Verity Alice Price

It was nine-thirty in the morning and Verity--or, rather, the red-haired Valerie Pryor, who had never lived on a crazy island and couldn't even fathom the idea that monsters existed--was trying not to freeze to death in a dress consisting entirely of fringe, sequins, strategically-placed strips of lace, and even more strategically-placed pieces of double-sided tape. The hall rented for the Maryland State Argentinian Tango Open was packed to the point of comedy, but even all the bodies jostling together weren't enough to keep it warm, especially up here on the stage where the crowds of the hall itself had given way to just the ten couples of group seventeen.

Well, nine couples and 'Valerie'. Her partner, James, was nowhere to be seen. She had seen him earlier in the hall, talking to his boyfriend, but that had been soon after he'd arrived and checked in, so well over two hours ago. After that, he'd been swallowed up by the crowds, not that Verity had been worried. This event had a two hundred dollar non-refundable buy-in and the top twenty would be going to regionals and she trusted James to have his priorities in order.

But now with the judges saying, "Positions, please," through the speakers, Verity was starting to worry. Couples entered as couples, and there were no substitutions allowed once the event program had been printed. There definitely weren't any substitutions allowed after you were on the floor.

The other nine couples had fallen into ready position, leaving her all-too-visibly alone in the middle of the floor. She barely managed to keep from wincing as the speakers clicked on again. ( Number one hundred eighty-four, please join your partner. )


[Adapted from Chapters 9 & 10 of Seanan McGuire's Discount Armageddon with amazing preplay AND coding help from the adoration-worthy firstofitskind. Parts one, two, three, four, and five, along with post seven. NFI, NFB, OOC is love]