1353/Looking for Worthy in All the Wrong Places

Looking for Worthy in All the Wrong Places
Date of Scene:	26 March 2024
Location:	Sports Pavilion
Synopsis:	While practicing early morning archery, Bow is visited by a talking animal and Yaling (who also has a talking animal). Corona tells her tale of her search of the worthy. Bow is so not it.
Cast of Characters:	Bow, Kyouka Inai, Yaling Yao

---

Bow has posed:
Just after the sun has come up, Bow has found, is usually the best time to practice. There's rarely anyone around and it gives him the chance to unwind without having to hold back just a little. Which is why some of the targets on the archery practice field are turned to weird, almost impossible to hit angles, while others are partially obscured, hidden, or otherwise twisted into a degree of difficulty.

In the archer's circle, Bow is drawing back to fire, loosing the first arrow to strike the first target dead on, a bullseye hit before he starts to work along the lines the other targets - even before he got a magical boost to make his arrows powerful enough to make a difference, he was a top notch archer. Another arrow is drawn, bent slightly and fired, the arrow curving elegantly to strike into the target.

Kyouka Inai has posed:
    It may not be readily apparent at first, but it seems that Bow has an audience as he practices his archery early in the morning. It's not the type of audience you might expect, another student or admirer come to watch him shoot arrows into the target. Rather, it is what at first appears to be an animal- although upon closer inspection it does not resemble any animal that Bow would be familiar with, either on Earth or Etheria.

    It is a lupine creature, appearing somewhat similar to a wolf or fox, though clearly not either of those things. About the size of a medium-sized dog, it's snout is too pointed and its ears too large and mobile, it's tail whippy and slender and more like a cat's. It has dark grey fur, though with white highlights- specifically its feet are white and it has white, zebra-like stripes along its rear haunches. It also has a white mark in the shape of a crown on its forehead, between its eyes.

    Said eyes are ghostly white, and it watches Bow firing arrows with them, sitting upon the raised wooden platform at the rear of the archery grounds. It makes no noise, but is in plain sight should he turn and look behind or to the side.

Yaling Yao has posed:
Yaling has just finished volleyball practice, her team apparently in agreement with Bow's ethic on the best time to practice. Her training has been over for a while by now, and after a quick shower and getting back in her school uniform, she has allowed Bai Suzhen back around her neck, the spirit snake having spent the time of the practice onto a bench observing yet again the minutiae of the modern iteration of this sport.

Coincidence has it that she is passing by the archery training grounds, and her eyes fall onto Bow, distracted by the precise rhythm with which the boy is drawing his arrows and firing them. It is only after a while that she recognises the boy as the one that is spearheading the Prom. Maybe if she hangs around for a while, she can check how things are going.

Bow has posed:
Another arrow fired, and as Bow draws another, he twists to his side, arrow nocked and drawn and suddenly there's something there that wasn't before. The arrow's not fired, his hand tightening it's grip so that he doesn't accidentally fire. "Ah..." He's seen enough magical animals around the school, but at the same time, he's still figuring out all the animals of Earth.

However, as the arrow is pulled and put back into the quiver, he tilts his head to the side, a slight angle to study the creature more closely. "Aren't you just..." Adorable doesn't really fit. Nor does cute. "Unique." That is a good word. It fits, and the curious Etherian is just studying it more closely.

He has not noticed the pretty freckled girl with colorful streaks in her hair yet, instead, the creature has his focus - situational awareness is there, just not being used at the moment! It's not like he's in the middle of a warzone, right? (totally is, he just hasn't adapted to this whole mahou war thing yet.)

Kyouka Inai has posed:
    It is unclear if Corona has noticed Yaling, though with the way one of her ears swivels towards the girl it seems likely she has. Her head doesn't turn though, especially as Bow speaks to her, or at least at her. It seems that his efforts are not in vain though, for after a moment of silence the creature speaks back. The words are definitely out loud, rather then telepathic the way an Incubator might speak, although it's unclear how she is producing them as her muzzle does not open or move in any visible way.

    "Untrue. I am but one servant of the Great Work among many. Although I suppose if you mean on Earth then... well, still not quite true, though true enough in the moment." Her voice is that of a mature woman, with a low contemplative tone, an element of fry giving her voice a 'now now, honey' sort of cadence.

    "You are quite skilled with that weapon. I suppose that it is no wonder you attract an audience." Is she referring to herself, or to Yaling? It's unclear, but could mean either.

Yaling Yao has posed:
Corona's voice is enough of a distraction from from Bow's training that for once since she came here, Yaling is prompted to looks away from Bow's stance and the flying arrows, checking out what the lupine creature is like. "Well, yes, I hope it isn't a problem, it's just his skill was quite apparent, and then I got who he was and wanted to check a few things about the Prom. Do you live here?" she asks Corona.

BaiBai's honey eyes also turn on the wolf, the snake's own mellow tone being heard by the other three participants. "The Great Work?" she repeats with curiousity, for now excluding the notion that Corona may be a mascot, even if she is not quite sure. Mostly it's Corona's ghostly appearance that strike her as not being quite mascot-like. "What would that involve?"

Bow has posed:
Wait - it speaks?! "AAAAH, YOU TALK!"

Immediately up in a defensive posture, on one leg, arms almost flailing for a moment, it takes Bow a whole five seconds to calm down and remind himself - roughly half the animals on this planet seem to be able to communicate. Seeing and hearing magical creatures is new to him still and even after a moment, it's still getting something to adjust too.

Breathe. Breeeeeeeathe. Okay, we're good now. "Oooh, you speak in riddles!" he realizes as she tells him she's unique while not being unique. "So, are you someone's mascot?" Because that's how he usually sees the talking ones - is if they are with someone... but, a little blush and he glances at the bow in his hands. "Oh, well. I practically grew up with it! So... yeah, I guess I'm skilled." His hand reaches up, rubbing at the back of his head.

But then Yaling speaks up, and he nearly jumps again, but seems to be more settled as he turns his attention to the new arrival. "You had questions about the Prom?" he asks, a raise of a brow, more curiosity than anything, even as his attention is held by the strange creature speaking of the 'Great Work' and that she's unique to Earth. "Ah... well... not from around here." he allows, a bit lamely.

Kyouka Inai has posed:
    Corona herself seems quite undistressed, remaining upon her perch without much motion although her slender tail does whip back and forth a little bit- more a lazy motion than one of agitation. When asked if she lives here, she responds with "It is perhaps accurate to say that I am a temporary resident." In other words, she lives here for now but is not likely to remain here forever.

    A light sniff is given at Bow referring to her as a 'mascot'. "I am a guide and a granter of power to those who are worthy." So yes, a mascot, although it appears she is not fond of the term.

    The question about her use of the phrase 'the Great Work' causes her to rise up onto all four feet and pace down the length of the wood closer to the two teens as she speaks. "The Great Work is the sacred mission of my people. It is, alas, never-ending and quite often seems futile, but that is why it is sacred, I suppose. If it were easy then it would hardly be worth dedicating our entire lives to."

    She pauses on the edge of the platform. "The Great Work is nothing less than seeking to preserve harmony in the universe. To maintain balance, so that the mechanisms of nature can function and we can all, well.. continue to exist. I am sure you would agree that is quite important."

Yaling Yao has posed:
The green-haired girl nods at Bow, even if her questions aren't quite so important. She is a bit surprised at the boy being quite magic aware too, even if probably she shouldn't be, considering that is not the only time she has met with someone like that at Radiant Heart. "Mostly, just wondering own the preparations are going, and if you could need some help in that regard."

Yaling's hand moves to caress the snake at her neck. "BaiBai is really good at administering herbs that helps with various ailments, including allergies, constipation and the likes, and since she has been teaching me her craft, we could lend a hand for the Prom in case that hasn't already been taken care of."

Said herbalist is now more interested in Corona, however. "So, you have friends with which you have been keeping the forces of darkness at bay over the centuries? That must be pretty tiring. I would assume your colleagues have passed you the baton with nothing unfortunate happening to them", she tells the wolf, her voice concerned about Corona has been through, especially with her raggard appearance. "Are you asking the help of people here?", Yaling chimes in. "They will want to help, really!", she exclaims with energetic zeal.

Bow has posed:
Bow holds up a finger to Yaling. "Just... we'll come back to that!" And they will, because he's more than willing to circle back to how Prom is going, but Yaling is right about this whole thing with Corona is more important at the moment. "You're not sbout to suggest you can fufill wishes, are you?" Sayaka has given Bow plenty of warning about making deals with strange alien animals that can talk.

And Corona is checking all of those boxes.

"So... it's like a cosmic balance thing? Good and evil on the whole... scale thing? I mean, I've seen plenty of that in my lifetime." he admits quietly, lowering his hand from the back of his neck and glances towards Yaling and BaiBai and he chuckles nervously. "I mean. It's not that I don't want to hear more, I just... what's your name, and what's your story outside of this whole... Great Work thing?"

Kyouka Inai has posed:
    Corona seats herself back down on the edge of the platform, her tail curling around her in a very feline-like mannerism despite appearing so canine-line in other respects. "It is more... complicated than that." She says to Yaling when the girl mentions 'keeping the forces of darkness at bay'. "We believe that equilibrium is the key- light and dark in harmony and balance. If either overwhelms the other, the universe will surely stagnate and fail. Our Great Work is to make sure that harmony is maintained- light and dark in equal measure, pushing against either other without one overwhelming the other."

    She tilts her head slightly. "Before you protest too vociferously, allow me to point out that light is not good, and dark is not evil. Though often things align such ways out of sympathetic emotional resonance, the concepts are more esoteric than that. Light is creation, chaos, life and love. Darkness is destruction, but also peace, stillness, and the aspect of the mind. The universe needs both in order to function. Or so we believe."

    She glances to Bow. "The only wish I can grant is one for power and purpose. Though I suspect both of you here are already spoken-for in that regard. It is fine. One does not find a worthy champion without effort."

    She then adds, almost as an afterthought, "My name is Corona. My people are known as the Statera. We work on many worlds, not just Earth. I have been assigned here for the current time."

Yaling Yao has posed:
Yaling doesn't really appreciate that Bow is ignoring the health concerns a Prom could bring, but she will just trying again later when he isn't busy talking with Corona, especially since he brought up something that interests her. "What is wrong with fulfilling wishes?" Yaling turns to Bow. "BaiBai has fulfilled my wish, and she has been nothing but kind to me."

BaiBai hisses quietly as her method of pondering on the information Corona has just given here. It's true that even those who often claim to be of light are quite often not so, but is Corona addressing that, or light as an energy? "You find me in agreement that light as a faction tends to mixed with regards to be its members" - she is certainly not forgetting her very own enemy Fuhai any time soon, but she is quite in disagreement when it comes to it as a nature.

"Corona", the snake start addressing the wolf. "If by darkness you mean dark energy, you find me contrary to the thought of it of not being dangerous. Its primary influence unleashes the worst emotions it can, amplifying and warping an individual's tendencies, even to a point they will stop resembling themselves. Now, if you mean light as a faction, I am much more inclined to agreeing, but I just suggest you tread lightly with your mission", BaiBai warns. "You might very well push balance in the wrong direction."

Bow has posed:
"That's a very pragmatic way of looking at things." Bow admits quietly as he sets aside his bow for now, coupling it with the quiver and he just settles his arms around his middle in bit of a self-hug. "It's corruption that makes the difference, no?" he asks Corona.

"I have a friend - she was the beacon of hope and light. But when dark energy took hold, it corrupted the feelings that she had, twisting her into something that she is not. But really... it doesn't have to be just dark energy. One could want to do too much good in the world. Like... try to stop all crime or something. Or someone too dark could try to do the same. Both have the same intent, but doing it in... well. In this case, both really in the same way." A pause. "So this is what Perfuma meant about balance." A soft huff of breath in a heh.

"Power and purpose? Both of mine are borrowed. Leased for... I don't know how long. Where I am from - I had purpose, to serve my home, my Princess and Queen, and to protect them and all from evil. But power? Only my training..." a gesuture out with his hand at the targets.

"Being here has given me an idea of what power is. I never envied it or those that had it back home. I accepted what I am, the regular guy." he admits with a rolling shrug of his shoulders. But Baibai and Yaling seem to have the conversation handled, and he's more than willing to step aside to allow someone more capable handle things. "...I'm sure if there's a need for medical help at the Prom, I can ask for your help." he offers to Yaling. "I'm more hopeful it won't come to that. But, can never be underprepared."

Kyouka Inai has posed:
    Corona shakes her head just a little bit. "I do not refer to Dark Energy, the corrupting source of power which many use to amplify or gain abilities otherwise out of reach. Dark Energy is it's own beast. The Darkness I refer to is the necessary balance to light- natural, needed. It does not corrupt. It merely is. There is some overlap between those attuned to the Dark I speak of and those who use Dark Energy.. Ambition is a quality of the dark, and those attuned with it are prone to making such mistakes. But no. I do not advocate or support the use of Dark Energy. That corruption is as much a problem as a failure of balance."

    She flicks her tail slightly. "My people have pursued this mission for millenia. We do not push the balance. We merely seek to correct anomalies. Earth is but one theater of conflict, and I am but one agent of the Statera. We have many, upon many worlds and across many times. None of that need concern you, I only mention it to point out that my personal actions, though I hope dearly that they will make a difference in the Great Work no matter how small, are unlikely to single-handedly sway the universal equilibrium one way or the other."

    "That said," her ear flicks. "Earth is a particular hotspot of unusual activity. That is why I am here at all, of course. But I suppose if any place is like to have an outsized influence, it would be Earth.."

    To Bow, she says, "The power I may offer is only for the worthy. As I said recently when speaking to another, I am not so much recruiting as... scouting. Only the exceptional may wield the power of the Lux Tenebrae. Were I to choose poorly... well. The results of such a choice still walk amongst you for all to see, more's the pity."

Yaling Yao has posed:
BaiBai nods when she hears Corona rebuke dark energy just as hard as she would. That does make her more amenable to the canine's definition of balance: guessing which angle Corona is going at here, those who push against progress are just as bad as those who cause harm. At least she thinks that's what she is going at here.

And she certainly has had experiences that support that view. Who knows how many more people she could have saved if some people hadn't branded her a demon and her medicinal arts dark sorcery. She would even have a few choice words for the Jade Emperor, that old oaf hoarding prosperity like there is no tomorrow.

"That's good then", she tells Corona. "As long as people are avoiding getting harmed, then we are on the same side here, and I am willing to cooperate with these Statera. Where do they come from anyway?" That is quite valuable information, since the most distance they have covered the more it speak of the strength of these potential allies.

Yaling smiles at Bow. "I hope the same, but you can never be too safe. So, have my number: XXX-XXXXXXX. Don't hesitate in calling me if some problem arises before then! Like with your friend, if she is still suffering aftereffects, I have the remedy for that too. BaiBai and I fight against physical ailments just as much as against stress, anxiety and depression."

Bow has posed:
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to suggest I was looking for said power." A firm shake of Bow's head. "Just... relating my own experience with. As for wishing for it - wishes sometimes come with costs." he points out to Yaling, but his attention if turning back to Corona.

A hand is rubbed slowly over his face, assembling his thoughts on things. "I hope you find your Champion, Corona." he offers up helpfully. Because right now, he's not even sure how long he's going to be on this world. "It sounds as if it's been hard, and if the one from the last time it was tried has been causing trouble -- then I'm sure there are plenty, myself included, that can rally to help you." he promises the creature gently.

To Yaling, he nods. "The social side is probably going to be the bigger thing." he admits. "Yeah, there might be some slips, or someone having a piece of food go down the wrong pipe. But no telling how many people are going to use this as their 'first ever date' and when it pans out to be a terrible idea... well, they'll need some type of support." A brief frown. He'll have to think on that.

Kyouka Inai has posed:
    "Wishes always come with costs." Corona tells bow, primly. "That is balance. You cannot get something without giving something. Every boon has a price. Such is the natural order. But I am glad that you understand."

    She does not smile (her face is not really capable of it), but she inclines her head in a way which seems appreciative as Bow offers to help her if needed. "That is most appreciated. I am sure we are all aware of how much trouble a rogue agent can cause. Perhaps I will take you up on that. For the greater good."

    To Yaling, she says, "Far off. I cannot get more specific then that. A world far removed from here and outside of your concern. My focus is here.. as yours should be."

    She stands. "It is time I be off. Thank you for the conversation, humans. I wish you balance in your lives. Farewell for now." And then she turns and is padding away, leaping nimbly out of sight.