Character Survey of Doom
Aug. 26th, 2013 08:18 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
theworstcrimeofallBody and Appearance
1. Describe the character's height and build. Is he heavyset, thin, short, rangy?
Clopin is a wisp of a man. He's trim and spare and on the shorter side, probably like 5'6". Not that it matters, as he's usually on top of something, from a stage to another person's shoulders. He moves like he's weightless, which demonstrates some pretty tough acrobatic strength, and he looks whip-like in clothes, but his stomach is surprisingly undefined.
2. How old is he?
Guesstimating early forties. He's youthful and in good shape, but his voice, skin and authority within the Court of Miracles suggest someone a bit older.
3. Describe his posture. Does he carry himself well or does he slouch?
Every moment is a performance to Clopin, and he treats it as such. He holds himself like a much bigger person, frequently outstretching his arms and legs to really own the space he's standing (or jumping, or frolicking, or dancing...) in. He's rarely standing still, and his posture is usually pretty good, expect when he's doing impressions of hunchbacks.
4. How is his health? Is he fit or out of shape? Any illnesses or conditions? Any physical disabilities?
He is extremely fit. "Spry" is probably a good word for just how fit Clopin is. He's nimble and catlike and his acrobatic ability is pretty astonishing.
5. How does he move? Is he clumsy, graceful, tense, fluid?
Quite graceful, and very energetic. He's almost constantly in motion, uses his surroundings as props, and has terrific balance.
6. How attractive is this character physically? How does he perceive himself in the mirror?
Clopin is a middle-aged Gypsy man who is handsome, but his best years are behind him. He has a few broken teeth that give his grin a slightly devilish quality, and a receding hairline. However, he's charismatic and holds himself well, and his talent speaks for itself; he's in a line of work where being roguishly handsome is a minor boon, but it's much better to have character and be memorable.
7. Describe his complexion. Dark, light, clear, scarred?
Medium dark, with a few lines starting in his forehead and around his eyes. That's partly age, and partly Sun damage from all those days performing on the streets of Paris.
8. Describe his hair: color, texture, style.
Black and very straight, evenly cut all around and combed straight back, falling just above his shoulders. Usually he wears a hat.
9. What color are his eyes?
Clopin's eyes are black.
10. Does the character have any other noteworthy features?
He wears a large gold hoop in his left ear.
11. What are his chief tension centers?
Probably his arms and legs. All that bending and leaping and cartwheeling is bound to get tiresome after awhile, no matter how effortless he makes it appear.
12. What is the character's wardrobe like? Casual, dressy, utilitarian? Bright colors, pastels, neutrals? Is it varied, or does he have six of the same suit?
Clopin has two outfits that he wears regularly; his "daytime" work apparel resembles a jester's outfit, complete with a pointed, plumed cap and a mask that covers his eyes and nose. The costume is yellow, pink, blue and purple, and a blind person could see him coming from a mile away.
His other outfit is the one he wears when he is in the Court of Miracles; it is sans mask, with a tunic, hat and hood that are composed of darker blues and purples.
He also possesses a variety of costumes, which, it should be noted, are not disguises since his identity is never in question.
13. Do his clothes fit well? Does he seem comfortable in them?
His clothes fit beautifully; everything he wears looks tailor-made for him, especially his performance wear. They are not restrictive and seem very comfortable despite their close fit.
14. Does he dress the same on the job as he does in his free time? If not, what are the differences?
His job as a performer requires his brighter clothes and his role as King of the Gypsies seems to call for clothes that are cut similarly but have more subdued colors. It's as if he's more concerned with being able to easily slip through shadows in the latter case, whereas it's all about standing out in the former.
15. You knew it was coming: Boxers, briefs or commando?
He is from the year 1482. He's not wearing any of those, I guarantee it.
Speech
1. What does this character's voice sound like? High-pitched, deep, hoarse?
Clopin has a very good range, but his singing voice seems to default to tenor. His speaking voice is all over the place, ranging from low and clandestine to high and shrill, and it's incredibly expressive; sometimes it's a bit hoarse or gravelly, one of the major indicators that he's a bit older than he looks.
2. How does he normally speak? Loud, soft, fast, evenly? Does he talk easily, or does he hesitate?
He talks like he's telling a story most of the time. His tone adjusts to what it's conveying, and the cadence is always measured to match what people will respond to. If he's telling a sad story, he'll be on the verge of weeping; if it's happy, he'll be exuberant.
3. Does the character have a distinct accent or dialect? Any individual quirks of pronunciation? Any, like, you know, verbal tics?
When speaking, he has a slight French accent.
4. What language/s does he speak, and with how much fluency?
He speaks French very fluently, as it's his native tongue. Since he lives and works in Paris (IN 1482), it's unlikely that he speaks much else, though he might have a smattering of Latin or English in there.
5. Does he switch languages or dialects in certain situations?
Dialects, he's probably really good at. I'm sure he can mimic anything from a priest or judge's educated speech to the most backwoods French farmer. In the Court of Miracles, he default to the dialect of French spoken within his community, which is probably more like a Pidgin than a true dialect.
6. Is he a good impromptu speaker, or does he have to think about his words? He is a wonderful impromptu speaker. He typically doesn't have to think much about what he says; quick witted and clever, Clopin is verbally adaptable. This is where he excels.
7. Is he eloquent or inarticulate? Under what circumstances might this change?
He is very articulate and a fluent speaker. He never really falters, even when under pressure, because that's what being a good performer is all about. The exception is probably when someone close to him, like Esmeralda, is horrified by his actions and he has to come up with a reason on the fly for his behavior ("Why didn't you say so?" ..."WE DID.")
Mental and Emotional
1. How intelligent is this character? Is he book-smart or street-smart?
Definitely more street smart. He comes from a period in history where most people didn't or couldn't read, so his knowledge of letters is probably incredibly limited to recognition of words that are closely associated with performance. He can recognize those words, but when it comes to actually sounding things out, he's abysmal.
He's clever, though, and has a shrewd mind for numbers (he counts a lot of coins.) He is good at figuring things out and designing trap-door tricks for Esmeralda's show, since she doesn't literally disappear in a puff of smoke (though she sure gets flack for it, don't she?) His social intelligence and street intelligence are high, and he is learned enough to speak like an educated person, but this is mostly to help him move through different circles, even if he approaches some of them only as a clown.
2. Does he think on his feet, or does he need time to deliberate?
Though Clopin plans out certain things (such as the Festival of Fools, in which he serves as a master of ceremonies), thinking on his feet is par for the course. Gypsies have to be prepared for anything, even with a home base in the catacombs of Paris.
3. Describe the character's thought process. Is he more logical, or more intuitive? Idealistic or practical?
Since Clopin leads two different lives by night and day respectively, his attitude and thought process shift accordingly. As a performer during the day, his personality is carefree and even deliberately illogical. During the night when he is in a position of authority over Paris's entire Gypsy community, though, he has to put on his serious hat and worry about feeding, clothing, and protecting his subjects. So he shifts from capricious and silly to extremely practical and sometimes ruthless.
4. What kind of education has the character had?
Little to none. He's spent his whole life performing, and while he knows how to rig up an amazing magic trick, paint a puppet's face to look pretty realistic and act and sing and dance and tumble, he has never had what could be called "book learning." Most of what he knows he's learned because of observation or plain, simple practice.
5. What are his areas of expertise? What, if anything, is he interested in learning more about?
Clopin is an expert at sleight of hand, juggling, acrobatics (more ground tumbling than highwire stuff, to be honest), singing, dancing, acting, puppetry, impressions, public speaking and rabble-rousing, and storytelling. Headcanon is that he also plays the lute and the pipes pretty well. He knows the basics of everything involved with the ins and outs of the caravan lifestyle, including caring for animals, cooking and sewing, woodwork, painting, and picking it all up in a hurry and gtfo-ing.
As far as what he'd like to learn more about, he's always looking for interesting stories from interesting people. His puppet shows need plots, after all.
6. Is he an introvert or an extrovert?
He is extremely extroverted, and it is an extreme. He doesn't have a single introverted bone in his skinny body. He is a performer through and through, even when he is not technically performing.
7. Describe the character's temperament. Is he even-tempered or does he have mood swings? Cheerful or melancholy? Laid-back or driven?
He is generally very good-natured and humored. His moods seem to serve purposes for narration, and are displayed more as caricatures than as genuine. He is cheerful, despite the darkness that comes out in the Court of Miracles.
8. How does he respond to new people or situations? Is he suspicious, relaxed, timid, enthusiastic?
He is SUPER enthusiastic, but shrewd. When he is performing during the daytime, he has no problem invading the personal space of others to the point where he draws them into his performance, willingly or unwillingly. In the Court of Miracles, he is suspicious because it is the safest course of action, to the point where he really does have almost a "shoot first, ask questions later" attitude.
9. Is he more likely to act, or to react?
Clopin will do either, depending on the situation. He describes the gypsies' response to intruders as "hornets protecting their hive," but he seems to take initiative as their leader on more than one occasion.
10. Which is his default: fight or flight?
It depends on the situation. He has some skill with traps and fighting, as is demonstrated in the Court of Miracles and the final assault on the cathedral, but if he can, he'll probably slip away if possible.
11. Describe the character's sense of humor. Does he appreciate jokes? Puns? Gallows humor? Bathroom humor? Pranks? ALL OF THE ABOVE. As something of a self-styled jester, jokes are a huge part of Clopin's business, but his personal sense of humor is definitely darker and swings more toward the gallows side of things than the light, cheerful personal he displays openly.
12. Does the character have any diagnosable mental disorders? If yes, how does he deal with them?
Clopin comes from a time when having a mental disorder probably meant you were possessed. He doesn't appear to have anything diagnosable, but if you looked really hard, you could probably find evidence of ADHD or something. IDK, he's done fine for himself and wouldn't want to change anything.
13. What moments in this character's life have defined him as a person?
The murder of Esmeralda's mother affected him pretty deeply, since he's still talking about it, along with that whole Hunchback business.
14. What does he fear?
Not much, but his people are his most precious treasures. If he thinks that you're there to do them harm, prepare for a noose around your head and a really, really obnoxious and whimsical song mocking the justice system.
15. What are his hopes or aspirations?
Clopin is one of those people who is extraordinarily content with the hand life has dealt him. It is full of jokers, and he couldn't be happier. While he has few personal aspirations after becoming a master of his craft, I think it's safe to say that his greatest hope is for things to eventually get a little easier for the gypsies.
16. What is something he doesn't want anyone to find out about him?
Regarding debauchery and deeds this gypsy tends not to have a tremendous amount of shame. There is very little that he cannot spin into something he can be proud of. However, Clopin was an angelically beautiful child, with an equally angelic singing voice. He was discovered singing on the street and "adopted" (read: kidnapped) as a ward by an official of the church even as his parents were arrested and executed. He sang in Notre Dame services a few times as a choir boy, but the intentions of the official were less than pure. He was molested repeatedly outside the church by the official until the archdeacon got wise and was able to return him to Paris' Gypsy community, where he learned about his parents' fate.
Rather than allow the experience to tarnish his love of performing or his admiration for the cathedral, though, the young Clopin merely redirected his course of study, paying the closest attention to Gypsy puppetmasters and specifically, ventriloquists. He practiced ceaselessly, taking gleeful comfort in the sudden ability he had to mock priests and judges and point a finger at the puppet when he offended.
Relationships
1. Describe this character's relationship with his parents.
Clopin was the only son of a pair of young gypsies who were arrested and executed after he was kidnapped.
2. Does the character have any siblings? What is/was their relationship like?
He would have had a younger sister, but his mother was pregnant at the time of her death and he never learned of this.
3. Are there other blood relatives to whom he is close? Are there ones he can't stand?
His grandmother was a presence in his life after his return to his community, as well as being a comforting authority within the Court of Miracles itself. She died when he was in his teens.
4. Are there other, unrelated people whom he considers part of his family? What are his relationships with them?
Esmeralda is definitely such a person. His relationship to her is like that of an uncle to a niece, or an older brother to a younger stepsister. If something romantic was meant to happenbetween them, it would have happened long ago; they've both acknowledged a platonic relationship and moved on.
5. Who is/was the character's best friend? How did they meet?
Clopin got close to a child named Jacques who also sang as a choirboy when he was much younger.
6. Does he have other close friends?
Since returning to the gypsies, and especially since being named King, he has kept people largely at a distance on an emotional level, though he seems to be close comrades with a number of gypsy men when protecting the Court of Miracles.
7. Does he make friends easily, or does he have trouble getting along with people?
Many like him, and even adore him, but it's questionable if anyone really knows him outside of his role as an entertainer.
8. Which does he consider more important: family or friends?
The gypsies as a whole he considers his family, and they are the most important thing in his life.
9. Is the character single, married, divorced, widowed? Has he been married more than once?
Married twice, a widower both times to childbirth.
10. Is he currently in a romantic relationship with someone other than a spouse?
Currently, he is focusing on his work.
11. Who was his first crush? Who is his latest?
His first crush was absolutely Esmeralda. His latest was his late second wife.
12. What does he look for in a romantic partner?
A beautiful woman who shares his love of performing, and would make a devoted wife and kind mother.
13. Does the character have children? Grandchildren? If yes, how does he relate to them? If no, does he want any?
Clopin always wanted to be a father, and he sowed his share of wild oats in his youth. Now that he's in his forties, it will either happen soon or never, but losing two wives to childbirth makes him a little reluctant to try again. He is a clown and too much sadness can affect his act (though so far, he's only gotten better.)
14. Does he have any rivals or enemies?
An enemy of the gypsies is an automatic enemy of their king. Judge Claude Frollo is a definite yes, and there are other government and church officials he is wary about.
15. What is the character's sexual orientation? Where does he fall on the Kinsey scale?
Clopin is a 1 on the Kinsey scale. He is predominantly attracted to women, and loves them very much on a sexual level. His experiences with homosexuality are limited largely to when he was molested as a kid by that church official. Despite this, he is largely accepting of men who love men and women who love women, provided they are not involving themselves with children too young to understand what is happening to them.
16. How does he feel about sex? How important is it to him?
Clopin embraces many, many hedonistic pleasures, and sex is certainly one of them. It's very important to him, less so now that he is a bit older and in a different phase of life, but he was a fairly insatiable Casanova in his younger days.
17. What are his turn-ons? Turn-offs? Weird bedroom habits?
Skinny women, plump women, skill in any area that requires dedication, conditioning, and practice. Musicians and dancers are especially beguiling. He has an odd appreciation for wearing masks in the bedroom, amd in fact finds it difficult to perform (ha, ha) without one. Like many men, he thinks it is super hot if a woman aggressively rides him.
Beliefs
1. Do you know your character's astrological (zodiac of choice) sign? How well does he fit type?
Noooo not at all. But I believe he is a Capricorn, and that it fits him super well.
2. Is this character religious, spiritual, both, or neither? How important are these elements in his life?
Raised in the veritable shadow of Notre Dame, Clopin grew up in awe of the beauty of Catholocism. But he's had as many bad experiences with the church as good ones, and he trusts himself more than God to provide.
3. Does this character have a personal code of morals or ethics? If so, how did that begin? What would it take to compromise it?
His code is to look after children, and protect his people, foremost. Having fun comes second, but it is hardly not a priority.
4. How does he regard beliefs that differ from his? Is he tolerant, intolerant, curious, indifferent?
Ultimately, Clopin is tolerant, provided those beliefs in practice do not interfere with his way of life and those close to him. Otherwise, be warned that shit is going to get REAL.
5. What prejudices does he hold? Are they irrational or does he have a good reason for them?
Officials of the church and government almost always get a side-eye from Clopin. His reasons are good; his childhood was traumatic and his people are marginalized and persecuted.
Daily Life
1. What is the character's financial situation? Is he rich, poor, comfortable, in debt?
Wealthy, for a gypsy. For the way they live and the riche accessible to him, he is as affluent as any king.
2. What is his social status? Has this changed over time, and if so, how has the change affected him?
He is the KING OF THE TRUANTS, and has been since he was in his mid-twenties. Over time, he has only grown more respected and, to those who know better, feared a little bit, as well.
3. Where does he live? House, apartment, trailer? Is his home his castle or just a place to crash? What condition is it in? Does he share it with others?
He lives in the catacombs of Paris. Kind of decrepit, but he and his have done wonders with the place and turned it into a little comfortable underground community.
4. Besides the basic necessities, what does he spend his money on?
Wine, women and song. Clopin enjoys partying and he spent lavishly when courting his previous wives. He also has to keep his tricks and acts fresh, so a lot goes toward cloth, wood, and paint.
5. What does he do for a living? Is he good at it? Does he enjoy it, or would he rather be doing something else?
Clopin is a performer for a living, and he is the best at what he does. Tumbling, acrobatics, fire eating and puppetry, as well as traditional minstrel duties, are all in his job description and all performed to whimsical perfection daily.
6. What are his interests or hobbies? How does he spend his free time?
His interests and hobbies pretty much blend into his work. He is living the dream of being completely fulfilled in his professional life.
7. What are his eating habits? Does he skip meals, eat out, drink alcohol, avoid certain foods?
He is not particularly unusual in this regard! He will skip meals if times are tight for the gypsies to make sure that others have enough, and eat heartily if food is plentiful. He drinks alcohol (never to the point of drunkenness when he is working, but often to excess after hours), and smokes a pipe.
Associations
Which of the following do you associate with the character, or which is his favorite:
1. Color?
Violet.
2. Smell?
Pine.
3. Time of day?
Dusk.
4. Season?
Summer.
5. Book?
The Hunchback of Notre Dame. :p
6. Music?
Boisterous and bawdy Gypsy tunes, as well as everything he sings in the movie.
7. Place?
Paris.
8. Substance?
Air.
9. Plant?
Thistle.
10. Animal?
Magpie.
1. Describe the character's height and build. Is he heavyset, thin, short, rangy?
Clopin is a wisp of a man. He's trim and spare and on the shorter side, probably like 5'6". Not that it matters, as he's usually on top of something, from a stage to another person's shoulders. He moves like he's weightless, which demonstrates some pretty tough acrobatic strength, and he looks whip-like in clothes, but his stomach is surprisingly undefined.
2. How old is he?
Guesstimating early forties. He's youthful and in good shape, but his voice, skin and authority within the Court of Miracles suggest someone a bit older.
3. Describe his posture. Does he carry himself well or does he slouch?
Every moment is a performance to Clopin, and he treats it as such. He holds himself like a much bigger person, frequently outstretching his arms and legs to really own the space he's standing (or jumping, or frolicking, or dancing...) in. He's rarely standing still, and his posture is usually pretty good, expect when he's doing impressions of hunchbacks.
4. How is his health? Is he fit or out of shape? Any illnesses or conditions? Any physical disabilities?
He is extremely fit. "Spry" is probably a good word for just how fit Clopin is. He's nimble and catlike and his acrobatic ability is pretty astonishing.
5. How does he move? Is he clumsy, graceful, tense, fluid?
Quite graceful, and very energetic. He's almost constantly in motion, uses his surroundings as props, and has terrific balance.
6. How attractive is this character physically? How does he perceive himself in the mirror?
Clopin is a middle-aged Gypsy man who is handsome, but his best years are behind him. He has a few broken teeth that give his grin a slightly devilish quality, and a receding hairline. However, he's charismatic and holds himself well, and his talent speaks for itself; he's in a line of work where being roguishly handsome is a minor boon, but it's much better to have character and be memorable.
7. Describe his complexion. Dark, light, clear, scarred?
Medium dark, with a few lines starting in his forehead and around his eyes. That's partly age, and partly Sun damage from all those days performing on the streets of Paris.
8. Describe his hair: color, texture, style.
Black and very straight, evenly cut all around and combed straight back, falling just above his shoulders. Usually he wears a hat.
9. What color are his eyes?
Clopin's eyes are black.
10. Does the character have any other noteworthy features?
He wears a large gold hoop in his left ear.
11. What are his chief tension centers?
Probably his arms and legs. All that bending and leaping and cartwheeling is bound to get tiresome after awhile, no matter how effortless he makes it appear.
12. What is the character's wardrobe like? Casual, dressy, utilitarian? Bright colors, pastels, neutrals? Is it varied, or does he have six of the same suit?
Clopin has two outfits that he wears regularly; his "daytime" work apparel resembles a jester's outfit, complete with a pointed, plumed cap and a mask that covers his eyes and nose. The costume is yellow, pink, blue and purple, and a blind person could see him coming from a mile away.
His other outfit is the one he wears when he is in the Court of Miracles; it is sans mask, with a tunic, hat and hood that are composed of darker blues and purples.
He also possesses a variety of costumes, which, it should be noted, are not disguises since his identity is never in question.
13. Do his clothes fit well? Does he seem comfortable in them?
His clothes fit beautifully; everything he wears looks tailor-made for him, especially his performance wear. They are not restrictive and seem very comfortable despite their close fit.
14. Does he dress the same on the job as he does in his free time? If not, what are the differences?
His job as a performer requires his brighter clothes and his role as King of the Gypsies seems to call for clothes that are cut similarly but have more subdued colors. It's as if he's more concerned with being able to easily slip through shadows in the latter case, whereas it's all about standing out in the former.
15. You knew it was coming: Boxers, briefs or commando?
He is from the year 1482. He's not wearing any of those, I guarantee it.
Speech
1. What does this character's voice sound like? High-pitched, deep, hoarse?
Clopin has a very good range, but his singing voice seems to default to tenor. His speaking voice is all over the place, ranging from low and clandestine to high and shrill, and it's incredibly expressive; sometimes it's a bit hoarse or gravelly, one of the major indicators that he's a bit older than he looks.
2. How does he normally speak? Loud, soft, fast, evenly? Does he talk easily, or does he hesitate?
He talks like he's telling a story most of the time. His tone adjusts to what it's conveying, and the cadence is always measured to match what people will respond to. If he's telling a sad story, he'll be on the verge of weeping; if it's happy, he'll be exuberant.
3. Does the character have a distinct accent or dialect? Any individual quirks of pronunciation? Any, like, you know, verbal tics?
When speaking, he has a slight French accent.
4. What language/s does he speak, and with how much fluency?
He speaks French very fluently, as it's his native tongue. Since he lives and works in Paris (IN 1482), it's unlikely that he speaks much else, though he might have a smattering of Latin or English in there.
5. Does he switch languages or dialects in certain situations?
Dialects, he's probably really good at. I'm sure he can mimic anything from a priest or judge's educated speech to the most backwoods French farmer. In the Court of Miracles, he default to the dialect of French spoken within his community, which is probably more like a Pidgin than a true dialect.
6. Is he a good impromptu speaker, or does he have to think about his words? He is a wonderful impromptu speaker. He typically doesn't have to think much about what he says; quick witted and clever, Clopin is verbally adaptable. This is where he excels.
7. Is he eloquent or inarticulate? Under what circumstances might this change?
He is very articulate and a fluent speaker. He never really falters, even when under pressure, because that's what being a good performer is all about. The exception is probably when someone close to him, like Esmeralda, is horrified by his actions and he has to come up with a reason on the fly for his behavior ("Why didn't you say so?" ..."WE DID.")
Mental and Emotional
1. How intelligent is this character? Is he book-smart or street-smart?
Definitely more street smart. He comes from a period in history where most people didn't or couldn't read, so his knowledge of letters is probably incredibly limited to recognition of words that are closely associated with performance. He can recognize those words, but when it comes to actually sounding things out, he's abysmal.
He's clever, though, and has a shrewd mind for numbers (he counts a lot of coins.) He is good at figuring things out and designing trap-door tricks for Esmeralda's show, since she doesn't literally disappear in a puff of smoke (though she sure gets flack for it, don't she?) His social intelligence and street intelligence are high, and he is learned enough to speak like an educated person, but this is mostly to help him move through different circles, even if he approaches some of them only as a clown.
2. Does he think on his feet, or does he need time to deliberate?
Though Clopin plans out certain things (such as the Festival of Fools, in which he serves as a master of ceremonies), thinking on his feet is par for the course. Gypsies have to be prepared for anything, even with a home base in the catacombs of Paris.
3. Describe the character's thought process. Is he more logical, or more intuitive? Idealistic or practical?
Since Clopin leads two different lives by night and day respectively, his attitude and thought process shift accordingly. As a performer during the day, his personality is carefree and even deliberately illogical. During the night when he is in a position of authority over Paris's entire Gypsy community, though, he has to put on his serious hat and worry about feeding, clothing, and protecting his subjects. So he shifts from capricious and silly to extremely practical and sometimes ruthless.
4. What kind of education has the character had?
Little to none. He's spent his whole life performing, and while he knows how to rig up an amazing magic trick, paint a puppet's face to look pretty realistic and act and sing and dance and tumble, he has never had what could be called "book learning." Most of what he knows he's learned because of observation or plain, simple practice.
5. What are his areas of expertise? What, if anything, is he interested in learning more about?
Clopin is an expert at sleight of hand, juggling, acrobatics (more ground tumbling than highwire stuff, to be honest), singing, dancing, acting, puppetry, impressions, public speaking and rabble-rousing, and storytelling. Headcanon is that he also plays the lute and the pipes pretty well. He knows the basics of everything involved with the ins and outs of the caravan lifestyle, including caring for animals, cooking and sewing, woodwork, painting, and picking it all up in a hurry and gtfo-ing.
As far as what he'd like to learn more about, he's always looking for interesting stories from interesting people. His puppet shows need plots, after all.
6. Is he an introvert or an extrovert?
He is extremely extroverted, and it is an extreme. He doesn't have a single introverted bone in his skinny body. He is a performer through and through, even when he is not technically performing.
7. Describe the character's temperament. Is he even-tempered or does he have mood swings? Cheerful or melancholy? Laid-back or driven?
He is generally very good-natured and humored. His moods seem to serve purposes for narration, and are displayed more as caricatures than as genuine. He is cheerful, despite the darkness that comes out in the Court of Miracles.
8. How does he respond to new people or situations? Is he suspicious, relaxed, timid, enthusiastic?
He is SUPER enthusiastic, but shrewd. When he is performing during the daytime, he has no problem invading the personal space of others to the point where he draws them into his performance, willingly or unwillingly. In the Court of Miracles, he is suspicious because it is the safest course of action, to the point where he really does have almost a "shoot first, ask questions later" attitude.
9. Is he more likely to act, or to react?
Clopin will do either, depending on the situation. He describes the gypsies' response to intruders as "hornets protecting their hive," but he seems to take initiative as their leader on more than one occasion.
10. Which is his default: fight or flight?
It depends on the situation. He has some skill with traps and fighting, as is demonstrated in the Court of Miracles and the final assault on the cathedral, but if he can, he'll probably slip away if possible.
11. Describe the character's sense of humor. Does he appreciate jokes? Puns? Gallows humor? Bathroom humor? Pranks? ALL OF THE ABOVE. As something of a self-styled jester, jokes are a huge part of Clopin's business, but his personal sense of humor is definitely darker and swings more toward the gallows side of things than the light, cheerful personal he displays openly.
12. Does the character have any diagnosable mental disorders? If yes, how does he deal with them?
Clopin comes from a time when having a mental disorder probably meant you were possessed. He doesn't appear to have anything diagnosable, but if you looked really hard, you could probably find evidence of ADHD or something. IDK, he's done fine for himself and wouldn't want to change anything.
13. What moments in this character's life have defined him as a person?
The murder of Esmeralda's mother affected him pretty deeply, since he's still talking about it, along with that whole Hunchback business.
14. What does he fear?
Not much, but his people are his most precious treasures. If he thinks that you're there to do them harm, prepare for a noose around your head and a really, really obnoxious and whimsical song mocking the justice system.
15. What are his hopes or aspirations?
Clopin is one of those people who is extraordinarily content with the hand life has dealt him. It is full of jokers, and he couldn't be happier. While he has few personal aspirations after becoming a master of his craft, I think it's safe to say that his greatest hope is for things to eventually get a little easier for the gypsies.
16. What is something he doesn't want anyone to find out about him?
Regarding debauchery and deeds this gypsy tends not to have a tremendous amount of shame. There is very little that he cannot spin into something he can be proud of. However, Clopin was an angelically beautiful child, with an equally angelic singing voice. He was discovered singing on the street and "adopted" (read: kidnapped) as a ward by an official of the church even as his parents were arrested and executed. He sang in Notre Dame services a few times as a choir boy, but the intentions of the official were less than pure. He was molested repeatedly outside the church by the official until the archdeacon got wise and was able to return him to Paris' Gypsy community, where he learned about his parents' fate.
Rather than allow the experience to tarnish his love of performing or his admiration for the cathedral, though, the young Clopin merely redirected his course of study, paying the closest attention to Gypsy puppetmasters and specifically, ventriloquists. He practiced ceaselessly, taking gleeful comfort in the sudden ability he had to mock priests and judges and point a finger at the puppet when he offended.
Relationships
1. Describe this character's relationship with his parents.
Clopin was the only son of a pair of young gypsies who were arrested and executed after he was kidnapped.
2. Does the character have any siblings? What is/was their relationship like?
He would have had a younger sister, but his mother was pregnant at the time of her death and he never learned of this.
3. Are there other blood relatives to whom he is close? Are there ones he can't stand?
His grandmother was a presence in his life after his return to his community, as well as being a comforting authority within the Court of Miracles itself. She died when he was in his teens.
4. Are there other, unrelated people whom he considers part of his family? What are his relationships with them?
Esmeralda is definitely such a person. His relationship to her is like that of an uncle to a niece, or an older brother to a younger stepsister. If something romantic was meant to happenbetween them, it would have happened long ago; they've both acknowledged a platonic relationship and moved on.
5. Who is/was the character's best friend? How did they meet?
Clopin got close to a child named Jacques who also sang as a choirboy when he was much younger.
6. Does he have other close friends?
Since returning to the gypsies, and especially since being named King, he has kept people largely at a distance on an emotional level, though he seems to be close comrades with a number of gypsy men when protecting the Court of Miracles.
7. Does he make friends easily, or does he have trouble getting along with people?
Many like him, and even adore him, but it's questionable if anyone really knows him outside of his role as an entertainer.
8. Which does he consider more important: family or friends?
The gypsies as a whole he considers his family, and they are the most important thing in his life.
9. Is the character single, married, divorced, widowed? Has he been married more than once?
Married twice, a widower both times to childbirth.
10. Is he currently in a romantic relationship with someone other than a spouse?
Currently, he is focusing on his work.
11. Who was his first crush? Who is his latest?
His first crush was absolutely Esmeralda. His latest was his late second wife.
12. What does he look for in a romantic partner?
A beautiful woman who shares his love of performing, and would make a devoted wife and kind mother.
13. Does the character have children? Grandchildren? If yes, how does he relate to them? If no, does he want any?
Clopin always wanted to be a father, and he sowed his share of wild oats in his youth. Now that he's in his forties, it will either happen soon or never, but losing two wives to childbirth makes him a little reluctant to try again. He is a clown and too much sadness can affect his act (though so far, he's only gotten better.)
14. Does he have any rivals or enemies?
An enemy of the gypsies is an automatic enemy of their king. Judge Claude Frollo is a definite yes, and there are other government and church officials he is wary about.
15. What is the character's sexual orientation? Where does he fall on the Kinsey scale?
Clopin is a 1 on the Kinsey scale. He is predominantly attracted to women, and loves them very much on a sexual level. His experiences with homosexuality are limited largely to when he was molested as a kid by that church official. Despite this, he is largely accepting of men who love men and women who love women, provided they are not involving themselves with children too young to understand what is happening to them.
16. How does he feel about sex? How important is it to him?
Clopin embraces many, many hedonistic pleasures, and sex is certainly one of them. It's very important to him, less so now that he is a bit older and in a different phase of life, but he was a fairly insatiable Casanova in his younger days.
17. What are his turn-ons? Turn-offs? Weird bedroom habits?
Skinny women, plump women, skill in any area that requires dedication, conditioning, and practice. Musicians and dancers are especially beguiling. He has an odd appreciation for wearing masks in the bedroom, amd in fact finds it difficult to perform (ha, ha) without one. Like many men, he thinks it is super hot if a woman aggressively rides him.
Beliefs
1. Do you know your character's astrological (zodiac of choice) sign? How well does he fit type?
Noooo not at all. But I believe he is a Capricorn, and that it fits him super well.
2. Is this character religious, spiritual, both, or neither? How important are these elements in his life?
Raised in the veritable shadow of Notre Dame, Clopin grew up in awe of the beauty of Catholocism. But he's had as many bad experiences with the church as good ones, and he trusts himself more than God to provide.
3. Does this character have a personal code of morals or ethics? If so, how did that begin? What would it take to compromise it?
His code is to look after children, and protect his people, foremost. Having fun comes second, but it is hardly not a priority.
4. How does he regard beliefs that differ from his? Is he tolerant, intolerant, curious, indifferent?
Ultimately, Clopin is tolerant, provided those beliefs in practice do not interfere with his way of life and those close to him. Otherwise, be warned that shit is going to get REAL.
5. What prejudices does he hold? Are they irrational or does he have a good reason for them?
Officials of the church and government almost always get a side-eye from Clopin. His reasons are good; his childhood was traumatic and his people are marginalized and persecuted.
Daily Life
1. What is the character's financial situation? Is he rich, poor, comfortable, in debt?
Wealthy, for a gypsy. For the way they live and the riche accessible to him, he is as affluent as any king.
2. What is his social status? Has this changed over time, and if so, how has the change affected him?
He is the KING OF THE TRUANTS, and has been since he was in his mid-twenties. Over time, he has only grown more respected and, to those who know better, feared a little bit, as well.
3. Where does he live? House, apartment, trailer? Is his home his castle or just a place to crash? What condition is it in? Does he share it with others?
He lives in the catacombs of Paris. Kind of decrepit, but he and his have done wonders with the place and turned it into a little comfortable underground community.
4. Besides the basic necessities, what does he spend his money on?
Wine, women and song. Clopin enjoys partying and he spent lavishly when courting his previous wives. He also has to keep his tricks and acts fresh, so a lot goes toward cloth, wood, and paint.
5. What does he do for a living? Is he good at it? Does he enjoy it, or would he rather be doing something else?
Clopin is a performer for a living, and he is the best at what he does. Tumbling, acrobatics, fire eating and puppetry, as well as traditional minstrel duties, are all in his job description and all performed to whimsical perfection daily.
6. What are his interests or hobbies? How does he spend his free time?
His interests and hobbies pretty much blend into his work. He is living the dream of being completely fulfilled in his professional life.
7. What are his eating habits? Does he skip meals, eat out, drink alcohol, avoid certain foods?
He is not particularly unusual in this regard! He will skip meals if times are tight for the gypsies to make sure that others have enough, and eat heartily if food is plentiful. He drinks alcohol (never to the point of drunkenness when he is working, but often to excess after hours), and smokes a pipe.
Associations
Which of the following do you associate with the character, or which is his favorite:
1. Color?
Violet.
2. Smell?
Pine.
3. Time of day?
Dusk.
4. Season?
Summer.
5. Book?
The Hunchback of Notre Dame. :p
6. Music?
Boisterous and bawdy Gypsy tunes, as well as everything he sings in the movie.
7. Place?
Paris.
8. Substance?
Air.
9. Plant?
Thistle.
10. Animal?
Magpie.
