Simply Having a Wonderful Christmastime
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About the Image
Sorumin has truly cornered the market on fabulous Christmas sweaters. My first Sorumin holiday purchase was five years ago—the iconic Tinsel Lovers Set—and it has since earned its place as a seasonal classic in my virtual wardrobe.
Another Sorumin release that’s destined for classic status is the Evergreen Sweater, worn here by Gavin and Serena. And yes, you read that correctly: these festive sweaters are also available for men. The Evergreen Sweater comes in eight color packs, ranging from traditional red and green to black, white, and more, with six unique designs included in each pack. A large Christmas tree detail can be toggled on or off, and its twinkling lights can be turned on or off as well, making it easy to customize the look. Be sure to grab a demo at the current round of Kustom9.
The backdrop for today’s image is Gingerbread Lane by Synnergy.Tavis, available at the Synnergy.Tavis mainstore. While you’re there, don’t forget to join the group and pick up the delightful gifts from their Advent calendar. Previous days’ gifts are still available, so it’s not too late to catch up on the holiday magic!
P.S. Friday still has Fatpacks of shoes and boots for sale at 50L each. I don’t know why or for how long, but if you need shoes, head over there pronto!
As always, complete credits are below the story. Store and event SLurls are available on the Store & Event Links page.
The Story
They arrived on Friday, just before dusk, when the mountains were turning lavender, and the air smelled like pine and woodsmoke. The rental house sat at the end of a winding road, all twinkle lights and expansive windows, as if it had been waiting specifically for five friends who needed a weekend away from real life.
The first thing that happened, almost immediately after bags were dropped and coats were half-hung, was that Ella Rose squinted at Gavin’s friend Erik and said, “Wait. You’re a ginger too?”
Erik laughed, tugging off his beanie. “I was about to ask how Gavin and Serena managed to collect two of us.”
Gavin, already heading for the kitchen, called back, “We didn’t collect. It just… happened.”
Serena grinned, Luna rolled her eyes, and just like that, the ice was broken.
Not long after, as the fire crackled and mugs of hot cocoa were passed around, Ella Rose leaned toward Erik and said, “Okay, but seriously, how have we both been friends with Gavin and Serena for years and never crossed paths?”
Erik shook his head, amused. “Right? You’d think at least one birthday, barbecue, or random group chat would’ve done it.”
“Clearly,” Ella Rose said, smiling, “they were saving us for a big mountain cabin reveal.”
By the time the conversation drifted elsewhere, Ella Rose and Erik were seated suspiciously close on the sofa, comparing childhood freckles and trading stories about being the “red-haired one” in group photos. The teasing turned into flirting so seamlessly that Luna caught Serena’s eye and mouthed, Well, this is happening.
Friday night turned into a game night that got wildly competitive. Gavin insisted on explaining the rules for everything. Erik pretended not to understand, just to make Ella Rose laugh, and Serena accidentally knocked over an entire bowl of popcorn during a dramatic victory celebration. Luna, of course, documented everything with her phone, declaring it “future blackmail material.”
Saturday morning dawned bright and cold. They piled into coats and scarves and headed out for a hike, the trail crunching under their boots. Somewhere along the way, snowballs started flying—mostly between Erik and Ella Rose—until Gavin slipped dramatically on a patch of ice and insisted he’d “absolutely been sabotaged.” They stopped at a scenic overlook, breathless and rosy-cheeked, and Luna passed around granola bars while Serena took photos that would later become favorites.
That afternoon brought baking—cookies, specifically, holiday ones, shaped like trees and stars and one very questionable reindeer. Flour dusted the counters, music played too loudly, and Ella Rose ended up with a smear of frosting on her cheek courtesy of Erik, who claimed it was an accident no one believed. Luna declared the kitchen “a festive disaster,” which meant it was perfect.
Saturday night was quieter. They wrapped up in blankets on the porch, steam rising from their mugs of hot cocoa as they watched snow drift lazily through the glow of the porch lights. Someone put on a playlist of old holiday songs, and Erik and Ella Rose sat shoulder to shoulder, sharing a blanket, talking in low voices that kept dissolving into laughter. Gavin fell asleep halfway through a story, Serena leaning against him, while Luna stared out at the trees and said softly, “We should do this every year.”
On Sunday, they moved more slowly than usual, as if delaying the inevitable by a few extra minutes at the table. Breakfast stretched into brunch, mugs were refilled more times than necessary, and packing happened in stages, half-finished, interrupted by “remember when” and “we should do this again soon.”
By late afternoon, coats were back on, cars were loaded, and the sky was already beginning its early winter fade. Before anyone could open a car door, Luna clapped her hands and said, “No one leaves without a group photo.”
They lined up in front of the house, porch lights glowing softly behind them. Arms slung over shoulders, someone set a timer, and there was a scramble, laughter, a near collision, Ella Rose bumping into Erik and not bothering to move away. The camera clicked just as they all laughed at nothing in particular, caught in that fleeting moment where everything felt easy.
Luna checked the photo, smiled to herself, and tucked her phone away.
“Hey, wait,” Serena said immediately. “You can’t just do that.”
“Yeah,” Gavin added, already reaching for his own phone. “Text it. Group chat. Now.”
Ella Rose laughed. “Pics or it didn’t happen!”
Erik nodded solemnly. “For the ginger archives.”
Luna sighed dramatically, pulling her phone back out. “You’re all impossible,” she said, already tapping the screen. A moment later, the familiar chorus of notification pings followed, and everyone leaned in to look anyway.
After that, the hugs were longer, the promises louder. As they finally pulled away, one by one, Serena glanced back at the house framed by snow and lights and thought about how some weekends don’t just end… they linger. As the mountains faded behind them, it was clear that this wasn’t just the end of a weekend getaway, but the start of new memories, new connections, and a tradition they’d already begun planning to repeat.
CREDITS (L to R)
Ella Rose
Stealthic Incense
Angel Eyes Baby Hair 18 Hairbase
IKON Knowing Eyes
WarPaint Breeze Eyeshadow
Glam Affair Clea (+ Lip Toner)
Izzie’s Cold Nose Blush
Lales Cozy Sweater – Christmas (@ Winterland by HW)
Blueberry Daisy Jeans
Friday Sheer Tights
Vibing Holly Rings
Friday Greer Boots (50L Fatpack)
Erik
BSHouse Reindeer Hat (gift @ Shop & Hop)
Addon+ Camden Hairbase (group gift)
IKON Sundown Eyes (group gift)
Stray Dog Divos
Nebur Cyborg XM Hoodie (@ Winterland by HW)
ERAUQS Chris Jeans
#CRIMEN Track Wolf Sneakers
Luna
Stealthic Sleigh (@ Winterland by HW)
IKON Splendor Eyes
CAZIMI December Makeup (group gift)
Glam Affair Alani (+ Lip Toner)
Ysoral Luxe Nose Piercing Lunna (Advent gift)
NaaNaa’s Thiea Necklace Set
MIDNA Raine Sweater (NEW @ Santa Inc.)
Blueberry Love Lock Jeans
Ysoral Holly Bracelet (Reborn Revealed gift)
Kibitz Crystalia’s Rings
Veechi Holiday Foiled Mattes Short Almond Nails
Blueberry Elias Combat Boots
Gavin
Medieval Fantasy Christmas Headband (gift @ Shop & Hop)
Wings ES0715 Hair
IKON Splendor Eyes
Deep Static Heath Glasses
Not Found Jerry
-Sorumin- Evergreen Sweater (New @ Kustom9)
Cold Ash Vance Jeans
CULT Rudolph Reign Sneakers (@ Winterland by HW)
Serena
Khargo Christmas Reindeer Antlers (POE Hunt gift)
Stealthic Havoc Hair
IKON Grateful Eyes
WarPaint Opaline Eyeshadow
Deep Static Esme Glasses
Glam Affair Yana (+ Lip Toner)
e.marie Carol Earrings
-Sorumin- Evergreen Sweater (New @ Kustom9)
Friday Weekend Jeans
Kibitz Ameria’s Rings
Belle Epoque Xmas Nails
Friday Finley Boots (50L Fatpack)
Pose
-Extra- Squad (group gift)
Scene
Synnergy.Tavis Gingerbread Lane {360} Backdrop
For items worn regularly, please see About the Characters.
For store SLurls, please visit the Store & Event Links page.
