#tescheer2023

[falmerbrook]

@tescheer Week 4: Blizzard

Snow Elf headcanon time! (ft. A younger Gelebor and Vyrthur)

We don’t know a lot about the Snow Elf religious practices, but the sun-inspired motifs and imagery in a place that probably gets nasty winter weather and little to no sunlight for several months of the year intrigues me. I like to think the folks at the Chantry of Auri-El think of winter as a more contemplative time and a time to test and strengthen one’s faith.

#tescheer #tescheer2023 #skyrim #tes #the elder scrolls #snow elves #gelebor #vyrthur #my art #mine #this ended up being more background practice than anything so don’t look too closely at the boys

[argisthebulwark]

Happy week number two of @tescheer folks!!✨ I know that this is not entirely canon compliant but I am too obsessed with the idea of a New Years kiss with Brynjolf to care <3 This is another prompt combo - Kiss and Party :)

With each second that passed, they grew closer to the closing of that disastrous year. The Guild Master was tucked securely into her chair and attempted her sternest expression in case anyone happened to look her way. While the festivities were exciting, they were no excuse to fall behind in her work. Recruits needed fresh armor, new training dummies needed to be procured, and she had a meeting with the Black Briars that she'd yet to prepare for. Sweeping a hand over her table she grabbed a list of jobs yet to be assigned - a meeting with Delvin and Vex would certainly be added to her ever growing to-do list. 

Another round of laughter interrupted her thoughts. The Guild Master's gaze tracked around the tavern and felt something tugging in her chest - thieves gathered around the bar, drinks half finished and heads thrown back in laughter. It felt like a lifetime ago that she'd been part of their group, free from the constant weight of responsibility she now bore.

When she'd been awarded with the position of Guild Master it had felt like such an honor, a reward for what she'd endured. As the months dragged by she'd begun to realize why no one else was eager for the job. Mercer had enough thieving to last them a lifetime, which left her with little more than a never ending pile of paperwork and a persistent headache. 

"C'mon, lass." Brynjolf placed a mug of ale atop her list and the Guild Master grit her teeth. "Celebrate with us." 

"I have tasks to finish." She attempted to wave him off, though a hand around her wrist stopped whatever protest came next. Brynjolf's cheeks were slightly pink and his armor was unbuckled to reveal a dark shirt. Despite her best efforts she hadn't been able to stomp out that damned crush on him. It had stuck around since that first fateful encounter. The smile on his lips seemed to melt away all her worries when he guided her out of the chair. 

"It's almost the new year." He countered and she knew her resolve wouldn't last. She tried to remain wary but the excited chatter only grew as an ancient clock ticked down the seconds. The Guild Master's head felt fuzzy when Brynjolf's hand rested on her lower back, guiding her deeper into the crowd. Surrounded by old friends and new recruits, she allowed herself a moment of relaxation. 

"Been one hell of a year." Delvin's gruff voice cut through the rest, all conversations quieting. The Guild Master's cheeks burned when he raised his mug and nodded in her direction. "But with the help of Brynjolf and his favorite little recruit, we've finally righted the ship." 

Brynjolf's rich laugh warmed her heart. He remained close and bore an easy smile she'd seen less often during the past few weeks. He looked comfortable, like he could finally relax. A large hand patted her on the shoulder the Guild Master's stomach sank as all eyes turned to her. She prayed that they wouldn't expect a motivational speech.

"Choosin’ you is still the best decision I’ve ever made." His voice dripped with sentimentality and breathing became difficult. His gaze always knocked her off balance, heart skittering out of control and hands clumsy when he looked at her. She tended to ignore the childish crush, stuffing feelings down until they became easy to avoid. But as the last minute of their tumultuous year slipped away it was dangerously easy to grow closer to him, those old feelings bubbling to the surface. 

"Ten! Nine! Eight!" 

"I should get back to work." She breathed, enticed by the way Brynjolf had drifted closer. Bodies jostled as thieves joined in on a chant, counting down until the beginning of a new year. 

"Seven! Six!" 

"Is that what you want?" His words were heavy with another meaning she couldn't hope to discern. The Guild Master's throat ran dry when she recalled the old tradition - the myth that kissing your partner as the clock struck midnight heralded a prosperous new year. Brynjolf's deep green eyes took in every move she made and she knew she could reject him now, could flee to her desk and hide behind her work. 

"Five!" 

"No." She answered finally, hands trembling at her sides. Someone's elbow jabbed into her back as they hurried past, sending her stumbling closer to Brynjolf.

"Four!" 

"What do you want then, lass?" Deep and sultry, his words broke the last of her resolve. 

"Three! Two!"

Her eyes fluttered closed and her heart sang when she swallowed against the cowardly urge to back out. She'd sold her soul to a Daedric Prince and faced off against unbeatable foes, she could be brave for this one moment.

"One!" 

Kissing him was messy, arms flung around his shoulders and noses bumping together. He tasted like ale but the Guild Master paid it no mind. Brynjolf's hands steadied her, chuckling into the kiss. One strong arm wrapped around her waist and she was in heaven, Brynjolf's lips moving so easily against hers. It was better than all those little fantasies that had floated around in her mind over the years, clumsy yet perfect. Somewhere off in the distance she heard someone hollering her name but nothing mattered other than his kiss.

She didn't open her eyes when he pulled away, forehead pressed to hers. A soft kiss landed on her overheated cheek but she couldn't look quite yet. Her cheeks burned when she heard one of the thieves wolf whistling and fought to stay in this blissful little moment with Brynjolf.

"Hell of a way to start the new year." 

#writing #skyrim #tescheer2023 #week two: kiss #week two: party #tescheer #brynjolf

[nine-blessed-hero]

A Light in the Darkness

Universe: TES IV: Oblivion (Vanilla) CW: Alcohol Words: 619 Context: Written for the @tescheer prompt "Lantern".

[Being an excerpt of Arkved of Cheydinhal's journal, c. 3E431]

The month of Morning Star is a drear and dreadful one. Even Anvil, jewel of the Gold Coast, is not immune to winter-tide storms filled with freezing rain and howling gales. The Abecean grows bitter and cruel under leaden skies, goaded by the winds to make rubble of the docks and soak through even the toughest oilcloth. The desperate weather, however, could not deter me from attending a most interesting event with my good friend, the painter Rythe Lythandas.

Attired in our glad rags and oilcloths, we ran through the sheeting rain from the Count's Arms to the Great Chapel of Dibella; for what better time than this dark and dreadful month to bring the light and cheer from a celebration of the Arts?

And cheer there was, in plenty! The church's main floor had been rearranged, with great trestles down the center and pews becoming seats at the feast table. And those pews were filled bursting with painters and playwrights, weavers and tale-spinners, artisans and lutists. The raucous crowd rhapsodized with animate flailing of limbs. Snatches of song, as took the players' fancy, filled the air. Laughter danced, sprinkled between lines of poetry.

The Sybil welcomed us in, bade us relax and find a place in the myriad company. I found my hand filled with a cup of mulled wine and with Rythe gayly beside me, took my time in admiring the chapel. It may surprise you, dear reader, that despite this chronicler's wide travels, I had yet to be inside this very chapel.

The chapel is a vast space, with arching hights – velvet-dark on this night of revelry – decorated in sheets of dainty lace. Planters of sunrise-coloured flowers adorned the altar, but what most struck me were the garlands of sacred lotus flowers. They hung suspended on threads of gold between the chapel pillars and, like joyful lanterns, glittered by some magical fancy. Under their soft incandescence, as if the hand of the goddess was laid upon my brow, I was filled with peace and awe at the marvels and wonder of our world. At my side, Rythe nudged me. "Committing it all to memory, eh?" "Indeed," said I, my gaze lingering upon them, "They're extraordinary in their holy beauty." "Take good note then, my friend. You can describe them to me anon, and I shall paint them for you." "Oh! You're the painter with the 'magic' brush," Rythe's neighbour cried, and Rythe turned away to converse with them, while my own – on hearing I was a scholarly adventurer – implored me to tell of my travels. And thus the night was spent in amiable chatter and the trading of stories; but ever did my eyes find those most sacred of blooms…

–––

Several months later, Rythe invited me to dine with he and his Lady wife, and bade me recount the glittering lotus blooms to her, her delighted smile widening as I spoke. As we were saying goodbye, he handed me a small rectangle, wrapped in cloth. I should not open it, said he, until I was at home. Dutifully I did so, and found to my most pleasant surprise a portrait of myself, gazing up at the golden blooms, my face dusted with buttercream light. It hangs in my study, mere feet from where I write now, lending me the joy of that night.

Although… I would swear to you, gentle reader, there is something otherworldly about it. On nights most foul, when winter has his firm and frozen grip upon the world, the painted blooms will glow with an echo of the revels in Anvil, dusting my room in Dibella's golden light.

#Week 3: Lantern #tescheer2023 #oc Arkved of Cheydinhal #faux lore #dibella #anvil #headcanon festival #writing #TESFic #oblivion fanfiction #oblivion fanfic #tes oblivion #The Elder Scrolls #I swear this isn't because of da3drat's post - but it may have helped #I mostly wanted to write something new short and quickly finished #also I would love to get the scene described in the painting depicted irl but I have no idea what Arkved looks like... #wandering words

[wildhexe]

TESCheer Week Two

It's that time of the year! The holidays are upon us and so is @tescheer! I might post week one at another time, but for now I hope everyone enjoys week two.

The prompt I chose was mountain with a bit of gray thrown in and an almost-kiss. This is set in a completely random time that doesn't follow through with my main fic, Cursed Dawn.

Also landed close to WIP Wednesday, so I'm gonna tag @friend-of-giants, @boethiahspillowbook, @elfinismsarts, @thana-topsy, @v1ctory-or-sovngarde, @umbracirrus, @bostoniangirl21, @arisenlicious, @vivifriend, @thequeenofthewinter, @mareenavee, @lucien-lachance. If you guys wanna participate in TEScheer, make sure to tag me! The prompts are so, so, so good and I want to see what you guys write. Love you all and happy holidays!

───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────

Entirely in Vilkas POV. No warnings apply.

My knees ached as I trudged up the mountain, the snow crunching under my steel boots. Snow fell down leaving a fine layer atop the seemingly eternal blanketed mountain - The Throat of the World. A foolish feat to get to the top, yet I found myself more and more eager to take a peek at High Hrothgar. Entrance, of course, would be denied. But to have simply a glimpse at the looming structure atop the highest mountain and knowing of what legendary men were beyond the doors was enough for me.

A frustrated grumble was heard behind me and I turned only to roll my eyes as I was met with my clumsy shield-sister, the eternal pain in my side, as she had sunk knee deep into a snow mound. I couldn't help but chuckle as I reached out to grab her hand and yank her up in one swift motion, a sheepish smile crossing her features as she dusted off her thick leathers.

"Stop underestimating how deep some spots are, else you're gonna be doing that a lot more." I spoke with a firm, yet amused tone. She had every right to come with me on this journey, yet she was making it more of a chore than a thrilling trip. Her company, however, was not completely unwanted, though I would never admit it to her face.

"That's what?" She shook the snow off the thick cloak I had loaned her the day prior. She hadn't needed it, for vampires don't feel the cold, yet something inside me knew she needed that added layer of protection, if not to only feel normal once again. "Five times already." She finished in between shakes, the snow blowing directly into my face.

"Can you put it back on and stop waving it around? Bound to catch the attention of a mountain troll with all the noise you're making."

"Sorry." She spoke, though there was no indication that she actually was. I snorted before turning on my heel and continuing up the mountain. I could make out the shape of High Hrothgar. We were close.

It was silent again for a time, just the soft crunching of snow. It didn't last too long. As we rounded a steep corner, it took everything in my power to still my heart as Caterina slid and only stopped herself from toppling over the edge by shoving her back up against the thick trunk of a spruce tree. Something raged within me. An anger I had known very few times. Though why? I wasn't sure. I should be worried. Relieved that the tree had caught her. But I discovered the anger was stemming from fear. With no hesitation, I stomped my way towards her, my height and thick armor making my weigh too much to be dragged down the steep edge. That was something that the breton needed to be aware of; that no matter what, she was not made for these conditions.

It had been some time since I let my emotions get the better of me as I loomed over her figure pressed against the tree, both of us just a step away from sudden doom. I glanced behind the tree and was met with nothing but the gray night - snow and fog from the mountain making it look as though we would be jumping into a bed of fresh snow and not to our deaths down the rocky edges below. Cat held no fear in her eyes as she glanced at me with a cheeky expression.

"That would have been bad."

"How many times do I have to tell you?" I began, my eye twitching as I stared her down, her eyes quickly diverting away from me I was hit with an immense amount of frustration. In one swift motion, I placed a finger under her chin and forced her to meet my steel gaze. Her eyes held a surprised expression as she parted her lips as if she were about to speak, but quickly closed them as if deciding against pushing my buttons further. Smart girl.

"I'm going to say this one last time." I lowered my voice as I inched my face closer to hers. "Be careful."

I gazed at her lips. Thin and so pale of a pink that it almost matched the tone of her skin. The only hint of color was the slight inflamed area of her lip that she sucked in her mouth to bit down on when she was nervous. These days, it came all too often and I caught Serana scolding her many times for her careless action.

Caterina looked at me expectedly and seemed to inch closer towards my face, triggering something within me. Empathy. Relief. Perhaps even affection. Wait. Affection? Absolutely not. As much as I wanted to pull her into my embrace and take those slightly damaged lips and press them firmly against my own… no. Yet my mouth was so close to her own that I could make out the sharpened points of her teeth as she parted her lips slightly as if she needed more air. In a quick motion she closed her lips, smiled, and affectionately pressed the tip of her nose against mine.

"It's Saturalia." She mumbled softly, her sudden voice taking me by surprise.

"What?" I opened my eyes and stared down at the breton as I yanked her from her dangerous position at the base of the tree. She made a soft noise at the sudden movement, but recovered quickly as we reached flat, non-dangerous land much to her relief.

"Saturalia. We need to hurry and get back before this coming up night, remember? I don't think anyone would ever forgive us if we missed the gift opening ceremony." She laughed as she rubbed at her cheeks before quickly placing her hands at her sides as if realizing that she still can't feel the cold.

"Phantom sensations again?" She only nodded in response. "And don't worry. So long as you don't get into more trouble, we should be able to make it."

"Good." She spoke with elation. "Because I have a really good present for you."

"What's that?"

"Me, of course."

"Wait, what?"

Her laugh was infectuous. "I'm only kidding. I'm not for sale and even if I was, you couldn't afford me." She joked. I couldn't help but smile at her impish behavior. "Now come on. Let's hurry. We have a party to get to soon."

And so we both continued, but for reasons unknown, I didn't want this time to end. I didn't want to share her with the others. I wanted her all to myself this day and had absolutely no plans on hurrying. Neither did she for that matter as she suddenly found herself getting stuck in another mound of snow.

I smiled.

#tescheer #tescheer2023 #week two tescheer #elder scrolls #skyrim #Caterina motierre #vilkas #the companions #one-shot #my writing #cursed dawn #vilkat

[hannah-heartstrings]

Heart Warmed

Thiefguard fluff for the @tescheer prompt: treat.

I just wanted to write some quick fluff and play with prose, but it turned out a tad longer and more emotional than I planned because of course it did.

Happy New Year everyone! And a big thank you to everyone who's read my fics this year, your support has meant so much. 🫶

@druidx @babyblueetbaemonster @inkysqueed

---------

            Cheydinhal marketplace swirled with activity from people and snow.

            Lecrinn stood at the edge of a small crowd, listening to Morrowind flutes, and shivering at the cold that left a pink tint on her face. At movement beside her, her head whipped to see Garrus. “Where’d you sneak off to?” Her face wrinkled in confusion. “How’d you sneak off?”

            With a smile, he offered a tankard.

            “What’s this?”

            “A hot cacao drink from Elsweyr, I was told you’d like it.”

            Taking it, she looked down the tankard, steam wafting up to warm her nose and fill it with a sweet rich scent. Sipping it, she was filled with chocolate flavored warmth. “Mmm,” she closed her eyes with a big smile, “they were right.”

            He beamed.

            Opening her eyes, her smile fell a little. “Where’s yours?”

            “Oh, uh,” he looked like that thought hadn’t crossed his mind.

            She huffed and walked off. Finding the cart, she placed some coins on it. “Another one please, it’s very good.”

            “Thank you, miss,” there was a smile in the khajiit’s voice. He ladled the liquid from a pot over a fire and into a tankard. Handing it to her, she handed it to Garrus.

            He took a careful sip before looking surprised, it quickly turning into a smile.

            She smiled back before taking another gulp of hers. Seeing something behind him, her eyes widened. “Ooh!” she ran off, he chasing after. She ran up to a breton selling croissants. “These will go great with it.”

            Soon they sat on a bench with their treats.

            “Are these enchanted?” Lecrinn stared down her tankard. “How is it still warm?”

            “Maybe it has fire salts in it?”

            “In that case I might’ve found something worth braving atronachs for,” she laughed before suddenly looking nervous. “I mean, not that-” Looking up at him, she stopped.

            His eyes looked soft and understanding, telling her that she didn’t have to pretend.

            She let the smile she was trying to force just fall as she looked down. “Not that… I even fight them, I just run past.”

            “I think being able to outrun a daedra while it throws fire at you is amazing.”

            She gave an unhappy smile. “Thanks, so’s your ability to always find something nice to say about me.”

            His face fell, looking hurt. “That isn’t hard, honestly it isn’t. You manage to run through the plains of Oblivion, never stopping till you’ve won, is that not amazing?”

            Her eyes turned up to him, his pleading with her to believe him. She looked back down with a shy smile. “I guess so…”

            He smiled sadly.

            “Thanks, I guess I spend so much time scared that I forget.” Looking at him, her face pulled into a slight smirk. “You know… you’re pretty amazing yourself.”

            Blushing, he looked away unsure. “Well, thank you.”

            “Hey!” She scooted closer to elbow his arm. “I mean that just as much as you meant yours.” Her voice softened, “I might be saving the world but its people like you who keep it from falling apart.”

            His face fell into a surprised realization. Facing forward, his eyes turned to her with a small, touched smile.

            “And as hard as you work, you’re especially doing a good job. I mean,” she looked down with a shy smirk, “not just anyone could change my mind about guards,” looking back up the smirk overtook the shy, “I can be pretty stubborn.”

            He turned more to her with a laughing smile. “I’ve noticed.”

            She giggled a little back, his smile widening. Starting to blush, she looked away, taking a bite of her croissant and frowning as she chewed the cold bread.

            A breeze went by, she shivering, snow swirling, and the steam from her mug trailing after the wind.

            Seeing the steam, Lecrinn dipped her bread into the drink, the chocolatey and buttery flavors combining in a warm bite. “You’ve got to try it this way!” She turned back to Garrus with an excited smile, he already returning it. “They’re even better together.”

            He tried it, smiling wide, his eyes seemed to sparkle at her. “You’re right!”

            She decided not to look away this time, rosy cheeks raising as her eyes twinkled back.

            The snow picked up, but they stayed warmed by their drinks and hearts warmed by each other.

#tescheer #tescheer2023 #oblivion fanfiction #oblivion #the elder scrolls #tes #tes oc #hero of kvatch #fluff #fanfiction #writing #my writing #week four: treat #oc: lecrinn #lecrinn #garrus darelliun #thiefguard #garrus isn't stealthy she just wasn't paying attention at the beginning

[alpha-centauriiae]

TESCheer Week Three - A Gift and a Snuggle

Prompts provide me with such a good opportunity to write about my OC's! Thanks to @tescheer for giving me that opportunity!

Caylene looked out over the great basin below, pulling her cloak tighter around her armored frame. The nights in Hammerfell were deathly cold, particularly as it neared Saturalia - even without snow, frostbite had claimed extremities of some of the less well traveled men who hadn’t expected it.

Footfalls trampled up the wooden steps to the ramparts, and the Breton felt Senti’s soft palm resting on her arm through the cloak. “Homesick?” The Redguard asked in a low tone, leaning in for warmth.

“In a way. I think I miss the snow. Da could trudge through it up to his waist as if he were walking on an Imperial road. He went out late to find strong wood, and stayed up all night to carve me figurines.” Caylene rummaged in her side pack for a moment before producing a small, wooden knight on horseback. He had painted it in the heraldry of Daggerfall. “He used to tell me, ‘I can only hope you learn the craft; Clan Luzgarz made half of its wealth from sculpting’ and I would only nod. He told that story so many times I could repeat it in my sleep.”

Senti’s lips curled at the corners. “Dear, you already have. You mumble for hours.” 

Caylene cleared her throat, slipping the item back into her bag. “Yes, well. There’s much on my mind.”

The Redguard’s practiced hands slipped beneath Caylene’s cloak, pulling the knight’s hand back out into the open, and pressed another figurine into her palm. It sparkled in the moonlight like the surface of the Iliac, cut from quartz and showing a mage in the traditional wear of a Forebear. “I thought you would want something to remember me by, should something happen, or we part ways once the war is over. Alteration magic has a number of novel applications I’ve picked up under apprenticeship in Sentinel.” The mage pressed her lips to Caylene’s cold cheek, and after a moment, the knight was alone again. She looked over the great basin below and smiled at the glittering sand.

#tescheer #tescheer2023 #week two #week two: gift and snuggle #writing #oc:senti #oc:caylene #elder scrolls #tesblr #tes #the elder scrolls

[tescheer]

TES Cheer 2023 is Happening!

This year, things will be a bit different from the past two years, and you can find rules and more information on our pinned post here.

The event will run from November 26th, 2023 until December 25th, 2023, but there will also be a grace period until January 1st, 2024 as well! We understand that it can be a very busy time of year for many and want anyone who chooses to participate to feel as welcome as possible.

Please remember to @tescheer and tag your posts as #tescheer or #tescheer2023 so we can find you!

The Prompts

Week One: November 26th - December 2nd - Cloak - Snow - Sparkle - Home - Music

Week Two: December 3rd - December 9th - Sled - Gray - Kiss - Party - Mountain

Week Three: December 10th - December 16th - Gift - Lantern - Hat -Snuggle - Night

Week Four: December 17th - December 23rd - Bells - Dance - Fur - Blizzard - Treat

Week Five: December 24th - December 25th - Free Day

[Image ID available by clicking each image]

#tesblr #elder scrolls #the elder scrolls #skyrim #morrowind #oblivion #elder scrolls online #tamriel

[falmerbrook]

@tescheer Week 3: Snuggle

I like to think of them as a little found family at some point. A weird dysfunctional one, destined to fall apart, but one nonetheless.

#shhhhh theyre eepy #sil's not being left out hes just not one for touch #my art #morrowind #sotha sil #almalexia #vivec #nerevar #mine #tes #tesblr #tescheer #tescheer2023 #once again not my best art but im flipping between this tescheer stuff and my secret santa thing and the secret santa thing is getting all #of my effort juice put into it

[argisthebulwark]

Happy week one of @tescheer everyone!✨ This is fairly short since I'm still recovering from Nano, but I decided to write a little snippet with the first week's prompts Cloak and Snow :)

Starlight twinkled across the night sky, interrupted only by the white flakes as they drifted lazily toward the ground. The well worn footpath was long lost under gathering snowbanks. The Dragonborn's hands raised toward the heavens, fingertips growing numb after a long trek. Their mouth opened but found there were no words that could capture nature's beauty; snowflakes whirled in all directions and fell to blanket the silent plains of Whiterun. Trees bowed and swayed as snow gathered upon their branches, beasts silent and hiding from the late winter chill. They puffed out a cloudy breath and grinned up at the colors dancing over the horizon. For one brief moment they felt entirely alone in the universe.  "You'll catch your death out here."

Vilkas grumbled from nearby, arms surely folded over his chest. They ignored his tone - he meant no harm. Turning to chastise him for ruining the moment they paused, taken aback by the sight. Vilkas' dark hair collected flecks of snow, soft brown eyes sweeping across the landscape. Chilly winds had left his lips pink and gloved hands tightened the fur lined cloak around his shoulders. Against a backdrop of pure white he stood prominent, a shadow contrasting the dreamy background. A gentle breeze stole away the fog of his breath and whipped hair out of his face, causing the Dragonborn's heart to thump against their ribs.  He was beautiful. Bundled into his layers and brows furrowed, Vilkas looked stunning even as he stood ankle deep in snow. Despite all his grumping he'd insisted on accompanying them on their walk. Throughout his endless stream of snarky comments Vilkas had tied a scarf around their neck before tiptoeing out of Jorrvaskr. The Dragonborn stared at this man who seemed to care so deeply despite his endless protests and felt something swell deep in their chest.  "What?" He barked, cheeks bright when his glare cut over to them. His gaze softened and the Dragonborn felt a thread between their hearts snap into place, a string tightening and drawing them closer. Snow crunched underfoot as they stomped to stand before Vilkas, unsure what they intended to say.  "You're pretty." The Dragonborn watched a flash of color raise in his face, those brown eyes panning over the white hills once more. Vilkas cleared his throat as he pointedly avoided meeting their gaze but he did not move away. The Dragonborn's muscles tensed, awaiting whatever killing blow he intended to deal - his words were always especially cutting. They were stunned when he remained silent, gloved hands raising to the clasp of his cloak.  In one quick flourish, fur and soft cloth was wrapped around their body. Vilkas focused intently as he pinned it in place around their throat, the supple leather of his gloves brushing against their jaw. The Dragonborn didn't speak as he worked, though something about the way their mingling breath formed a small cloud between them captured their heart. Snowflakes continued to gather in the gentle waves of his hair, one catching on his long lashes before he stepped back.  "I told you to wear a coat." He chided, though the annoyance in his voice felt empty. Swathed in fur warmed by his body the Dragonborn couldn't help but feel cared for, his cloak wrapped neatly over their half buckled armor. It radiated the smells of home - smoke from the crackling fire in Jorrvaskr's main hall and a hint of juniper berries. The Dragonborn tucked their arms into Vilkas' cloak and, feeling just a tad daring, grasped blindly for his hand. He grumbled but accepted it, eventually allowing an arm around his middle as their legs grew tired.  The Dragonborn didn't keep track of how long they remained out there, standing on one of the many hills surrounding Whiterun's outer walls. A fallen guard tower jutted up through the blanket of snow coating the plains and constellations danced overhead, watery moonlight playing across the land. It felt so simple to simply exist with him, allowing snow to gather around their boots and melt into their hair. The two returned to Jorrvaskr when the first rays of sunlight peeked across the horizon, painting the snowy lands in all shades of pink and yellow. Soon, children would begin waking and dragging their parents into the streets. Creatures would emerge from their cover in search of food and the stars would melt into the sky. Life would march on as it always had. Each year when the snow began to fall, the Dragonborn could not help but fondly recall that night spent gazing into the heavens with Vilkas. He was not a man of flowery words but had proven that he would always be there to chase away the cold.

#writing #skyrim #vilkas #vilkas x ldb #tescheer2023 #week one: cloak #week one: snow

[tescheer]

Hello all!

TESCheer is back for its third year and this time, to make things a little less overwhelming, we're changing it up quite a bit! The last two years, we had 25 prompts, one for each day of December leading up until Christmas Day. It was decided upon between the two mods of this event to switch it up for ease and convenience!

So what's changed? This year, instead of starting on December 1st and ending on the 25th (or Christmas Day), we've decided to start the Sunday following the US holiday of Thanksgiving, or November 26th. Rather than doing 25 daily prompts, the prompt list has been narrowed down to just 20 and sorted into weeks. Each week will have five prompts to choose from and it's up to you which ones you want to do and how many, too! The exception is the final week of this, week five, which isn't actually a full week, but the days of December 24th & 25th, or Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Rather than prompts, it's considered a "free day" for you to come up with whatever you want!

The point of this event is to bring some holiday cheer to the TES fandom, be it through writing, art, screenshots, gifs, edits, mood boards, you name it! If you're creating something that fits one of the prompts, feel free to share it in the tag, #tescheer. We look forward to seeing what everyone has to share this year!

Rules:

As this is an event for the Elder Scrolls fandom, please keep your submissions mostly relevant to the Elder Scrolls universe.

AUs and crossovers involving Elder Scrolls characters or the Elder Scrolls universe are welcome, but please make sure it is TES-oriented. Additionally, we ask that you tag these submissions as "alternate universe" or "crossover."

You are under no obligation to participate in every week, nor do every prompt for a singular week. If you only feel like participating in a prompt or two that catches your eye, we're still happy to have you! You are more than welcome to pick and choose as you please.

Combining prompts is welcome and encouraged! We just ask that you tag appropriately for organization reasons.

Tag your post with the corresponding week/prompt (ex, if the prompt you're using is from week two, tag it as "week two: [prompt]").

Ping this blog (@tescheer) and tag your submission as #tescheer or #tescheer2023 so we can find you!

NSFW is welcome but please tag accordingly and use a read more break for any NSFW content (mobile users can use a read more by typing ": readmore :" without the spaces and quotations, then hitting enter).

Please use a read more for longer writing submissions, too. 5-6 paragraphs without is fine, but beyond that, use your best judgement.

Keep your submissions cheerful! The whole point of this event is to bring cheer to the fandom and it's hard to do that if entries are extremely dark and depressing. This is by no means saying darker themes can't be explored and are forbidden, but please ensure some good comes of it for your characters!

No harmful content. This should go without saying, but for clarity's sake, no racism, homo/transphobia, sexism (this includes misogyny AND misandry), ableism, rape/abuse apology, incest, NSFW content involving minor/underage characters, or otherwise hateful, bigoted, or toxic content allowed. Understand that the decision to include this rule in no way reflects the personal views of the mods, but was tailored with the best interests of the event in mind in order to keep it safe, fun, and cheerful for yourself, the mods, and everyone else!

Be considerate, polite, and respectful toward each other. It's easier to just ignore something you don't like than to make a stink about it.

The Prompts

Week One: November 26th - December 2nd - Cloak - Snow - Sparkle - Home - Music

Week Two: December 3rd - December 9th - Sled - Gray - Kiss - Party - Mountain

Week Three: December 10th - December 16th - Gift - Lantern - Hat -Snuggle - Night

Week Four: December 17th - December 23rd - Bells - Dance - Fur - Blizzard - Treat

Week Five: December 24th - December 25th - Free Day

Questions Answered:

Do I have to celebrate holidays to participate? Absolutely not! The point of the event is to bring cheer to tesblr, and that's doable even if you don't celebrate holidays! The timing of the event is simply because the mods themselves do love the holiday season, but don't expect everyone else to feel the same way. If you want to stick to a festive, holiday theme, feel free! If it's not your speed, that's okay too!

Who are the mods? The mods are @elfinismsarts, who created and operated this event during its first run in 2021, and @friend-of-giants, who took over for its second run in 2022!

Can I submit a post late? You sure can! However, we will stop checking the tag and responding to pings as of January 1st, 2024. So if you really want your submission to be seen, try to get it posted and tagged before then. We understand that for most people, the holidays are a busy time of year, so we will try to give you as much wiggle room as possible.

When does the event start and when does it end? It starts Sunday, Novemeber 26th, 2023 and ends on Monday, December 25th, 2023. The extension period for late submissions will close on Monday, January 1st, 2024.

Does my submission have to be festive or wintry? Nope! As long as it's relevant to the chosen week/prompt and remains within the rules, you can submit whatever you want. While some prompts are a little on the nose, they are all completely up to your interpretation.

My question wasn't here! That's okay! Our ask box is open to any other questions you may have!

#pinned post #event info #faq