Can you see Richard Carlisle doing that? I can, but then I have strong anti-Richard feelings, and I don't want to strain plausibility.

I also have a splendid idea wherein Sybil gets arrested and Branson totally rides to her rescue (sort of), but sadly that's in a different line than the others so I'll have to put it on the backburner for a while.

I also think Downton Abbey would be the best fandom for a blackmail fic - the only problem is deciding whose going to be blackmailed about what, because so many characters are blackmailable! (I would prefer something where the blackmailer gets totally shot down in the end. Not a big fan of blackmail fic.)