"I ent exactly a man."

At these Words, Edward jerked his head round to face the fellow, and queried, "How's that?"

He supposed certain Sodomites, soaked through with Levitical concerns as to the Morality of their Pleasures, might not consider themselves as True Men. He'd have thought James' Intellect to be above such daffy Rationalizations, though. Surely that Assassin's Creed was his only Doctrine.

"My Christian name," James said, a note of Irony in the words, "was given to me as Mary Read."

Realization dawned upon the Captain. The Crewman's slight Build, those soft and elegant Features. The graceful manner of Motion, which Edward had attributed as some peculiar Effect of Assassin Training.

"You are a Woman then..." he held his voice down as other taverngoers passed by, knowing the keen Ears he addressed would have no Difficulty hearing, "...who has put on manly Guise to take up your chosen Calling."

Anne Bonny was the sole member of the Fairer Sex out of all Pirates he had seen or heard Tales of, until this Moment. Edward knew she faced more than her fair Share of Troubles from Lechers and the like. He wondered briefly how many Others might have put forth a similar Ruse to avoid said Troubles.

"I was thought a Woman for some Years, aye. Even by my own Self... but I ent that either."

This response thoroughly befuddled Edward. For it was among the undeniable Truths of Nature: there existed Men and there existed Women; not a single Person could ever appear outside of those Categories, any more than a Fish could live breathing Air. It was simply Not Possible.

Not Possible. Well, hadn't his recent Adventures brought him to a weird Observatory with which it was Possible to experience the Vision from another Person's Eyes? And he knew full well of too many Men, even those considered Enlightened, who believed it was Not Possible for the Colored race to possess Intellect and Reason.

Even in light of these Facts, for someone to be neither Male nor Female still seemed truly Unimaginable. Kidd might as well have claimed to be neither Alive nor Dead.

James pondered the Machinations his friend's Mind must be enduring at that Moment, and was oddly amused. Still, it would be a tad Cruel to leave the Captain to his own devices trying to Assess this information.

"Think of it in analogy to Yourself, Kenway," the Assassin explicated. "Are you a Criminal, or an honest Businessman?"

Edward bristled. "I am no Criminal," he said firmly.

"Ah, but many 'ave seen fit to Label you such, for that is how they perceive you. And some days you almost agree with them."

James- Mary?- was as Insightful as ever. In truth, the Captain indeed felt Despicable at times, for he did take the Lives and Possessions of fellow Men quite freely. He drank more of his Rum, not seeing the Connection this had to the Matter at hand.

"Yet you still feel Insult by that Term, and rightly so. The Role of a petty Criminal is not for you. On t'other hand, were you content to live as a simple Businessman, you'd 'ave stayed with Caroline. The Edward Kenway I know aspires to a different Identity, somewhat of a Blend..."

"I am a Pirate, simple as that."

"What defines a Pirate, Kenway?" James had acquired his- her?- own Drink somehow, without the other noticing. "Blackbeard, Stede Bonnet, Bart Roberts, Benjamin Hornigold... all these styled themselves Pirates. A rather large Variance in Behavior and Disposition between them. No, 'Pirate' is a vague and useless Descriptor of a person's true Character."

Edward was becoming frustrated. "Jaysus, Kidd, talk some sense! What has this to do with your Manhood, or lack thereof?"

"As I said, your Role, your Persona is neither an outstanding Citizen nor a base Criminal. You act as a Scoundrel, or a Gentleman, or both, whichever suits you at the time. Consider myself similar." The young Assassin grinned, and his Captain again felt uncontrolled Attraction to the androgyne.

Even more befuddled than before, he called out to the barkeep. "Mate! I'm needing another Pint right about now!"