Topsy Tuvry (Clopin and Esmeralda)
The sun was barely rising over the shadows, and to almost everyone's surprise Clopin was wide awake. He got dressed in his gold and purple bright outfit and just as he was putting on his hat, he looked to his puppets. Ten of them lined up nearly along the tented wall of his home and he squatted down in front of them with big smiles.
"Tomorrow's the big day!" He sang. "Are you all excited?" If anyone else had seen him, he would look nearly insane, talking to puppets and expecting them to talk back; but he heard voices in his head. Cheerful ones, happy voices that proclaimed his pride and love, not the evil and sadistic voices that other people would hear if they shared them same condition Clopin had; but to his knowledge he was the only one that heard voices, and he didn't mind that at all.
He nodded along as the voices of his puppets spoke to him and one by one he talks to each of them. "Don't be so nervous Antoinnette, you'll be perfect!" He did so for a few more minutes before getting up. "All right, I shall return later. Don't get into too much trouble now." He laughed with himself then left his tent. Once on the ground, he felt so excited he did somersaults all the way to Esmeralda's tent like home. He jumped up and down on her bed. "Come on come on! Get up Essie! So much to do, such little time!" He was laughing to himself. It used to be the other way around, little Esmeralda jumping up and down on Clopin to wake him so they can play, or go dancing or go outside into the market, or for a new lesson in dancing or reading, just anything at all besides staying cooped up in the Court of Miracles.
It was the day before their annual Feast of Fools, there were still preparations and rehearsals to be done, and Clopin was determined to get everything perfect, even at the last minute.