Nori Drabbles

“Are you listening, Nori?” Mitra’s words went in one ear and out the other as Nori sipped her coffee. She stared out the studio window, adjusting her face mask as she sat the coffee down. Her manager..well friend. Mitra was everything to her. Best friend, boy friend, manager, advisor. They had known each other since childhood. But the more they grew she felt their relationship get… she wasn’t sure on how to describe it. It certainly didn’t feel loving anymore. He only loved her when it was good for him. And she was doing her best to love him no matter what but it was hard when if she showed any personality Mitra would shut her down.

“I am.. the concert tonight will be done in pink ink.” Nori repeated sipping her drink again. “Are you sure it has to be two hours? And a signing? Do I have to be pink for the meet and greet…”

“The concert is literally called pretty in pink.” Mitra reminded her putting a hand on her bangs and looking them over. She felt like a barbie doll. Being dressed up for a party. Nori hummed leaning her head into his hand, “You’ll be fine. I bought some ink suppressors for you.”

“Ink suppressors?” Nori asked. She had never heard of that before. Mitra typically managed to pull medication from out of nowhere. It..usually helped. Though she was unsure how much she should be trusting said medication. If Mitra said it was safe then it was ok. Mitra gave her a small nod but didn’t explain it further. He always said any explanation would just go over her head so why should he bother. Nori’s eyes wandered back to the window.

“I think we should get you contacts for tonight too. The gem eyes are cool but being fully pink would be perfect-”

Back to rambling he went. Nori watched as inklings passed by. A turf war must’ve just finished as two teams were leaving the lobby. One she recognised from tv. Deep End. A popular team at the time. And according to signs outside the lobby they had officially ranked up to X. She wished she could join a team. It looked like so much fun. But also her family would kill her if she was seen on a turf. And of course Mitra laughed whenever she mentioned wanting to try it…. That was fine she would enjoy them from afar. Occasionally getting to sing at them during Splatfests or just watching them on tv. Currently her favourite player was just a sub in for Deep End but he preformed so well. He was so much fun to watch. Vahn. His playstyle was just so unique. He played a few days ago while his sister was sick. What was her name again… Nori was blanking on that. All she really cared about was Vahn. She would kill for an autograph or something. Well what was stopping her!

“I’ll be back!” Nori chirped hopping up and running outside. She pulled up her mask as she stepped out, cameras being pulled out around her to take pictures. Young fans flocking to her for an autograph. Ah. She forgot about her own status in society. She peered over the forming crowd seeing that Deep End was still in the square before quickly signing and greeting people. Mitra called for her but Nori used the crowd to her advantage slipping into the square and running up to Deep End. “Wait! Hi hi hi!” Nori coughed before straightening herself out, she pulled her lyric book from her jacket pocket and her pen, “I love watching you on the turf. I got to sing for one of your matches last Splatfest. And I heard you ranked up to X today! Congrats! Can I get an autograph, Vahn?” 

The rest of the team seemed confused. Why the back up player of all people. But Vahn only pointed at himself before taking her book and signing the inside page. “Thank you.” Vahn managed as he handed it back.

“Thank me? No thank you! Your matches make my day. Oh! Um the rest of you are cool too” Nori stammered taking her book back checking the signature with a smile, before feeling a hand on her shoulder.

“Nori.” Mitra seemed annoyed that she ran off again.

“Ah! Sorry Mitra! Deep End just ranked up to X isn’t that so cool. Maybe they’ll have a match against Abyss soon! Nori smiled holding her book to her chest. Mitra only hummed a response. Mitra was already on a X rank team Abyss. Nori admittedly hated that team. If Deep End went against them she hoped that Deep End kicked their butts. She’s zoning out, “Right sorry. You five are free to come to my concert tonight for free to celebrate if you want! I’ll get you whitelisted for it.” Mitra’s grip tightened slightly before he let go. Probably didn’t like that decision. Not that money was an issue. She was far too overpaid for her position. A soft we gotta go was whispered down to her to which she nodded and waved them off as they thanked her. Mitra spun her back around walking her back to the studio.

“That was so cool! I wish I could watch one of their-” Nori started as they got inside only to get quiet as Mitra stared her down.

Mitra scoffed rolling his eyes at her, “How come you never want to watch any of my matches? This is the first I’ve ever seen you even interested in turf wars.”

“I mean…” Nori rubbed her foot on the ground, “I do talk about them but you always tell me to shut up.” She said that barely above a whisper. “And your matches are cool too! Your team is just…boring.”

“Boring.”

“Yeah. You always steamroll competition and the matches go to fast. But! But you are hot on the turf so I watch for that.” Nori added clapping her hands together. Mitra lifted her chin judging how he felt about that before letting it slide. 

Mitra looked out the window before shutting the curtains, “Whatever. If Deep End has an opening I’ll just have to get on huh? Who the hell is Vahn anyways? Isn’t that Sirene’s twin?”

“Sirene? oh right that’s her name. I think so? I don’t watch for her, I watch for Vahn! He’s so cool on the turf.”

Mitra gave Nori a look again. “Cool on the turf. Sirene is their star player, Vahn is a nobody. You shouldn’t even be interacting with people below your social status. At least fangirl over the  actual players and not their sub in. You should go do your vocal warmups.”

“But…” Nori sighed she thought they were having a moment. It was so hard to talk to Mitra now days. He got pissed at the weirdest thing. Yet he was allowed to be all flirty with his teammates on tv. That's why she didn’t watch them. Deep down she knew Mitra didn't care about her anymore. That he only stuck around because she let him do whatever with her. But it didn't even matter in the end. He was possessive over her but couldn’t even be loyal. She slipped off to the recording room starting her warm ups as she flipped through her lyric book. Nori smiled again as she read Vahn’s little signature. ‘Thank you for enjoying our turf wars - Vahn Deep End’ 

So cool…

~~~

“Hi everyone!” Nori waved to the crowd below her as she finished her first song. She had been scanning the crowd for Deep End this entire time. Did they not come? Nori didn’t let her disappointment show, keeping upbeat and happy for the crowd. A few songs past before she finally caught sight of them. But where was Vahn? She saw Sirene…. Mitra better had not changed the whitelist. As the curtain fell for her intermission she ran backstage letting her ink revert back to white for the time being. Mitra caught her as she came backstage.

“Ink colour.”

”Its just for intermission I need a break. Did you change the whitelist?” Nori asked softly. Mitra pulled a pill bottle of his bag shaking two into his hands. 

“No. Take these. I kept your silly Deep End team on there.” Mitra dropped the pills into her hands. Nori sighed. Maybe Vahn just didn’t want to go. She took the pills feeling their effects start to numb her hands. “Change back to pink. Especially if you are going out there to look for them.”

“Yeah yeah…” Nori’s ink colour changed to the bright pink that it last was, tipped off in her typical white. “My head hurts.” She muttered rubbing her forehead, putting a hand on Mitra’s arm to keep her balance.

“Then maybe instead of looking for those brats you stay here and rest huh?” Mitra rolled his pen between his fingers, not bothering to hold her up. “I give you 10 minutes till ink poisoning sets in and you give away to the world just how weak you are compared to your predecessors. Come crawling back when you are ready for your meds.”

That was so out of pocket. Nori looked up to him trying to understand what she was doing wrong, “What…?” Nori narrowed her eyes getting a scoff from Mitra before he walked off leaving her to collapse to the floor without his support. Ow.. what was his deal… Mitra always invited his team and hung out with them at shows. So why can’t she invite people… She just wanted to make some friends… Nori slowly stood shaking herself off. The entire backstage always acted as if nothing had even happened. Mitra ruled this place with an iron fist. Don’t cry… keep it together. The medication worked quick. She had to go say hi before it kicked in all the way. She ran out to the crowd, making her way around to where she last saw Deep End. People were saying hi and trying to touch her hands and tentacles. With some fighting she eventually made it to the row she saw them in. Vahn wasn’t there. She paused a bit away all the normal players and what she assumed was Sirene’s boyfriend by how he was holding her hand. Oh she recognized him. Marineer or something. He judged the turf wars with Judd. Maybe Vahn was somewhere else? She had fifteen more minutes before the next act started but if Mitra was right she had less time than that before her condition hit her. She moved past them searching farther in the crowd only to have someone grab her arm.

“Hey! Nori!”

Nori spun around seeing Vahn had grabbed her arm. How did she miss him? A silly question as her medication was really kicking in now. Senses were dulling and she could barely hear him. Something about trying to find her. He was trying to hand her a pen. Oh…this is her pen. She could tell by the Maki logo pasted on it. “Oh you can keep this. They last forever and I have so many.” Nori smiled handing it back. 

Vahn had let go of her but took the pen back, “Thank you I’ll put it to good use.” He had a nice laugh. Nori felt her heartbeat speeding up just talking to him. His smile. His laugh. His everything. She wanted to ask for his number. Thats why she came down here. But her head was killing her as ink poisioning was starting to set in.  “You don’t look too good are you ok?” Nori felt eyes on her. Fuck. Time was up.  

“I’m… I’m fine… I was.. I forgot what I was going to ask…” She stumbled forward falling into Vahn, "Oh! Um Hi." Despite her smile and upbeat voice, her eyes screamed help me but she couldn’t say anything about it. She considered asking him to walk her backstage out of publics view, but she knew the entire crowd was probably staring them down as she thought about it. Before she could do anything Mitra emerged from the crowd.

The taller inkling brushed past Vahn, half pushing him aside as he grabbed Nori from him and dragged her off. Nori didn’t get a chance to say goodbye. Or ask for his number. She gave Vahn one last look before the crowd covered them. Her wings were already dripping in white and pink ink trying to expel the unnatural colour. Mitra handed her a bigger dose than normal motioning for her to take them before it got worse. ‘Ink suppressors.’ In reality were just a mixture of numbing medicine to make her perform without caring. Following commands without issue. Mitra said something to her. About needing to perform well before sending her off to the stage.

The rest of the concert was a blur. One part of her wanted to find Vahn in the crowd and direct her songs to him but the other just wanted to get this over with. The concert, the signings, everything from that moment on. It all just happened in a flash and next thing she knew she was at home throwing up in the bathroom. She didn’t remember the rest of her night after passing out. Could barely even move throughout that week. Meanwhile Mitra was no where to be seen. Other than on tv…. being overly friendly with his teammates. Despite her being sick in bed he was out having fun. Doing who knows what who knows where. Well sometimes she did know where. She might be sick but she could hear the noises downstairs. The talking, laughing… she hoped whoever was getting his affection was happier than she was. 

If only she wasn’t broken. Would he love her more?