#nutcracker clara

[beth-purcell]

Fan Art for Clara and the Below, Matt Braley's newest project that is a somber and gothic retelling of the classic 'Nutcracker' and boy howdy am I excited for it!

Speedpaint below:

[bird-wells214]

clara nutcracker

[ms-tillus]

Gotta love that fantasy interpretation of a classic ballet.

[beth-purcell]

What are the Stahlbaums like?

So overall, I think the easiest way to describe the family is "Poised, Grace, a little goofy, but Victorian esque Class"

Dr. Stahlbaum is the kind of guy who is like the genuinely nice popular guy/jock, and it's pretty hard to genuinely hate the guy. He loves his kids, he's great at his job, the Gomez to his Morticia, and he knows how to work the ins and out of the upper class.

Mrs. Stahlbaum is a former prima ballerina, full of grace, beauty, though she's not one for taking crap, especially when it comes to her kids. She wants the best for them, but she knows that she also knows that much like their father, they can find some way to get themselves into trouble, so she tries to compromise often. (When her eldest started to rope his sister into his fencing practice, she groaned, realized that he was gonna do it anyways, and just tried to make sure that at the very least they were supervised).

Louis is the oldest child and often away at college, though he comes back for the holidays. He is mature, pragmatic, and currently focused on making sure his engagement to his sweet heart goes off without a hitch, especially since her mom doesn't think he's that good enough for her. The magic shenangians will have fun with him.

Clara is the middle child, a sweetheart, and a bit shy to strangers, but once she warms up, she is a loyal friend through and through. Though don't mistake her shyness for timidiness as she is the only girl outside her mother in the family and she's got some sass.

Fritz is the baby of the family and he's a precocious kid. Always running around with pranks and mischief, he's still learning the whole "time and place" thing along with the whole "the world doesn't revolve around you" but he is a good kid at heart and loves his family (even if Louis needs to lighten up)

[beth-purcell]

To Dorothy and Clara my sweet girls!

Did you have any best friends growing up? What were they like?

"Oh thank you very much Miss Noova!" Clara politely curtsies before continuing. "My best friend is Miss Alice! We met at school, and while she was kind of intimidating when I first meet her, she is very nice! She was very interested in the clockwork dolls that Godfather let me take to school. And then after school, she wanted to see Godfather's shop and that is when we found out Louis was courting her sister Lorina because they came to pick us up!" She giggles. "Godfather was very funny teasing the two about not having any chaperones, which made Louis very red in the face!"

"Thank you Miss Noova!" Dorothy beams brightly. "I'd like to think I'm good friends with the farmhands that help out on Aunt Em and Uncle Henry's farm, and with some of the neighbors too, but I think my bestest friend is going to be Toto!" She chuckles. "He's very loyal and does very fun tricks when he wants to do them, and he's very good company!" She pauses for a moment. "Though I suppose now I can say that my best friends include the Scarecrow, the Lion, Tip, and Nick, and of course Clara now too!"

"Oh! T-Thank you Dorothy! I-I'd like to think we're best friends now too!"

[beth-purcell]

What is Theodor and Clara’s relationship like?

So they love each other very much, and Clara loves the fantastical stories he tells and he appreciates that she tries a lot more than her younger brother to be patient and listen to all the instructions, especially when it comes to toy making.

However Theodor has a tendency to come across as aloof and skittish, especially prior to the events of Wizard of Oz (before WoO, he was able to manage minor trips between Oz and other places with his magic, but he kept them brief so he didn't get caught by the various forces that have him on a list). After getting caught and leaving Oz via hot air balloon, he's settled a bit in the town and has significantly mellowed, which has helped the bonding between godfather and goddaughter.

When he arrives to the party and finds out about the new guest, other forces that be thankfully (depending on who is asking) leave the awkward conversations for him to have with her parents instead and Clara gets the explanation from Dorothy while they're heading to the Emerald City.

[beth-purcell]

For your Nutcracker story, is Drosselmeyer helping the girls at all while they're in Oz?

Theodor Drosselmeyer, aka Godfather Drosselmeyer, is unfortunately unable to tag along and aid the girls given he got magic blasted in the back.

Buuuuuuut that isn't to say that his influence doesn't help.the duo out. Afterall, he was the Great and Terrible Wizard, Ruler of the Emerald City, and still very beloved even after he left.

So Clara is dealing with the shenanigans of finding out her Godfather is essentially a massive celebrity, along with her new friend.

[beth-purcell]

🪲 For Alexandre, Tip, Clara, and Dorothy, for the funnies OwO

🪲 Your character needs to move a bug outside--for whatever reason, killing it and leaving it alone are not options. How do they do it?

Alexandre - He is grabbing a cup or small box and catching it to take it outside.

Tip - He's using a broom to shoo it out or grabbing one of the potion bottles to catch it.

Dorothy - She's opening a window and shooing it outside; don't want Toto to accidently eat it.

Clara - Girl is going to either grab her father, one of the housemaids, or her older brother to help get rid of it, as Fritz would try and practice his aim and we don't need that mess XD