i have these recurring dreams about a mall. it's similar to my local mall but much bigger and extremely different in layout. I seem to find new locations every time i dream about it, and i just wanted to put it into words so i don't forget.
It feels liminal despite being full of people. the people themselves are always in my peripheral vision, like blurry shadows that seem to disappear when i get close, or stay if they're impeding my progress somehow. sometimes i speak to them, but i never remember what exactly they say.
the whole style of the mall appears to be similar to the actual mall i go to. mostly white and beige, tiled floor, and glass ceilings to let the light in on the upper floors.
some key locations are:
- the 2 floor gaming store:
a shop with a red and white colour scheme that sells mostly xbox 360 games and accessories, with a dark bottom floor i don't recall ever going to.
- the giant arcade:
bigger than the arcade in my actual local mall (which is pretty big). large entrance with glass windows spanning almost the whole arcade. often extremely dark, a cafeteria type area on the far left side, crane and prize games on the right. in the middle is assorted skill based or leisure games like basketball, and some other weird unknowable games only understandable in a dream. this arcade always features at least 1 version of DDR, usually multiple machines.
i am almost always much worse at DDR in this arcade than i am when i'm awake. crane machines once had moomin merchandise inside.
one time it was closed and the whole place was pitch black save for a few spotlights.
- the clothing store:
a store that sells clothes. brightly lit with high ceilings and a black and white mid 2000s chic look to the logo and walls, whatever my brain thinks that means. thin black lines and flower designs. sells makeup stuff, clothes, and sometimes giant stuffed animals. has an escalator going to an upper floor
- The ice cream shop:
an ice cream shop. darkly lit with a mostly red colour scheme, sells ice cream and milkshakes too, although i have never been able to acquire anything from this store due to lack of funds.
- The window:
the back entrance of the mall, always brightly lit with sunlight coming into the mall through the window. i think there's a pretzel shop around here somewhere, but i can't find it. banks and other back of the mall places live here. the exit leads to a car park. the car park has no cars parked. reminds me of an airport.
- The platform:
somewhere in the middle of the mall. a circular platform one can walk on on the second floor. tiny escalators allow access from the main mall floor to the platform. there are no railings to stop you from falling through to the bottom floor. very unstable. it shifts under your weight.
Key characters:
the gaming store guy:
works at the 2 floor gaming store, very friendly and lets me look around even if i'm not buying anything. offered to show me the lower floor. i can't remember if i went down there or not.
the ice cream shop worker:
works at the ice cream shop. a stickler for dream rules as evidenced by my inability to buy ice cream with insufficient funds.
the pursuer:
i don't know who this man is. in my most recent dream he stalked me through the mall. i don't recall anything becoming of it but it made me uneasy.
the guy on the DDR machine who just won't leave:
actually this is more like multiple people, but in my mall dreams that have featured DDR, more than once has there been someone playing on the machine making me unable to play myself. when i do get a chance to play, the Dream Anti-Gravity™ kicks in and i suck at the game.
I really like my mall dreams. Would probably make a good game.
This masterful piece was originally posted by DA user Robaato, who's exiled himself from the Internet after controversy (I am unfortunatley lacking in details on it).
I DON'T OWN THIS ART. But I feel that it's important to preserve what art we can of deactivated accounts. And if he were still around, I'd ask for his permission first.
And lastly, though I don't know the details, I'm not posting this in support of him; I am only preserving an art piece I think is worth preserving.