but now i'm gold

Inde Navarrette by Nick Rasmussen for Schön Magazine (2026)

"don't worry yourself." seb worried enough for the both of them and anyone with eyes was well aware of that. his head tipped unconsciously into his boyfriend's touch. he was sure that despite his tiredness, the look on his face was 'gooey as a biscuit just pulled from the oven', as éile had once said. he liked gus. he really liked gus. it had been a long time since he'd felt safe indulging himself in the full extent of his feelings. wasn't the witching hour wake up call a small price to pay for that? "i'm glad you two get along, though i wish she were a better influence. too great an ask, i suppose." seb snorted softly. "i'd never leave you out to dry, love. surely you ken that by now?" he turned his head to lightly kiss gus' palm and offered him a tired, affectionate smile. "breakfast, is it? well, are you making or are you buying?"

Asking Gus not to worry was like asking a fish not to swim, but the more time they spent together the more Gus realized they very much had that in common. Except around Seb, Gus found himself worrying a lot less. It was like he had a way to quiet the outside world. He'd never met anybody who was able to do that for him. Just the way Seb looked at him had Gus feeling like he could absolutely melt. "I fear neither of us are the good influence in this sutation. That sole responsibility is on your shoulders, handsome," he smirks. That same smirk softens into something far more sincere at what his boyfriend says next, "I know you won't. Just not quite sure what I did to deserve you." A blush coats his cheek as Seb placed a gentle kis to his palm, "You deserve a breakfast that's more than just slightly burnt toast and a couple of sad eggs," he chuckles. "Lets go to the diner that's open all night," he suggests.

eyes slip closed, and for the first time in a long time, sleep comes easy.

"It really was," she whispers and leans down to press a lingering kiss to his cheek, before she's rolling off of him, and plopping down on the bed. Romy knows she should get up to clean herself up, but she can't bring herself to. Something tells her that the moment this is truly over, things will feel weird for a little while, and frankly, she's not quite ready for that.

"I really need to shower," he says with a laugh, as his body was covered with a thick layer of sweat mixed with both their pleasure. "--but I think you knocked me out. I can't move," he groans, but the satisfied smile remains on his face.

"Glad I caught you too," Omar says with a crooked smirk. He's completely ignorant to the fact that her catching him was probably far more apt. She introduces herself and he grins, "Minnow," he echoes, committing her name to memory. "It's nice to meet you." His gaze follows her hand, tracing his arm before reaching for her glass. The original reason he found himself at the bar had found itself on the backburner. "I'll drink to that," he offers, taking a long sip from his glass. "Do you come around here often?" Omar could nearly roll his eyes at himself at how cliche it sounded. "I've new around here. I guess I came to the right place though if you're here though."

Jude had been trying and failing to kick his smoking habit, so he had been chewing gum like a mad man. When he came home to one of the animals pulling a pack from his backpack and he couldn't be sure if Otis had gotten into it or not. He didn't have the cash to take him to the emergency vet, but there wasn't much he wouldn't do for that dog. That mean putting his pride aside and going to Kat. Jude sighs in relief when she say he should be okay. The dog was an absolute tank, he found him roaming the streets in the middle of summer just a few years back. Now he was living like a king. "Yeah, I can do that," he counters, biting his tongue from saying something he'd regret. He was thankful she opened her front door for him, he could take a little verbal lashing if it was the price for some peace of mind tonight. Even if it meant severely ignoring his wounded pride. "Look, what do I owe you? I don't need to be walking around owing you anything."

Benjamin's face screws up at his cousin, confusion written perfectly across his features. He looked down at his outfit, then back at him, and shook his head. "Is that what you're fuckin' wearin'?"

Cody looks up from his patterned shirt and back to his cousin's obvious disapproval. "What the hell is wrong with what I'm wearing?" He was going to add that his mom bought him this shirt, but then figured it wouldn't do much to help his case. "Who are you trying to impress tonight anyway?"

The surprise on Billie's face earned a smile from Drew. Her head tilts to the side as she meets her gaze, as her heart races in her ribcage. "I have it on very good authority that I would say yes." she says, trying and failing not to sound absolutely eager.

Her smile only broadens as he places his hat on her head. "Does it look good on me?" Kenna asks, as her hand comes up to adjust it on her head, then brushes her fingers down through her hair, before returning them to resting on his chest. "You might've made a mistake, Wylie. I think I might wanna keep this hat," she says and drags her lower lip between her teeth.

"Nah, I don't think I made a mistake at all. Looks better on you anyway," he smirks. "Why don't you go on and keep it, and you can bring it when you stop by the ranch on Sunday?" He says doubling down on the fact he wanted to see her again and soon.

Her hand travels over his arm, and slips down to rest on Kenny's abdomen. The response their girlfriend gives to him makes a laugh bubble past her lips and she slowly resumes her previous position. She takes her time, kissing down her stomach and over the swell between her legs, before she's diving back in. Her tongue drags through her folds while her hands wrap around her soft thighs, tugging her tighter to her mouth with a quiet sigh.

Angelo's cock stirs as he watches Ivy kiss her way down Kenny's body. Knowing that she thrived on the attention from them both he strips off his shirt and situates himself behind Kenny so she can sit up with her back against his chest. It gave them each the perfect view of Ivy eating her out. His fingers dance up her stomach before moving to cup her breasts, the extra sensation causing Kenny's hips to rock further against Ivy's tongue. "You both look so fucking pretty,"he says, kissing at Kenny's jaw as she squirms against him.

Bowie’s eyes are alight with something. He’s been only enduring this party, so for Jesper to walk up to him, to break the ice? It feels nice to not be so intimidating, despite his status. If he were to find out about the Nightmare on Elm Street information, he would positively squeal with delight – the franchise is beloved to him (even the reboot that most people don’t like to talk about). He looks too excited, “Yes!” He answers too quickly. “I’d love to.” He follows Jesper over to the bar, leaning on an empty spot, aware of the eyes that follow him but solely focused on the man in front of him. He reaches for an offered beverage, “I’m all ears, Mr. Bergstrom.”

If you had told Jesper even an hour ago that he would be picking the brain of a beloved pop star about a project that suited them both he would have called you a bold faced liar.  He leads the way towards the bar with the kind of confidence he had spent so much of his own life faking.  Finally he started to believe he had earned his spot at the table.  Jes waves down the bartender so they could each grab a fresh drink, he orders a Manhattan for himself, and takes a moment to truly take in the other man as he’s ordering his own drink.  Maybe it was a rookie mistake revealing secrets in a room full of sharks, but he was too thrilled to keep it in.  “Just know if word gets out to any gossip sites in going to know it was you… I haven’t even broken this news to my own mother,” he teases, before taking a sip from his drink.  Directors needed to create intrigue right?  It was all sort of the art.  “I’m going to be writing and directing an upcoming Nightmare on Elm Street reboot… and I’d love if you could provide something for the soundtrack, and if I’m not too greedy maybe a small cameo?  I really want to lean into the most absurd and campy sides of the original.”