I know that some of the reviews for this are going to be along the lines of this situation not being "realistic" or "appropriate" for royals but just to save you the time for typing that, I'll just give you my responses right here: 1) I honestly don't care for the accuracy. 2) This is literally a fanfic and a lot of people actually love reading my 'Maxmerica does modern stuff' chapters. 3) My blessed Prime Minister has every social media platform possible, has made a Spotify playlist, and has taken numerous selfies with anyone who asks him.
This is all self-promotion for a new Lunar Chronicles story I have now published. All information about that will just be at the end.
Photo #73: Once Upon a Selfie
Eadlyn addresses this next cluster of photos as either 'how my parents relate with every millennial in the world' or 'how my parents are the most embarrassing people in the world.' Both titles are very accurate and any kid her age who has been born with a phone in their hands in this heightened era of technology will understand the cringeworthy situation she has once been placed in.
Eadlyn's parents were already pretty relatable to the people and nothing really itched her except this. It wasn't only a way to get the civilians of Illéa to think that their queen and king were people like them, but it also served as more than one reason for Eadlyn to put a paper bag on her head.
And that one thing was a selfie.
-o-
Every person in marketing thinks the same thing: who is the best person to endorse our new product? There's the typical celebrity or model but consumers don't really grasp onto that concept anymore since all they will see is an advertisement. But if the people in said advertisement had a prestigious reputation that was so high and proper, then seeing them endorsing something so mundane will certainly get people talking. Suddenly, the word goes around that the royals are doing it so everyone else should as well.
Companies thrive out of capitalism and what screams egotistical more than taking a selfie - especially when the subjects of said selfie had Illéa's favorite royal couple and their cute children.
"I think we look best with this filter," Maxon says, selecting one.
"I think we look old with that one," America jokes, selecting another one.
As Maxon and America browse through all the selfie filter options. It was all promotion for a company's new product but the two of them were just having fun with it (which was the main goal of the commercial). Their kids, however, stood to the side with incredibly different opinions on the moment at hand. Eadlyn and Ahren were mortified by it all, Kaden was indifferent but would rather be anywhere else than here, and Osten was the only one who seemed to be getting as much joy out of the experience as his parents.
"If there weren't going to be multiple pictures of this moment, I would try my absolute best to forget it," Eadlyn whispers to Ahren.
She, Ahren and even Kaden stand to the side, hoping their parents were too involved with selfie filters to notice them purposely not participating.
"Hopefully, there are some technical difficulties with the phone they're using so this could all be over," Ahren adds.
"If Mom and Dad start speaking with hashtags then I am leaving," Kaden says.
Eadlyn and Ahren immediately agree to that. If either of their parents (or even Osten) start any sentence with the word 'hashtag' then they're forever changing their entire identities and moving to the outskirts of Swedenway.
"Mommy, use this one!" Osten exclaims, picking a new filter to use.
America beams when she sees the new filter Osten chose. Maxon can't help but laugh at it. Osten is happy he got his parent happy. For once, they're not mad at him for messing something up on purpose. The other three were just dreading what would happen next.
"Maxon we look like dogs!" America exclaims giddily.
Eadlyn, Ahren, and Kaden simply pretend that they never heard that. There were just some phrases that adults should never say. In that case, unless their parents actually transformed into real dogs, they should not say those five words.
"I'll get our passports," Kaden says.
"I'll pack our bags," Ahren says.
"I'll book the first flight out of here," Eadlyn says.
"Sounds like a plan."
The three of them turn on their heels and are about to make a run to get their plan in action. This was going to be it. They were finally going to make their escape from all this cringe.
"Where do you three think you're going?" Maxon asks, stopping his three eldest children from running off.
Eadlyn, Ahren, and Kaden stop right at the doorway. They were so, so close.
"Swedenway," Eadlyn responds honestly.
Maybe it was because of the euphoria that came with animated selfie filters or the surplus of flash photography distorting their perception, but Maxon and America didn't really care about their kids' last-minute trip to Swedenway. As of right now, they had their minds focused on something that they may currently see as more important than their kids running away.
"Come take a selfie with us," America says (or orders. Her chipper smile is deceiving).
Eadlyn, Ahren, and Kaden sluggishly drag themselves over to their parents. They stand there, faking smiles as fake flower crowns appear on their heads in the screens. The added pink filter somehow makes their smiles look more real. That's the magic that came with selfies.
"Are we still going to Swedenway?" Kaden whispers to his older twin siblings, keeping the forced grin on his face for the sake of his parents.
Their flower crowns change into a black and white background. For a moment, everyone thought that was all the filter had but no, there was more. It came with aviators that had color-changing lenses and accompanying dance music that belongs in a discount club. Maxon and America sure enjoyed it. Osten did too. The other kids, well, not so much.
"This is way worse than them saying hashtag," Ahren says.
"Don't forget to pack my jacket," Eadlyn replies.
Yes, this was a play on Snapchat and my personal favorite filters.
Come on, we have all been down that scarring moment of old people taking selfies. Now, onto my new Lunar Chronicles story:
Once Upon a Selfie - Life is no fairytale once puberty hits, especially in this modern day when fairytales are only stories. Meet these eight teenagers as they write their own fairytale from the perspective of high schoolers, despite the many struggles, secrets, and selfies that will inevitably come. (Kai x Cinder, Scarlet x Wolf, Cress x Thorne, Winter x Jacin) (Modern AU / Origin Story)
Go check it out if you are complete trash for the series like me!
Stay Tuned - It's been one year...
