Sometimes I forget that Flatland is something I can interpret as my own thing so I'ma do that now.
Ik these look very inspired by Flatland 2007, cuz they lowkey are, but I just really like how A. Sphere looks I'm sorry (ik the creator is bad but I can't help the brainworms). I wanted to add quirks tho so it's better imo. My versions of the characters if you will. More fun to draw for me and less ugly (on A. Square's end).
They have actual names and design purposes for each thing. Abel's glove to prevent contamination into himself from Flatland, Anthony's glasses and front hairs being makeshift arms, all that has a reason lol.
More explanations of stuff below cut:
The Flatland parts of Flatland the book stay the same mostly. I'm not changing much there. I do want to flesh out Spaceland tho, so I'ma do that cuz I'm super self-indulgent.
In my version of Flatland, I think it would've been fuunier if out of frustration, Abel Spherious ("A Sphere"), grabbed Anthony Squaur ("A Square") out of Flatland and yoinked him out without thinking about the consequences. He realizes shortly after that he probably shouldn't have done that, and it will probably have horrendous consequences later down the line.
Abel almost kills Anthony on accident, so uh, yikes. But then after bringing him out of Flatland, he decides to work with it, taking him back to his office to do his report on Flatland. He sorta keeps him hidden, but on the last day Anthony gets leaked to the public and the war starts over it rip. However, the span that this is like 3 days, so they get time to chat and develop communication skills n stuff.
Also, since the gravity is so harsh on Anthony's body, he struggles with talking, only emerging little squeaks. Eventually he's able to use a device to get his thoughts across (probably like a telegraph or smth), so the first day or so of being out of Flatland was a terrible time for communication. Especially when you're so entranced with the idea of seeing your "god's" insides.
Also, Abel just kinda finds Anthony gross in general (cuz he looks like a bacteria) and rejects all advances until Anthony learn to properly yap though morse code. When Anthony writes the Flatland novel, Abel translates it for the world of Spaceland to read and not want to obliterate Flatland. However, that is after his misadventures in the fourth dimension (boo a Heightlander's Escape reference tomato tomato).
These are some studies of the two. I really like the hairs on Anthony, it makes him so much more expressive. Also, Abel is a slaying king, I love him sm.
Also, Abel is like the last person who should be in charge of a company. That shit goin down the drain in a week I swear (he came to work high every day his first month of being CEO). I'll probably change the name a lil I just have to cook.
Got a little silly in Whiteboard and Magma along while ago, so sharing time! (Also the Flatland tag needs it more art)
(Thank you @/goosesartblog for the little doodles in the first image and @/pastastrainer for writing the constilation.)
BUT. What if I cutely dropped Abel lore on you guys? How silly would that be?
It’s gonna be kinda long, so it’s below the cut:
[TW for injuries and scars]:
I don’t think think I ever really got into the Abel part of A Heightlander’s Escape outside of a mention or two huh? Well, now you get to see it and all its glory, surprise! 🎉🎉🎉🎉
Basically, when Abel gets picked up into the 4D after being blown up, they're super-duper injured. Like, barely alive injured. And since it was lowkey illegal for Tess to take them outta Spaceland, she isn't able to get him proper medical care, which is why his injuries are all botch healed and kinda really bad. She's not a doctor, after all, and there was no way they would ask their lowkey insane lab partner for help. Also, illegal. She can't afford to go to prison rn, especially when she needs to keep Abel safe and alive until the war is over.
Also, though the first half of the 4D events, Abel is in denial about the impact of his actions on the war. He can't be held responsible for all of it surely. Not all of it could be his fault.
But, In a way, they did start it. He made the ultimatum with the (lowkey mentally unwell) X-Axis leader. They pulled the Flatlander into Spaceland. He failed to prove that Flatlanders were sentient. They was the one to risk his life for that Flatlander. Everything was their fault.
At least, that's what he believes.
And then that leads to an even larger downward spiral. Abel realizes that if they were to go back, everyone would hate him. They would probably be run outta town, the chances of him being murdered would be higher, and no one would probably want to take them in. All his family is either dead or estranged to the point of not knowing their condition. All his co-workers could be dead too.
They quite literally have nothing left.
But you know what they say? Those who have nothing to lose tend to be the most dangerous. Which will be bad news for that X-Axis leader when the time comes.
Can y'all tell I like yapping? I really like yapping.
More lore to be posted when I feel like it. Other than that, have a lovely day :)
I've been listening to three songs super frequently this week it's brain rotting me so bad. "Fangs", "Dead Inside", "I Bet on Loosing Dogs" are the culprits.
I'm starting to alter a ton of stuff regarding my take on Flatland bc of this. Still keeping some stuff from all my imprints, but I am altering a lot of motivations and personalities (mostly Abel cuz I need an outlet somehow-). I'm kinda making him more, sympathetic??? I have no idea how to explain it but he's just a rich coddled kid turned adult with limited social skills, given a super powerful position at a "dangerously" young age, and a strong fascination with Flatland. He never really had any friends and only really had his research for support, and he ended up being exiled because of it. "He'll be there on their side" if you will.
He's lowkey struggling(kinda like me) but that's just the nature of characters I like. If you end up on my favs, you get to suffer.
More progress photos below cut:
I was also kinda struggling with what colors to use for the piece, so i went on one of those ai pallet things and just used the results for the prompts. The second pallet is called "Someone to watch me die".
It’s pieces like this that truly reflect how little I understand shading 💀
Kinda eye strainy but I promise it’s worth it (probably):
Midnight art rush yet again. Felt an incredible need to cook. Did I tho? I think so. I did know that I had to finish in one go tho or else I would’ve lost motivation and gave up lol.
This is based on that one song from Chicago that became a trending audio lol. In a way, they both reached for "the gun". Anthony (and Abel) was the reason the whole war in Spaceland started. On the other hand, Zenith (someone I haven't posted yet) was the one to actually drop the first bomb. I love my media where everyone is at fault and super doomed.
I will yap about Zenith and his beef with Abel in a later post, but for now you get a hand shot lol.
In the Flatland discord (and on Tumblr in general lol), I've been seeing a lot of gjinkas, and as someone who made gjinkas a while back of A. Sphere and A. Square, I decided to revamp them for fun plus my oc. Also, now the name reveals are in a drawing now! Live laugh love Angelica, Abel, and Anthony <3
I kept Anthony the same. Still the silly amoeba guy. He just got another arm. Abel got a little wider and rounder in general, he's actually wearing the suspenders this time, gave him his bowtie back, and the glove is on his right hand so he can hold A. Square while doing other things (he's left-handed cuz I said so). Angelica is just based on really shitty AI art but done artistically. I'm so cool guys, reclaiming AI art one 4D gjinka at a time.
Below is progress photos and a sketchy comic:
Here's the old ass comic that I still find funny (it's like almost a year old):
Transcript:
A.S: Madam, may I ask something of you?
A.T: Sure! What’s up?
A.S: Is it possible that I could maybe see your ina-
A.S: -aaaa…
(A. square’s speech thing)
Square: PLEASE SIR LET ME SEE YOUR INSIDES!!
A.S: Uh- Never mind.
A.T: Oh. are you sure?
A.S: Positive *shutters*
I thought I was so funny for this but I'll let the council decide.
But nah, it's my birthday I can do what I want. Have some silly goofy art of my current favorite silly goofies.
Also, more tweaking on my designs. Abel now has a "bread" shaped spot on his face and Anthony actually looks like a cell now!
Progress shots below cut:
Also here's a remake reference of Abel. Most likely gonna be the final design but don't take my word for it. (He also uses he/they now cuz I'm non-binary I get to choose who's also non-binary (they're actually agender lol)).
