<Snipped quote by Magnanimity>

...
*Holds my finger to my chin, keeping my eyes on the road and a hand on the wheel for a few moments before finally speaking*
No. I don't think we do. Maybe just people trying to get past the past their own way.

<Snipped quote by Legend Begins>

*Thinks for a long moment, seemingly on the verge of saying something before deciding against it and looking back out the window*

<Snipped quote by Magnanimity>

*In silence, drives into the city, a strange fusion of rural and mechanical, exposed gears scattered throughout and automated components combined with hand-crafted designs, with slow steam billowing out from various pipes*

<Snipped quote by Legend Begins>

This place is way more steampunk than I pictured based on the castle. This is crazy.

<Snipped quote by Magnanimity>

From what I was told, they held onto steam power for a long time before they discovered new forms of energy. But at that point, steam was so important that they couldn't retrofit their entire town. So now it's a hybrid.

<Snipped quote by Legend Begins>

At least it's clean.

<Snipped quote by Magnanimity>

*Pulls into a small lift that lowers the car deep into the ground with a complex pulley system*
The steam part is. You still have to heat up the water.

<Snipped quote by Legend Begins>

Ah, so maybe things aren't as different as they seem then.

<Snipped quote by Magnanimity>

This car runs on hydrogen batteries. The pipes are to make sure steam-powered accessories work.

<Snipped quote by Legend Begins>

Accessories?

<Snipped quote by Magnanimity>

*Pulls into an underground lot and parks next to another vehicle lined with tubes alongside its outer perimeter*
Accessories like those. All battery cars have steam outports for these.

<Snipped quote by Legend Begins>

Huh. So no, like, radios or anything like that.

<Snipped quote by Magnanimity>

They have radio, but not much else wirelessly.

<Snipped quote by Legend Begins>

Neat. Should show me what kind of music they have here on the way back.

<Snipped quote by Magnanimity>

Sure, we can tune in.
*Taps the pipes on the other car*
Also, these light up.
*Walks toward a set of rectangle cutouts in the bronze wall*

<Snipped quote by Legend Begins>

Ooh, nice.
*Steps out of the car myself*

<Snipped quote by Magnanimity>

*When we reach the inset holes, a small lift moves up on one side and a few moments later another moves down on the other*
Get ready.

<Snipped quote by Legend Begins>

Elevator?

<Snipped quote by Magnanimity>

Yep. Just don't trip.
*The next one slows when it nears our floor and the top of the lift peeks out*

<Snipped quote by Legend Begins>

I’m not that clumsy.