New Story: The Adjusters #22

Here is November's episode of The Adjusters, "Back in Town", wherein the repercussions of Biff and Jenn's return to North Alexandria are felt.

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.)


22 - Back in Town

"Dan, are you listening?"

Daniel jerked out of his reverie. "Yes, sorry. I'm here."

Cindy looked at him cautiously, the way she had been doing on and off
for the previous two hours. "Physically, maybe. Although even that's
debatable. You've been way out of it."

You have no idea, he thought. She had been much more subdued than
usual herself, he wanted to point out, but did not. Instead, he
straightened up in his chair, shaking himself awake. They were in an
empty classroom, and it was late afternoon. The last lectures were
done, and there was a break in the day before evening lectures would
pick up. They often met at that time to work on their senior projects,
Daniel on mind-control techniques for election manipulations, and
Cindy on the economic impacts of mind-altering substances. The
projects shared much in terms of background material.

"It's because of me, isn't?" Cindy asked, almost too softly to be
heard.

Daniel looked at her without saying anything.

"We've been skirting the issue all afternoon." She sighed, put down
the chalk she was using to write on the blackboard. "Last night. I
kindda dumped on you, you know, with my baggage? I'm so sorry about
that. Sometimes I get a bit out of control when I drink. I mean, I
like you, Dan, a lot, you should know that by now, but I'm really not
one to throw myself at someone like that..." She let the rest of the
sentence trail. "I'm sorry I burst up like a water balloon, all emo
and all. I guess... I guess I've been a bit down about stuff these
days. Again, I'm sorry." She kept her eyes down.

Continue reading...


Next month, episode 23: "Agent Shawbank".