Lucas felt severely underdressed. Even though he was just attending what was supposedly a regular cafe, all the other patrons wore expensive-looking attire, complete with jackets and dress-shoes. They were likely off to work after their morning coffee, but that fact only made Lucas feel more outclassed.

No more strip club to attend to. 

Thankfully, Lucas didn't have to stand in the door looking like a fool for too long, since the person he was due to meet flared their magical core when he entered - the universal wizard wave. Much cooler than the thing humans had going, he'd say.

Lucas walked over to the table located in the far corner where the man waited, taking a moment to wave at a horrified rich-looking couple who clearly took offense to a lower class man frequenting their go-to cafe. 

Lucas studied the man as he sat down across from him. He had the dignified posture that was customary of a Jobber, and his appearance was generic and forgettable, a trait that many wizards theorized was the work of magic. Lucas didn't sense any in play himself, but that didn't mean that wasn't the case.

The man patiently endured Lucas' scrutinizing with practiced calmness, only moving to accept the two coffees the waiter brought. Lucas wasn't much of a coffee fan, but he was very much a free stuff fan - so that made up for the bitterness that assaulted his tongue. "Sorry to stare, didn't make you too nervous, did I?" Lucas gestured at the cafe, "Always with the theatrics, you lot."

The Jobber finally broke his stoic demeanor, a small smile breaching his face's surface as he chuckled. "What if I told you I just like coffee?"

"I'd say you fit the stereotype."

Wizards weren't the glorified magicians on steroids that the media of regulars made them out to be. Instead, wizards were any human who was able to manipulate their magical core, using a magical style that their affinity created. As such, Jobbers were put in place in every city to give a job list for their area to searching supernatural, rather than something cool like an inter-dimensional bulletin board, or even the modern magic of a telephone service. Quite the old-fashioned type, the council was - which Lucas figured came from being centuries old.

The Jobber's expression once again sobered to a respectfully neutral state. "The Council didn't expect to ever have you offering your services...willingly. What changed?"

Lucas rolled his eyes. "I'm sure they already know, but if they want me to spell it out: b-r-o-k-e. I figure selling myself on Castie's corners will be a bit too much hard work for little ol' me, so I'm temporarily in the demon-hunting business." The Jobber raised an eyebrow, prompting Lucas to add, "Much easier, trust me."

"I see," the Jobber replied in an aloof tone. "I take it you have a reward price range in mind then?" Lucas played along, giving him a figure, though he was positive the council knew about the debt he had. The Jobber nodded at the figure, his eyes glassing over as he studied the job list. "We have quite a few offerings in the area...there's a high concentration of dark magic southbound toward the Cathedral..." Lucas quickly shook his head. It sounded like a group of conjures and despite his prior dismissal of the shaman, a large group wasn't the level of difficulty he wanted. The Jobber continued to mechanically list off jobs until, finally, Lucas bit. 

"A hotel downtown is emitting a consistent flow of magic force at night...the council believes this could be a lone practitioner trying to complete a summoning." Something must've given away Lucas' interest because the Jobber chose to go into further detail. "Given the unknown factors of the job, the council is willing to compensate any takers thoroughly for any unforeseen beings they may encounter, on top of the fixed price."

The location being familiar had piqued his interest, but the addition of potential bonuses hooked the greedy pig within him, just like the Jobber had intended. Still, a rational brain cell within pointed out the obvious danger that cloaked such an unsure job. Lucas had never been good at acknowledging that particular part of him.

"That sounds good," Lucas commented, trying to appear reserved. He made a big show of thinking about it before adding, "I'd certainly need an advance to tackle this mission though...I'm thinking of the gear needed, paying for a room for easy access, food needed to fuel my magical core..."

To Lucas' surprise, the Jobber readily placed a yellow envelope on the table. Lucas cautiously retrieved it, took a peek, and hadHe ah his eyes blessed with a wad of cash. He quickly stuffed the envelope into his pocket with an easy grin. "Now we're talking. I believe I'll also need a phone...you know in case I need to reach my contacts to help out." Lucas was without a phone because he'd traded it in for money on an especially bad casino day.

"Don't push it," the Jobber replied without a blink.

Lucas nodded, smiling with satisfaction - but couldn't help wondering why the man had been so prepared to hand over cash. "You guys wanted me to take this particular job, didn't you? You led with jobs you knew I would have no interest in and smartly followed with this, making it appear more appealing than it is."

The Jobber's expression was unreadable but Lucas thought he detected some amusement dancing in his eyes. "I have no idea what you speak of."

"Of course," Lucas muttered, dropping it regardless of his irritation at being manipulated. He'd already taken the money anyway, there was nothing to be done. His smirk reintroduced itself as he thought of something. "Since we're here; did you plan on ordering something to eat?"

Lucas left the cafe feeling refreshed after a free breakfast and money in his pocket. He retrieved his bag of belongings from behind the cafe. He had placed it next to the dumpster to give the appearance of being trash to any desperate soul. He hummed a tune as he started to head toward the downtown area with a skip in his step.

"Heading to Loth's, are we?" asked Markus who appeared out of thin air to walk beside Lucas. 

"What do you take me for? I have a job to do," Lucas replied, ignoring the slight embarrassment that rose at the thought crossing his mind earlier. He'd resisted though, which proved he wasn't addicted.

Right?

"Of course," Markus said skeptically. "Where are you planning to go until night time then?"

"I plan to pay the hotel a visit...you know, some slight reconnaissance work to know the ins and outs."

Markus raised an unimpressed eyebrow, easily seeing through the fluff. "I don't think it's wise to sleep in the same hotel where a demon may be summoned, Luke."

"And who made you the decider of all things wise?" Lucas grumbled. Unfortunately, his companion had a point. It didn't matter how weak an otherworld creature might be if it caught him when he was sleeping; not to mention he'd be the first target since they could sense wizards.

He altered his trajectory slightly, aiming for a park where homeless people usually frequented. There was a notable difference between the middle-class area the cafe had been in and the downtown area he entered. The air itself felt more stale and unappealing, with the detractive scent of smoke and hopelessness drifting from the many factories with chimneys well versed in air pollution. Somehow, the stench of dirtiness went deeper than that, as if the bodily odor of the unwashed homeless people clung together to terrorize the nostrils of the resident's noses. 

Still, the backdrop of the city had the skeleton of a developed city, with five story and six story buildings that were generally well kept. This was because in the past, downtown was a thriving area and known as the land of opportunity, but that also meant it was where the most crime happened and eventually the quality of life degraded to what it was now.

It was a great place for a summoner to complete a ritual to summon some great city eating demon, if Lucas had to guess.

He moved warily through the downtown area, keeping a careful watch on any person he saw on the sidewalk. Truthfully, with his shaggy unkempt goatee, equally disheveled hair and a matching bag of belongings, he might've appeared as homeless, but that didn't mean a robber wouldn't make sure it wasn't a disguise.

He chuckled inwardly, realizing he was still thinking unlike a wizard who would have no trouble holding off a robber. Perhaps he'd never learn to truly think like one.

Before long, the towering hotel came into view. It had the words "Hell Hotel" in big bold stenciled LED lights that probably didn't light up anymore. Its exterior was a dull peach, which although not necessarily bright in of itself, seemed much brighter surrounded by the typically dark colors of downtown houses and buildings.

Lucas paused when he got across the street from it, studying the area silently. Usually, his mind strayed rather easily, but now he felt laser-focused. He noticed that homeless people hadn't set up camp anywhere around the street, which meant the hotel security probably scared them off to keep customers comfortable. Cheap foreigners who might decide to stay at the hotel wouldn't be accustomed to the hungry look homeless eyes followed them with.

For Lucas, it meant if he took the fight outside there might not be any casualties. 

"I'm glad to see you taking this seriously," Markus commented from his perch on a wall. The guy really watched too many movies when he was alive. "Though, with money involved, I shouldn't be surprised."

"How could you?" Lucas asked with a high-pitched voice of mock hurt. "I do it for the integrity, values and human lives involved. That won't pay my bills but it'll make me feel warm and fuzzy and feed my soul risking my life for them."

The two started at each other for a second then broke into barking laughter.

The target park wasn't too far from the hotel, residing only a couple blocks away. It lay as he remembered it, which was typically the case for things downtown. They were stuck, much like the people that lived there. The trees looked healthy and spry, while the figures lying below them in benches looked two gusts away from meeting their end. 

Thankfully, the park was massive, spanning around 600 acres, so Lucas found an empty bench eventually. He laid down on the hard back-breaking wood and was relieved that the trees at least worked to save him from the biting sun.

"This is your brilliant plan?" Markus asked with obvious disappointment. 

"As brilliant as they come," Lucas replied, forcing a relieved sigh out despite the pain that ebbed at his back. He was talking to Markus full volume here because appearing to talk to himself would aid the drugged-out homeless guy disguise. "There's no better way to stay out of trouble for a couple hours downtown than to appear harmless, and there's nothing more harmless than this. I can't have any setbacks, I want to finish this as quickly as possible so I can pay off the debts and get back my apartment room."

Markus raised an eyebrow. "And then...?"

"Then I'll see what happens," Lucas finished, understanding Markus was subtly asking if he'd continue wizard work.

"Hm," was the only reply Markus gave before Lucas fully tuned him out and using his bag of belongings as a bulky pillow, settled in for another uncomfortable sleep. 

Upon waking, Lucas found a tidy pop up food truck with beefy security guards on either side which was practically mandatory in the area. He ordered a juicy looking burger and fries and retired to the sidewalk to eat, satisfied that the sun was beginning to set by the time he finished.

Lucas eventually made the short trek back to the hotel, thinking every shadow was a mugger ready to jump out and try well..mug him. Lucas almost got a heart attack when a cat bound out of a garbage can next to him, to Markus' great amusement. 

He wasn't usually so on edge but he had a feeling the job had a large part to do with, or rather, what the job meant for him. Clearly Markus was hoping it was the start of the norm and there was a part of him, long ignored but starting to surface gradually - that wanted the same.

Lucas had made a stop at a shop to pick up a more serviceable knapsack and cheap but clean clothing. Now, as he approached the doors and a sketchy looking doorman, he saw the scruffy facial hair, but typical jeans and a polo-shirt combo that was passable for patrons of this hell hole.

Lucas found himself breathing a sigh of relief when the doorman opened the door without so much as a question. He made a beeline for the reception desk before the man could question his decision.

"Hey there," the receptionist said as he arrived, "how may I help?" Her voice wasn't entirely friendly, but the absence of unfriendliness to a stranger was rare in these parts.

"I'm supposed to be meeting someone on a higher floor," Lucas replied, hoping that would be enough to go on his merry way.

The woman opened a thick book which Lucas assumed was accommodations. "What's this someone's name?"

Lucas wracked his head for a typical name of someone who would have a room at such a shady establishment. "His name is uh...Marquez, I think." The receptionist's eyes trailed down the book's contents, making dread form in Lucas' gut as time lengthened. "Listen, you seem like a nice, smart gal. I figure you have to be to work in this district and survive, so I'll be straight up with you. This guy I'm meeting doesn't make ends meet legally...I've come to collect a package from him and my boss didn't give his government name. Now, if I return empty-handed...let's just say my boss has quite the temper. He might storm the hotel, and I don't want it to come to that."

The receptionist's eyes widened and Lucas saw them dart to the telephone near her hand. She paused for a second, probably weighing the chance of calling the police doing any good and finally seemed to conclude that it'd just put her in danger. 

"Can you promise your work won't affect the other guests or the building?" she asked quietly.

Sure, demon hunting was a nice neat business, Lucas thought sarcastically. Instead, he nodded, "I pinky promise."

The receptionist gestured at the elevator, her somber face already looking as if she regretted the decision. Lucas obeyed, entering the death trap known as an elevator. 

"I pinky promise," Markus mocked, levitating on the side of the elevator so that he was parallel to the ground. "Do you make a habit of making promises you can't keep?"

"Who says I can't keep it? Odds are it's lesser demons summoned, if the person is finished his summoning anyway."

Before he had even finished his sentence, Lucas picked up on a malevolent magical presence that indicated a summoning had indeed been finished. Markus must've sensed it too because he gave Lucas a smug grin.

"Guess we're about to find out."