#leaoc

Today's Shy Look is a Teth abnormality with the classification of O, meaning it's probably a real existence within the City. This could have been an employee of L Corp, who was encouraged to smile, and hide their true expression. They were said to be shy, but in reality they were chided until they couldn't wear anything but a smile that pleases everyone else.

It's a corporate nightmare, which is why this abnormality is one of my favourites. It's very cute to me.

Some flavour texts to help support my analysis.

If one tries to look at the face behind the skin, the result will not be pretty. The space behind their skin is the only personal space they have left. Leaving it uninvaded is the last bit of generosity the City can offer.

There’s no sunlight to be found inside this facility, yet Today’s Shy Look delicately dries their own skin.

The City encouraged Today’s Shy Look to keep smiling, but they who were too shy to reveal themself instead chose to...

Today's Shy Look seems to think a lot. Even if nobody cares, and the sun won't shine on them, they still delicately take care of their own skin. Even though they were "encouraged" to smile, something invasive which they have to hear everyday, they would rather remove that face out of their body, to wear it instead of letting that overwrite their true face.

I believe they were aware of the consequences in stepping out of line, that's why they chose this odd method of self expression. For their real expression to be protected, they willingly relented their flesh to display a desired expression.

Also something interesting to note is this line.

“Hey, try to look more pleased, that way those living in the Outskirts will be more envious of us.”

It reads like they were forced to be someone others should envy. Just because they were born in the City, now they have to act according to what the City wants. To be oppressed for the sake of oppressing someone else. Who could face themselves like that?

Anyway, some notes on my design. I had L wear a priest's robes. Long story, I wanted to find what Italian teachers wear, because the background fight of Today's Shy Look looks like a kindergarten. And my results, not unexpected, were priest teachers. It's fitting, don't you think? Priests who preach that you should smile to make others envy you!

The line about "The space behind their skin is the only personal space they have left." implies their whole body save for their concealed face is the only thing that isn't seen? The only thing that doesn't belong to anyone but themselves. And I'd like to think of that in a religious context. Priests are expected to dedicate themselves in entirety to God you know? But behind that skin, is a safe haven away from everyone's gaze, even God's. They'll have to pry it out from my dead hands.