#snowman contest

[chaosoffriendship]

[parkerlerdal23]

Papa Smurf is building a snowman and he made just like him! But we’re having a 1st Annual Smurfy Snowman Contest at the Smurf Mountain Ski Resort outside! And he won the 1st prize of his snowman! For @gregbruhl

[roadtrippinlilly]

A Deconstructed Snowman....

Source Me laf@ilyF 🥰

[agmagazinescans]

Contest: Fake Frosties

American Girl Magazine, November/December 2007

[Ko-Fi Donations]

[valdevia]

The Venneshamn orphans, winners of the 1925 Snowman Contest in Inderøy, Norway, pose with their creation for the newspaper. They called their snowman Farfar (grandpa).

The kids said they would "feed" it every day so it would last throughout the winter. Despite some decay, it outlasted every other competitor.

[jadeshielded]

Having never met the Outrider in question, the…sketch does little to paint the picture. He watches Lumine instead. When the Traveler had arrived in Liyue, she was…acclimated, as best as could be expected. As she is now – with friends like family and more than half of the world at her feet – recounting first impressions of the world seems more than novel.

Special. Certainly not anything that could be captured easily on paper, he avoids the truth this time, that while he can see the ears and imagine the shape of a face, the quick likeness would not help him pick the woman from a crowd. Instead, he opts for sincerity, a grin. “Well deserved, that this world greeted you with warmth. In that, Mondstadt was…a suitable place for your beginning.” Liyue had certainly not welcomed them so, if witness accounts were to be given weight.

All necessary, unfortunately.“The snow on the mountain may not be enough, surely, to paint even half of the hearts of those fond of you in Mondstadt in Liyue alone,” Amusement flashes, but he’s in motion, gently picking the drawing equipment from her hands. Some would consider it a burden, to play catalyst to so many lives – Lumine manages to wear it well enough, though he refrains from saying so.

“My talent for the arts are…more literary, though tales and songs of your time in Liyue are already circulating through the stages,” He smiles, “If afforded the time, you might enjoy seeing it. As it is, perhaps we might benefit from practice.” When he stands, he remembers their surroundings, icy winds assaulting his skin as soon as his head clears the manmade fires. Even at midday, the temperature seems determined to drop, light flurries of snow drifting down from a cloudy sky.

Despite the earlier display of confidence towards her own artistic skills, she suddenly felt incredibly self-conscious about the silly doodles in the notebook after seeing what the ex-Archon was capable of. While the carving was rough, it still captured the essence of what he was trying to portray - the boldness of the lines only adding a unique charm.

"Wow...I didn't know you could do that." She muttered under her breath, both glad to have picked him up as her 'partner in crime' for this competition while also somewhat fearful that she would end up dragging their team down.

"Anyway, that is not a bad idea. I have met a lot of unique individuals during my journeys in Teyvat...and I cherish each and every single memory with them. I doubt we will be able to recreate everything today, or we will need every single bit of ice and snow on this mountain, but I suppose it's a good idea to brainstorm at least."

ー And what better way to start things off, then at the very beginning?

"Paimon was the first friend I made, obviously. But when we're talking Teyvat natives, it was actually the Knights of Favonius' Outrider, Amber, whom I crossed paths with during the very early stages of my journey." She began, recalling that initial meeting.

"She had such a contagious energy. Always cheerful and smiling, but a formidable battler as well. As for her physical appearance...I'd compare her to a rabbit. She even has this ribbon in her hair which looks like bunny ears."

A quick doodle was made while she talked to help the other create a better image in his head.

"You see the resemblance too?"

[ni4lovesu]

school events to script ₊˚⊹ᰔ

⊹ ࣪ student hosted ˖ ʚɞ.

— back to school party : each year an epic party is thrown 1 week before school starts at a student’s house

— halloween party : weekend before halloween, everyone dresses up in their costumes and it’s extremely chaotic and hype

⊹ ࣪ faculty hosted ˖ ʚɞ.

— spring festival : takes place on spring equinox, right before the start of the spring break. essentially a day for students to cut class, destress and have fun! rose petals littered everywhere, flower mazes, bouncy castles, school wide egg hunt, picnics while watching the sunset, school wide bonfire after sunset, school dance in the evening, large picnic area with seasonal foods and drinks, flower crown making etc.

— summer solstice picnic : students relax on blankets, playing a ton of fun board and card games. buffet section with snacks and drinks

— summer festival : outdoor games include watermelon eating contest, slip and slides, bouncy castles, basketball shootout, ring toss, orbeeze fun shootout, and DIY bracelets etc. and refreshments include cotton candy machines, ice creams, popsicles, slushies served in frozen fruit, juice stalls, fruit stalls, bbq chicken skewers, pizza, tacos, frozen yoghurt cup, wraps, hotdogs, corn on a cob, doughnuts, churros, french fries, fried carrot cake etc.

— fall festival : takes place annually on the fall equinox and includes activities such as apple and pumpkin picking, apple bobbing, pumpkin carving, outdoor harvest feast, pie eating contest, cornmaze, in season food and beverages, bake off etc.

— christmas festival : a day where we do a bunch of christmas activities such as gingerbread house contest, ice skating, snowman building competition, making diy ornaments and going to fun christmas booths selling small goodies, at night there is a christmas concert consisting of songs, dances, plays by students and one performance by some teachers

— winter festival : a day where we do a bunch of winter activities such as ice skating, ice fishing, snowboarding, building snowmen, building igloos, snowball fights, stargazing. in between these activités we can go to nearby towns and drink hot choco and eat chocolate muffins, pancakes etc.

— new years gala : held annually on new years eve. guests gather out in the school square to celebrate the final hours of the year, culminating in a stunning fireworks display and light show as the new year begins. the evening is simple yet elegant, featuring champagne or sparkling cider, an array of delicious finger foods to start, followed by a buffet dinner with exquisite dishes. guests can enjoy dancing, warm company and festive touches like sparklers, small safe firecrackers, party poppers etc. for added fun. attire is unofficially cocktail attire, and music goes from smooth jazz to upbeat and lively tunes as the night progresses

— valentine’s ball : masquerade ball held annually in february in celebration of this romantic month. the venue is adorned with roses, hearts, and soft lighting, creating a dreamy atmosphere. tables are filled with themed foods and sweets with secret messages hidden within its wrappers. waiters also double as letter carriers, allowing students to send anonymous messages to one another throughout the event

— halloween ball : held annually on halloween day, the venue is transformed into a spook show, adorned with eery decoration fitting the season. students can dance, mingle, enjoy themed foods lining the tables, and explore adjoining rooms and hallways designed as haunted corridors filled with jumpscares, riddles, and puzzles to go through in exchange for candy. scare actors also roam the school, ready to give unsuspecting students a great fright.

— lantern festival : the celebration begins with a school wide picnic but as night falls, the focus shifts to designing lanterns and releasing them into the sky. other activities include lion and dragon dances, fireworks display, and rice ball eating competitions

— ice cream socials : buffet full of a wide array of ice cream flavors, a toppings bar, cookies and brownies for crafting personalized ice cream sandwiches, a float station, as well as specialty gelato, sorbet, and frozen yogurt stations. people can relax on provided picnic blankets spread out on a field while partaking in a myriad of activities like slip 'n slides, live band performances, photobooths, ice cream eating contests and even water balloon fights

— storybook carnival : making the school a magical world of stories by decorating the classrooms as different books, having haunted houses, cosy hangout areas around the school, book sale + donations, special book-themed foods etc.

— basket auction : people place bids on baskets filled with food to win the opportunity to have a picnic with the basket owner and its contents

— workshop day : students can learn skills such as woodwork, sewing, gardening, or cooking from local experts

— creations week : art exhibitions, fashion show, game development club’s game exhibition, robotics club’s robots, ceramic crafts, music student’s musical artworks, poetry by literature students

— bonfire : late night bonfire by the beach roasting marshmallows, stargazing and talking

— prom : fun dresses, great music, dancing all night, hype band, air conditioned room, good food, cute date

— overseas trips : ski trips in switzerland, london, greece, hawaii, italy, tokyo, bali, etc.

— learning journeys : science museum, zoo, aquarium, butterfly sanctuary, national gallery, art gallery, farm, planterium, petting zoo, historical landmarks, theatre, industry tours, adventure park, laser tag, bowling, amusement parks, escape rooms etc.

— school wide sleepover : games, movie, pizza, endless amount of beverages and snacks, etc.

— arcade night : the school rents arcade games and puts it all around the gym

— school assemblies : w/ school performances that are hype asf, some even by teachers

— school wide paintball fight, annual barbecue day, founders day, volunteer day, sports festival, pyjama day, no bag day, picture day, talent show, cultural fair, science fair, school play, book fair, movie night, trivia night

[jvnart]

They're having a snowman building contest

[12daysofchristmas]

Join us in the 2024 12 Days of Christmas Challenge as we hope to spread a little ✨holiday joy and cheer✨ through the magic of writing fanfiction & creating art!

About & Rules

The challenge will run from December 13-24, 2024.

The challenge is open to any and all fandoms.

Submissions must include at least one of the prompts for that day but can combine two, three, or all four.

Prompts for the day always include: a word/words, a scenario, a quote, a "famous" quote (taken from songs and movies)

Tag your submissions with #12daysofchristmas2024 and/or mention this blog so that we will be notified to reblog your submissions here. (Also, it would be super cool if you gave this blog a follow!)

Submissions for the day must be posted before midnight YOUR time. We're not super hard-and-fast about this rule, but posting within time is very much appreciated! 

If you’re posting your submission directly on Tumblr (as opposed to linking to an external site such as AO3), you MUST use a “keep reading” cut!

Edit: We're now also allowing ALL KINDS OF ART: drawings, edits, aesthetics, mood boards, videos, podfics, fiber arts... go wild!

!! Absolutely NO AI creations !!

Please format ALL submissions with the following heading:

Title Day/Prompt(s) Fandom/Character(s)/Ship Warnings (if applicable): Word Count/Medium (in case it's art):  Example: Santa, Baby Day 8 - “Prompt(s) for that day” AEW - Adam Page x OC Warnings: Alcohol, cursing, sexual situations (explicit) Word Count: 7,290 or: Medium: fan video

You can also include a summary, gif, edit, whatever you want! Just don’t forget the “keep reading” if you’re posting directly on Tumblr!

If you're posting on AO3, here's our collection: 12 Days of Christmas Collection

2024 Prompts

Day 1 ❄️ First snow ❄️ Getting soaked ❄️ “Your hands are so cold.” ❄️ “I suppose it all started with the snow.” —Frosty the Snowman

Day 2 ❄️ Little lie ❄️ Trapped together in a snowstorm ❄️ “I thought you knew where you were going?!” ❄️ “I don’t know what to say, but it’s Christmas, and we’re all in misery.” —National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation

Day 3 ❄️ Accelerated heartbeat ❄️ Kissing in the snow ❄️ “Here, take my coat.” ❄️ “Let's hope the snow will make this Christmas right.” —Queen

Day 4 ❄️ Mulled wine ❄️ Playing board games ❄️ “I have no regrets.” ❄️ “Cheer up, dude. It's Christmas.” —How the Grinch Stole Christmas, 2000

Day 5 ❄️ Cookies ❄️ Holiday-themed contest ❄️ “That definitely looks… interesting?” ❄️ “That is exactly why you want a high-quality fire extinguisher right in the kitchen.” —The Santa Clause

Day 6 ❄️ Present ❄️ Making a new Christmas tradition ❄️ “Not another Christmas movie!” ❄️ “You say you hate Washington’s birthday or Thanksgiving, and nobody cares, but you say you hate Christmas, and people treat you like you’re a leper.” —Gremlins

Day 7 ❄️ Decorations ❄️ A little accident ❄️ “I was just trying to help!” ❄️ “I want my house to be seen from space.” —Deck The Halls

Day 8 ❄️ Touch starved ❄️ Telling secrets around the fire ❄️ “Sometimes the hardest part is forgiving yourself.” ❄️ “Santa, can't you hear me?” —Ariana Grande & Kelly Clarkson

Day 9 ❄️ Christmas fair/market ❄️ Late shopping (together) ❄️ “Hmm, this is actually not bad.” ❄️ “When you're still waiting for the snow to fall, doesn't really feel like Christmas at all.” —Coldplay

Day 10 ❄️ Surprise visit ❄️ Lighting scented candles ❄️ “I didn’t know you were here.” ❄️ “You’re skipping Christmas! Isn’t that against the law?” —Christmas with the Kranks

Day 11 ❄️ Fairy lights ❄️ Christmas party/ball ❄️ “I never want this night to end.” ❄️ “I won’t even wish for snow. And I’m just gonna keep on waiting, underneath the mistletoe.” —Mariah Carey

Day 12 ❄️ Feast ❄️ Indoor picnic by the tree/fireplace ❄️ “I baked your favourite cookie/pie/cake.” ❄️ “You are all I need tonight underneath the Christmas lights.” —Sia

Extra Challenge

Angst or fluff, romance or platonic - you're unsure in what direction your fic should go? Spin our

Wheel

and let it decide for you! You can spin it once and write all fics with what comes up, you can spin it daily and change course accordingly, you can spin it as often as you need or not at all - it's all up to you.

Please don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions! Also, feel free to share this post and help spread the joy and cheer!

Happy writing, and good luck 🍀

[sharpth1ng]

This is so cute, thank you!!

My entry into @sharpth1ng 's Christmas contest! Scream'd stuilly!!

[kiemiu]

frosty the snowman | ( fem!reader ) fluff + slight angst. enemies to lovers drabble wc 1.4k ( kiemiu's fluffmas masterlist )

"Matt, move your ass!" You shouted, both of your hands planted on the large ball of snow as you waited for him to finish the second layer of the snowman. He did nothing in return but roll his eyes, murmuring curses under his breath as he continued to roll the ball of snow until it seemed fit enough. "Instead of bitching, why don't you get started on the head!" he suddenly shouted back as he lifted the boulder of snow and made his way towards you.

Before you could interject with your own smart comment, Nick shouted out "3 Minutes Left!" The megaphone blaring a loud alarm that only sets off your nerves. With that warning you ran far off to a pile of snow that was unoccupied, not realizing Matt followed behind you shortly after fixing the torso of the snowman.

He slightly shoved you aside and gathered his own pile, making you roll your eyes before side bumping him out of the way. "I don't need help with the head, go get the accessories." you murmured, taking handfuls of snow and packing them together quicker than him.

He let out a frustrated groan, his hands dropping to his sides while one of them still held the small compacted snowball. "You wonder why no one likes you when all you do is nag, nag, nag. I mean— seriously, how can someone so joyless take the fun out of a fucking snowman building contest?" he angrily spat.

You scoffed in slight disbelief, the snowball you had started to form now hanging at your side as you turned towards him. "Me, joyless? Please. How can someone so incompetent not know how to build a fucking snowman correctly to the point they have to be micro-managed!? Maybe, I wouldn't nag you if you actually knew what the hell you were doing." You spat back, tone laced with venom as you took a step toward him, the snowball in your clutches started to melt and seep through your cotton gloves with how tight you were holding it.

Matt didn't back down though, he stood his ground and stepped forward himself. "Incompetent, she says." He grumbled out, with an eye roll. "I wouldn't trust you to chew gum and walk at the same time." he added on, his eyes laced with a determination that he wouldn't back down from the argument unless you did first.

You scoffed before rolling your eyes, "You're a dickhead, d'you know that?" "And you're a pain in my ass." he whispered back, not giving your statement any time to settle in the cold winds. The tension between you two was unbearable, you looked at each other like you wanted to kill him, and him you. You remained barely a hair's length from each other, so close that the puffs of air released in frustration became it's own joint cloud.

"2 minutes!" Nick shouted, his voice faint as he set off the blaring siren of his megaphone once again. "Go get the accessories. I'll finish with the head." He asserted without room for argument. Before you could interject he turned his back towards you and back towards the pile of snow.

Unable to hide the anger coursing through you, the bit of snowball you still had left in your hands was chucked into the back of his head before you started your tread to the box of accessories.

Unable to make it very far as you stopped dead in your tracks at the sudden impact of a cold sensation hitting the back of your thigh. You slowly turned around, still in place to see him forming another snowball in his hands.

"You do not want to play this game with me." You warned, pointing your finger at him as you slowly made your way around him like a predator stalking its prey. "You started it." He declared before he chucked another snowball at you, this time giving you enough time to dodge it before diving on the ground to collect more snow.

Before you knew it, you and Matthew were chucking snowballs at each other, screaming, and running around to avoid getting hit while collecting as much snow as you could to chuck at the other.

Both of you stopped for a moment to catch your breaths. "You give up?" He asked, crouching down and resting his hands on his knees as he tried to regain control of his breathing. "No, fuck you!" you screamed back resting your hands on your hips before tilting your head towards the sky.

"Fine." You heard him begrudgingly reply before he slowly started to make his way towards a large chunk of snow that laid discarded on the floor. You also started your tread towards it, both of you soon enough realizing that you were going for the same piece of ice, giving you a shot of adrenaline to start running towards it, having to get it before he could.

Both of you dived for the piece of ice, shoving each other for it and toppling over one another to grab it. "God, you're so fucking annoying." you cried out as you both reached for the snowball, his legs and arms tangled around yours at this point as you both kicked and pulled to grab it. "You're the most obnoxious person, I know!" he shouted back, both of you grabbing the ball of snow at the same time and cradling it between your chests, neither of your grips faltering as both of you tried to pry it from each other.

After the constant struggle and a harsh yank from Matt, the piece of ice broke between the both of you, crumbling into smaller chunks. You sat up looking at him with furrowed eyebrows, him mirroring your actions as his hands still clawed on the ground beneath him. "I hate you." you whispered, almost unsure even though that's what you were sure you felt for him all the time you've known him.

"I hate you more." he replied, his head turning to the side as you swiped snow at him. Your hands grabbing another handful of snow, getting ready to throw it at him once again but failing as he grabbed your wrist. Your fight against his grip was futile as he did nothing but slowly pull you closer towards him.

Stopping your fight against his unwavering grip, you looked up to see him already looking at you. His eyes no longer clouded with faulty hate but a more sincere look. He looked tired in a way, as if his walls were finally starting to break down and he no longer wanted to fight what he really felt about you.

"Do you really hate me?" he asked quietly, his hand slowly starting to release the hold he had on your wrist. It took you a second to register his words and for you to catch your breath.

You couldn't exactly remember how the little feud between the two of you even started, nor could you remember why it stuck around for so long. But what you did know is that you didn't hate him. At least not as much as you fronted like you did.

You simply nodded your head 'no' as you watched and waited for his reaction. "I don't hate you either...the exact opposite actually." He murmured. The two of you were so stuck in this trance of newfound emotions that you failed to hear the timer for the contest buzz on and on, and Nick yelled for everyone to gather around so he could judge the snowmen.

Before you realized he was closer than before. The warmth of his breath caressing your lips, Matt licked his lips before he grabbed the front of your jacket and pulled you towards him, finally breaking the invisible barrier between you two and pressing his lips against yours. Your lips moved in sync, emotions bursting at the seams. Confusion, lust, and longing surrounded you as you fell into the kiss. Puffs of smoke leave your noses as you press further into the kiss. Tilting his head far to the side as he pulled you on top of him.

The kiss was rough, clashing of his teeth against yours with your tongues intertwined. It was a nonstop battle for dominance but you wouldn't have it any other way. Even if you didn't win that stupid contest, you were able to confront your love for the man you swore was your enemy..

' 𝒕𝒂𝒈𝒍𝒊𝒔𝒕 ' 🎁: @emely9274 @ginswife @chrisstvrns @conspiracy-ash @sturnina @lovetaylorrussellgrr @nervoussagittarius @sacaydia @chrissturnsss @hearts4werka @chrisprincesss @koilaniazul @starsforu @sturn777 @sturniolosiphone @chrisfavoritewhore @sturnsmia @leaningoutthewindow

[free-boundsoul]

Yknow, it would have been so cute if Vincent, Porter, Sam and their partners had a little holiday party.

Sam complaining about the mistletoe that Vincent hung everywhere. (But not complaining when Darlin' drags him underneath one in passing)

Porter surprising everyone by making the best hot chocolate (something he perfected for Treasure, who had to taste test every creation until he found the perfect ratio.)

Everyone singing along as Vincent plays the piano. (Ya'll can pry musician Vincent outta my cold dead hands.)

Lovely and Vincent went all out decorating their house. They spent almost all of November looking up inspiration and collecting ideas on Pinterest.

Darlin' dragged everyone outside so they could have a best snowman contest which ended up becoming a snowball fight when Vincent and Porter ended up arguing about who won.

Fireside couple cuddles and reminiscing on past holidays as they warm up.

[eminems-skittles]

Jess Mariano with the prompts 1. “Are you cold?” “No.” And 12. “My jacket looks good on you.” (But they’re not dating yet and there’s tension between them🥹)

25 days of christmas event

pairings: jess mariano x reader

warnings: none just fluff

a/n: hope you like it anon!!! i love writing jess <3

why you were voluntarily out in the cold, harsh wind, you weren’t sure. it was the morning of the snowman building contest and there was nothing you wanted more than to be snuggled in bed with all the blankets you could find. the cold air hitting your face was probably the harshest of wake up calls and the cold bench you were sitting on did little to prevent the shivers that were jolting through you. the only thing offering any relief from the icy air was the near empty cup of coffee from luke’s diner.

making the trek to luke’s seemed to take longer than you would have and you debated running across the street to get there that much quicker.

you sighed gratefully as the warmth of the diner overtook you, heating your cold nose and cheeks while you removed your gloves.

��hey y/n,” jess said as he walked by you with a smile that seemed to only be reserved for you. “i’ll be right there.”

you nodded, your face heating up for an entirely different reason. of course he had to be there when you were nowhere near functioning as a normal person would. you walked over to the counter and sat down, relieved to be sitting on something that didn’t feel like sitting on an ice cube.

“more coffee?” luke asked, moving to grab the pot from where it was sitting. you opened your to-go cup and placed it on the counter in front of you.

“yes please,” you sighed. luke filled the paper cup up with coffee before moving on to the next customer. jess appeared behind the counter a moment later.

“luke already get you coffee?” he asked. you nodded as you took a sip, the warm liquid already warming you up. “i was just about to head out there, you coming?”

“sure,” you agreed, immediately mentally cursing yourself. you were freezing you didn’t want to go back outside so why on earth did you agree? it was simple. jess asked you to, so you said yes.

jess called to luke saying he’d be right back and the two of you made your way back into the harsh cold. he led the way to the same bench you previously occupied. a silence that was equal parts awkward yet comfortable over took the two of you and the shivers that wracked your body returned.

“are you cold?” jess asked after a minute of silently observing you. that seemed to be what he did best. he was always observing, picking up on the things you believed to be nearly imperceptible.

“no,” you replied stubbornly. he could see you were cold, you might as well have ‘i’m freezing’ written across your forehead in sharpie. “it’s just a little chilly.”

“y/n, you’re shaking like a chihuahua,” he stated simply. before you knew it, he was shrugging off his jacket and placing it in your hands. “put it on.”

“aren’t you going to be cold?” you asked him.

“i’m going back in soon, i’ll be fine,” he said. you sighed and stood up, removing the jacket you were currently wearing and replacing it with his much larger, must warmer jacket. he smiled at the sight and if he noticed you subtly inhaling the traces of his cologne on the jacket, he didn’t say anything.

you smiled shyly at him muttering a quiet thank you. his hand came up to your face, pushing a piece of hair that had fallen in front of your face behind your ear. his eyes trailed down to his jacket again.

his hand was resting on your cheek now and his thumb brushed across it, trying to send some warmth to your face in order to stop you from freezing. he leaned in but was interrupted by something cold hitting him.

“get back to work!” luke yelled, brushing snow off his hands. as he was walking back to the diner, he shouted “i’m not paying you to flirt!”

“did he really just throw a snowball at me?” jess asked incredulously, trying to get the snow off of his t-shirt.

you laughed and he smiled back at you. “so you have to get back?”

“apparently,” jess grumbled, annoyed that his uncle cut his time with you short. he started walking back to the diner but before he could get too far, he turned back to face you. “my jacket looks good on you. keep it.”

and like that, he had disappeared back into the diner and your crush on him grew impossibly larger. suddenly, the cold wasn’t all that unbearable, the warmth from his jacket (and his words) spreading through you like wildfire.

[lunastryinc]

hi babes! we are so excited to announce our new planned event we have coming to you guys for this month. from december 13th until december 18th, you are all invited to spend 5 nights in the slopes of st. moritz, switzerland. we have several things on the itinerary for you all to enjoy and it can be found in the cut below.

this event is optional. if you are interested in attending, please give this post a like! the cut off date for signing up is december 8th. there will be no exceptions for late sign ups this time so that we are able to finalize the final details before the dates of the event.

dec 13th - arrival day: you will arrive and check in to the resort and find your assigned cabin. on this day, you may get rested up from the travels or explore the cute little village of st. moritz.

dec 14th - charity events: lunastry is excited to announce that we will be hosting a charity event for anyone who wants to participate! during the day, there will be a vendors market for people to sell their goods as well as a skills competition for the athletes in the group. at night, there will be an open mic/karaoke event for those of you who are more musically inclined. we will leave it up to writer discretion to decide how you will contribute! all proceeds raised by lunastry will benefit charities that help families throughout the holiday season. to participate, we will make another post where you can sign up for the charity events and let us know what your muse will be doing.

dec 15th - free day: take your time and enjoy the resort! you can hit the slopes with your friends or stay bundled up inside, drinking hot chocolate by the fire. the main lodge also includes a small day-spa and sauna for you to relax and warm up after a day out in the snow.

dec 16th - snow in: the weather forecast is predicting a snowstorm to hit the mountainside early morning of the 16th. although the lodge is well equipped to deal with blizzards, you might all find yourselves snowed in your respective cabins for a few hours until the lodge employees are able to dig you out. be sure to stock up on blankets and snacks!

dec 17th - snowman building contest: like we did with the pumpkin carving contest, we will be hosting a snowman building competition! first place winner gets an exclusive interview in the next edition of eclipse media magazine. more information on how to participate will be posted on the 13th to give everyone time to find the perfect snowman to share.

dec 18th - checkout day: time to pack up and head on out back home- and maybe snag one last cookie before you go

we are super excited for this laidback event and hope you are to! as always, if you have any questions, you can send us an ask, slide into our dms, or message us directly on chats @ lunaincmods x

[agmagazinescans]

Girl's Express

American Girl Magazine, January/February 2001

[Ko-Fi Donations]

[moonlitdesertdreams]

Moonlight Serenades

A/N: Season 2 = A cutesy cozy Joel Miller one-shot cause I NEED this old man Relationship: Joel Miller/Reader (implied/established relationship) Tags: Joel Miller x reader, Joel Miller x you, The Last of Us Imagines, Joel Miller, Ellie WARNINGS: none Summary: You and Joel entertain the townsfolk on a snowy night (Pre season 2, in an alternate happy universe)

Word Count: 1.6k+

Powdery snow falls slow on Jackson, glittering beneath warm streetlights.

As winter closes in on the mountains, the sun slinks away earlier. In its absence, a dusky evening sky and crescent moon hang overhead. Kids and adults alike enjoy the excitement of sledding and snowman-building in the roadways. Calls of victory erupt from a young boy when he beats the rest in a sled race, and one ambitious dad has even saddled up a gelding to haul a sled behind. 

You’re not so keen on the snow-based activities, having grown up in the Arizona desert for most of your life before the outbreak. Ellie had begged and pleaded for you to join her and some of the other teenagers in a ‘who-can-build-the-biggest-snowman’ contest, but you opted instead for your seat near a bonfire with a few other adults all lacking interest in winter sports. It might have started as a makeshift fire pit in your yard, but has grown into an evening staple for the adults who enjoy slow nights and strong drinks.

Orange flames crackle up from a seemingly endless supply of logs, one of the men volunteering to go get more wood every time it’s needed. You sit curled up on the right side of a wooden bench, wool blanket wrapped around your shoulders and slippers on your feet. Opposite from you, the other side of the bench is vacant as it awaits Joel’s return from patrol. Tommy had walked by a few minutes ago and mentioned the group had returned, and you assume Joel is finishing up with putting away horse tack before joining. 

Joel, unsurprisingly, had taken a few weeks to warm up to the idea of sitting outside with a bunch of strangers. The first few days were tense and awkward, but he’s warmed up with your encouragement. Ellie also urged him on, even to the point where he’d bring out a guitar and strum it in the company of others besides her and yourself. If you know the tune well enough, Joel usually nudges your toe with his boot until you sing along. It’s a small semblance of normalcy in the strange world you live, for both your little family and the other residents 

These ‘moonlight serenades’, as they’ve been so kindly termed by Tommy, are a regular occurrence now. 

Tonight seems to be no exception.

“This seat taken?”

A smile splits across your face at the familiar drawl, and you look up at Joel fondly. He stands behind the bench, aforementioned guitar in one hand and a steaming mug in the other. You tilt your head curiously at the drink, prompting him to offer it  to you. Cinnamon and orange blend together as the vapor reaches your nose. 

“What’s this?” You take the mug, cold fingers magnetizing to the hot ceramic. “It smells amazing.”

“Mulled wine. Guess they’ve been brewin’ it for a while but just got the recipe right.” Joel groans as he sits on the bench, dressed in a blue button down and sheep-wool lined coat. His jeans are dirty and his boots caked in a mix of mud and snow. 

A chorus of greetings are offered to Joel, and he nods back at those he’s more familiar with. His warm brown eyes zero in on Ellie as she argues with their impromptu snowman judge, both of the man-made creatures towering over the kids. 

“She tried to get me to join.” You murmur, taking a sip of the hot spiced wine and stretching your legs so you can tuck your toes beneath Joel’s thigh. “Pretty certain they didn’t need any of my help though.” 

“I think they roped Tommy in.” Margaret, a wiry brunette whose son was also rallying around the judge says. “Not sure if that’s considered cheating or not.”

Everyone chuckles, conversations dying back down to murmurs between those who sat close. Joel spins the tuning pegs on his guitar, fingers plucking away at the strings. You imagine he’s flipping through his internal music catalog deciding what to play. He’d had a few old country songs added recently thanks to Ellie, who found a battered songbook one day on patrol.. She, at first, wrinkled her nose at the ‘70’s Country Hits’ title, but asked you later if you would help wrap it as a present for him. 

Needless to say, she hadn’t been able to wait until Christmas. 

“Joel!” Speaking of his adopted child, the girl comes trotting over from their competition, smile on her face. “We won, check it out.!”

Without a blink of hesitation, Joel follows her gaze to the snowman. You forget how much of a childhood Ellie’s missed out on, and smile at her enthusiasm. 

“You use Tommy to help you put the head on?” Joel asks, playful and accusatory. 

“There were no rules about adults helping put heads on.” Ellie bites back. She sits on the next bench over with another girl whose name slips your mind. 

Joel only hums, eyes narrowed in faux suspicion. He continues picking away at the instrument in his hands, eventually propping the bottom on his boot and squeezing your ankles fondly. 

“You have to play something, Joel.” Ellie speaks up when she thinks the instrument is going to get put away and most of the other adults have trickled off back to their houses. “Serenade us.” 

You bark a laugh. Tipping to the side lets you catch Ellie’s eye. 

“Maybe you should learn to play guitar, El. Then you can serenade wherever and whoever you want.”

Blush spreads like wildfire through her cheeks, and she looks to Joel with those eyes you’ve seen a thousand times. The eyes that he can’t say no to, ones he would run through hell and high water to see again. You scoot across the bench to make room when Ellie tries to cram herself between Joel and the far side of the bench. He leans into your space, and your heart thrums happily being in the presence of your little family. 

“What do you want to hear, darlin’?” Joel holds the guitar with one hand, arm nearest you wrapping your shoulders in a one-armed hug. His nose nudges your cheek fondly. 

“Oh, I don’t know.” You tap your fingers against your chin thoughtfully. “I suppose whatever Ellie wants to hear.”

This bickering continues, vying for different song choices until Joel ignores you both and starts strumming a familiar tune. Ellie smiles and moves back to her own bench so she can stretch out, lying on her back and facing the sky. You move so Joel can have full use of his arms, sitting cross legged and facing him. His deep voice never picks up the lyrics, just hums along until you start. 

“Delta Dawn, what's that flower you have on?

Could it be a faded rose from days gone by?”

Ellie’s hand swings back and forth to the tune, and you notice others milling about are creeping back towards the fire. In the apocalypse, live music is rare enough to draw a crowd regardless of the time of night. 

“All the folks around Brownsville say she's crazy

'Cause she walks downtown with her suitcase in her hand

Looking for a mysterious dark haired man”

By the time you get a couple bars into the bridge, the group you thought to be in bed has returned. Joel is still humming along, Ellie giggling alongside the same girl she’d built the snowman with, and you getting more shy as a group gathers. 

“And did I hear you say he was a-meetin' you here today

To take you to his mansion in the sky?”

You clear your throat nervously as the song ends, skin flushed red from both the wine and stage fright. Joel, ever calm, claps his hands despite his own part in the music. Others follow suit, and Ellie cheers your name happily. Snow still falls, peppering Joel’s gray-streaked hair with flakes of crystalline white. To mediate your nervousness, you brush it away and squeeze his shoulder. 

“Pretty good for an old man.” Tommy’s voice pulls your attention away from his older brother. 

Joel scowls at him. “Pretty good-lookin’ snowman for a ugly guy.”

The eldest sibling dodges a swing from Tommy, but they end  up laughing it off once Joel threatens him for teasing you. It’s clear that your audience is expecting another song, but Ellie’s non-stop yawning and the dark bags under Joel’s eyes indicate otherwise. You all stick around for a few jokes and a second round of mulled wine, until inky darkness chases away the purple haze of dusk and it nears ten o’clock. The snowfall grows thick, encouraging everyone back into the warmth of their own homes.

Ellie leads the way back to the house, while yourself and Joel linger behind. His arm slips around your waist, rubbing along your side to warm you up. It’s easy to let your head fall on his shoulder and soak up closeness. 

“D’you think you can do that again tomorrow?” Ellie asks on the porch. “Sing by the fire, I mean? I want Dina to hear the song you played in the kitchen the other night.”

Your eyes meet Joel’s, and Ellie doesn’t even have to think about utilizing hers. He shepherds you both into the home, muttering his agreement. She disappears right after, no doubt off to bed, and Joel tugs you in a circle to press a firm kiss against your mouth. 

“What do you think, sweetheart?” He breathes the question into your mouth, tasting like mint and mulled wine. “Will you serenade an old man and his guitar again tomorrow?”

You’re drunk on his kisses- and maybe a little too much alcohol- and scratch your nails along his nape. He kisses you again,  all the chill from being outside in the winter vanishing in a split-second. 

“I think I can make that happen.” You grin as he pulls you to the stairs. “Old men with guitars happen to be my favorite.”

-

Thank you for reading ❤️