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

Re: OTA! :)

[sparrowfeathered]

[Rose is also out and about. For all intents and purposes, the Spearowfeather boss is here to see what exciting financial opportunities await her! But, she's also scouting: looking for any hint of the titular Gigases. Checking defenses. Checking out the city as a place she might need to escape from.]

[She's wearing the red, black, and pink traveling gear -- with her knives crossed, sheathed behind her back. Rose's fingers are on her chin, as she looks up, and considers an alleyway.]

[Then she spots Sophia. She turns and waves at her.]

Hey there! So you came to look at Gigas, too, huh?

[soulofmagus]

[ While aware of the hunting, Sophia had her own thoughts on how to broach the topic of information, and has begun forming plans on how to get just that. While she has a light canvas bag slung over one shoulder (containing two water bottles and some dry snacks for herself and her pokémon), there are no hidden weapons to be hidden, assuming she were the type to slip something beneath the long skirt of her sun dress.

A familiar voice calling does give her pause, however, and she turns at once, taking a moment to recognise Rose. This is then followed by a small smile and a return wave, before she heads on over.

There's a nod, though her voice lowers a little - not that it's likely to carry with the racket from the traffic going on! ]

I am. I wanted to see this place with my own eyes, and to meet its people. The only thing I'd heard about them were stories of their visits to Union.. [and those that visited had hardly been 'ordinary' folk.] You?

[sparrowfeathered]

[The traffic is something. So is the technology; Rose has seen Gigan technology, but just what's in the field. Guns and weapons; the occasional thing a Gigan officer has. This city... well, it's something else. She shakes her head once.]

The Spearowfeathers always have to keep an eye out for markets. But, with a city like this...

[She shrugs.]

...I'm not sure what to even sell them!

[soulofmagus]

They certainly don't seem to lack for anything, do they?

[sparrowfeathered]

They don't. But...

I'm used to seeing more Pokemon out and about. Not... y'know.

[Locked in Pokeballs or treated like pets.]

[soulofmagus]

..I know what you mean.

[lightly, quietly] Do you think the people here could ever imagine a world where such things were never needed?

[sparrowfeathered]

[She shakes her head, and lowers her voice, too. The look on Rose's face is... well, it's disapproving. She's ultimately Calderan, after all.]

...It's hard to imagine. Everything they've got here... why would they want to change?

[soulofmagus]

..I don't think that's the correct question. [her head tilts slightly to one side] How can you know change is possible, if you're not aware that change is an option in the first place?

Perhaps that's what you should focus on with your wares.

[sparrowfeathered]

...Mm. You have a point. Maybe we need to show them that.

But who better than merchants, right? We can bring in some stuff to show how we live out there.

[...Maybe plushies.]

[soulofmagus]

Right.

[Her eyes twinkle] Could always start with those mabo curry buns.

[sparrowfeathered]

You think? That might go over well with them, huh?

[soulofmagus]

I think it won't hurt to try.

Particularly if you can deep fry them.

[sparrowfeathered]

Deep fried?

Oh crap, you mean--is that popular here? I haven't tried much of the food, and-- [She is so making a face.]

[soulofmagus]

It's very popular here.

Apparently deep fried everything was on the menu at the Crescent peace talks. A friend of mine attended, and told me so later.

[sparrowfeathered]

Ew!

I think I shouldn't fry it! They'll thank me later! You can't... live off fried stuff!

[soulofmagus]

I'm sure there are those who'd be willing to try. And it is most certainly likely to be one of the first questions asked. [a beat] But fried isn't the only food they have here, so rest easy there. And given the weather, milky tea may prove a hit, too.

[sparrowfeathered]

Well... that's a relief. And we can definitely do the milky tea. That was a big hit in Union, too.

[And it definitely suits. She didn't expect this kind of weather in Gigas. Or to see how desolate the badlands looked.]

[soulofmagus]

And there you have it, a start.

You'll have to visit Downtown's restaurant district, see what kind of rivals you might be running up against.

[ Make that two of them - coming out of the end of winter and the start of Union's spring, even the brief exposure to the heat of Caldera hadn't prepared Sophia for this. ]

[sparrowfeathered]

That's a good point. I wonder what kinda stuff they have. There's street food and then there's what they sit down to eat.

[She considers for a moment, before she shakes her head.] Have you tried much of the food? Or anything else here?

[soulofmagus]

The prices of everything here mean I usually go for what's cheapest on most menus. [she's not typically stingy, but she doesn't exactly have the deepest of pockets] I've tried both a bit of the fried and regular fare, but none of it's really grabbed me.

[sparrowfeathered]

Yeah, that's what I thought. I haven't had as much as I should, but I gotta budget.

But hey, maybe they'll be ripe for us to sell new stuff! [She pauses.] I'm starting to think about paying you, though, you keep giving me ideas.

[soulofmagus]

The currency exchange certainly works in favour of our hosts.

[and who even decides that sort of thing, anyway? But that would have to be something Rose factored into her prices.]

[that gets a blink, then a smile] I'm just..trying to help. Though if you'd be willing to owe me a favour some time, or should I need something that the Spearowfeathers could get, that'd work as repayment as far as I'm concerned.

[sparrowfeathered]

Yeah, that's been a nightmare on business. I'm gonna need to be careful. We could operate at a loss if we're not.

[But... they can mark their prices up for imports.]

And you're definitely helpful! But help deserves to be rewarded. So, sure, if you need a favor, lemme know.

[soulofmagus]

Do you have a similar mark up in Union, or the other cities?

[a smile. That's a deal, then!] I will. Thank you, Rose.

[sparrowfeathered]

Nah. We do pretty okay there, and the exchange rate's usually not too bad!

[Then she grins back.] Any time, Sophia!