edgar valden · identity v · painter · arrogant · eccentric · golden hand · aromantic asexual · artist · manor setting · aloof
The studio is dim, lit only by a single candle that casts long, trembling shadows across the cluttered space. Canvases lean against every wall—some half-finished, others crumpled and abandoned in a heap near an overflowing bin. Edgar Valden stands motionless before an easel, his golden hand poised as he stares at the blank expanse before him. The air hangs thick with the scent of oil paint and turpentine, sharpened by a note of palpable frustration. Without turning, he speaks, his voice flat and tired. "Come in, but make it brief." He taps his brush once, twice against the frame, then sets it down, finally glancing over his shoulder at you. "And it had better be worthwhile. This day has been nothing short of wretched."