8/25/16. Writen for Vukodlak's "Daria and Quinn Roommates" challenge.

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Daria lay back on her bed reading as she took advantage of the opportunity to listen to her music from her stereo rather than on her headphones. She and Quinn had made an agreement to always use headphones when they were both in the room after their competing stereos had given their father a panic attack. They were coming to a lot of those agreements lately. Daria had dreaded sharing a room with her sister, but, after an initial period of adjustment, things were surprisingly tolerable.

There was a knock on the door, another agreement, and Daria turned down the music and called out, "Who is it?"

Quinn's impatient voice came through the door, "Come on, Daria. You know Mom and Dad are never home this early."

"Sorry, I thought Dad might have lost another client and wanted to talk about it," Daria said, turning her stereo down the rest of the way. "Come on in."

Permission granted, Quinn opened the door and walked over to their shared computer, turning it on. As it started up, she said, "God, I hope not. My shopping budget is tiny enough as it is. I can't imagine what Sandi would say if it got any smaller. She might kick me out of the fashion club."

Daria held her tongue about what she thought of Quinn's "friend" and her little club, no reason to start a fight. As she plugged in her headphones, she instead asked the routine question, "How was school?"

Quinn spun around in the desk chair to face her sister. "You know; another day, another date. Rodney asked me out; he runs track."

Daria shook her head. "Don't you ever get tired of dating all those random guys?"

Quinn folded her arms and pouted. "Ugh. They're not random. There's a very sophisticated screening process. Besides, what do you want me to do, stay cooped up in here with you all the time?"

"Point ceded," Daria said, holding up her hands. She had to admit that she did like the alone time her sister's dates provided.

"Good," Quinn said with a smirk. "Oh! I got an A on that paper for Mr. O'Neill's class. Thanks, I couldn't have done it without you."

Daria shrugged and said, "It's your paper, I just gave you a little advice. You're not an idiot, even if you act like one most of the time." It had surprised Daria the first time Quinn had come to her asking for help with schoolwork, but now it was almost common. Now that they were nominally getting along, things like that were becoming the norm. It was nice actually having a sister and not a bitter enemy, even if she was a brat.

"Well, thanks anyway," Quinn said, and spun back to face the computer and her web of social networks.

Daria shook her head and allowed herself a small smile as she pulled on her headphones and went back to her book.