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[b][u]Phillis Circus: Rear Restricted Entrance of the Big Top[/u][/b]

What were they [i]doing?[/i]

Estelle could only watch with gritted teeth and disbelief at how Aria and Lucien had carefreely wandered away from them, straight towards Syed and under the watchful eyes of two of the circus’ members whom had been in conversation with the electromage. Against all belief, it seemed as if the pair had forgotten that they had just been traipsing through a restricted area, and that indeed the location they were within right now was still restricted and not open for the public to be walking through. It was fortunate for the illusionist and summoner that the two stiltmen didn’t seem to be as dangerously bothered by it as she was sure that the cold man they had seen before would be… but even then they had been playing with fire. They could have just as likely gotten thrown out of the circus entirely. And maybe, potentially, still could. 

Estelle shook her head. The way towards joining that group was entirely blocked with one of the two stiltmen conversing with the others. It’s partner had stomped off with multiple clanks to go around the side of the large Big Top, to disappear from view. Peeking her head out, meerkat style, to look around in all direction, Estelle made doubly certain that the coast was clear of any other circus performers, before darting towards the next closest tent, holding Trixie’s hand inside her own. 

"That was close," Trixie had whispered to Estelle. "What do we do now?"

“We get out of here,” Was Estelle's reply. As they quickly dashed across the open space, in full sight of Syed, Aria and Lucien ahead of them (but thankfully with the stiltman’s back towards them), they skidded behind cover of the next nearest tent, to take another moment to breathe and make sure no one else was about. Estelle had planned a path that would take them from diminutive tent to diminutive tent, until they could reach the fenced perimeter and climb over. It would take some time, but it was the smartest way out of here.

Slowly but surely, from tent to tent and other stacked pieces of equipment and crates, Estelle and Trixie reached the fence. Pressing her back to the fence, Estelle cupped her hands out in front of her waist, providing a step for Trixie to jump onto and be boosted up and over the top. As soon as she did, Estelle gripped onto the metal bars of the fence and began to quickly hoist herself up, working off adrenaline to clear the top as well as she could. She was no natural climber like Lisette had been, but Estelle had spent much of her youth climbing things that she shouldn’t have to have developed a partial affinity to it. Fortunately, once done, the coast now seemed clear, although they were now a fair distance away from the rest of the Pride, and tired to boot. Their entire stealthy infiltration of the Big Top had taken its toll, and Estelle exhaled heavily. 

“Phew…” She collapsed onto the ground, leaning back with her hands to support herself up.

“You okay, Super Sis?” Trixie asked, sitting down with her legs crossed facing her. 

“Yeah, just… phew… that was a close one…” Estelle smiled back at the smaller girl, and then drew quiet. Her eyes flicked to the massive, colourful tent they had came from, and her smile faded. 

“Er…” Trixie began to frown. “Are you sure you’re okay, Super Sis?”

“Do you trust him, Trixie?” Estelle asked, glancing to her friend. Trixie tilted her head to the side in confusion. Him?

“You mean the cap guy?” She asked. 

“Yeah. I mean… he said some things but… who knows if he’s telling the truth?” Estelle frowned. “I don’t know if you had any better luck, but I’ve not seen any of the missing people we came looking for so far… and I don’t remember his face being on one of the posters.”

“Ah… maybe?” Trixie frowned again, puffing her cheeks in thought and tilting her head to the other side. She couldn’t really remember what the faces on the missing posters were, though. 

“I mean… this circus is weird alright, but so is he. I’m not sure if he’s actually telling the truth or not. Not to mention…” Estelle frowned heavily, pushing herself off the ground. “His grand plan is to set things on fire in a crowd filled stage. That’s both crazy [i]and[/i] dangerous. And again… I’ve still not seen any definitive proof that these guys are up to anything. They’re weird, sure, but… I’ve seen a lot of people before that are weird. We could even be considered weird, couldn’t we?”

“I… guess?” Trixie pondered Estelle’s words some more, actually smiling as she hopped to her feet as well how Estelle was actually considering this and giving it some thought. Leave it to Super Sis to know what to do! “So what do we do?”

“I’m not sure,” Estelle shook her head, a large grimace crossing her features. Trixie's own enthusiasm began to deflate. Estelle started to walk back towards where they had seen the others, this time on the safe side of the Big Top’s perimeter fence, with Trixie following at her side. “I don’t entirely trust that weirdo, but he doesn’t give us any choice, does he? We’re going to have to go to that performance if only to make sure nobody gets hurt. But regardless of whether he’s telling the truth [i]or[/i] lying… I’m going to smack the crap out of him!”