New York Minute (Cameron)

[Deleted]

September 28, 2024

Muffy had left Indiana the week before for New York City—starkly different from where she had grown up but hardly unfamiliar to her because of the sheer number of times that she had visited the city by that point. As large as New York was, there was almost always a guarantee that there would be something of interest to her, and that didn’t mean the usual tourist hotspots. She couldn’t have cared less about which exhibitions were at which museums or where the hottest new restaurant in town was; that wasn’t her style. What was of concern to her was finding out what the other members of the New Salem Philanthropic Society knew and what their latest goals would be.

With time to spare and anticipation for what was sure to be an interesting meeting, Muffy stood outside of the Woolworth Building with her “special” camera. She had always had good luck with her photography in New York, especially Manhattan. That could have been said for any tourist, but her photography was more than just a souvenir; it produced thermal images of magical traces. Hoping that she would be able to find something of importance once the film was developed, she paused and took a snapshot of a young man as he exited the building.

@cameronunderwood

[Deleted]

Cameron was in awe of New York every time he came to America. Of course, London was impressive, and his hometown had his heart. But New York, it kept him speechless. The vast towering skyscrapers. The bustling people. The busy streets. The iconic buildings. It was breathtaking. Of course, London, again, was impressive, but it didn't take his breath away. America was a place he rarely went to, and only went to take care of affairs of the MACUSA, the magical American government. He had to deal with them sometimes when he came to America, because of course, he was a British Auror. What rubbish. He, of course, did it anyways. 

He walked out of the building as he Apparated. He made sure that he wasn't seen, of course, but suddenly a flash of a camera caught him by surprise. He glanced around, dazed for a few moments, before seeing a woman pointing a camera in his direction. His eyes widened in surprise. Had she seen? He suddenly took a deep breath. Of course not, he had to be rational. She most likely got nothing, but he had to make sure. He suddenly walked in the direction of the woman, but did not have his eyes directed at her, and instead in front of him.

words. some words
notes. @muffet

[Deleted]

September 28, 2024

There was something peculiar that happened as the camera flashed. Maybe it was a trick of the light, but it looked to Muffy as though the young man had… materialized there, like some sort of ghost or a figment of her imagination. Had he come through the door? She couldn’t say, and she hoped that her camera had caught what had happened. Maybe her sister Buffy was right for having embraced more modern technology, but nobody would be able to craft a camera like hers with all of the touchscreens in the world.
 
Seeing that the young man was very much a physical entity put Muffy’s mind at ease for a moment. She hadn’t imagined his presence, at least, and maybe he was just momentarily blinded by the flash of the old camera. He walked in her direction, although he did so without making eye contact. If he was angry, that wouldn’t have been the first time that she had gotten that reaction out of a New Yorker…
 
Still, given her Midwestern sensibilities, Muffy quickly apologized. “My apologies. My camera’s a little… finicky,” she spoke, producing a New Salem Philanthropic Society pamphlet from her purse as a sort of peace offering. “Here,” she offered, handing it out in the young man’s direction.

@cameronunderwood

[Deleted]

Cameron stopped as the woman started to apologize. Okay, so it was just a mistake. But that was quickly crushed when he was handed a pamphlet. He fumbled with it as he read it. Oh... that wasn't good. It had plenty of anti-witch and wizard sentiments, and for an Auror, a person who uses magic most of the time, it made him cringe. But of course, he was an Auror. He knew how to handle these situations. He would try to get some answers, while remaining oblivious. 

"What is this?" he asked.  

words. some words
notes. @muffet

[Deleted]

September 28, 2024

“What is this?” To Muffy’s surprise, the young man spoke with an accent that didn’t sound American. Then again, it was New York, so she probably shouldn’t have been shocked. It was a huge city, and people came there from all over the world.
 
Putting that difference aside, though, Muffy kept smiling as she spoke. “I’m a member of the New Salem Philanthropic Society,” she explained to him, motioning to the organization’s name and logo with her index finger as he looked over the pamphlet in confusion. “We’re a charitable organization based here in New York,” she continued. She had given variations on the same speech so many times that she had lost count long before then, and it came naturally to her. “Have you ever seen anything… different?” she questioned him curiously. “Anything that couldn’t be explained?”

@cameronunderwood

[Deleted]

Cameron knew that this was not a charitable organization. There was just something way too rehearsed with her message. As if she said it a thousand times again and again. He wasn't convinced, but he'd play along. "Oh really? Who do you donate to?" he asked. Then he raised an eyebrow, looking oblivious. "Um, no, why?" he looked at her, concerned. He didn't really like lying to people, but it was nessacary,

"But what does, or who does your charity support?" he asked.


words. some words
notes. @muffet

[Deleted]

September 28, 2024

The young man seemed interested—at least to a point. He wasn't eating up her every word, though he asked whom or what the New Salem Philanthropic Society supported. Just as Muffy was prepared to provide him with an answer, he raised an eyebrow about any occurrences out of the ordinary. He questioned why she had asked, and Muffy motioned to the pamphlet again.

"But what does, or who does your charity support?"

"I'm so happy you asked," Muffy started. "It has always been our mission to help those less fortunate than ourselves," she smiled, "particularly underprivileged children." Years and years before, the society had worked very closely with orphans.

"Don't worry. I'm not asking you for any money," Muffy acknowledged. Unless he willingly parted with his cash, she wasn't going to take it. "All that I ask is that you give some consideration to our message."

@cameronunderwood

[Deleted]

Cameron again frowned. Help the less unfortunate? Did she really think he'd believe that? He wasn't an idiot. He had a brain. But he had to keep a blank expression. He needed to make sure this wasn't anything bad. Perhaps he should find out, but all he wanted right now was to scoot himself out of the conversation. He needed to keep the appearance that he had no clue what she was talking about. He didn't like it, but he had to do it. He was sure she wasn't a witch because sometimes he could just tell. He was quiet for several moments. Salem was also the name of the group who burned witches and wizards to the stake in the 1600s, but he hardly took notice of this.

"A charity for children? Oh, you must be very giving to others," he noted. He'd have to look into this, but for now, he'd take her word for it. He then looked down at the pamphlet once more, before looking up at her. "I'll take some consideration," he answered. He knew that there was something wrong with this organization, but he hardly thought that important. He hoped he could walk away before she asked her name. "Well, thank you, I'll be on my way," he began to say.


words. some words
notes. @muffet (perhaps she'll try to stop him for his name)

[Deleted]

September 28, 2024

Muffy watched the young man's facial expressions as she spoke. He didn't seem to be particularly moved to act upon anything that she'd said, though most people tended to walk away by that point. The fact that he was actually listening to her was more than Muffy could say for some of the people she came across.

"A charity for children? Oh, you must be very giving to others," the young man commented. He looked at the pamphlet, which he didn't seem to dismiss entirely. "I'll take some consideration," he told her, before adding, "Well, thank you, I'll be on my way."

"Wait. I'd be happy to send you some more information," Muffy smiled at him. "What's your name?"

@cameronunderwood

[Deleted]

Cameron groaned inwardly. This wasn't good. She had asked him his name. He didn't give his name to anyone as suspicious as her. She was much too suspicious. What exactly was she hiding? He needed to conceal any indication that he was a wizard. He had dawned muggle clothing, but he sometimes already wore Muggle clothing often. So he was just in his normal clothes, he supposed. But when looking at the woman, he realized he hadn't heard her name at all. But perhaps this was for the best. He was trying to figure out if he should tell her or not. Would it screw him in the long run? Most likely, but perhaps she'd tell him her name as a result, and he could find out a little more about what she wasn't telling him.

But while both seemed to be hit or miss, hit being he could learn her name and learn more about her "charity organization", or miss, where he tells her his name and it ends badly. He didn't want to give his information to a total stranger. But he wasn't a very convincing liar unless he tried really hard. "No, I'm good," he finally said. "I can get the information myself," he said, avoiding saying his own name. This was the only way he could see himself getting out of this situation. He trusted people, but the way this woman spoke or how this organization sounded just seemed way to suspicious to trust.

words. some words
notes. @muffet

[Deleted]

September 28, 2024

"No, I'm good," the young man assured her. "I can get the information myself," he said, and he did not give his name.

Unfortunate as it might have been, Muffy had a tendency to forget that other people were slightly more inclined to use technology to find out information than she was. She tried to steer clear of all of that nonsense wherever possible; she had never liked it nor cared to embrace it as others—including her own sister Buffy—had.

Still, it wasn't as though there weren't other people involved in the New Salem Philanthropic Society who were at least capable of sending out electronic mailing lists and whatever else they were capable of doing on the internet anymore. "Are you sure? Do you have an e-mail address?" Muffy pressed on. "It's no trouble."

@cameronunderwood

[Deleted]

Cameron was a bit confused. Did she think he meant the internet? Sure, he used it, I mean, who didn't? But he didn't use it for everything. Magic was still his go-ahead or deductive reasoning. He was similar to a detective and a muggle police officer, after all. He kept up the law, but he also had to figure out crime scenes, so he was fickle for the small details at times. And of course, if he looked at the Internet, he'd only get the version this organization wanted him to see. So he'd stick with good-old fashion searching.

"Yes, I am, sure, I am perfectly capable of looking it up on my own," he said with a smile. He didn't usually give out his email on a whim. That was protected, and he didn't want someone using his email as a weapon (believe him when he says that emails may be just as dangerous as a gun or wand). But he wouldn't give it out to a person he barely knew. "But thank you, anyway!"

words. some words
notes. @muffet

[Deleted]

September 28, 2024

Despite her insistence that it was no trouble for her to pass along some additional information about the New Salem Philanthropic Society to the young man, he continued to maintain that he was perfectly capable of searching up more on his own. "But thank you, anyway!" he added, still polite about the whole thing.

Muffy, who was not about to fight him on the subject of technology, of all things, nodded her head. "You're welcome," she replied, her usual plastered-on smile still present. Of course, she was internally skeptical that she or anyone else belonging to the Second Salemers would hear from the young man again. He was probably just in New York for a meeting of his own, she guessed, before he went back to wherever it was that he was from. He probably didn't see much need to follow up with some American charity, on that basis.

"Where are you from, by the way?" Muffy wondered, readjusting the strap of her purse. "Scotland?"

@cameronunderwood

[Deleted]

Cameron groaned inwardly. This woman just didn't know when to quit, did she? She had asked if where he was from. He paused. He didn't want to tell her that. Not in the slightest. He didn't know how that could whack him in the butt later, but he still didn't want to. But he decided to be vague with his answer. "I'm from the U.K," he said. He thought this should have been obvious. He did have a British accent, right? But he guessed she meant where he was from in good old England. Then he chuckled a little. "Scotland? No, not Scotland," he said, laughing a little, shaking his head. The question amused him.

His hometown as actually Wales, but he lived in London. As of now, anyways. He didn't know if this was important or not. But he wouldn't answer to Wales or London. Because he'd be vague about it. He did technically say he was from the U.K, but she never asked him specifically where. "How about you?" he asked, deciding for once to ask her a question. If she wanted to be vague as well, that was fine by him. He didn't really mind.

words. some words
notes. @muffet

[Deleted]

September 28, 2024

"I'm from the UK," the young man answered her. "Scotland? No, not Scotland." His answer, in truth, made no difference to Muffy; it wasn't as though she had ever given much thought to geopolitics.

"How about you?" he asked.

"Me? I'm from Indiana," Muffy answered the young man politely. He probably wouldn't find where she was from to be very exciting, but neither did most people upon mentioning Indiana. It wasn't instantly recognizable, the way somewhere like New York City or Los Angeles was. "My sister lives in the UK, actually," she continued joyfully, fishing for any connection.

Internally, Muffy was just thankful that he had only mentioned "the UK" and not somewhere more specific within it. It wasn't as though she and her sister Buffy kept in touch, exactly. She wouldn't have known where to stick a pin on a map to identify precisely where her sister lived, and it was easier to feign excitement than to bore him with all of the details.

@cameronunderwood