Collinwood:
Barnabas knocks at the front door fairly seething. How could they just give his house to those people? A young man in his thirties opens the door. "Barnabas! What a surprise, I thought you were still abroad with Dr. Hoffman." "David, it's good to see you again. I'm afraid Dr. Hoffman is no longer with us. Sadly a disease took her last year. I'm sorry I didn't write, but you understand." "Yes, of course. Come in, Quentin's in the drawing room." They enter the foyer and Barnabas spots Quentin through the open doorway. he hasn't aged a day since the last time they same each other. Quentin is as usual, poised with a glass of liqour to his lips. He downs the contents in one gulp and looks to see Barnabas in the doorway. "Ah, dear cousin! Fancy seeing you here. I thought you were gone to stay. I see that south eastern sunshine hasn't done a thing for your pallor one bit. Come, join me for a brandy?" "Thank you, no." "Where's the lovely Julia?" "As I told David, she is sadly no longer with us." The teasing smile leaves Quentins face and he actually looks serious about something. "I'm so sorry." he says quietly, "How?" "A rare tropical disease I'm afraid. I didn't come to be the bearer of bad news, actually, I came to get my house back." "Ah, well you see Barnabas, we didn't think you'd be back, and with Willie's death the place needed a new groundskeeper. What do you think of the daughter? I admit that's one reason I hired him. She's a real piece of work eh? If only she had a bit more class. I'm not as bad as you may think, not just any woman will do you know. I like women with a bit of class." He muses while pouring another drink. "Quentin, I'm not interested in your...pastimes. I merely want possession of the Old House back. Now are we going to discuss this like gentlemen or need I remind you that I know where your portrait is kept?" Quentin blanches, "Now now, I'm sure we can settle this. Wait a minute! I've moved it since the last time we met." he says, the colour returning to his face and he looks smug. "I'll give you back the old house, If you do something for me. Ah Barnabas, I finally have the upper hand. This is priceless!" "What do you want Quentin? Remember, being...mortal, my powers are limited." "I want you to take that gum snapping, motor mouthed, little airhead daughter of my newest employee, and I want you to make her a lady fit to grace the finery of my bedroom. For god's sake at least get her to stop saying "like."!" Barnabas looks at him incredulously as if he's just asked him to turn water into wine, or eh brandy. He looks into Quentin's deadly serious glittering eyes and croaks out, "surely you jest?"
A/N: Blackmail! What diabolical scheme does Quentin have in mind? Is no woman safe from Quentin Collin's insatiable lust? What will Barnabas do?" What happened to David after Barnabas entered the drawing room? These quentins-uh questions and many more will be answered (or maybe they wont) in the next chapter. Stay tuned! Same bat time, same bat channel! Well sort of.
