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dustedmagazine · 6 months

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Rainy Miller x Space Afrika — A Grissaille Wedding (Fixed Abode)

Photo by Timon Benson

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As performers, writers and producers Rainy Miller and Space Afrika (Joshua Inyang and Joshua Reid) are key figures in an eclectic Manchester centered electronic, avant-pop scene that includes artists Blackhaine, Iceboy Violet and Richie Culver. Grissaille is a style of painting done exclusively in shades of grey. It can serve as a base upon which color is overpainted and/or as method of imitating (sculptural) relief. Both aspects are present on this collaboration, A Grissaille Wedding where the songs whisper from doorways, alleys, industrial wastelands. Foggy, weakly lit by the reflection of rain splattered streetlamps on oil slicked asphalt. A new version of Northern soul built from grime, dubstep, machines both shiny and decrepit. With Miller’s vocal often autotuned these songs flicker between despair and hope, soliloquys of love, loss and trauma blooming into a cruel world framed by Space Afrika’s impressionist soundscapes, which highlight the vulnerability and quiet defiance of the narrators.

“Summon the Spirit/Demon” opens as an invocation. Miller’s whispers and coos shrouded in a murky Burial like atmosphere as Voice Actor intones invitingly. Miller’s multitracked singing follows, pitched high to emphasize his fragility. “Maybe It’s Time to Lay Down the Arms” features Mica Levi and Miller over a stumbling trip hop beat and lysergic swirls of synth and backing vocals. A lonely plea for inner peace. On “Sweet (I’m Free)” RenzNiro and Iceboy Violet reflect on finding self-acceptance and love amongst damaged lives in ruined towns as Space Afrika’s soundscape slips and churns beneath them. Celestial backing vocals, billowing synth pads, violins and a simple cyclical acoustic guitar riff give the “The Graves at Charleroi” a hymnal intensity as Coby Sey sings of the passage through grief. Richie Culver delivers the spoken word piece “I Believe in God, When Things are Going My Way” against a background of quavering strings and beatless ambience. He plays with the ambiguity of his interlocutor, is it God? A lover? Himself?

“I need rules, false promises/The laws keep me safe/Safe by your side/4th of December, a victim of my own thoughts” feels like a summary of the project’s main theme. Paradox, complexity, hope and despair are ever present. The greyness throws trauma into stark silhouette but splashes of color, hard won knowledge and the will to express the fragility of self can lead to some form of acceptance and allow one to move forward. A Grissaille Wedding forges all this into a hauntingly beautiful set of songs which aren’t afraid to bare teeth as well as wounds.

Andrew Forell

#rainy miller #space afrika #a grissaile wedding #fixed abode #andrew forell #albumreview #dusted magazine #electronic #soul #manchester #mica level #voice actor #iceboy violet #renzniro #coby sey #richie culver

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killshotbabe · 1 year

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Title | Beckoning

Pairing | Jeno x reader ft. Motel keeper!Renjun

Warning(s) | minors dni! NSFW, Mention of a questionable ‘pill’, smoking, sexual content, thigh riding, fingering

Word count | 900ish?

Song(s) | Meet Me At Sachas - Space Afrika

“You’re not from here are you?”

You rubbed a thumb across your upper lip, smearing the red tint of your lipstick slightly on the corner of your lip. You looked up to the friendly face of the old man you’ve grown accustomed to the moment you sat by the counter of the old diner where your malfunctioning gps had taken you as the rainstorm wrecked havoc, disabling you from continuing down the road.

You let him eye you for a second as you drank a mouthful of your warm coffee, smiling a little. “Is it that obvious?”

“Well, it’s very rare for us to have someone like you at this ungodly hour.” The old man began to wipe the wooden counter as you sighed, pondering if you should ask for another refill without less cream this time. “Unless you’re driving back to college but around this time? It’s poor timing.”

You propped your arms under your chin, resisting to the urge to just sleep in front of the old man. You like to think he’d let you but you weren’t sure if that’s even allowed. You do need a bed after all and the motel you’ve booked forty-five minutes away had that.

“I know. I’m moving to a new town actually…”

He raise a brow at you now, questioning the fact that you just admitted that. “And it couldn’t wait until tomorrow?”

“No. Something told me it was a good idea to leave tonight.”

“But it’s raining cats and dogs out there.” He says, causing you to giggle.

“Yeah, my bad about that but think about it this way… It’ll be refreshing once it’s done. Like it’s a new start for me, y’know?”

“Well, if you put it that way kiddo then sure.” You think he’s respecting the nature of your answer and you thank him for that. The last thing you’d want to do right now is explain why you’re so eager to get out of your hometown. You know it wasn’t for the light-hearted. “You have somewhere to sleep at?”

“My car.” You joked but he squints at you, wishing you’re lying to his face. “Just kidding! It’s forty-five minutes away. Were you gonna offer me a bed here?”

“I was going to but I don’t trust you enough to hold the fort down when someone breaks here.” His tone was serious, yet you could feel a mischievous glint in those light brown eyes. “It gets… dangerous here after midnight so you should probably go soon.”

“Really?” You joked. You, however, did put that suggestion in the back of your head. “I’ll leave after you give me some water then.”

By 11 pm, you bid your goodbyes to the old man. You forgot to ask what his name was and thank him for giving you his time. You’re not sure why he didn’t introduce himself either but you didn’t really care. You don’t think you’ll meet him anytime soon anyway but you did remind yourself to do so if you come across him again. He was nice but you think it’s probably because that’s the first time you felt genuine warmth from what could be a father figure in your lonely life.

By the time you were back on the road, the rain had miraculously stopped. You drove in complete silence, just letting yourself bask into the aftermath of the rainstorm as you disappeared into the dark roads enveloped in between a canopy of tall pine trees. Your nose twitched at the strong scent of damp, earthy soil so you closed your window with your free hand, right one on the steering wheel. You thank the coffee for keeping you up and more focused on the road until you eventually reached your final stop for the night.

“Hello?”

You announce yourself to what seemed like a deserted reception of the 3-star motel you booked.

The dim-lit hallway to your right looked so inviting so all you could think of is the comfort of your own room and a bed you saw from the previews prior booking a room but because there was no one here to welcome you and get you settled in, you couldn’t help but start to lose patience.

“Hi, sorry about the delay.” A young-looking man just a couple of inches taller than you greeted you behind the desk after what seemed like forever. He kept a straight face as he confirmed your name and reservation number so you spend some time studying him — from his conventionally handsome face all the way to his plain white dress shirt and a birthmark on his slender hand hovering on the keyboard.

Renjun, his name plate read.

“Here’s your keycard. Have a good night.” He brings you out of your stupor, sliding a piece of plastic across the desk for you to grab.

“Yeah, you as well.” You make a direct eye contact, grinning at him in which he had politely returned before you watch him leave the desk again, the small of his back rendering you speechless until you found yourself alone with your suitcase yet again.

He was handsome, you made a note. But you think there was something slightly off with him.

Or maybe I just need sleep? Yeah probably.

You slid the keycard into the slot of your room, followed by the series of sounds your beat up suitcase made, shutting the door with your back. You didn’t even bother with the main lights and went for the lone lamp in a corner of your small room. After you had successfully removed your boots followed by your windbreaker, you crawled towards the single bed and slipped under the comforter. You didn’t mind the fact that it reeked of cigarette smoke since you’re too exhausted to care.

It didn’t take long for you to fall asleep as pure exhaustion wracked your nerves even if you had coffee earlier, the somber yet cozy atmosphere simply lulling you to your unconscious state.

It was silent for the next few hours. You didn’t toss around for the first time in your life in an attempt to find a comfortable position to sleep in until 2 am brought you back on your feet as you staggered into the mini fridge, clutching the side of your head in an attempt to cater to the throbbing sensation you felt. You grab a pill on top of the table near the fridge, shoving it down your throat with cold water then you were back to bed, already falling asleep and feeling better.

So much better, you even dreamed of someone — a boy. You’ve never met him before but unlike Renjun, this boy has a strong jaw, pretty dark eyes and fair complexion. His luscious dark hair slightly longer and he was broad, way taller than you. He stood by the reception talking to a solemn-looking Renjun. You see yourself hiding in the hallway, hearing murmurs being exchanged from the two before the taller boy walked back out. You wait until Renjun leaves before springing into the parking lot, looking for the boy in the dark.

“You got no shoes on.”

You whip your head to the direction you heard the raspy voice from. There’s a slight tease coating his tone, you think.

“I-I forgot?” You reason, feeling the inviting sensation pulling you to him. He’s leaning on the hood of his car, cigarette perched between his pretty lips.

“Want some?” He nods off, slipping the cigar off to offer it to you. You can see him more better now and he was extremely attractive and quite enchanting to look at to the point that it was starting to mess with you.

“No…” You stop just when you feel your knees brush against his, your full attention all over him and the way he took another grey puff of smoke and exhale away from you before meeting your eyes with a spark of allure.

“Why are you out here? Talking to me?” He pressed with a raise brow. “Isn’t it late?”

“Not sure.” You say, eyes never leaving his. You didn’t have your windbreaker on but for some reason, you felt warm. “I just want to be here?”

“That’s not enough reason to convince me.” He chuckled under his breath, looming closer to you now. Despite him sitting, he appeared to be taller still, and way more in control. “Pretty sure there’s something else, sweetheart.”

“I just feel… funny?” You say, swallowing a lump in your throat. You don’t know why you’re feeling this way at all but you were curious. “I didn’t lie when I said I want to be here…I want to be here to see you it seems?”

“You sound unsure.” He waves you off with a grin, finally relaxing on the hood of his car, both arms perched behind him now but here you are, a little nervous with the way he scrutinized you from your bare feet now probably dirty from not wearing your shoes and all the way to your now flushed face. “I don’t think we’ve met before.”

“We haven’t…” You bite your lip, slowly eyeing the thin material of his black tank hugging his lean and muscular frame. He doesn’t seem to be bothered by cold gust of wind pummelling to your direction but you began to rub your arms, shivering lightly but you ignore it, continuing on with pleading eyes. “But here I am.”

“And you think that’s all it matters, right?” He drawls, watching you attentively — like the way your chest rose and fell and your heartbeats accelerating solely because of him. “You believe yourself, yeah?”

“Yes.” You huffed, closing your eyes briefly before you fluttered them open. You inched closer, gaze falling on his pinkish lips. “I believe myself.”

“Wanna sit on my lap then?” He patted his right thigh, honeyed voice sending another burst of shivers down your spine. You couldn’t help but to whimper as he spread his thighs for you to sit on. “To warm you up a little?”

“Yes.”

You don’t know how it happened but eventually, you found yourself rutting yourself on his clothed thigh chasing your high as he watched you like a prey, quite entertained with the way you struggled like a dog in heat, desperate for a mind-numbing orgasm but before he lets you go and gives you what you want, he wraps his strong arms around your waist, forcibly lifting you up so he can move your soaked panties to the side and slip his cold fingers inside your wet, pulsating hole, fingering you right there and then.

“You’re making a mess.” He whispered rather harshly, allowing you to rest your head on his shoulder as you gasped and clamped a hand on your mouth, suppressing your loud moans threatening to spill out of you, his long fingers going in faster motions until the lewd squelching noise of your arousal could be heard in the crisp nightly air. “Come sweetheart…fuck yourself on my fingers you want so bad yeah? Aren’t you a good girl…. Doing so well for me and only me.”

It took a couple of seconds before you felt yourself snap for of how much he repeatedly hit your sweet spot and he was so, so cunning with the use of dirty words he chided into your ear, making you roll your eyes in back of your head.

“Fuck!”

You screamed, shaking nonstop as you lift yourself off him only for him to yank you back down, forcing you to release with his fingers still inside you. You couldn’t help to bite on his shoulder in the middle of it all. You haven’t even fucked him and you already claim this was the most amazing orgasm you have ever experienced to date.

You collapsed against his chest, waiting for your frantic heartbeats to settle down as you feel his hand ghosting to your back, soothing you. You almost purred when he let out a dry chuckle and muttered a loving “good job.” to praise you. It didn’t even register the fact that he’d touched your chin, turning your face to his until you felt him kiss you with much fervour, earning another sigh of relief from you when he slipped his tongue into yours. You let him take full control, ultimately taking your breath away when he planted open-mouthed kisses from your jaw to the base of your throat now fully exposed for him. You like how his kisses made you quiver, sending goosebumps all over your skin. He felt oddly cold and you somehow liked it.

“I don’t even know your name,” You smiled to yourself, basking into the way he licked a stripe of your soft skin followed by another sensual kiss. “You have to tell me, please?”

“Jeno.”

He finally whispers, his hand fisting your hair so he can tilt your head downwards, intending to mark up your neck.

“Jeno…” You repeat in a hushed whimper, giving him the reigns as you fully surrendered to his incredible erotic ministrations. You didn’t care about having sex with this gorgeous man out in the open right now. You wouldn’t even mind if Renjun sees the both of you. If anything, you’d let him join or maybe watch if that was more of his thing. “Pretty name for a pretty boy…”

You closed your eyes in satisfaction as you drowned in his embrace, completely missing the fact that he had opened his mouth wider inches away from your neck, upper fangs ready to puncture through your vein.

You never woke up from what you thought was a mere dream.

A.N | ….I’m sorry lol. This not edited or proof-read too I typed this up my phone after getting that jolt of wanting to write about Jeno ;)

#jeno x reader #jeno smut #vampire!au #creepytownstuff #nct jeno smut #nct dream smut #jeno x you #kpop smut #drabble smut #killshotbabe

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