Arrival in Gigas

[bravenewmods]

The City of Gigas is unlike anything the people of Union have ever seen before. The city is immense, a sprawling metropolis that covers the land as far as the eye can see. Built up primarily around enormous centralized towers, unlike Union these towers are dark concrete buildings, covered in glass windows. The buildings seem to serve any number of functions, and have a startling variety in construction, style, and even size, creating a unique skyline that is breathtaking to behold. The city is connected with roads of asphalt, upon which whiz smoke-belching steel carriages at frightful speeds, the engines (and piercing, constant horns) creating an ever-present din that engulfs the city in loud, chaotic sound.

“Downtown,” as the Gigans know it, is a huge collection of stores, apartments, and businesses. Apparently, the larger homes are built in Calderan-style but tend to be further from the main commotion of the downtown areas, of which Gigas citizens assure Union citizens that there are several, each with their own district name and culture. The technology is quite advanced as well, full color televisions are standard in every home and built in devices so slim and with such sharp images that they seem decades ahead of Union’s own technology. Pokemon are still quite present in Gigas, many people riding flying types and the buildings having huge perches to accommodate them. As with the vehicles below, however, Gigas seems to regulate air traffic to individual lanes and the birds seem well-trained as they convey their trainers to and fro.

Humans are just that, here, Human. No unusual shapes and sizes like the Enlightened and Earthkin of the Union Alliance, and those displaying unusual traits receive odd looks. Like many civilizations to the east, Battling is a common sport though in this place it’s more like the combat arenas of old. Several stadiums dot the cityscape, the sounds of Pokemon Battles and cheering crowds echoing for blocks all around, and it’s a stadium where humans are not welcome. Unless, of course, they want to make a show and spar against a Pokemon, of course.

This is Gigas, the City of Reclamation. Union civilians have free rein to explore this grand city as councillors are invited into the massive capitol building to negotiate with the Gigan leaders. Gigas civilians, for their part, are polite, friendly even. While many of them are caught in the bustle of their daily lives they regard Union citizens with interest and curiosity, willing to talk about their city, extolling its virtues while complaining about the noise, the crowds, the lines, and the expense all the while. One thing is clear though, the people of Gigas are proud of their city and their accomplishments. This is their home, and they are eager to show it off to the world.

Comments

OOC Questions

[bravenewmods]

[expertonshutters]

OKAY SO TALK TO ME ABOUT GIGAN CURRENCY. How's it work and how much are we getting for our Union Dollas.

Also! For this trip, is there any organized lodgings arranged or is it up to the characters to get their hotels and such figured out.

[soulofmagus]

How long did the trip to Gigas take?

Re: OOC Questions

[guitar_case_vagabond]

So those Pokemon battles at the arena. What are those like? Are we talking generally friendly spirit of competition here or are they something more brutal? (At least to the eyes of somebody from Union or Caldera.)

OTA

[sleepingvalkyrie]

The trip to Gigas was relatively uneventful, as far as Gwendolyn was concerned. While there was certainly undercurrents of concern and legitimate wariness within the group, the welcome at the doorstep to this strange city had been as warm as the local weather: extremely.

While hers was not a direct voice or vote in the Union Alliance council, Gwendolyn had been asked to sit in attendance as a representative of Citadel, a charge she did not take lightly. That means she may turn down offers to explore the city if she's required at one of the meetings, and anyone looking for her will most likely catch her at the hotel looking stiff and formal in her best armor -- one wanted to make an impression, after all. Her swablu and fletchling stay close, small enough to perch on her and stay in her room without requiring too much additional consideration; Gladr the Rapidash plays at being 'merely' a mount (albeit a very swift one), and she'd received ample reassurance that he'd be well taken care of while she stayed at the hotel assigned to the dignitaries.

She does take at least one day out and about, however, trying not to ask questions like 'how can anyone sleep with so much noise' and 'don't you miss having trees?', and admiring the flight paths set around the city.

Re: OTA

[conquerorofwaves]

Sinbad kept himself away from the delegations for various reasons, though he takes his time to explore the city properly, and schmooze with potential business partners... if everything goes well with the meeting.

"Ah! Gwendolyn!" He calls out in greeting as he spotted the young woman, quickly running over. The young man was dressed quite different, jacket and vest, with an ankle-length sarong that covered most of his tail. "How have you been doing?"

OTA! :)

[soulofmagus]

In the few days it took to travel to Gigas, Sophia learned that not only was the desert extremely hot, being a grass type meant she spent most of the travel wilting in the heat. Elhaz the Ivysaur fairs better than she does, making ample use of Synthesis along the way, but to her credit she does her best to drink lots of water, and doesn't pass out with sunstroke! Ymir the Doublade frets the entire time, getting more and more antisocial and aggressive towards pretty much anyone who isn't Sophia the closer they get to Gigas.

That said, all plans of investigating the city and its history and its plethora of high-end technology have to wait while she takes a day to recover once they're in the city. The hotel isn't one of the best --prices here are certainly excessive compared to Union!-- but it's clean and cool, and there are plenty of magazines and pamphlets given by the front desk staff that provide recommendations on places to go and things to see. It's a good time to put heads together, to see where people are going and figure out what to do first.

Once she IS up and about, expect to see Sophia wandering around the city in a wide brimmed sun hat and a lilac sun dress, trying to avoid those whizzy machines, admiring the slick TVs and other technological wonders for sale in stores, and seeking out the best sources of information with her Porygon in tow: libraries and a museum!

And trying her level best to ignore intense feelings of déjà vu every step of the way..

LIBRARIES AND MUSEUMS

[untalented]

[It was a land of technological wonders that he hadn't ever anticipated seeing in his life, and Waver was as taken aback by the sleek looking devices and motorized wagons as anyone else who had just entered the city. Born and raised in Sanctuary, he wasn't unfamiliar with people from Gigas...but nothing could have prepared him for the city itself.

With Orpheus the Foongus perched on his shoulder as he wandered around, Waver found himself drawn to the heritage sites-- the museums in particular.

Those strange carriages drew his attention, and he was hoping to learn more about them!]

OTA multiple prompts

[expertonshutters]

1. Various Streets

[Hayato didn't waste too much time around the gates. He the place was huge- he'd glimpsed it on that last excursion that lead to them finding Gigas in the first place but it didn't compare to seeing it this close up. It was credible. It was huge and foreign and he didn't know what he was even looking at. It was like stepping onto another planet.]

[After shaking off that shock and case of sudden cold feet, he tugs his hat down and marches on. He didn't think he had to worry about showing his face here. It was over a year ago and he imagined they'd want to keep something like an escaped experiment on the downlow. So- here went nothing.]

[With Goro, Nikon and Cyclone in tow Hayato can be found window shopping along the shop windows and looking at things here and there. Don't mind him as he starts taking pictures.]

2. Downtown- an Electronics shop

[If you happened to have been investigating an electronics shop, you might have come across Hayato animatedly talking to one of the shop keepers about cameras. Apparently both of them had been very interested in what each other carried. Hayato, for just how crazy looking these fancy Gigan cameras were. And the shopkeeper had spotted Hayato's absolutely fascinated by the retro design.]

That color is absolutely incredible! It's like looking out of a window. How did you achieve something like that? I've only gotten a few faded results.

[...]

Digital? What's that mean?

[Oh boy. Anyway, come pester him sometimes during or after the conversation? He seems to be in a better mood at least.]

3. Hotel room

[Back at the hotel room, Hayato sits on his designated sleep area (Which may just be a corner of the bed depending on how many people wound up staying in this room) He has a small collection of things in front of him and he's looking at them in some mild dismay.]

Don't look at me like that Nikon. Everything is way more expensive here than back home. I'm running out faster than I expected.

[Aggron! Aggron- gron...]

...Okay. Okay, fine. I might have enough for one treat for each of you but other than that we should be saving for supplies to get home.

[And the pokemon cheer. Sigh.]

2

[soulofmagus]

[ While Union certainly boasts some technological marvels, Gigas puts much of that to shame, and Sophia finds herself gravitating to the electronics district on one shopping trip with Ansuz the Porygon following along behind her. Mostly window shopping, to much private regret, the items here are far too expensive for her modest budget!

Hayato is hard to miss, however - the familiar stands out against the foreign, and Sophia finds one hand covering her mouth as she steps into the shop. She doesn't want to interrupt, particularly when he's looking so animated. And really, what better way to bond with the locals than over technology?

Only when the shopkeeper has to step away briefly to help someone else does she approach, the Porygon pushing ahead of her to click and whir in query at Hayato. ]

Did you find something you like?

OTA of course

[no_love_potions]

Harry had arrived at Gigas separate from much of the rest of the Union Alliance's group, having left later and traveled by a slightly different route than the others. It was necessary. Both to hopefully avoid a little more attention as a lone traveler, and also to put a degree of separation between himself and the diplomatic delegation if things went South with what he was up to in here.

He steered clear of the finer hotels when he arrived later at night, instead picking a sketchy motel in an even sketchier part of town. The kind of place where the guy behind the counter accepted payment in cash and didn't ask questions about the people staying in the place. With his room paid for, Harry crossed the gloomy parking lot until he found the door with his room number on it and stepped inside. He locks the door behind him, pulls the blinds shut and immediately sweeps the room. Unplugs electronics, checks out the bathroom, closets, even under the bed. Mouse sticks close by, sniffing around the room before sitting in the middle with a contented bark.

Finally convinced that the room was as clear as could be, he drops his bag down on the bed, opens it up and... just pulls out a human skull.

"Hey. Rise and shine." He gives the skull a little shake, then another until a pair of ghostly lights ignite in the empty eye sockets. Slowly, Bob the Duskull rises out of the dry white bone and hovers just above his trainer. "We're here and you're up. Don't make any moves, don't cause any trouble. Just get whatever info you can and head back, got it?"

Without a sound the shadowy Pokemon nods and then turns and drifts away, passing straight through one of the walls and vanishing into the darkness.

Okay, time to get some rest. Switching the lights out, Harry checks the outside through the blinds one last time and settles in to get some shut-eye before he gets to work.

Starting from the very next morning, Harry can be found anywhere in the city. Dressed in drab, plain clothes with his eyes masked by a pair of sunglasses and a cap pulled down over his head. He even shaved, just to further deflect notice. He's not paying much attention to the technological wonders around him, though he does seem especially interested in streets and landmarks.

He's casing an entire city here, after all.

[steelbeowulf]

Kyosuke, in his own rotations, has been similarly casing the area. As Harry passes, he gives him a penetrating look, and a faint, barely perceptible nod. If Harry is paying attention, he might notice a Talonflame circling the area, shadowing Kyosuke's movements and also watching Harry with interest.

OTA

[child_of_luv]

Out and about

Minako had gone, of course. She was curious about the area to begin with, and now, with the Elite Four's threats still hanging in her memory, she wanted to see how the people of Gigas felt about what was happening.

However, a lot of that flew of her mind initially as she marveled at the technology around her. In fact, the entire first day of their stay, she spent more time looking at everything around them and poking at things and asking questions about all the stuff around them. Her awe and curiosity was even enough to temporarily ignore some of the strange looks she got for her shiny skin and hair.

She'd get back to the original plans behind her reason for coming tomorrow.

Looking for a hotel later that night

It had been a surprisingly exhausting day, despite the almost complete lack of productivity on her personal investigation. She was still determined, though, and she knew she'd have to get back to it later. After getting a very modest dinner, she was trying to find a place to stay for their time in the city... anyone want to help her out?

That night

[senpaidol]

Rise should have prepared for this better. It's been quite a while since she had to stay anywhere that wasn't furnished by the Theater or a camping tent, and she had vastly underestimated Gigan hotel prices. As such, she's wandering around on sore feet at the end of the day, determined not to Warp Band her parents or Asemu for some cash even if she could (which she can't, but it's the principle of the thing), when she comes across Minako.

"Hey, Minako! Enjoying your stay here?" she asks, hoping to warm up to the subject of splitting a hotel room quickly.

OTA (it's a date, but what else is new)

[actsmagnificent]

They're regulating the airspace, too.

[ Haruka and Michiru are seated at an outdoor café, waiting for refreshments to arrive; they're already sampling the city's finest fancy little drinks, even if the uh...exhaust...from these mysterious Rotomcycle-like contraptions affects the ambiance somewhat.

Haruka's eyes are currently on the sky, however. The buildings are so tall here. It makes it hard to feel the wind. ]

[incousinswithyou]

[Michiru glances upward, taking a closer look at the lanes of Flying types in the air.]

It's certainly a study in contrasts. [control and chaos, etc.

At least she can't fault their tiny fancy drinks.]

Open

[faithfulflame]

I: Exploring a New World

[The journey to Gigas had been quick and relatively painless, soaring in the sky high above the party on Olympus Mons. She was actually extremely grateful she'd had the forethought to keep one of the modified Pokeballs from the Sanctuary trip as a memento, and was even more grateful that Deimos and Olympus had both insisted on accompanying her. The Gardevoir and her Murkrow counterpart would be fine in the city but Olympus might be a problem, but since they were going into the jaws of the enemy the Pokemon demanded to come.

And once they do land, Rei is quick to slip out into the city to explore with the Murkrow and Gardevoir in tow and Olympus safely stashed. Perhaps more importantly than the pair of Pokemon with her, though, was the fact that she was utilizing her Disguise Ring, a gift from the Magi that made her appear completely different. Better not to be recognized, if at all possible, she figured. And what a change she made, though she left a tell for fellow Unionites in the form of Phobos and Deimos and some much less revealing clothes.

For the most part she's exploring quietly, but outside of an electronics shop she has to stop and gape.]

What...how can it be so thin?

[Or catch her on the street!]

II: In the Hotel

[And come evening, Rei's taken up residence in a moderately priced hotel. Money is hardly an issue, given the sheer wealth of the Hino clan, and she's not about to ignore close friends. Anyone who needs a hotel paid for has one, the young matriarch setting it aside as a business expense. She's done a little bit of talking to suppliers, and if an accord can be struck with Gigas then she'll happily begin importing. Why waste the opportunity?

However, it's work that requires thought, and Rei's sitting cross legged on the luxurious bed, pouring over charts and lists, doing some mental math and seems oblivious to anyone else who might be in the room. Seems, anyway. But...eventually she asks absently:]

What are your impressions of our hosts so far?

I

[no_love_potions]

I'd say magic but I know better.

[Harry's going incognito as well as he steps up beside Rei, though slightly less impressively without a special ring to cover his appearance. He's dressed casually in a simple shirt and a newly-repaired pair of sunglasses. He even shaved away the perpetual stubble to really nail it home. All in all it really helps him blend in well with the crowd of people who he towers head and shoulders above.

Impenetrable disguise.]

Sorry for the delay in checking in. The Warp Bands are jammed and I don't trust this place enough to use their lines.

Open

[demenscantrix]

I: The (Ex)-Commander's New Groove

[Why Nero had come back here, she had no idea. It certainly told High Command something, seeing the name Nero Claudius on the list of travelers, and maybe that was it. Sending a message to the traitors that she was alive and well was one thing she was not opposed to. She was never the sort to want to stab a man in the back, after all.

But that was not what today was all about. Today, she was the greatest and most celebrated woman in the world, returning to the land of her birth. And she was a whirlwind of excited energy, practically bouncing up and down as she zips towards the shopping district.]

Come! There's an amazing shop that you simply must see! And food, so much food!

II: The Fall of the House of Asper

[In the dead of night, Nero slipped away, careful to not be seen. People she was staying with might notice, but she moved with purpose, devoid of her usual airheadedness. This was a task she'd come to do, and come to do silently. A task that only she can do, and one that leads her through winding streets and dark alleys towards a section of the high walls surrounding a highrise. And it's there that even a crafty pursuer will lose her, the nimble Homunculus leaping upwards a story, and then climbing up the spire at an alarming rate. Once she's atop it, there are several long moments, and then a dull wet thud as something slams into the street from high above.

Moments later she reappears and slips back into the night, heading back to her lodging.]

((ooc: Feel free to catch her as she returns to the room, or after the event in prompt II.))

I

[allergictoloveletters]

[Ami looked up and smiled at her patient and slowly developing friend. She tilted her head, having gone to check on her, unsure of how the return would affect the woman, but it seemed she worried for naught.]

Well, I look forward to see it and try it all! What would you recommend? So long as it isn't too spicy I don't mind trying it.

Open

[frozenflame]

I: Growing Things

[Yukiko was interested more in the things that were growing in Gigas more than the electronics and gadgets and gizmos abound. So, she's spending her time in a park, surrounding herself with green and growing things...poking at various plants.]

My goodness! I've never seen this kind of thing before. I'm...not even sure what it is.

II: The Stadium

[Yukiko's life in Union had largely stayed away from these sorts of things...but standing outside the Battle Stadium, she's just staring at it. The roar of the crowd echos down the street, and she's just completely lost, until she sees you, and points.]

What...is this...?

II

[actsmagnificent]

One reason the world was nearly destroyed.

[ This is an uncharacteristically serious statement from Haruka Tenoh, suave, cool star of the Union Divine Theater!

But given the way she's staring up at the stadium with her chin lifted at an exceptionally noble angle, and the twist to her mouth that's almost a smirk, perhaps she's Acting. As a joke. ]

OTA

[crossbowizard]

Ridcully stood out in a crowd. The red robes, pointy hat, bushy beard, and tall staff (with a knob on the end, as is traditional) would make anyone stand out, and Ridcully was a hair over six feet tall and heavily built on top of that. He was practically a landmark. The Union group could have been told to meet under Ridcully if they got lost.

He had a bearing about him that spoke of a general assumption that everyone was aware of him and would make room for him wherever he chose to go. He was a wizard, dammit, and back in Sanctuary, people paid attention to wizards and gave them respect, or at least the wary caution you'd give a wild animal or a lit stick of dynamite. It worked, somewhat. Many people would just quietly step aside as he floated past to see this city. Not everyone did, though. Normally, Ridcully wouldn't have reacted badly to this, but the fact of the matter was there were no wizards in Gigas other than the ones that had just arrived, so the Gigans did not know. They needed a bit of an education in respect. So when a worker unloading a pallet of goods of some kind dropped his load in front of Ridcully's path, he decided he'd break the rules a bit.

Ridcully struck the ground firmly with the end of his staff and amplified his powers enough to lift both the poor worker and his entire pallet of goods up into the air so he could walk sedately beneath them while they drifted helplessly ten feet up in the air. The people around them backed away in alarm. He allowed the man and his goods to return to the ground once he was safely past with only a mild jolt.

He kept his face neutral, but internally he was pleased. Putting that much power into a spell put a real risk at it going haywire and doing something unpredictable, but it had held. A subtle buzz went through the crowd as the rumor spread. Men in pointy hats had strange and terrifying powers. It would be best to step lightly when they are around.

[indy_wannabe]

Ezreal definitely caught that, and is now cracking up in the corner.

OTA

[arachnocide]

To say Kurapika was a country bumpkin compare to the others might be an understatement. He and Pairo were clearly feeling out of their element in the bustling street, if he thought Union was busy - Gigas was even more so.

The young man started to cough as one of the smoke-spewing carriages drove by, chains rattling, and his Pumpkaboo hovered right behind him, rubbing his back until the coughing fit passes. A couple passerbys laughed, while an elderly lady helpfully offered Kurapika a cough drop before going on about her way.

"What on earth is that thing?"

[magicquotes]

Magnolia himself is a bit of a country bumpkin, truth be told. He stays away from most human development - by choice. He doesn't like humans all that much, but he's quite unimpressed by this hulking city with its bizarre architecture and noisy machinery. (Even if he can't hear things as well as others can, he can feel the vibrations juddering through his body well enough.)

"It appears to be a method of transport they use here," he says, hands behind his back in the manner of a teacher. "Apart from that? I know nothing, but it does seem rather messy and noisy."

Almond adjusts their grip on his shoulder and caws in agreement. The Kabuto on Magnolia's head wriggles a little, but seems to offer no opinion on the strange machinery.
He seems pretty...disdainful, to be honest.

OTA

[divine_braid]

Around town

Duo was in his element. All this tech... all this stuff... things he could reverse engineer if he could bring it home! He had some money with him, but the exchange rate wasn't great, and he knew he was going to have to spend wisely. Luckily, because he was an Engineer, he could figure out what the best buys were, even without being intimate with the technology in question.

He did get a few things, though, and could be found wandering about, looking at everything else now that he'd spent what he could on stuff.

OTA

[indy_wannabe]

Ezreal had spent a good part of the morning exploring the city. This afternoon after a light lunch that he spent most of bitching about the price of goods in Gigas finds him in an interesting place indeed. Known as an "arcade", one is able to exchange coins in order to play "video games", games that connect to a television. He stares in rapt attention, his nimble fingers moving across the joystick as a cartoonishly evil Calderan caricature beats the hell out of a rather proper "holy knight"-esque Gigan soldier.

[rememberher]

The first part of her day was filled with long meetings with Gigan diplomats, and while the experience was interesting, it was also similar enough to goings-on in Union that the latter half bored her. Wandering during her free period, she found a familiar blond, Lux creeped up behind him, peering over his shoulder. "What are you watching? What is that?"

[steelbeowulf]

Kyosuke had spent much of his morning exploring the city. He had gotten into more than a few staring matches with local Gigas police, but ultimately, no trouble was had, and most of the Gigan citizens didn't really seem to pay him much mind, as busy as they were with their own affairs.

As such, Kyosuke could now be found getting a quick lunch in a local cafe, chewing thoughtfully. The food, at least, was good. A subtle nod of approval was given to the chef. They deserved at least that much.

[platinumlucifer]

For the most part, their patrols didn't sync up. This was intentional; as Calderans, they were naturally on-guard here within enemy lines. However, breaks were necessary, and while she would have liked to have coordinated a lunch date with Kyosuke, their Warp Bands didn't work. Thankfully, fate would be on their side.

"Kyosuke!" Finding him sitting there, the blond draped herself over his back, likely during mid-bite. What a pleasant surprise! "I didn't know you were gonna be at this place too! Lucky me!"

OTA

[taudriver]

Sanae and Takuto spent the morning excitedly exploring the city. Silly grins and star-shaped dough covered in sugar abounded as they happily bounced from place to place, seeing the sights, talking to the people, and being adorable stupid tourists.

[miracle_miko]

Her arm hooked around his, Sanae took a big bite of the strange, deep-fried dough dessert, sighing contently. This place was interesting, there was so much to take in! Hopefully Gigas and Union could get along, so they could visit more often.

She should probably be on her guard, but details.

double-posting, whoops....passengers wanted!!

[actsmagnificent]

Yo, Skitty.

[ The car saleswoman starts when she sees this new customer, whose foreign attire is the only clue "he" isn't a native, to judge from his easy confidence. The customer nods at the most recent, slickest model of automobile on display. ] Mind if I take one for a spin?

[ This grin is blinding. You can probably hear the crooning music even from all the way across the street..... ]

[incousinswithyou]

[Michiru's next to you, looking quite amused at something. Still, it's difficult to see how the saleswoman can resist the full force of their smiles.]

OTA

[guitar_case_vagabond]

I
Getting roped into this trip over to Gigas wasn't exactly in Ryuko's plans, she'd had no real interest in visiting the so-called City of Reclamation. However, as it turned out, her job had different ideas. Ryuko had ended up appointed to a small squad of the Swords to accompany the delegation to Gigas, as a little extra security.

While on duty, Ryuko can be around anywhere. Standing with her arms folded outside of a meeting and glaring angry daggers at any Gigas troops stuck with the same duty, or around one of the hotels housing the Union officials during one of the many painfully boring guard duty shifts she'd pulled. Or maybe she's even out on the streets with some VIP from Union or another, watching their back or maybe, just maybe, being stuck carrying their shopping bags.

II
Fortunately, all dull things must come to an end eventually and Ryuko does have a little off-time to enjoy. She's all too happy to ditch the stuffy uniform for her more comfortable street clothes, but having to leave her weapon behind while not on official business is a bit of a pain, but she can go along with the rules for awhile if she absolutely has to.

She's out and about the streets on her day off, Skullface carried along on one arm and clinging to her trainer even while she takes in the sights herself with rapt fascination. Ryuko herself doesn't seem all that taken with the sights at least until she sees... something.

It's kind of like the motorized carriages, at least as far as having the same smoke-belching rumbling engine but different. Smaller, sleeker, two wheels, a sight and a pair of bars for steering. Like some kind of... motorized... bike.

She stops where she is, watching the vehicle rumble by with wide eyes and the expression on her face could be what some would call love at first sight.

"Cool...."

2

[magicquotes]

Magnolia is wandering as usual (he seems to be just Around with no set purpose, drifting here and there and making his own entertainment), but he'd have to be much less observant than he currently is to not notice Ryuko making googly eyes at one of the many devices within this city.

He smiles a little, in some amusement. Ah, youth. As luck would have it, a brochure of some kind had been pressed on him a little while ago, and the gleaming thing currently trundling away down the street looks an awful lot like the picture on the pamphlet.

He holds it out to Ryuko, tapping her gently on the shoulder with his staff to catch her attention instead of using his words.

"I believe you should hold onto this. You'd certainly make better use of it than I can."

It's an advertising brochure all about the newest models of these motorized bikes, written in an appropriately bombastic fashion. Details on how fast it can go and what designs there are available (as well as paintjobs, apparently) are included within.

OTA

[senpaidol]

In spite of her caution about Gigas and everything it represents, Rise is fully intending to gawk at the place for at least a solid day before getting down to business. Every city she'd seen had its own unique qualities, but she's completely perplexed by how Gigas is so similar to Union and so utterly, utterly different at the same time. She's Normal-type enough not to get any stares beyond the same occasional overly-attentive men she gets in Union, and she puts that to full use gawking at televisions and automobiles and chattering animatedly with whatever locals seemed less busy about what life is like in their city.

Of course, she's not spending the entire time playing tourist - it's not exactly a cover, but she does hope it distracts from the fact that she's pacing around, mapping out streets with Himiko's help, making friends with any locals that seem amenable to new people, and generally creating a presence in town that might help if, say, she needs to leave quickly and can't. Her Gardevoir is also helping by psychically chatting with any Pokémon who seem to have time, an increasingly dour slant to her eyes as she does so. Service is all well and good, but...

Both of them stay away from the Pokémon arenas. They want no part of that in Union, let alone this place.

[actsmagnificent]

That isn't suspicious.

[ Someone has caught you in the act of working on your map, Rise!

Oh wait, it's just some jerk. Er. Your boss. Whoever. ]

OTA

[ofpromisedvictory]

Saber, for reasons that should be obvious even if you're not aware of her misadventures around the border (or Nero's personal issues, for that matter), is moderately uncomfortable in the crowds of the city, especially when observing the neat, regimented behavior of the Pokémon. For all that she believes in discipline, she did grow up with Wild Pokémon, and is still one herself in a technical sense.

The mild staring she can shrug off, though, and it becomes less and less obvious as she makes her way toward one of the arenas. Always a fan of a good fight, she assumes that any battle Gigas holds up as a spectacle will be intense and no-holds-barred. Although, as it turns out, most of them still ban her Garchomp. Either way, she wants to get a look at the fiercer side of the city more than their crowds and rules and electronic toys.

[smitesevil]

Sanger was interested in the arenas here himself, because he's Sanger Zonvolt so of course he is, but anticipation turned to slight disappointment when he found out that battles were frequently six-on-six, and didn't recognise Trainers as fighters in their own right.

He doesn't have six Pokemon, and what's the point if he can't join in?

Still, that doesn't mean he can't be here to watch, and so he is.

"Saber." He greets the member of the audience he recognises, leaning against a wall and watching the battles in the arena below with his arms crossed over his chest. Bitter? Him? Not at all.

OTA

[lunchleader]

I - Ooooo Shiny...

Right hadn't expected Gigas to be so...so bright. Or at least, that seems to be the kind of aura the city was trying to give off. Everything seems so shiny and new and wow, what does this do?? Thus, one can easily find the Fairy-type guy seemingly wandering around at random, poking around this shop and that entertainment area.

"Whoooahhh...hey, what does this thing do?" Considering the growling warnings from his Lucario, it does seem that he shouldn't be reaching out to poke or press...whatever it is. Come stop him?


II - A Dulling Gleam

But it's not all fun and games. Right knows that he's here for a really important reason. Not one that should be broadcasted, of course. But that's not why he's looking thoughtfully and a bit confused as he pauses to get himself and his three Pokemon friends a bite to eat. If one catches him near a food cart, he'll be people watching with an confused look on his face, muttering to his Lucario, "...still kinda weird seeing only Normal-type humans, though..."

Or instead, he could be seen at one of the more formal restaurants, arguing to get in. It's not that it doesn't look fancy enough for him to get into - people dressed as casually as he does seem to be able to get in just fine. But if one steps close enough, they'll be able to pick up something along the following: "Look, there's nothing wrong with Softy or Wagon, or even Tamago! They're all well-behaved when it comes to meals - especially Wagon! ...Pokeballs? Why in the Gods' names would I put them in--"

...come help him?

II

[actsmagnificent]

Is there a problem?

[ She had meant to pass this scene by. She had passed this scene by, in fact, with a dismissive snort and a deliberate averting of her eyes. If Right wants to cause an international incident over his ideals, that's on his head, not Haruka's. She knows better than to argue with their hosts on their home turf. Especially when they're going to be doing surreptitious maneuvers later.

But it started bothering her. If Right gets in trouble, he doesn't have anyone but the Theater to bail him out. And she's his Captain. That makes him her responsibility.

She's perfectly calm when she interrupts the scene in the making, as a counterpoint to Right's hotheadedness. But from the tilt of her chin as she looks down on both the Gigans and Right, she isn't impressed. In general. ]

OTA

[rulayracing]

A: Making My Way Downtown

[Despite personal reasons to dislike everything Gigas, Mikleo doesn't let that stop him from learning more about them. He'll just have to be careful on saying where he's from and if anything related to family comes up. At least his looks don't stand out as anything other than a 'normal-looking' foreigner. It makes wandering the streets a lot easier without people throwing him odd looks.

He's simply window-shopping right now, lingering a little every now and then as something catches his eye. Mikleo lingers the longest at the shops displaying cameras. The prices make him wince, but the quality is amazing. It's very easy to see that these will have amazing uses while exploring ruins, if only to Mikleo. He shakes his head.]

It's a shame I can't justify spending that much.

[Mikleo mutters that to himself with a sigh. Oh, well.]

B: B Is For Bookstore, That's Good Enough For Me

[Eventually, he finds a bookstore. Mikleo is much more relaxed and comfortable in this setting, and it doesn't take him long at all to find the nonfiction section. Fiction is great, but right now he wants to take a look at the history books. Maybe he'll pick something up for his best friend while he's here, though.

Mikleo will either be browsing through the history or anthropology sections, or he'll be picking up one such book and flipping through it with a small frown.]

C: Choose Your Destiny!

[Want to cause shenanigans that aren't listed above? Step right up!]

[expertonshutters]

[Did someone say cameras? There may have been another guy standing a few feet away from the same display. He's looking at it very carefully before he leans away and looks at Mikleo.]

[The man himself is dressed subtly in Union clothing but with a Calderan flare here or there. He does appear to be earthkin judging by the bright red eyes and dark marks on the skin under them.]

The exchange rate is pretty outrageous and I'm pretty willing to call Taurosshit on it, honestly.

[But he might just be bitter for more reasons than most.]