Imp-Joyment

      All Sinners Day is Mikayla’s favorite holiday. And why wouldn’t she be different than any other bun who partakes in indulgence? The cornucopia even of sensations afforded to all buns on this most hellish of days… but, that was for later. Once the mood had truly settled in.
      Other buns didn’t share Mikayla’s understanding of delayed gratification. There’s already raucous enjoyment in the streets with buns decked out in elaborate costumes, booze freely flowing, and dolls barely containing their sexual instincts in the open air. Mikayla laughed as she walked past many such buns, making lewd and suggestive expressions the entire time. Once she arrived at her destination, her face turned back to its normal sleepy smirk.
      Pulling on the door of the Imporium didn’t open it. Mikayla raised an eyebrow. Surely Hutch wouldn’t have left to go to a party? That didn’t seem like them at all… Bending down, with a few quick motions of her expertly adept claws, she easily picked the lock to the door and opened it quietly.
      Entering the Imporium, the lights were still on and wares were all accounted for, but Hutch was nowhere to be seen. Mikayla sifted through shelves of toys, beds, and imp treats when she heard a quiet cry from the back room. Carefully peeking around the corner, she saw Hutch trying to calm down several imps who were shaking and making pathetic noises. Hutch’s movements were so anxious and stressed, Mikayla knew she’d have to intervene.
      “Knock knock.” She smiled and walked into the back room. Hutch startled at first, and then turned to face her, their expression relieved yet worried.
      “Mikayla! I’m not open right now, I swore I locked that door…” A phloof cried out, and Hutch rushed to pet it.
      “Oh, you did lock it. I wanted to drop by and hang out with you on this most auspicious of holidays.” Mikayla walked around Hutch’s side and tickled the phloof they were trying to comfort, the imp settling down and chirping at Mikayla’s touch. Hutch huffed.
      “I’d love to celebrate, really I would. But this particular batch of imps are too frightened by all of the loud noises, the flashing lights, strange smells… I would feel terrible leaving them here to suffer while I gallivant around town.”
      Mikayla gingerly touched Hutch’s back, trying to comfort them as they were to the imps. “That’s so sweet of you, lookin’ after all these babies.” She thought for a moment, and then her face lit up with an idea. “Hey, wait here for a little while. I’ll be back with something that should help.” Just as quickly as she appeared, Mikayla slipped out the door of the Imporium into the evening’s festivities.
      Hutch, alone with the imps again, sighed. “It’s not like I’m going anywhere anyway…”

      ~ ~ ~

      About an hour had passed before Hutch heard the door of their shop open once more. Only this time, no quiet footsteps or hushed conversations accompanied it. No, the uproarious sound of dozens of imps flooded into the small shop. Startled, Hutch sprang up and rushed to the entryway of their shop.
      Standing before them was Mikayla, her partner Annalise, and… a multitude of imps. Imps in all colors, species, varieties, even a few virtues spilled all over the Imporium, some behaving nicely, others exploring the wares, a few others wrestling, and several coming to Hutch to sniff and investigate them. Hutch looked incredulously at Mikayla, who was holding several grocery bags stuffed with various treats and drinks.
      “I’m back, I hope you don’t mind if I brought a few friends to help?” She grinned.
      Hutch ran their fingers through their hair and made a sound somewhere between a cry and a sigh. “A few?”
      Annalise blushed and waved slightly at Hutch. “Mikayla told me what was going on, and I thought, it is such a shame for these poor creatures to spend such a wonderful night alone and afraid…”
      “…so we thought we’d bring the party to you!” Mikayla said, raising the grocery bags in her arms for emphasis. She waded through the sea of imps everywhere and deposited the bags onto the counter, opening them to reveal comfort blankets, crackers, imp treats, dango, candy, chips, little sandwiches, and… several varieties of alcohol. She turned after arranging everything and noticed the imps running amok. She eyed her corvat Orni, who had been perched on top of the highest shelf by the door. Orni reared back his chest and shouted, “KNOCK IT OFF, YOU IDIOTS!”
      All of a sudden, the imps running around stopped to stare at the corvat. He flew in a circle around the shop and threatened all of the imps not paying mind. Returning after his circle, he landed on Mikayla’s shoulder and puffed out his chest. Mikayla stared down at her troupe and ordered "you heard the man! Everyone, places please!" The imps all rushed next to Mikayla and Annalise, ordering themselves in neat little groups with their friends. Mikayla turned to Hutch.
      "Sorry about them, they'll behave now. Of course those are just my dumbasses, Annalise's imps are all... so obedient." She rolled her eyes as her partner giggled. "Anyways," Mikayla continued, "We're here to cheer your imps and you up! I brought plenty of snacks and booze, and Annalise brought her 'magical imp sense' or whatever she has, right babe?"
      Annalise nodded. "Well, I have a natural gift to charm imps, as you know." They approached Hutch and sheepishly turned to look at them. "Would you mind letting me try to comfort your babies back there?"
      Hutch nodded incredulously. "Please, be my guest." Annalise slipped behind them into the back room, and almost immediately, sounds of happy and chirping imps resounded in the shop. Mikayla rolled her eyes again. "Babe, the least you could do would be to not show me up so hard." "Sorry!" Annalise called.
      Mikayla approached Hutch next, with Orni chirping a cheerful song. "Hey, I know I didn't ask permission or anything, but I hope this is okay." She smiled, a genuinely warm and dazzling smile that made Hutch's breath catch in their throat. "Y-yeah, you're fine. I appreciate the help, I know Annalise knows what they're doing."
      Mikayla's face contorted into an expression of mock offense. "Hey, what about me?! I'm the orchestrator of this entire event! I even brought the snacks..." Mikayla's hands lazily reached for a bottle of vodka which she had opened and started downing in about three seconds. Hutch couldn't help but laugh, a few tears coming to his eyes. "Yes of course, and you too. You... thank you Mikayla, truly." Hutch lowered their head and reached out to embrace Mikayla in a hug. Caught off-guard by the shorter doll Mikayla nearly dropped her bottle, before returning the hug in kind. "Hey, don't sweat it. I'll always be here for you." Mikayla tipped Hutch's head back to look into their eyes before giving them an overdramatic kiss on the forehead. Hutch's face turned as red as a tomato, and hastily squirmed away from Mikayla. Orni chortled in response and flew around Hutch a few times. "Let's not waste any more time, the food'll get cold!"
      Steadily, Mikayla and Orni served Hutch, Annalise, and the myriad of imps various snacks and treats, distributing pets and blankets to imps still frightened by the cacophony outside. Once everyone had been served (and Annalise had returned from the back), the three dolls sat in a circle petting various imps, enjoying each other's company and reminiscing the nights past and the holiday tonight yet to come. Even on this most hellish of days, some people didn't need to overindulge. They just needed the comfort and company of their fellow buns, knowing that each year, amazing things could happen with the demon's blessing and light of the candles guiding their way.