"YO HO HO it's a pirate's life for me!"

Olivia leaned away from the drunk man stumbling by. The sour scent of booze followed him, snaking its way into her nose. She held her breath until he passed.

James sat across from her, watching with skeptical eyes. He sipped away at his drink, casting disgusted looks at his trashed crew. She couldn't tell what it was -- not water, but perhaps not alcohol, unlike his crew.

Crew. The thought brought a smile to Olivia's cloaked face. The man sitting in front of her had a crew. And a pirate ship. And a damn hot jawline and gorgeous eyes. She mentally shook herself.

Olivia smirked. "This will be fun."

James' face didn't change. "You may think differently once you've been at sea with them for a month or two."

"Maybe," she replied with a shrug. Her stomach was tied up in knots, but she kept her face blank and her body relaxed. But she knew that James couldn't see her face, nor could her read her body language under the thick cloak. 

She looked back to the dancing crowd at the bar. "Are all the other gals around here waitresses?"

"Waitresses?" James raised an eyebrow. "Nay, they're bartenders."

"Isn't that the same--" Oh, right. She'd forgotten, these were pirates. They didn't go to restaurants. They went to pubs. She narrowed her eyes at him. "Y'all really don't mix with the world, do you?"

"No, we do," He objected. "We just don't tend to hang out in unnecessary public places. Restaurants, libraries and the likes . . ."

Olivia let out a laugh. "What are you talking about? Libraries aren't unnecessary! Well, if you can read, at least." She cast another glance toward the pirates, running her finger along the edge of her hood.

"A word of advice," James said. "Don't insult our intelligence. You may be good, but we're better."

Olivia rolled her eyes, although she knew he couldn't see it. "Whatever you say, Mr. Mysterious Pirate Man."

He squinted at her. "You're calling me mysterious? Who's wearing the hood?" A small grin slipped onto his face for a second but disappeared a second later.

Olivia sighed. She knew this would happen at some point. "I guess you're right."

She studied his face carefully as she pulled the hood back. He looked completely shocked, almost horrified at the sight of her.

"What?" Olivia snapped, pulling the hood back over her head.

He sighed in response, finally meeting her eyes beneath the fabric.

A moment of tense silence ensued.

Then, "How do you feel about bandannas?"