"Yes, I've heard of them...  But can we know that?  We can ask this other magical girl about her wish, sure, and we can ask that magical cat, but I don't think any of them will really be willing to tell us about how magic gets its definitions!"

"We can't - know it, know it - but nothing is truly knowable and we can achieve sufficient confidence that we're not...

"Going to get monkey's pawed?  Or just...get only what we said because it wasn't compatible with what we meant.  That's a concern I think you're - better suited to spot, perhaps - but I'd hazard I've got better unintended consequences radar."

"Hmm, how?  The cat doesn't seem like it wants to answer too many questions.  At least not from us."

"...Yeah, but - I don't think it's the kind of creature that can lie about trades if it wants anyone to make them.  The all-powerful gambler can't cheat, or what good is playing?  So we have - enough, already.  The variable in this situation is us more than it's the Incubator's incentives."

"You mean, if we're specific enough and we write out all the conditions like lawyers?"

"If we write out the right conditions and - figure out where having a specific condition could only hurt us, instead."

She flops back down on the couch.  "Getting into details like this sounds like something we should be doing after we talk to whatever-her-name-is."

"We're not going to have enough time then unless you legitimately think you could hold out under both internal and external pressure.  I saw your expression; you really want magic.  That cat wants our contracts, and it wants them - yesterday.  So we need a plan, before we meet them again."

She nods.  "So for me... what sort of challenges; what sort of being able to meet them... and make sure it doesn't create challenges that'd be too horrible for other people.

"And what about your wish?"

"I think..."

She muses, grabs pencil and paper, starts writing some things down.

"I think I'm going to wish that I will always be able to rise to the challenges I face or choose to meet, and think really hard about the end of entropy when I go about it."

"Think really hard about it as in... remember it whatever you're doing?  Keep it in mind?"

"Yeah.  Something like that.  Maybe do a little speech beforehand, get myself centered.  Really - lean into the dramatics of it, y'know?"

"Hmm, yeah, the cat said it goes off what we mean... which means I shouldn't do my wish offhand.  I should do it in a properly dramatic moment.  Maybe the very moment I found out about magic would have been properly dramatic and gotten the meaning across... but that option's already gone."

"...I'd offer to go first, except that I think that has the wrong thematic resonance - hmm - you need something, yes, but what is it?  I don't think it's - your wish is about being prepared, excitement wouldn't help - so what drives you to want that?  ...and my apologies, if I, in asking, have tread too close to any ground I shouldn't."

"It's not being prepared, really... it's that I want to be part of what's happening, and do well with it whatever my part is.  Which probably means I need to be prepared, but."

"...Mmm, that as written sounds like it could get you dragged into a role you wouldn't want to play, though, so - maybe, maybe - hmm.

"Honestly I'm not sure I've got anything good along those lines.  Might have to let it percolate, come back to this later.  But maybe something about getting your say in the script?"

"Maybe... But if the story's already going on, I want to be in it... but yes, choose my own lines."

"I think I can't really help you figure out - correctly resonant wording, unfortunately; our aesthetic senses are kind of different.  But - choosing your own lines isn't bad, I guess.

"Not really broad enough, though, I think."

"Yeah, but I don't want to be too broad either..."

"There's - broad applicability and then there's broad or vague wordings."

"What do I specifically want then...  What do you specifically want?"

"I - think I'm settled.  The ability to face any challenge I put my mind to, you know?  That's - bullshit, leveraged correctly.  What about you?"

"... To face exciting challenges, to be able to do it well, and to do good in the world - I mean, the cosmos.  And... I don't know how to be specific about what challenges, but... to look back and be happy with it?"

"...'to look back and be happy with it' is the sort of wish that fucks with your head!  You're the faerie bargains specialist, Lila!"

"I didn't think they would -"

She stops mid-sentence, as they hear the sound of the front door opening.