say my name
word count: 1.4k
warning: n/a
tags: carla x mika, drinking tea and playing cards, boyfriend's brother, unlikely friendships
summary: With Shin growing interest in Yui, he sets Mika aside. Not wanting to be ignored and alone, she seeks Carla out for company, and forms an unexpected friendship with him. Inspired by this playlist.
This was ridiculous. She was being ridiculous. It was one thing to be mildly jealous of Shin's new budding relationship with Yui, but try to seek comfort and company from his brother —the future Founder King mind you— just to get an ounce of attention? That took it to a whole new level.
Yet here she was, with a deck of cards in her hands, eyeing him across the table.
"Koji. Your turn." Carla's very deep and rich soothing voice broke her from her train of thought.
"Hm? Oh, right! Sorry about that, Master Carla" Mika sheepishly replied, laying down her cards on the table. Even after all years, she never quite managed to let go of the "Master" title when it came to Carla, maybe it was because he was already a king in her eyes, maybe it was because she greatly feared him and respected him? It never bothered her or him for that matter, and once the time came, she would have no problem calling him "Your Majesty" as well.
"Hm it looks like you won once again, Koji. I must say, since when did you get so good at playing cards?" Carla questioned, sighing in defeat, as she won the game once again. Mika chuckled to herself, he was no way a bad player in any means, but she couldn't help but think of how cute he looks, whenever he momentarily looses his cool over a game.
"My father taught me when I was younger! I also used to play card games all the time with the servants, back when I lived with Burai."
"Ah I'm rambling, aren't I? My apologies, Master Carla" Mika apologized, slightly bowing her head in embarrassment. Carla didn't seem the slightest bit annoyed, in fact, he looked amused.
"Please there's no need for that, Mika. I'm not a good card player myself you see, I'm more into paint collecting them card playing" Carla remarked. Her cheeks flushed, at the sound of him saying her name, it was ridiculous really, it's not like this is the first time he said it, and this was definitely not the first time she reacted this way when he does.
Trying to keep her composure, she smiled at him, hoping her blush wasn't to noticeable.
"Well I must say for a beginner, Master Carla, you're already exceeding some of the most skilled card players I've seen. Funny enough, that reminds me of that one time, when I was playing with Shin for the first time, he threw the deck of cards straight at me, because he betted all his chips on the first round and-"
"Now you're rambling Koji." Carla interrupted, seemingly annoyed when she brought up Shin's name. Mika took note of that, but decided not to push it further.
"My apologies, I didn't mean to get so off topic. What I meant was that you're an excellent card player, that's all!" Mika quickly tried to explain her reasoning, hoping that she didn't offend him in any way.
Even though, she lived and served for the Tsukinami's for years now, she never spend time with Carla just one-on-one, thanks to Shin's overbearing possessiveness and general insecurity. It felt kinda nice, if she was being honest, she liked what they had, and she hoped that wouldn't deteriorate after one stupid comment.
"That's quite enough, I understood what you were trying to say" He rubbed his temples and tiredly sighed. But what was he tired of? Was he tired of her? And if he understood what she was trying to say then why did he seem so upset about it?
"I'm sorry Master Carla I'm not quite follo-"
"Stop speaking. You're a lot of things Koji, but dense isn't one of them, refrain from speaking, unless given permission otherwise." Carla demanded.
"....."
"Good girl. Now that I have your full attention, why don't we continue our game, without any distractions in the way." Carla said. Stretching out the word, distractions, in particular, which she noted was a tad bit odd but didn't question it any further.
"Of course, if that's what you wish sir! Though I do advise you to maybe shuffle the deck sir...." Mika teased, as she looked down at her clearly unshuffled set of cards. Seeing the great Carla, struggling so hard in doing such a simple task like shuffling, she couldn't help but let out a chuckle or two, though she tried to stifle it as much as she could.
"Ah so you noticed that as well? Hm guess I'll have to practice more then for the next time"
"Next time? What do you mean by that?" Mika asked cautiously, completely caught off guard by his statement. The thought of seeing him again, actually made her heart flutter but she couldn't help but ask why. Why would would someone like him, the most powerful demon and future founder king, want to see her, a lowlife half demon, again?
Carla looked her with a blank expression, absolutely dumbfounded by her ridiculous question. Did she really not know?
"What's not to understand? I enjoyed our time together, and I want more of it" Carla replied, bluntly. "Though if I'm being honest, there's something else that I want more from you..."
"What is it, Master Carla?" Mika asked politely, wondering where this was headed.
"I want you to call me by name, without a title or honorifics" Carla demanded. Mika scanned his expression, wondering if this was some kind of a joke, but his eyes looked so stern and serious.
"I-is that all? Just to call you by your name?" Mika stammered. She fully expected him to say something along the lines of giving him her blood.
"We've known each other for a quite a long time, does it really come to a shock to you that I want you to drop the title?" Carla inquired. Mika had nothing to retort with, so she stayed silent.
"Besides, how is it that you speak so casually to Shin, and don't extent that same generosity to me? Are you trying to offend me?" Carla continued, sounding oddly bitter. If Mika didn't know any better, she would have thought that he was jealous?
"No, of course not! I didn't realize that it upsetted you so much, you never said anything, so I assumed you didn't mind. I didn't mean for it to come across that way, my apologies for being so careless.... Carla" Mika apologized, internally cringing as she said his name without the proper title, she was going to have to work on getting used to it.
Carla on the other hand, seemed very pleased, almost as if he was gloating, like he won a damn award. Was he really that happy that she said something as simple as his name?
Carla.
Carla.
Carla.
She said his name over and over again in her head, but she still couldn't get enough. It was honestly quiet embarrassing, how a simple request can turn her into such a muddling mess. Yet she couldn't deny the fluttering feeling in her chest whenever she said his name, is this what he was feeling to when she said it?
They continued their game without any more interruptions or distractions in sight, however their game was cut short once Shin's familiar's came to get her.
"I'll be right there!" Mika exclaimed, a faint blush on her cheeks. It's been weeks since Shin had last spoken to her, much less seen her, she couldn't help but feel overjoyed t the thought of seeing him again. Had he finally come to his senses and drop that pathetic human once and for all? Mika truly hoped that the was case, but despite all of her excitement, she couldn't help but feel so disappointed and upset for leaving Carla so soon.
"Ah, my apologies Carla, but my presences is needed else where, may I be excused?" Mika turned her head to Carla, who was busy putting away her cards in the desk drawer.
"It's fine, we'll pick up where we left off next time" Carla replied. Although there was no bitterness or malice in his words, he wasn't meeting her eyes, and that just made her feel more crummier then she already felt.
"Well alright then, see you next time, Carla." Mika gave him a curt nod, before heading off. As she turned her back to him, she could sense his sharp eyes piercing behind her, glaring at her back. Why? She couldn't say, but she had an inkling feeling that next time was coming much sooner than expected.