The work alluded to was not, in fact, "a painting." It was a lithograph, Escher's "Relativity." A similar work, his "Ascending and Descending," is perhaps better known for its odd stairs although that work doesn't feature prominent archways as well.

"Lithography is a planographic printing technique, which means the matrix is flat, not raised (as with relief printing) or incised (as with intaglio printing). ... Escher only took up lithography seriously in 1929 but it quickly became one of his preferred printmaking techniques as it allowed him to make very tonal prints."
(www DOT ngv DOT vic DOT gov DOT au SLASH custom SLASH screens SLASH escher-printmaking SLASH lithography DOT html)

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The Escher Room was just like the painting, stairs and archways leading everywhere and nowhere.
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FWIW, I was exposed to Esher's works in a great book of scientific philosophy called "Gödel, Escher, Bach: an Eternal Golden Braid" by Douglas Hofstadter. It's a large format paperback that I would highly recommend - particularly to anyone with interests in mathmatics, computer science, Information theory and related engineering disciplines (and, of course, in music for the Bach parts - although I tended to zone out for those sections myself). ;-)

The title references are (of course) to the mathematician Kurt Gödel (1906-1978), the artist M. C. Esher (1898-1972) and the composer Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750). One wouldn't normally consider them together, yet Hofstadter brings their work together brilliantly and shows the value of each to modern Information Theory.

You usually don't manage to let things slip so, oh the odd typos and grammatical gaffs once in a while, but contradictory significant details? Not so much. If I'm missing something I apologize, but it just reads as odd to me.

In your Language of Flowers description in this chapter, Sarah claimed she had to "look it up" and then came up with two utterly different sets of meanings for yellow roses (in addition to listing the meanings of several other colors), begging the question to my mind of whether the faulty research was Sarah's or GF's. ;-)

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Dear Jareth,

Do you know the meaning of roses? What am I saying! Of course you would. Subtlety is your middle name. Me? I had to look it up.

According the references online: light pink — admiration and sympathy; YELLOW — JOY AND GLADNESS; orange — enthusiasm and desire; red and yellow — gaiety and joviality; and lastly YELLOW — SOCIABILITY AND FRIENDSHIP.
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*wipes her eyes chuckling* My dear, I absolutely LOVE how you sprinkled humor throughout this. Politics, romance, drama, humor, angst this story had it all! Well done!

The cringe inducing acrimony so common to many J/S stories was nowhere evident, replaced by mutual respect throughout their various tribulations. The result was the natural deepening of trust between the two. I was allowed to revel in the true romance woven into this beautiful love story of Jareth and Sarah as it evolved. Thank you for this experience. It is most appreciated.

Nice going on this story.

how could the "i wanna hug you... squeeze you and pop your little head off... (The Animaniacs...)
The need stop the "slow burn to roaring fire"... or the hurt and confusion drives her away?
EITHER WAY it is ... perfect

a flippin beautiful man.
a quest that MATTERS (not ssdd!)
soul mates.
High Elves
Goblins
MaGiC
laughter
Harry Potter and Jerith.
Truth. Honor. Respect. Love Soul Deep
One Tin Soldier
THERE ARE NO WORDS
all i could ask for
iN the epic new worlds
i have BEEN introduced to this day
THANK YOU FOR...
HANDS DOWN SOME OF THE BEST BOOKS I HAVE ever READ

Several of your comments in the past few stories remind me of things my husband has said about me...something more interesting came along and distracted me... I can understand some of your problems with finishing a story...sort of like parenthood...hehehe

Maybe you should send those who flame your works to the Labyrinth. It would help you with your feelings. I have not found any of your stories to bee in need of flaming... Even the sad ones are are not bad, only sad and even they have merit. On to the last chapter of this story and then I go back to find the unfinished story and read it to help encourage you to finish... Smile now and to bed, if you are like myself and up late...

My Dear Genkaifan,
I wish to nominate you for teacher to create romantic future husbands...that idea of your boyfriend/future husband laying on the picnic blanket with his head in your lap...mmmmmm how romantic...wish mine did such things...you have such wonderful ideas...
On to the next chapter...

Absolutely brilliant!

Ohhh, you have brought me to tears! Thank you SO much!

The trick is to give us just enough for our imaginations to work with and you do so!

I would give you a hug, hugs are an affirmation of self worth. I am loving this story and very appreciative of you for sharing your talent, thank you.

I'm sorry, I was enjoying the story so much and trying to hurry to the next page, please take it as a compliment!