There was a devil walking the streets, everyone was sure of it. Bizarre thefts, breaking into the cafes and restaurants. A black shadow signaling bad luck, a humble butcher claiming that his cat had been attacked in his own home in the middle of the night. Rumors of perhaps some wizard mucking about with some new project.

But that's all they were for now, rumors. Except to one man. Though he may only appear as one.

The real devil was in a very tall house, counting the money he'd earned from trading futures, securities and the various shares he now held. Enough to buy a useless position in one of the three magic guilds he now held a share in.

His plan could easily unfold, progress was happening. Save for a minor detail, Darwin.

It had come to his attention, that Darwin had an uncanny ability to get into trouble, and with that, he inherited said trouble when he took the rude rubes body and face. Among other things.

Now, he could just peak inside Darwin's head and write a few things down if he needed too, but for some strange reason, that connection had been lost.

Darwin had attempted some sort of crude explosive device, operating on a misshapen understanding of what this world called Pneuma, A dramatic flaring of the Ego to impel obedience in the inanimate. How fortunate that it didn't go as planned.

But now he was left without a cheat sheet to dodge the numerous pitfalls the imbecile had left behind. Including the one where he was in a dueling house, made an enemy there; if not more, one of whom was a member of the law keepers around here.

And this was likely the tip of the iceberg, and likely insignificant compared to what else lie before him.

The idea of changing his legal name may in fact become necessary, instead of being optional, should there be enough trouble waiting for him.

"I believe a trip to the Hall of Records is in order." he quietly spoke to himself.

"But first, I'll finish this little marvel." he flicked a pen at a silver circlet. a Bracelet of some kind with an intricate pattern resembling a rosebush, much improved over previous attempts.

A as a precaution, he'd created this device to tell him when someone was behind him. or more accurately speaking, when a wizard was behind him or attempting to cast a spell on him. Though that last part felt it would be blatantly obvious should it occur. Their tended to be something akin to a drop in air pressure right before the hammer fall. Like a wind up before the punch.

He also needed to visit a tailor. Some of his shirts had been ruined in the fire, and he still hadn't bought himself a hat yet.

Questions to be answered, problems to be overcome, typical day at the office. If he had an office, that is. Something he was eager to change. Preferably a meaningless little desk job no one would think to bother or even think of.

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He bounded down the stairs and had his hand on the doorknob when he heard a knock at the door.

His face soured as he could feel his plans wither in an instant, but he opened the door anyway. Standing there was a paunch man with a terse look on his greasy face. He could already guess this was going to be unpleasant.

"Darwin my boy, how are you. I like the new house! where did you ever find the money?" the man bushed past him and into His house without so much as a care. The Devil felt his molars grind on instinct.

"I hope you have some time on your hands, we have a touch of business to discuss." the fat man said, tossing his coat on the floor and looking around, fingers dancing across the wallpaper as if tasting them. His eyes came to rest on the awkwardly placed stove on the landing. He appeared taken back for a moment by the little stove but waved it off.

"So, Darwin. Where have you been? I've missed you and your little ideas. I assume you working on something for the shops?" the corpulent man bellowed, a greasy smile spread across his face.

"Ah, yes well. I was about to come see you. I found this wonderful little arrangement-"

"Yes, that's nice. Do you still have those little totems I loaned you?"

The Devil stopped, the flesh of his human lips curled as his teeth ground against each other. He'd lobbed those horrid things into the river by his old house. Keeping them around was asking for trouble, but since they'd been borrowed articles.

Darwin, you could have mentioned that sooner! You worthless penny antic scoundrel.

The Devil stalled for time while he thought up a lie that would remove this man.

"Ah, the totems, well, ahem, about that."

"You haven't lost them, have you? They were precious antiques, I'll have you know, part of a prized collection or foreign artifacts from. Oh, what was that little island called, full of cannibals, it was."

This was going nowhere, so, A new plan.

"I'm afraid I have bad news then." the demon started, the glare of an angry stranger falling over him. "The Church got to them. Pagan totems and Devil worship, you know how they treat such things. I had to leave them behind after I started noticing strange Pneuma near my house."

The fat man turned pale as he gasped in horror. "No, tell me it isn't true!" He let his head hang a little as if ashamed. In reality he was glad, no competition in this part of the world, and no one to call him out and end his vacation period. Damn them all, he'd earned this!

"Why did you tell me sooner, why didn't you save them!? You could've-"

It was the devil's turn to interrupt. "And do what? Get myself killed fighting the Inquisition Agents stalking my doorstop? I had to move in a hurry, I even lost parts of my own collection trying to slip past them!"

Not entirely true, he'd destroyed most of that collection himself. Garish novels on outdated magic written by misguided misanthropes and miscreant magicians. Better of burned in his mind.

As for the Totems, why invite trouble, eh? Those miserable figurines were positively dripping with negative energy. Enough to alert any demon worth salt to their presence, he didn't want some snitch to discover them and report his brief stay over to the slave drivers that ran his department.

"Well, I suppose there's nothing to be done then. The Church has undoubtably destroyed the idols by now and I have work to do. See you at the shops, then?" the devil offered, kindly pointing him towards the door. The large, bodied man sighed and moved on, stopping at the doorway for a moment.

"I can count on you to pay recompense. it was very difficult to, ahem, acquire those items."

Recompense, a word he was beginning to hate. Everyone in the city owed somebody something it seemed.

"I'll write a notice, but I can always just leave the money somewhere for you to pick up."

The man waved his hand dismissively. "That will not be necessary. I'll simply send one of my footmen to retrieve it. I can trust them for that, at least."

"Ah good, that matter is settled. till next time."

The large man excused himself and closed the door after himself and the Devil gave a small smile as he left, but the moment the front door closed, it vanished like dew under a desert sun.

"Now, who in Hell's embrace was that?" he asked.