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Paper is and will always be an ambitious individual. Ever since he and his sister, Sandpaper, were little pieces of paper, they’ve always looked up to the successful careers of their parents. Their Mom, Vellum Paper, a successful, yet retired, writer. And their Dad, Printer Paper, a wildlife veterinarian, who helps animals from around the world.
He’s attempted, and failed, to find a career path he can do and enjoy. He tried being a comedian, but his jokes fell flatter than him. He then tried being a movie star and did weightlifting, but unfortunately, he didn't have enough stamina for that. But at least he inspired his sister’s path. We don't talk about his journey as an artist.
Paper tried a lot of things, until the end of high school, where he tried to be an inventor. The inventions weren’t that functional. All of them ended up exploding unless the machine was supposed to explode. Then it just ends up being a big dud. Kind of like his career.
But why doesn't he stop? Well, because it's the first career path that lasted this long, he can’t stop now. Not even if his own roommates, Rock and Scissors, and his down-the-hall crush, Pencil, say so. Rock does have some faith in him, but it's practically almost gone at this point. And he doesn't want to ask Pencil for help because he tries too hard to impress her, and doesn't want to admit that he sucks at it.
Now, Scissors… Where do I even begin? Scissors was always the mastermind of their schemes. And most of the time, Paper was the pawn in them. And sometimes Rock joins in on Paper’s torment. He’s not the brightest, though his heart of gold makes up for it. But lately, Paper wonders if that “gold” is actually fool’s gold… Which he found out later is really Iron Pyrite.
There was a whole episode where Paper thought Rock was gonna murder him all for a fucking glitter bomb, as a way to scare him. And he and Scissors somehow got practically the whole town involved. And they somehow didn't think that maybe this was too far? But that's just the tip of the iceberg. If I continue on you will die from boredom.
——-
Paper was finishing putting up a sheet over his recent invention. Content with what he made under it. He steps back to take a breath. “After so long, I finally did it. I actually made something that works! No explosions, no breakdowns, nada! I’m finally going somewhere in my life!” He takes off his gloves with a big smile on his face, then leaves his bedroom to get something special for himself.
His roommates were in the living room during the whole thing. Scissors was on his game console, while Rock was watching a documentary on the history of fashion shows. Paper goes to the fridge to receive a box of leftover cherry cheesecake.
Rock looks over and notices the big grin on his face. “What’s with the big smile on your face?” He asked. Being happy that he’s happy.
“Well, Rock, since you asked… I finally made something that works!” Paper responded, in a boasting way, while getting a fork from a drawer.
That’s when Scissors looks up at Paper from his game with a perplexed face.
“For real?!”
“Yes, Rock. For real. It only took 15 attempts, 4 nights, 3 days—Not including today—And determination!”
“Is that all you used?” Scissors asked, putting down the game and sitting up.
“… Alright… I may have taken notes from other inventors, including Pencil. And I may or may not have taken a ton of inspiration from them, which may or may not have led to copying from them. But that's beside the point! What is, is that now I finally have a winner for the Inventors Fair this year! Ahahahhh!!!” He quickly gets back his composure and then opens his cake box. “If you need me, I’ll be in my room celebrating.” He takes a bite of his cherry cheesecake before he goes back to his room.
“Isn’t that great of Paper? He made something work and we didn't have to intervene.” Rock praised.
While Scissors just had a monotone face on.
“Now we don't have to worry about him going insane and possibly murdering the judges. I mean, we’ll still be there, of course. To congratulate him and to comfort him if his invention ends up being another dud. But I'll still be proud of him. Wouldn’t-... Scissors?”
Scissors’ breathing became heavy and he was fidgeting with his shaky hands.
“Scissors!”
“Huh?!”
“Aren’t you proud of Paper? I know you guys don't have the best friendship—And, neither do I, if we think about it—But you gotta appreciate Paper’s ambition, right?”
“Oh, yeah... Uhh… Well…” Then an idea came up in his head. “Hey! You wanna do something funny to Paper?”
Rock was hesitant by his sudden suggestion. “I guess… What is it?”
“After Paper‘s asleep. We-”
“No! We are not messing with Paper’s hard work. Besides, we all know it’ll eventually mess itself up.”
“B-But just hear me out-”
“No! We already did an episode on something similar to this. We’re not gonna go through that again!” Rock then gets off the couch. “I’m sorry, but I’m not going through with this.” Then he walks off.
Scissors' face turns into a scowl.
He growls under his breath, “Fine, then I guess I’ll just delete your application for that stupid space-themed fashion show.”
That got Rock to stop in his tracks. “You wouldn't…”
“Try me. I got guys. Real guys! And I’ll just give them a call saying that Rock isn’t-”
“Alright!!! What did you have in mind, you sick son of a bitch..?”
A shit-eating grin was plastered on Scissors face. “After Paper’s asleep… We sneak into his room…” He explains his prank to Rock.
——-
We cut to Paper’s room at night.
He was sleeping happily and peacefully. Content with his submission for the Inventors Fair. Which, by the way, was still under the sheet, and was right next to his bed.
The bedroom door creaks open and Scissors and Rock pop their heads out the door frame. The sheet-covered invention had a humanoid shape and you could see that the sheet covers down to its knees and what resembled boots.
Rock rolls his eyes. “Oh, of course, Paper would use the light blue color scheme for his invention.”
“Quiet!” Scissors tips his first toe. Silently making his way towards the machine, and beckoning Rock to come forth. “Come on. We have to be quick. He’s a light sleeper.”
“I still don't know why you want me involved this badly…” Rock complained as he tiptoed towards him.
“I already told you, Paper’s a light sleeper, so I need someone to make sure he stays asleep. Now help me take this off, quietly.”
And he does so. When they took off the heavy sheet, they were greeted with a humanoid robot with parts on it’s body that resembled a 3 piece tux, it’s face was almost human, except for its mouth and that its eyeballs were light bulbs.
Rock and Scissors stare in awe.
“Woah… Guess Paper also took inspiration from that one game based on that one Pizza Plex-“
“Yeah yeah yeah… Make sure you keep Paper asleep.” Scissors commands while he grabs the step-stool that was right beside the robot, steps on it, and pulls out a plastic bag from out his back.
“You didn’t tell me what you were gonna-“
“Do you want me to wake Paper up?” He growls.
“N-No… I was just-“
“Then shut the fuck up and do what I say!”
Paper moved a bit with an irritated sleepy look on his face. Until Rock pats his back lightly, it’s when he calms down. “You’re oddly more determined for this prank than…”
Scissors makes a glare that pierces his sunglasses and Rock’s soul.
“Fine… Fine… I’ll keep him from waking up.”
Scissors stops then opens the hatchet from the robot’s back.
——-
The next morning, Paper wakes up to find the sheet that covers his invention was a bit crooked, but didn’t think too deeply to it, as he was too busy getting ready for the Inventor’s Fair tonight.
Rock and Scissors were having breakfast with last night still fresh in Rock’s mind.
“Scissors… Why were you so determined to do that-“
“Good morning, everyone!” Paper greets with a sing-songy voice.
“Oh! Good morning, Paper!”
“How’d you sleep?” Scissors asked, looking up at his toast, eggs and bacon.
“Amazing! So amazing, that I won’t even question why you’re asking me in the first place.” He answers, while grabbing him some coffee. “I’d love to stay, but I gotta get ready for the big fair in 3 hours! Wish me luck!” He grabs a piece of buttered toast before leaving the kitchen.
“Oh, we will! We’ll give you a lot of luck!” Rock then turns his focus back to Scissors, who was smirking, menacingly. “Okay, seriously… Why were you so determined for-“
“Rock, what were your plans for that space-themed fashion show thingy?” Once again, Scissors drove him off.
——-
3 hours later, at the Inventors Fair.
“And for the final contestant, is… Paper!” The judges announced. “Let’s see what you brought in store for us this time…” He encouraged, nonchalantly, as the audience giggled at him while barely clapping at all.
Paper, in his suit and tie goes up, with the most confidence he had in his life. While also pulling his sheet covered robot on a wagon. “I know I haven’t been bringing the best pieces of work-“
“Quite the opposite, actually!” A random audience member clarified.
“That’s why… I’ve worked really hard on this latest one. I give you…” He pulls down the sheet showing off the blue colored and well dressed machine. “Mar.Co! The robot that can preform any dance from all over the world!”
Everyone stares in awe with the new change of aesthetic from his other inventions.
“Sounds impressive… Almost like Pencil’s own hip-hop and ballet dancing robot.” The judge comments.
“Eheheheh… Yeah… Almost…”
“Can it do a tango?”
“Let’s find out!” Paper takes out his phone and plays tango music.
The robot activates and pulls in Paper for a core-acted tango.
Everyone awes at its perfect steps. Especially Rock.
“Ooo~ Wonder if that’s what happened to my tango book… Bet he took more.” He questions.
Scissors ignores him and just glares at Paper and his robot.
“It can also do the Salsa.”
He played Salsa music, and the Robot did the dance.
“The Charleston!”
He played 20s music, and the Robot danced to it.
“And finally, my personal favorite…”
Scissors perks up. “Oh! Oh! Oh! Rock! Pay attention!”
“He can do, the lift!”
This he didn’t get anyone invested then, he sure did now.
“Just watch!”
He played the perfect music for this next move, places his phone down, and then has his robot and himself move a distance.
Rock, who was anticipated before, noticed Scissors was kicking his legs excitingly, and he knew why.
“Scissors. Please tell me you’re not having Paper hurt himself.”
“No, of course not. It’s even better.”
Mar.Co readied itself. And Paper twirled, so happy that his dream was finally gonna come true. He jumped, and was captured by the robot. The audience, including Rock, cheered on happily. Tears of joy poured out of Paper’s face.
“I think it’s clear who’d won here.” The judge goes to get the trophy. “The winner goes to-“
Just then, there was a noise coming from Mar.Co. It started to ooze out purple slime, sparks escape, until it finally exploded, causing Paper to fly off the stage.
“No! Paper! Scissors, what did you do?!” Rock cried, running towards the fallen inventor.
“I knew that robot was too good to be true…” A random audience member commented.
The judge sighs, “Alright… I guess, this year’s winner is, Dexter!”
As the audience cheered, Paper was on the side lines, crying his eyes out. “I…I really thought Mar.Co was a winner. I-I put my heart and soul into this one! I… I just don’t know what went wrong…”
“Hey, Paper. It’s alright. Why don’t you wait in The Susan and I’ll meet you there.” Rock tries to comfort.
“Okay… Where’s Scissors?”
“I… I’m not sure. But I’ll find him.”
Paper nodded, and then left. That’s when Scissors came into view, bursting out laughter.
“Ahah!!! Oh, man! Did you see him just flying off its arms like that?!” Scissors asked through his laughter.
“Scissors, I thought you said you weren’t gonna hurt him!”
“I don’t think I actually said that. But relax! He’s not really hurt.”
“Maybe not physically, but he is mentally!”
“Oh! That’s just Paper being Paper. Besides, did you know how hard it was to put all that gunk into that thing?!”
“It was you?”
Scissors was startled a bit, while Rock’s blood froze. They both turn to find Paper, gripping his phone, and having a face that was both shocked and twitching. “P-Paper! Uh… W-What are you doing here?”
“Don’t you dare, change the subject…”
“Oh! Yeah, that was me. Wasn’t that hilarious?!” Scissors laughed, not scared of his presence at all.
“You’re asking me, if putting purple slime into a piece of work that I spent almost a week straight on, with no breaks at all, and only leaving my room for a shower and for when I was about to faint, and having it explode in front of everyone, and embarrassing myself once again, is considered funny?”
“I mean… Yeah.”
Paper looks down, his hands shaking, one of them still holding onto the phone.
“I mean I definitely think that was funny.” Scissors’ laughing weakened, and he was starting to get worried. “P…Paper…?”
Paper’s breathing becoming audible. His eyes twitching.
That’s when Rock spoke up, “Paper… I’m sure we can figure this out.” He was about to put his hand on his shoulder, but that’s when he heard giggling coming from him.
“Ehh…Eheh…Ahahhah… Hah… I should’ve known… AHAHAHHAAHHHH!!! I should’ve known you were behind this!!!” He continues his hysteria.
“Y…Yeah… It was a good joke… Didn’t think it was that good though.” Scissors became uncomfortable, but didn’t want to show it.
“You… You were always trying to ruin everything I do! From my inventions… To my chances at social life… To even my dreams!”
“It… It was just a joke-“
“No! No, it was not! Wasn’t it?”
Rock became confused. “What do you mean by-“
“Shut up, Rock! Just… Just shut up!”
Rock steps back. And Paper steps closer to Scissors.
“There was more behind that ‘joke,’ wasn’t there, Scissors?” His face freaking him out.
“What are you-”
“TELL ME!!!” He smacks his sunglasses out of his face.
“Okay! Okay! Fine, there is! But, if I can’t succeed in life, then why should you?! Why should anyone?!”
“That’s why you were determined last night…” Rock commented, which catches Paper’s attention.
“What..?”
“Uh-umm… I… He-He threatened to delete my application if I didn’t comply! But all I did was to make sure you stayed asleep, I swear!”
Paper puts his phone in his pocket, his face was still twitching, and a crooked smile starts to crawl up his face, where giggles were escaping from it. Which turned to frantic laughter, which finally turned to a shriek.
“Ahhah! I can’t believe you guys!” He repeats the last sentence in a whisper.
Rock and Scissors were obviously scared, not knowing what to do. Until Scissors spoke. “P…Paper… It…It was just one prank-“
“Not only that! No… No, not only that, at all!”
“Someone please help…” Tears start to escape Rock’s face, as he begins to silently pray.
“You guys, have been targeting me for so long. I’m always the butt of the joke in all your lil schemes. And the sec- milli- n-nano! The nanosecond I start to have fun, you guys always find a way to beat it to a pulp! Scissors, you always give me shit for my failures and flaws, when you, sir, are no better yourself! And you, Rock, you make everyone and everything think you’re the nicest of all of us, when you’re no less insane than all of us!”
“P-Paper… I-I’m not trying to-“
“Save it! I am so tired and sick of everything! I don’t care if it’s part of this stupid show! I FUCKING HATE IT!!!”
“Paper… What are you saying?”
That’s when Paper finally calms down. “I’m… I’m done… I’m done with you guys. I’m done with this show. I’m… I’m just done…” Paper turns around, and starts to walks away.
Scissors tried to stop him, “Paper, I-”
“Don’t touch me! … I’m walking home.”
“Paper… I’m… I’m sorry. For everything.”
“… Okay.” He continues to walk. With Rock and Scissors looking back, not knowing what to feel.
——-
The next day, at the apartment complex, boxes of Paper’s things filled up outside the apartment door.
Paper was finishing up with taping one of them. When Scissors, without his sunglasses on surprisingly, appeared beside the doorway. “Paper… You don’t have to do this.”
“My decision is final. And, at this point… I do.”
Paper lifts up the taped box and walks to the door. Which Scissors trying to stop the crying Rock from tackling him.
“Paper, please don’t leave! We’ll do better! I promise! Just please don’t leave!”
“Sorry, Rock. But I’m sure you’ll make it through. And, I hope your modeling career goes smoothly.” He puts down the box. “Scissors… I hope you get the help you need. And, please accept the help.”
Then 2 honks could be heard from the front.
“There’s my Mom. If you’d like, you can look out for my things.” He offered, before he goes downstairs.
And that’s when Pencil showed up. “What’s all this? And why is Scissors not wearing his glasses?”
“PAPER’S MOVING OUT?!!” Rock balled out, a puddle of tears flooded around him.
“What? Why?”
“Wanna take a guess?” Scissors pats Rocks head.
——-
So yeah, that’s it. Paper moved back to his hometown. He became the successful inventor he hoped since high school. And started working for Cyber-Tech, like Pencil. They don’t talk much though.
And as for his roommates. Well, Rock became the successful perfume model he’s always wanted. And Scissors finally found something to do in his life, after receiving some help. After venting into his autobiography, which became a best seller, he stopped being this sleazy-jerk, and just became this reserved man who vents in his writing.
Rock and Paper actually bought a few copies of his works, but they don’t really talk all that much. All 3 of them still keep a picture of each other, as a reminder of how they came to be. Maybe they’ll reunite one day. It won’t be anytime soon, and we shouldn’t put all our hopes into it. But, we can always pray.