Maelstrom Extra: Incidental Expenses

“You embarrassed me, Ricky.”

“I’m sure you’ll get over it.”

“It wasn’t vanity; I needed that jacket.”

“All twelve of them? And what about the bracelets, and the boots, and—

“I needed them, too.”

He waved the bill at her. “You’re a djinn. Why don’t you conjure these things, instead of putting it all on plastic?”

“You said you wanted us to do things like humans, did you not?”

“Yes, but this is difficult to explain to the accountant, as you just saw. Can you at least tell me why you ‘needed’ three new guitars in one month?”

“They’re fun to collect.”

“Like the Baccarat crystal eggs? What the hell was that about? Are you collecting those now, too? Are you going to incubate them?”

Kalila snatched the bill from Ricky’s hand. “You’re out of line, human. It’s my band, my money, and you have no right to criticize me.”

“You asked me to manage every aspect of your career, and your finances are a nightmare.”

“The entire economy is a nightmare, in case you haven’t noticed.” She incinerated the bill and smiled at Ricky’s expression of dismay. “Now come on, mortal, lighten up. No need to get worked up over incidentals.”