Disclaimer: He doesn't like Fritos! Kill him!
Once the maroonees were aboard the Nautilus, the other League members were only too happy to emerge from their private quarters to greet the three people properly. The most proper of the little group, Henry Jekyll, stepped forward to shake their hands warmly. "H-hello." He pumped Wynonna's hand up and down nervously, grinning as best he could, "Nice to m-meet you all." Corby's eyes flickered with something akin to vague sympathy mixed with faint horror as she accepted his eager handshake.
Enya primly grasped his hand and leaned forward to whisper secretively in his ear, "Don't trust the American." Her accent was firmly British and aristocratic, "He's not really a king or even a prince." The girl's emerald eyes flickered over to Tom and sparked angrily, obviously feeling as though she had been slighted in some way.
As Henry pulled away and realized she was completely serious, he hid a smile and stroked her feathery curls with a gentle but imperceptibly trembling hand. "I'll keep that in mind." He promised her before drawing back from the trio and allowing the other members to introduce themselves. Tom shifted uncomfortably under Enya's scathing regard; how odd that a little girl could make him so uneasy!
Mina noticed the odd tension between the child and Tom but didn't comment, more fascinated by how Henry treated Enya. It hadn't occurred to her that Dr. Jekyll had a soft spot for children or any skill in handling them whatsoever. For some reason, her heart warmed slightly at this. Maybe her maternal instincts hadn't vanished at all, just laid dormant after the incident with Dorian Gray. Ever watchful, she hung near the back of the room. She would introduce herself later. At the moment, though, she was curious to see how the three would react to their one of their more odd members: Rodney Skinner.
When he raised a half-full whiskey glass to them, Mina noticed a peculiar tautness in Corby's eyes...not a pleasant tension either, mind you. The gentleman thief didn't seem to notice, exclaiming in mirthful (and slightly drunken) tones, "Cheers! Care for a glass or two?" His coat was buttoned, obviously a precaution to ensure that they didn't freak out over his body, or lack thereof. Wynnona cackled with delight, shuffling over to join him. Skinner was highly amused by this, so decided to indulge her, "What'll you be having then?"
"Bourbon on the rocks!" She crowed gleefully, eyes nearly hidden in the wrinkles forced on her eccentric features by time.
Enya scampered over and snatched a bottle before anyone could stop her, rapidly uncorked it and took a swig...and promptly spat it back out again. "This...is...DISGUSTING!" She screamed, hurling the offending liquid as far away from her as possible, "It tastes like rotten dirt!" ("Didn't know dirt could rot" muttered Sawyer) "How can you drink such a vile substance?!"
Mina was suitably impressed by both Enya's reaction and her vocabulary. The little girl couldn't be more than nine, yet she was speaking like someone much older. "She's right Mister Skinner," Smirked the vampire, "It is a vile substance indeed. Only vile people would drink such an awful thing."
Skinner knew Mina well enough to tell that she was baiting him and tried not to respond with anger, which was exactly what she wanted to see when she made comments like that. Instead, he turned his attentions to the exotic-skinned, yet still homely woman named Corby. "What about you? Wine, brandy...vodka?" He added the last option as a joke, but it was suddenly obvious that she didn't have much of a sense of humor.
Corby walked over to Enya and took the girl's hand, saying calmly, "Come, Enya. We'll get you a bath, some nice clean clothes, and a warm bed. How's that sound?" Her tone was calm but her eyes were ice.
Skinner hurried from his chair to maneuver in front of her, saying hastily, "I wasn't trying to get anyone upset. I didn't know she was going to go for the liquor, honestly!" He shifted nervously from his right foot to his left. No one was quite sure why, but they all secretly agreed that something about Corby made them all feel exceptionally guilty and nervous. Perhaps it was the way her eyes pierced their skull, burning a hole right through them. Perhaps it was simply her manner – the way they could feel her judging them, for no apparent reason.
"I'm sure you didn't," She replied, jaw clenched tightly and muscles coiled like a spring ready to be released, "But then again, one can never tell with thieves and liars, now can you?" Skinner drew back as though slapped, his features showing a wounded expression. Corby brushed past him, showing no remorse except perhaps a brief flickering in her eyes. Maybe I was too harsh she thought wistfully. After all, the things she was referring to were in the past. He didn't seem to be that type of person anymore...But he did such horrible things! Protested an angry voice in the back of her head What he did to all those poor girls! There can be no sympathy for a man like that.
In her rush to get away, Corby didn't notice the astonished stares that followed her out of the room. Skinner's mouth twisted to one side bitterly and he swirled the spirits in his glass, looking at it thoughtfully. "I'm going to call it a day." He said quietly, still debating on whether or not to drink the rest of the treacherous liquid.
"Skinner..." Sawyer began, but stopped when the invisible man slammed the glass down on the table and walked out of the room. Mina wasn't quite sure, but she thought she could smell the scent of sorrow and regret as he left. What on earth had prompted Corby to act in such a manner? How had she even known that Skinner was a thief? And why was she so cruel to him? These questions were troubling, to be sure, but they would have to wait until later for answers.
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Thanks for reading my fic! I'm glad you all enjoyed it Hopefully, Corby's treatment of Skinner didn't make y'all too upset. I promise, there's a reason for it, so don't put on your gloves and go looking for her just yet! Heehee, review, and I promise to update again soon!
Kudos to En Parodia, Bloody Griffin, and Cecily Marla Smith for reviewing! All ideas will be noted and incorporated if possible :) Feel free to ask any questions; I'll do my best to answer them!
