One Piece : Wild Hunt

As innumerable thoughts filled Thomas's mind, the Going Merry, Luffy's ship, pulled around to the opposite side of the Baratie. This gave Thomas the idea of having Drake relocate the Hind, not to put them closer to the Straw Hats but to ensure they wouldn't be in the firing line when Mihawk showed up to slice Krieg's ship into three pieces.
With such thoughts in mind, Thomas turned around and made his way into the Baratie. As unexpected as this development had been, he still planned to meet Luffy and the other Straw Hats. Fullbody wasn't around to try and sink their ship, so the odds of Luffy accidentally destroying the roof of the Baratie were slim. On that same note, there was a real possibility that Gin, the Combat Commander of the Krieg Pirates, wouldn't show up. Without him to lure Krieg over, the events of the Baratie Arc, including Mihawak's arrival, may not occur at all...
Realizing how drastically even minor actions could shape the course of 'set' events, Thomas exhaled a sigh. If Mihawk didn't show up, they would have no choice but to depose one of the other Shichibukai to secure their nomination. However, the two best options, Crocodile and Geck Moria, were opponents that the Straw Hats 'needed' to overcome to ensure their growth, forge future alliances, and recruit members to their crew...
As Thomas moved over to sit at her table, Musashi remarked, "You look like someone who just found their childhood pet lying dead in its kennel. What happened?"
Smiling wryly, Thomas answered, "Luffy is a woman...and I now have no idea what to expect..."
Raising her brows slightly, Musashi mused, "That must have been quite the shock. However, considering there are many Heroic Spirits who were men in the 'greater' history of their worlds, you shouldn't be too surprised by such an outcome. After all, we wouldn't even be here if this were the One Piece you're familiar with."
As there was a considerable amount of truth to Musashi's words, Thomas inhaled deeply before exhaling a long, exasperated, and accepting sigh. Unfortunately, this was immediately followed by Caenis remarking, "Look on the bright side. If things go well, you might have another hole to shove your cock into. With a body made of rubber, she should be able to accept you no matter how big you grow."
While Musashi's smile became wry, Thomas reached up to massage his abruptly aching forehead. He would be lying if he said the thought hadn't crossed his mind, but there was a difference between thinking something and voicing it aloud...
Before Thomas could fully recover from how taken aback he was, the front entrance to the Baratie was practically kicked open, followed by the petite future Pirate Queen shouting, "Give me some vegetables~!" loud enough to shake the restaurant to its keel. Behind her, Zoro, Usopp, Nami, and two other men whose names Thomas couldn't remember off the top of his head, entered with wry, curious, or bored looks on their faces.
Following her outburst, Luffy looked around the dining area, zeroing in on Thomas, Caenis, and Musashi. Her gaze caused the remaining Straw Hats to look over, Usopp exclaiming, "Holy sea cows!" while Zoro narrowed his eyes, his hand naturally gravitating to his swords when he met Musashi's gaze.
After punching the back of Usopp's head, causing him to bite his tongue, Nami turned to Luffy, asking, "Do you know those people, Lucy?"
Shaking her head, Lucy unhesitantly replied, "Nope. But I can tell those two girls are 'really' strong."
As the group was speaking loud enough that everyone could hear them, Thomas exhaled another tired sigh. He knew his strength was nowhere near Caenis's and Musashi's, but he never expected to be 'disregarded' while sitting between them.
Adding insult to injury, Nami asked, "What about the guy? He seems like their leader or something, doesn't he...?"
As if she only noticed him once Nami mentioned him, Lucy looked at Thomas before crossing her arms in a manner that made it look like her breasts would burst out at any moment. Then, after several seconds of silence, she tilted her head to the side and remarked, "He seems kind of weak...?" as if there was an invisible question mark over her head.
Suppressing yet another sigh, Thomas rose to his feet, forcing a smile as he said, "For now, perhaps. However, so long as I never give up, it's only a matter of time before I stand at the pinnacle of this world..."
Blinking in surprise, Lucy issued a curious "Oh?" before adding, "If that's the case, then you should join my crew. I'm the woman who's going to be the future Pirate King. If you're going to be strong one day, we should be Nakama."
Inserting herself back into the conversation, Nami had a helpless look on her face as she said, "You can't just go around inviting everyone you meet to join your crew, Lucy. Besides, look at the situation. He already has two beautiful women eating with him. Inviting a womanizer onto the crew will jeopardize the safety of our female members..."
Tilting her head to the opposite side, Lucy asked, "How? He doesn't seem like one of the bad guys my Grampa and Dadan told me to avoid. I get the feeling he actually wants to help us."
Blinking in surprise, Thomas opened his mouth, but no words came out. He knew Luffy/Lucy had a powerful intuition, but he didn't think he would be seen through so...effortlessly. She also seemed a lot smarter than the character he was familiar with...not to mention her call for 'vegetables' in place of meat. It was almost like she was a completely different person...
Adopting a broad smile that would be impossible for a normal person, Lucy asserted, "We can trust him." before making her way over to sit at Thomas's table. Nami reluctantly joined her while Zoro, Usopp, and the two 'nameless' Bounty Hunters sat at the table next to them. Around the same time, Sanji emerged from the kitchen with a plate of vegetable soup, asking, "Who ordered the veggies...?"
Raising her hand much higher than a normal person, Lucy replied, "Me, me, me! Bring it over here~!" in a spirited tone.
Following the direction of the voice, Sanji's eyes widened when he saw the bevy of beautiful girls seated around a single table. The presence of Thomas bothered him, but he had already gotten accustomed to ignoring the brutish eyesore that seemed to have the Devil's luck.
Making his way over, Sanji set the soup in front of Lucy, a charming smile on his face as he mused, "One vegetable soup, for the beautiful lady. This one's on the house."
Hearing Sanji's remark, a mischievous smile appeared on Nami's face as she leaned forward slightly, accenting her still-developing charms as she asked, "And what about me, Mister Waiter? Do I get a free meal as well~?"
Though the expression on his face remained fairly calm and composed, everyone at the table heard Sanji swallow as he met Nami's hazel-brown eyes and struggled to hold her gaze. In response to her words, he gave a slight bow and smoothly replied, "Of course. For beautiful ladies, being given the opportunity to prepare your meals is payment enough. It would be criminal of me to charge you more..."
Narrowing her eyes in amusement, Nami replied, "Then we'll need a lot more than a single plate of soup. Despite her diminutive appearance, my friend here can eat her body weight in fruits and veggies. As for me, I'll take the house special and a bottle of your finest wine."
Despite a bead of sweat appearing on his brow, Sanji retained his smile and replied, "As you will, my lady." before returning to the kitchen without bothering to ask Zoro, Usopp, and the others what they wanted. He also didn't look toward Thomas until the latter said, "Get Beni to help you. I'll also foot the bill and the cost of the ingredients, so feel free to show off as much as you like."
Realizing he had given Thomas a chance to flex his wealth, Sanji clicked his tongue and returned to the kitchen without responding. Immediately following his exit, Nami's eyes were practically sparking as she leaned across the table, smiling radiantly as she asked, "Are you perhaps super wealthy, mister...?"
Though it felt awkward being referred to as a 'mister,' Thomas replied, "Thomas D. Jensen. Feel free to call me Tom. And yes, my crew is...fairly wealthy..."
Keying in on the word crew, Lucy asked, "You already have a Pirate crew of your own?"
With Musashi and Caenis leaving the discussion to him, Thomas shook his head and replied, "Not quite. We might become Pirates at some point, but our current occupation is Bounty Hunters. The three of us are members of the Wild Hunt, sailing aboard a vessel called the Golden Hind."
Hearing Thomas refer to himself as a Bounty Hunter, the bodies of Nami, Zoro, and Usopp tensed. Lucy, however, was completely carefree as she asked, "The three of you are 'members' of the Wild Hunt? Does that mean you have a Captain...?"
Nodding in affirmation, Thomas revealed, "The Wild Hunt currently has ten members, and our Captain is Francis Drake. These two remarkably beautiful women are Caenis and Musashi, the Shipwright and First Mate of our crew. As for me...you could say I'm their patron? I basically get to pick and choose our destination and target."
Exhibiting a complete disregard for the antagonistic relationship between Pirates and Bounty Hunters, Lucy replied, "You seem pretty important. As for me, my name is Monkey D. Lucy, the future Pirate King. And these are my friends and crewmate, Nami, Zoro, and Usopp. If the three of you are Bounty Hunters, I guess that means you'll be chasing us in the future...?"
Shaking his head, Thomas seized the opportunity to assert, "Our group only targets evil and malicious Pirates, the type that harms others and commits all kinds of heinous acts. As far as I'm aware, none of you even have Bounties. Even if you did, I don't think you're bad people. Certainly not like that Arlong fellow we took down a few months ago..."
Slamming the table, Nami rose to her feet, shouting, "What did you just say!? Did your crew really take down Arlong...!?" with a disbelieving yet hopeful look on her face.
Though he was a little taken aback by Nami's outburst, Thomas managed a smile, nodding his head as he replied, "Indeed. We handed them over to the 45th Branch of the Marines around three months ago. We managed to earn around 65 million after turning them in."
Plopping onto her seat, Nami's gaze became unfocused as she muttered, "I can't believe it..."
Choosing to chime in, one of the nameless Bounty Hunters, a bronze-skinned man with short black hair and sunglasses, stated, "He's telling the truth. The Bounties for Arlong and his crew were rescinded around three months ago. However, the identities of the people who defeated them were never made public..."
Nipping Nami's disbelief in the bud, Zoro added, "Johnny's right. I was originally planning to take out Arlong and his crew after dealing with the other infamous Pirate crews in the area, but his Bounty was canceled a few months ago. If these people really took him out, their power must be pretty incredible..."
Seeing another excellent opportunity, Thomas narrowed his eyes as he replied, "Strong enough to take out pretty much any crew in the East with ease. I'm the weakest member of the Wild Hunt, but I'm fairly confident I could give your Captain a run for her money..."
Raising her brows, Lucy offered a surprise "Oh?" before adopting a toothy grin as she questioned, "Are you challenging me to a fight? I may be a girl, but you'll regret it if you look down on me."
With a 'serious' expression, Thomas shook his head, firmly asserting, "I'm not looking down on you. In fact, I 'know' you have tremendous potential. It's one of the many reasons I want to fight you...I want to test my power against the future Pirate King..."
"Hmmm..."
Placing her index finger on her chin and tilting her head slightly to the side, Lucy appeared to be seriously considering her response. She would prefer to fight Thomas's Captain, but if he was 'serious' about fighting her, she didn't see the harm in accepting his challenge. He had also offered to pay for her meal, so she 'owed' him at least that much.
Nodding her head, Lucy replied, "Okay. Once we're finished eating, let's find a nearby island where we can cut loose. I'm pretty curious about the abilities of your crew, so we can have a friendly match to determine who's the strongest."
Immediately following Lucy's words, Sanji emerged from the kitchen with a silvery pushcart full of food, effectively bringing the conversation to an end. Nami looked like she still had a lot she wanted to ask but ultimately remained silent, deciding she would wait until after the fight to ask about the details of Arlong's defeat...
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(A/N: For those who weren't aware, Oda actually revealed a genderbent version of Luffy in one of his AMA/SBSs. According to the man himself, the genderbent version of Luffy is a vegetarian with the same dream, just a more 'delicate' personality.)

After watching Lucy put down enough fruits and vegetables to feed an elephant, Thomas tracked down and explained the situation to Drake. When she learned that the person he had been raving about for the past year had their gender swapped, she laughed like there was no tomorrow. Fortunately, she had no qualms about engaging the Straw Hats in a 'mock battle,' weighing anchor and leading the way in the Hind while the Going Merry struggled to keep up.
During the brief voyage, Drake surprised Thomas by calling him into her Cabin and saying, "I think you should join the Straw Hats..."
Blinking in surprise, Thomas instinctually responded with a confused, "Pardon?" before furrowing his brows and asking, "Are you serious...?"
Nodding in affirmation, Drake, sitting behind her desk, linked her fingers together, saying, "Before you get too upset, let me explain my reasoning. If you disagree with me, we'll continue to do things as we always have..."
Inhaling a steadying breath, Thomas suppressed his growing anger and frustration, stating, "Let's hear it..." in a dull monotone.
With an uncharacteristically serious expression on her face, Drake said, "I've been watching you for the past year, Tom. In that time, I've come to understand many things about you. First and foremost, you didn't come to this world to experience your own journey. You came here to experience 'their' journey..."
Before Thomas could respond or try to defend himself, Drake raised her hand to silence him, adding, "Secondly, you're obsessive and have self-esteem issues. You're constantly fretting over one thing or another, and you can't help comparing yourself to the rest of the crew. Not only does that stress you out, but it also forces us to measure our actions so that we don't upset or offend you somehow."
Narrowing her eyes slightly, Drake declared, "Put simply, you're holding everyone back. Instead of focusing on your journey and making the most of your situation, you're constantly pushing yourself to try and catch up to us and people you haven't even met yet. By joining the Straw Hats, you'll be able to grow alongside them without having to worry about constantly being in our shadow. Furthermore, that frees us to travel into areas of the sea you simply aren't ready for."
Pulling out the guidebook Thomas had written for her, Drake added, "We already have a general understanding of where you'll be heading during your journey, so we can make preparations for the future while you focus on the present. That gives us the chance to grow without having to worry about your safety, and if shit 'really' hits the fan, you can always call us to your side using a Command Spell."
Setting the guidebook on the table, Drake wrapped up her pitch, stating, "This isn't a permanent arrangement. Once you reach Sabaody, we'll be primed and ready to pick you up at your leisure. We could also meet up sometime after the Paramount War. I have a few ideas in mind about how we can most benefit from that situation, and I can't implement them with you acting as a leash."
Though Drake's argument was fairly compelling, Thomas's brows remained firmly furrowed as he asked, "So, that's it? I'm in the way...?" Without sugarcoating things, Drake nodded her head, answering, "Yes, though, keep in mind, I don't blame you. By your admission, the world you came from was a mundane and perfectly 'ordinary' world. Even after a year, you haven't truly adapted to life within this world. The Hind offers you too many advantages, and you've never really had to struggle. You train hard, sure, but you always act with the knowledge that we will bail you out the moment shit hits the fan. While that's true, to an extent, you'll never be able 'reach the pinnacle' so long as we're babysitting you."
"..."
Taking advantage of Thomas's silence, Drake's expression softened a bit as she added, "Listen, Tom...you may be a fool, but you're not an idiot. I'm sure you realized most of these things before I laid them out. If you didn't have us as a crutch, we both know you would do everything in your power to become a member of the Straw Hats. That sense of 'responsibility' you feel, the thing that drives you to prepare exhaustively, is holding you, me, and everyone else back. Instead of planning for life, go out there and live it."
After drawing in another deep breath, Thomas exhaled a prolonged sigh through his nose. He knew Drake was right, but, at the same time, he felt like he was being 'discarded.' Their separation might only last a year or so, but by the time they reunited, Drake would have invariably recruited many additional members to the Wild Hunt. He would basically be an outsider in his own crew...
Seeing through Thomas's thoughts, Drake asserted, "Relax. I won't make any promises regarding myself, but I can assure you that Caenis, Musashi, Atalanta, Benienma, and Beethoven won't be sleeping around. The former would never admit it, but we both know she's developed something of a soft spot for you. Even if our future crewmen and women attempted to hit on her, I imagine she would just beat the shit out of them..."
Noticing Thomas was on the verge of relenting, Drake narrowed her eyes in amusement as she added, "You could also take her with you, but her ability to manipulate the sea and storms would make things too easy for you. Her presence would also remove your need to conscript that Franky fellow, and, depending on the situation, she might get in the way of you 'wooing' those lasses on the Straw Hats. Caenis might not be the jealous type, but her presence would be a powerful deterrent to any other women that want to get close to you..."
Hammering her point home, Drake mused, "What were their names again? Nami, Robin, Vivi, Shirahoshi, Scarlett, Carrot, Wanda, Reiju, Yamato, and now Lucy? As a member of the Straw Hats, you will invariably cross paths with each and every one of them..."
Smiling wryly, Thomas pointed out, "Shirahoshi is barely sixteen three years from now, and she's also like ten to fifteen meters tall..."
Rolling her eyes, Drake retorted, "She's also a living weapon with the power to destroy the world. Besides, with the power of the Mana-mana-no-Mi, you can do anything you put your mind to. Just look at how much you've changed in a year. You're more than 210cm tall, and your face and hair and indistinguishable from when you arrived in this world. If you want to grow to fifteen meters, I'm sure you could figure something out."
"..."
As frustrating as Drake's words were, Thomas found himself increasingly convinced. He no longer had plans to build a massive harem out of all the One Piece heroines, but he would be lying if he said he had renounced the idea completely. Each of the girls Drake mentioned had their charms, and if he played his cards right, he should have a chance with at least a few of them...
After letting Thomas's thoughts wander for the better part of a minute, Drake revealed, "We'll be reaching our destination shortly. Once we get there, I plan to make a 'bet' with that Lucy girl. If their side manages to secure the victory in our skirmish, they'll be permitted to let you join their crew. If our side wins, I'll ask them to look after you for the next year or so. Then, if things play out as they did in 'canon,' we'll either pick you up after Bartholomew Kuma has separated you or sometime after the end of the Paramount War. Sound like a plan...?"
Though he still had the impression he was being 'discarded,' Thomas only hesitated for a moment before nodding his head, answering, "Fine...as you pointed out, I 'do' want to travel with the Straw Hats. But what will you be doing in the meantime...?"
Without hesitation, Drake replied, "First and foremost, I'm going to go pick up that treasure at the Jewel Ice Sheet. After that, we'll follow your plan, becoming Shichibukai before spending the next year or so drafting people and preparing for the Paramount War. On that note..."
Narrowing her eyes, Drake said, "If and when you encounter Marshall D. Teach fellow, ignore him. So long as that Ace kid isn't dead for more than twenty-four hours by the time we recover his body, Asclepius should be able to do something about it..."
Before Thomas could question her, Drake regained her smile as she said, "There is a method to my madness. If you have Musashi kill Blackbeard, it will completely derail the 'plot' you're familiar with. And if Ace doesn't die, at least for a short while, Lucy and the Straw Hats won't feel compelled to train during the two-year 'time skip.' I don't mind if you want to accelerate things, but if you enter the second half of the Grand Line early, you risk never crossing paths with characters such as Kinemon and Momonosuke. You also imperil the 'prophecy' of Toki, so no matter how much you loathe Blackbeard, you should do your best to tolerate his existence. He is one of the many whetstones that will help you and the Straw Hats reach their full potential."
"..."
Realizing that Drake had likely memorized everything he wrote in the guidebook, Thomas asked, "Just how long have you been thinking about getting rid of me?"
Adopting a mischievous smile, Drake replied, "From the moment you first summoned me. I don't like to be bound or restricted, so even though we have a Master-Servant relationship, I've wanted to do my own thing from the beginning..."
Rising to her feet, Drake walked around to the front of her desk, stopping just in front of Thomas as she added, "Like you, I came to this world to experience the thrill of a new adventure. I initially planned to share that adventure with you, but you have far too many 'attachments' that prevent you from making the most of the opportunity we've been presented. That may change in the future, but only after you leave the proverbial nest and figure out what you 'truly' wish to accomplish in this world..."
Fixing Thomas's collar, Drake's smile softened as she said, "You wouldn't have been able to summon me if we weren't at least a little similar. Once you embrace that aspect of your character and blossom into the man you wish to become, I'll be waiting. That's one of the perks of being a Spirit...I never have to worry about getting old. Even if you spend the next century trying to figure things out, I'll be ready and waiting to accompany you on whatever journey you have planned. Just make sure it's exciting..."
Retracting her hands from Thomas's collar, Drake gave him one last look before walking around him, revealing, "We've reached our destination. Do your best in the upcoming battle. Even if the outcomes appear similar, there is a difference between 'joining' a crew and 'accompanying' one on its journey. If you want to stand on equal footing with that Lucy woman, don't be afraid to punch her in the face and prove your worth...both as a man and a potential partner..."
Finished with what she had to say, Drake pushed open the doors to her Cabin and departed without looking back. In her wake, Thomas lowered his gaze to the ground, his mind uncharacteristically empty except for the words Drake had just spoken. He honestly wasn't comfortable with hitting a woman, but for the sake of his future and to earn Lucy's respect, he was prepared to give it his all...even if he was 'very' likely to get his ass kicked. After all, even if he charged up for a full hour, he wouldn't be able to level a normal-sized building, much less a five-story pagoda...
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(A/N: For those who are apprehensive about the novel following the canon timeline, don't be. While many of the locations and people will be the same, everything Thomas does will create ripples that affect events later down the line. Lucy's gender will also factor heavily into how events play out, so treat this as a 'spin' on the original story. One with adult themes and a lot more killing xD...)

After waiting for Drake to return from one of her usual forrays, Thomas informed her of the news, only for the pink-haired Pirate to exhale a sigh before stating, "If you're this obsessed with the Straw Hats, why not just join their crew? We can become Shichibukai and expand our fleet without your 'oversight,' that's for sure..."
Furrowing his brows, Thomas replied, "I'm not obsessed with them. It's just that most of my knowledge of this world revolves around the Timeline and events their actions inspire. If we-"
Adopting a deadpan expression, Drake stared 'into' Thomas as she said, "That's bullshit, and you know it. Even if you learned about this world by watching the Straw Hats, the people and locations you reference in the Guidebook exist independently of them. All you're doing is making things easier for yourself, fearful that something 'unexpected' might happen. If this Straw Hat Luffy is the kind of person you say he is, do you genuinely believe your actions could derail his path...?"
"..."
Taking advantage of Thomas's silence, Drake added, "I've said this time and time again, but this is 'your' journey, Thomas. You're already planning to pilfer the female members of the Straw Hats. How do you expect to get away with that without 'changing' things up a bit?"
"I'm not pilfering anyone..." muttered Thomas. Before he could say he was just trying to help, however, Drake narrowed her eyes and retorted, "Yeah, using your knowledge of the past and future to manipulate their emotions and make them fall in love with you isn't stealing. Your intentions are 100% noble and pure. I must have just imagined they were exploitative..."
"..."
Exhaling a sigh, Drake's expression softened ever so slightly as she said, "Listen, Tom, I'm not accusing you of any wrongdoing. In fact, using your knowledge to guarantee the outcome you most desire is 'precisely' what you 'should' be doing. Before you came to this world, you were prepared to give up your literal soul for the opportunity to experience an adventure and break away from the mediocrity of your previous existence. Why are you hesitating 'after' you've been given the opportunity you yearned for? If you wanted to be a Hero or a Saint, you wouldn't have thrown yourself into a world of Pirates..."
With a defeated expression on his face, Thomas slumped his shoulders and questioned, "What do you want me to do? Travel around the world, kill whoever I please, and collect women like Pokemon? I'm not that kind of guy..."
Shrugging her shoulders, Drake replied, "I honestly don't care, so long as you're doing what 'you' want to do. Even if you decided to join the Straw Hats or spend the next decade training, I wouldn't protest as long as you lived the life you desired..."
Regaining her usual smile, Drake appended, "Though, if you're asking for my personal opinion, you should fight this Monkey D. Luffy directly. We're already planning to have Musashi steal the spotlight at Baratie. You might as well become one of the future Pirate King's rivals. If you plan to stand at the pinnacle of this world, you'll have to fight eventually."
Blinking in surprise, Thomas parroted, "You want me to fight Luffy...?" as if he couldn't believe Drake would even suggest such a thing.
Nodding her head, Drake explained, "You mentioned that the Straw Hats really grew into themselves after facing and overcoming obstacles. If we give them a 'baptism' of sorts and introduce them to the concepts of Haki early on, they could become much stronger in the future."
Though he suspected Drake had an ulterior motive, Thomas found her words 'very' compelling. If he truly became Luffy's rival, he could measure his growth against the rubbery youth at several points during the former's journey. Depending on the situation, he could even have his Servants help to promote the Straw Hat's growth, ensuring they would be even stronger than their canon counterparts...
After briefly considering the positives and the negatives, Thomas nodded in approval, stating, "It's a good idea. I'm also curious to see how I fare against this world's 'main character.' If I'm consistently around his level or stronger, I'll naturally reach the pinnacle of this world."
Returning a nod of her own, Drake added, "Just remember, our power is 'your' power. Use us well, and there's nothing in this world you can't do. Training with Chiron, learning to cook from Benienma, and fucking Caenis are just the tip of the proverbial iceberg. You have the means to cure all diseases, resurrect the recently deceased, advance technology, and rule the world. All you need to do is stop holding back..."
Punctuating her words, Drake adopted a sultry smile and spread her legs slightly. However, as it was the morning after one of her overnight forrays around the town, Thomas furrowed his brows and said, "I'll pass. You are an undeniably beautiful woman, but I'm not comfortable 'sharing.' Even if we never entered an actual relationship, seeing you with other men would piss me off to no end."
Shrugging her shoulders, Drake lazily replied, "It really shouldn't. Love is an illusion at best and a mechanism of control at worst. People should be free to eat, drink, and fuck whoever they please. Institutions like marriage just complicate things and make people miserable."
Though he didn't disagree with Drake's views on marriage, Thomas shook his head, asserting, "Call me a hypocrite if you like, but no man with even an iota of pride would be okay with his partner having sex with other men. It's not about possession...it's something more...primal..."
Rolling her eyes, Drake waved Thomas away, saying, "Yeah, yeah. Just let me know when you're ready to set sail. Speaking with you is frustrating..."
Following her words, Drake rose to her feet and made her way over to her private liquor cabinet. When Thomas had initially refused her, she found it somewhat cute. Now, she found it annoying. The double-standard of him wanting to sleep with multiple women but expecting said women to 'only' sleep with him made her want to kick his teeth in.
Understanding he had overstayed his welcome, Thomas exhaled a sigh before promptly departing Drake's cabin. He knew his views were more than a little hypocritical, but there wasn't much he could do about it. Even though he and Caenis weren't in a 'committed' relationship, he would feel betrayed if she were to have sex with another man. In that same vein, if she weren't okay with him sleeping with other women, he simply wouldn't. As fascinating as the notion of a harem was, having just one good woman was more than enough to keep him happy...
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After deciding that his first encounter with the Straw Hats would be at Baratie, Thomas spent his days monitoring the news, training with Caenis, learning how to cook from Benienma, and simply relaxing. Three months later, one of the events he had anticipated occurred: the announcement of the infamous 'Pirate Fleet Admiral,' Don Krieg's entrance into the Grand Line.
Though he couldn't remember every detail of the plot, Thomas knew that Don Krieg only spent around a week in the Grand Line before being forced to flee by Dracule Mihawk, one of the Seven Warlords and the man known as the Greatest Swordsman in the World.
Considering the distance between the Twin Capes of Reverse Mountain and Baratie, Thomas speculated it would take around 3-4 weeks for Don Krieg's ship to reach the floating restaurant. That meant that Luffy and his burgeoning crew were either around Orange Town or the Village of Syrup. Either way, it wouldn't be long before they sailed to Baratie in search of a Cook.
Confident in his assertions, Thomas explained the situation to his crew and made a few last-minute preparations before asking Drake to set sail three weeks later. The subsequent journey only took fourteen hours, so they had a few days to kill before things got 'interesting.' During that time, Benienma had a Shokugeki(Food War) with Zeff and Sanji, demonstrating her superior skill and teaching the duo a thing or two about Japanese and Hellish cuisine. At the same time, Beethoven enamored everyone with her music, while Drake openly flirted and consumed dozens of bottles of wine in a mere three days...
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"There's no way..."
Though he knew Zelretch would have done something to fuck with him, Thomas wasn't prepared for the 'reality' that awaited him when he saw the Going Merry approaching from the balcony of the Baratie. Nami was young but attractive, Zoro looked like a bit of an ikemen, and Usopp's nose was as ridiculous as he was expecting. What caught him by surprise was the fact that Luffy, the free-spirited and badass main character that Thomas had looked up to for decades...the man whose ambition it was to become King of the Pirates...the person Thomas was looking forward to fighting...was a woman...
Seeing the disbelief on Thomas's face, Caenis asked, "What's wrong? You look like a maiden that just strayed into a den of Cyclopes without a dress on..."
Tearing his eyes from the prominent pair of tits that were thinly veiled behind Luffy's red shirt, Thomas replied, "This world is different from the one I'm familiar with. You see that person sitting on the sheep's head at the front of the ship? They're supposed to be male..."
Raising her brows slightly, Caenis asked, "The skinny girl with the massive tits and no bra...?"
"..."
Taking Thomas's silence as affirmation, Caenis focused her gaze on Luffy, narrowing her eyes slightly when the wannabe Pirate King looked back at her, tilting her head to the side like a curious monkey. She was wearing a sleeveless red shirt with three yellow buttons on the front, barely keeping her tits at bay. Other than that, she wore blue jean shorts that were frayed where her thighs poked out, a pair of straw sandals, and a simple-looking straw hat.
"She doesn't look very strong..." remarked Caenis. She was pretty good at ascertaining whether someone was a threat, and the only impression she got from Luffy was a friendly, ostensibly harmless girl that had wandered out to sea by complete accident.
Though he still had an awkward, disbelieving look on his face, Thomas attempted to defend Luffy, stating, "For her to be here, she must have defeated Ax-Hand Morgan, Buggy the Clown, and Black Cat Kuro. I'm not sure how powerful she is, but she's at least strong enough to level a five-story building or smash apart a boat with a single kick..."
Breaking eye contact with Luffy, Caenis turned to Thomas, asking, "Will you be able to fight her? You still behave like an overly conservative ninny when we wrestle. Do you actually have the balls to punch a woman in the face if there's a chance you might hurt them...?"
"..."
Unsure of how to respond to Caenis's question, Thomas remained silent. This development was so far beyond his expectations that his brain had effectively shut down. If he hadn't promised to help everyone attain their wishes and make their dreams a reality, he might call out to Zelretch right then and there, demanding to be sent to the 'actual' One Piece. Instead, as the gears in his mind slowly whirred back to life, he started thinking about how Luffy's unexpected change in gender might affect the canon he was familiar with. At the very least, she wouldn't be marrying Hancock in the future...not without some shenaninganery from Iva...
...
..
.
(A/N: I wonder if anyone else saw this coming~? Now, even if he wants to stick to the canon timeline, Thomas has no choice but to deviate. After all, this is no longer 'his' version of One Piece. Who knows, Yamato may be an actual man in this timeline (O w O)...)

Chapter 26: Brunch