[D0 MA] Running Mazes

[Togashi Yoshiaki]

Yoshiaki had seen a few hedge mazes before but this was certainly much more than any others he had experienced.

He strolled through the maze casually, walking up to a few of the ikebana displays to appreciate the impeccable craftsmanship.

He smiled softly as he walked and enjoyed the feeling of the sun on his arms as he wore a lightweight Vest type top and flowing pants. His pale eyes scanning over the details of the maze.

[Shosuro Hatsuki]

As he walks, he can hear some soft singing before he can see someone else in the garden.

Eventually, a turn of a corner brings him around to a place to sit, where a young woman in a simple red kimono, yet elaborate obi sat. Her clothing bore the marks of the Shosuro family, and her hand was resting lightly at her belly.

[Togashi Yoshiaki]

The Togashi followed the sound and saw the woman seated alone singing.

He had no intention of disturbing her song and watched quietly, though his approach was not overly stealthy.

[Shosuro Hatsuki]

She noticed the newcomer, stopping before the third verse. She rose and bowed, giving him a quick look as she did. No obvious mons... But his lok... kind of stood out. "Good afternoon, Dragon-san. I am Shosuro Hatsuki. I hope I didn't disturb your visit to the maze."

[Asahina Asano]

Asano wanders the hedge maze, being somewhat lost. The birds had NOT been much help, since they didn't know concepts like north or south, left or right. They kept indicating to go west... but it's like they didn't really understand that she couldn't fly and that these hedges were in the way. She kept following them and running into leafy prickly foliage.

Still, she got a clue by the sound of someone singing, followed by the sound of soft voices. She followed them... before running into a dead end, Hatsuki and Yoshiaki hearing the squeak of a young woman from the other side of a hedge next to them, along with the crash and crunch of foliage.

[Togashi Yoshiaki]

She noticed the newcomer, stopping before the third verse. She rose and bowed, giving him a quick look as she did. No obvious mons... But his lok... kind of stood out. "Good afternoon, Dragon-san. I am Shosuro Hatsuki. I hope I didn't disturb your visit to the maze."

Yoshiaki gave her a bow "of course not Shosuro-san, I apologize if I interrupted your relaxation. You do have a lovely voice though." His own voice was soft and smooth it pleasantly played to the ear.

"I am Togashi Yoshiaki. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance. The Scorpion certainly value the arts it seems." He commented idly

Asano wanders the hedge maze, being somewhat lost. The birds had NOT been much help, since they didn't know concepts like north or south, left or right. They kept indicating to go west... but it's like they didn't really understand that she couldn't fly and that these hedges were in the way. She kept following them and running into leafy prickly foliage.

Still, she got a clue by the sound of someone singing, followed by the sound of soft voices. She followed them... before running into a dead end, Hatsuki and Yoshiaki hearing the squeak of a young woman from the other side of a hedge next to them, along with the crash and crunch of foliage.

And then heard a soft crash on the other side of the wall "are you alright?" He didn't quite shout but his voice rose to reach over the hedge.

[Shosuro Hatsuki]

Yoshiaki gave her a bow "of course not Shosuro-san, I apologize if I interrupted your relaxation. You do have a lovely voice though." His own voice was soft and smooth it pleasantly played to the ear.

"I am Togashi Yoshiaki. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance. The Scorpion certainly value the arts it seems." He commented idly

She smiled at that. "Hai, we do. I was just singing to my child. I don't know if they can hear me yet, but still. You didn't interrupt anything too important. Thank you for the compliment, though."

Asano wanders the hedge maze, being somewhat lost. The birds had NOT been much help, since they didn't know concepts like north or south, left or right. They kept indicating to go west... but it's like they didn't really understand that she couldn't fly and that these hedges were in the way. She kept following them and running into leafy prickly foliage.

Still, she got a clue by the sound of someone singing, followed by the sound of soft voices. She followed them... before running into a dead end, Hatsuki and Yoshiaki hearing the squeak of a young woman from the other side of a hedge next to them, along with the crash and crunch of foliage.

She got up and leaned over to try and see where the crashing came from. "Ah, careful, samurai-san. Are you all right? Last time someone messed with a hedge maze, their hair fell out."

[Togashi Yoshiaki]

At her comment of hair falling out he cocked his head to the side "Oh really? That's an interesting Maze indeed. I'll have to be careful, I quite like my hair." The delivery was somewhat deadpan making it difficult to know if he was serious or joking.

[Asahina Asano]

"I-I am quite fond of my hair too."

Seeing the way around, a tallish white-haired Crane maiden emerged from the hedges. There were leaves in her hair and stuck to her robes, but she seemed uninjured.

"I am sorry if I interrupted anything. I've just been lost in this hedgemaze so long now... hearing the voices of people felt like quite the blessing and a possible way out."

[Shosuro Hatsuki]

"Oh no, you didn't interrupt anything. " She said to the strange, bedraggled Asahina.

"Though just put your hand on the right wall and follow it. That'll get you out of any maze, though it takes a little bit."

[Asahina Asano]

"Oh no, you didn't interrupt anything. " She said to the strange, bedraggled Asahina.

"Though just put your hand on the right wall and follow it. That'll get you out of any maze, though it takes a little bit."

Asano blinked before her eyes widened a little, "...is that right? That's... like a magic trick. And you say it somehow always works?"

[Shosuro Hatsuki]

Hatsuki steps over along the hedge and delicately runs her fingers along it, around the dead end where she was originally sitting and back up toward them. "Like this. You just don't let your hand leave the wall to your right, and follow it around every dead end and corner like that. It's very circuitous, but it will get you to the exit every time."

[Asahina Asano]

Asano thought about that deeply, her chin in her hand, watching carefully... then nodded.

"I... see. Then why build a maze in the first place? I already thought I was cheating by listening to the birds."

[Togashi Yoshiaki]

"Sometimes the journey is more important than the destination." He said with a smile to the Asahina "it is not always about solving a puzzle but rather just enjoying a walk. One never knows what they may find in a maze."

[Shosuro Hatsuki]

"It also offers some privacy and interesting alcoves and lighting conditions for art. Plus it can be fun to try and find your way."

Assuming a certain lack of confusion...

[Asahina Asano]

"It also offers some privacy and interesting alcoves and lighting conditions for art. Plus it can be fun to try and find your way."

Assuming a certain lack of confusion...

"Sometimes the journey is more important than the destination." He said with a smile to the Asahina "it is not always about solving a puzzle but rather just enjoying a walk. One never knows what they may find in a maze."

"I came in mostly to challenge mys... okay, no, that's not exactly right. Challenge and curiosity aren't exactly the same thing. Is... that close to what you meant, Dragon-sama? I hadn't even THOUGHT about bringing my painting supplies, unfortunately."

[Togashi Yoshiaki]

"Curiosity is a more than good reason to undertake any endeavor. As is challenging oneself. Many people can approach the same thing for infinitely different reasons. Shosuro-san here sees it for inspiration and privacy, I here for a sense of discovery, and you to challenge yourself. All three very different but none more valid than the other."

[Asahina Asano]

"Curiosity is a more than good reason to undertake any endeavor. As is challenging oneself. Many people can approach the same thing for infinitely different reasons. Shosuro-san here sees it for inspiration and privacy, I here for a sense of discovery, and you to challenge yourself. All three very different but none more valid than the other."

"...I wonder what the people who designed it intended for it though. Would not be the most valid reason?"

[Togashi Yoshiaki]

"I suppose that depends on if you believe intention is more important than interpretation. Much like with art, does what the artist meant to convey hold more meaning than what a viewer draws from it? The answer is a personal one of course but an interesting thought."

[Shosuro Hatsuki]

"I always felt that art was something of a collaborative effort between artist and observer. An artist creates a piece that is filtered through their own vision, which goes through the observers vision and experiences to create a final impression. It's like it isn't finished until it has an outside observer."