(THIS IS SO LATE IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE RELEASED ON HALLOWEEN IM SO SORRY YALL-)
Log Date 1566:
Today's the day I try something new. Today's a mental experiment day. Well more of mental and emotional experiment, but close enough. I'll be doing an... interview of sorts. See if I can find any weakness to work through or learn anything important. Oddly enough... I feel like I did. Don't get close...
Don't get close

Lightbulb's P.O.V
I jumped awake from the consistent prod I felt on my side, it's like no one could ever get a moment of peace in this place. I rolled over, grabbing whatever was poking me and dragging it to the floor, hearing a startled yell in response.
"Paintbrush?" I said, confused and concerned as I backed away from them.
Their expression was desperate and scared, so I let myself go and sat up-right.
"I-It's Fan!-" They whispered, their voice digging a pit of anxiety in my stomach.
"Ohh so now you care about Fan?!-"
"We don't have time to argue!!" Paintbrush snapped, unwanted understanding fluttered inside me. "I don't think he's... ok."

I was about to ask Paintbrush to let me see him when Paintbrush stood up and pointed to him. I gasped quickly and held my breath.
Then breathed out.
I grabbed Paintbrush's arm and threw it.
"You jeebweezer. He's just cold!" I sighed, hinting my anger from their ignorance in my tone.
"I..." Paintbrush opened their mouth to argue, but then took another look at Fan. Cold thoughts clouding their eyes.
"I'm sure nothing is wrong with him." I said, not mad anymore but just neutral. At least Paintbrush had shown some concern.
Paintbrush didn't talk after that, just leaned on a wall and stared at Fan. I decided to get up and actually communicate with Fan, just to make sure he is actually ok.

"Fan?" I approached him gingerly, trying to imagine how I'd do it before this whole lab thing took off, but my memories felt drained. "Paper-buddy? You alright there?"
As soon as I laid my hand on Fan's shoulder he stopped shivering like he had been before. Sharply, he turned around to face me. The sweet smile on his face half pleasing me and half concerning me.

"Lightbulb!!" He cheered, he sounded so happy I began to actually smile. "Look!! Look!!" He put his gentle hand onto mine, it felt softer than usual. His eyes sparked with a childlike happiness, it felt so... extraordinary.
"Look!! Look!! Look!!-" After a while that's all he was saying, I waited for him to show me something but that's all he did.
"Look at what, paper kid?" I chuckled, halfway through my laugh he just hugged me. It was so sudden I yelped, just a bit, and then hugged him back. I felt better.
Way better.

Test tube's P.O.V
I pressed my hand against the room 21 door, shaking still from the terrible fever that had been weighing down on me for almost two weeks now. My hand glided over Lightbulb's writing from, maybe a year ago? It stank the door up but hey, can't say it wasn't a nice touch.

Today was going to be, interesting.
I decided that today was the day I started testing the subjects, after a year or so surely they would have some interesting attributes. I wanted to start out small and just interview them separately, then the rest of the program will come in its own time.

I swung the door open and found myself startled. Paintbrush was neatly sitting on the floor, legs formerly crossed over each other, while Lightbulb and Fan were doing something childish in front of them. Lightbulb seemed, happy..? If happy was a word I'd ever use to describe Lightbulb after her recent attitude. And Fan... I don't think I've ever seen him so playful and childish. Constantly giggling and wearing the largest and sweetest smile I've seen in a long time. They didn't notice me come in.

"We could take it all the way to the moon!" Fan squealed enthusiastically, taking Lightbulb's hand in his and looking excitedly into her eyes. Lightbulb actually grinned back.
"You can do whatever you wanna do, kiddo." She chuckled sympathetically, something in her voice was concerned. Paintbrush smiled a bit, but then finally noticed me and sighed. Lightbulb looked at them, followed their gaze and then frowned.

"Oh. Heeyyy Test tube." Lightbulb rolled her eyes. Fan shuffled closer to Lightbulb, who put her hand slightly on his back.
"I-I'm here for Subject 3." Surprise from their latest 'activity' got my words stuck in my throat. Lightbulb slumped over, disappointed, while Fan tugged on her arm.
"What's happening?" He whimpered innocently.
"You have to go with.. her." Lightbulb replied hesitantly, a parent-like protection shading her tone.
"M-Me?"
"Don't worry. If she hurts you I'll be there for you, ok?"
Fan's stare gained anxiety, then he gave Lightbulb's arm a final squeeze as he got up and approached me, looking back to Lightbulb. Lightbulb lit up with pride and strength.
"You'll be fine, kid."
"Come in."

I opened the door to what I like to call my "interview room". The entire walk to the room wasn't that awkward. Fan skipped the whole way, although he was silent.
Fan looked at me, then cautiously stepped into the room and sat down in the nearest chair. I sat in the one opposite to him.
"Listen, 3." I said calmly, putting my hands together in front of me. Fan's legs swung energetically, hardly touching the floor. "Anything you say in here will only be between you and me. If there's anything you don't want me to say to Sub- I mean Lightbulb or Paintbrush, it will not be. Clear?" Fan looked a tiny bit reassured.
"Alright." He said, his voice unnaturally more high-pitch.

"Ok. All I'm going to do is ask you some questions. Please answer them with 100 percent honesty. Again, nothing you say here will be said to the others."
"Ok."
I cleared my throat. Let's do this.
"Do you feel closer to Lightbulb?"
"Well, yeah."
"How so?"
Fan began to fiddle with his fingers,
"I mean, obviously I sit closer to her hehe-" He began to chuckle to himself, over something not so hysterical I'd say.
"Well, she's better than Paintbrush! Always throwing a tantrum and whatever." He finished.
"And why do you think Paintbrush does that?" I asked.
"Lightbulb told me it's because they're just being an idiot and to ignore it."
"And do you ignore it?"
"W-Well, a bit."
"Explain."
"I-I.. I.." He stuttered, He obviously didn't want the other subjects to know.
"They won't know." I said, relaxing in my chair.
"I hear them fighting about me while I sleep.." He whimpered, his voice caught in anxiety and depression.

The sudden realisation that Fan was the youngest in the group shattered my heart. Here this child is, being the constant conflict between his peers, the only two people he could be close to down here.
He's mentally drained and lost.
"And this bothers you?" I asked stupidly. He stared into my eyes with drowsy insanity.
"No!! Because hearing your two best friends argue about you while you're trying to escape this hellhole the only way you can isn't going to drive me insane at all!!!" He screamed silently. Suddenly he grabbed me by the hands and dragged me closer.
"Test tube what the heck did we do..?"
"Wh-What?"
"What did we do? Why do we starve everyday? Why do we sleep beneath that thick cloud of anger and guilt?
What did we do to deserve that..?"

After the interview, I walked out from behind the desk and opened the door for him and lead him back to the room.
I opened the room 21 door and instantly threw Fan back. He looked at me, eyes already dropping with dark knowledge.
"Stay here." I whispered to him, he nodded softly.

I approached the room again, flinching at Paintbrush and Lightbulb's arguing, again.
"No, really, it's adorable when you blame literally everyone but yourself!" Lightbulb bickered with an angry yet sarcastic smile.
"It IS all your fault! If you had just taken two seconds to think before you left like that maybe he wouldn't of-" Paintbrush screamed back.
"Wouldn't of what? Lost it? Just because I leave for a bit means that he falls apart?"
"I di-"
"No! You did! Don't you dare tell me I'm the irresponsible one and then blame me for not taking charge for Fan's life when he needed it most!"
"Well I'm not the one killing myself here! Did you even take two seconds to realise that maybe seeing you die like that in front of him wouldn't scare him? And why would he turn to me for support? He relies on you!!"
"It would've been nice for you to take charge for once! You complain about having no responsibility in anything and then blow it once you finally get the chance!"
"And it's not like you blew your shot every time you had it!! For someone who actually led a team I'd expect you to know how others react to stuff like that!!"
"I-"

"Alright. That's enough." I said. Lightbulb and Paintbrush froze awkwardly, then stomped off. Lightbulb sat in the top right corner of the room and Paintbrush crouched into the bottom left corner. Fan peeked over my shoulder.
"Are they ok?" He asked, his innocence making me upset.
Paintbrush and Lightbulb argue, sure. But this is something else.
"Yes. You can go in now." I stepped aside. Fan ran inside and looked around for Lightbulb, running over to her once he found her. I let them chat and asked for Subject 2

Paintbrush's P.O.V
Right now? Honestly, if she's going to kill me that's fine. After what happened with Lightbulb I wouldn't mind just dying. I hate having a differing view and having to keep this 'you and me argue because we're Paintbrush and Lightbulb!' charade up. Test tube was probably sitting right outside the door doing nothing but recording every piece of it! Lazy moron.
We reached her very tiny looking room, when I sat down my bristles still brushed against the roof.
"Listen 2-" Test tube began, straight into her clipboard.
"I got a name y'know." I interrupted, crossing my arms angrily. I hated it when she used the number instead of my real name.
What the hell happened to us? Three years or so of this Inanimate Insanity bizz just to have a number as my name?
Test tube irritatedly cleared her throat.
"Anything you say in here will only be between you and me. If there's anything you don't want me to say to Subject 1 o-"
"Lightbulb or Fan. Now keep going."
"It will not be. Clear?!" Test tube raised her voice. I smiled, finding triumph in being able to aggravate her. Although I didn't want to portray the same cocky attitude as Lightbulb, I didn't want anything to do with her.
"Clear."
"What seems to be the problem between you and Lightbulb?" Test tube asked, patiently poking her notebook with her pen. I rolled my eyes.
"Oh boy. I really do wonder!" I sighed sarcastically. Test tube shot me a glare, it felt more like a death threat. Her eyes darkened with irritation. For once, she had managed to intimidate me. Without words, I instantly sat up, remembering what Lightbulb and Fan's behaviour had led them to. Watch your steps before you end up like your friends, will you? Test tube hissed through her gaze. I snagged my gaze from her's and focused on my hands that were fidgeting under the table..

"She's just being ignorant. In a hell-hole like this, slight offence, it's just annoying to one, have to look after Fan and two, put up with her arguments." I said.
When I looked back up Test tube was.. leaning closer? I stared back at her understanding gaze, immobilised with confusion.
"Y-Yeah?" I asked. Instead of backing off, she made a 'keep going' signal with her hand. My eyes widened in surprise, but out of pure defeat from my earlier shock I choked the words out

"I mean, imagine, here you are trying to make any pragmatic approach you can in order to like, not die, and then here comes Lightbulb! Waltzing up to everything like she can pretend she makes no mistakes! Blames me for whatever the heck is up with Fan even though she just.. left.. And you saw how she left didn't you? I tried to convince her those pills were no good and it must've been pure ignorance that must've pushed her to do somethi-"
"Something so incomprehensible and irrational..?" Test tube interrupted, stealing the words right from me.
"E-Exactly!!" I said, lifting up from my chair just a bit, a relieved smile forced itself onto my face, no matter how hard i tried to stop it. Test tube chuckled a bit, then sat down in her chair with a smile and peacefully scribbled some notes onto her notepad.
At least I can make one person enjoy themself down here..

(AN/MB:*evil yet knowing smile*
AN/IDK: *returns said smile*))

Test tube's P.O.V
I walked Paintbrush back down to the experiment room, relishing the earlier positivity, although slightly disliking it.
Don't get close to the subjects, remember?
I shook the thought away, I should be able to enjoy some time down here. Like Paintbrush had said earlier.

"I'm not sure if this helps, but maybe lighten up a little? I'm sure the terrible state of this place couldn't ruin that much, right? Just clean up a bit, take a breather, relax. You kinda need it by the looks of it."

I made a few mental notes after that;
One, clean up and stop living like such a slob. I'm pretty sure the both of us know that microwave noodles and recycled water isn't that healthy a diet to have after being underground and away from exercise and natural sunlight for over a year.
Two, stop looking so vulnerable. Clearly my illness has started be become noticable.
Three, something must've happened between Paintbrush and Lightbulb. Now Paintbrush has a much more 'look on the bright side' yet pragmatic approach to things, while Lightbulb had started to become much more short-tempered and argues more much than Paintbrush does, who now tries to avoid conflict apparently,

"I never ask for the arguments and constant snapping at each other, but apologising seems like a pretty odd move to make, especially now, y'know?"
I shook my head, reality began to rush back to me as soon as I approached the experiment room door.
Don't get close.. Don't get close.. Pull yourself together Test tube..
I opened the door to see Fan lying down next to Lightbulb. They were both staring into the one-way mirror and pretending to doodle in the air.
I yawned as I stepped aside and let Paintbrush in, it must've been getting late.

I just need this one. Come on..

"Subject 1?" I called. She stared at Paintbrush, then me, then quickly hugged Fan and stood up. Fan didn't even try to make eye contact with me.
After Lightbulb elbowed Paintbrush on the way out she started heading for the interview room, strangely knowing the way off by heart.
We sat down, I told her no one would hear what we said, and we started.
"Where do you think your previous attitude has come from?" I asked her.
"Why? Does it bother you?" She replied, raising her eyebrow.
"This is all for research purposes."
"Ah yes. Your research. Of course!"
"Come on, one."
"Ugh" She spat, she also hated it when I used her number.
I gave her 'the stare'. The one I gave people so that they knew their place. She didn't look phased, but she did start giving me answers.
"Maybe from the, 'recent discovery' that it doesn't matter what I do. I'm stuck down here still I rot to death, or die from starvation."
"So, giving up..?"
She looked taken aback, her stance suddenly became defensive.
"Well, not exactly. Just from the feeling that.. uh.." The light of realisation seemed to rush back into her body. "Shoot-"
"And Fan." I interrupted before she turned this interview into a therapy session. "What's suddenly drawn you to him?"
"Well the kid's defenseless. Someone's 'otta stand up for him.." She said, completely relaxing in her chair.
"He really looks up to you, you know that right?"
"It's nice, he's really nice. He's the only good thing in this horrible excuse for a lab."
"And Paintbrush, what's happened betwee-"
"Oh please. Weeee're Lightbulb and Paaaiintbrush!! We just argue 'till we drop and there's nothing else to it." She smiled evilly to herself, although her expression did drop a little bit. Then her eyes flickered with anger and fear, "Paintbrush is just an arrogant menace. Someday they're gonna get us all killed because they couldn't see past their own ego."

I stared at Lightbulb, eyes wide with shock. That was something I had never imagined hearing, especially through Lightbulb's strong masculine accent.
Soon, the interview finished. I was exhausted. I could hardly remember how to put one foot in front of another. Although Lightbulb insisted on walking back to the room on her own I followed her there and made sure she couldn't dash off and leave.

When she got back to the room she ran over to Fan and hugged him tight, comforting him quietly.
Without making eye contact with anyone, I closed the door and stumbled back to my room.
I sat down at my desk and took my pills, silently cursing my illness for coming at such an inconvenient time.
Just a few more days.. or weeks.. just hold on..