It's early in the morning, but Ben, the ex middle-aged play boy of the area, is still in his black pijama pants and gray cotton t-shirt. The man is sitting at the couch lazily. In front of him, on the center table, there is a mug of steamy coffee and a folded newspaper.
Quinn heads in to the common area, coming from the hotel entrance rather than any of the rooms. He's dressed rather sharply in a fashionable pair of black jeans and a matching button-up shirt, but does look just a little tired around the eyes. He saunters idly toward the residential area, but stops as he realizes he's not alone. He briefly studies the man's appearance, pyjama nonwithstanding, and seems to draw some conclusion, straightening up ever so faintly as he flashes a bright grin "Morning!"
"Morning." Ben grumply says back to the younger Utridge and looks at him from top to bottom. It's not judgemental. On the contrary, it's approvilingly. Soon, a grin forms on his thin lips."Partying all night, kiddo? Come one over, tell me."
Quinn gives a wry smile, tingued with a hint of embarassment but also a casual willingness to shrug it off. "Well, nearly. I did actually get a bit of sleep" he replies. He pours himself a cup of coffee of his own before heading over, stretching his neck a little as he sits down opposite the older man.
"I see." The middle-aged Utridge says when the other one takes a seat."How was New York? Still that mad city that never stops?" He asks after covering a yawn with his prosthetic hand.
Quinn chuckles faintly "If one knows where to look, at any rate. New York was fun. Already miss it, to be honest. This town's... got its charm, don't get me wrong. But it's not exactly the most buzzing of nightlife, y'know?"
"You don't tell." Ben sarcasticaly says and grins."I'm pretty sure you'll pump it up, kiddo. This place does need someone to make its nightlife alive. There are only two stripclubs in here. That is as wild as this place goes."
Quinn smirks faintly, taking a sip of coffee "I've noticed" he murmurs, sitting up straight in contrast to Ben's lounging attitude, perhaps some unconscious reaction's to the man's aura of menace. "The thing is, some of the girls in this town are definitely down to party. But I imagine the moment you try to actually openly cater to that, you get the holy rollers getting the vapors and raising a cry." He pauses a moment "Gotta admit though, it's kinda nice having people recognize your last name."
To that last statement, Ben grins."You end up getting used to the power it invokes around this place. Most people pretending they like us when they hear our family name while hating us when we're not around, like the Millers, a few others trying to gain some advantages by proxy." He pauses for just a second before continuing."At least we still have the Alexanders."
Quinn shrugs faintly "I don't particularly care if someone's after my wallet, as long as I get what I want. But getting past the velvet rope has its uses." He takes another deep sip of his coffee, sighing as the worst of the tiredness starts to leave his eyes. "I guess the good thing about the stuffier side of things is that there's always people who'll react against it."
Ben nods to that before sipping from his own coffee briefly."So. Did you hear about our cousin's wedding party? It's going to happen next weekend at his home by the lake." He changes subject in an attempt to try to update the recently returnee.
Quinn smiles and nods "Sure, it's all the family seems to talk about lately. It figures that this is the one time I would have some legitimate scheduling conflicts, so I'm not sure yet if I can put in more than a token appearance."
"I see. He'll like to see you there anyway, even if it's just for a short time. And will show us an united front to the public." Ben murmurs and blows his coffee before sipping from it again."By the wat, are you working already, Quinn?"
Quinn gives a faint shrug "Sort of. Got a consulting gig at a real estate firm. Fairly flexible as work hours go, but it looks good on the card, y'know? I guess I'm still figuring out what long-term role around here's going to be."
"Nice. Just take care. Land owners will never sell their properties if they know there is an Utridge behind it. Even if we're not purchasing it for ourselves." The middle-aged Utridge comments casually before landing his mug back on the center table to lounge again all over the couch."But if that's what you like doing, do it fiercily, boy." With that, he offers too a supportive smile to the young member of the family.
Quinn smiles wrily "What I -like- is having rather more fun than the proper people in this town would like me to. Who knows, maybe I'll open a club of my own some day, get some real parties going. For now, I'm networking a lot."
Ben makes an approving sound with his throat and grins."You have the balls for that? Heading a bussiness if not as glamorous as the TV pictures it. Be sure to have someone with know-how to back you up in that venue." He suggests."You could work here, at the hotel, as a part-time job. I could use an extra pair of hands to help me help Eleanor running this monster."
Quinn gives an idle wave "I did say some day. For now I'm still taking the temperature round here. And sure, I might do some stuff at the hotel. For now, I think it's just as important a job to make sure my face is known around town" he adds with a wink.
"Alright. Take your time, kid." The older man says and poders for a moment."There is something that could help you with that. Getting your face to be known. Would you be interested in a family project, Quinn?" He asks and lifts a brow lightly.
Quinn tilts his head faintly, curiousity glinting in his eyes. "Sounds intriguing. What kind of project did you have in mind?"
"When Spring arrived, we had a terrible wildfire. It burned to the ground a few farms, killed some animals and caused a major histeria. That gave us a perfect opportunity to raise our family fame within the area. I'm organizing a charity event. You cousins, Oliva and Weaver are part of it already. But none of us is really a public face kind of person. It lacks us the charisma and perfect smiles, I guess. So I'm looking for someone to take that role and head the event and do all the hosting thing. Would you be interested in such a thing, boy?" He asks looking slightly more menacing than usual. There is, deep down into his eyes, a hunger for power. Political power.
Quinn nods slowly, shifting ever so faintly under the press of those hungry eyes. "Sure, I could do something for that." He replies softly. "Big gala sort of thing? Are we offering any particular incentive beyond the chance to show off one' philanthropy?"
"I was trying to figure out some incentive, but I didn't come to a final decision. It's going to be summer soon. What about a day in one of the family's speeboats at the lake? Sounds good enough to make people give some money to the cause? We could make it a small private event, the speedboat day. Maybe throwing a little party at the boat to the winner and his closest friends." He offers as the idea forms on his mind."But, yes. A gala night. Not extremally fancy so people don't want to attent due the high levels. Champagne, suits, ball gowns and live music. That is on Olivia, the music. Weaver is talking to people to find us a place. A big and important place to the community."
Quinn nods faintly, lips pursed for a moment as he seems to think something over. "Sure, I could see myself handing out the sandwich plates for something like that. Doesn't sound that taxing. I'll link up with the others, see if we come up with something special."
"Do that. If we're all in the same page, the project will come faster and easier." The middle-aged man comments lightly and grins to Quinn."Thanks for joining us, by the way. Not just the family project, I meant coming back home too. It's nice to see you back."
Quinn smiles wrily "Well, my parents had a bit to do with that. But it's nice to be back, and at least for the moment, this place still holds quite a few things to be redicovered."
Ben nods to that as he, finally, stands up. He then stretches his arms upwards and yawns."Well. Reach me if you come up with something. But hurry up, we're already late on that project. If Summer comes and we don't do it, we're going to lose the 'momentum'." He says ands starts his way to the stairs."Have a good day, Quinn. I'm heading to bed because you were not the only one standing up all night."
Quinn smiles wrily "Sure think, uncle." Sitting back in his chair with the rest of the coffee, gives a casual wave to the man as he departs, his young face tilted to the side as he seems to ponder something.
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