The downtown itself was something of a contradiction. The buildings were tall, competently built, and much better designed than those of Seattle. There was a kind of coherence to the look of the city, a kind of totality, with each edifice playing its part. Instead of resembling some kind of architectural dog’s breakfast, the individual structures meshed with one another, creating a sense of unity. Sly found it strange, and wondered if this was how cities were meant to be.