Blessings of Stardust: And the Door Opens

[madimpossibledreamer]

Main Points:
Persona 4 Ghost in the Shell inspired au because I couldn't stop at .hack and this habit might actually be a problem but holy cow this universe is awesome.
Summary: The Inaba Team gets a new recruit.
Word Count: 600
Rating: Gen

 

The Inaba Team has never worked with a Magician before.  They’re all a little nervous.  Tensions are high.  Narukami tries to keep them all calm, but all of them have seen the vids on what they’re like.  Likely highly exaggerated, but still.

They’ve all heard the rumors.  The ones with the nanotats, allowing them to hack into reality itself.  It looks like magic, from the outside, but it’s different from the much more common Sorcerors.  Sorcerors actually cast magical spells, but it’s somewhat a mystery even to them how it works.  They don’t understand the underpinnings of the world.  It’s a rumor that Magicians are like gods, but it’s said that there’s even rules Magicians must follow.

Most died in the war, and they were few to begin with.  Mysterious.

Many people are hacks, but Magicians are said to be the next level.

That’s why Yosuke Hanamura is such a surprise.

For one thing, he’s young.  Eager.  He’s waiting in the station’s Inaba Division HQ nursing a cup of green tea.  In the light at first, the tattoos aren’t even visible.  “Hey.  Hanamura Yosuke, the Magician being transferred to your department.  I’m new at the whole cop thing, but an old hand at being a Magician, so I’m cool playing second banana.  Don’t hesitate to order me around, Narukami-san.”  There’s a casual wink, a hand held out for a Western-style handshake.

He stands for the gesture, and then the tattoos are clear.  Silvery, light, almost unearthly, they curl around his face like circuitry, like wind.  They’re only there on his face, though—nothing on his hands.  Narukami hadn’t expected that.

“Don’t worry, I’ve had a lot of practice as a leader,” Yuu assures the other, earning a wider grin.

“Yeah, I got that feeling.”

“How did you get the practice without…you know?” Chie asks, leg jumping nervously despite her casual lean against the wall.

Yosuke sits again but is dragged back up by Kanji’s reaching out with an intimidating hand.  He chuckles nervously but doesn’t say anything on that subject, looking at Satonaka and answering her question instead.  “Shirogane.”

Narukami blinks.  Shirogane is good.  He’s worked with the detective before.

“I’d lend him a hand now and then.  And he’s always looking to up his skills as a Summ heir.”

It’s true, the Summoners are a long and distinguished line, and they look for anything they can to live up to their potential.

That means, though, that Yosuke’s selling himself short.  He’s seen action, followed orders.  He’s just never been official before.

“Narukami, the leader.  Satonaka and Tatsumi are the ones we send in when things get dangerous.”  The two get matching grins.  “Amagi’s our Sorceror.  Kujikawa is our Hack on loan.  Teddie’s the one on the designated channel.  And, I guess, you’re now our resident Magician.”  Narukami smiles as well.  “I’m looking forward to learning a few tricks from you, Mr. Magician.”

Hanamura nods.  “I can’t tell you anything about how to do what I do, mostly because it works differently than Hacking or anything else, but I do old-school hacking too, sometimes.  For fun.  And it reinforces my other skills, so it’s worth it.”  He looks at all of them in turn, aside from Kujikawa, who’s not present.  “I’m looking forward to learning from all of you as well.”

For all that he’s casual, he does know how to be polite and professional, a skill that will help him greatly when they have to deal with their superiors or other agencies.  He’s definitely looking forward to working with this Magician, and not just because he’s a valuable asset.