"They're sirens. Which is the problem, because even if you sound ear-bleedingly bad, your song is bound to soar to the top of the… what do humans call them… charts? Eh, it isn't my business. Hey, how come you… don't like the song?" he asked, tilting his head to the side. It was obvious he was a wizard. Magical creatures were common around this area, and people had gotten used to them. But Carl couldn't pin what the woman was. She had no magical energy whatsoever.
“Ah, of course. Sounds like an abuse of power to me,” Josefine sighed. At his question, Lyn looked up, as if she also wondered the same thing.
Sef just shrugged. “Beats me, man. I just like other music better, I guess. Are you gonna… scan our items yet?” She looked at her friend. “Lyn, do you have money?”
Lyn’s expression became one of dismay. “Oh no, I forgot. But I don’t think I would’ve been able to get some anyway…”
“It’s fine, I can pay.” Sef dug into her pockets, pulling out a wad of cash.
"Nah, just take it. Everyone's so busy with the song, it doesn't matter if you leave without paying. Makes it real easy for wizards to shoplift, not like I personally do. Law abiding citizen, and all that." Carl shrugged, bagging their items without another word and slipping his phone number in for good measure. Making friends was difficult for him, and while it may have seemed creepy, he'd still rather try than not at all. Phones, they were so weird. He'd always communicated via mini crystal ball with friends and family back home, and those babies were durable. Unlike phones, which broke fairly quickly even just from overuse or bad service.
Josefine pursed her lips, and took the bag. After a bit of staring, she took a portion of the cash and slid it over to him. All the while, Lyn was quietly humming along to the siren song, though her eyes widened when she saw Sef’s gesture.
“Well, I also happen to be a law abiding citizen,” she said, making an affirming nod. ”Tchau.” Pulling Lyn behind her, they left the store.
Once they were outside, Lyn searched her friend’s face. “Did you just do that cuz he’s hot?”
Sef laughed. “No! He works in retail; I figured he probably needs the money.”
Lyn chuckled with her. “Well, it’s nice of you. He was basically selling it for free.”
“Well, you know. Kindred spirits, and all that. We both hate the same song,” she joked.
“Pfft, yeah, kindred spirits. Why do you hate the song though? It’s not as bad as he says, I’m sure.”
Sef just shrugged. “Dunno about that. Here,” she paused, stopping them at a street corner and digging into the bag, and handing out the snacks.
Carl, after a few hours, was done with work. He'd put the money in the register, the lady had overpaid but he still didn't want to seem like he was stealing. He hung up his robe and went to the couch, shirtless, tired, and overwhelmed from the day, song and all else. He slumped back, taking out his phone and looking at cat memes for the next whoever knew how long, whether the lady would call back or not was to be seen.
Lyn hung around Josefine’s house for a while. She said she did not really feel like going home, and besides, it was summer, and there was no school to worry about the next day. They found the phone number soon enough, and though both of them agreed it was weird and a little creepy, Josephine immediately wanted to call the number.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea, Sef,” Lyn said, hovering over her friend’s shoulder.
“C’mon, it’ll be fine. If it turns out to be a scam or something, I’ll just hang up, promise,” she said.
“I don’t think it’s that simple…” Lyn warned.
“It’ll be fine,” Sef repeated, and punched the number into her phone.
Carl's phone rang, it was an unknown number. He picked it up, and thought for a second that no, this couldn't be the lady from earlier, she wouldn't bother calling back. But he somehow knew it was her. Carl let out a cautious "Hellooooo?" and waited for a response, any response.
Josefine smiled to herself. "Hey. What's with the phone number in the bag, man? Kinda sketchy, if you ask me."
She looked at Lyn and gave her a wink. The dude sounded unsure, which Sef took as a good sign.
Carl fumbled for an answer. Then, he decided upon honesty. "Well, I just… you're kinda the first person I've been able to get along with since moving out of Fairyland. It's hard to make friends when you're a wizard allegedly destined for the boot." he shrugged, then realized she couldn't see him over the phone. "So, calling mysterious numbers you find in grocery bags, then?" he joked, voice cracking a little.
The smile faded. Josefine could understand that, having immigrated from Brazil. Making friends here in the states had been a monumental task, along with having to learn English and such.
“I see, I see,” she said. She noticed Lyn staring at her, her eyes wide. Sef brought a finger to her lips, indicating that she must stay quiet, then brought the phone between them. She set the wizard on speaker.
“What?” She answered. “It’s the most interesting thing that’s happened to me recently. And anyway, aren’t you going to tell me your name, Mr. Wizard Man?”
"Uh, it's kind of an embarrassing name…" he said, then when he realized this lady probably wouldn't take no for an answer, he sighed and answered. "Carl… of the Carol family. But most people call me Carl Carol. Or Carl Carl, gods forbid." he laughed. "It's in the "o". But yeah, that's me. Carl the wizard, not Dreamseen Starcatcher or anything like that. It's a bit of a lame name, but my family was a family of peasants up until me. Mom wasn't too keen on monogamy and wizards aren't really, either. So then I happened." he said, feeling the urge to shrug and again realizing she wouldn't be able to see it. "Sorry, I may be oversharing."
Sef’s smile came back. “Carl…” she looked over to Lyn, who had a hand over her mouth in an attempt to keep her laughter from being heard. “I mean, we can’t all have an epic name, right? It’s not that bad. I’m Josefine, by the way. Josefine Azevedo. My friends call me Sef, sometimes.”
Then she winced a little. “Um, yes. Yes you are. But hey, can’t blame you when I sometimes do the same thing.”
Carl smiled, a little, for no reason at all. "Josefine. It's a really pretty name, y'know. Much better than Carl." he said, a supportive nod in his voice. "You're pretty too, as I remember. Customers' faces tend to blur together so I may be thinking of someone different, however," he said.
Sef and Lyn shared a glance, both of them smirking at each other. The former turned to the phone. “Thanks, man. I’m sure you’ve seen customers that are prettier than me, though. But I appreciate it.”
Lyn rolled her eyes at this, and Sef stuck her tongue out in response.
“No, not really. I always get people who scream at me, and regardless of how pretty you are physically, it’s just not cool to yell at someone. What’s the human term for it?” he asked. “Like, when you like somebody and they turn out to be a disrespectful asshole?”
“Uhhh….” The two exchanged glances again, both just as confused the other. “We have a lot of words for that. Do you mean toxic? Problematic? I usually just call that person a cadela.”
Lyn just silently shrugged, having no input.
( @orion-lying hellooooo)
(Ahh, boo thanks literally I cannot I loved Carl and while I can't answer rn becos low inspiration I will respond soon!)
(It’s cool man! See you then!)
Carl laughed, he knew what Sef meant. "Well, uh… I don't really know what I expected. But anyways. I'm going to an Underground convention next week, I know it's a bit sudden but would you like to come along?" he asked. "Free admission, you just have to make sure the worms don't get you and consume your flesh."
Set pursed her lips, looking around awkwardly. “Um. You do realize I’m not a legal adult yet, right? Not only would it be weird to accept something like that from a basically stranger, I don’t think my guardians would let me.”
"Oh? I'm not either. Not one-hundred-twenty-five yet, if that puts it into perspective for you." he said, feeling a bit ashamed he had to admit that. Legally on earth, he was an adult, but until your whiskers had turned white you weren't seen as anything but a child.
She raised an eyebrow, even though he couldn’t see it. “Oooookay. You’re still basically a stranger, though. Hmm… Either I’m not going or I’m bringing a friend,” she decided. And probably pepper spray or something.