If she was going to do this, if she was going to stay, Noelle refused to show insecurity.  She would act the part; be the guest, Danny’s guest, at the Rayburn family table.  With a smile she settled in, watched as others chatted and joked and drank, before catching Kevin’s glare once more.  “Hello again,” her tone bordered on aggressive in its pleasantness.

“So how does this work, exactly?”  His smile wasn’t as polished; he looked like a kid about to throw a fit.  

“Well, usually, you’d say something like ‘hey there, it’s nice to see you again, I’m glad my brother invited you’, then I’d say ‘me too, I’m so looking forward to getting to know you all better’.  We’d both know it was mostly bullshit, that you don’t trust me any more than I do you, but that’s how it works with polite families.”  Her smile grew until he shifted.  “But maybe it’s not quite the same with the Rayburns?  Maybe there’s too much at stake to be so polite?”

“Aw, come on, of course I’m...ya know, fine…happy…you were invited…” he tried to laugh it off with a shrug.  “Just…I don’t know, surprised you’re here.”

“With your brother.”

“Yeah, I guess.”

“Maybe I see something in him that you don’t?”

“Hey, I love the guy, he’s great —“

“That sounds like a disclaimer,” Noelle cut in, smile still there.

“No.  No, no, that’s…you’re trying to twist my words.”

“Am I?”

It wasn’t just that her gut said Kevin looked down on Danny, it was that her experience told her he’d be easiest to crack.  He was immature, his handle on his emotions was shit…enough rattling and a man like Kevin would explode with a story.  She leaned forward as he opened his mouth, eager for his fuse to blow, when his wife tugged his attention.  People began to quiet and the patriarch of the Rayburn household stood.

Noelle dissected the speech, searched for a reason she might be here.  She noted the air still and Danny reflexively grab his shoulder when Robert mentioned past troubles — Sarah Rayburn, dead at age ten due to accidental drowning.  She took in each of the children’s smiles and nods as their father praised them and caught the thread.  Danny was all but dismissed save a cruel crack concerning his finances.

“Wouldn’t miss it for the world, Dad.”  Danny dismissed his father’s apology in turn and that seemed the end of it until he stood.  “I’d like to say something…”

Tension flow in like the tide as he pulled folded paper from his pocket.  This must have been why he’d invited her.  Whatever he had to say would be significant, a game-changer, and he wanted Noelle to bare witness.  To spread the word about some injustice or family secret.  He’d thought this out, written it down, and, given the state of the paper, been holding onto it for a long while.  She straightened up, made an effort to catch his eye and reassure.  Yes, she would report this, whatever it was.

A moment’s hesitation and he tucked the paper back into his pocket, smirked.  “Can I borrow a couple bucks?”

Others laughed, but Noelle sighed.  It wasn’t strictly professional disappointment, but the sense whatever Danny hadn’t said, refused to get off his chest, would fester.  Great for her, her potential story; bad for everyone else, Danny included.

Finally able to finish the new Danny piece, yay!  I think, while younger than Danny (and possibly most, if not all, the other Rayburn children), Noelle has a good amount of experience in dealing with secrets (and uncovering them) and great instincts...at least when not emotionally attached.   And I’ve decided Noelle will be portrayed by Gal Gadot.

Part 1  Part 2 Part 3  ...I will make a masterlist when I can, give the pieces proper titles.

(Gifs were actually made by me this time via YouTube vids!)

Danny Rayburn - favourite moments

I know Danny’s got some problems and there’s probably a lot we don’t know about him with his past, but it really does seem like he’s trying to turn his life around and better himself. He’s working for the inn, getting along with his siblings (particularly Kevin of all people!) he told Eric no to the other illegal job he wanted Danny to do (although when John gets the clear footage of him robbing the gas place, he’s gonna be screwed) his mom wants him to stay, and the all of a sudden the dad takes him out for a drink and says he wants him to leave?? Fuck right off. Especially when he originally made the decision on whether he stays or not up to the siblings.

Bloodline Episodes (In No Particular Order) - 1.02 PART 2