i was in the forest looking to see the trees (but none were there)

After a while, things grew rather boring.

The consistency of the accidental routine 007n7 developed lacked excitement, creativity, the freedom for change to happen. It felt like a piece of gum you've been chewing for too long, the pattern having lost its vibrancy. Naturally, 007 stuck another metaphorical piece of gum in his mouth to regain the color.

By this point in time, it was late summer, days being hot and dry. While normal Robloxians spent their time outside, playing and swimming the summer away, 007 worked himself silly. He had promised Noli that his tech would improve, sending them to the top of the food chain, and he wasn't about to back out on a promise.

At the moment, his goal was to extend the duration of a clone's existence. This proved to be a struggle, a clone typically lasting few seconds before collapsing, the process beginning to frustrate the man. The duration of the clones deteriorated after 7n7's first attempt at improving the technology, accidentally messing something up in the code. having done it while sleep deprived, 007 had no idea what it even was that he had messed up.

Noli had drunk a generous amount the night before, sleeping peacefully on the couch as 7n7 worked in the garage. It was still relatively early on a Sunday, perhaps being around 9 in the morning, so he didn't expect Noli to wake up anytime soon. Though 7n7 himself wasn't in the best post-drinking condition, the project he worked at was far too important for him to waste his time sulking over a hangover. Luckily for him, he didn't drink nearly as much as Noli had, the other's actions the previous night demonstrating it quite well.

An hour had passed by the time 007 finally caught a break in his progress, finding the root of the issue and fixing it, leading to his clone lasting nearly 40 minutes. He nearly jumped from joy, laughing like a child as his clone collapsed into nothing. 007 believed he deserved a treat, and there was nothing as sweet as watching a particular pizza place employee lose his temper.

Cleaning up the area he was working in, 7n7 hastily made his way inside to scribble a note to his sleeping companion. Setting it on the coffee table next to a glass of water and a painkiller, 007 playfully ruffled the sleeping man's hood, pulling it further down his face before making his way out of the house. 007n7 didn't know it then, but that would be the last time he would ever walk away from that place.

007n7 most likely looked manic with how giddy he was as he borderline skipped to Builder Brother's Pizza. He had no intentions of actually talking to Elliot, but he was definitely going to enjoy making his work harder than it already was.

Swiftly making his way behind the establishment, 007 wasted no time in spawning in a clone. The resemblance between he and his clones was almost identical, though there were slight differences. Clones typically had less freckles than 7n7 himself had, though he didn't have many to begin with. If he was a flashing red light, his clones were blaring horns of a freight train.

Smirking, 007 began to instruct the clone on what to do, pride beaming through his eyes, "Alright, listen up, we're gonna make the most of this here wall. Whatever you can think of, draw it, got it?"

Handing a can of spraypaint to the clone, it nodded, getting straight to work. It wasn't long before the wall was covered in graffiti drawings that ranged from stupid to downright lewd. If he weren't so distracted by the obscure humor of it, 007 might've noticed the glaring red flag that was the clone besides him. Had it been a real person, it might've had a heat stroke.

"What the fuck."

7n7 was too busy adding excruciating detail to a particular drawing when the voice spoke, taking a moment to process the fact someone said something. A very specific person, as well.

Turning around slowly, 007 felt his heart drop slightly when he met eye to eye with none other than Elliot, who looked just about ready to murder someone.