This absolutely fantastic art is from @bpzau-art​​!!! They drew this after loosing a (playful) bet with me about who was behind the Manatreed account (she bet it was Dream, I bet it wasn’t). And this is the product of that bet!!

I absolutely adore the colors and this drawing!!

Credit too: @bpzau-art​

(Photo Description under the cut.)

I have just posted the first peice of writing for the au!!

It’s a oneshot that is tommyinnit centric and talks about when he first started skating and his life before meeting everyone else!

~~~~~

Summary:

Tommy can’t remember details about his childhood, but he can remember every negative comment that was said to him.

He hates that he can remember it, but he can.

Because people are not the kindest when you’re fourteen and capable and in front of the cameras.

His last memory of skating is from a few months before he turned fourteen.

And while Tommy doesn’t remember a lot of his childhood, he’s making new memories with Phil and Techno and Wilbur and his new best friend Tubbo, and he’s going to be okay.

Because Tommy smiles easier now.

He grins and laughs and lets himself live in the moment and he’s genuinely happy.

Now, finally, Tommy is happy.

~~~~~

Welcome to the Antarctic Empire Skate Rink Discord, meant for the in progress fan fiction “when you reach the top (there’s nowhere else to go but–)”!

Summary of the Fic:

It was never meant to be, and Tommy knew that.

The second he lost everything, he found the best of things.

A family, though he wouldn’t admit to it, in the form of a pink haired American, a cane wielding (and pretty pog) old man, a non-verbal sweater wearing man, and a boy who only ever wore yellow and was obsessed with bees.

Tommy loved each of them, in their own way, and with a heart that had been hurt in the past but still insisted on caring for others. He hadn’t expected his little family to grow beyond them.

Until he met Ranboo.

A figure skater with a past injury that hit just a bit too close to home for the blond amputee. Tommy knew he wanted to help him, so he did.

Tubbo, Tommy and Ranboo became inseparable in an instant.

And when you reach the top, there’s nowhere else to go but–

This discord is modeled after a skate rink, when you join you’ll have to stop by the front desk to get your pronoun(s) role, favorite character role, and introduce yourself!

Once you do that, you’ll be allowed to see the skate rental and start skating!

The skate rental is for both the writer (HistorianRoo) and the artist (Astro-Nautikal) to share pieces of their progress as the fic is being written!

And then once you’re on the rink, there will be a general channel, a song recommendations and so on!

The script for “when you reach the top (there’s nowhere else to go but–)” is complete!!! Which means posting should begin soon!!

I plan on posting as I write!! If you want to get updates about it as it is being written you can join the discord here!!

Fic Summary:

It was never meant to be, and Tommy knew that.

The second he lost everything, he found the best of things.

A family, though he wouldn’t admit to it, in the form of a pink haired American, a cane wielding old man, a non-verbal sweater wearing man, and a boy who only ever wore yellow and was obsessed with bees.

Tommy loved each of them, in their own way, and with a heart that had been hurt in the past but still insisted on caring for others. He hadn’t expected his little family to grow beyond them.

Until he met Ranboo.

A figure skater with a past injury that hit just a bit too close to home for the blond amputee. Tommy knew he wanted to help him, so he did.

Tubbo, Tommy and Ranboo became inseparable in an instant.

And when you reach the top, there’s nowhere else to go but–

[This scene takes place prior to the first qualifying competition. This is Ranboo's first time skating in a televised competition since his injury.]

TOMMY: How are you feeling about today?

(RANBOO hesitates, fiddling with the strap on his bag.)

RANBOO: Nervous.

(TOMMY nods, TUBBO glances up and smiles.)

TUBBO: Don’t be! You’ve got this!

(TUBBO’s voice is too loud, but TOMMY and RANBOO smile at his excitement.)

RANBOO: Thanks Tubbo. (he looks back at TOMMY) I’m worried about the short program more than anything– I haven’t been able to land my toe loop as stable as I want to. (he sighs) And I know its a simple jump, and I know I’m overthinking it–

TOMMY: Ranboo. (he waits for RANBOO to look at him) Break it down.

(The three of them climb into the back of a cab. TUBBO first, then RANBOO, then TOMMY, Henry the service dog lays at TOMMY's feet in the floorboard.)

TOMMY: Well?

RANBOO: (slowly) Four key events, three phases. (he pauses, tapping his fingertips as he lists off the events) The moment I place my toe pick in the ice. When I– when I leave the ice. The highest I can jump, and– uh–

(RANBOO glances at TOMMY for the final event.)

TOMMY: When you touch the ice again.

RANBOO: Right, right, right. (he pauses) Then the phases: the approach, propulsion, and flight.

(RANBOO doesn’t make any move to clarify. TOMMY motions for him to continue.)

RANBOO: The approach begins with the three turns I make as I move into the jump and ends when I snap my toe-pick into the ice. The snap pushes me into the air and acts as the beginning of the propulsion, which ends when I am in the air. The flight begins here and ends when I land again.

(RANBOO has a feeling of realization.)

TOMMY: And where are you making a mistake?

RANBOO: The snap. (he gets excited and talks quickly) I’m not thinking of it as a fluid motion that connects the movement into the jump into the movement into the air. (he smiles excitedly)

I got two asks on this so time to answer:

I decided to have wyrtt!wilbur mute because I wanted to talk about the stigma surrounding non-verbal and non-speaking people, and also just show that there is more than one way to communicate.

I also wanted to venture into the realm of describing sign language in fan fictions and writing in general because it is something that is rarely done.

More than anything, as an autistic person who is sometimes non-verbal, I wanted to be represented.

TUBBO: I don’t remember much of it. I remember burning, and Techno yelling some more.

TUBBO: He pulled me from the fire, burned his hands doing it and he still blames himself.

(TUBBO starts to cry but wipes it away, shaking his head and pressing his palms into his face.)

TUBBO: He saved me and still blames himself for it. Without him– without him I would be dead– screw this– (gestures to his face) and this– (gestures to hearing aids) I am alive.

TUBBO: I am alive.

(RANBOO smiles and stands, pulling TUBBO to his feet. TUBBO looks confused. RANBOO looks up at the sky)

RANBOO: (shouts) I am alive!

(TUBBO smiles brightly, tears still in his eyes, he tilts his head back)

TUBBO: I am alive!

RANBOO: I am alive!

(THEY shout it a few more times together before RANBOO stops and takes a few deep breaths. He swallows thickly and sits on the bench. TUBBO looks at him and smiles.)

TUBBO: You’re alive Ranboo.

Hello everyone!!

The plan has always been to open a discord for this AU, so now I am formally asking who is interested in joining the discord!! this is mostly for astro and I too see if there is enough interest to start up a discord, or if we should wait until posting for to do one!