It's Not The Streets

It is not the streets which make the city. Nor the buildings, nor the shops, nor the people though you'd find argument there from plenty of them. But it is not any physical construct that makes the city.

It's the smell.

Does the smell manifest as a result of the people, and the buildings, and the sewers and the rats and all the things which infest the city's walls like canned fish? Perhaps. But it isn't the objects that make it a city.

A city is, after all, just a big, crowded, dangerous town. And you've been to towns before. They're nice. A little big, a little roomy, but nice. And they always have that sense of freshness to them.

Have you been to the town of Nvuiche? It's nice. Beautiful architecture. Lovely people. Smells like an autumn meadow. Did you know it has more people, in less space, than this lovely city here?  Yeah, I know.  And when you went, you never once thought to call it a city. Even after taking a ride on their public transportation.

I'm telling you, it's the smell.

So take a big whiff, and fill your lungs with that fetid, corrosive, wonderful odour friends. Because now, you've made it.  Now, you're at the big time.  Now... you're in the city.