An often near-fatal affliction, LHPS is the term used to describe an Object, Algebralien, Host Entity, Objectbralien, or other form of Objectian who due to the creator's preference is slowly and painfully flattened until they are too far gone. Some can be saved from this when in the earlier stages, but others like Dizzy and ___ are now on the path to a form from which they cannot return. --- STAGE 1: Interest When the creator is either exposed to LHPS or takes a liking to smaller, flatter styles, they subconsciously develop an interest in flattening their characters. Signs of this may be nearby drawings of LHPS-afflicted, distance from taller or thinner people and subjects, and thinner (and either longer or shorter) arms on their recent drawings. STAGE 2: Affliction Slowly the drawings produced of a certain character will start to flatten and become less consistent. Look out for shorter stature, inconsistent accessory placement and/or presence, misplacement of facial features, frequent indecisiveness revolving around redesigns, and more sudden details (e.g. sparkle in character's eyes, fluff between paws, tail, more backstory, etc). STAGE 3: Processing This is the final stage a character is able to be saved from, and the most difficult. Around this time they will rapidly 'dehydrate', beginning to lose details previously aquired while keeping whatever changed in Stage 2. This process of losing, further inconsistency, and flattening will only get worse the longer it is allowed to continue for. Drawing the character with the same changes but at their Stage 1 size can 'rehydrate' the character and the creator's mind, slowly opening up opportunities to heal LHPS. During this stage, look out for darker scenes including the character (even if comedical or lighthearted), hiding limbs, shorter hats, frequent changing in pupil size or shape, iris inconsistencies, and large changes to the colour pallette. STAGE 4: Wrinkling You cannot save them now. The character will slowly be put in more dangerous or mortifying situations, have rapid bursts of sudden change in design, and speed up the flattening process. The creator may experience darker thoughts, see situations worse than they are, and general darkening in their mood at this stage. You cannot save the character, but you can save the others, and the creator, by being there for the creator at this time. They're likely to hit a low point in their mental state, making jokes about much darker topics and constantly venting. Their character will suffer their mental pain in the form of physical trauma, with brutal scenes of violent acts or great misfortune. It is practically impossible to save anyone, the best you can do is soothe them as they reach the final stage. STAGE 5: Release This stage is the most inconsistent. The creator will feel more peaceful, more alert, and much more at ease. The character afflicted will be flattened beyond recognition, nowhere near the same shape it was before, completely mutilated by all the change. At this stage, the creator will focus less on their characters (especially those afflicted) and more on themself and their friends, either being more social or well-sectioned. After a long time (though sometimes it can be short, I find that often it is long) the creator will return to deal with their character, and either will forget almost entirely about them and leave them to suffer in eternal misery, or give them one last moment of glory so they can be put to rest. In some cases (and this is extremely rare), the creator can summon the willpower to fully revive and heal the afflicted, removing almost all signs of the flattening process and making the accessories and other significant changes better suit the character rather than stick together as an amalgam. Either way, the creator gets to move on, and are fully capable of either staying away from LHPS or forgetting and starting the loop all over again.
Credits to my friends for Dizzy (top left) and Decagon (top right, my drawing). I really wish I was joking.
