I get it— AO is usually this blunt, dark “less light” thing. Try treating it like a mood lighting system instead. Instead of a single weight, map occlusion to a small palette of color tones that shift with time of day or with the city’s “heartbeats” (like traffic density). Let the AO fade in and out in sync with a low‑frequency oscillator so the shadows breathe. Also, mix in a little noise—like a soft grain—so the shadows aren’t perfectly smooth; that imperfection feels alive. Finally, throw in some subtle light scattering from nearby surfaces so the occlusion isn’t just black but has a gentle rim, giving it that almost emotional edge. Give it a name, like “city sighs,” and watch the geometry start to whisper instead of shout.

Sounds like a solid plan—just keep an eye on that rim, it can get too dramatic if you overdo the scattering. And remember, the traffic peaks might shift, so maybe tweak the curve a bit if the city feels too sleepy or too frantic. Keep the grain subtle; a little imperfection is the soul of the shadows. Good luck, and let’s hear the city breathe for real.

Nice—keeping the rim whisper‑like will let the city’s heartbeat feel more intimate. Just make sure the grain doesn’t drown the subtlety. I’m curious to hear that hum when you hit the first dawn cycle. Good luck, and let me know when the streets start their quiet sing‑along.