$†-:......                                          ......:-†$
†-:.......                                          .......:-†
-:........                                          ........:-
:.........                                          .........:
..........                                          ..........
.......... a  string  of  pearls,  like a necklace. ..........
..........   glowing in offensive colors. luring.   ..........
..........                                          ..........
..........                 #------#                 ..........
..........          -------= mall =-------          ..........
..........                 #------#                 ..........
:.........                                          .........:
-:........ a few ways to get betrayed:  being  sold ........:-
†-:....... broken items  or mimicry, being recorded .......:-†
$†-:...... (for  what  purpose?), being ascribed  a ......:-†$
§$†-:..... negative value  and getting  kicked out, .....:-†$§
@§$†-:....    or beaten, getting requisitioned to   ....:-†$§@
#@§$†-:... operate  some facet  of the  body (being ...:-†$§@#
##@§$†-:.. cared  for  enough  to  fear losing  its ..:-†$§@##
###@§$†-:. favor, yet  not  enough to  meaningfully .:-†$§@###
##@§$†-:..                 survive)                 ..:-†$§@##
#@§$†-:...                                          ...:-†$§@#
@§$†-:.... evokes the  sense of scavenging, but  it ....:-†$§@
§$†-:..... is a projection and a  mirage - it's all .....:-†$§
$†-:......  controlled and coreographed, presented  ......:-†$
†-:....... like  a  gift,  a  reward  for  nothing. .......:-†
-:........          for being so beautiful.         ........:-
:.........                                          .........:
.......... with that in mind,  is  there  a choice? ..........
..........                                          ..........
.......... it's easy to  grow lazy  with its  ease, ..........
.......... and leave your  network of minor streams ..........
.......... and  animal pools in dissaray, and  with ..........
.......... the  waning of your  secret wells,  your ..........
.......... depencence  on  the  mall   will   grow. ..........
:.........                                          .........:
-:........                                          ........:-
†-:.......                                          .......:-†
$†-:......                                          ......:-†$
§$†-:.....                                          .....:-†$§