Deuce and Epel

Like most students Deuce assumed Epel was a girl when seeing him for the first time in Book 1. He also makes assumptions about Epel coming from “a real rich family” in Book 5.

In a gynwear vignette Deuce assumes that Epel would like flowers embroidered on his clothes. (Epel: “I actually don’t like floral patterns.”)

When they discuss customizing their PE uniforms with dragons and tigers Deuce is surprised, saying, “I had no idea our tastes were so similar. I’m glad we got to talking today” and “I never imagined you had a hot-blooded streak too!”

Deuce and Epel both reflect on how they have similar tastes, with Epel wondering if he could fit any of Deuce’s old clothes with some tailoring.

Deuce and Epel also share an interest in blastcycles.

Epel says that he wants to “get (his) own blastcycle and go wild modding it” one day, but after describing his desired alterations Ortho points out, “The mods you have in mind seem practically designed to tank performance.”

Epel backtracks (Yeah…guess it’s silly…”) but Deuce agrees with his ideas (“Sounds super cool to me”), encouraging him to a dd flame designs and “sweet decals.”

Grim observes, “They’re in their own little world…”

When Epel visits the school store during Deuce’s shift during New Year’s, he and Ace accuses Deuce of inflating the numbers on a campaign he designed to increase candy sales.

Deuce teaches Epel the secret to prove he wasn’t lying and, impressed by Deuce’s marketing talents, Epel invites Deuce to visit his hometown to give the locals some advice on how to sell more apples.

For White Rabbit Fes, Deuce invites Epel to his hometown as well.

Deuce and Epel overlap for the first time at the end of Book 4 when they physically run into each other, but don’t introduce themselves to one another until Book 5. 

Book 5 begins with Deuce deciding not to participate in the VDC as he doesn’t “think it’s appropriate to audition on a lark when you’re not serious about gunning for the top spot. For another thing, you guys will need a shoulder to cry on when you completely bomb it.”

Deuce and Epel then meet for the first time when Epel is struggling with his singing for the competition, with Deuce deducing that Epel is not taking part because he wants to: “As an honors student, I can’t ignore someone being forced to do something against their will.” (Ace: “Y’know, a real honors student wouldn’t refer to themselves as one.”)

When Vil assigns Epel to doing a ballet-based training regime separate from the rest of the group Deuce volunteers to join him.

After Epel runs away during rehearsal in Book 5 Deuce confronts Vil for dismissing Epel’s efforts. Vil responds, “You have no bandwidth to spend worrying about others. You’re far behind the other members in all aspects of your performance…don’t talk like a full-fledged ensemble member when you’re still dead weight.”

Deuce apologizes, and Grim asks why Deuce keeps getting involved in arguments between Vil and Epel and Deuce explains, “I’ve seen something in Epel ever since we ran into him by the courtyard well. I think…he and I are a lot alike…It’s about wanting to change, but not being able to…” 

Ace also comments that the two are similar during Halloween and his birthday (“I think on the inside, Epel’s basically like Deuce”).

Deuce borrows a blastcycle to take Epel to a beach for a cathartic scream, and he yells at the ocean about how he is never going to give up, saying it is something he does whenever things aren’t going his way: “I drive to the beach and let it all out at the top of my lungs. It always makes me feel better.”

Deuce says he invited Epel out because he thought that maybe Epel was like him, at which point he realizes that, while he’d had Epel “pegged as a quiet, timid guy”, he was very wrong. 

Deuce follows up with “I bet nobody in this school has you beat in the cuteness department!”, maybe still not fulling understanding Epel’s position. 

This comes up again during Glorious Masquerade when Epel is envious of the “knightly” looks of the other characters, saying that his outfit is the only one that’s cute. Deuce responds, “Oh yeah, it totally is cute!”

After some encouragement from the others, including Deuce, Epel feels better about his look.

In Book 5 a group of unnamed and unseen strangers grab at Epel on the beach, mistaking him for a girl, and Deuce goes to his defense. Deuce insists on taking responsibility for removing Epel from the safety of the school by handling the situation on his own. 

We also see Deuce protecting Epel during the New Year’s event and Phantom Bride.

When trying to defend himself against the bullies on the beach Deuce accidentally wipes them out in a single hit, not knowing how it is that he did it.

When Deuce and Epel return to Pomefiore they apologize for leaving campus without permission and getting into a fight, with both characters trying to take full responsibility in order to spare the other from Vil’s ire.

Their punishment is to run thirty laps around Pomefiore dorm.

When asked who he would take with him to a deserted island Deuce says, “if you’re going on an adventure, you have to be smart, tough, and brave! By that metric, Jack or Epel would be pretty good to have along…” (he ultimately chooses Ruggie).

Deuce and Epel are in a group together with Azul during Glorious Masquerade, where Azul comments on them being too honest and throwing him off. They both say that they loved playing outside as children.

When Riddle and Epel volunteer to stay behind and fight firelotuses leading up to the fight with Rollo, Deuce tells Epel to be careful, and “Take care of my housewarden!”

Deuce has made multiple comments on how “You’d never guess it by looking at (Epel), but he’s got a whole lot of grit.”

Deuce mentions receiving candy from Epel in a voice line.

Both Deuce and Epel are against wearing bunny costumes for White Rabbit Fes, but when every other character is in favor of doing so Epel wonders, “Maybe we’re the weird ones?”

During the event, Epel shares his dream with the group: “To cruise around on blastcycles with my pals wearing matching leather jackets!” Deuce says that he hopes he is invited, and Epel responds, “You bet! We’re gonna run wild!”

After the group ends up registering for a foot race to force bullies to apologize to Deuce’s mother for their poor behavior Deuce apologizes for getting them involved.

Epel says, “Think about it: all of us running wild, together, in matching outfits…It’s just like l’ve always dreamed about!”

During the event Epel shares a rumor about a local delinquent that he was obsessed with learning about in middle school.

Deuce claims to have never heard of him, but later in the event it is revealed that Epel’s middle-school obsession was actually Deuce himself.