Room 43// An Inanimate Insanity College AU

7- What is an Antic and why is Lightbulb's Name Under it in the Dictionary

"I am so freakin bored nowadays. It's like there's nothing to do!" OJ complained to Paintbrush as the two of them walked through the courtyard back to the dorms, following the streams of other college students who were released from their classes at a similar time. Paintbrush could barely hear OJ over the chatter of other students.

"I mean, you're an adult. You can do whatever you want," they said impartially, although they'd felt the same way recently. The thrill of living on your own had worn off and now there was absolutely nothing to do to fill the time.

OJ thought about his words for a moment, Paintbrush losing him for just a second as someone pushed through the crowd running and laughing. "...Maybe I should get a job," OJ said out of the blue. "That'd take time, give me something to focus on. And I could use the money to buy things for Paper!"

Paintbrush rolled their eyes with a smile. Of course it tied back to Paper. It always did somehow with OJ. Honestly they were a little jealous at times; having someone constantly thinking of you and loving you with their whole heart must be nice, they think.

...No. They were not turning into a hopeless romantic. They refuse.

"I'm sure you'll find somewhere to work. I mean, they can't turn down bright orange hair," Paintbrush said sarcastically, hiding their mischievous grin behind the back of their hand. OJ shook his head with his arms crossed.

"My orange hair is lovely, thank you very much," he chided, also chuckling.

"Nobody wants to work with a ginger, OJ, it's a terrible experience. You're like the... those guys from Harry Potter, the ones who had like a million kids."

"...The Weasleys?"

"Yeah, them. You're like them. Orange haired bastard."

"Whatever. I bet I could get a job before you," OJ challenged.

Paintbrush nodded. "Yeah, because I don't want a job. I'm basically taking up a constant babysitting gig in my dorm," they said.

To be perfectly honest, being in their dorm had become less taxing as more time had gone on. They'd learnt to enjoy the company of their dormmates, possibly even more then their friends from high school.

Not to say they didn't enjoy spending time with high school friends, though; they were just around their dormmates more often than not, and the transition from begrudging acquaintances to friends had taken its course.

"Also you can say fuck," Paintbrush added.

"...No."

"C'mon, OJ! I've never heard you swear, it's something I need in life!" Paintbrush laughed, OJ shaking his head repeatedly.

"You'd record it and blare it all over the campus," OJ complained, before bursting into laughter. Paintbrush followed shortly after.

"Oh yeah, there's a story I wanted to tell you," Paintbrush said conversationally.

"I'm all ears," OJ said, putting his hands in his pockets.

"Alright. So, I have these two roommates, right?"

"Uh huh." OJ nodded along.

"And they're like, best friends. Always hanging out and whatnot."

"Yup."

"But... they're hopelessly in love with each other and they don't even know it."

"...If this is another jab about me and Paper being oblivious-" OJ started.

"No, I'm being perfectly serious!" Paintbrush assured, waving their arms in front of them, eyes wide. "They're completely head over heels."

OJ looked at them strangely. "Is this your way of telling me you're in love?"