Neither Lady Nor Whore                         

            Aiden awoke in the early afternoon half blinded by the stream of intense sunlight that shone through her window.  Well, here's goes nothin, she thought as she pulled herself from her bed.  Clad only in an oversized shirt, she made her way to the mirrored bureau and peered at her unsightly "just woke up" reflection.  Rubbing the sleep from her face, she threw her shirt off and pulled out a new one along with another pair of cut-off breeches.  She looked pretty much the same as the evening before except that this shirt was cut-off in so many places it covered no more than a corset, and she allowed her mess of curls to hang free. 

            Walking barefoot across the hardwood floor, she left the room heading downstairs.  Entering the living room, she found Jack standing at the far wall examining the decorations that adorned it. 

            "Where'd ye get all this stuff", he asked, turning around to face her.  Upon seeing her standing there, he was glad he had spoken before he turned because the sight of the half-dressed muscular woman was enough to make him catch his breath, but only a little. 

            "Oh ye know", she answered non-chalantly as to brush it off.  "Picked em up 'ere and there."

            "Picked em up 'ere and there", he repeated unconvinced.  "I hardly think that's the case."

            "And why is that?"

            "Because no matter how many people you know 'ere no one gives up stuff like this for nothin.  So either someone in particular gave them to you…"

            "Ah, ah, ah Cap'n", she cut him off.  "Don't assume that just because I'm a lowly bar-maid now that that's all I've eva been.  Anyway, ye up for some breakfast?" she asked, changing the subject.

            "Isn't it a bit past that time?"

            "Well I s'ppose time-wise it might be, but it's still the first meal o' the day for me.  How long 'ave ye been up anyway?"

            "Not very", Jack assured her.

            "Right then, come on", she motioned him to follow her into the kitchen. 

            Jack took a seat at the table where he was promptly given an empty teacup. Within minutes, Aiden had warmed a pot of tea which she poured in his cup along with a little bit of rum and lemon just for good measure.  As he drank, she proceeded to throw together a brunch of sorts, consisting of eggs, bread, and a few other things.  Setting a full plate in front of Jack, she took a seat across the table from him and began eating herself. 

            "So what are you doing here in Port au Prince anyway", she asked him after a few minutes silence.  "Neva seen you 'ere before."

            "Well maybe you don't know as much as you think", Jack mocked in reply.

            "That I doubt", Aiden smirked back.

            "Then yer right, though I hate to admit it.  I haven't been 'ere before but I'm always up for something new."

            "I see.  And, I suppose ye didn't 'ave much time to be stopping anywhere without a ship for so long."

            Jack looked up at her, his disbelief seeping through his mask of indifference.

            "Told ye I know everything", Aiden affirmed with a smile.  "Betta get used to it."

            "Well then, since it doesn't seem as though there's anything about me that ye don't already know, why don't ye tell me about yerself", Jack suggested with raised eyebrows.

            "Isn't much to tell.  I live 'ere, work at the tavern, and that bout sums it up", she answered.

            "Surely that can't be all.  And after what I saw last night, I absolutely refuse to believe that's all."

            "What ye saw?  My dear Cap'n ye really didn't see all that much.  Just a woman doin' her job."

             "Well I've neva seen a woman run an entire bar full of drunken idiots before and I've seen a lot in my day.  But neither the less, ye've already told me that ye haven't always worked at the tavern, so indulge me curiosity a bit.  What did ye do before this?"

            "Before this, hmm", she thought hard, debating on whether or she ought to tell him.  "Before this, there was a ship."

            "A ship?"

            "Yes Cap'n, a ship.  You know, large wooden thing that floats on water much like an over-sized boat…"

            "I know what a ship is", he cut her off with eyebrows raised in slight irritation.

            Aiden laughed at this.  Not a soft, sweet feminine laugh like would normally come from a woman, but a low chuckle resonating from the back of her throat, deep like her regular speaking voice.  It was a pleasant sound as far as Jack was concerned, not like the screeching that so often emanated from Anamaria. 

            "She was a beautiful piece of craftsmanship, and a damnable fast menace for the lit'l brigantine that she was", she stopped suddenly.

            "And?"

            "And ye know how it is with ships.  Ye 'ave one one day, the next ye find yerself stranded alone in a rottin' cell in some fort.  Or some deserted island", she added with a grin.

            "Aye, I know how it is", Jack confirmed.

            "I thought you might relate.  Anyway, that was that and 'ere I am."

            "And 'ere ye are, just like that?"

            "Pretty much, I mean o' course I wandered around for awhile but ultimately this is where I set up shop."

            "And yer job at the tavern.  How'd ye land that?"

            "Oh, know the owna", Aiden answered non-chalantly after a short pause.  It was clear from her tone that she would not be revealing any further information on the topic and Jack should drop the subject.

            "I see", he replied after a long sip of his tea.  "Well its nice to meet a woman held such high regard."

            "Oh please", Aiden shot in disgust, slamming down.  "Don't be so insulting, it doesn't suit you."

            "I wasn't being insulting", Jack defended himself.  "I meant it.  Ye seem to be fairly well respected round 'ere, and ye obviously aren't struggling to survive", he finished looking around.

            "So in other words", she responded slowly, eyeing him thoughtfully and causing Jack to lose his focus in the deep drawl of her voice.  "I'm neither lady nor whore."

            "That's not what I meant.  God ye 'ave an awful habit o' puttin words in me mouth."

            At this Aiden cocked a grin, stood from her seat, and walked around the table until she was standing behind Jack.  Leaning down, she lightly pushed the loose hair back from his face and whispered into his hear.

            "Ye sayin ye could think of something betta ye'd like me to put in yer mouth Cap'n?"

            Unable to see his face, she did not notice Jack's eyes grow so wide they might have popped out of his head at her words.  It was an awkward position he currently found himself in, not used to being on the receiving end of such suggestions.  Thankfully, he did not have to supply an answer because soon after the question was asked Aiden raised herself back up, grabbed his empty plate and headed for the sink.

            "It's like I always say.  All women 'ave a little bit o' whore in em.  Fine ladies are just trained to hide it.  But unfortunately luv", she continued, now grabbing her own abandoned plate.  "As much as I'd love to see where this conversation might lead us, I'm on a bit o' a tight schedule.  'Ave to pick up some things for the tavern before open so I'll need to be runnin into town."

            "Ye want me to come along", eventually managed to stutter out once the initial shock of her advance had worn off.

            "No, no don't trouble yerself.  It's just a few odds and ends, and I can handle that.  Besides, ye'd best be headin' down to the harbor to check on yer Pearl after a long night away from her."

            "I suppose yer right", he agreed, now standing up himself.

            "O' course I am.  You'll soon find out darling, I might not always be right, but I'm never wrong", she teased with a wink. 

            Jack grinned at her comment and watched as she moved into the living room, grabbed some money, and threw on a jacket.  Opening the front door, she stepped aside and extended her arm implying that he go out first.  "After you luv."

            Obliging, he grabbed his things from the coat rack she hung them on the night before and headed out of the house.  He waited until she locked the door and turned back to him.

            "Ye'll be in tonight I assume", she asked with a look that clearly showed she was expecting a yes.

            "I shall be."

            "Good!  Then I'll see ye later."

            "Until tonight then", Jack confirmed taking off his hat and bowing slightly.  Upon rising he took her free hand and kissed it lightly. 

            "Well at least yer as charming as yer reputation lets on", she said with a grin when he released her hand.  "Ta darling", she finished turning from him and walking down the steps and away from Jack. 

            He stood on the front stoop of her house and watched her go.  When she had gotten halfway down the block she turned back and called to him.

            "And Jack."

            "Yeah luv?"

            "It is alright if ye bring the rest o' the crew in ye know.  We don't bite…well, most of us anyway."

            "Whateva you say luv", he answered with a laugh, then turned himself, and headed down the street the opposite way making for the harbor.