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

[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!"

[steelbeowulf]

Kyosuke smiled indulgently, holding out a small bag of sweet hard candies in a clear plastic bag and tied with a ribbon.

[platinumlucifer]

Oh, you spoil her, Kyosuke. Excellen squealed with glee, taking the gift and giving him a peck on the cheek. "Where did you get these?"

[steelbeowulf]

"A small sweet shop down a corner road. They had a lot of interesting things I thought you might like."

[platinumlucifer]

That smile went straight to her head, making her feel weak at the knees. It wasn't fair, really. Pulling up a chair, she set the bag of sweets on the table before sitting down, grinning. "You're not about to leave, right? You look like you're almost done."

[steelbeowulf]

"I suppose I can stick around. Did you want anything here?"

[flying_chains]

Morgiana had mixed feelings about being here. Most of her memories of living in Gigas were bad ones, and she had done her best to put them behind her and build her new life in Union. But fate has tricky ways, and now she had come back willingly.

She recognized Kyosuke from earlier conversations. He was from Caldera, right? Maybe he'd sympathize.

"It's strange, isn't it? Actually being here."

[steelbeowulf]

"I truly thought I would only see this place if brought in chains. It's... surprisingly... normal?"

He sounds unsure.

[flying_chains]

"They're humans, not monsters. It's only the people in power we have a problem with, isn't it?"

[steelbeowulf]

"More than that..."

He pauses, collecting his thoughts.

"In Caldera, we fought a desperate war, one we were certain we would lose. Here, there are no scars. This is not a populace that feels the sting of war."

[flying_chains]

"I hadn't thought of it like that." She admitted.

"I don't think Gigas has ever felt seriously threatened before since the end of the Old World. I suspect that is why..." Her expression hardened as she watched some government functionary stroll by with a pair of servitors following demurely behind him. No one else on the street seemed to notice them at all.

"...why they allow some things."

[steelbeowulf]

He follows her gaze, his eyes narrowing slightly.

"If you aren't accountable for the sins of the past, why bother changing?"

[windyflower]

As much as Fuuka loved exploring and looking around the city, she has to admit. This was certainly a lot to take in. With so much thrown at her, it felt like she just had to see everything at once.

Which was why she might be wandering out and about looking for a certain cat pokemon. Looks like someone gotten lost exploring the area! Just where in the world is her Meowstic anyway?

[steelbeowulf]

Ah, Miss Yamagishi. Are you visiting this place as well?

[windyflower]

"Oh, Kyosuke, I wasn't expecting to see you here! But yes, I am! Um...are you enjoying your time here?"

And yet, she looked distracted

[steelbeowulf]

"No."

Kyosuke's bluntness has no malice, it is merely a statement of a fact.

"Are you all right? You appear distracted."

[windyflower]

Well, that wasn't something she was expecting! In that moment, she momentarily forgot about her Meowstic and gave him a curious look.

"Um...mind if I ask why?"

[steelbeowulf]

"I am Calderan."

[ofpromisedvictory]

It's probably unsurprising that, as on-her-guard as she feels she needs to be, Kyosuke finds Saber sampling a large plate of the local cuisine without a trace of fear.

Calderan food remains her preference, but she's tucking in nicely when Kyosuke takes a seat nearby anyway. She swallows and gives him a nod. "Staying out of trouble?" she asks, half-joking and half-serious.

[steelbeowulf]

"For now."

With Kyosuke, as usual, it is completely impossible to tell if he is joking or not, especially since it is unclear if he knows HOW to joke.

[ofpromisedvictory]

Saber's working on it herself.

"I'm surprised at how little trouble there's been," she admits. It's a compliment to Kyosuke and everyone else from Caldera, hidden behind a simple observation. "This city isn't what I imagined."

[steelbeowulf]

"Nor I. I'm not sure what I expected, but this wasn't it."

[ofpromisedvictory]

"It's very different from Union in what you find here and how it's laid out, but...I was expecting the people to be opposites, when really they're pretty similar. In slightly more of a hurry, maybe," she admits.

[steelbeowulf]

"The technology aside they do seem to share some traits, yes. They definitely don't seem affected by any of what we are dealing with."