New Story: The Adjusters #17

So that was painful! I'm so sorry about the delay, folks. But between an unplanned trip over the weekend and rewriting a couple of scenes for this episode multiple times because they just didn't want to come out right, my couple of days turned into a full week. And while I'm still not entirely happy with the result, I'm declaring this done for now. Thankfully, the next episodes will be easier to deal with.

Without further ado, here is June's episode of The Adjusters, "Consolations", wherein life goes on, a weak moment is exploited, and a mistake is made.

As usual, comments welcome.

I'll also remind you that we have a Speculation Thread available for discussion. (A thread which I read but do not comment on.)


17 - Consolations

Daniel had not said anything for the last ten minutes. Radhu was
almost surprised to see his friend still there when he looked away
from his computer terminal.

"By the way, I have a few items of note that may be considered
somewhat negative," said the lanky Indian. "First, last week, based on
your judicious hint my facial recognition software fed by a regional
network of surveillance cameras alerted me to a match on Jennifer at
the local airport. A contact of mine has now confirmed Biff's and
Jennifer's presence on a connecting flight from Boston to Saint Thomas
in the Virgin Islands last Sunday. One-way tickets."

Daniel nodded, sipping some Indian liquor he had found in his friend's
cupboards. A week earlier Jackson, through their common friend Cindy,
had passed along the information that Biff was skipping town with Jenn
in tow. "Well, at least that part of the story checks out." He did not
ask Radhu about his contact -- the tall Indian's web of associations
was often frightening to contemplate.

"Also, the acquaintance to whom I loaned Serena's charm bracelet for
analysis has reported his findings."

Continue reading...


Next month, episode 18: "A Day in the Life (I)".

A Slight Delay

I am sad to have to report that The Adjusters #17 is going to be a few days late. I'm struggling with one of the scenes, and I'd rather take a day or two to get it right than publish something I'm unhappy with. I humbly beg your collective forgiveness.

Here are a few things to keep you distracted in the meantime.

First off, remember that poll about who you'd see playing the characters in The Adjusters? Some great suggestions in the comments. Here's another one: how's Kristin Cavallari for Cindy?

Menage a 3 is a cute little "adult" webcomic about "the lives of comic book geek, Gary and his way-sexier-than-he-is roommates in their Montreal tight-as-a-sandwich apartment." Funny and sexy.

Finally, two interesting stories recently posted on the EMCSA. Obnoxious, by Cindy Silver Eyes: "Cindy can’t stand Brian. Nonetheless, she finds herself unable to disobey him," a very short tale of humiliation, and Twenty Days of the Device, by Corvus Kahn: "John finds a strange device in his bag after encountering a man on a train. What does it do? How will he handle it? Can he overcome his own personal demons? Can he resist the dark lure of total power?" That one is much longer, and has some very nice moments. Although it does suffer from the standard harem-stories problems, it has an actual ending, which alleviates much.