Categories > Cartoons > Daria > 1960's Daria
1960s—Chapter 11
By Dr T
The Summer of ‘68
A ‘Daria’ fanfic, so no claim to original characters, etc. claimed, just my plot twists. Based on an image from the last ‘Daria’ episode/movie, ‘Is It College Yet?’
-60s-
Daria spent much of the rest of the weekdays during her spring break working on the final papers for the two poetry classes and the Civil War/Reconstruction course as well as her usual practicing and some work on the second novel. While claiming to go to Jane’s, Daria instead drove to Marcus’ to spend Friday and Saturday nights. Helen suspected as much, but she decided not to call the Lanes’ – no doubt they would give her an alibi, which Helen could break, but that would no doubt cause a break with Daria. Her older daughter seemed to know what she was doing, or at least thought so. If Daria made a mistake, she would have to pay for it.
Helen had thought she had loved someone before Jake. She had in fact given him her virginity just before he had left for boot camp in 1944. He had died in the Pacific, at Iwo Jima. If she had gotten pregnant, Helen knew the price she would have had to pay. Daria was a step ahead – she had not hidden her birth control pills as well as she had thought she had. It was mostly the discovery of the pills that stayed Helen’s hand and let Daria’s plans play out. Daria was already almost certainly sexually active, so there was no use trying to pretend she wasn’t. It was still possible that it was Jane who was having the relationship with the professor, while Daria would then be carrying on with Jane’s brother, the musician. After all, Trent only lived a few miles from the campus.
On the whole, Helen was hoping Daria was having her affair with the professor.
Daria picked up Jane early on Easter afternoon to drive her back to the college. There were only two weeks of class left in the semester, since the semester had started so early. Unlike some campuses, the week-long break had diffused many of the tensions. Granted, LSC was hardly a hotbed of political dissent, unlike some other campuses across the country. Protests and sit-ins would occur on many of those campuses, and some did not stay peaceful. Worse, in multiple cities across the country, riots broke out in protest of the King assassination. Compared to ‘the summer of love,’ the rest of 1968 through the spring of 1970 would not usually be a restful time in America.
For the pair at LSC, in the end both Jane and Daria had successful semesters. Jane even ended up with a 3.87 GPA, which raised her overall score to a 3.69. Daria was not thrilled with her A-s in Secondary Methods and Swimming, but she was content with her scores overall.
When not taking their finals, Jane and Daria moved most of their possessions to Marcus’. All of Jane’s and part of Daria’s went into the apartment, while some of her things went into ‘her’ bedroom and a few went into the space in the closet or the two dresser drawers in the master suite which Marcus had cleared for her. At some point, they would rearrange the furniture between the spare bedroom Daria used and the master suite, but they had not had the time to spare for the effort.
Jane was not really looking forward to the summer as much as Daria, Marcus, or even her brother. James would not be at either summer session and so Jane would be without him, and while Jane was looking forward to the photography course, the other three classes (English II and the two gym classes) were mostly just obstacles she had to get through. Still, if she could get up early enough in the morning to go to campus with Daria, she would have nearly two hours to paint early in the morning and over an hour in the afternoons and Fridays (the regular classes were in hour and 45 minutes blocks, Monday through Thursday). There were a number of ideas she wanted to work through, and the painting instructors thought enough of her and her work to give her total access to the painting studio all summer.
Daria and Marcus had had some deep discussions spread over the early part of the spring semester, and to Daria (and Jane’s) surprise, he was understanding of the women’s relationship. Daria and Jane would average nearly three nights a week sleeping together over the 10 weeks Marcus was still in town. To all their shocks (and pleasant surprise), there was very little jealousy or competition.
Trent was happy, because the Spiral had a standing Friday night gig (their schedule was more open on Saturdays, but still nearly all of their Saturdays through mid-July were already booked). Daria had agreed to play between their sets on Friday nights, which is why the club had extended Spiral’s engagement through mid-August. Two of the songs Daria and Trent had written and recorded the previous December had been released as a 45. The record was getting decent playtime in the three main markets in-state, and Amy had just told Daria that a friend of hers in New York liked the A-side well enough he was going to give it playtime on his program (which also ran in 14 other markets), although he wasn’t sure about how much airtime he would give the B-side. This in turn would create interest in the rest of the songs both Spiral and Daria had recorded, and most would be picked up and recorded as covers over the next year.
While Marcus was not thrilled by having to share Daria in an intimate way he had not originally planned on (he had anticipated the two friends would spend a fair amount of time together, just not evening/bedtime), he was surprised at how accepting of the idea he was. Perhaps, he had mused to Daria one evening, he had accepted some unexpected aspects of ‘the Playboy philosophy.’ Daria wasn’t sure that was the cause, but she did forgive him his on-going subscription to the magazine.
It certainly helped that Jane and Marcus liked each other, but were not sexually attracted to each other. While each was a bit curious about what the other was doing with Daria, neither ever asked. In fact, in anticipation of his own curiosity, Marcus had added extra soundproofing on the common wall between the house and the apartment to insure privacy on both sides of the wall. He had also ordered a present, which he was hesitating to give to Daria.
-60s-
Daria endured five days and four nights at her grandmother’s. The Sunday afternoon, Daria’s endurance was somewhat put to the test as she sat through a formal tea – Grandmother Tess, Rita, Erin, Daira, and eight high society ladies of Tess’ generation. In fact, these eight were not only eight of the region’s social leaders, but also the most discerning and honest. The ladies’ verdict, delivered separately to Tess in private or over the telephone, was that Daria was ‘intelligent’ and ‘interesting’ if ‘a bit informal.’ Most thought her ‘surprising’ – Tess had not kept Daria’s folk singing and ‘hippie ways’ a secret – in fact, six of the eight expressed their hope that perhaps if ‘your hippie granddaughter’ could ‘still act properly when called upon,’ perhaps there was hope for one or more of their own grandchildren. The other two merely told Tess that she was lucky, as there was little hope for at least one of their own grandchildren.
Daria was not to know it (although she later suspected it), but she had been subjected to this ordeal for a reason. She would learn that Quinn was subject to a similar tea shortly after her own graduation in June. The group’s verdict on Quinn would be basically ‘cute, spoiled, vacuous.’
-60s-
To Jane’s surprise, Marcus turned the household over to Daria’s supervision. This did not make her the ‘housewife’ – she was the ‘home supervisor.’ At her command, the three would eat breakfast together Mondays through Thursdays – Jane could join them the other days if she wanted to wake up on time. Jane would need to get rides to campus with Daria, but she also brought her bike with her – it was an easy enough ride to campus, and only about fifty yards of a steep hill back (the other inclines were gentler each way). Riding it to school on weekday mornings would mean getting up even earlier, so she only rode in on Friday and Saturday mornings well after Daria had usually left.
Friday afternoons were reserved for Daria and Jane, and they would certainly sleep together after coming back from the club that night. Saturday evenings were ‘date night’ for Daria and Marcus. The trio would plan out dinners Sunday through Thursday a week in advance, so no one was stuck doing cooking and cleanup too often. Jane would clean the apartment and do her own laundry (the washer and dryer were located under the stairway to the apartment in the garage), Daria and Marcus split the housework. Marcus paid a service to take care of his yard.
Dear Aunt Amy:
Well, either one week or 1/6 of the first set of summer courses is over! As you know, the genealogical course is spread over both six-week sessions, meeting from 8:00-9:00 rather than to 9:45, Monday through Thursday. The Dean has what I can only call a ‘dusty’ personality, but he does know genealogical methodology for any of the major European groups that have come to the US. He was impressed by what Grandmother let me have access to, and the basics that I have for Dad’s family. I hope I can make some progress on Grandma’s family as well.
The photography course is going to be interesting. Jane was bored most of the week, as she learned the basics from her father well before finishing elementary school, but she’s teasingly glad to be helping me along. I understand now why she’s been saying I’m a decent natural photographer, but I need to think more about composition. She’s also been showing me ways to improve in the darkroom some of the less-than-great shots I’ve taken.
Swimming is swimming, but I can use the exercise, especially since I’m not tramping around campus nearly as much as I usually had to. There is very little going on in the music building – no lessons or ensembles, just a few students retaking theory 3. At the moment, there are no Thursday evening get-togethers either; the campus is pretty dead – considering what happened at some campuses, I am sure administrators are happy about the quiet, even if they regret lost income.
Jane and I are settling in well at Professor Church’s. She has her bicycle, so when the weather is nice she doesn’t have to rely on me for a ride.
Thank you for the note; yes, that tea at Grandmother’s was boring and stressful, sort of like the Inquisition without the physical tortures. Quinn is invited for a weekend after her graduation – I wonder if she’ll realize this is Grandmother’s way of judging our social fitness? More for Mother’s sake than my own (since I’m sure any perceived faults of mine would be blamed on Mother), I tried my best to be sociable without being overly obliging. On the whole, I don’t mind if Grandmother finds me socially acceptable or not; it would devastate Quinn, as she imagines she will socially take MMJC by storm, and that it will make a long-term difference in her life. Well, if she meets her future husband while she’s there I suppose it might, but not otherwise.
I can’t wait for the book to physically come out! I ordered a bunch, so expect an autographed copy!
Love (and thanks yet again for all your help and support)
Daria
-60s-
Daria returned to Marcus’ Saturday morning (she and Jane had stayed at the Lanes, as the gig had lasted longer than usual). Jane was staying at home and Trent would drop her off Sunday evening, as she wanted to pick her father’s brains for some developing tips for black & white film. Daria and Marcus had a simple lunch, and then retired to the bedroom for some fun.
“Are you alright?” Daria asked as they cooled off. “You seem a bit…off.”
Marcus sighed. “Yeah…there’s something I, well, wanted to give you. I thought it was a good idea, but now I’m not so sure. I wouldn’t want you to take it… well, for you to misunderstand.”
Daria sat up and favored her lover with her open half-smile. “Well, I try not to be unappreciative of any sort of present. Give it to me, and we can at least talk about it.”
Marcus took a deep breath and moved out of the bed. He went to his closet and pulled out a package. As Daria took it, he started to babble. “I thought of this when you were telling me how much Jane might be missing James, well, after you told me about you and Jane and how you two found, err, Mister Cylinder and even if you never explicitly have told me how much you enjoy using it….”
“Shhh,” Daria told him softly. “Let me see what this is…. Oh my!”
‘This’ was a belt and strap apparatus and three different dildos which could be fitted into the adjustable holder on the front of the belt. All three were about the same circumference – about Marcus’ and so a bit smaller than Mr. Cylinder. They were, however, all much longer – a full foot from tip to base, with about 10 ½ inches ‘usable’. One had a flat base, one had a ridge which would stimulate the wearer’s labia, while the third had a smaller slightly curved dildo which could be fitted into the wearer.
Daria was blushing as she handled the three, and Marcus was a bit as well.
After a few moments of consideration, Daria said, “Thank you for being understanding. Jane saw…something like this in San Francisco in the shop where she bought Mister Cylinder. I never went into it. After, well, last fall we did tease each other a bit about where we might find such an item.” Daria pulled Marcus onto the bed so they could sit next to each other and kissed him deeply. “I don’t know if we’ll ever use these, or, if we do…well, how we might. But thank you for accepting this side of me.”
“I love you.” Marcus was glad this had paid off, and he kissed Daria deeply. Their hands fumbled a bit, as the harness and dildos got in their way.
Daria decided to tease him a bit. “Oh, I was correct, that these are for me and Jane? Right? Or did you want me to use one of these with you?”
Marcus’ eyes went wide at that idea. “Those are for you and Jane.” He looked Daria in the eye, “I never thought about being on the receiving end of any action there. Have you?”
Daria’s blush returned and her eyes went down to her lap. “Jane’s and my fingers may have strayed into that area a few times, but Mister Cylinder has never gone there.” She raised her eyes to his. “Does that mean you’ve thought about my being ‘on the receiving end’?”
“Yes,” he replied frankly.
“You’ve…?” Daria knew Marcus had had two lovers before her, but she didn’t know many details.
“Yes; the first enjoyed it, and we did it when we wanted to be together and I couldn’t get a condom. That doesn’t mean we have to try anything, or that I expect you to want to try or to enjoy it if we do experiment.”
Daria nodded, and after a moment’s hesitation, she spoke softly. “Jane and I both enjoyed those stray fingers coupled with what else we were doing. If I can try that with you, you can try with me. We can decide where to go from there, if anywhere.”
It would be a while before they tried, however.
-60s-
May 30
Daria pulled into the driveway that afternoon with Jane. Marcus was in his office, polishing the manuscript for his second monograph. Just before Jane got out to open the garage door, she told Daria, “It looks like a package was dropped off on the front steps.”
Daria’s eyes lit up. She shut off the engine and rushed off to see. Jane followed at a sedate pace, and was rewarded with seeing her often calm friend actually bouncing up and down, making odd sounds, along the lines of “Sqeee!” “I take it that’s from your publisher?” Jane commented.
Daria merely nodded excitedly, tossed Jane her keys, and picked up the box, practically hugging it.
Jane smirked and opened the door. She was tempted to draw out that action, but realized there was a good chance Daria might try to trample her if she was too slow. Daria rushed past Jane, down to the small office set-up in the cellar. By the time Jane arrived, Daria had already cut the box open and was hugging a copy of her novel, her eyes closed, and with a smile wider than 99% of all the rare smiles Jane had even seen on her friend.
Jane picked up a copy of what was simply titled ‘Coventry’ by DL Morgan. She opened it, and read the simple dedication: This writer wishes to thank those who have helped me through the two years of writing this, those members of my immediate family who supported me, especially AB who believed in me and helped me find a publisher, my best friend JL, and MC.
DLM
Jane smiled at her inclusion. She was startled when Daria grabbed the volume out of her hand, but then saw her take up one of Marcus’ fountain pens and write on the inside cover. Daria blew on it to make sure it was at least partially dry and handed it back to Jane.
To JL/Jane Lane
My best friend, whom I love and cherish. Thank you for being my friend and one of my creative inspirations, for believing in me, and loving me. This book would not exist without you.
DLM/Daria L. Morgendorffer
Jane smiled and the two kissed for several seconds, but then Daria’s attention waivered and she went back to the books. She would send copies with a basic inscription to her parents and grandmother. Amy would of course get a much more grateful thank you. Marcus’ would be similar to Jane’s. Daria had also talked with a member of the library staff, who had agreed to accept a copy for the library.
“Have you started the sequel yet?” Jane teased.
“I have the plot laid out, but I’m going to wait and see what happens with this one. After all, most novels don’t even make back their publishing costs, and end up in remainder bins or pulped. I just finished with the final draft of the Haight novel, I just want to review it for typos a bit more. I’ll send it to the agent after you and Marcus go over it.”
“Sounds good.”
Daria looked at her friend. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing, really. I just wish a few more of my stuff had sold.” Students’ art work were offered for sale at an exhibit at the end of each semester.
“I know you didn’t quite sell half of it, but that was still almost equal to what any two other students sold,” Daria pointed out.
“True,” Jane agreed. She smirked a bit. “Are you going to celebrate like you did when you got the offer?”
Daria blushed a bit at the remembrance of how her libido had gone into overdrive. “No, but if you’d like, we can go to our room and I can harness myself up.”
Jane blushed a bit, but managed to say, “Ride me, cowgirl!”
Daria’s blush deepened a little, but she retorted, “Yippee-ki-yea!”
-60s-
“Jane not joining us for dinner?” Marcus asked a few hours later.
Daria blushed yet again that day. “No; she’s…tired. I imagine she’ll snack in the apartment later.”
“Ah.” Marcus remembered how Daria had been when the book deal had been offered, and did not want to inquire as to the details of how Jane had been tired out.
“Are you about finished with your manuscript?”
“I think I am. Are you?”
“I still have about fifty pages to proof for typos, but otherwise yes.”
Daria nodded. “Is everything ready for your trip?”
Marcus nodded in return. “As best I can tell; hopefully the notice of my lodgings will arrive soon.” He looked at her. “Do you know where your birth certificate is?”
“I would imagine somewhere at home, why?”
“You should really get a passport.”
“I probably should.” The two looked at each other, and each started to speak but stopped when they saw the other. Both knew they hoped their relationship would continue after Daria’s graduation, but neither wanted to make either promise, knowing that was two years into a very uncertain future. So, after a moment’s silence, Daria suggested, “Let’s do up these dishes, and then either you can take me upstairs and reward me for the book, or we can reward each other for finishing our manuscripts.”
“I think we can work that out,” Marcus agreed.
-60s-
June 5
The trio was about to settle down to a common weekday breakfast of coffee (for Jane and Marcus; tea for Daria), fried eggs (2 each for Jane and Marcus, 1 for Daria), toast and jam. Marcus asked Daria to turn on the radio; he was interested to hear who had won the California, New Jersey and South Dakota primaries. He was pulling for Robert Kennedy. While not yet eligible to vote, Daria was undecided between Kennedy and Eugene McCarthy, while Jane leaned towards McCarthy.
The trio were stunned by the news that Kennedy had been shot and was in critical condition. They managed to get through the day, and were only saddened but not really shocked when they learned that Kennedy died of in wounds early the next morning.
-60s-
Friday, June 22
The first summer session was over, and Jane had gone home the evening before. Daria would have to go over to play her Friday night gig, but at the moment she and Marcus were snuggling on his bed, enjoying a bit of late morning after-play – they had barely been out of bed for the previous four hours, other than for a hurried breakfast.
“Ready to get excited again?” Daria teased.
“I’ll be happy to do my best to oblige,” Marcus stated.
“I’ll be right” kiss “back.” Daria got out of the bed, and nude, walked out of the room doing her best to walk as sexily as she could. While not as practiced as some women, Daria was good at it on those rare occasions she wanted to – always for Marcus or Jane.
Daria returned with a handful of photo albums. She sat on the bed, while Marcus sat up. She handed him the first and largest. “My best official photos.” Marcus leafed through it and saw that there was a wide variety of images from around campus as well as still-lifes and similar studies. The final twenty were studies of Jane. “I could have done better; those got me up to a border-line A minus. The ones here that I did insured the A minus.”
This second album was the thinnest. The first dozen were semi-nude and nude photos of Jane – in none of them were Jane’s face, nipples, or public hair showing, but they all had most if not the entirety of her long legs showing, and usually parts of her back and most of her backside as well. At a minimum, glimpses of her backside and/or side views of her breasts were always visible. “Is it alright with Jane that I see these?”
“Of course. If Professor Johnson could see them, why not? These won’t be in the public display, however.”
Marcus continued through the dozen photos, and then saw Jane’s similar studies of Daria. Daria, watching his reaction, saw from some twitches that he might soon be ready for a second round of lovemaking.
“Now this set, we did for ourselves, but you may look.”
The third album showed the two separately, but fully or mostly nude, each with her face now fully visible. He now knew why Daria had trimmed most of her pubic hair two weeks before; it would have shown in a few of the photos. Then he realized that many of the poses looked familiar. “You two must of have studied my Playboys quite closely.”
“We did,” Daria confirmed. She stood and took those albums away, and then gave him a fourth. “This one is for my copies of all our nudes. This last one is for you.”
Marcus quickly saw that most of the photos were ones he had already seen of Daria in the second and third album, now collected together. There were, however, eighteen new photos at the end, all much more explicit, with Daria caressing and/or exposing herself intimately. One even showed Daria suckling on Jane’s left nipple, and one showed Daria wearing the harness and dildo.
Observing Marcus’ aroused condition, Daria merely asked, “Ready for round two?”
Marcus merely smiled widely for an answer.
By Dr T
The Summer of ‘68
A ‘Daria’ fanfic, so no claim to original characters, etc. claimed, just my plot twists. Based on an image from the last ‘Daria’ episode/movie, ‘Is It College Yet?’
-60s-
Daria spent much of the rest of the weekdays during her spring break working on the final papers for the two poetry classes and the Civil War/Reconstruction course as well as her usual practicing and some work on the second novel. While claiming to go to Jane’s, Daria instead drove to Marcus’ to spend Friday and Saturday nights. Helen suspected as much, but she decided not to call the Lanes’ – no doubt they would give her an alibi, which Helen could break, but that would no doubt cause a break with Daria. Her older daughter seemed to know what she was doing, or at least thought so. If Daria made a mistake, she would have to pay for it.
Helen had thought she had loved someone before Jake. She had in fact given him her virginity just before he had left for boot camp in 1944. He had died in the Pacific, at Iwo Jima. If she had gotten pregnant, Helen knew the price she would have had to pay. Daria was a step ahead – she had not hidden her birth control pills as well as she had thought she had. It was mostly the discovery of the pills that stayed Helen’s hand and let Daria’s plans play out. Daria was already almost certainly sexually active, so there was no use trying to pretend she wasn’t. It was still possible that it was Jane who was having the relationship with the professor, while Daria would then be carrying on with Jane’s brother, the musician. After all, Trent only lived a few miles from the campus.
On the whole, Helen was hoping Daria was having her affair with the professor.
Daria picked up Jane early on Easter afternoon to drive her back to the college. There were only two weeks of class left in the semester, since the semester had started so early. Unlike some campuses, the week-long break had diffused many of the tensions. Granted, LSC was hardly a hotbed of political dissent, unlike some other campuses across the country. Protests and sit-ins would occur on many of those campuses, and some did not stay peaceful. Worse, in multiple cities across the country, riots broke out in protest of the King assassination. Compared to ‘the summer of love,’ the rest of 1968 through the spring of 1970 would not usually be a restful time in America.
For the pair at LSC, in the end both Jane and Daria had successful semesters. Jane even ended up with a 3.87 GPA, which raised her overall score to a 3.69. Daria was not thrilled with her A-s in Secondary Methods and Swimming, but she was content with her scores overall.
When not taking their finals, Jane and Daria moved most of their possessions to Marcus’. All of Jane’s and part of Daria’s went into the apartment, while some of her things went into ‘her’ bedroom and a few went into the space in the closet or the two dresser drawers in the master suite which Marcus had cleared for her. At some point, they would rearrange the furniture between the spare bedroom Daria used and the master suite, but they had not had the time to spare for the effort.
Jane was not really looking forward to the summer as much as Daria, Marcus, or even her brother. James would not be at either summer session and so Jane would be without him, and while Jane was looking forward to the photography course, the other three classes (English II and the two gym classes) were mostly just obstacles she had to get through. Still, if she could get up early enough in the morning to go to campus with Daria, she would have nearly two hours to paint early in the morning and over an hour in the afternoons and Fridays (the regular classes were in hour and 45 minutes blocks, Monday through Thursday). There were a number of ideas she wanted to work through, and the painting instructors thought enough of her and her work to give her total access to the painting studio all summer.
Daria and Marcus had had some deep discussions spread over the early part of the spring semester, and to Daria (and Jane’s) surprise, he was understanding of the women’s relationship. Daria and Jane would average nearly three nights a week sleeping together over the 10 weeks Marcus was still in town. To all their shocks (and pleasant surprise), there was very little jealousy or competition.
Trent was happy, because the Spiral had a standing Friday night gig (their schedule was more open on Saturdays, but still nearly all of their Saturdays through mid-July were already booked). Daria had agreed to play between their sets on Friday nights, which is why the club had extended Spiral’s engagement through mid-August. Two of the songs Daria and Trent had written and recorded the previous December had been released as a 45. The record was getting decent playtime in the three main markets in-state, and Amy had just told Daria that a friend of hers in New York liked the A-side well enough he was going to give it playtime on his program (which also ran in 14 other markets), although he wasn’t sure about how much airtime he would give the B-side. This in turn would create interest in the rest of the songs both Spiral and Daria had recorded, and most would be picked up and recorded as covers over the next year.
While Marcus was not thrilled by having to share Daria in an intimate way he had not originally planned on (he had anticipated the two friends would spend a fair amount of time together, just not evening/bedtime), he was surprised at how accepting of the idea he was. Perhaps, he had mused to Daria one evening, he had accepted some unexpected aspects of ‘the Playboy philosophy.’ Daria wasn’t sure that was the cause, but she did forgive him his on-going subscription to the magazine.
It certainly helped that Jane and Marcus liked each other, but were not sexually attracted to each other. While each was a bit curious about what the other was doing with Daria, neither ever asked. In fact, in anticipation of his own curiosity, Marcus had added extra soundproofing on the common wall between the house and the apartment to insure privacy on both sides of the wall. He had also ordered a present, which he was hesitating to give to Daria.
-60s-
Daria endured five days and four nights at her grandmother’s. The Sunday afternoon, Daria’s endurance was somewhat put to the test as she sat through a formal tea – Grandmother Tess, Rita, Erin, Daira, and eight high society ladies of Tess’ generation. In fact, these eight were not only eight of the region’s social leaders, but also the most discerning and honest. The ladies’ verdict, delivered separately to Tess in private or over the telephone, was that Daria was ‘intelligent’ and ‘interesting’ if ‘a bit informal.’ Most thought her ‘surprising’ – Tess had not kept Daria’s folk singing and ‘hippie ways’ a secret – in fact, six of the eight expressed their hope that perhaps if ‘your hippie granddaughter’ could ‘still act properly when called upon,’ perhaps there was hope for one or more of their own grandchildren. The other two merely told Tess that she was lucky, as there was little hope for at least one of their own grandchildren.
Daria was not to know it (although she later suspected it), but she had been subjected to this ordeal for a reason. She would learn that Quinn was subject to a similar tea shortly after her own graduation in June. The group’s verdict on Quinn would be basically ‘cute, spoiled, vacuous.’
-60s-
To Jane’s surprise, Marcus turned the household over to Daria’s supervision. This did not make her the ‘housewife’ – she was the ‘home supervisor.’ At her command, the three would eat breakfast together Mondays through Thursdays – Jane could join them the other days if she wanted to wake up on time. Jane would need to get rides to campus with Daria, but she also brought her bike with her – it was an easy enough ride to campus, and only about fifty yards of a steep hill back (the other inclines were gentler each way). Riding it to school on weekday mornings would mean getting up even earlier, so she only rode in on Friday and Saturday mornings well after Daria had usually left.
Friday afternoons were reserved for Daria and Jane, and they would certainly sleep together after coming back from the club that night. Saturday evenings were ‘date night’ for Daria and Marcus. The trio would plan out dinners Sunday through Thursday a week in advance, so no one was stuck doing cooking and cleanup too often. Jane would clean the apartment and do her own laundry (the washer and dryer were located under the stairway to the apartment in the garage), Daria and Marcus split the housework. Marcus paid a service to take care of his yard.
Dear Aunt Amy:
Well, either one week or 1/6 of the first set of summer courses is over! As you know, the genealogical course is spread over both six-week sessions, meeting from 8:00-9:00 rather than to 9:45, Monday through Thursday. The Dean has what I can only call a ‘dusty’ personality, but he does know genealogical methodology for any of the major European groups that have come to the US. He was impressed by what Grandmother let me have access to, and the basics that I have for Dad’s family. I hope I can make some progress on Grandma’s family as well.
The photography course is going to be interesting. Jane was bored most of the week, as she learned the basics from her father well before finishing elementary school, but she’s teasingly glad to be helping me along. I understand now why she’s been saying I’m a decent natural photographer, but I need to think more about composition. She’s also been showing me ways to improve in the darkroom some of the less-than-great shots I’ve taken.
Swimming is swimming, but I can use the exercise, especially since I’m not tramping around campus nearly as much as I usually had to. There is very little going on in the music building – no lessons or ensembles, just a few students retaking theory 3. At the moment, there are no Thursday evening get-togethers either; the campus is pretty dead – considering what happened at some campuses, I am sure administrators are happy about the quiet, even if they regret lost income.
Jane and I are settling in well at Professor Church’s. She has her bicycle, so when the weather is nice she doesn’t have to rely on me for a ride.
Thank you for the note; yes, that tea at Grandmother’s was boring and stressful, sort of like the Inquisition without the physical tortures. Quinn is invited for a weekend after her graduation – I wonder if she’ll realize this is Grandmother’s way of judging our social fitness? More for Mother’s sake than my own (since I’m sure any perceived faults of mine would be blamed on Mother), I tried my best to be sociable without being overly obliging. On the whole, I don’t mind if Grandmother finds me socially acceptable or not; it would devastate Quinn, as she imagines she will socially take MMJC by storm, and that it will make a long-term difference in her life. Well, if she meets her future husband while she’s there I suppose it might, but not otherwise.
I can’t wait for the book to physically come out! I ordered a bunch, so expect an autographed copy!
Love (and thanks yet again for all your help and support)
Daria
-60s-
Daria returned to Marcus’ Saturday morning (she and Jane had stayed at the Lanes, as the gig had lasted longer than usual). Jane was staying at home and Trent would drop her off Sunday evening, as she wanted to pick her father’s brains for some developing tips for black & white film. Daria and Marcus had a simple lunch, and then retired to the bedroom for some fun.
“Are you alright?” Daria asked as they cooled off. “You seem a bit…off.”
Marcus sighed. “Yeah…there’s something I, well, wanted to give you. I thought it was a good idea, but now I’m not so sure. I wouldn’t want you to take it… well, for you to misunderstand.”
Daria sat up and favored her lover with her open half-smile. “Well, I try not to be unappreciative of any sort of present. Give it to me, and we can at least talk about it.”
Marcus took a deep breath and moved out of the bed. He went to his closet and pulled out a package. As Daria took it, he started to babble. “I thought of this when you were telling me how much Jane might be missing James, well, after you told me about you and Jane and how you two found, err, Mister Cylinder and even if you never explicitly have told me how much you enjoy using it….”
“Shhh,” Daria told him softly. “Let me see what this is…. Oh my!”
‘This’ was a belt and strap apparatus and three different dildos which could be fitted into the adjustable holder on the front of the belt. All three were about the same circumference – about Marcus’ and so a bit smaller than Mr. Cylinder. They were, however, all much longer – a full foot from tip to base, with about 10 ½ inches ‘usable’. One had a flat base, one had a ridge which would stimulate the wearer’s labia, while the third had a smaller slightly curved dildo which could be fitted into the wearer.
Daria was blushing as she handled the three, and Marcus was a bit as well.
After a few moments of consideration, Daria said, “Thank you for being understanding. Jane saw…something like this in San Francisco in the shop where she bought Mister Cylinder. I never went into it. After, well, last fall we did tease each other a bit about where we might find such an item.” Daria pulled Marcus onto the bed so they could sit next to each other and kissed him deeply. “I don’t know if we’ll ever use these, or, if we do…well, how we might. But thank you for accepting this side of me.”
“I love you.” Marcus was glad this had paid off, and he kissed Daria deeply. Their hands fumbled a bit, as the harness and dildos got in their way.
Daria decided to tease him a bit. “Oh, I was correct, that these are for me and Jane? Right? Or did you want me to use one of these with you?”
Marcus’ eyes went wide at that idea. “Those are for you and Jane.” He looked Daria in the eye, “I never thought about being on the receiving end of any action there. Have you?”
Daria’s blush returned and her eyes went down to her lap. “Jane’s and my fingers may have strayed into that area a few times, but Mister Cylinder has never gone there.” She raised her eyes to his. “Does that mean you’ve thought about my being ‘on the receiving end’?”
“Yes,” he replied frankly.
“You’ve…?” Daria knew Marcus had had two lovers before her, but she didn’t know many details.
“Yes; the first enjoyed it, and we did it when we wanted to be together and I couldn’t get a condom. That doesn’t mean we have to try anything, or that I expect you to want to try or to enjoy it if we do experiment.”
Daria nodded, and after a moment’s hesitation, she spoke softly. “Jane and I both enjoyed those stray fingers coupled with what else we were doing. If I can try that with you, you can try with me. We can decide where to go from there, if anywhere.”
It would be a while before they tried, however.
-60s-
May 30
Daria pulled into the driveway that afternoon with Jane. Marcus was in his office, polishing the manuscript for his second monograph. Just before Jane got out to open the garage door, she told Daria, “It looks like a package was dropped off on the front steps.”
Daria’s eyes lit up. She shut off the engine and rushed off to see. Jane followed at a sedate pace, and was rewarded with seeing her often calm friend actually bouncing up and down, making odd sounds, along the lines of “Sqeee!” “I take it that’s from your publisher?” Jane commented.
Daria merely nodded excitedly, tossed Jane her keys, and picked up the box, practically hugging it.
Jane smirked and opened the door. She was tempted to draw out that action, but realized there was a good chance Daria might try to trample her if she was too slow. Daria rushed past Jane, down to the small office set-up in the cellar. By the time Jane arrived, Daria had already cut the box open and was hugging a copy of her novel, her eyes closed, and with a smile wider than 99% of all the rare smiles Jane had even seen on her friend.
Jane picked up a copy of what was simply titled ‘Coventry’ by DL Morgan. She opened it, and read the simple dedication: This writer wishes to thank those who have helped me through the two years of writing this, those members of my immediate family who supported me, especially AB who believed in me and helped me find a publisher, my best friend JL, and MC.
DLM
Jane smiled at her inclusion. She was startled when Daria grabbed the volume out of her hand, but then saw her take up one of Marcus’ fountain pens and write on the inside cover. Daria blew on it to make sure it was at least partially dry and handed it back to Jane.
To JL/Jane Lane
My best friend, whom I love and cherish. Thank you for being my friend and one of my creative inspirations, for believing in me, and loving me. This book would not exist without you.
DLM/Daria L. Morgendorffer
Jane smiled and the two kissed for several seconds, but then Daria’s attention waivered and she went back to the books. She would send copies with a basic inscription to her parents and grandmother. Amy would of course get a much more grateful thank you. Marcus’ would be similar to Jane’s. Daria had also talked with a member of the library staff, who had agreed to accept a copy for the library.
“Have you started the sequel yet?” Jane teased.
“I have the plot laid out, but I’m going to wait and see what happens with this one. After all, most novels don’t even make back their publishing costs, and end up in remainder bins or pulped. I just finished with the final draft of the Haight novel, I just want to review it for typos a bit more. I’ll send it to the agent after you and Marcus go over it.”
“Sounds good.”
Daria looked at her friend. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing, really. I just wish a few more of my stuff had sold.” Students’ art work were offered for sale at an exhibit at the end of each semester.
“I know you didn’t quite sell half of it, but that was still almost equal to what any two other students sold,” Daria pointed out.
“True,” Jane agreed. She smirked a bit. “Are you going to celebrate like you did when you got the offer?”
Daria blushed a bit at the remembrance of how her libido had gone into overdrive. “No, but if you’d like, we can go to our room and I can harness myself up.”
Jane blushed a bit, but managed to say, “Ride me, cowgirl!”
Daria’s blush deepened a little, but she retorted, “Yippee-ki-yea!”
-60s-
“Jane not joining us for dinner?” Marcus asked a few hours later.
Daria blushed yet again that day. “No; she’s…tired. I imagine she’ll snack in the apartment later.”
“Ah.” Marcus remembered how Daria had been when the book deal had been offered, and did not want to inquire as to the details of how Jane had been tired out.
“Are you about finished with your manuscript?”
“I think I am. Are you?”
“I still have about fifty pages to proof for typos, but otherwise yes.”
Daria nodded. “Is everything ready for your trip?”
Marcus nodded in return. “As best I can tell; hopefully the notice of my lodgings will arrive soon.” He looked at her. “Do you know where your birth certificate is?”
“I would imagine somewhere at home, why?”
“You should really get a passport.”
“I probably should.” The two looked at each other, and each started to speak but stopped when they saw the other. Both knew they hoped their relationship would continue after Daria’s graduation, but neither wanted to make either promise, knowing that was two years into a very uncertain future. So, after a moment’s silence, Daria suggested, “Let’s do up these dishes, and then either you can take me upstairs and reward me for the book, or we can reward each other for finishing our manuscripts.”
“I think we can work that out,” Marcus agreed.
-60s-
June 5
The trio was about to settle down to a common weekday breakfast of coffee (for Jane and Marcus; tea for Daria), fried eggs (2 each for Jane and Marcus, 1 for Daria), toast and jam. Marcus asked Daria to turn on the radio; he was interested to hear who had won the California, New Jersey and South Dakota primaries. He was pulling for Robert Kennedy. While not yet eligible to vote, Daria was undecided between Kennedy and Eugene McCarthy, while Jane leaned towards McCarthy.
The trio were stunned by the news that Kennedy had been shot and was in critical condition. They managed to get through the day, and were only saddened but not really shocked when they learned that Kennedy died of in wounds early the next morning.
-60s-
Friday, June 22
The first summer session was over, and Jane had gone home the evening before. Daria would have to go over to play her Friday night gig, but at the moment she and Marcus were snuggling on his bed, enjoying a bit of late morning after-play – they had barely been out of bed for the previous four hours, other than for a hurried breakfast.
“Ready to get excited again?” Daria teased.
“I’ll be happy to do my best to oblige,” Marcus stated.
“I’ll be right” kiss “back.” Daria got out of the bed, and nude, walked out of the room doing her best to walk as sexily as she could. While not as practiced as some women, Daria was good at it on those rare occasions she wanted to – always for Marcus or Jane.
Daria returned with a handful of photo albums. She sat on the bed, while Marcus sat up. She handed him the first and largest. “My best official photos.” Marcus leafed through it and saw that there was a wide variety of images from around campus as well as still-lifes and similar studies. The final twenty were studies of Jane. “I could have done better; those got me up to a border-line A minus. The ones here that I did insured the A minus.”
This second album was the thinnest. The first dozen were semi-nude and nude photos of Jane – in none of them were Jane’s face, nipples, or public hair showing, but they all had most if not the entirety of her long legs showing, and usually parts of her back and most of her backside as well. At a minimum, glimpses of her backside and/or side views of her breasts were always visible. “Is it alright with Jane that I see these?”
“Of course. If Professor Johnson could see them, why not? These won’t be in the public display, however.”
Marcus continued through the dozen photos, and then saw Jane’s similar studies of Daria. Daria, watching his reaction, saw from some twitches that he might soon be ready for a second round of lovemaking.
“Now this set, we did for ourselves, but you may look.”
The third album showed the two separately, but fully or mostly nude, each with her face now fully visible. He now knew why Daria had trimmed most of her pubic hair two weeks before; it would have shown in a few of the photos. Then he realized that many of the poses looked familiar. “You two must of have studied my Playboys quite closely.”
“We did,” Daria confirmed. She stood and took those albums away, and then gave him a fourth. “This one is for my copies of all our nudes. This last one is for you.”
Marcus quickly saw that most of the photos were ones he had already seen of Daria in the second and third album, now collected together. There were, however, eighteen new photos at the end, all much more explicit, with Daria caressing and/or exposing herself intimately. One even showed Daria suckling on Jane’s left nipple, and one showed Daria wearing the harness and dildo.
Observing Marcus’ aroused condition, Daria merely asked, “Ready for round two?”
Marcus merely smiled widely for an answer.
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