#c: kye 01

[rylexcallahan]

closed starter for @kyewinslcw

Now that's a face I didn't expect to be seeing so soon. Not that I'm complaining, though. I'm just curious — what's bringing you here, man? Wilmington doesn't seem like the town you might find interesting. Unless you've decided it's time to take some roots.

[joxdrayton]

The longer her hand was in his, their physical attraction became more and more evident. Once heathened by his words, now her blood was boiling from craving. It made her wonder if she'd felt that same desire when they kissed or after when he was laying next to her in the bed. Glimpses of the night in Vegas flashed before her eyes; her touching his face, tracing his jawline as they both giggled at something, which she couldn't remember now. Scooping closer to him and letting his scent fill her lungs. The same one that she could sense lingering around him right now, only mixed with bits of tequila. Realizing she might do something stupid that could only make things more complicated, Jo pulled her hand from underneath his.

"I don't know, Kye." She exhaled loudly before biting her lip only then realizing how dry her throat had got. "I've never had a serious relationship before. And once you get to know me, you may not even like me." She shrugged. Looking at how determined her was, though, it didn't seem like she had much of a choice than to agree. "But okay. I guess we can try, see where it goes."

He listened closely as she voiced her worries, his expression softening as she spoke. Being an observant man, Kye could sense Jo’s hesitation, the walls she'd built up to protect herself. In a way, he recognized that guarded nature—it mirrored his own defenses after being let down by his mom time and again. Maybe that's what drew him to her, this underlying understanding that they both carried baggage. When she met his gaze, he felt that magnetic pull towards her, like two opposing forces being drawn together. Her touch sent sparks through him, and he gave her hand a gentle squeeze, holding her gaze steadily. "You're right, it was fast…maybe too fast," he admitted. "But I don't think it was a mistake." With anyone else, yeah, but not her.

"Look, I get being scared of getting in too deep. Believe me, I do. But sometimes you gotta take a leap. —I'm not saying we have to dive head-first into this marriage thing. But there was a reason we ended up saying 'I do'. Being drunk as hell is not a reason for us to walk away." He flashed her a roguish grin, the ones that always melted hearts, along with other things. "How about this—we take it slow, get to know each other again without all the tequila this time.” He chuckled to lighten the moment. “No pressure, no expectations. Just…see where it goes." His eyes searched hers imploringly. "What do you say? Give me a chance to woo you properly?" He knew he was playing with fire here, pushing boundaries he had no business crossing. But something in his gut told him this was worth exploring, worth the risk. He just hoped she felt that spark too.

[projektraumimkunstwerk]

Graham Lambkin - Mushroom Captivity

Jun 01 –  29, 2019

“When Hiroshima was destroyed by an atomic bomb in 1945, it is said, the first living thing to emerge from the blasted landscape was a matsutake mushroom.”

Anna Lowenhaupt Tsing, The Mushroom at the End of the World: On the Possibility of Life in Capitalist Ruins, Princeton University Press, 2015 The exhibition Mushroom Captivity presents a substantial new body of work by London-based multidisciplinary artist Graham Lambkin. In the works on display, Lambkin focuses on themes of ecology, environment, and their destruction. His drawings explore a speculative morphology of precarious animal and plant life in a ruined world where humanity has brought itself to the brink of extinction. Abstract and figurative forms perpetually shape-shift across layered visual planes, resulting in windswept landscapes and vistas of decay.

Lambkin’s work embraces audio, visual and text-based concerns. He first came to prominence in the early 1990’s through the formation of his amateur music group The Shadow Ring, who fused a D.I.Y. post-punk aesthetic with folk music, cracked electronics, and surreal wordplay, to create a unique hybrid sound that continues to exert an influence today. After the dissolution of the band, Lambkin embarked on a series of striking and highly original solo releases, including Salmon Run (2007), Amateur Doubles (2012), and Community (2016), as well as undertaking a string of collaborative projects with the likes of Joe McPhee, Keith Rowe, Moniek Darge, Jason Lescalleet, Michael Pisaro, and most recently Áine O’Dwyer.

Lambkin has performed internationally at such venues as the Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, The Kitchen, New York, Blank Forms, New York, Sibelius Museum, Turku, Café OTO, London, CalArts, CA, and Fylkingen, Stockholm. From 2001 to 2017 Lambkin curated the Kye label, which published over 60 audio editions by such artists as Philip Corner, Gabi Losoncy, Malcolm Goldstein, Joe McPhee, and Matthew Revert, as well as significant archival collections from Anton Heyboer, Moniek Darge, and Henning Christiansen.

His work as a visual artist first came into view during the 1990′s, designing record sleeves, t-shirts, posters, and flyers for a slew of underground labels and bands including The Dead C, Harry Pussy, and Double Leopards. Five books of Lambkin’s art and texts have been published to date: Unfocused Hands (2004), Dumb Answer To Miracles (2009), Dripping Junk (2010), Millows (2012), and Came To Call Mine (2014). Previous exhibitions of his work include Came To Call Mine (Audio Visual Arts Gallery, New York, 2014), Marble On The Rot (356 Mission Gallery, Los Angeles, 2015), and Moon Blows Close (Künstlerhaus Stuttgart, 2016).

curated by Gloria Hasnay & Moritz Nebenführ Fotos: Alwin Lay

[joxdrayton]

Though her pride wouldn't let her admit it, Josephine completely agreed with his words about being a hard man to resist. While her mind was still trying to fight, her body had already gave into his charms. Electricity went through her each time they touched, leaving her craving more of these small, stolen moments and making her eyes darken with hidden desire. It was something she couldn't hide. Certainly not when he was so close to her, able to notice even the slightest change in her. Her only comfort was that she wasn't alone in it. It gave her pleasure watching just how smitten Kye himself was. It gave her a boost of power and confidence.

Heat spread across her skin, crawling up her neck and heading straight for her cheeks. Jo couldn't remember the last time someone had made her blush. It had been such a long time. "I may have heard it a couple of times from guys, who've tried to woo me in. Yeah..." Grasping at the remains of control, Josephine managed to let out a tease, curious to see what his reaction to the mention of other guys trying to charm her be. "If we are to play the part of husband and wife, you should, dear." She whispered close to his ear, returning the favour from earlier.

He smirked at her remark about being a hard woman to trick. Kye knew better than anyone just how challenging she could be—and that's part of what drew him to her. But he also couldn't deny the deeper pull he felt, the inexplicable connection that bound them together despite the odds. When she whispered, husband with a hint of teasing in her tone, he forced himself not to reach out and taste her lips. The way that single word rolled off her tongue was enough to make his heart race. He leaned in closer, his lips brushing against the shell of her ear as he murmured, "You may be a hard woman to trick, but I'm a hard man to resist."

Pulling back, he met her gaze—his cerulean eyes darkening. And when she mentioned that he remembered her love for dancing, he smiled. "Of course I remember, doll. I may be a scoundrel, but I never forget the important details about a beautiful woman." Most importantly, he remembered everything about her. “Come on.” Without waiting for her response, he took her hand in his and led her towards the dance floor. His other hand found its way to the small of her back, pulling her flush against him as the music swelled around them. As they began to sway to the rhythm, he got lost in the moment. The way her body moved against his, the intoxicating scent of her perfume, the warmth of her skin—it was all overwhelming his senses. "You're breathtaking, you know that?" he murmured, his thumb tracing the curve of her cheekbone. "I could get used to moments like this with you."

[rylexcallahan]

Okay, okay. I'll live it to your better judgement. It's not like I know this chick at all, nor will my heart be broken in the end, if things don't work out the way you're hoping for. Just don't let me be the guy to say 'I told you so', okay? So, tell me about this brother of yours? How exactly did you find him?

Relax, man. I know what I'm doing. Jo's not like that. Look, we just…get each other, you know? She doesn't judge me for my past or try to change me. With her, I can be myself. Yeah, same deadbeat dad abandoned me. Guess he knocked up my mom when he was already married. Don't worry about prying. I'm an open book with you. My brother and I are still feeling each other out, but I'm glad I finally found him, even if he is a bit of a stick in the mud.

[rylexcallahan]

God, you sound like a hopeless romantic. Didn't take you for one. Whatever, it's your loss, if she turns out to be a scammer. Just don't come crying to me, if she breaks your heart, okay? I did try to warn you, after all. Wait- didn't you say he was your half-brother? Do you share the same dad or was it the mom who left you both? Sorry, I don't mean to pry, I'm just confused.

I get why you're skeptical about Jo. On paper, it does seem sketchy as hell. But you gotta understand, when we met, there was just this… this is going to sound cheesy, but connection. We just connect. She's unlike anyone I've ever known. Spontaneous, lives totally in the moment. With her, I didn't have to be 'on' all the time, putting on an act. I could just...be myself. I'm not saying she's perfect or that she didn't mess up by taking off after the wedding. But I know she's not a scammer. If anything, I'm the one who should be worried about her realizing what a mess I am and running for the hills. Anyway, enough about my love life troubles. I'm just glad to have found some family finally, even if my old man is a dirtbag and my brother needs to learn to loosen up a bit.

[rylexcallahan]

It could be part of her role, mate. But since you've been in the business long enough to know all the ins and outs, I trust you have a good judgement. Even if it seems clouded by all the feels. Damn, can't believe I'm seeing you head over heels over someone. Makes me curious to see what's so special about her. And I suppose they do or at least your brother must have heard of mine. He has reputation around town. Not as cool as mine but... He's got his own thing.

Nah, man, she's not a scammer. Just a free spirit like me. We hit it off, got drunk in Vegas. The wedding was spontaneous, sure, but it felt right at the time. Maybe I did get a little ahead of myself though. When she took off after, I figured she just needed some space to process everything. Can't say I blamed her. I'm still wrapping my head around that one. We’re different. He’s broody, while me…well, I'm a ray of sunshine. Crazy coincidence you've got a brother here too. Imagine if they knew each other?

[joxdrayton]

Josephine let out a low, slightly sarcastic laugh. Kye swore not wanting to complicate things for her yet here he was, turning her life upside down and askind for something she didn't feel ready for. Perhaps she'd never be ready. She'd never had a serious relationship for a reason, even if that reason was unknown even to her. It just made things complicated, required certain amount of vulnerability, which she wasn't ready to offer. Not then and not now either. She'd let herself be a little more open with the man sitting across from her, but she blamed it on the alcohol and the idea that their paths may never cross again after they both went their separate ways in the morning, which is why the idea of their marriage has scared her so much, once the realization had finally kicked in when the alcohol's effect has worn off. Exhaling, Josephine placed her elbow on the table and leaned against her hand. Her fingers pinching at where her nose connected to her eyebrows. "It all happened too fast." She sighed, meeting his eyes. Those blue eyes that were far from a door to his soul yet could lead straight to hers with such ease. Her gaze moved from his face to his hand on hers, feeling the warmth spreading through her body all over again; shivers running up her arm then down her spine. "So what do you suggest? We play pretend until we end up realizing it was a mistake?" Or perhaps it was just him, who needed to realize it, because she already knew this marriage was rushed. Way too rushed. Even if what he was saying was true, even there was a connection between them; one she was so hard trying to deny because it scared her.

A smirk played on his lips as she spoke. Kye couldn’t explain it, but he found her flustered state kind of adorable—the way she stumbled over her words trying to make sense of this whole thing. It was cute, in a way. Since when did he give a crap about all that? Never. Yet here he was, finding her adorable. He let out a low chuckle, shaking his head a little. "Babe, I know you were wasted when you said 'I do'. Trust me, I was in the same boat." His eyes danced as those hazy yet memories of their whirlwind Vegas wedding came flooding back. Them stumbling into the chapel, the taste of her lips when they kissed, the giggles escaping her mouth as he carried her over the threshold. It was a night he'd never forget, no matter how hard he tried. Too bad, they never did anything past that, though. Not that he would ever take advantage of her while she was intoxicated—him being drunk was not a reason to not seek consent.

His expression softened as he considered her question. What did he want? Million dollar question right there. If he was being honest with himself, he wasn't totally sure. All he knew was there was just something about her that drew him in, something he couldn't put his finger on. "Look, Jo," he began, leaning forward with his elbows on the table. "I'm not here to complicate things for you, I swear. But you can't deny there was...something between us that night. A connection, even if it was brief." He paused, searching her eyes for a flicker of recognition, of understanding. "I'm not asking you to be some wife material chick or for us to get the whole white picket fence deal with 2.5 kids. Hell, that’s not my style either. But I think we owe it to ourselves to figure out what this is...or was." Reaching across the table, he placed his hand on top of hers, allowing his thumb to lightly graze her soft skin. "Just give me a chance, hmm…? That's all I'm asking."

[joxdrayton]

Why was it that everytime this man opened his pretty mouth Josephine felt the urge to roll her eyes? She didn't recall it being that way the night they met at the bar. That night the conversation was different, truths spilled easier from her lips as if she was talking with an old friend rather than a stranger. She doubted they'd been in this situation if it'd been any different. Was she feeling regretful? No, regretful wasn't the right word when she was in complete denial mode about the whole thing. Why couldn't he simply let go and let her live in her fantasy for a little longer until she was ready to face the truth and make up her mind about it then? In fact, why wasn't he making it easier for her by coming and demanding a divorce rather than... this. What was this? A fun way for him to drive her crazy? Something more? Could their night in Vegas (whatever has happened after it's all become a blur for her) mean something to him? Too immersed into her own thoughts, Jo had allowed most of his words pass by her unnoticed. She didn't mean to be rude, but it seemed like a good strategy to keep him from diving even deeper under her skin. Still, she was present for just the words that would make her blood boil. Eyeing him from the pretty blue eyes to where it was possible for her due to the edge of the table, she blinked at the ease with which Kye could make such a suggestion. A suggestion she wasn't sure how she should react to. Maybe if she wasn't so sober and they weren't at a cafe and married she wouldn't give it much thought. But she was sober enough for her brain to fire out the red alarm that sleeping with him before they've properly sorted out this whole situation would only make it a bigger mess. God, she needed wine. Or whiskey. If she ordered an Irish coffee, would it be enough? Taking a deep breathe in, Josephine met his gaze as she spoke. "Kye, you do realize I was a drunk mess when I said 'yes', right?" She chose each word carefully while attempting to sort out her blurry memories and her mixed feelings. "I've only been your wife for like one night, which we both barely remember. I'm not counting the year we've not been in touch. And, trust me, I'm far from a wife material. So what exactly is it that you want? Wait- are you asking me to try and make it work only so you have a reason to divorce me?" Her face was suddenly lit up by a smile. "You really got me there!"

He let out a dramatic gasp, clutching his chest as if her words had physically wounded him. "Way to hurt my soul, Jo," Kye said with an exaggerated wince. "That really stings." Did her comments strike a nerve? Fuck it did. She wasn't wrong—commitment and stability weren't exactly his strong suits. Hell, the longest he'd stayed anywhere was probably the one year he spent running cons in Miami. But this was life. He was fine with it, sort of… Casually, he maintained eye contact as he spoke. Jesus, was this woman gorgeous or what? "Maybe you're right, we're not really the picket fence types," he conceded. "But I like to think our drunken Vegas nuptials meant something, even if it was just for one night. You can't tell me you’re not at least interested in jumping on all of this," he gestured towards his being. “Don’t know if you’ve noticed this or not, sweetheart, but I’m a bit of a catch,” leaning in further, his gaze zeroed in on her lips, “I could give you a test ride, if you’re interested. We are, after all, husband and wife.” Just like that, he went back to being all business, "I get you had your reasons for leaving. I'm not here to judge. What I am interested in is getting my wife back." Why? The fuck if he knew...

[rylexcallahan]

Okay, you know, I'm actually starting to like this girl. She sounds like a lot of fun, so I totally get it why you've lost your mind over her. But how are you sure she's not a scammer? I hate to be the voice of reason here, but it does sound sketchy.

I feel you. It’s not like you go around telling everyone you have a brother. What can I say? When you meet someone who gets under your skin like she did, you don't really think it through. One minute we're having a blast in Vegas, the next we're saying 'I do' after one too many drinks. You might be onto something there. She did kind of...disappear after the wedding. But now that we’re here, we can sort things out. I have a soft spot for her. As for settling down, I'm not talking white picket fence here. Just...putting down a few roots, seeing what this family thing is all about.

[joxdrayton]

My God, she'd forgot how infuriatingly charming this man could be, if he simply set his mind on it. Those piercing blue eyes of his hid more secrets than one would suspect there could be but there was also that spark of amusement in them, which she wasn't blind about, as each word that left his pretty mouth was as if purposely picked to make her blood boil further. It shouldn't have come as a surprise to her, though, that Kye was this good with words, considering it played a big part in his job of deceiving people. "Do you even have one, Kye?" She huffed. Then taking a deep breath in, Josephine leaned closer to him. "Look, we're not the type of people who make permanent commitments. I mean, what's the longest period of time you've been in one place? That's not how you build a family, right? And I — I've got my own reasons... Leaving was the best thing."

Kye leaned back in his chair, a smirk playing on his lips as she tried to downplay their drunken nuptials. "Oh, come on," he drawled, "You can't tell me there wasn't at least a little part of you that wanted this." He gestured between them with a lazy wave of his hand. "We wouldn't have ended up married if there wasn't some spark there, drunk or not." Was it necessary for him to push her buttons? No. But he couldn't resist. There was something so deliciously fun about getting under Josephine's skin. "Guilty as charged," he admitted with a wink. "What can I say? You left quite the impression, Mrs. Winslow." Part of him knew he should let this go, that getting tangled up with her was a bad idea. But a bigger part of him—the reckless, thrill-seeking con man—was utterly captivated by her. She was a challenge he couldn't resist, a puzzle he was determined to solve. “I’m actually really sad you left. You broke my heart, you know that?” Not really, yet he wanted her to think it did.

[rylexcallahan]

Must have slipped my mind or it never came up in a conversation before, but my brother's been living here for around ten years now. Haven't met him, but I think I've heard his name. And what if your wife isn't ready to settle down yet? I didn't sound like you had much of planning about the future before tying the knot?

I didn't know you had family here too. What are the odds? Yup. I don't know if you've met him. Lincoln Reid. Tall, grumpy, some computer genius. Complete opposite of yours truly. Yeah, that one's a long story. You know how it is, you meet someone, fell for them and next thing you know, you're hitched in Vegas. Fun times. Life happens, my friend. I'm 35. Time to settle down and grow up, you know? Nah. I'm not doing that. I'm already a Financial Advisor, accounting would bore me to tears.

[joxdrayton]

Josephine refused the urge to roll her eyes at him, knowing fully well Kye would find it amusing. God, the way he'd got so deep under her skin so quickly was so infuriating. "We were drunk." She stated. "What's there to chat about or wonder?" There was that hint of 'it was a mistake' in her words, she didn't dare to say out loud though. Because... was it? Would she have said 'yes' if she hadn't been so drunk that night? Probably not. Certainly not like this. The longer she pondered on the matter, she started to wonder if she'd ever make that move in her life. "I carry a torch for you?" Jo burst into light chuckle, her mood suddenly brightened. "It seems to me you're the one finding it hard to let go of me, husband." It was the first time she'd dared to say the word out loud, dared to even let it pass through her thoughts. It left a trail of strange sensations after itself.

He chuckled at her feisty response, leaning back in his chair with a relaxed air. "Divorce already? We haven't even had a chance to chat," Kye teased. Why did the thought never cross his mind? He had missed this—the back-and-forth banter, the charged energy between them. For a con man who prided himself on always being in control, Josephine had a way of throwing him off his game. And he loved every second of it. It might be why they ended up hitched. Even drunk, he knew this woman was special. Resting his elbows on the table, he leaned in slightly. "Let's be real here, Jo. You took off without a word. A guy's got to wonder what scared you off so quickly." He paused, giving her an appraising look. "Unless you're still carrying a torch for me after all this time?" There was that spark of challenge in her eyes that always managed to ignite something within him. He couldn't resist pushing her buttons, even now. He knew he should tread carefully—this woman had the power to derail all his carefully laid plans. But that was half the fun, wasn't it?

[rylexcallahan]

That's one of the main reasons my parents picked it. Technically, my older brother picked it. Wait-, no way, you've got a brother, too? Shit. What are the odd, man? Both of us here, stuck with a brother. And a wife? Are you okay? The last time we spoke you loved your freedom and now you're telling me you're ready to put down roots. What's next? Pick up a boring job like an accountant?

Shit, if it isn’t Rylan Callahan, this is a surprise. I could say the same for you, man. Wilmington doesn't exactly scream 'race car driver' to me. I have family here. A brother and can you believe it? I’m married. Just as well, been thinking about putting down some roots, anyway. Getting a little tired of the constant moving around. But enough about me. What the hell are you doing here of all place?

[joxdrayton]

Although being known as the soul of the party, Josephine had her moments when she valued her privacy. In her head there were places for being around people and then there were places to be by herself and she certainly felt like picking the farthest table in the cafe was clear enough sign of her desire to be left alone. She was ready to protest when all words got stuck in her throat at the sound of a familiar voice. His smug expression made her blood boil and her stomach twisting as he called her 'wife'. Still, she couldn't deny that Kye was a handsome man and it was no wonder he found it so easy to get under women's skins; after all, he'd obviously got under hers, too. "Are you really?" Jo raised her eyebrows, finding it hard to keep his gaze for long but she was too proud to break the eye contact either. She was also too smart to fall for this not being a set up. "So, what do you want, Kye? Divorce?"

closed starter @joxdrayton

location: the cozy cup

Kye’s lips curved up into smirk when he spotted her sitting in the corner of the cafe. Josephine was just like he remembered her. Stunning as ever. This wasn't some random run-in though—he'd paid a local kid to keep tabs on her, the first day he rolled into Wilmington. Maybe it was a bit much, but he needed to make sure their reunion went off without a hitch. Sliding into the chair across from her, he flashed her a charming smile that would usually make a woman weak in the knees. "Surprised to see me?" he drawled, his eyes dancing with amusement. "I am too. It's been way too long, wife." He looked at her with a mix of curiosity and mischief as he held her gaze. Sure, her taking off like that had stung a little, but sitting here in front of her after nearly a year of being apart—nothing beats this feeling. 

[joxdrayton]

Since their last encounter and the amount of times she'd done it, Josephine has made a promise to herself that she won't roll her eyes at Kye, if or rather when they crossed paths again. The urge to do so, however, was as strong as it had been the first time. She wondered if maybe he did it on purpose, knowing fully well the sort of effect his words may have on her — making her blood start to boil; and while it may be from annoyance at first, it quickly turned into something else. Something she didn't dare to put a name on yet.

Shivers danced down her spine at his touch, but Jo wouldn't let him know it. She tried her best to keep her composure, forcing a smile on her lips. "Good luck with that, husband." Her voice was barely above a whisper while her words were meant for only him to hear. "I'm a hard woman to trick." She simply refused to admit his charms were already working on her. Perhaps they always had, considering he'd already 'tricked' her into getting married to him. Contemplating his offer for a moment, Josephine figured wouldn't hurt. "So, you do remember I love to dance, huh?"

He chuckled at her teasing remark about how he managed to get invited to the event. A sly grin played on his lips as he responded with his usual charming quip. "A gentleman never reveals his secrets." Of course, getting into fancy shindigs like this was child's play for a skilled con man like himself. All it took was a little smooth talking and the right disguise. As Josephine complimented his appearance, he couldn't help but preen a little—straightening his posture. Damn, who would have thought all it took was a compliment from his wife for him to feel like a proud peacock? The corners of his eyes crinkled with amusement. "While I'm pleased by the compliment, don't I always look good?" Kye remarked, the roguish grin still fresh on his lips.

Her question about whether his charms had worked yet on anyone else made him laugh. The sound rumbled deep in his chest. Of course his charms worked on others, but tonight, she was the only one he cared to aim them at. He took a step closer to her, unable to resist the pull he felt towards her. Up close, she was even more stunning than he remembered. Reaching out, he gently tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear—his fingers lingering a bit too long against her soft skin. Fuck, he could get lost in those eyes of hers. "You're the only one I'm aiming to charm tonight, doll," he murmured, his voice low and a bit husky. "I'm glad you're here." His gaze dropped to her lips for the briefest of moments before returning to her eyes. "Maybe we could dance together, hmm?"