Team-building hedge maze adventures

[lark_in_flight]

Cosette has spent rather a lot of time walking the Milliways grounds in recent weeks, either with her father or with her husband. It's no Luxembourg Gardens, but there's a half-wild charm to the grounds all the same, and in any case she'd enjoy walking on the surface of the moon if it were with someone she loved.

So she's strolling along on a gentle path by the lakeside, her hand tucked into Marius's elbow. Her head is tipped against his shoulder, insofar as her bonnet allows.

Is that a squirrel up ahead of them on the path? How sweet, she thinks, and smiles at the little creature.

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[heartbeneathastone]

And of course Marius isn't afraid! Because he is a man! And this is a squirrel.

He's just... slightly perturbed. But that's been his default state since arriving at Milliways anyway.

"Ah, yes!" The squirrel nods and takes a seat. "My name is Aloysius. I live a humble life here, as you can well see! I have no longing for finery, for fuss. But I have been charged with a wicked crime!"

[lark_in_flight]

...

Whatever troubles Cosette was expecting a talking squirrel might have in its life, that was not one of them.

"By whom?" she asks, uncertainly, when it's clear that Aloysius expects a response.

[heartbeneathastone]

"There is a fine hedge maze not far from here, just that way," Aloysius says, gesturing towards one of the little windows. "Its keepers are proud of it-- and rightly so! It is truly a wonder. The hedges grow high and thick and straight-- once inside, it is quite impossible to tell where you or going, or to see any marks of the land outside! And along the path, a row of perfect, lovely trillium flowers! And I am accused of picking them!"

"Is... is that such a terrible crime here?" Marius asks, glancing at Cosette. She knows more about flowers than he does-- perhaps she will look horrified?

"Oh, yes," the squirrel says solemnly. "Once picked, you know, a trillium takes seven years to bloom again."

[lark_in_flight]

Cosette is looking blank. Earnestly sympathetic! But... blank.

She's never heard of trillium. (Because Cosette knows very little of non-European flowers.) Perhaps it's a magic flower? That would make as much sense as anything.

"That's quite a long time!" she agrees, sympathetically. (How long is a squirrel's lifespan, anyway? She has no idea.) "No wonder the gardeners are careful."

How do you ask a stranger, who also happens to be a talking squirrel, whether he in fact committed the crime he's accused of? But he seems such a nice squirrel that surely it must have been an accident if he did. Right?

[heartbeneathastone]

"They are indeed," Aloysius says solemnly. "They keep a very close eye on the entrance and exits to the maze-- and that is how they spied me leaving, and knew, when the flowers were found plucked, that I was the only one who had been inside! But I did not pick them!" he cries. "I would never do such a thing!"

[lark_in_flight]

"Why--"

He seems so earnest, and he's such a sweet squirrel -- he's been nothing but polite and kind and generous, bringing them to his house, giving them tea and cookies -- he can't be lying, can he? He seems so sincere, so indignant. And to be judged a criminal -- even if he did do it, to face that stigma all his days -- and especially if he truly is innocent--

It's that memory that puts an extra warmth in her voice and firms her chin with determination, when she cries, "Why, of course you wouldn't! You've said so and I believe you, M. Aloysius. You've said it and they ought to believe it's so."

She doesn't look at Marius, because -- because, well, she's looking at the squirrel, that's all.

[heartbeneathastone]

Marius, on the other hand, is very definitely looking at Cosette.

"Can anything be done?" he asks.

Aloysius the squirrel sighs. "I would like to prove my innocence! But I cannot think how. There must be some secret entrance to the maze! But if so, I have never seen it, and I am not permitted to return to the scene of this crime."

[lark_in_flight]

Cosette does turn to Marius, now, with a look of uncertain inquiry. It's also, quite unconsciously, a little beseeching.

She doesn't see how they can help. But Marius is so clever, and a trained lawyer too. Surely he must have some kind of notion? At least for something Aloysius can do to help his own situation?

[heartbeneathastone]

"Have you no-- no police, no inspectors, who might investigate this for you?" Marius asks, but Aloysius shakes his head sadly.

"Well-- well--" Marius casts an uncertain glance back at Cosette. "Suppose you showed us where it is? A-- a fresh pair of eyes, you know, perhaps we might-- see something."