My First Imp [River]

River spent most of his time alone these days, learning guitar chords and strumming in his bedroom. Admittedly, it had become exceedingly boring. He played and played, strumming songs of lost love and found freedom, but without an audience it was meaningless.

River sighed and scrolled down his phone’s Bunstagram app aimlessly. He seen buns showing off all kinds of talents, but he found himself lingering on videos with imps present more often than not. They were cute little hellish creatures, really. He smiled to himself as a Jestie purposely tripped itself over a small ledge and wiggled it's feet in the air helplessly before righting itself and toddling along. Company like that could be nice.

River found himself an hour later at the Imporium. A clever name, and he wondered if the suggestion of variety would be true. Upon entering the shop, he noticed the shop owner Hutch training a small imp on the counter. It was a bulbug, and it looked like Hutch had taught it to do a little tumble of sorts over its bulbous tail end. River smiled and accepted he would find a new best friend here today.

“Oh, hello there!” Hutch said, looking up at attention. “Are you looking to take home one of our imps? Are you a first time owner or will they be joining others?” He asked, already prepared to go into a speech about which he recommended for each scenario.

“Yeah,” River nodded in response. “First time owner. Looking for a new best friend. I have a lot of time to myself and I play music so preferably a good listener or one that won't trash my hardware,” River said, looking up at a more aggressive imp in a cell that looked like it would leave half his closet strewn about the apartment if left unoccupied. 

“I have a few sweet imps in mind. Do you prefer one that flies, walks, or… bounces?” Hutch inquiried, tilting his head in earnest. River held up 2 fingers for the second option, “walks”, and Hutch nodded in acknowledgement and went into the back to get a pet carrier. River leaned against the counter and hummed in idle patience. He tapped his foot, his internal metronome always running. 

“Alright, I have got the one for you! A precious little impup. Great starter, a fast learner, and might not even eat all your things!” Hutch stated proudly, sitting the carrier with the small imp inside. It wagged excitedly and blinked its big white hollow eyes at River. It seemed ready and willing for cuddles and pats already.

“And,” Hutch started, sliding a small book onto the counter beside the imp carrier “A starter's guide manual. It'll tell you what you can and can't feed them, how much outdoors and exercise time they need, and their usual temperaments so if you wish to expand the family, they'll all get along!” River paid the required carats for the materials and took his new pet home quickly. 

Back in his living room, River set the carrier down and opened the little door. The excited impup skipped out of its prior containment and hopped around on the plush carpet of the floor, and over to the wood boards of River’s kitchen. 

It looked at a bowl that had sat in the floor, then back up to River with big eyes. “Oh, right, food and water!” River said, getting another bowl down and giving the impup it's required diet as outlined in the manual. 

As it ate kibbles for what had to be the first time in a good few hours, River put his hands on his hips in thought. This was going to be great. Chorizo was going to be the perfect friend.