Imp Training

“You see, it’s really easy once you get the hang of it.” 

Flicking their wrist, Hutch makes a motion with their hands towards the black chirop they’re training. The chirop flaps its wings, fluttering up and around in the air. Watching with interest, Quince’s eyes light up. 

“How should I call it back?”

“Like so,” Hutch says. They clap their hands once, and indicate towards the chirop. It flutters back down obediently, and immediately dives into Hutch’s open arms. “Woah there, little guy!” They cuddle the dear little thing, scritching its head. Quince smiles as Hutch spoils the chirop with hugs. She reaches out, wanting to do the same. Hutch lifts up the chirop and puts it into Quince’s waiting arms. Putting her arms around it, Quince rubs her cheek against the creature.

“Oh, they’re just so cute!” She says, sighing. Looking at it, she pats its head. “I wonder what sort of sweets you’d like…? A parfait, hmm? Ice cream?”

“Hey, what are you doing?” Hutch sighs and pushes up their glasses. “I thought we were meant to be training!”

“I’m just thinking of what special treat I should give this sweet little thing after training!” Quince replies, patting the chirop.

“Let’s get through this first before you go off making fancy patisserie sweets for the imps,” Hutch says, laughing.

With a reluctant but good natured sigh, Quince lets go of the chirop and it flies up into the air again. Way too high. It’s teasing them! Hutch clicks their fingers and calls the chirop back down.

“Get back here, you silly thing!”

“It’s playing!” Quince exclaims. She smiles adoringly at the chirup in the sky. “Come back down here, dear, and you’ll have a delicious fruit parfait waiting for you when you’re finished.”

“Bribery isn’t a great way to get to them,” Hutch tries, but the chirop comes fluttering down, its eyes big, round and hopeful. Quince laughs again. She puts her hands on her hips and looks up at the chirop. 

“But you won’t get any sweets unless you are a good little imp for us, you hear?”

The chirop seems to nod while fluttering in the air. 

“Now, won’t you be a good little bun for me too and show me how to train these?” Quince asks, turning to Hutch with a satisfied grin on her face. Hutch flushes red, feeling their cheeks burn. They lower their head but then swallow and look back up. How dare she show them up in front of the imps! But they push it down for now. They’ll deal with it after training, however that might end up. Quince laughs again when she sees the effect it’s had on Hutch. 

“Show me how to teach it tricks,” Quince says, meeting Hutch’s eye. She tries not to laugh when they look away and turn back to the chirop. They hold out their hand.

“Look, copy me,” they say, flicking their wrist. “Let them get used to it.”

Quince holds out her hand, raising it like Hutch. The chirop tosses its tail and turns away.

“Oh dear.” Quince tuts. “Don’t you want any sweets, dear?”

The chirop turns back to them. Quince holds out her hand and flicks it the same way Hutch did. Hutch makes a motion with their hands and indicates for Quince to do the same. Circling her wrist, the chirop watches her commands and flaps its wings, fluttering up and around in the air. 

“Wow, there you go!” Quince smiles, her eyes lighting up. “That’s a handy little trick.”

“It’s just basic,” Hutch says, shrugging. They still can’t meet her eyes. Quince can’t help but laugh, reaching over to pat their head. They look at the ground, blushing furiously. The chirop flies back down and launches itself into Quince’s arms, wanting to be pet too. 

“Woah! Well, train a little bit more for us, dear, and I’ll make you the finest fruit parfait. How about that?” Quince thinks about what it might do to the imp. Perhaps she’ll try a different berry this time. She’d like to see how it’d end up.

“We can try another trick?” Hutch offers, managing to pluck up the courage to look vaguely in Quince’s direction again. Quince nods and pats the chirop once more before letting go. Time for a little bit more work, and then they can play properly.