Astarion's treat, Sylus's kitten ♡

Thanks to @marshmallowbeeart to lending Ramona to the Aphrodisiac prompt of @the-midsummer-masquerade :3c If you’d like your apprentice to be included in my masquerade rampage, send me a PM! ❤️

it's okay to disappoint people

it's okay to work slowly

it's okay to let yourself rest

it's okay to drop projects

Stop treating yourself like you are the workers at a fast food franchise.

It turns out that working 40 hours a week is just too much. Full stop, no ifs ands or buts. The tiredness and loss of focus it induces is enough that you're about 25% less productive per hour when you're on a 40-hour work week, and so the extra 10 hours a week cancels out. This effect is a little bit more pronounced for white collar work and a little bit less pronounced for blue collar work, but there's functionally not enough of a difference to care. And people who are working more than that actually become less productive in total.

The thing is that you don't immediately gain the benefits of being fully rested and focused by working less on just one day, or even one week. It can even take months to settle into the pattern of higher productivity per working hour, and that's frankly miraculously quick given that full burnout can take years to recover from. And during that transition you will be less immediately productive. Particularly for people who pride themselves on being hard workers and how much overtime they put in, the notion that working less can get just as much done can feel absurd and even insulting. Because it seems so painfully obvious that you get less done when you do less, and any experiences of being invited to do so feel like they back that up.

But it's true. We are all simply working more than we need to, pointlessly, to no benefit at all. It is an appallingly pointless waste of human life.

Link to the pdf of the tool kit

Out of all moments you could utter those words, you truly didn’t think it would be right now.

You just couldn’t help yourself, not when he had you bent into the mattress like this. The brutal pace of his hips falter, eyes widening slightly as he stares down at you. The intensity of his aether core had you squirming.

“You what?” 

🍎🐦‍⬛ Archive #006 - changing room, payback, smut.

“I’ll try this one too.”

You grab the smooth lace, waving the set at both Caleb and Sylus. Caleb only hums. A warm, indulgent smile spreads across his face when you take the piece he picked. Sylus, as usual, sitting down as if he owns the place, with legs crossed, watching you with an arched brow, smiling. Both of them wait in front of the changing room.

A boutique of this caliber can only be booked out for the day by him. You have to close one eye. There’s no need to nag him abouy his extravagance, especially when he looks so secretly pleased, like a kid who gets to buy his favorite toy, humming a low, flat tune under his breath. Suppressing a giggle, you pull the heavy curtain shut.

The seams and wires hug your breasts perfectly, meaning the size is right. However, the transparent fabric barely covers anything, accentuating the deep blush of your nipples underneath. Even you feel shameful at how exposed you are. But the design is so beautiful that you find yourself in a debate over whether to buy it or not.

“Pips, what’s wrong? Why aren’t you coming out?” Caleb’s voice laced with genuine concern. You instantly stop your internal debating.

“Uh, I-I’m not taking this!” You stammer, your face burning.

“But sweetie, Caleb chose them for you.” Sylus’s voice cuts in. He gives Caleb a side eye. “Even I have to admit... this pup rarely picks anything that doesn't suit you.”

The memory flashes vividly in your mind. Caleb had brought you a dress once, only for it to end up ripped apart by Sylus. A birthday gift for him, torn to shreds in less than 5 minutes after you put it on. Caleb only smirked back then, leaning against the wall as he told Sylus, “You’re welcome.”

Your mind snaps back to reality when you hear Caleb’s boots stomping closer.

“How about you show me—” Caleb starts, casually sliding the curtain open. He freezes for a split second.

“No… don’t look…” Your words come out as a breathless plea. You know both of them have seen every inch of your skin before, but the sensual nature of this attire makes you feel exposed. You try to cover your flushed face and your chest, but it’s too late. Caleb has already seen them, your hardened tips straining against the thin lace.

Without a word, he quickly slips inside and seals the curtain shut behind him.

“What a dog,” Sylus scoffs from the lounge chair. He rolls his eyes, thinking how childish Caleb is being. He must be teasing you over a lingerie set. He fully expects Caleb to touch you all over, maybe even tongue your wet folds, but as the seconds tick by, it grows too quiet behind the drape.

And so, driven by curiosity, Sylus flexes his fingers. His Evol lifts the very bottom of the curtain, just enough to see Caleb’s heavy boots and your bare feet.

Looking at the position, Sylus instantly recognizes the stance. Caleb has you pinned from behind, trapping you against the mirror. Probably stealing a few muffled kisses. Sylus releases his Evol and smiles, faintly amused. Caleb is nothing if not petty. This has to be a payback for the last time he had a duty call in Skyhaven.

Until the quiet shifts. A wet sound echoes, followed by a stifled moan.

Sylus’s smile vanishes. He raises the curtain’s hem again.

Your feet are no longer touching the ground. Your toes are dangling, flailing helplessly in the air, jerking to a frantic pace.

Sylus grits his teeth, his jaw tightening hard. He knows exactly what’s happening. But he can’t just rip the curtain away—not yet. He has to preserve your dignity from the boutique staff. Behind the fabric, your choked-back whimpers are turning into breathless cries.

“Leave,” Sylus commands, waving a dismissive hand. The store manager and attendants swiftly retreat to the back room, acting as if they’ve heard absolutely nothing. They have to—their lives are hanging on threads.

“Baby…” Caleb’s low, strained growl making Sylus’s jaw throb. Oh, he’s definitely going to have a word with him later.

Your muffled, helpless noises doesn’t help him. Sylus feels a demanding ache rising beneath his trousers, but he’s a man of control. He has no intention of touching himself like a desperate beast while watching such a vulgar display.

“I trust no one’s out there, bossman?”

That bastard must be slamming his hips with everything he has, because you can no longer hold back as a loud, broken cry escapes your lips.

That is the final straw. Sylus snaps.

His Evol flares, completely ripping the curtain from its tracks and shredding the fabric to pieces. At the same time, your back arches and Caleb groans into your neck, both of you crashing together in a climax.

Caleb finally releases his grip on your hips. Your legs tremble, your core filled until thick white cream drips down your thighs and ruining the heap of discarded lingerie you had tried on earlier.

Caleb fixes your dress effortlessly, pulls his own pants back up, and steps out of the ruined changing stall, humming the same flat tune in sarcasm. He doesn't even look bothered.

“We’ll take everything,” Caleb says smoothly, sliding his black card across the counter to the returning pale-faced manager.

Your knees buckle, but before you can hit the floor, Sylus catches you. His strong arms wrap around your waist, pulling your limp body against his chest. You weakly raise your head to look at him. Sylus only smiles down at you. A dangerous expression. A sharp muscle ticks in his jaw. You swallow hard.

“Having fun, sweetie?” he murmurs, his thumb tracing your swollen bottom lip. “Don't worry. I’m going to enjoy everything that will happen tonight.”

I swear it wasn’t supposed to be this long, but I got inspired by someone’s style of writing. My head hurts again. I’m satisfied tho. 😌

🍎🐦‍⬛ AppleCrowArchives Masterlist

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Tv Show " Once Upon a Time"

S01 E09

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