No Man's Land [Open]

BASTIEN Soon everybody, everywhere will be The envy of the gods above Bastien wasn't quite sure to make of the 'Old Gods'. They reminded him much more of the shape of religion in his home country, stories and whispers but nothing to convince him of their reality. Still, Safrin had mentioned them and since that moment he had been very curious. Most of his acquaintances were Outlanders who would know little of these mythical figures, so he decided to go right to the source. Or at least, as close as he could get. He had heard tell of the shrine here, cleared out from an earthquake. As he approached he rubbed his thumb over the pendant on his chest, whispered to it (he had begun to imagine Safrin was almost inside it, able to hear him at all times). "Forgive me, bella donna. I am just curious. Not disloyal." With his excuses made to his divine benefactor he walked to the centre of the shrine, laid his hands on the stones in the middle (cold, like everything else right now, but not unbearable). Looking around to the candles and offerings left deserted here, it was clear he was not the first recent visitor. Perhaps if someone who actually cared for these beings arrived, he could get some answers. He sat down, carefully, in the innermost ring of stones, using a blanket he had bought as a rug to sit on. Bastien closed his eyes and held out his palms, trying to calm himself and get a feel for the place. He did feel slightly silly, as if he was just sat in a wet snowy field waiting for something to happen, but he had not expected anything when he had prayed before either; his newfound religious nature fit uncomfortably but was impossible to shake. Occasionally he opened his eyes as if expecting a God to be caught unawares sneaking past him, but he only saw the snow and the shrine before him as they had been left. With a sigh, he leaned back and decided to wait to see if any true believers would approach (or indeed, anybody to distract him from his failed summonings).

The wind did not howl through the Shrine on any god-sent omens. It did not even whisper. All grew still around the circle of stones and the mortal sitting at its centre. A prayer without an offering? Petition without payment? Pah. The stillness broke with a stinging slap that would catch across Bastien's left cheek, the sound echoing through the peace of the Shrine. Perhaps that would teach him to be a little more generous on his future visits.

BASTIEN Soon everybody, everywhere will be The envy of the gods above Bastien was all but ready to give up and go home to devote his time to the God he actually knew, when he was suddenly on the floor with a stinging cheek. "Che due palle!" He swore, holding his face and staring up at the blank air as if an attacker would suddenly appear. When none did, even after several moments of very suspicious staring up and to the left, he stood up with a huff. Well, if that was how these Gods were going to play, he was not all too keen on them. With a dismissive wave towards the shrine, he walked away back home, with stung pride and a lot of bitter words mumbled under his breath.