It felt odd, wandering into the biggest city in the state on horseback.
You weren't alone, of course, but there were so many other people in so many other modes of transport. You saw people in carriages, on bicycles, on nothing more than their loafers or Mary Janes. The city truly lived up to its grandiose reputation-- it was hard to walk around it without feeling almost ant-like. You'd followed the river into the city's outskirts, unsure of your exact positioning, noticing a growing number of establishments big and small to your left as you carried on, unable to ignore how even the smallest buildings were nearly thrice your height.
Each and every one of the city's citizens seemed indistinguishable from the other, a mass of flat hats and blazers and short dresses and dusters, going about their days in a rush to get someplace you couldn't fathom. Those that weren't on the streets could be heard shouting from rooftops, arguing with family, laying out laundry on their windowsills or chowing down on early dinners. People were scattered across every level of the city, sneering and cheering and jeering and all. Drunkards littered the few bars around these parts, beggars blending in seamlessly among them (until you got too close, of course), children ran through the crowd trying to escape their doting mothers, miners complained of their rowdiness while hauling wheelbarrows of lumber and ores down the street.
Even the river itself was congested with steamers, trowlers, ships of all kind carrying cargo, people, animals, more. Smoke and steam and all kinds of vapors escaped their chimneys while they chugged along the bank spraying water behind them and at any man so unfortunate as to be on the river's shore.
While your group said nothing, the city spoke for you.
Not a block could be passed without at least one building torn, burnt, wrecked or scarred. The city streets were dirty, covered in rubbish and debris, some even stacked with piles of broken wood or stone that passerby would step over like they were nothing. Some of the larger piles almost stood as tall as the people that had to walk around them. Almost every street had a construction or clean-up crew, numbering nearly as many as the plethora of state militia standing guard and greeting people on their morning commutes. The sky itself almost seemed dirty, cluttered with billowing clouds of smoke and the very few neofauna and birds that not even the most accurate rifle seemed to be able to shoot.
The sight was somewhat unsettling... but you moved past that, eager to focus instead on what this city could finally offer you.
You trotted into town without harassment. Steele's permanent smile was met with many more as he tipped his hat towards anyone that cared to look at him and his mole. Your own neofauna gladly rode upon or beside you, their presence unmolested and their moods chipper, Taylor fast asleep on your shoulders while Mary and Florian gladly trotted along by your side.
