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[b][u]Phillis Circus: Big Top - Somewhere Backstage[/b][/u]

Even though Tammie had wiped out as much fire as she could, some still continued to spread along the seats - and the smoke itself began to seep backstage at a gross pace. Eric and Baltimore weren't the only people in the back who sniffed out the brewing smoke.

Both Vance and Guinevere rushed to the scene wordlessly, through the maze of the backstage. Thankfully they knew their routes, though even if they hadn't, the smell and piling smog made their destination obvious. A handful of performers passed by the two, coughing into their arms or holding their collars over their mouths. Some passed by them without acknowledgement while others stopped what they were doing to ask the ringmasters if they were okay. Guinevere nodded back to each question affirmatively, a hesitant smile across her green lips - but Vance ignored them all. They never stopped running.

Not until they ran into a wall. Or at least, what felt like a wall.

They had reached one of the few corridors that led directly to the big 'backstage' room just outside the performance area. It was almost within reach. And yet, they couldn't push themselves forward. Vance pulled himself back, angrily rubbing his head. "What is this!?"

Guinevere had a more delicate approach. She reached for the air before her, the air that Vance had slammed himself right into, and pointed at it. The skin along her finger bunched up as if she was stroking a glass surface. Her expression unchanging, she pulled her hand back. "It seems as though someone does not want us to join the ruckus."

Vance snarled and about-faced, preparing to take a neighboring corridor. Guinevere followed after. They charged right back into the previous room and into the curtain opposite to the one they had just taken. As Vance pressed into the next curtain, however, the fabric shifted with his movement but ultimately led into a wall, causing another needless head injury.

The brother pulled back once more, shutting his eyes to the blurs around him. Guinevere once again stepped forward, and brushed the curtain aside to see into the next room. Once again, absolutely nothing stood between the curtain and the room it revealed, but it felt as though a brick wall cut off their route.

And within that room was a little girl in a cutesy dress, looking back at them.

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She held her arms up defensively, though without confidence. Her palms were shown to them, flattened. And behind her stood that godforsaken man whom they caught trespassing earlier. None of the others that were with the niece formerly were in sight.

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Guinevere frowned, but said nothing.

Baltimore took this time to yank her uncle's wrist and dart into the next room, out of the Phillis siblings' sight. Once they were seemingly safe, Baltimore instantly dropped Eric's wrist and began to motion wildly with her arms and hands.

Eric's eyes widened with shock. "Wait, you want [i]me[/i] to go out there? To the stage? But what about you?"

Again Baltimore motioned with her hands, this time also pointing to other areas within the tent. Her intention to resume exploring the Big Top alone despite the danger present was clear. She just wanted the confirmation from her dear uncle.

---

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[b][u]Phillis Circus: Big Top - Onstage[/b][/u]

Isabella was charging right at him - [i]right at him[/i] - yet in the nick of time, he was saved. Pushed out of danger's way in a fell swoop. It was that sexy chick! She had managed to dodge Sammie's katana in time to save his life from hell. A look of both disbelief and gratitude crossed his features as he realized what was happening - these guys actually believed him and adhered to his dangerous plan.

As he rolled to his feet, Crispin was quick to rejoin the game. "Thanks," he called out as he followed in after Aria's setup. He would have to thank the big mama later for taking his hit. The illusionist had crouched down, attempting to sweep Isabella off her feet. During this, Crispin leapt over her, his arm reeled back and sizzling hot. Then he struck forward with a flaming hot punch. If Aria's kick didn't get her, then he would...!

In the meantime, Lute's interference would not go unnoticed.

[img=http://i.imgur.com/rxPNBnW.png]

With one of Sammie's blades grounded now, thanks to the virtuoso's soundwave, the magician chucked the other into the air and swept her hat from below her. She held it out, its opening facing skyward - and the katana dropped right into it, without cutting through the other side. It had been stored away instantly. Instead of propping her hat back onto her head however, she continued holding it out to the side.

Despite her outbursts earlier, Sammie opted out of even dignifying that white-haired rascal with any words. It was time to teach these assholes a lesson! The magician suddenly reached back into her hat and, from it, began flinging short-lived [i]fireballs[/i] in Lute's direction. Whatever missed his body immediately singed a chair behind him. With every throw, Sammie stepped closer to him.

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Having finished trying to wipe out flames eating away one section of seats, Tammie let out a big sigh. She turned around... only to find Sammie flinging the fire she just stowed away back out into the open and setting more seats aflame. Well, at least all the civilians were escorted out the tent! "Nooooo Sammie, what are you...! I just...! UGH! YOU PEOPLE ARE ALL JERKS."

Before she could whine any further, she spotted a red blur making its way down the steps as opposed to fleeing like the other civilians. Even though she didn't look armed, she was still going to cause trouble if she joined into the battle as opposed to flee... even if she did help her and her brother escort the guests out as safely as they could. With an audible grunt, Tammie chased after her. Being much more small and nimble to Estelle, she caught up with her quickly and cut her off from joining the assailants onstage or in the pit.

Tammie extended both arms (and legs) outward, a makeshift block to prevent Estelle from passing her apparently. "Hey you! Stop right there! Don't make me hurt you!" It didn't look like she was going to stop anytime soon though, so (clumsily) she mimicked her sister and pulled something out from her hat while it was still atop her head: the same katana Sammie had just re-stored. She then held it before her with both hands. Incorrectly, of course.

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Unlike his sisters, Cammie made his way outside instead, following after Max's outburst with two of the assailants. He hadn't seen the lean one get touched at all by Max, and yet there he was, sailing high in the sky along with his red-haired friend. Either Max's power was more complex than Cammie thought, or something else weird was going on there. Nonetheless, with a nod to Poppy, he charged after the sky-high fighters and tried to keep under them as best as he could while they were still clumped together.