It was a clear, sunny day in camp. Birds chirped and a light breeze blew through the air. It was almost as if the Shepherds weren't in the middle of a war. The camp buzzed with activity and Libra decided that it was the perfect day to send a prayer to Naga.
So, located in a quieter patch of forest a short walk from camp, the woman-like man knelt down and began to pray. "O gods, hear my plea and partake-"
"Hey there, Padre." Libra's head snapped up to see Gaius leaning against a tree nearby, eating a pastry of some sort. "Having a little chat with the management, are we?"
Libra calmly replied with a smile, "I was praying, if that's what you mean. Perhaps you would care to join me? A good soul cleansing can do wonders for one's mood."
Gaius scratched the back of his head. "Eh, I've never been much for talking to the blokes upstairs, you know?" After thinking for a moment, he shrugged and added, "Still, what can it hurt just this once?"
Gaius finished the last of his pastry and, licking the chocolate off his fingers, came to stand by the priest. "So, uh, how's this work? I can ask for anything I want, or what?"
Libra sighed slightly, but not loud enough for Gaius to hear. "Well, it is true that many people pray to receive things for themselves. But, originally, prayers were not used to beseech the gods for favors. Rather, they were used to give thanks for blessings already received."
"Blessings, eh? So I could say thanks for candied figs and honey cakes?" An eager smile crossed his face. "Oh, and fruit pies, too?"
"Er, yes. I suppose so." Libra raised an eyebrow. "If they are something you feel profoundly grateful for."
Gaius chuckled, "Profoundly doesn't begin to cover it." He knelt down awkwardly, his smile shrinking. "…So, er, do I kneel or what? Is there a bench involved somehow?"
Libra nodded, his smile returning. "It is customary to bend the knee in supplication, yes." He waited for Gaius to take the praying position. "Now then…"
The two men sat silently for a few moments. How peaceful, Libra thought. I wish days like this would come more often.
"O ye gods, thanks a billion for all thine abundantly sweet and tasty goodness…" Gaius spoke.
Libra ignored the fact that, of all things, his friend was thanking Naga for sweets. He coughed, then began, "Dear gods, thank you for watching over us, and protecting our friends and comrades."
"What? Thou art jealous, O mighty gods? Jealous and angry, you say?" Libra looked up to see his sweet-toothed friend grimace and became filled with concern. The gods are angry? What did he do to anger them?
"Then send thou's terrible fruit pies to me, that I might use them to smite thine foes!" Gaius exclaimed.
Libra noticed that his friend's grimace was fake and stopped praying, staring at his friend perplexedly. What in Naga's name does he think he's doing?
"I also love jellied pears, O vengeful ones! And those biscuits with goo in the middle!" Gaius started to tremble, his mock grimace increasing in size.
Libra looked at him and scowled. "Gaius, your demands for sweets hover ever closer to blasphemy…"
Gaius then yelped as if he had been stricken by a Risen's claws and roared melodramatically, "O furious and insane gods! Send me ten—nay, TWENTY of your finest cakes!" Libra thought to himself, He may be better at acting than he is at thieving.
Libra muttered to himself, "He's not listening to a word I say." He raised his voice. "Gaius?" Nothing. He took a deep breath and yelled, "GAIUS!"
The said chocoholic looked up, blinking. His forehead glistened with sweat. "…Huh? Hey there, Padre. What's with the shouting?"
"I was shouting because you were completely ignoring me! That wasn't a prayer—it was a market list! The gods are not scullery maids who deliver treacle treats on demand!" He stopped his rant, panting slightly.
Gaius laughed nervously. "Oh. Right, yeah…sure. Sorry. Got carried away. I'll start over, then." He coughed, then resumed his prayer. "O most horrifying and fattened gods, thou art most tricksy in thine ways…"
Libra winced, wondering who had taught him to pray in such a manner. "D-dear gods, please send not lighting to strike down this heretic… He knows not what he does!"
When he spoke again, Gaius raised his voice loudly, to the point where Libra wondered if the rest of camp could hear him. "I will deliver unto thee my first-born son, if only you make donuts rain down upon-"
"GAAAIUS!" Libra shrieked, unable to believe what he was hearing.
The man in question chuckled and murmured, "…Whoops. Sorry." He stood and said, "I guess that's enough praying for one day." Producing a sucker from his pocket, Gaius began to walk back to camp.
After Gaius was out of earshot, Libra muttered, "Gods, please do not grant me the displeasure of praying with him again."
I love the Gaius and Libra supports, they're hilarious. Until next time!
~Haymitch-The-Hobo
