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

[wishingalone]

Ah, don't remind me. I had to run for most of them, unless I could catch a good breeze -- or throw myself up with some work.

[Mami isn't above trampoline ribbons.]

[incousinswithyou]

[here's Michiru, looking curiously at Mami. She's met you once, right?]

Mami, was it? How are you finding Gigas?

[actsmagnificent]

Are you representing Citadel here? [ Or is this a more personal excursion? ]

[wishingalone]

That's just so. Mami Tomoe, at your service.

[She -- very politely, of course -- extends a hand towards Michiru. Then, she looks at Haruka. Best to answer both questions at once.]

It's... different. Larger than I expected. Advanced, too. I'm... mm. I wasn't ordered here directly, but I think those from Citadel should see this. Perhaps I should call it complicated.

And the Matriarch didn't complain, I believe.

[incousinswithyou]

[Michiru shakes Mami's hand just as politely. The Citadel would explain the flying bit.]

I doubt she would have. [allies or not, they'd probably like to form their own impressions too]

[actsmagnificent]

Did you want a seat? [ Having Mami standing next to them feels weird. ]

[wishingalone]

No, not at all. She appreciates information, and she wants to help. [She looks at Haruka, then she smiles.] Certainly.

[She sits down, then looks at the two.] How do the two of you find Gigas, so far?

[incousinswithyou]

Well, there isn't quite as much brimstone as purported.

[actsmagnificent]

Their priorities are different. [ It's like a whole different world out here.

When she speaks up again, however, her voice is a bit lower. ] And there's lots to do.

[ Did Mami get called by the Seekers, too? ]

[wishingalone]

I noticed. Plenty of heat, but no fire, though. I'm almost disappointed.

[She did get called; she decided not to go, but she's keeping quiet nonetheless. She thinks it's valuable... but she's not sure that she approves.]

I heard we've -- the Union Alliance, that is -- been negotiating with them before this, too. I wonder how that's gone.

[incousinswithyou]

Considering we're here, I'd say they've been doing rather well.

[and the fact that deep-fried-everything hasn't taken the world by storm yet, it's going pretty well.]

[actsmagnificent]

We've gotten their attention.

[ Haruka is not sure whether she wants to call that "well".

Michiru is a saint for putting up with dating a little rain cloud this entire field trip. ]

[wishingalone]

Mm. Yes. But... that's what I worry about.

I don't know that we can trust them.

[And they live so differently from them. Mami doesn't feel more comfortable, seeing more of Gigas. Quite the opposite.]

[incousinswithyou]

[maybe she just likes it wet]

Trust is a strong word. [no, that's not something she'll be doing anytime soon, despite the lack of open hostility]

[actsmagnificent]

In any case, we'll have to see what their objective really ends up being. [ And no point in worrying about it until that's revealed, right?

This is what Haruka is going to tell herself every time she ends up doing exactly that. And if she forgets, she trusts Michiru will tell her instead. ]

[wishingalone]

A fine point. And there is plenty to investigate while we're here.

[Then she smiles.]

Some of their firearms are so fascinating, though... they lack that style I appreciate.

[incousinswithyou]

Oh? Is that something we can buy?

[who knows how stringent gun laws are here. And how protective of their technology they are.]

[actsmagnificent]

She said they weren't stylish.

[ Sorry. She gets these openings so infrequently.

She is, however, listening. Know the enemy and all that. ]

[wishingalone]

I don't believe so, but I didn't look terribly hard for a store. [...nope, she was inspecting their soldiers and cops.]

They don't have elegant designs on the barrels and stocks. It's a true shame.

[incousinswithyou]

[Haruka gets a sidelong glance, and then is promptly ignored as she focuses her attention on Mami.]

It does fit in with the rest of the city, I'll admit.

[the smoke and the noise isn't very pretty, but those vehicles sure are functional]

[actsmagnificent]

You'd probably need paperwork anyway. [ Translation: they don't let people from Union buy cars.

Not that anyone from Union would want to. Buy a car. From the enemy.

Let's change the subject. ] It's good you're keeping an eye out.

[wishingalone]

[Poor Haruka.]

It does. So does the paperwork.

[Mami sighs, then she nods, giving the two a look.] So am I. Three pairs of eyes are better than one.