Room 43// An Inanimate Insanity College AU

9- Since When Were we Going on a Roadtrip?? What did I Miss???

"I guess it all worked out, huh?" Paintbrush said to Lightbulb as Test Tube and Fan played a co-op game on the console in the lounge. Lightbulb was sitting on the kitchen island, peering out into the hallway, as Paintbrush ran their instant noodles through a colander.

"Yeah! And it was all thanks to yours truly," Lightbulb said, placing a hand over her heart to emphasize she was talking about herself. "I am happy for them, though. They did it their own way; AKA, the way nerds do it."

Paintbrush chortled, hiding their growing smile underneath their hand. "That's one way to put it, I suppose," they mused, watching Test Tube place the controller on the coffee table and instead pull out a newspaper as Fan continued on playing.

Once Paintbrush's noodles were finished, they walked into the lounge with Lightbulb following behind them. It was commonplace, now, for the two of them to hang out one-on-one more often after Fan and Test Tube became... well, whatever they were now. Paintbrush didn't really know, but if they were happy then Paintbrush was too, they supposed.

"What game you playing?" Lightbulb asked, seating herself on the armchair while Paintbrush sat at the far end of the couch.

"We were playing Mario before, now Fan's playing Kirby on his own," Test Tube said with her eyes still on the newspaper she was reading.

Fan didn't say anything, hyper-focused on the game. He hummed to acknowledge Test Tube's statement, but other than that he didn't contribute to the conversation at all. "Test Tube, are you old?" Lightbulb asked suddenly, turning to Test Tube.

"Wha- no? I'm a first year like everyone else here," she said, sounding confused.

"Then why are you reading the newspaper? Only old people do that," Lightbulb questioned, looking from the newspaper open in Test Tube's hand back to her face.

"Anyone can enjoy reading the daily news, Lightbulb," Test Tube said sagely, turning the sheet of paper as if to underline her point. "It's a great pass-time, plus this isn't an actual newspaper. It exclusively covers news happening on campus."

"Ooh, does it have anything about us?" Fan asked, pausing his game mid boss-fight and lifting the paper out of Test Tube's grasp, skimming it with one finger.

"Have you told anyone about us?" Test Tube asked rhetorically, taking the paper right back.

"Well no-"

"Exactly."

"What does it have?" Lightbulb questioned, leaning over as far as she could in the armchair to try and get a better look at the rather small writing.

"I thought news was for old people," Paintbrush mocked.

"Well this isn't news, this is... what's the word... glossary!" Lightbulb made finger-guns.

"Do you mean gossip?" Test Tube asked. "Because that is definitely what this is."

"...I said what I said," Lightbulb deadpanned, crossing her arms with a pout on her face. Fan had continued with his game, his eyes slightly less glossed-over and clearly more attentive to both the conversation and his game.

Paintbrush sighed, not having much to do other than finish off their food at the current moment. According to Professor Easel, there was an upcoming art assignment about paintings from the 18th century, namely Picasso.

For now, though, they had to twiddle their thumbs and take notes of Picasso's art style to use for future reference.

...They supposed they could learn a bit more guitar. They only knew the basics, and Marsh had offered more extensive lessons into specific songs if they wished. Maybe they should take her up on that offer...