Electric Magnajoust is a sport thriving among people who care about things that matter, which is to say most teams barely make the rent on their domes. The antiques industry is larger, in gross annual revenue, than both Joust leagues combined.

This is why Stephanie Long sometimes buys dinner for professional athletes.

Simon Yu (#0) wouldn’t permit it, of course, but Carol Tolliver (#41) doesn’t mind. “You have something you want to ask me,” she says, around a mouth full of salmon nigiri.

“Say I did something,” begins Stephanie, “to make my best friend incensed.”

“Well,” says Carol Tolliver (#41), “why?”