All About...Nick Collins
by Naomi

NAME:  Nicholas Tretton Collins

LIVING ARRANGEMENT:  A small house in Skeffington Street, London, with two
servants, my ward, and one very necessary giant of a dog named Charley. When
Charley is not in residence (which is seldom) the house seems instantly to
transform into a menagerie. Yesterday, while my ward had taken Charley to the
park, four cats tried to claw their way into the kitchen, a robin and a pair
of goldfinches took up roost on the window ledges in the library, a dray
horse loudly refused to budge from his position in front of the house, and
most baffling of all, five baby ducks were found tumbling around my
houseslippers.

FAVORITE PASTIME: I've become rather partial to jumping off cliffs.

FAVORITE BOOK:  Machiavelli's 'The Prince' -- I could write fanfic based on
this.

THE BEST FEELING IN THE WORLD IS:  Being surrounded by people who care what
happens to you. I hope I never again know what it is not to have that feeling.

THE WORST FEELING IN THE WORLD IS: Knowing that someone you cared for has
suffered because of you, and that you did nothing to prevent it. Not all the
confessionals in the world can ease that guilt.

FAVORITE SMELLS: I like whatever that perfume is that my ward wears.
Something French, no doubt.

WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU THINK WHEN YOU WAKE IN THE MORNING:
Joan.

BATTLE: SCARY OR EXCITING:  I don't believe I have participated in any
conflict which might reasonably be called a battle. A few light skirmishes
hither and yon, the odd duel now and again, but I am by nature a very
cautious fellow and do not run headlong into danger willy-nilly. So in all
fairness I must lean to the 'scary' side.

FAVORITE FOODS: Voluptuous little pies.

CHOCOLATE OR VANILLA: What would be the point? Hetty will have either
devoured before I can blink.

STORMS, COOL OR SCARY:  It's all relative, isn't it? The same storm that is
fascinating when viewed from the dry warmth of a good cave is an altogether
different matter when viewed from a leaky dinghy off Penmarck Rocks.

FAVORITE DRINK:  Nothing beats an exceptionally fine claret, though a decent
port comes close.

IF YOU COULD CHANGE ANYTHING ABOUT THE WORLD, WHAT WOULD IT BE:
No, no, my dears, I have had too many close encounters with genuine
megalomaniacs to go trotting down that road!

IF YOU COULD CHANGE ANYTHING ABOUT YOURSELF, WHAT WOULD IT BE:
I'd like to be as tall as Tristan -- but I don't want those big feet of his,
thanks all the same.

HAVE YOU EVER BEEN IN LOVE:  Yes. And I've never been so frightened in all my
life.

IS THE GLASS HALF EMPTY OR HALF FULL: If that's not claret in it, it doesn't
matter a damn.

WHAT'S IN YOUR ANXIETY CLOSET:  My ward's brother, who consigned her to my
care. A beastly fellow, he gives me nightmares.

WHAT'S YOUR LOFTIEST DREAM: That was achieved when Max acknowledged me as his
half-brother. My new dream? Ah, well, one does not bring a lady's name into
such a conversation, does one?

WHAT'S YOUR WORST NIGHTMARE: See 'anxiety closet' , and also: walking into
the Admiralty followed closely a trail of animals that would do justice to
Noah's ark.

WHAT DO YOU WISH PEOPLE KNEW ABOUT YOU THAT YOU FEEL THEY DON'T:
My life is an open book. A very long, poorly spelt, badly constructed, almost
incomprehensible book.

WHAT OTHER HH CHARACTER WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE ANSWER THIS
QUESTIONNAIRE: I think Dr Clive would make an interesting subject.