Why do anything, Ceri? You'll only dance in Elysia one day.

A thought as old as the first professions of any world is, why do anything? This is especially true in Helusch, with the rather tragic economic condition of the area. 

Ceri was just a Gythan Bo, looking for his next meal, his next trick, next move.

He really wasn’t up for the quandary, as he rather drunkenly took the dare.

“Get back here, ya Rum Dum Jungle buzzard!”, was what the old fool had said as Ceri made off with his Road Stake, Elam had him on a bet, and Ceri would make good on his Daring exploits. All good Ruckus was had in an Elevated state, made all the better by a plunder of forty Nicks, and the promise of a good night's rest.

Ceri wasn’t anything close to a Yegg, but the thought of fresh Java in a proper Flophouse made a night with his Ever-Goading Mucker all the more satisfying.

Clever fingers, and banditry wasn’t much a day's work to anyone else, but Ceri wasn’t much skilled in more cautious labor. He couldn’t much afford to be picky in who he stole from, or really anything he did.

Might’ve been the half of it with Elam.

But such thoughts seemed foolish as Elam caught sight of him, pulling Ceri into the alley, “hey there Angellina, you got the goods?”, he went, before Ceri saw fit to turn and puke.

Gythan folks can’t handle High-Elevations, they get nauseous. Elam wasn’t so far bad, as he went rubbing circles across Ceri’s back, “get it up you lucky Gib, this hand is the only magic I got.” 

“Oy, don’t say it like that with my back to you.” 

“It’s true. I ain’t lying.” 

“I better get good Corms outta this. Since you already got me.” 

“There you are pickin’ even after havin’ me out for it,” Elam said, “I even did your back.” 

It wasn’t like they weren’t close already, but Ceri felt warm with his friend's voice. Though it might’ve been the faint buzz of his Elevation.

“Way to make off without counting, Maeve.”

“Don’t you know it? But diggin’ ain't pickin’ you know it,” Ceri rearranged himself, “feels a Bad Road.”

Elam laughed him off, “Roads don’t go Bad for old men and their money. You know that. Works still work, even theft.”

“I know, I know, I’m just outta breath.” Ceri looked around, out of the Alley and down the path. He didn’t bother thinking about trusting Elam with the goods, he just did.

Maybe he was just young, but the thought of doing anything else seemed wrong. What's the loss if Elam runs without him? 

Ceri wasn’t large bodied or tough, but he was much quicker than Elam, even with a head start. But Elam didn’t seem bothered to do it either, which was weird, it wasn’t as if Elam was anywhere near Blowed-in-the-glass.

Most couldn’t trust him as far as Ceri could throw him, and he couldn’t manage very far on that.

Outta the two of them Elam was the closest to the muscle, though he couldn’t manage that when compared with anyone else.

Enough to make Ceri barf, but that ain’t anything as a proud Gythan.

“You wanna go the long way?”, Elam said, pointing up to the fire escape. Ceri might’ve passed for an Angellina, but Elam was a Punk if ever he saw one.

Always up to shared antics, Ceri hauled himself up. Leaving Elam annoyed with the ease of his movements. “You just retched up that liquid courage! Why are you like this?”

“It’s better to barf before doing something strenuous anyway.”

“gross.”

“Who cares? You wanted to go the long way, didn’t you?” Ceri questioned, looking down at him, “gimme the Nicks.”

Elam did so wordlessly, before following Ceri up the fire escape. Ceri, being quite a bit smaller, slipped his way to the top long before Elam did, along with their money. He seemed to Follow by eye before going up and on.

Once they were on the roof, they were interrupted by the realization that they would have to do something else. Elevation is truly revelatory. 

Elam looked across to a building over, Ceri was able to measure by eye that the distance was roughly three times his full height, either way this was looking pretty silly. 

“I’m not sure if it’s worth it.” Ceri said, rearranging their loot. 

“I’d throw you over, but I don’t think you’d make it.” 

Ceri eyed the distance again, “I think I’d rather jump.” 

“Are you serious right now?” 

“Yes.” 

“You know what? You got me, let's take it and see who’s chicken.” 

“Well, go on then Gump!” Ceri said, giving Elam room for a running start. 

Elam was able to make it with his long heavy strides propelling him forward, like a Hot Shot across the two buildings. He managed to stick the landing, even with his ganglyness. A bit more wary on his feet this late at night, Ceri tightened the Bindle and threw it at Elam, who caught it readily. 

Maybe it was his eyes, that made him so easy to trust. Ceri always knew where Elam was looking, even if his expressions were sometimes very creepy because of it. Though even that instinct was slipping from him, the longer they knew each other. 

With a shorter stride, Ceri needed to be a bit more careful than Elam at this, even if the height of the building wasn’t a factor. 

Like a lot of things, being careful didn’t always mean anything, and this was proven as Ceri took his jump. 

He took his leap, and while he hadn’t felt it at first, his foot didn’t take his weight on the other end. 

Lucky or not, Elam had dropped the Bindle, and caught his arm with a quickness he didn’t bother to look for. 

Ceri tensed up in Elam’s grip, as he realised how close he’d been to death. To dancing in the sun.

A quick save became an embrace, as Elam curled up around Ceri.

They relaxed at some point of course, no one would live if they couldn’t deal. 

All he could think was that he was closer to his answer.