Disclaimer: Daria and all associated characters owned by MTV. This story is for entertainment purposes only and no money or any other goods have been exchanged.
The characters Ashley Winters and Cassidy Hemming were created by Ognawk.
Contains dialogue from 'Is It Fall Yet?' by Glenn Eichler and Peggy Nicholl
THE GREAT AND THE GOOD
By Ognawk
Part 10 - Lonely Art
Ashley and Jane were nearly at Ashfield Artist Colony, their home for the next two months, having made their way in Ashley's Vexxer. The conversation had been interesting, with Ashley being extremely excited for the experience and Jane just happy to get away from her problems for a while. She was thankful that he hadn't brought up Daria or Tom on the trip, but he'd been very careful not to do so.
"Have you ever heard of this Daniel Dotson guy?" Ashley asked.
"Vaguely," Jane replied, "He did something called 'Paper Plate Genocide' that caused a stir."
"Paper Plate Genocide? Sounds like the name of a band that would play at the Zon."
Jane laughed. "That sounds like the name of a band The Zon wishes they could get to play there."
Ashley parked the car and the pair retrieved their bags before heading off the the front office where they met the colony director, a mid forties looking woman with tied back wavy brown hair and oval rimmed glasses.
"Hello and welcome to Ashfield," the woman said cheerfully,"Your names please?"
"Ashley Winters."
"Jane Lane."
"Ah yes, I've been expecting you. Please, let me show you to your cabins."
Daria and Tom were seated opposite each other in Pizza King with a slice each. Daria was telling Tom about the 'OK To Cry Coral', a summer camp run by her English teacher Mr O'Neill that she'd been forced into helping at by her Mother.
"But there's this one kid who kind of reminds me of me at that age," Daria said, talking of one of the campers,"He looks like he's having about as much fun there as I am."
"I can see how staying indoors all summer can be annoying for a kid," Tom replied.
"Hey, it worked for me," Daria said with a half smile.
While they were talking, Cassidy had walked in and spotted them. After picking up a soda from the counter, she made a beeline for their table and sat right next to Tom.
"Hi Tom," she said, and nodded in Daria's direction, "You didn't wait long to trade up, did you?"
Daria eyed Cassidy suspiciously as she took a bite of her pizza.
"No Cassidy, this Daria, Ashley's girlfriend?" Tom explained
"Ohhh, so you're Daria," Cassidy said, a small smirk appearing on her face, "Your best friend's girlfriend? Thomas Sloane, I am disappointed."
"Cassidy..."
Cassidy laughed at Tom's reaction. "I'm just teasing you, Tom. Lighten up."
"What are you doing here anyway?"
"I heard you and Ashley talking about this place and thought I'd check it out," Cassidy said, "By the way, is Jane enjoying the art colony?"
"I would guess so, I haven't really heard from her," Tom replied.
"Still not sorted those problems out, huh?" Cassidy said before taking a sip of her drink, "I'm sure it will be OK. Unless..."
"Unless what?"
"Well, I don't like to speak ill of Jane or Ashley, but you know how promiscuous artists can be."
By this point, Tom had noticed that Daria's look of suspicion had changed into a full on glare.
"There is a bisexual stereotype about artists, yes, but that doesn't mean they're sexually casual," Tom said, frowning as he did, "And besides, Jane and Ashley aren't like that."
"Well, you know what they say about the cats being away..."
"HEY!"
The surprising loudness of Daria's voice surprised Tom and Cassidy, as they both turned to look at her. Daria was now making no attempt to hide the annoyance she was feeling right now.
"How dare you talk about my boyfriend and best friend like that?" Daria said, trying hard not to shout.
"I was merely suggesting..."
"Suggesting nothing. Jane and Ashley are the two most important people in the world to me outside of my family."
"I'm sorry," Cassidy said, rather unconvincingly.
"I don't know what your deal is, but they'd never do anything to hurt me or Tom."
Cassidy looked down at the floor, then lifted her head back up, grabbed her drink and started to get up.
"I've clearly touched a nerve. I think I'd better go," she said.
"Yeah, I think you should," Tom said, looking at her disapprovingly.
With that, Cassidy left the restaurant, a smirk forming on her face.
Jane and Ashley were in a room at Ashfield where Daniel Dotson was stood next to a bunch of paper plates with spears through them. He was dressed in all white and had slicked back, bleached blonde hair and a goatee.
"When I unveiled 'Paper Plate Genocide' in 1991, it was hailed as intriguing, provocative, even brilliant. And not just by me," Daniel said to some scattered laughs, his voice carrying an air of self importance.
"No, we all know critics tend to get carried away. But what was I thinking when I created a work that seems to have turned out both seminal and semiotic?"
"I can't believe I'm getting away with this?" Jane said quietly, earning a slight chuckle out of Ashley and a smirk from a tall, tattooed woman with black hair sat on the other side of her.
One of Jane's house mates, Paris, spoke up. "Daniel. I just want to say, I think you're the greatest living artist of our time."
"And that's not just because I'm a complete sycophant," Ashley said, getting smirks off both Jane and the other woman.
Next to speak was one of Ashley's house mates, Guy. "I was wondering, where do you get your inspiration?"
"My child support payments," said the dark haired woman, earning an approving look from Ashley and Jane.
"I don't sit around and wait for inspiration. I grab it," Daniel explained, "In the glint of the sun on a frozen peak, in the pain of an arthritic's hobble, in a lover's whisper in the dark. So I'd have to say, my inspiration comes from life itself."
Once Daniel had finished up, Alison got up and shook hands with both Jane and Ashley.
"Hi," she said, introducing herself, "I'm Allison."
"I'm Jane."
"Ashley."
"Mr. Dotson is really something, isn't he?" Allison said.
"Well, he certainly doesn't let substance get in the way of self-congratulatory yap," Jane replied.
"I know. What's so special about putting things through paper plates?" Ashley asked, "I was doing that when I was five years old."
Allison chuckled. "At least we'll never have to worry about him intimidating us with his talent."
Tom was sat on one of the swings in the back yard, thinking about Cassidy's appearance at Pizza King. Elsie, noticing him sat there, came out and sat on the swing next to him.
"Problems, Tom?" she asked.
"Cassidy turned up at the pizza place while Daria and I were there," Tom replied.
"Oh. Did it go that badly?"
"She managed to upset Daria by suggesting that artists are 'liberal' and that Ashley and Jane might be up to something at the colony."
Elsie pondered this information for a moment before speaking again.
"Tom, she's not going to be satisfied until she gets what she wants," she explained, looking Tom square in the face, "And what she wants is you."
Tom sighed. "I know that, but how can I get her to realise that I'm really not interested and that presents and trying to cause trouble between me and Jane isn't going to work?"
"I wish I could help you with that," Elsie said sadly as she stood up, "I really do."
Tom watched silently as Elsie returned to the house and he returned to his thoughts.
Ashley and Jane were in Allison's cabin, after she'd bought them both dinner after losing a bet with them. After having wine with the meal, the three of them were drinking as Jane and Ashley were looking through Allison's sketchpad.
"These are great," Ashley said.
"Yeah, I've never tried working with pastels before," Jane said, emptying the glass of wine she had as Ashley looked on, slightly concerned.
"Thanks. I wish the galleries shared your views," Allison replied, sadly.
"Ah, they don't know what they're missing," Ashley said, returning to flicking through the sketchpad.
Allison stood up and grabbed the empty wine bottle. "I'll just go and get another bottle. Back in a minute."
Allison left the room as Ashley moved a little closer to Jane.
"Jane, are you alright?" he asked, "You're really putting that wine away."
"I... I'm fine," Jane replied, slurring slightly, "This trip is good for forgetting about Daria and Tom and whatever they're up to."
Oh boy, this won't end well, Ashley thought to himself.
"Look, I didn't want to go into this, but Tom and Daria haven't done anything, and you know they wouldn't do anything to hurt you," Ashley said, trying to reassure Jane.
She snorted slightly. "It's a matter of time before they abandon me. They all do in the end."
"Don't say that," Ashley said, "You're a great girl. They know that and they'd never abandon you like that."
Allison walked back into the room with a new bottle and refilled all their glasses before sitting down.
"Who are Daria and Tom, then?" Allison enquired.
"Tom's my best friend and her boyfriend, Daria is her best friend and my girlfriend, if that makes sense," Ashley explained.
"Absolutely," Allison said, "So what's the problem?"
Jane took a swig from her glass. "How long have you got?"
An hour later, Jane had finished talking about everything, and drinking a couple more glasses of wine. Ashley had stopped at one more, deciding he'd hit his limit, but he was extremely worried about how much Jane had drunk.
"Shorry for venting," Jane said, slightly embarrassed.
"Don't worry, it helps to get things off your chest," Allison said with a smile.
Ashley looked at the clock on the wall. "Damn, it's late, we'd better get going."
Jane sighed. "OK, letshh go..."
She tried to get up but stumbled slightly. Ashley caught her and helped her up.
"Allison, can you get the door please?"
Allison did what she was asked and held the door right open. "Thanks guys, you're much more interesting than the poseurs around here."
"Thanksh Allishun, you're OK too," Jane replied.
"Yeah, thanks Allison," Ashley said, helping Jane through the door, "We'll see you tomorrow."
"Bye!" Allison said, closing the door with a smirk on her face.
Jane had her arm over Ashley's shoulder and he had his arm around her waist trying to guide her around. Jane saw a bench nearby.
"Ashley, can we sit down for a bit? I'm tired," Jane said.
"Yeah, I could use a bit of a rest," Ashley said, guiding her carefully to the bench.
Once they were sat on the bench, Jane rested her head against Ashley's side, as he put his arm around her carefully to make sure she didn't fall off.
"So, are you feeling OK?" Ashley asked tentatively.
Jane giggled. "Yeah, I'm having a good time."
"Well that's good to know."
They sat in silence for a moment. Jane then let out a small sigh.
"You're really sweet, you know," she said, her speech still slightly slurred, "I can shee what Daria sees in you."
"Um, thanks, you're not so bad yourself," Ashley replied, slightly confusedly.
"No, I mean it," Jane said, "You're shmart and funny and really nice, she's got a keeper,"
"Well, I'm glad you think that," Ashley replied, smiling slightly, "I think she's great too."
There was another moments silence as Jane snuggled herself up against his shoulder a little.
"You know, I sometimes wonder what would have happened if I'd started dating you instead of Tom that night," Jane said.
The drink was starting to take effect on Ashley as he blinked a couple of times and had only half listened to what Jane was saying.
"Mmm... sorry?" Ashley replied as he turned his head to the side and looked at her, trying to figure out what she just said.
Jane turned her head up to look at him. "I wonder..." she said.
Suddenly, before Ashley even knew what was going on, Jane put her loose arm around the back of his neck, pulling him down and kissing him passionately. In his slightly hazy state, it took a few seconds for Ashley to register what was happening, and then he quickly pulled away, falling flat on the bench as he did so.
"Jane, what the hell was that?" Ashley spluttered, trying to comprehend what had just occurred.
Jane crawled on top of him and giggled. "Oh come on, you enjoyed that," she said, before kissing him again. This time, he pushed her away much more quickly.
"Jane, stop it!" he said, alarmed by what had come over her.
Jane pulled herself back up on to the bench and sat down, arms folded and pretending to be in a huff. "You're no fun," she said before laughing.
"We need to get back to our cabins, right now," Ashley said firmly, getting up and picking her up before guiding her back.
A few minutes later, they arrived at her cabin. Ashley knocked on the door as Jane was still giggling. Paris answered the door.
"Hello?" she said, before noticing the obviously intoxicated Jane, "We were wondering what happened to her."
"She's had a lot of wine," Ashley explained, "Can you take care of her?"
"Sure, thanks," Paris said, guiding Jane into the cabin, "Goodnight Ashley."
"Goodnight," Ashley replied, closing the door behind him. He turned his back to the door and slumped against it, looking up at the stars in the night sky as the thoughts of what happened raced through his head.
"Dammit!"