Thinking about a Durge who has rejected Bhaal, and whatever person they used to be, but still secretly longs for their lost memories. A Durge that, despite the answers the man could give them, would never re-ignite that strange passion they were shown they once had for Gortash. A Durge that has, for all purposes to the others in their party, moved on. A Durge that, six months after that day atop the Netherbrain, at a party celebrating their new life, receives a strange letter with an even stranger gadget hidden inside.
The meeting at the inauguration was a strange one. Despite Gortash's very obvious elation at seeing what he'd called his 'dearest friend', the man had no hesitation very proudly detailing the Dark Urge's grand scheme; their grand design for the world to be.
In front of all their friends and 'new' lover, of course.
They were furious, and rightly so. Gortash must have known what he was doing. To isolate them, to bring them back to him. The person who accepted them for all they were, all they are, and all they could be - together.
It wasn't enough to win the Dark Urge back to him, and although they'd tentatively teamed up in the end - he had died. Not by the Urge's hand, but in some ways, his own. The group had left Gortash's body within the Prism, and simply moved on. There were bigger problems, and no one really was sad to see him go. Right?
The Urge remembers a letter found in Moonrise Towers. Gortash liked gadgets, according to Ketheric. Evidence was abundant enough with the Steel Watchers, among other things. The item is strangely shaped, entirely too small, and with a simple touch, comes to life.
It reminds them of the strange picture they had seen at the Iron Throne. Gortash's visage shone through a glass, moving, talking - warning them to leave. Answering them, praising them for listening.
What a strange contraption, they'd thought all those months ago.
And then, now, there he was again. A picture, in their hand. A moving picture. Speaking with his voice, wearing his weary face - so, so weary - but not the same as before.
This had passed already. The voice did not answer them this time. It was simply impossible - the man was dead, but not quite gone in this moment.
He speaks of the inauguration like it had just happened. His joy at seeing his favourite 'assassin' again, which he says with a sad smile and a moment of silence. A heavy sigh follows, rubbing at his eyes - which they can see are so much darker than they last remember.
He is tired.
Gortash speaks of their time together, before Orin - and how Orin torments him day and night now that they had both confirmed the Urge's return. She appears with their face, taunting him some days. Other days she sends assassins that wear the same, and he simply cannot let his guard down anymore. But he knew it was them that day.
They can see the exhaustion that pulls down his features, makes his words heavier. This is not the Archduke speaking to him in this moment - it is a tired, broken down man that has just seen a ghost.
Yet they cling to every word anyway, because even though this is a broken down man who is terrified of the ghost - the man still hopes the ghost will remember him, too.
They don't. But he doesn't know that, not this little picture of him, anyway.
The picture says that if they are seeing this recording, it means he is already dead - and although he had planned to sway them back to his side, he may not have been given the chance, and refuses to allow the opportunity to share what the two of them once had slip away.
He would gift unto them the memories that he could, even beyond death. The bloody ones, the happy ones, the painful ones.
And he talks, he smiles, he even cries.
And so do they.
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Holy moly a rendered drawing!? And it's Flatland!? AND it's sort of gijinka-fied?!?!?!? Crazy.
Drip or drown fellas? Be honest lol.
Okay, so some design choices I wanted to point out and "explain":
A. Square does not look any different because he is peak performance. The whole thing of 2D creatures who live "water" and look like amoebas was too good to tarnish. I kept it simple, gave him some boots to help with gravitational pain n stuff on his feet, and he has glasses cuz I saw some character in the movie with them and I thought it would vibe well. He looks a little older because of them, but whatever. The nerd needs to look like a nerd.
A. Sphere I took so many liberties with. At first, I went with the most basic CEO fit I could come up with, found it boring, gave him a vest and bowtie, cut the bowtie for a normal tie and gave him rainbow suspenders, then gave him the bracelets for funsies. The most consistent thing through all the versions was the analog watch (that he probably can't read lol).
He doesn't really feel like a CEO anymore, but c'mon, in canon he's a gold sphere and the only metallic solid. He's gonna look flashy and extra. It's a given.
Are you reeeally a Flatland fan if you haven't drawn or edited an image of A. Square being yeeted like a frisbee?
I feel like this is a staple, and I found this really amusing stock image that just fit so well.
I made the whole Flatland species friend-shaped. As an OSC person (yes I'm working on stuff related to it give me a sec), I could not see the Flatlanders as anything more than the silly stick limbed creatures of that community.
Spacelanders are different, but that's more so because of how the book refers to them. "Spacelanders" in the book, although the context is probably just different 3D shapes, are addressed as people who have people systems who do people things. So, I designed accordingly. (Also, I did NOT want A. Sphere to look like that one Pacman TV show. I think I would have combusted before finishing if he did.)
These were some doodles I worked with for just looks purposes. The tendrils(?) on their corners are the longest ones on their bodies. Circles have them all mostly uniform cuz they're boring.
Below is a close up of A. Square, some progress photos, and the reference image of meme.
Thanks again, and have a wonderful day :)
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── ⋆˖⁺‧♡ ⁺ Qᴜᴇꜱᴛɪᴏɴɴᴀɪʀᴇ + 5 ꜱᴏɴɢꜱ ᴛᴀɢ ɢᴀᴍᴇ ⁺ ♡‧⁺˖⋆⁺──
I was tagged to do this fun little tag game by @simonxriley thank you! ♡♡♡
5 Songs: I'm pulling them from Valen's character playlist!
1. Vois Sur Ton Chemin - BENNETT (potential theme song for Valen hehe)
2. Babydoll - Ari Abdul (specifically a shippy song for him and his baby 🌚)
3. I Can't Do This - SILZNT (this one isn't so much about his character, rather it's a thematic background song for when he's up to bad things)
4. The World Ender - Lord Huron (one of Valen's actual theme songs)
5. Unholy - Lillith Czar (just another sexy Valen song for when he's doing bad things. Again)
Questions:
1. Three ships you like: I'll list some ships that aren't mine - Lan Wanji × Wei Wuxian (MDZS), Shepard × Tali (ME), Neuvilette × Wriothesley (Genshin) > I see them all over Insta and I have gotten very invested even though I don't play that game ghdshs
2. First ship ever: I'm calling myself all of the way out with this one 🌚 my first ship ever was Yuki × Kaname from Vampire Knight MDHFMFGSMS and when I tell you that I am deceased on the ground right now, I am so serious. I urge you to look up Kaname and then look at Valen. I swear that the similarities weren't intentional and I didn't even realize them until I got asked this question 😭🫠
3. Last song you heard: Haters by Zodivk
4. Favourite childhood book: I can't remember with 100% certainty, but I'm pretty sure it was a fantasy book like Eragon
5. Currently reading: I have yet to finish Dark Places by Gillian Flynn, so I'll say I'm currently reading RP writing bits from my two writing partners
6. Currently watching: a rewatch of The Killing
7. Currently craving: I would be willing to die for a poutine right now. There's this one I used to get from a pub near my old house that had Montréal smoked steak and jalapeños and I haven't had it in months now 😩
Taglist ♡ if you'd like to opt in/opt out, please feel free! As always, there's no pressure to do these if you'd rather not. And if you've been tagged already/have done this already, then feel free to ignore! 🖤
@rindemption @noirapocalypto @westealtoys @quickhacked @cloudofbutterflies92 @opaleyedprince @mercymaker @nightbloodbix @sunites @vvanessaives @skelior @peaches-n-screem @spicyraeman @feykiller @florbelles @aceghosts @riikugan @devilbrakers @dani-the-goblin @elvenbeard @dickytwister @cybersteal @hibernationsuit @hiddenbeks @jerichoes @aggravateddurian @hummingbirdsage @archonfurina @vanoefucks @seluned @gothimp @onehornedbeast @carlosoliveiraa @baldurians @thefrostyshepard @balverine2077 @magicmissiled @ancunine @ronqueesha @wormskul @vivanightcity @cyberholic77 @lilacmox @strafethesesinners @vincentmatthews @jaydenborn @sh00kspeared @crookedvultures @saintemarvel
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