#and so so sad when ford is just not that interested.Ford knows how it all works and doesn't really see the appeal.he tries to be happy for

[shanklin]

Do Shellfish Stan and Fiddleford ever talk? In my mind Stan makes a conscious decision to ignore Fiddleford when he's around because they're not friends, like Mabel told him 3 years ago and also bc of resentment as he was the first one that caused a rift between him and Ford

Selfish Shellfish AU - Masterpost

Oh,

Stan and Fiddleford, Fiddleford and Stan!

The greatest relationship that never was. [Platonic or whatever you prefer, I don’t care]

Stan clearly loves robots in canon, still thinking about his little Footbot even 40 years later.

It always makes me think about what would’ve happened if someone saw Stan’s love for robots and decided to teach him. 

In fact, you know what? Shellfish Stan has the internet. What if he taught himself how to make simple robots. Entertaining youtube vids would do the trick.

And then shortly after arriving in Gravity Falls Stan sees Fiddleford around and immediately runs home to Ford.

“FORD! STANFORD! I found the coolest kid in the entire galaxy! We gotta befriend this guy!”

Stan tells Ford all about the kid building real robots. Big ones that move freely, shoot lasers and can even talk!

Ford is…not impressed. He was never particularly interested in Stan's obsession with robots and knows that Stan sometimes exaggerates. He also knows that as soon as the kid sees what a freak he is, the whole friendship thing will be off the table and Stan will be sad. Better to stay home and hang out with Grunkle Dipper instead! That’s more than enough for Ford. [Or so he tells himself]

Stan won’t take no for an answer.

[Mabel is standing in the background frowning and making a mental note to talk to Stan about not forcing Ford to do things he doesn’t wanna do.]

So Stan drags Ford to Fidds and Ford has to admit. He’s a little impressed after all. Very impressed actually. Woah EXTREMELY impressed. That’s some highly advanced tech!

Stan starts to introduce themselves, eager to get to know the guy and finally have someone to talk about robots with. Someone who understands their awesomeness! Maybe together they can finally convince Ford how cool robots really are!

Stan is cut off by Ford asking Fiddleford questions that Stan doesn’t understand and Fiddleford answers them excitedly. Soon they’re in their own world and there is no space for Stan to enter.

It’s Great Uncle Mason and Ford all over again, only somehow this time it's worse. 

It was supposed to be Stan and Fiddleford bonding over their shared interest. Together they would drag Ford out of the house so he wouldn't spend the entire summer at home hanging out with an old man.

Making an actual friend would make this the best summer ever! They've never made a friend before, but this was their one chance. Stan could feel it!

And just imagine all the pranks they could pull and trouble they could cause if they were a trio instead!

Stan looks at the Fords and hears them speak, but it might as well be different language.

Ford seems to be having fun though. He seems really interested in Fiddleford’s inventions.

Oh. 

It wasn’t that Ford thought robots were boring and stupid and that’s why he was never interested in Stan’s attempts.

It’s that Stan’s robots were boring and stupid.

Looking at Fiddleford’s inventions now, Stan can’t help but agree. 

His own attempts must’ve looked laughable to Ford. It’s a miracle his brother never made fun of him.

Stan knew, of course, that Fiddleford was smarter than him but he thought maybe he could teach Stan or at least help Stan a bit with his own Footbot project.

That's stupid. Stupid stupid stupid.

Fiddleford is much better than Stan. He's a genius like Ford. He wouldn't be interested in anything that Stan had to offer.

Stan flushes in embarrassment and runs back home claiming he forgot something.

Ford comes back hours later grinning from ear to ear and never asks why Stan stayed away. Stan is pretty sure Ford didn’t even notice.

By the time Stan gets another chance to talk to Fiddleford, he already learned some important lessons and knows he should let Ford have his own friends. He’s also too ashamed to show anyone, especially the coolest guy he’s ever met, his own pathetic inventions. 

[If this Stan ever gets his happy ending he and Fiddleford can sometimes be found building an army of increasingly more and more dangerous robots. Ask them what the army is for and they just end up cackling. Everyone is concerned but they can’t bring themselves to stop the boys. Stan seems to be having so much fun.]