Pursuit of Diligence: Part 4

“Much to my chagrin… I have agreed to let Beanny use this space for… coffee.” Primrose spoke with an air of distaste, glancing over the plants that he and Harrow had watered just a week prior. “She wanted to bring your kind and my kind… together. In a way.”

Harrow tilted his head as Primrose sniffed, glancing to the side and crossing his arms.

“What would you like me to do?”

“The beans are already harvested… so I’ll need you to deliver them to Beanny’s shop for me.” Primrose stopped, then let out a small huff. “Please.”

“Of course,” Harrow replied, trying not to let his smile creep into his voice. He glanced down at the bags of beans already sealed and splayed out on the ground, tapping his thigh with his clawed finger in thought. He could carry one without any issue, but the second… yes, that probably would work, wouldn’t it?

Raising his arms, Harrow started to unbutton his collar much to the shock of Primrose, who took a step back as his eyes widened. “What are you doing?”

“Preparing myself to work.”

“And you need to strip for that!?”

“Not necessarily.” Unable to keep the amusement out of his voice, Harrow lifted his unbuttoned collar off his shoulders, revealing a good number of remil just… huddling underneath the fabric, clearly enjoying being nestled as close to Harrow as they could manage. “They’ll help me deliver.”

“Can they even carry that much?” Primrose leaned closer to study them with a dubious expression, head tilting as he let out a soft sigh. “You are a strange one, I’ll give you that.”

“Thank you!” Harrow said cheerfully.

“That wasn’t meant as a compliment.”

“I’m taking it as one,” said Harrow, chuffing in amusement. With that said, Primrose just shook his head and walked away, leaving Harrow to figure out how to move the shipment of coffee beans himself.

Picking up each remil with love and care, Harrow set them on the ground in front of the bags of coffee beans, crouching so they could hear him more clearly when he spoke.

“Hello darlings,” said Harrow, melting as they each squeaked a greeting of their own. “Can you help me carry these to a shop down the street?” He knew he didn’t have to offer a reward for their due diligence, but he would do so anyway, and they knew it. He was soft for his little ‘army’ of remils, and cared for each one as if they were of his own flesh and blood.

Standing back up after their chorus of chirping agreements, he watched as Reeve, Gougou, Elly, Brokk, Berrium, and Winnow moved underneath one bag while Hart, Mage, Wisz, Moose, Blick, and Bianca moved under a second. He picked up two bags of his own—one for each shoulder—and started the trek towards the shop down the street. Earl Grey, the thirteenth remil he was carrying around that day, lingered behind taking up the rear to make sure no coffee beans spilled from the bags that the other remils were carrying.

He had to stifle a laugh as he saw the bags moving from one side of the street to the other, pausing as a corner lifted up so one of the remils could still see and follow him without losing much distance. Harrow was so proud of them, chest puffing up in adoration for them as he kept his pace leisurely so he could deliver all four bags in a timely manner.

Upon reaching the shop, he set two down and turned back to see the red remil, Gougou, chirping in delight at reaching the shop door, and all of them moved together to set the bag down next to the two Harrow had carried.

Berrium got caught under a corner, and squeaked out of anger of being stuck before Brokk helped them out, grabbing onto the tail sticking out and pulling. With an audible pop, they came free and tumbled towards the other bag that had just arrived, bumping into the remils and sending them scattering, the last bag breaking open and sending beans everywhere.

It looks like the stitching hadn’t held much, did it?

Crossing his arms, Harrow cleared his throat, making all the remils look up at him, and each one of them looked rather sheepish.

Earl Grey came tottering behind, a few beans curled in its tail before it stopped, looked at the mess, and gave a heaving sigh.

Chirping at the others, it jerked its head back and forth to indicate to pick up the beans that had fallen, Winnow and Mage traveling for the furthest beans while Wisz, Moose, Blick, and Bianca moved to each corner of the torn bag to hold up the edges to keep the others from spilling while the spilled beans were added back into this.

“Oh, my,” came a soft voice, and Harrow turned to see the shopowner staring at the mess with both interest and alarm.

“Sorry about this. I have a needle and thread to fix up the bag, but nothing really got dirty.”

“No worries at all, honey,” she replied, her smile bright. “It looks like your little imps certainly have their work cut out for them, don’t they?”

“They can handle it,” Harrow said, his voice sounding brighter as he waved his hand.

“In the meantime, would you like a cup of coffee as thanks for the delivery?”

“I would be honored,” said Harrow, bobbing his head as a quick thanks. “If it’s possible… do you have a small bowl I could put the coffee in? For the remils. And perhaps a sweet snack as a treat?” He couldn’t hide the grin from his voice. “I usually spoil them after they’ve worked so hard, so…”

“That explains why they’re so attached,” she replied. “I’m Beanny, by the way.”

“Harrow.” He gave a slight bow, earning a chuckle from the shopkeeper.

“It’s an honor for me. Come in, won’t you? We’ll get your remils set up in no time.” She turned towards the working remils, putting a hand over her heart. “Thank you for your hard work!”

Harrow watched her practically melt as each of them answered in hearty squeaks as thanks.