#pickpocket!mari

-It started small - when she accidentally stole Adrien’s phone and thought ‘That was a close one!’ followed closely by ‘...I can do better’

- When she discovered that the library offered scant resources (because what school in their right mind teaches children how to become pick-pockets?) she turns to the internet 

- She uses her mannequin as a practice model, attaching bells to a coat and pants that jostle loudly at the slightest brush.

- Marinette is thorough so she films herself “making passes” at the mannequin to see if she’s being obvious (because a mirror only reveals so much). Later, she tries to show Tikki. Tikki praises the attention to detail that Marinette exhibits but holds back on praise for the hobby itself because “it’s un-Ladybug-like”

- Once again, Marinette turns to the internet and posts her videos for technique-correction. One commenter replies that if she wants to see her skills improve, they found that learning sleight-of-hand-magic tricks worked wonders for them. 

-To her delight, the library has an amazing hobby section that includes books on magic tricks. 

- Tikki, not realizing that the Magic Trick books are for the pick-pocket hobby enthusiastically encourages this hobby. Marinette feels slightly guilty for not telling the truth on why she decided to check the books out. 

- While Marinette is practicing card tricks, Adrien smiles casually and mentions that his cousin is really into magic as well and offers to get them in touch with each other - after all, Felix could use a friend and they can bond easily with this shared hobby. Adrien walks away thinking how great it will be - maybe Marinette will be allowed to visit when Felix visits because then it would technically be Felix having a friend over, not Adrien. 

- Turns out the faithful commenter on the forum was Felix all along - which excites Marinette. 

- Felix mentors Marinette and acts as a fail-safe for Marinette’s first lifts by acting as a distractor when/if the Mark gets suspicious.

- Together they also legitimately practice their magic tricks as well and develop a bunch of in-jokes, joyously laughing out loud at each other both through magic and pick-pocketing triumphs and fails. Adrien tries not to feel left out when he hears the laughter echoing down the guest hallway, unsure of how to join in. 

- Adrien gets mad when Plagg tells him that they are practicing pick-pocketing. He tries to tell Marinette off and Felix rounds on Adrien saying “We’ve never kept a single item- it’s all in good fun.” 

- Back in the room, Plagg says maybe to meet them half-way by learning magic tricks himself “After all, sleight of hand is a useful skill for Chat Noir.”