Chapter 2-6: Smartphones These Days
Dylla soon points out, "Deuce's costume is actually the same design as what he used to wear back in the day."
"Wow. Deuce Spade wore something like that as a child?" Ortho says.
"Really? You used to wear something like that, Deuce?" Jasper asks.
"I can see it now!" Epel says.
"I bet you look cute," Sereia says.
Deuce gets embarrassed, "Knock it off!"
And Dylla says, "I remember you bawling your eyes out about 'hating normal clothes' like it was yesterday."
"Mrah! Deuce said that?!" Grim cries out in shock.
Deuce responds, stunned, "I-I might have…"
"We never could afford our own costumes for the festival, so I pulled in a few favors at work. I'd get kids' hand-me-downs and then modify them to fit him myself," Dylla adds.
"How selfless of you…" Deuce responds.
"Oh, hush," Dylla says, "Maybe I was the one who got the most joy out of seeing you running around the festival all dressed up—so what? Anyway, if you like your costumes, you're welcome to take them back to school with you."
"Aw, yeah!" Grim says.
"I'll have to show Father and the others," Silver says.
"I-I probably wouldn't wear this at school…" Epel says.
"Right?" Deuce replies, but then has an idea, "Oh, I know—why don't we take a picture?"
"Yeah!" Epel and the twins reply.
"Ah yes, I was just thinking about how I'd love to show Lilia and Malleus all of us together," Silver says.
"I like to have a few pictures as well," Briar says.
"Me too," Sereia says.
Trinket tinks happily in response.
Then Dylla says, "I can take it for you!"
"Thank you so much!" Epel says.
Deuce holds out his phone to his mom, "Here, use my phone."
"Leave it to me!" Dylla says.
Epel asks, "How should we pose?"
"Can't we just stand normally?" Silver asks.
"I'll make a heart with my hands," Ortho says.
"We can pose like rabbits," Sereia says.
"We'll be like real rabbits," Briar says as Trinket nods.
"Guess I'll fold my arms," Deuce says.
"Ooh, that's cool! I'll do that too. Maybe we could go back to back as well?
"Yeah, nice," Deuce says.
"I'm gonna jump up in the air!" Grim says.
"Kind of a weird thing to do for a group photo…" Epel says.
"What are you going to do, Briar?" Deuce asks.
"I'm going to make a heart with my hands as well," Briar says.
"Ooh, well then why don't we do it together, one hand each? I see idols do it all the time," Ortho says.
"Okay, take your positions, everyone!" Epel says.
Everyone agrees, "Yeah!"
Soon, everyone gets into position and does the pose they wish to do.
Deuce says, "You can take it now, Mom!"
Dylla then notices, "Huh, your phone's different from mine…" and has trouble looking at the phone, "Where's the camera...?" and begins struggling, "There... No, that wasn't it…"
Everyone cries out, "We can't hold these poses all day!"
"I forgot how bad you are with tech…" Deuce says.
"I-I am not! I use my own phone all the time…" Dylla says.
"But only to make calls and take photos," Deuce says.
"And that's plenty. Smartphones these days have too many features if you ask me," Dylla says.
"I heartily agree," Silver says.
"Silver's found a kindred spirit…" Epel says.
"Most people from Briar Valley are tech-challenged…" Ortho says.
"Oh yeah," Briar says.
"I wouldn't have guessed your mom would be bad with tech, Deuce. Especially considering how much you love to tinker with machinery," Epel says.
And Deuce says, "Since my mom isn't tech-savvy, I was always the one setting up and running all our appliances."
"And fix them in a jiffy when they break down!" Dylla says.
"All I did was replace the batteries," Deuce says.
"But what about when the TV broke?" Dylla asks.
"It was the remote that broke. I just needed to buy a new one," Deuce says.
"See what I mean! You're so helpful!" Dylla says.
Then Deuce says, "I barely did anything... Though this does make me wonder how you manage without me…"
"Hehe, still, it's clear she really appreciates all you've done for her," Epel says.
And Deuce says, "Considering how bad you are with tech, Mom, I'm impressed that you can drive as well as you do."
"Cars are totally different from appliances or computers, though. I've always loved vehicles. I can drive pretty much anything," Dylla says.
"Really? That's so cool!" Epel says, amazed.
And Dylla says, "When I'm behind the wheel I can just sort of...feel my way through what I need to do. Like whatever I'm driving is an old friend."
"I know what you mean.
I form a bond with blast cycles too.
"Appliances, though... So high and mighty. Always feels like they're looking down their noses at you, right?" Dylla says.
Deuce becomes confused, "...You've lost me there.
Grim cries out, "Mraaah! How long do I have to keep jumping?!"