Soul Camp App
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theworstcrimeofall[ PLAYER INFORMATION ]
Player Name:Lexil
Age:25
Timezone:EST
Personal Journal:dead_black_eyes
Contact Information: email is mephistophilesgirl@gmail.com, aim is tinmaiden, plurk is lexil
Current Characters:L Lawliet
Links to Activity Check: July
June
[ CHARACTER INFORMATION ]
Name:Clopin Trouillefou
Age: Appears to be in his early to mid-forties; his skin is great and he’s athletic, but his hairline is receding, his torso is starting to look a little saggy, as seen when his shirt is off briefly in the Court of Miracles “executioner” scene. He also acts like he’s been in charge for awhile, and his voice sounds mature and slightly gravelly.
Gender:Male, identifies as such
Canon:Disney’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Timeline: Clopin would be coming in from post-series (which is, weirdly, kind of the beginning of the movie.) Esmeralda has married Phoebus and everything is hunky dory and he’s been enjoying telling the local kids the awesome story about monsters and men with a surprising twist. (Frollo is the monster, not Quasi!)
Background:
Very little is known about Clopin in the Disney movie. What is known is that he is a local Parisian fixture in street performance to most of the locals, but clandestinely, he’s kind of a big deal. Acting as the master of ceremonies during the Festival of Fools, he says that every man’s a king, and every king’s a clown, and though he’s dressed as a jester, he is actually the king of the Gypsies. In the story, he acts as the narrator and has a few songs, and he seems to know more about Quasimodo’s past than the hunchback (or anyone else in the film, for that matter.) Since his age is never revealed, it’s possible that he was intimately familiar with the circumstances surrounding Quasi’s arrival to the city firsthand, or at least through what are presumed to be a ton of connections someone carting around a title like “King of the Gypsies” might have established.
Personality:
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. 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, except when he's doing impressions of hunchbacks. 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.
Clopin seems like a lighthearted chap with a youthful spirit, and in the daylight, with coin purses jingling and audiences gathering, that is absolutely true. He’s a masked, charismatic one-man circus, a troubadour who is a master of storytelling, fire eating, puppetry, quick-changing costumes (not disguises, as he is usually highly recognizable), nimble acrobatics with cat-like coordination, and he possesses a strong and lovely singing voice. His energy is boundless and his smile broad; he’s an extrovert, a smooth talker, and a natural performer, and he uses it to his greatest advantage while turning a tidy profit. As an entertainer, it is his job and his pride to maintain that good mood and humor throughout the day, and this is more important than ever considering he has an entire troupe of performers to organize, manage and look after.
By night, however, Clopin reigns as the King of the Gypsies in the catacombs of Paris, or, as they call it, “The Court of Miracles.” He is a leader who seems to be respected and loved by his own, and he repays their loyalty by putting the welfare of his Court above all else. Any perceived threat or infiltration will be dealt with swiftly and thoroughly, and as he is “the lawyers and judge all in one,” as well as the inappropriately gleeful executioner, he’ll enjoy himself while he carries out his unbalanced and macabre version of justice (with a pun or two thrown in for good measure; about to hang two men, he proclaims that there is “good ‘noose’ tonight! It’s a double-header!”). Though his jolly energy is off-putting in a darker context, and a few might question his sanity as a result of his chronic wackiness, there is an artistry even to the act of protecting his people; he pretty much turns every situation into a performance, pulling out puppets and carrying out impromptu costume changes in the middle of what most would consider very serious business. Furthermore, he displays something of an attitude that is utterly neutral toward good and evil at a few points in the film, making him an anomaly for a Disney character; though he points out the juxtaposition between monster and man as the narrator at the beginning and the end of the movie, he gleefully allows Quasimodo to be crowned the King of Fools even though he probably had a decent idea of what’s going to happen, saying that everything is great because they asked for the ugliest face in Paris (though he has no part in Quasimodo's humiliation). Later on, in the Court of Miracles, he mocks Quasimodo physically by grimacing and contorting his frame, though to be fair, he tends to mock everyone through caricature at least a little bit (including the tall, attractive Captain of the Guard.)
Despite his darker side and his unflinching willingness to swiftly dispose of traitors, spies and trespassers, Clopin is a gracious performer who loves his audience almost as much as his Gypsy friends and family. He especially has a soft spot for children, who seem fascinated by his antics. The puppets are a favorite, and he is affectionate and gentle with little ones.
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.
When it comes to intelligence, Clopin is definitely more street smart. He comes from a period in history (1482) 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 and phonics, he's abysmal. When he writes, everything is phonetically spelled and probably looks ridiculous by today's standards. 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 portion of their show, since she doesn't literally disappear in a puff of smoke (though she sure gets flack for it when she gets tried for witchcraft later, 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.
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 in this canon have to be prepared for anything, even with a home base in the catacombs of Paris. 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. If he's crazy, he's crazy like a fox, with many practical and creativeelements at work. So he shifts from capricious and silly to extremely practical and sometimes ruthless. Clopin has had little to no formal education. 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, intuition, or plain, simple practice.
Clopin is an expert at sleight of hand, juggling, acrobatics (more ground tumbling than highwire stuff, to be honest), singing, fire eating, magic tricks, dancing, acting, ventriloquism and puppetry, impressions, public speaking and rabble-rousing, and storytelling. Headcanon is that he also plays the lute and the pipes pretty well and can perform the basic duties of a minstrel. 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.
Clopin 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. He is generally very good-natured and humored, even if his humor has a macabre side. 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, and his sense of humor and the jokes he tells range a broad spectrum, from gallows humor to simple puns. As a character, he takes laughs wherever he get get them.
He is SUPER enthusiastic in his response to most new people and situations, but covertly shrewd in the daytime and overtly shrewd underground in the catacombs. 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.
When it comes to acting or reacting, Clopin will do either, depending on the situation. He describes the Gypsies' response to intruders as similar to "hornets protecting their hive," but he seems to take initiative as their leader on more than one occasion. The same is true of whether he defaults to 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.
Clopin doesn't fear 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 neck and a really, really obnoxious and whimsical song mocking the justice system.
Regarding hopes and 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. I also personally think that he had hopes for children of his own, but due to a lousy childbirth survival rate and rotten luck, it just wasn't in the cards for him. I like the idea of every tragedy that has ever befallen him cotributing to his professional dedication and his fierce protectiveness of his community.
Why is your character a good fit for the setting of Soul Campaign, and what will they do once they are in the game?
Clopin is a fantastic fit for Soul Campaign. He is a social, outgoing performer who will be present at many events and participate happily in missions, since discovering his Meister ability will be seen as another skill set he can develop. He'll get used to the fact that people tip him paper instead of coins (though this will initially shock and offend), and though modern technology will seem like magic at first, he is an adaptable, talented guy who is wacky, but ultimately gets along well with people. What can he say? He makes them laugh.
List the abilities your character will still have in Soul Campaign:
Everything should remain intact, since nothing Clopin does is outside the realm of human possibility. As amazing as it is, it's all athletic ability, throwing his voice, and clever illusions.
List the weaknesses your character will gain (or lose) in Soul Campaign:
Clopin won't have a hive of Gypsies to look after in this setting. That will both be a relief of a burden and a tremendous detriment.
Soul Description:
Nimble, clever, charismatic, energetic, exuberant, sinister, shrewd
(Weapon Form) / Ability:N/A
[ MEISTER - ]: Possible abilities are Soul Talk, Soul Serenade, and Loopy Soul. He is basically a bard, so anything to do with those talents would be great. and
[WEAPON -]N/A
[ SAMPLES ]
First-Person
[The following has been laboriously typed over a lot of time, but the results are less than satisfactory.]
WAT IN HEVVEN'S GUD NAYM IS GOWING ON? AYE HAV PURFORMD, AND AYE HAVE DELIVRED UNTO THEES STREETS A SHO OV MAGNIFISENT PRUPORSHUNS, AND YET AYE HAV GARNERD FORE MY LABOURS MEER SLYPS OV PAYPER.
[The feed switches to video. A wisp of a man, swarthy and dressed colorfully in the manner of a jester, is grinning, but something about it seems a little forced and practiced, the type of smile that gymnasts are taught to maintain even when they've come down hard on their ankles.
In his hands are many, many death dollar bills. An impressively lucrative day for any street performer. Utterly baffling to someone who is used to receiving coins as tips and has never seen paper money in his life.]
If anyone can hear or see this, I must have bread like anyone else, and no baker I know of will part with a loaf for a bit of green parchment!
Third-Person
Gold was the high noon Sun in Paris, as well as the playful light that glimmered off the hoop in the Gypsy's left ear and the coins that gathered at his feet. He swept his hat off with a flourish, stretching wide his broken-toothed grin as a tiny girl, no older than five, broke away from her mother and ran forward, interrupting his deep and gracious bow.
"Monsieur Clopin! Please, once more with Petit Clopin!"
The Gypsy seemed to consider it, making a show of his consternation as he stroked his beard and peered down his long nose at the little one. "But I'm afraid it seems that I have lost Petit Clopin. He has fled my pocket and I wonder what mischief he is getting up to by his lonesome."
The little girl's hands clasped in horror over her mouth. "Oh, no!"
"Oh yes. But perhaps... I wonder if you couldn't help me?" He knelt, cupping a hand by his mouth conspiratorially. "I happen to know that Petit Clopin has a fondness for hiding in baskets, and you might check for me." He winked, glancing toward a basket well within sight of the girl's mother, and the little one squealed and rushed toward it, retrieving a puppet with the garb and face of a jester and placing it in Clopin's gloved and waiting hand.
No sooner had he closed his fingers around it than it was darker than night, and perhaps even darker than the Catacombs. Which was saying something. His eyes narrowed as his slipped the puppet on more out of habit than immediate necessity. He reached for his boot, and the dagger hidden there... only to find it conspicuously missing.
"Dang," said Petit Clopin, voice thrown from between his puppetmaster's clenched teeth.
Player Name:Lexil
Age:25
Timezone:EST
Personal Journal:dead_black_eyes
Contact Information: email is mephistophilesgirl@gmail.com, aim is tinmaiden, plurk is lexil
Current Characters:L Lawliet
Links to Activity Check: July
June
[ CHARACTER INFORMATION ]
Name:Clopin Trouillefou
Age: Appears to be in his early to mid-forties; his skin is great and he’s athletic, but his hairline is receding, his torso is starting to look a little saggy, as seen when his shirt is off briefly in the Court of Miracles “executioner” scene. He also acts like he’s been in charge for awhile, and his voice sounds mature and slightly gravelly.
Gender:Male, identifies as such
Canon:Disney’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Timeline: Clopin would be coming in from post-series (which is, weirdly, kind of the beginning of the movie.) Esmeralda has married Phoebus and everything is hunky dory and he’s been enjoying telling the local kids the awesome story about monsters and men with a surprising twist. (Frollo is the monster, not Quasi!)
Background:
Very little is known about Clopin in the Disney movie. What is known is that he is a local Parisian fixture in street performance to most of the locals, but clandestinely, he’s kind of a big deal. Acting as the master of ceremonies during the Festival of Fools, he says that every man’s a king, and every king’s a clown, and though he’s dressed as a jester, he is actually the king of the Gypsies. In the story, he acts as the narrator and has a few songs, and he seems to know more about Quasimodo’s past than the hunchback (or anyone else in the film, for that matter.) Since his age is never revealed, it’s possible that he was intimately familiar with the circumstances surrounding Quasi’s arrival to the city firsthand, or at least through what are presumed to be a ton of connections someone carting around a title like “King of the Gypsies” might have established.
Personality:
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. 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, except when he's doing impressions of hunchbacks. 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.
Clopin seems like a lighthearted chap with a youthful spirit, and in the daylight, with coin purses jingling and audiences gathering, that is absolutely true. He’s a masked, charismatic one-man circus, a troubadour who is a master of storytelling, fire eating, puppetry, quick-changing costumes (not disguises, as he is usually highly recognizable), nimble acrobatics with cat-like coordination, and he possesses a strong and lovely singing voice. His energy is boundless and his smile broad; he’s an extrovert, a smooth talker, and a natural performer, and he uses it to his greatest advantage while turning a tidy profit. As an entertainer, it is his job and his pride to maintain that good mood and humor throughout the day, and this is more important than ever considering he has an entire troupe of performers to organize, manage and look after.
By night, however, Clopin reigns as the King of the Gypsies in the catacombs of Paris, or, as they call it, “The Court of Miracles.” He is a leader who seems to be respected and loved by his own, and he repays their loyalty by putting the welfare of his Court above all else. Any perceived threat or infiltration will be dealt with swiftly and thoroughly, and as he is “the lawyers and judge all in one,” as well as the inappropriately gleeful executioner, he’ll enjoy himself while he carries out his unbalanced and macabre version of justice (with a pun or two thrown in for good measure; about to hang two men, he proclaims that there is “good ‘noose’ tonight! It’s a double-header!”). Though his jolly energy is off-putting in a darker context, and a few might question his sanity as a result of his chronic wackiness, there is an artistry even to the act of protecting his people; he pretty much turns every situation into a performance, pulling out puppets and carrying out impromptu costume changes in the middle of what most would consider very serious business. Furthermore, he displays something of an attitude that is utterly neutral toward good and evil at a few points in the film, making him an anomaly for a Disney character; though he points out the juxtaposition between monster and man as the narrator at the beginning and the end of the movie, he gleefully allows Quasimodo to be crowned the King of Fools even though he probably had a decent idea of what’s going to happen, saying that everything is great because they asked for the ugliest face in Paris (though he has no part in Quasimodo's humiliation). Later on, in the Court of Miracles, he mocks Quasimodo physically by grimacing and contorting his frame, though to be fair, he tends to mock everyone through caricature at least a little bit (including the tall, attractive Captain of the Guard.)
Despite his darker side and his unflinching willingness to swiftly dispose of traitors, spies and trespassers, Clopin is a gracious performer who loves his audience almost as much as his Gypsy friends and family. He especially has a soft spot for children, who seem fascinated by his antics. The puppets are a favorite, and he is affectionate and gentle with little ones.
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.
When it comes to intelligence, Clopin is definitely more street smart. He comes from a period in history (1482) 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 and phonics, he's abysmal. When he writes, everything is phonetically spelled and probably looks ridiculous by today's standards. 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 portion of their show, since she doesn't literally disappear in a puff of smoke (though she sure gets flack for it when she gets tried for witchcraft later, 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.
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 in this canon have to be prepared for anything, even with a home base in the catacombs of Paris. 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. If he's crazy, he's crazy like a fox, with many practical and creativeelements at work. So he shifts from capricious and silly to extremely practical and sometimes ruthless. Clopin has had little to no formal education. 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, intuition, or plain, simple practice.
Clopin is an expert at sleight of hand, juggling, acrobatics (more ground tumbling than highwire stuff, to be honest), singing, fire eating, magic tricks, dancing, acting, ventriloquism and puppetry, impressions, public speaking and rabble-rousing, and storytelling. Headcanon is that he also plays the lute and the pipes pretty well and can perform the basic duties of a minstrel. 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.
Clopin 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. He is generally very good-natured and humored, even if his humor has a macabre side. 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, and his sense of humor and the jokes he tells range a broad spectrum, from gallows humor to simple puns. As a character, he takes laughs wherever he get get them.
He is SUPER enthusiastic in his response to most new people and situations, but covertly shrewd in the daytime and overtly shrewd underground in the catacombs. 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.
When it comes to acting or reacting, Clopin will do either, depending on the situation. He describes the Gypsies' response to intruders as similar to "hornets protecting their hive," but he seems to take initiative as their leader on more than one occasion. The same is true of whether he defaults to 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.
Clopin doesn't fear 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 neck and a really, really obnoxious and whimsical song mocking the justice system.
Regarding hopes and 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. I also personally think that he had hopes for children of his own, but due to a lousy childbirth survival rate and rotten luck, it just wasn't in the cards for him. I like the idea of every tragedy that has ever befallen him cotributing to his professional dedication and his fierce protectiveness of his community.
Why is your character a good fit for the setting of Soul Campaign, and what will they do once they are in the game?
Clopin is a fantastic fit for Soul Campaign. He is a social, outgoing performer who will be present at many events and participate happily in missions, since discovering his Meister ability will be seen as another skill set he can develop. He'll get used to the fact that people tip him paper instead of coins (though this will initially shock and offend), and though modern technology will seem like magic at first, he is an adaptable, talented guy who is wacky, but ultimately gets along well with people. What can he say? He makes them laugh.
List the abilities your character will still have in Soul Campaign:
Everything should remain intact, since nothing Clopin does is outside the realm of human possibility. As amazing as it is, it's all athletic ability, throwing his voice, and clever illusions.
List the weaknesses your character will gain (or lose) in Soul Campaign:
Clopin won't have a hive of Gypsies to look after in this setting. That will both be a relief of a burden and a tremendous detriment.
Soul Description:
Nimble, clever, charismatic, energetic, exuberant, sinister, shrewd
(Weapon Form) / Ability:N/A
[ MEISTER - ]: Possible abilities are Soul Talk, Soul Serenade, and Loopy Soul. He is basically a bard, so anything to do with those talents would be great. and
[WEAPON -]N/A
[ SAMPLES ]
First-Person
[The following has been laboriously typed over a lot of time, but the results are less than satisfactory.]
WAT IN HEVVEN'S GUD NAYM IS GOWING ON? AYE HAV PURFORMD, AND AYE HAVE DELIVRED UNTO THEES STREETS A SHO OV MAGNIFISENT PRUPORSHUNS, AND YET AYE HAV GARNERD FORE MY LABOURS MEER SLYPS OV PAYPER.
[The feed switches to video. A wisp of a man, swarthy and dressed colorfully in the manner of a jester, is grinning, but something about it seems a little forced and practiced, the type of smile that gymnasts are taught to maintain even when they've come down hard on their ankles.
In his hands are many, many death dollar bills. An impressively lucrative day for any street performer. Utterly baffling to someone who is used to receiving coins as tips and has never seen paper money in his life.]
If anyone can hear or see this, I must have bread like anyone else, and no baker I know of will part with a loaf for a bit of green parchment!
Third-Person
Gold was the high noon Sun in Paris, as well as the playful light that glimmered off the hoop in the Gypsy's left ear and the coins that gathered at his feet. He swept his hat off with a flourish, stretching wide his broken-toothed grin as a tiny girl, no older than five, broke away from her mother and ran forward, interrupting his deep and gracious bow.
"Monsieur Clopin! Please, once more with Petit Clopin!"
The Gypsy seemed to consider it, making a show of his consternation as he stroked his beard and peered down his long nose at the little one. "But I'm afraid it seems that I have lost Petit Clopin. He has fled my pocket and I wonder what mischief he is getting up to by his lonesome."
The little girl's hands clasped in horror over her mouth. "Oh, no!"
"Oh yes. But perhaps... I wonder if you couldn't help me?" He knelt, cupping a hand by his mouth conspiratorially. "I happen to know that Petit Clopin has a fondness for hiding in baskets, and you might check for me." He winked, glancing toward a basket well within sight of the girl's mother, and the little one squealed and rushed toward it, retrieving a puppet with the garb and face of a jester and placing it in Clopin's gloved and waiting hand.
No sooner had he closed his fingers around it than it was darker than night, and perhaps even darker than the Catacombs. Which was saying something. His eyes narrowed as his slipped the puppet on more out of habit than immediate necessity. He reached for his boot, and the dagger hidden there... only to find it conspicuously missing.
"Dang," said Petit Clopin, voice thrown from between his puppetmaster's clenched teeth.
