Recently, I got addicted to a Facebook game called Hatchlings. It’s a game where every person who adds the application has a little nest that eggs are hidden in. Every time you collect an egg, another egg gets hidden elsewhere in the application. When you find an egg, you can incubate it until it hatches into a hatchling, feed it to a hatchling (which keeps it happy so it won’t run away), or give it to a friend. Besides the regular eggs, there are some 200 special eggs that you can try to collect. Currently, I have collected 445 total eggs, have 51 hatchlings, and 40 special eggs.
While playing today, I wondered what would happen if there was a magic system that worked like Hatchlings. Here’s my version. On this world, fairy eggs are valued for some reason (maybe they are vital in magic spells, or in creating potions) Anyone can build a nest that fairies will lay eggs in, though only one egg will occupy a nest at a time, so you have to continually gather the eggs. Some people would get lazy and give their nest to someone else to monitor. Some of these people that monitor multiple nests might safeguard their nests from other people trying to steal eggs. But others may say “I pilfer from your nests, but I will leave mine open so you can pilfer from mine in return” (which people do say in the game. In fact, they’re mad at the people who hide their nests, but raid other people’s). The fairies that hatch could get stronger powers by eating other fairy eggs.
I just wanted to jot down this idea before I lost it. It’s not enough to make a whole novel yet, but if someone wants to take it and run with it, feel free. Just put me in the acknowledgements. 
