Daria's Story
By Thomas


(Daria's room. Daria is sitting by her computer writing something. Suddenly a young and very beautiful woman appears at her side)

Daria: AAAAAAAAAH!

Muse: Have no fear Daria. I'm your muse.

Daria: I have a muse!?

Muse: Of course you do. Where do you think all your ideas come from?

Daria: Sick Sad World?

Muse: But who do you think came up with the idea for Sick Sad World?

Daria: You did that?

Muse: I sure do. I inspire all of mankind.

Daria: Wow. Did you also inspire my dad's lasagne recipes?

Muse: Your dad doesn't follow a recipe.

Daria: Hmm.. I should have known. But you know. I always thought a muse was someone who lived inside your head.

Muse: Why would I want to do that?

Daria: Okay. Dumb question. But what do you want from me?

Muse: Its about those stories you keep writing. Like the one you're writing right now.

Daria: Melody Powers? What's wrong with those?

Muse: Well. You know. I think they're a little flat.

Daria: What do you mean? Melody Powers is a secret agent who travels the world, kills communists, and occasionally gets laid by one. (pause) Although not in that order.

Muse: Yes. But do they have to follow such strict rules? How about instead you made her loose up a bit?

Daria: Loose up?

Muse: Be more romantic. And maybe stop killing people all the time. How about instead you wrote a story where she campaigned to save the bullfrog?

Daria: But that would be out of character. And its not what Melody Powers is about.

Muse: But who cares. Rules are just restraints. I say write whatever you like and how you like.

Daria: (frowns) I see. What you're saying is that its okay to write story's where Melody Powers behaves in ways she newer would.

Muse: Exactly. I'm glad you see it my way.

Daria: I don't.

Muse: Huh?

Daria: If I wrote a story where Melody Powers stopped killing communists and instead started acting like a bimbo in a cheap soap opera. It wouldn't be a Melody Powers story anymore. It would be a story that just used her name. I mean if I stopped being sarcastic and started telling people I love them. *I* wouldn't be Daria anymore.

Muse: Please. Its called developing the characters.

Daria: Developing? You don't have enough talent to get the characters right. So instead you let them behave in ways they newer would. And if someone calls you on it. You start talking about artistic freedom to get them to shut up.

Muse: Hey! Who is the muse here? Me or you.

Daria: You're not a muse. You're a hack.

(The muse starts melting)

Muse: AAAAAAH!! I'm melting, I'm melting.

Daria: Can't handle the truth can we? Maybe you should start a message board for muses just like you. Then you can all sit and tell each other how great you are. And if anyone disagrees you ban him.