Perfectly Orageuse

Socks off! says Gaius, coming in with the scissors.

Terence complies.

Gaius starts snipping through the heels of the socks.

Careful! says Terence.

I'm always careful, says Gaius.

Ageless comes over.

Look what's happening, says Terence. I'm not happy.

What's going on? asks Ageless.

I'm getting a costume, says Baby Pierre. It's going to be made out of Terence's socks.

Are you in the play now? asks Ageless.

As a stand-in, says Baby Pierre. 

Ha ha, laughs Ageless. Socks for the stand-in.

Gaius laughs too. He and Ageless have similar senses of humour.

Done! says Gaius.

I could do with a stand-in, says Ageless.

He has just thought of this.

He says it again, louder, so Kobo will hear him.

Kobo is helping Captain Baudin.

Kobo: It was a dark and stormy night.

Captain Baudin: I like it.

Kobo: But do you get the sub-text?

Captain Baudin: There's a sub-text?

Kobo. Yes, Snoopy used to say it. But if you don't get it...

Captain Baudin: What if I say this? It was a DARK and ORAGEUSE night.

Kobo: Orageuse? Yes, that's perfect.

It is now she hears Ageless saying he could do with a stand-in.

She is diverted.

Ageless! I'll be your stand-in.

Beloved! cries Ageless. You will make the perfect Old Woman. And you won't need a costume.

Enough of that! says Kobo. If you have a costume, your stand-in must wear the same costume.

Hear that, dip-slip! says Terence. 

I'm not wearing the tee shirt, says Baby Pierre.

Quite right too, says Ageless. You don't want to cover the Mark of the Claw.

Did you call him a dip-slip? asks Gaius, who is now tacking the heels of Terence's socks.

Yes it's an Earthquake word, says Terence. It's going to be in my song. Listen. 

He starts dancing.

Watch out people a dip-slip is coming! You're falling in and drowning. HEY!

Are you sure you know what a dip-slip is? asks Gaius.

Yes! dances Terence. 

A dip-slip fault is an inclined fracture where the blocks have slipped vertically, says Gaius.

Yes, dances Terence, not really taking this in.