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An entire section of one floor of the Bellevue Hotel in Philly's Center City is secured from normal hotel guests, and there are a handful of rooms available to be used by Kindred who need them, both residents of the city and visitors alike, as well as some offices that prominent members of the city's loose government use as points of contact for anything they might be needed for.
When Atalo reached out to set up time to speak with Shiri as the head of his clan, they set up a time for him to meet at their office, which is where they are now. The office door is ajar, and Shiri is sitting in their powered wheelchair inside. They're a few feet from the door that leads from the office into a small private room beyond, like they'd come out of it and stopped where they were to wait, and they look busy on their phone in the meantime.
Atalo's presence is quiet and withdrawn when he approaches the door, a hand knocking on it lightly. (Face in the Crowd active). He's wearing a simple pair of dark trousers and white shirt, waiting quietly for the clan head's response. A dog is at his heels, the ghouled Cerberus, who carries the same ability to be go unnoticed by most eyes.
Shiri looks up at the knock, and then they smile and say, "come in. Close the door if you think you'd prefer not to have anyone passing by overhear what we're talking about." They lower their phone, then use their chair's controls to move it over toward where there are a couple of large, comfortable looking arm chairs. "Feel free to have a seat, too," they say with a gesture toward them. "How have you been doing? How's the shop?"
They have undoubtedly come by to see it before, because they're the sort of person who takes an interest, and doesn't just ask to be polite.
Atalo nods with a light smile, moving in with Cerberus following after. Closing the door, he leads the ghoul over to the chairs, sitting in one to face Shiri, with Cerberus lying at his feet. "Thank you." He nods. "I've been well, and working on better socialisation. And the shop does well. I've been, mm, persuaded, to make use of more modern systems. That was tied to something I wanted to speak to you about. But, I should ask how you are too. I know from a friend the show at the weekend had complications."
Shiri smiles at Cerberus, but most of their attention remains for Atalo. "I got the gallery's systems all updated to more modern ones a few years ago," they say. "Actually, that may have been almost a decade now. Huh, the time just disappears. Maybe it's time to have someone come take a look at them again." They seem to be making some mental notes to talk to some of their people. "I hope you weren't persuaded by some disaster or another, and just by a reminder of the changing times?"
Then they nod and say, "it ended up going better than I feared it might at one point. I thought I might end up on the phone with Ejaita before the night was through." That would be Ejaita Okorafor, one of the two Kindred who runs the most prominent law firm among the city's vampires. It's not the sort of city where everyone feels like they have to be on a last-name-only basis with everyone else. "And Esme was being Esme," they add with a quiet laugh. Esme Chevrette, the Ventrue clan head. "They decided to reschedule the show, so we'll see how it goes the next time around."
He shakes his head. "No major disaster, I feel, no. But, is the name Maercstapa one you might know? He suggested he'd met the Sakima, knew of us, and was part of another group who couldn't be considered entirely human." His mouth firms. "I had concerns." A slight nod. "And, mm, I did spend time talking to a human who was there. She said it nearly got violent, but it subsided. Those were our efforts?" He smiles slightly. "I may try being more involved next time. I've hidden away for a little too long."
Shiri's brows furrow slightly in thought, and then they pick up their phone to go searching through some notes. "I don't know him," they say. "Ah, Sakima did mention she was talking to someone from among the Changelings about security issues when we met the other day." They glance up, letting the phone lower as they do. "I've never had any dealings with their society personally, at least not that I know of. Do you think this might be the same person?" They smile then and say, "ah, no, actually, I suspect that if anything Esme was making things a bit worse. She can get that way when dealing with authoritarians. That was more the work of some quick thinking folx with bullhorns and the right choice of words, I think."
"Possibly. He was guarded about what group he represented." The Gangrel nods slightly. "He is also extremely determined that I use more technology. I haven't learned enough to know if that's out of earnest concern for me or not, but, I think I will. I'm likely to ask one of us for that, however." A guarded smile. "I've lived for a significant amount of time, but these Changelings aren't something I know." He nods slowly. "Which is good. I'd rather some of the few humans I've learned to know don't die pointlessly. That too, I've been through." He pats Cerberus lightly. "Are my skills in need? I do retain the ability to go unseen, to hear what our furred and feathered friends have to say, and to survive most things sort of fire or sun."
Shiri spends a few moments making notes on their phone while listening to Atalo, then looks up and nods. "Well, it does help to keep up with the times. There can be a point where if you don't, people start to take notice. I suspect that if one of us looked old, we could probably get away with more, but eventually we all have to get with the times, or get very good at passing ourselves off as... quirky, but harmless" They set their phone down again. "I don't know much of anything about the Changelings. Sakima doesn't seem worried, so I'm not sweating it. If you think there's something to be worried about you can call on her, though. Or I can ask on your behalf. We're supposed to meet to talk about something in a couple of days anyway."
He nods to that. "Until something does come up of worry, I'll see no reason to add any. I mostly wished to ensure there was no danger here, which it seems they're not." He smiles. "There was something else I wanted to discuss, as regards the city laws and my own nature. I am curious how much you know about the Hounds of Acteaon."
"If this man's from the same group, then at least Sakima is aware and involved," Shiri says with a little shrug. "That's an unknown at this point, isn't it? If you can find out safely, then try to do so if you'd like. Otherwise, it's probably best to assume that the potential for danger is there, like it always is with groups of supernatural creatures, but that as long as you don't go needlessly poking them with a stick, they won't get fed up and try to bite." Then they smile and say, "I had a Hound in my family at one point, but she left the city at some point. I don't presume to be an expert, though. Would you care to tell me what I should know?"
"Such is the world." He agrees philosophically. "I'll make use of caution." He leans back, tapping the arm of his chair in thought. "A potential person to meet if she ever returns. I'm selective, Shiri, in my feeding habits. I tend to target would be muggers and other undesirables. They're left alive, of course, but their would be victims walk safely, at least for a short time. However, my instincts are such that.." He spreads his hands, Cerberus looking up. "Sometimes I do dedicate hunts to Artemis. And when I do, my quarry don't live. To human eyes, they simply vanish and no trace is left. I am specific in who I hunt. Those who prey on others. However, I'm aware such a thing may cause concern, no matter how cautious I am."
"We're both in the Circle of the Crone," Shiri points out with a smile, although they're wearing a visible Star of David, which is rather unusual for the Acolytes. "As a covenant, we're not generally reluctant to engage in sacrifice for the sake of our beliefs, or to fuel our rites." Indeed, there's plenty of Cruac rituals that only really function that way. "I think that if you exercise diligence and caution in your selections, and so aren't drawing attention, you won't be likely to run into any trouble. Particularly if you make a habit of ensuring the people who disappear in your hunts are... blights upon society, let's say." There's enough in their tone and their body language to suggest that they doesn't really find this kind of sacrifice tasteful personally, but that aside, they're also in the wrong covenant if they're going to actively oppose it.
He nods to that, dipping his head. "Then I'll continue to be cautious, indeed. Thank you for the advice and support." He smiles lightly. "And it's a sad fact that many humans savour bringing harm to others. I may not be the most ideal protector of those who struggle, but.." A light shrug. "All that said, is there a way I can be of aid to you? The city's busy right now, after all."
"Of course," Shiri says with a smile. "Ah, if you want to help, and would like something to hunt less... lethally... I'd love to find out who did the graffiti piece on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. I loved it, and I want to hire them to do a mural for me, but I have no idea who they are."
He nods, standing and gesturing to Cerberus to follow. "Then I'll let you attend to your business. Have a good evening Shiri, and I'll be in touch when I find something of note."
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