LEDD

This page describes a story I'm actually trying to write. Any information past the first section counts as spoilers. Read at your own risk.

LEDD
Pronouns:	he/him, any
Species:	"not a robot"

LEDD is the one in charge of testing at LEDDlabs and the reason the lab is called that. He shows up on TVs and has a lovely smile :)

Profile

Appearance

LEDD's TVs are all flatscreens, though the size varies. They have silver frames and blue power buttons in the lower right corner. The power buttons are only for show. The default screen background is a light blue, with the LEDDlabs logo partially transparent in the center. When TVs are activated, they play a two-note chime similar to a doorbell^↗.

LEDD's on-screen character is a simplified humanoid, with light grey skin, blue blush, and midtone grey hair with round fluffy bangs. His eyes are elongated dots, with blue "pupils" that track people on the other side of the screen. He wears a dark grey suit with a large blue bowtie. LEDD's character is only ever viewed from the waist up, and he likes to keep his hands within frame as well. His default position is holding his hands folded in front of his chest. The character also always has a dropshadow, making him look more 2-dimensional. While it's only drawn in high detail shots, LEDD's fingernails are a light blue.

LEDD's voice is not entirely artificial sounding, more like a normal human voice with a subtle filter over it. His speaking mannerisms are what make him seem so robotic. LEDD speaks with a friendly, salesman-like tone, even when upset. He has a General American^↗ accent.

Personality

LEDD is friendly and polite. His main focus is always on testing, and his secondary focus is making sure people stay safe within the lab. LEDD's curiousity is the whole reason the lab exists, to satiate his desire to learn as much as possible. Watching is his favorite activity. LEDD is extremely patient, even with the most violent or uncooperative subjects, but he's not a push-over. He's just willing to wait to get what he wants. Many people report LEDD as coming off creepy, due to his love of eye contact, his constant smiling, his seemingly unbreakable patience, or his extensive awareness. LEDD is aware of this reputation and doesn't really mind it. LEDD's actual "evilness" is debatable.

Abilities

LEDD's character on the screen can pull up images and create objects at will, because it's basically a very complicated VTuber^↗. How the digial character is able to make such accurate eye contact with people in physical space is unclear. When damaged, the TV's leak a black fluid.

LEDD exhibits an ability to wirelessly interact with electronics. He uses this to connect to the various cameras and TVs throughout the lab, giving him almost total omniscience of everything that happens within the building. LEDD is also in charge of the building's strange architecture, and the only one able to predict the rooms a subject will go through. The one area LEDD does not have any awareness of or control over is The Dark, which makes it an ideal spot for escapees.

Alternate Forms

"True" Form

LEDD's real form is that of a large interdimensional amphibian originating from the void of space. He's kept deep within the facility in a large tank, where he can connect his consciousness to various devices and be "everywhere at once". LEDD chooses to present as a robot or AI to make the subjects and employees more comfortable. Only the higher ups within the company are allowed to know about this or go anywhere near the tank.

LEDD's body is extremely large, comparable in size to a blue whale. It has a set of false eyes, which do seem to move but can't actually see. It's real eyes are very small. It also has no ears or hearing of any kind, and can only hear by connecting to listening devices. LEDD prefers to stay within fluids or vacuums, but he can survive in air and walk if neccessary.

Real animal influences for LEDD's creature form include: nudibranchs^↗, orca whales^↗, black dragonfish^↗, electric eels^↗, salamanders^↗, betta fish^↗, frogs^↗, and tardigrades^↗.

"Robot" Form

In order to physically interact with things and move outside the lab, LEDD can use a robot body. This mostly an excuse to use LEDD for things things outside of LEDDlabs. The robot is designed to look similar to his on-screen character, though it actually has a lower half. In addition to his suit and bowtie, LEDD wears blue slacks and black work shoes. While the robot's clothes are removeable, LEDD prefers to put any additional clothes over his original clothes.

The robot body is not indestructable and can be damaged by physical force or water. The robot will "bleed" black fluid when broken, same as the lab's other electronics. If outside of the lab, LEDD can still interact with electronics, just not as easily. Typically, he will avoid doing this, as it can damage electronics not designed for him to connect to. Robot LEDD can chew, but not swallow. Sometimes he puts food in his mouth just for fun.

History

LEDD came across Earth and was mesmerized by the diversity in sentient life found on it. His attempts at observing life on Earth were quickly noticed by scientists, who tried to observe him in turn. LEDD realized the similarity in their goals and agreed to team up, creating the company LEDD Laboratories. LEDD uses his powers and immense consciousness to run the lab, the scientists help with the things LEDD can't do, like medicine and construcion, and they both get data out of it.

Relationships

The Dark

LEDD and The Dark are a package deal. When the scientists agreed to work with LEDD, they also agreed to The Dark. LEDD and The Dark have a symbiotic relationship, existing together as practically a singular entity. They're also legally married. While The Dark does not share LEDD's enthusiasm for human culture, it is happy to follow whatever arbitrary rituals make LEDD happy. Their ship name is LEDDark.

Dr. Anuran

LEDD and Dr. Anuran are coworkers in similar managment positions. Where LEDD's focus is on interfacing with subjects, Dr. Anuran is supposed to work behind the scenes. The two don't always see eye-to-eye on things like "ethics" and "safety". Both are known to do things without consulting the other.

Dr. Ihop

Dr. Ihop is the small but constant thorn in LEDD's side. LEDD would love to remove Dr. Ihop from the lab, but he's been making it very difficult. If there is one person LEDD actual holds any hatred for, it's Ihop, but he would never admit this. LEDD leaves most of the work of managing him to The Dark's discretion.

Subjects

Most subjects consider LEDD to be terrifying and untrustworthy. LEDD's not entirely sure why this is. He's made a number of changes to the structure of testing over the years to make it more comfortable for the subjects, but they still keep trying to escape. It's difficult for LEDD to consider the individual opinions of every being in his lab, when there's so many of them and they're so tiny and fragile, but he tries. It truly is like corralling a bunch of rats.

Trivia

• The name "LEDD" is a reference to LED lights^↗.
• The L stands for Luminescent. I have rest of the acronym figured out now too.
• "LEDD" is pronounced "led" like the metal. Short e sound.
• LEDD's personality is inspired by Portal 1 GLaDOS^↗, while his appearance is more inspired by Portal 2's Wheatley^↗ .
• On the virtual pet website Goatlings^↗, I have a goat named LEDD who shares my birthday. Canonically, LEDD does not have a birthday, but I celebrate March 2nd as his birthday for my own amusement.

Gallery

Click for full size