I always liked newcomers. It gave me a new chance. When this man showed up at the bar, I thought he was one with the better looks, and he had come completely alone. He looked quite shaken when he had sat down. He had placed himself next to me without giving a glance in my direction. I thought this man had something better for me, perhaps more cash than others, perhaps more of a considerate flare.

I let myself stare at him.

I was right next to him and he still didn't return my eyes. His red coat was torn at the bottom, and what looked like dried blood was present near his thigh. Dust still clung to his eye lashes. Apparently he had only just arrived from traveling.

Perhaps he was still injured, but I would take my chance. I had two sons to feed and take care of, and growing up as an orphan, I had no talent to trade away for cash except maybe my feminine figure to the drunkest of men. I was the Jezebel of the town. Everyone, save the newcomers, knew me, but none of them knew my story. Both family life and lonely low life judge me wrongly. They don't know who I really am. They have no idea.

"Excuse me, David," I spoke to the bartender. Finally, he looked in our direction. So many new people had entered that he hadn't been able to get this man's order yet, and I wanted to get there before he did.

"What is it?" He asked me gruffly. I knew his graying face well, and he knew my overdone mask well.

"Get this man a drink," I told him.

Finally the blond looked at me, and I overstretched my femininity to hand David the cash. He looked away.

"What's your name?" I asked him.

"Vash," he answered quietly.

I moved closer to him. "Vash, I'm Aluette." I moved my hand out and he shook it quietly.

"You didn't have to buy me anything."

"Oh, don't worry about it." I gave him my flirtatious smile.

"It can get expensive buying all these drinks for everyone."

I felt my expression falter. Perhaps what he said was coincidence but I had the feeling he had heard of me. Whatever the case, I wasn't going to let any good opportunities pass me by, and this man was a good opportunity. By his looks, he seemed to have more kindness than most the men I had spent my time with. In an adolescent sort of way, I wondered if perhaps he liked me as a person instead of as an object. But we hadn't ever met…

I needed to be home before morning, so I thought I would cut to the chase when he received his drink.

"Are you doing anything tonight?" I asked. "Seeing anyone?"

"No," he answered.

"Well, you don't have to be alone. I know a really nice hotel just down the street."

My leg suddenly accidentally rubbed by his. His reaction was stoic.

"Don't you have children?" He asked.

My expression faltered again, but I quickly regained it. "They'll be fine until morning," I reassured. "I'm lonely tonight."

"No man here will suffice that," he said. "Not even me."

He definitely was new here. He didn't know, but many of the men in the room had accompanied me on dizzy nights.

"You want someone better," he added, taking a sip of his drink.

"And you aren't?" I asked.

"Me?" He asked grimly. "I'm not better."

"Would you hit me or attack me?" I asked quickly. My comment seemed to soften him.

"No," he answered flatly.

"Then you're much better." My answer was almost a sneer. Evidently he had hit some kind of nerve that I hadn't before experienced.

"But you would still be lonely even if I did… sleep with you."

For a moment I almost raged at his calm stature. He didn't know me, no one did! But I quickly regained myself.

"It would tonight," I said to him.

He turned in his seat to look at me. His sea-green eyes studied every aspect, every indent of my face, lingering longest on my eyes.

"Aluette. It's a pretty name."

I opened my mouth to react, but he continued.

"Where did it come from?" He asked gently.

"It's not my real name." My answer had come out more aggressive than I had intended.

He nodded in acknowledgment. After sipping more of his drink, he spoke again. "And living this way isn't something you really want. I can tell."

"Listen, you have no idea what I've lived like! Don't point your preaching finger in my direction! I've heard it plenty of times! No one knows my story. No one can judge me."

"And that wasn't my intent," he spoke suddenly, as if trying feebly to calm me down. "I meant… well…" he looked away from me. "I can tell you don't really want to live like this. I've met some women that do, but I can tell, you don't want to." His answer was quiet.

"So I'm not good enough for you?" I asked bitterly.

"I never said that," he said, sounding disappointed with my tone. "It just seems to me that you would rather be doing something else to get money for your sons."

"Don't talk to me about my sons," I ordered.

"No, it's not easy," he said finishing his drink. He stood up and I glared at him. "It's this soliciting, that's not good enough for you," he said. He placed a small stack of cash in my hand before departing. Feeling agitated I thumbed through the bills as I tried to block out his words. Then between the last two bills, I found a small business card. For a moment I expected it to have his address on it, or perhaps a name of a hotel in town, but the business card was for a small antique shop in the middle of town. I threw it on the ground, trying to ignore the "help wanted" printed on the back as it flipped in the air.

Who was that man? Why did he say those things to me?

His old seat became occupied by an older man.

"Aluette," he smiled. "I was hoping to find you here."

I could smell his dirty breath as his words reached me.

"Not tonight, Drake," I mumbled. Once standing up, I picked up the small business card. I tucked it in my pocket.

Drake watched me leave. I felt his eyes linger after me, even when the door had shut.

Not tonight.