie. Tom Cruise would play Kevin.

And I see this Universe's Quinn is also likely to go into either the Intelligence community, or the fashion industry. Still a toss up. Though I'm not sure if the CIA accepts anyone who is not a Yale graduate.

Now I am imaging Daria with bulging eyeballs!

[Renee]

It is a dreary Sunday morning, time for coffee. ☕ Also time to go back to high school. Or at least, the Thirteenth Grade where Kevin is stuck.

Nice, Quinn's got some dialog. And dad. I agree with them. How does this equate to a summer 'job'? I'm especially wondering how Kevin's gonna be able to afford $20.00 an hour. Because his problems with school aren't gonna get solved after just one hour. Or two, or four, or maybe even twenty!

Anyway, let me shush.

Lasagna == kwama eggs + jelly, when translated into Morrowind food.

"Tutoring Kevin is going to be, like, a full-time job. He's really not that smart," Quinn said.

Exactly.

Helen's got the same name. She's also a lawyer. What does father do?

"very...slow....voice". I love Daria's humor.

"I know some people who might need help," Quinn offered.

Oh God, one of them is going to be Tiffany.

I just laughed reallyhard! Thought you said this isn't a comedy, Clavier! Well, it might not be in the long run. Sure has got some humorous lines in it, though.

The part when Quinn watches a fashion show on TV is awesome. Something about that scene. There's some love there, or something. Also, the Mall Princess is totally transfixed. She's paying serious attention. Yet she's still concerned about his sis. Wow.

I'm guessing Tiffany equates to Tiphannia (sp?) in MW. The chick who was sort of slow because she was cursed.

Ah. Here's Jane, the artist. And Mr. Dimartino equates to the TEACHER who SPOKE like THIS, I'm thinking.

AWW. Jane. She's a real friend. "Call anytime, do not hesitate." Brought a tear to my eye.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Yeah, tabletop gamers don't necessarily fit the tabletop gamer stereotype.

Yes, this could be, especially nowadays.

Hey, I just wrote up a whole ramble about high school, but maybe I'd better message you instead.

This post has been edited by Renee: Feb 11 2024, 05:06 PM

[Acadian]

Wow, Daria’s getting overloaded with ‘advice’ when she probably needs to start tutoring Kevin and see how it goes before deciding anything expanding her tutoring business.

Her family remains very recognizable indeed from the Morrowind story. And so does Jane – a steadfast friend.

[WellTemperedClavier]

Removed

This post has been edited by WellTemperedClavier: Nov 13 2024, 07:44 AM

[SubRosa]

Young Tom Cruise, from All The Right Moves and Risky Business, would fit Kevin to a tee.

The prof is wearing a leather jacket and a Che Guevara shirt? This guy is either a real, dyed in the wool Leftist, or he never outgrew his days as an edgy teen. Come to think of it, Capitalism sure loves Che. I mean, how much money have corporations made using his image?

Ok, he's a Leftist. Someone who understands that all history is one of class struggle. Also someone who understands the value of cutting off their students before they can finish their sentences and say that they like the book!

"Man, I just don't get this old Greek stuff. I feel like it's in another language."
Well, it is.

There is Daria, unencumbered by social engagements, as usual. Some things never change.

Funny she knows a character named Patricia. January knows one too, who is going to be returning to her life in a big and unwelcome way very soon. I hope that Daria's Patricia is a lot less of a crypto-fascist stochastic terrorist than Jan's is.

Of course Daria read Antigone in the past, twice in fact!

Ah ha! A business opportunity. This reminds me of the time she visited a college while still a high school student, and started doing papers for a fee. I know what is coming next.

[Renee]

$20.00 an hour is probably accurate in 2003 terms. Close enough. In any event, I fear Kevin's mom might as well give Daria a check, signature already in place, while leaving the amount sections blank!

According to the show's lead writer, which is NOT Mike Judge, correct? I think you told me one time that the show was hijacked from Judge, or something.

Off-topic but MTV was so damn great back when it was new. All those New Wave bands, some punk, rock 'n' roll like George Thorougood, some R&B, some rap, some hip hop... rap & hip hop weren't really my thing, and weren't featured as much. But they were also newer musics of the day, brand-new music soley created by Americans. I dunno, it was such a great channel to watch on cable TV (which was also sort of new) on a summer day with your friends basking in air-conditioning. And there were more specific shows like the metal-oriented Headbanger's Ball. Closet Classics (featured artists from the '50s, '60s, and '70s). Over time, the channel became less about music.

/off-topic.

Professor Monroe seems kinda hip in his revolutionary T-shirt. We've all had that teacher before. He reminds me of Mister Smith, one of my history teachers in high school. The guy had shaggy hair; you could see he was once a hippie. ☮ Not as much of a hippie as the teacher on Beavis & Butthead though, he had to reign it in a bit.

Uh oh. Daria's got a comment. I'm already giggling. Yeah, shouldn't we be rebelling against yOU, teacher?

Wow, what a comeback from Monroe! Nice job. He even shoots down her next Daria Morgendorffer comment.

Daria went straight back to her dorm, unencumbered by any social obligations.

That's the 'advantage' of not having such a huge social group, I suppose. Hmm, who is Patricia, put into Morrowind terms? I'm drawing a blank. Maybe she's not somebody found in Last Days or Outlanders.

Wow, Patty's an opportunist.

Besides, if she's at a party that means she won't be here

Nice. Daria's a bit of an opportunist as well, then.

Alright, time for some gaming. Fallout 3 it is!

This post has been edited by Renee: Feb 18 2024, 04:58 PM

[Acadian]

I chuckled at your presentation of Professor Monroe - dime a dozen walking stereotype of a University professor.

And Daria deals with Patricia brilliantly. Gets her out of the room and earns $30 in the process – win/win.

[WellTemperedClavier]

Removed

This post has been edited by WellTemperedClavier: Nov 13 2024, 07:44 AM