The Black Velvet Band

Riordan "Danny" Quinn. 32 Years Old. Ireland Born. Chicago Raised. Gallery Director at Alibi Fine Art.

[ridleyveronica-blog]

If you value your life, you will not touch that.

[ridleyveronica-blog]

[riordannyquinn]

Sorry. I mistook it for one of the portfolios I was looking at.

[riordannyquinn]

Thank you guys for awesome messages and being so understanding. I'll go work on repies on Lara and Danny now.

xo

[maggietheballerina-deactivated2]

I thought I heard someone knocking on my door. Can I help you with something?

[riordannyquinn]

No just curious, I suppose. You're part of the Chicago ballet, yeah? I was asked about doing some shots and wanted an opinion on the best time to swing by.

[riordannyquinn]

xo

[benedict-in-winterfell]

[rileyxsummers]

[chuckles softly and smiles, gratefully taking the tissues from him] Yeah… I guess. [looking up at him through wet eyes, Riley smirked at him] Yeah, this bottle of yours is a curse. Here. [she hands it back to him, dusting her hands off afterwards as if to say she’s done] I guess your little guilt tactic worked. Getting me to talk that much… [wiping her tears from her eyes, Riley looks over at him and eyes his cigarette] You can smoke, you know. It doesn’t actually bother me. I was just in a pissy mood and needed something to complain about.

[riordannyquinn]

[laughing Danny nods and takes the bottle] It's both a great power and a terrible burden, one that I even have trouble wielding. [humming he shrugs] 's good to say it sometimes I think. Makes it easier to deal with instead of it digging deeper into your head. Kathy had to get me blackout drunk to spill the beans, I'm almost certain she has blackmail photographs to go with hers though. [putting the cigarette back in its case he shrugs again] Someone told me that they were bad for my heath. Plus my sister will kill me if she smells it on me, I've promised her I'd cut back. And she'll actually do it, no qualms about it.

[rileyxsummers]

It’s been five years. Five years since I’ve seen them. And yet I’m sitting here blubbering to you about how heartbroken I am. Which by the way, I hate doing. [she looks up into the sky, wiping her eyes with the sleeve of her jacket] God. And now she’s living here too, right across the hall… how the fuck am I supposed to cut her out if I’m going to see her every day? [she takes a large drink of whiskey, her face contorting in disgust from drinking too much at one time] The worst part is that she’s probably getting a kick out of it. Seeing me like this. She’s clearly moved on, fallen in love with someone in Paris while she was there… [covering her face with her hands, Riley sits in silence for a long time before softly speaking] I can’t cut her out… I need to, but… I can’t.

[riordannyquinn]

Hey, hey. It happens. Usually at the worst possible times, and all you can do is deal with it as best you can. [Danny smiles slightly and chuckles] Well, we're even, I told you some pretty embarrassing things earlier under the guise of alcohol. [rifling through his pockets Danny pulls out a slightly crumpled tissue holder and hands it to her] You just have to take it one day at a time, think about right now instead of five years ago or tomorrow. I don't think that anyone would get a kick out of seeing you like this, moved on or no. [Eyes leaving Riley, Danny gives her some time to collect herself, eyes now carefully watching the cigarette in his hands] 's your decision. And no one says you have to do it all at once or all immediately, it can be as much or as little as you want. When you know what you have to do, you'll know. I promise.

[rileyxsummers]

How? [her eyes start to water as she continues talking] I haven’t seen her in years, Danny. I thought I’d figured it out, gotten over what had happened… gotten over her… [blinking, tears begin to fall down her cheeks] but now that she’s back, I just… what I want has become a whole lot more complicated.

[riordannyquinn]

[Danny pauses, trying to figure out just what to saw, and how to say it] I don't... I don't think you ever get over people, not really. Sure, you can move on and find other happiness or a different life, but they'll always be there, as much a part of you as you are to yourself. Because, even years later, you can see something and it'll be like they never left. [Looking over at her, his voice softens slightly] It's a life changing decision, letting someone back in or keeping them out, and not one without consequence. It's something that only you can decide.

[rileyxsummers]

[looks up at him confused] Why should you have to run? That doesn’t make any sense. [takes another drink of whiskey and frowns] …what if you don’t want to run? What then?

[riordannyquinn]

[Shrugging Danny takes the pack of cigarettes from his pocket, continuing to play with the metal case] You don't have to do anything, running is just.... more simple. [breathing out, Danny sighed and shrugged] Well then, I suppose you need to decide what you do want.

[rileyxsummers]

[scoffing, Riley takes another swig of whiskey and rolls her eyes] Definitely not mutual.

[riordannyquinn]

[Danny snorts and returns to playing with the cigarette case in his pocket] I'd run.

[rileyxsummers]

[sits in silence, fiddling with the bottle while trying to find where to start] …Hypothetically speaking. What would you do… if a person who you… had… feelings for, just… showed up? After… years, of not seeing them…?

[riordannyquinn]

[Freezing for a moment, Danny exhales, attempting to gather his thoughts] ...It would depend, I suppose. Were the circumstances of our leaving mutually decided, or did I leave them or did they leave me?

[riordannyquinn]

Text Message [Rem]

Rem: That doesn't seem very caring.

Rem: And I already knew I was brilliant but I'll still take the tea.

Danny: It's a... teasing sort of affection.

Danny: Thank you, again. Just let me know when is best for you and I'll drop them off.

[riordannyquinn]

Text Message [Rem]

Rem: That's dumb.

Rem: They're not in my way. They're in a box.

Rem: But I guess you can have them back.

Danny: Yep. It is. But it's how we show each other we care.

Danny: Rem, thank you. You are brilliant and I will give you a box of tea for doing this.

[riordannyquinn]

Text Message [Rem]

Rem: Well that would make the confusing parts of this make a little more sense. Because she was being kind of really confusing and not explaining everything.

Rem: Why would she take them if they were yours?

Danny: Because I stole her creamer. I think.

Danny: ANYWAY. I would really appreciate it if I could have them back, plus, they'd be out of your way.

[riordannyquinn]

Text Message [Rem]

Rem: She also said I'm not allowed to give them to anyone but her.

Danny: ...Of course she did.

Danny: Would you believe me if I told you that they were my records?

[rileyxsummers]

Advice isn’t exactly my forte either, so… [takes another drink of whiskey, avoiding looking at Danny] I’m not sure if you can help. Not feeling like an asshole would be a bonus though. [sits in silence for a while, debating on changing the subject or not] Can I ask you something?

[riordannyquinn]

[shrugging, Danny continues to play with the cigarettes in his pocket] For what it's worth, I'm here, whenever you need me. I know, right? We didn't start off too well though. [humming he looks up from the skyline and over towards her] Sure.

[riordannyquinn]

Text Message [Rem]

Danny: Hey, Kathy told me that she gave you some records for safe keeping. Is there any way that I can get them back?