*Trigger Warning/Mature Warning: Alcohol is mentioned in this chapter...*

Phineas walked by the girls' rooms before going to meet someone. He stopped when he saw Amelia sitting on the window seal. "Mimi, you okay?" Phineas asked when he heard a sniffle, watching Amelia turn to wipe the tears running down her cheeks. 

"Yeah, Dad." She said when he heard the crack in her voice. 

He did not say anything when he realized Amelia was feeling the same as Caroline. She has always felt that way. This is why she always, before a show, glanced around at the reactions of the crowd. It bothered her. He knew he had to do something to change that. 

Do something to make his girls feel proud, not embarrassed.

He headed to meet Phillip Carlyle, who was waiting on the stairs after his play. "Mr. Carlyle. You produced this play?" Phineas asked when he walked over to Phillip. 

"Yes, I did indeed... Refunds are available at the front box office." Phillip said when he looked up at Phineas. 

"P. T. Barnum." Phineas smiled, extending his hand to a shocked Phillip Carlyle.

"From the circus?"

"Yes. You-- you've been?" Phineas asked him when Phillip took his hand. 

"No... But I have seen the crowds. People leave your shows a great deal happier than when they came in, which is much more than I can say for my play." Phillip sighed when Phineas chuckled at his response. 

"And yet, you have no trouble selling tickets," Phineas said, making Phillip sigh to himself.

"That's because I'm selling virtue..." 

"Can I buy you a drink?" Phineas asked when the two of them headed to the nearby bar. 

They sat in the empty bar, sitting at the bar. "I wanna go after the carriage trade. Present legitimate acts, expand our appeal, go after the snobs." Phineas explained to Phillip. 

"If you only knew how suffocating they are..." Phillip sighed, looking at the counter.

"So, come join the circus. You clearly have a flair for show business." Phineas said, making Phillip look at him in confusion. "Teach me how to appeal to the highbrows." Phineas said when the two of them gulped down their shot drinks.

"Are you serious?" Phillip asked him.

"Mm-hmm." Phineas nodded, thinking about the opportunity to cheer up his daughters. 

"Mr. Barnum, I can't just run off and join the circus." Phillip sighed when he thought about how his parents would disown him if he did. 

"Why not? Sounds thrilling, doesn't it?" Phineas asked, tapping the bar lightly, letting the bartender know to get them another shot. 

"Let's just say that I find it much more comfortable admiring your show from afar." Phillip sighed, trying to avoid the conversation. 

"Comfort, the enemy of progress," Phineas said, popping a peanut into his mouth. 

"Do you understand that just associating with you could cost me my inheritance?" Phillip asked him, not knowing that Phineas had any children, seeing as he did not meet Phineas or his family at the ballet. 

"Oh, it could cost you more than that," Phineas smirked when Phillip turned in his seat to face him. "You'd be risking everything. But, on the other hand, well, you just might find yourself a free man." Phineas said, sliding over the shot glass to Phillip.

They both turned up the drinks when they began to sing. "Right here, right now, I put the offer out. I don't wanna chase you down; I know you see it. You run with me, and I can cut you free. Out of the drudgery and walls, you keep in." Phineas sang when he tapped on the bar counter to let the bartender know to bring another glass and the bottle over to him. 

"So, trade your typical for somethin' colorful." He sang, pouring the two shot glasses. "And if it's crazy live a little crazy." He tossed the bottle to the bartender, who was wiping the counter a bit. "You can play it sensible, a king of conventional, or you can risk it all and see. Don'tchu wanna get away from the same old part you gotta play? 'Cause I got what you need, so come with me and take the ride. It'll take you to the other side." Phineas sang as he got up and started to dance; meanwhile, Phillip turned to watch him. And the bartender joined a little bit with Phineas.

"'Cause you can do like you do, or you can do like me..." He sang, jumping on the table, making Phillip look at him in shock. "Stay in the cage, or you finally take the key. Suddenly, you're free to fly. It'll take you to the other side." Phineas sang when he got off the table. He moved back to Phillip, who turned back to face the bar. 

"Okay, my friend, you wanna cut me in. Well, I hate to tell you, but it just won't happen. So, thanks, but no, I think I'm good to go. 'Cause I quite enjoy the life you say I'm trapped in." Phillip sang when he got up to grab his coat and scarf to leave the bar. 

"Now, I admire you and that whole show you do. You're on to somethin'... Really, it's somethin'." He sang, walking to the bar and putting his top hat on. "But I live among the swells, and we don't pick up peanut shells. I'll have to leave that up to you." He sang, dusting his hands after he tossed down some peanut shells that were on the counter. 

The bartender cleaned up the shells while the song continued.

"Don'tchu know that I'm okay with this uptown part I get to play? 'Cause I got what I need, and I don't wanna take the ride... I don't need to see the other side." Phillip sang when he moved to stand on the bar counter. "So, go and do like you do; I'm good to do like me. Ain't in a cage, so I don't need to take the key. Can'tchu see I'm doin' fine? I don't need to see the other side." He continued to sing when he got off the counter, grabbing his scarf from the piano that he laid it on.

Phineas moved to the piano when he started to play the piano lightly. "Now, is this really how you'd like to spend your days? Whisky, misery, and parties and plays?" Phineas asked, mocking Phillip a bit, making him turn around. 

"If I were mixed up with you, I'd be the talk of the town. Disgraced and disowned, another one of the clowns." Phillip sang, walking towards the door when Phineas stood up from the piano. 

"But, you would finally live a little, finally laugh a little, just let me give you the freedom to dream. And it'll wake you up and cure your aching. Take your walls and start 'em breaking. Now, that's a deal that seems worth taking." Phineas sang when he sat at the bar, putting his scarf on. 

He looked at the back of Phillip's head, who stopped, looking towards the door. "But I guess I'll leave that up to you." Phineas sang, looking at Phillip with the bartender.

Phillip paused for a moment, thinking about the offer. He would risk everything depending on what choice he made at that moment. 

"Well, it's intriguing... But to go would cost me greatly." Phillip sang, setting his coat and top hat on the counter and turning back to look at Phineas. "So, what percentage of the show would I be taking?" Phillip asked, making Phineas stand back up, taking his scarf off.

"Well, fair enough, you'd want a piece of all the action. I'd give you seven; we could shake and make it happen." Phineas smiled as the bartender poured eight shots. 

"I wasn't born this morning. Eighteen would be just fine." Phillip chuckled when he sat his scarf with his coat.

"Why not just go ahead and ask for nickels on the dime?"

"Fifteen." Phillip continued to insist.

"I'd do eight," Phineas said, not wanting to go higher since this whole thing was his idea and his family's income. 

"Twelve." Phillip insisted, wanting more than what Phineas was offering. 

"Maybe nine." Phineas sang when Phillip crossed his arms over his chest.

"Ten," Phillip said when the bartender moved two shots toward them. 

Phineas didn't say anything as he patted his pockets for any cash. Phillip held up money, setting it on the counter. 

"Sir, it looks like you have yourself a junior partner." Phillip smiled, extending his hand for Phineas to shake. 

"What I have is an overcompensated apprentice," Phineas said, handing the other shot glass to Phillip when they turned the small glasses up.

~1437 words~