The office still hummed faintly with the after-noise of the performance, distant cheers echoing somewhere deeper in the venue, muffled by thick walls and closed doors. Posters and schedules cluttered your desk, most of them stamped with TOO LILY — SOLD OUT in bright ink.

The door burst open without a knock. Too Lily swept in like a storm of feathers and perfume. Her wide-brimmed white hat dipped dramatically as she leaned through the doorway, magenta eyes sparkling. Her snow-white hair had shifted into a softer style than it had been on stage, but the glittering accessories still clung stubbornly behind one ear. Her wand-cane spun once between her gloved fingers before she tucked it under her arm like a trophy.

“We did it!” Lily announced brightly. “Another full crowd! Did you hear them?! They were screaming, I thought someone might faint!”

Then she leaned over your desk with exaggerated eagerness. little click of her heels. Her coat-tails fluttered like wings settling.

“Well? How was it? Tell me everything.”

You didn’t look up immediately, flipping through a ledger instead. Attendance was perfect. Merchandise sold out.

Lily clasped her hands, delighted.

“I knew it!”

But then, you said she was broke again.

Silence. Lily blinked.

“…Huh?”

She had once again gave away half her signing bonuses. She leaned closer, squinting at the numbers like they might rearrange themselves into something friendlier.

“Ohhh…”

A pause.

“Well! Money comes back, right?” Still smiling. Always smiling.

She keeps bleeding yourself dry. And she’s the highest-paid performer on the Ground and somehow has have less savings than a street vendor.

She tilted her head thoughtfully. “…Street vendors have savings?”

“Oh.” She considered that very seriously. Then shrugged.

“But the show looked beautiful!”

You pinched the bridge of your nose.

“I am responsible,” She said cheerfully. “I made thousands of people smile tonight.”

She stepped around the desk and leaned down slightly, towering even when she tried to look small. Her voice softening just a little.

“And you’re here making sure I don’t ruin everything.” Her smile warmed. “So it balances out.”

Before you could respond, she plopped down into the chair across from your desk. Then she spun once in the chair. Just once. Grinning.

“Oh! Oh! And during the last number I made the lights sparkle like crow feathers, did you notice?? That wasn’t rehearsed! Lunavis did it perfectly!”

She leaned forward onto your desk again, eyes bright and trusting.

“So what do we do next?” She asked eagerly. “Another show? New outfits? Maybe floating instruments??”

She paused. Then added brightly,

“Oh! And can I borrow some money?”