#smallslabtek

[tiredfoxtf]

Etho is such a quiet and mysterious guy, no way he isn't a total gooner.

If Joel were to find the magazines while tidying up he absolutely wouldn't tell Etho. He'd politely shove them back where he found them and think about it for the rest of the day.

The worst (/positive) part about smallslabtek in this au is that Joel is down to get with both Tango and Etho, but both of them are too scared to make a move for one reason or another and Joel doesn't feel like he's in a position to ask to get intimate. So it's just mutual pining central lmao

It's always quiet and mysterious types. They always got some crazy stuff up in their heads. In russian we have a saying about it, which I could never translate.

They were hidden and Joel respects Etho's privacy and desire to keep it a secret, so he won't confront him. Even though watch Etho get intensively flustered and embarrassed is usually funny, Joel thinks his systems would collapse first from overheating.

Oh absolutely. Two guys being absolutely obsessed and head over heels for Joel, but equally scared of coming off the wrong way and making Joel feel uncomfortable or million things these two overthinkers will come up with. And Joel who is just really wants intimacy and love, but never was taught or programmed to ask for it, staying in "his place". And he is a machine, after all, he reasons, it's hard to love a machine. But they are all just fucking morons who love each other crazy.

[tiredfoxtf]

May I humbly request android! Joel au smallslabtek?

This is au is amazing I get everything here always.

Which I guess is to be expected. It's my own au.

[tiredfoxtf]

Not to forcefem Android Joel but technically his owner could choose to modify his appearance any way they'd like so long it doesn't mess with the 20 year warranty from the maker. His face absolutely can't be changed and the length of his limbs must stay the same.

As Joel's sense of self grows, he worries more about all the changes that could happen to him that he has no control over. What if someone decides he should be blonde instead? That he should appear musuclar? Or have a big bust?

He's aware he's a product to be sold. He's aware he has to cater to a market.

At least Etho and Tango like him the way he is

Joel shouldn't care for his appearance. It is not something that should be of his concern, he exists to be perceived and it's not his decision how. Except it's a big deal to him, except he doesn't want to be subjected to change against his will. He might not necessarily be a fan of his shell, but it doesn't mean he wants his body modified. He has imagined all different scenarios where the executives would change his shell to "appeal to the wider audience" and it gave him all the different kinds of emotional responses: repulsion, hatred, awkwardness and annoyance. On the rare scenario he would actually enjoy the fantasy, but that was a very quiet minority. He understands it's his purpose, to be presented and sold, a machine, a product. So he wouldn't have a say if it really comes to it. And awfully, it scares him. Joel tries to suppress this fear, he tries to be okay with it, but he really isn't.

Etho and Tango are a safe haven he knows he always will have. They seem to enjoy his company, they seem to like him as he is and probably will love him still if he was modified in some way. It's the only comfort he can allow himself to have.

[tiredfoxtf]

Joel is so fascinated by how unique every human is, he finds himself comparing Etho and Tango. One thing he's oddly captivated by are their eyebrows, especially Tango's. They're so expressive and the little stray hairs remind Joel of a tree shedding its leaves. Meanwhile everything about Joel's face was a deliberate design choice, each hair and eyelash placed by hand.

Tango carefully asks Joel if something's wrong, he's just been staring at his face. Joel denies everything and claims he was just on stand-by for a moment, shut up

Human faces are not only unique, they are imperfect. There are no perfectly symmetrical features, even if they seem symmetrical at first glance. This, combined with the fact that human traits are not "tailored" for each person makes it fascinating to study them to Joel. Even though every person ended up with their faces by pure chance Joel thinks it's so curious how many people ended up with a face that matched their personality. Or a personality that matched their face? Joel isn't sure on the causality and he wasn't about to run his logic in circle of chicken and an egg dilemma.

But Tango was angular and sharp, but in a disorganised sense. A perfect reflection of his chaotic and anxious character. But he had that curious and concentrated look whenever he was working on something, his traits became sharper and more symmetrical or perfectly asymmetrical, depending on level of confusion. His face always lost in some of it's angular nature, softening every time he would be pleased with something.

Etho, on the other hand practically always wore a mask, so most of the times Joel had to judge his already limited expressions by just eyes and eyebrows. Etho's features were always soft and smooth, especially when unstained by strong emotions. He gained more straight and angular shapes whenever he was truly laughing or annoyed at something. Even in confusion and skepticism his eyebrows and eyes hardly loose their smooth silky nature. Etho only subtly had a change in wrinkles around his eyes whenever he was being mischievous or lying.

Joel has been caught staring on more than one occasion, but he always had a dozen of excuses that he would juggle through. He isn't watching their faces when he professionally makes up another one. He doesn't want to know what they think. He doesn't want to see Etho's raised messy unkempt eyebrow be raised as his smart eyes would try to discern Joel's hidden intent or Tango's puzzled look with a head tilt and wrinkle between raised eyebrows as if looking a bit under different angle will help him to understand Joel. He didn't want to know they know he lies without a second thought. He doesn't want to confront the fact he doesn't know what he wants more to be something like them or with them.