AN: The idea for this "Patrol Log" came from Elanora Kacey. If you have any ideas, let me know! I don't use all of them, but sometimes they inspire something else.
As a reminder, "Patrol Logs" are somewhat time-independent of the multi-chapter stories happening around them. "A Bees' Life" largely takes place over a single day and night, and Ryoku and Viperion are the heroes on patrol that night (with Sent-Bee and Duchesse Bleue (read that story for context on that) going out independently). So this isn't taking place that same night. Events and characters in the other stories will get referenced in "Patrol Logs" and vice versa, but that's as much of a time indication as the "Patrol Logs" will have.
To Butterfly: XD "Monte-en-l'Air" is the French term for a cat burglar."
To atchleykera031: Thanks! I'm glad you're enjoying these little "slice of life" chapters!
To armadas: I see Juleka as very shy, and the miraculous allowing her to express herself more. Pedro has become such a dynamic character since his introduction as simply a straightforward antagonist!
Miss Pinky arrived at Notre Dame just as Multiplice was letting herself down from the cathedral roof by her jump rope. Multiplice pulled out a pastry bag with the Tom and Sabine logo on the front and passed over an éclair. "Here you go!" she told her, beaming excitedly and pulling out another one for herself. "Taureau Dechaine and I had supper with Ladybug and Cat Noir tonight, and Ladybug sent these along for us."
Miss Pinky giggled and shoved the whole thing in her mouth. "Marinette really is the best, isn't she?"
"Totally," Multiplice agreed, nodding. She pulled out a pain au chocolate for Miss Pinky and a couple macaroons for herself before crumpling up the bag tossing it in the nearby trash can. "Ready to start?"
Miss Pinky dropped into a sprinter's stance and smiled in excitement before taking off at a brisk jog around the island, Multiplice jogging along beside her. As they went they talked animatedly about school. Miss Pinky knew that Multiplice was interested in performance, though she didn't consider herself very musically talented. "Are you and Taureau Dechaine going to go to the concert this weekend?" she asked as they crossed the Pont Neuf and turned to run west along the north side of the river.
Multiplice shook her head. "Not this time," she replied, frowning. "Taureau Dechaine has to work that day, and my father wants my help with his classes."
Miss Pinky sighed sympathetically. "That's too bad. It's supposed to be really good; the band is a group of the best collège musicians in Paris!"
Multiplice shrugged. "What're you going to do?" she asked rhetorically. "There's always the next one."
"So do you like helping your father?"
Multiplice nodded, smiling. "It's so much fun! This weekend the class I'm helping him with is just about the youngest group, one of the extra école élémentaire classes he teaches, and it's amazing just how eager they are to learn!"
"That's something I've never been interested in," Miss Pinky admitted. "Teaching, I mean. I love kids, but I can't put up with so many of them for so long!"
Multiplice giggled, but stopped suddenly. Miss Pinky looked around, confused. They had been so busy talking she hadn't realized that they had already made it almost to the Pont de l'Alma. The Liberty was berthed a little further along, just out of sight around the bend. However, Multiplice wasn't looking at the river. Instead, she was looking at the small park a little north of the river, surrounded by tall brick buildings. The park wasn't very large, only containing a couple pieces of playground equipment in a ring of rubber cushioning. A small number of trees stood around the perimeter of the park, with a bench below one of the trees where parents could sit and watch their children. Across the street was a bus stop, with a new Metro station located near one end of the park. The park, however, had started going to seed.
"How sad!" Multiplice groaned, staring at the thin layer of trash that had built up just off the path. "There's a trash can right there, but no one could be bothered to actually use it!"
Miss Pinky narrowed her eyes, analyzing the scene. Not only was there trash strewn all over the part, but the landscaping hadn't been cared for in ages: just looking at the shrubs around the park, they had all been allowed to grow wild. "And these bare spots in the grass! It really needs to be replanted, but if they don't do it soon, it may not be able to grow – or at least not until the spring."
"It's such a shame to leave it like this." Multiplice put her hand on the jungle gym. "My mom used to bring me to this part all the time."
"You know," Miss Pinky began thoughtfully, "I could do something about these bald patches." She pulled her jiuchidingpa from its spot on her back, twirled it once, and slammed the rake head into the ground, leaving nine small indentations.
"Well, if you're going to take care of the plants, I can take care of the trash!" Multiplice twirled her jump rope around and shouted, "Multitude!" A small army of clones ran out of the spot where she stood and scattered throughout the park. Presently a growing pile of garbage appeared on the ground next to the trash can.
"You really didn't think this through, did you?" Miss Pinky teased, kicking the can over and pushing the pile of trash inside with her rake. Looking around critically, she drove the rake head into the ground in the middle of the largest bare spot and called, "Cornucopia," before racing around the park, dragging the rake through the dirt behind her. As she passed one of the Multiplice clones, Miss Pinky told her, "I'm going to plant some tulips along the path. I think that will look pretty."
The clone hopped on top of the rake head and clambered up to Miss Pinky's arm. "Oh! Can you plant some sunflowers, too?"
Miss Pinky closed her eyes and concentrated on what she wanted, and nodded, smiling. The clone hopped down and grabbed a discarded candy wrapper and soda can both of which were larger than herself and carried them back over to the trash can.
About five minutes later, Miss Pinky met up with the newly reconstituted Multiplice as the latter was setting the now-overflowing trash can back upright. The bare patches in the grass had completely disappeared, and a row each of tulips and sunflowers had sprouted alongside the sidewalk. They looked over the park and grinned. Miss Pinky held out her fist for Multiplice to bump, wiping her brow with the other hand. "That was a lot of work."
"I'll say," Multiplice agreed, stretching her arms. "It's too bad we can't automate some of this."
Miss Pinky hummed and turned to look out over the river, just in time to watch a bag full of trash float past. She frowned. "What if we actually could automate picking up trash?"
"What do you mean?" Multiplice cocked her head in confusion.
"I mean, what if Pegasus could build drones that can pick up trash? And clean up the river?"
Multiplice's eyes went wide in excitement. "That would be so cool! I mean, if he can build drones that can take videos and shoot and stuff to help with missions, then why not some that can help the environment?"
Miss Pinky nodded eagerly as another voice sounded over their communicators. "I hope I am not intruding," Turing said. "I was monitoring your conversation, and I just submitted your suggestion for Pegasus to consider."
"Thanks," Miss Pinky answered. "Now make sure he doesn't forget it!"
Multiplice stifled a giggle as they left to continue their patrol along the Seine.
AN: Normally I don't point these out, but this one is a serious deep-cut. There's a bit of an Easter egg in this chapter: the park they cleaned up has appeared before in the "Mind Games"-verse. Any ideas why it's significant?