One Piece : Wild Hunt

Immediately following Benienma's warning, Thomas's eyes widened as a tall and curvaceous woman approached the execution platform wearing a white cowboy hat and a pale pink cloak covered in hearts. As she moved through the crowd, men and women alike parted like Moses splitting the Red Sea, not because of the massive spiked club resting on her shoulder but because her beauty had compelled them to make way.
"Holy shit..."
Though the woman had yet to identify herself, Thomas recognized her as Alvida, one of the first Pirates Luffy faced during the version of One Piece he was familiar with. She started as a nearly ball-shaped woman with a horrendously ugly face, large feet, massive lips, and freckles, but after eating a Devil Fruit that turned her into a 'Smooth Woman,' she shed all of her weight and became one of the most beautiful women in the world...
While Thomas was momentarily awed by her beauty, much like the rest of the crowd, Alivda approached the base of the execution platform before calling out to Lucy, declaring, "I finally found you, Monkey D. Lucy. You're going to pay for what you did to me...!"
Unlike her original counterpart, who had become infatuated with Luffy for being the first man to strike her, the current Alvida hated Lucy to the core. She had nearly succumbed to dehydration after being stranded on a deserted island, and one of the only fruits she discovered ended up being a Devil Fruit that tasted like dog shit.
Not recognizing Alivda, Lucy tilted her head to the side and asked, "Do I know you...?" with a confused look on her face.
As she was incapable of telling how much her beauty had improved after eating the Sube-Sube-no-Mi, Alvida's expression darkened as she asked, "You forgot about me, Iron Mace Alvida, the most beautiful woman in East Blue...?"
Blinking in surprise, Lucy replied, "Huh? Alvida was a fat old hag covered in freckles. You look nothing like her."
"..."
Hanging her head in a way that allowed her cowgirl hat to conceal her face, Alvida smashed her gigantic mace into the ground, her voice a low growl as she asserted, "I will never forgive you..."
Interrupting Lucy's and Alvida's reunion, a bunch of men dressed in grey outfits, Loguetown's local militia, approached the execution platform, led by a mustached man with a bullhorn. His eyes widened when he noticed Alvida, but he eventually managed to return his gaze to Lucy, raising his bullhorn to shout, "Get down from there! This is a special execution site under the jurisdiction of the World Government! If you refuse to remove yourself, you will be apprehended and placed under-"
Before the man could finish issuing his warning, Alvida attempted to bat him aside with her spiked mace, aiming for his head. Even without her superhuman strength, such an attack would be fatal against an ordinary human. Thus, the moment the group appeared, Thomas moved forward, intending to intervene. The moment Alvida swung her mace, he emerged from the gathering crowd, intercepting her mace with his bare hand as he said, "Not today..."
Though she was 6'6''(198cm), Alvida had to look up at Thomas, her green eyes widening slightly as she asked, "And who the hell are you supposed to be?"
As he didn't want to ruin the rapport he had painstakingly established with Nami, Thomas's expression remained serious as he replied, "In this instance, your enemy..."
Without elaborating or providing his actual identity, Thomas destroyed Alvida's mace with a burst of Magical Energy. Then, even though her Devil Fruit provided her immunity to most physical attacks, causing them to slide off her body as if she was a frictionless surface, he grabbed her left wrist without issue, pulling her off balance before planting his knee in her lower abdomen.
Despite possessing superhuman strength, Alvida was ultimately a Pirate whose Bounty had stagnated at a mere 5,000,000 Berries. Thomas held back considerably, but she ended up stumbling forward like Cell after getting his guts punched in by Gohan, eyes bulging out as she held her stomach.
Though Thomas's actions earned him the ire of nearly everyone in the crowd, including the man he had just saved, their protests were promptly silenced by the sound of an explosion. At the same time, the large group wearing beige cloaks charged forward, led by a man with a shiny red nose that was visually indistinguishable from a clown's prop nose.
While the crowd rapidly dispersed, the red-nosed man, Buggy the Clown, shouted, "Get them! Don't let them escape, even if it kills you...!"
Removing their cloaks, Buggy's crew charged at Thomas like a rogue circus troupe. The former had originally intended to capture Lucy and execute her in public, but his plans changed when Thomas incapacitated Alvida. Not because he had any particular fondness for the remarkably smooth and beautiful woman, but because the man he sent to capture Lucy was effortlessly avoided due to the latter's burgeoning mastery of Observation Haki.
Grinning like a demon, Thomas's excitement compounded as he smacked his chest and shouted, "Bring it on, bitches...!"
Though Thomas didn't possess Conqueror's Haki, those closest to him immediately backed down when they saw the excitement on his face. His muscular frame and height of 220cm were also fairly intimidating, so none of them wanted to be the first to approach.
"You damn cowards...!" exclaimed Buggy before kicking out and pointing the tip of his shoe at Thomas, completely ignoring the presence of Alvida as he shouted, "Eat this! Secret Muggy Shot...!"
Having imagined how he would deal with Buggy, Thomas responded to the man's 'secret attack' by erecting a trio of convex barriers layered on top of each other. When the tiny red ball came into contact with the first shield, it immediately exploded into an enormous plume of fire. However, while the explosion was able to shatter the first barrier with ease, it barely affected the other two.
Before the fire and smoke cleared completely, Thomas charged forward with his barriers intact, emerging from the other side like a paladin about to execute a shield bash. Buggy, not anticipating this, went wide-eyed as Thomas barreled toward him like a runaway train. He crossed his arms in a defensive posture but was sent flying by the force of the blow, crashing through several of his men.
While his attack was successful, Thomas blinked in surprise as he didn't push Buggy back nearly as far as he expected. The moment he impacted the much smaller clown, it was like he had struck an exceptionally sturdy tree. Buggy was sent flying, but the man showed no visible signs of injury as he pushed himself to his feet and threatened, "You're going to pay for that..." with an expression that could humble Pennywise.
Following his words, Buggy reached into his cloak and pulled out eight custom-made knives, wielding them between his fingers. However, before he could launch himself at Thomas, a fist moving fast enough to generate shockwaves slammed into his face, propelled by a thick trail of smoke. At the same time, a small army of Marines wielding flintlock rifles surged into the square, surrounding Buggy, his crew, Thomas, the downed Alvida, and the execution platform.
Though he hadn't done anything wrong, a group of Marines aimed their rifles at Thomas, some shouting, "Hands in the air!" while others shouted, "No sudden movements...!"
"..."
Before Thomas could point out the contradiction, a pair of diminutive yet powerful hands gripped his shoulders like a vice, causing his eyes to widen as he was abruptly lifted off the ground and flung high into the air. He instinctually bolstered the veil of Magical Energy protecting his body, but it was ultimately unnecessary as Lucy leaped up to catch him, smiling broadly as she remarked, "You did well by saving that old man. I panicked a bit when Alvida swung her club at his head."
Despite the rather large disparity in their sizes, Lucy touched down on top of a building while casually supporting Thomas in a princess carry. She immediately set him down, but that didn't stop him from furrowing his brows and appearing embarrassed as he replied, "It was no big deal..."
Amused by Thomas's reaction, Lucy was about to tease him a bit but was preempted by him stating, "We need to regroup with Nami and the others. We didn't do anything wrong, but that won't deter the Marines from trying to arrest and interrogate us."
Nodding her head, Lucy attempted to pick Thomas back up, but he raised his hand while moving away from her, smiling wryly as he asserted, "I can run on my own..."
Shrugging her shoulders, Lucy replied, "Suit yourself," before leaping from the building they were standing on, easily clearing several others. Thomas followed suit, but he had to leap from building to building, not because he wasn't capable of jumping much further, but because he couldn't properly control his strength. If he made a mistake and overshot the roof he was aiming for, he would end up crashing through the building on the opposite side or landing heavily on the pavement. The latter wouldn't harm him, but the thought of destroying someone's house or business deterred Thomas from being too reckless...
Spitting in the face of Thomas's good intentions, a fast-moving stream of smoke attempted to overtake him by passing around his body. Instead, it crashed into him with the force of a small car, surprising the ashen-haired Marine that tried to obstruct his path. Shortly after that, the two of them crashed through the exterior wall of a bakery, destroying several displays containing fresh bread and pastries.
Bounding to his feet, Thomas's expression morphed into a scowl as he exclaimed, "Are you serious!? Couldn't you have flown around instead of attempting to pass around me for dramatic flair!?"
Rising to his feet alongside Thomas, the Marine that had crashed into him had a comparably ugly expression on his face as he pulled out several cigars from his jacket, lighting them up before asking, "Was that Haki? I didn't expect an upstart Pirate from the East Blue would have access to something like that..."
As he had yet to do any actual pirating, Thomas snorted through his nose and asked, "What upstart Pirate? I stepped in to save that Police Captain from having his head splattered and then repelled Buggy the Clown. Your men surrounded and aimed their rifles at me for no reason, and now we've ruined someone's business because you wanted to show off...!"
"..."
Though his expression became even uglier, the bare-chested man, better known as Captain Smoker, didn't lash out or attempt to refute Thomas's words. Instead, he looked around at the destroyed bakery, narrowing his eyes at a middle-aged man standing behind the register with a mortified look on his face.
Despite wearing an expression that made it appear as though he was about to skin the man alive, Smoker's gravely voice was calm as he said, "Send an invoice to my office before the end of the week. I'll see that you are properly remunerated for the trouble we've caused you."
Without waiting for the man's response, Smoker turned his attention back to Thomas, revealing, "I am Captain Smoker of the Marines. If you're truly not a Pirate, you'll follow me outside. I have some questions for you."
Shrugging his shoulders, Thomas replied, "So long as you don't ask me to accompany you down to your headquarters, I don't mind answering a few questions. I'm having trust issues after having a dozen men point rifles at me for no fucking reason..."
Exhaling an enormous plume of smoke, Smoker remained silent for a few seconds before replying, "Fair enough. Once I ascertain your identity and confirm you're not a Pirate, I'll lower my head and publically apologize on my men's behalf."
"..."
Though he vaguely recalled a scene of Smoker apologizing after a little kid bumped into him with her ice cream, Thomas didn't expect him to be so...agreeable. He was originally thinking about how he could escape the man's pursuit, but, as there wasn't a thunderstorm raging outside, he doubted that Dragon, Lucy's father, was present. Even if he was, there was no guarantee the man would step in to save him. Thus, after several seconds of deliberation, he replied, "Fine, let's talk..."
...
..
.
(A/N: Thomas is a feminist, confirmed...)

Though Smoker initially tried to usher him to a bar, Thomas insisted they have their discussion in a nearby alleyway. The spirits and wines of One Piece didn't suit his palate, and he had no intention of allowing himself to be entrapped or sedated into a confession.
After reaching said alleyway, Smoker crossed his arms and asked, "Who are you, and what brings you to Loguetown?"
Mirroring Smoker's posture, Thomas replied, "Thomas Jensen. As for the reason I'm, it should be fairly apparent. I'm preparing to enter the Grand Line to hunt down Pirates with higher Bounties."
Furrowing his furrowed brows further, Smoker asked, "So, you're a Bounty Hunter?"
Nodding his head, Thomas appended, "I used to belong to the Wild Hunt, the Bounty Hunting company responsible for turning over Arlong and his crew. There aren't any notable Bounties left in the East Blue, so I'm going to enter the Grand Line to test my strength and try to make these seas a bit safer."
"If that was your intent, you could always join the Marines..." asserted Smoker.
Resisting the urge to roll his eyes, Thomas replied, "Don't look at me as if I'm some snot-nosed brat who doesn't know how the world works. While the average Marine is undoubtedly on the side of justice, corruption runs rampant throughout your ranks. Besides, if I have the option of being paid a fixed salary and earning tens of millions hunting Pirates on my own, why would I willfully place myself in the service of others?"
Exhaling a large plume of smoke, Smoker's expression hardened as he said, "No long-lasting organization is free from corruption and nepotism. So long as you're powerful, you would be able to rise through the ranks and change things from the inside..."
Shrugging his shoulders, Thomas replied, "I wish you the best of luck doing exactly that. As for me, I relish my freedom and the prospect of increasing my wealth. More importantly, my position as a Bounty Hunter allows me to target Pirates that are considered 'off-limits' to the average Marine. Your organization drafted a provision that legalized piracy for the Seven Warlords, and some of those asshats are at the top of my shit list in terms of Pirates who deserve to be put behind bars."
Suspecting that Thomas may have been victimized by one of the Seven Warlords, Smoker gave up trying to convince him to join the Marines. The minds of people who sought revenge were nearly impossible to change, so he exhaled a plume of smoke from his nose and said, "Fine. You seem like a decent enough guy, so I'll let you off with a warning this time. Next time, don't run away from the Marines. You'll only cause an even greater misunderstanding."
Smiling wryly, Thomas replied, "I can't make any promises. I mean, just look at me. I don't exactly give people the impression of a disarming and reasonable person. And you know how 'sensitive' young Marines can be, especially when you put a rifle in their hands. When they feel threatened, they would rather shoot first and ask questions later."
As there was a considerable amount of truth to Thomas's words, Smoker exhaled a thick plume of smoke in the form of a sigh. Thomas was around 40cm taller than him and possessed a broad, muscular frame, sword-like eyebrows, sharp, hazel-brown eyes, and overall rugged features. He was far from the tallest and most physically intimidating man in the world, but it wasn't difficult to imagine poorly trained Marines shaking in their boots when they encountered him.
Shaking his head, Smoker decided to change topics, asking, "That power you utilized before...was that Haki? Have you already traversed the Grand Line?"
Raising his hand, Thomas condensed a small amount of Magical Energy around his fist as he replied, "I am familiar with the concept of Haki, but this is the power of a Devil Fruit, the Mana-Mana-no-Mi. I'm not going to go into the specifics, but it functions similarly to Armament Haki against inexperienced Logia users. No offense."
Exhaling smoke through his nose, Smoker turned around and said, "Stay out of trouble," before taking off like a rocket toward the city square. He now had all the information he needed to complete a profile on Thomas, so he would leave it to the higher-ups to decide whether or not the man was a threat that needed to be apprehended or eliminated...
Immediately following Smoker's departure, Benienma appeared out of nowhere, revealing, "Nami is safe back at the Going Merry, dechi. Shall we return to our companions, or does Master have other matters to attend...?"
Shaking his head, Thomas answered, "Nah, I've seen enough. And thanks for looking after Nami for me."
Puffing out her non-existent chest, Benienma replied, "Of course. There is a possibility that Nami-dechi will become one of my Lord's Seishitsu in the future. Benienma will do her best to ensure her safety."
Hearing yet another new word from the petite sparrow, Thomas raised his brows and asked, "What's a Seishitsu...?"
"Seishitsu is the official wife of a high-ranking official or Lord, positioning them above Sokushitsu, the designation of concubines and mistresses. It is only a matter of time before Master becomes a Lord, so there is a need to secure your successor, dechi."
Though he had learned to appreciate Benienma's 'dedication,' Thomas couldn't help smiling wryly when the petite sparrow mentioned securing a successor. If he wanted children, he would have had them long before he turned thirty-six. He was also twice Nami's age and 'much' larger than she was, so he only hesitated for a brief moment before asserting, "If I'm to have a 'Seishitsu,' it will likely be a woman named Yamato. I still want you to ensure Nami's safety, but don't say or do anything to pressure her into becoming my wife..."
Lowering her head and cupping her hands together, Benienma replied, "Understood, dechi." It didn't matter to her who Thomas's first wife was, so long as he had plans to marry and produce a successor. He could also adopt one, but she considered it one of her duties to ensure at least one person existed to perpetuate his line...
Unaware of Benienma's thoughts, Thomas was about to suggest they return to the Going Merry when a deep, gravelly voice caused both him and the petite Oni to tense as it remarked, "The two of you are not of this world...how curious."
Accompanying the voice, seemingly materializing out of thin air, was a man wearing a dark-green cloak. The moment Thomas met the man's piercing eyes, it was like every nerve in his body tensed, freezing him in place. At the same time, Benienma appeared in front of him, hand on her sword as she warned, "Withdraw your intent, or I will be forced to cut you down, dechi..."
Instead of taking offense to Benienma's words and actions, the man adopted a wolfish smile as he remarked, "Good spirit. However, I am not your enemy. Stay your hand, young one."
While advising Benienma to calm down, the cloaked man retracted his Haki, relieving the tension on Thomas's body. Then, as they were standing in an alleyway, he removed his cloak to reveal an unkempt mane of spiky, obsidian black hair and a ferocious countenance. Most notably, a crimson tattoo adorned the left side of his face, resembling diamond-shaped eyes running from above his brow to his jawline.
Noticing the 'recognition' in Thomas's gaze, the man adopted a menacing smile as he asked, "You recognize me...?"
As if compelled by the man's words, Thomas instinctually nodded. The former was Lucy's father, also known as Monkey D. Dragon, the Supreme Commander of the Revolutionary Army and the most wanted man in the world. As such, even when he had retracted his aura completely, Thomas felt as though there was a hand grasping his heart, ready to squeeze it the moment he gave an unsatisfactory answer.
Maintaining his inherently malicious-looking smile, Dragon mused, "Relax. You're one of my daughter's precious crewmen. So long as you answer my questions honestly, I will not harm either of you."
Without waiting for Thomas to respond, Dragon got to the heart of the matter, asking, "How did you come to be in this world? Are you visitors from the outer system, or did you enter into our world using some other means...?"
Before Thomas could answer the Dragon's question, a familiar-looking gateway appeared behind him. Dragon reacted by spinning around and unleashing a powerful burst of Conqueror's Haki, forcing Thomas to his knees and knocking out nearly every civilian within Loguetown. However, despite his immediate reaction, he was powerless to escape the gate as it overtook his position and transported him tens of thousands of kilometers away in an instant...
"..."
While Thomas was struggling to process what had occurred due to the effects of Dragon's Conqueror's Haki, Benienma was largely unaffected, a concerned expression on her face as she cupped his cheeks with her tiny hands and asked, "Are you okay, Master...?"
Swallowing despite his throat feeling drier than a desert, Thomas took a moment to collect himself before replying, "Yeah, I'm fine. I'm just a little shaken, that's all. Dragon showing up was one thing, but Zelretch yeeting him was outside my expectations..."
As the gate that swallowed Dragon was visually similar to the one that had deposited him on the beach, Thomas was certain its appearance had something to do with Zelretch. He seriously doubted anyone in the world of One Piece could deal with the legendary Revolutionary with such ease, so it was the only thing that made sense.
All but confirming Thomas's suspicions, the logbook he generally kept in his room abruptly appeared above him, hitting him on the head before falling onto the ground and opening of its own accord. Then, as he and Benienma stared blankly at the exposed page, several lines of text slowly materialized, stating, 'It appears there are a few individuals in that world who can interpret the flow of fate. Worry not; I will ensure your paths do not cross again in the near future. Also, as you have diverged from Drake, I have modified your tome to allow you to view the Parameters and Skills of yourself and your Servants. You will find the information you seek in the back of your journal.'
"..."
Instead of questioning the old vampire's intervention, Thomas picked up the logbook and turned to the last page. What he saw caused his eyes to light up as the backmost page resembled a character profile/status page from a typical RPG. There was even a full-body image of the person in the upper left-hand corner of the page. In this instance, the person on display was himself, so Thomas's eyes practically exuded flames of intrigue as he read his status for the first time. The smile on his face cramped when he read certain sections, but it was still exciting to know how he compared to his Servants...
----------------------------------
[Profile]
Name: Thomas D. Jensen
Species: Human, Mana Progenitor
Gender: Male
Age: 36
Height: 221.8cm
Weight: 127kgs
Blood Type: O
Likes: Anime, Manga, Beautiful Women, and Thick Thighs
Dislikes: Himself
Talents: None
Natural Enemy: Himself
[Parameters]
Strength: E(13)
Endurance: E(17)
Agility: E(13)
Mana: EX(*)
Luck: EX(*)
NP: Unknown
[Class Skills]
N/A
[Personal Skills]
Wayward Traveler(EX), Mana-Mana-no-Mi(EX), Self-Doubt(C), Monstrous Strength(C-), Cooking(D), Lesser Regeneration(E)
Wayward Traveler(EX): A unique but ultimately useless Skill denoting the bearer as someone who has transcended their original world and chanced upon another by happenstance.
Mana-Mana-no-Mi(EX): The bearer has a unique constitution capable of generating and emitting a functionally infinite amount of Mana.
Self-Doubt(C): The bearer is plagued by a lack of confidence, sabotaging themselves and diminishing their capabilities.
Monstrous Strength(C-): The bearer is capable of drastically increasing their strength, speed, and durability but lacks proper control, causing him to damage himself in the process.
Cooking(E): Barely qualified to help prepare ingredients, dechi.
Lesser Regeneration(E): After consuming highly nutritious food over a lengthy period, the user has gained the ability to regenerate faster than an ordinary human.
----------------------------------
...
..
.
(A/N: I will most likely be posting an AUX Chapter that includes the profiles and parameters of each character, as well as an explanation of how Paramters function. If not today, then sometime in the near future.)

Though Benienma prepared lunch, everyone, sans Atalanta, departed the Going Merry once they reached the Baratie. Lucy and the Straw Hats had originally ventured to the floating restaurant in search of a Cook, so, even though they had Benienma to prepare meals for them, they still wanted to ask around.
Shortly after the group took their seats in the restaurant, Thomas was surprised by Zeff emerging from the kitchen, his wrinkled face especially gruff-looking as he revealed, "That Drake woman asked me to pass on a message once you showed up. She said that clinging to the known goes against everything an adventure is supposed to represent before taking off with that idiot son of mine. Here, take this."
Accepting the letter Zeff offered him, Thomas opened it to find a mere two lines written. The first was telling him not to be too butthurt since she needed a replacement cook. The second teased that he wouldn't have to worry about Sanji hitting on his Servants or acting as a 'competitor' for the female Straw Hats' attention.
Exhaling a sigh, Thomas crumpled up the piece of paper before placing it into his pocket, meeting Zeff's gaze, and responding, "Thanks for passing on her message. I appreciate it."
Shrugging his shoulders, Zeff replied, "It's about time that brat set out to fulfill his dream. Anyways, the food's on the house today. Make sure to fill your bellies before setting out yourselves. The sea can be an unforgiving mistress, and you never know when your next meal will come..."
Punctuating his words, Zeff passed out menus like a skilled dealer at a casino before returning to the kitchen. In his wake, Thomas mulled over both his words and the letter penned by Drake, a mixture of excitement and uncertainty swelling within him as he imagined what the future would be like without one of the key members of the Straw Hats in the crew...
...
..
.
After departing the Baratie, Nami insisted that their next destination be the Conomi Islands. She didn't want to set sail for the Grand Line without visiting her home, so, even though it took them twenty-three days in the opposite direction, that was where they headed.
Fortunately, while Drake was capable of piloting the Hind with her mind, she had insisted that Thomas learn how to sail properly. Caenis was also an experienced sailor, so the going was fairly smooth despite the journey taking 'a lot' longer than Thomas expected. This gave him plenty of time to acclimate to life on a 'normal' ship, and, to an extent, it demonstrated how the Straw Hats were able to improve so drastically between arcs. It simply took weeks to months for them to reach their destination...
By the time the Going Merry was preparing to moor at Nami's village, Cocoyasi, both Zoro and Lucy had made tremendous progress in their mastery of Observation Haki. Thomas also reduced the charging time of his energy blasts to one second, so his next goal was to channel a single beam for thirty seconds. This was easier said than done, but if he could master converting Mana into Magical Energy while actively channeling it, his battle capabilities would increase tremendously...
...
..
.
As it wasn't his business to meddle in Nami's private life, Thomas didn't protest when he was asked to watch over the Going Merry while she and Lucy made their way ashore. In the anime and manga, it was common for the Straw Hats to split up upon reaching a new island, so he wasn't going to insist on following certain people around in the hope of seeing certain events play out. Rather, he intended to take Drake's advice and 'do as he pleased' when the opportunity presented itself.
With such thoughts in mind, Thomas readily accepted when Caenis asked if he wanted to take a bath together. The two of them didn't get to spend nearly as much 'quality time' together now that they occupied cabins that were separated by gender. They compensated for this by taking the same shifts and periodically fucking in secret, but living in such close proximity to other people was fairly stressful.
Shortly after entering the bath and reclining her back against Thomas's muscular chest, Caenis lazily droned, "We seriously need a bigger ship..."
Nodding his head in affirmation, Thomas replied, "Our next ship should be around the same size as the Hind. Unfortunately, it'll be another seven to eight months before we acquire it..."
Exhaling an exasperated sigh, Caenis fell silent for a few seconds before reaching between her legs to caress Thomas's painfully erect cock as she playfully inquired, "You can't help yourself, can you? Are you so infatuated with my body that we can't even bathe together without you entering into heat...?"
Without waiting for Thomas's response, Caenis leaned forward slightly, adjusting the position of her hips so that she could practically devour his cock as she sat back down, exhaling a faint yet audibly impassioned sigh as she did so. Thomas wasn't the only one that got horny when they were together. Rather, after more than a year of fucking at least 2-3 times a week, Caenis felt an aching feeling in her loins even when Thomas wasn't near her.
Leaning her head back, Caenis gazed up at Thomas with a teasing look as she remarked, "You got bigger...at this rate, ordinary women aren't going to be able to 'accommodate' you. Want my help seducing Nami before you outgrow her completely...?"
Smiling wryly, Thomas replied, "As cute as Nami is, I'm more than content with the woman currently sitting in my lap. If I 'outgrow' her, then I guess we just weren't fated to be..."
Snorting through her nose, Caenis was tempted to lambast Thomas and call him an overly sentimental asshat. Instead, she squeezed her thighs together and began twisting her hips, stimulating his cock as he reached up to massage her breasts and pepper her shoulder with kisses...
...
..
.
After idling off the shores of the Conomi Islands for an entire week, the Going Merry returned to the Baratie one last time before setting sail for Loguetown, the final supply point for any ship looking to enter the Grand Line. It was also where the Pirate King, Gol D. Roger, had been born and executed. As such, it was regarded as a pilgrimage site for every Pirate originating from the East Blue.
Fortunately, unlike the canon Thomas was familiar with, none of the Straw Hats had a posted Bounty by the time they reached Loguetown. Because of this, the Going Merry was allowed to moor within the city's main port after paying a docking fee, placing them fairly close to the many shopping districts within the world-famous city.
Before everyone departed to purchase various goods and supplies, Nami distributed funds to Zoro and Usopp, giving each of them a mere 100,000 Berries while setting aside 3,000,000 for herself and Lucy. They would be purchasing most of the food and supplies for the journey, as well as some other necessary items, so neither of the boys complained. As for Thomas, Drake had left him a decently-sized treasure chest filled with 80,000,000 Berries and a few gold bars worth approximately 200,000,000. Nami had already 'claimed' this as funding for the crew, but she allowed Thomas to take what he needed since he had willfully handed it over.
With Zoro and Usopp splitting off to do their own thing, Thomas accepted Nami's invitation to accompany her and Lucy around town. He understood she was essentially asking him to be their bag carrier, but he didn't mind as it invariably meant he would get to see them try on various outfits. He was also curious to see if Buggy and Alvida would make an appearance when they reached the execution platform, so he happily accompanied them while Caenis willfully stayed behind to watch over the Going Merry with Atalanta and Astolfo.
Matching Thomas's expectations, one of the first places Nami dragged him and Lucy to was a famous, high-class boutique named after one of the world's most renowned fashion designers, Rebecca Hanberg. Upon entering the store, Thomas earned a questioning look from Nami as he stopped in place, staring at the poster of a 'familiar' young woman with peculiar red and white hair.
"What's up?" asked Nami before following Thomas's gaze and inquiring, "Are you a fan of Uta's music...?"
Adopting a wry smile, Thomas replied, "I've never heard any of her songs. She just looks 'familiar' to me..."
Understanding what Thomas was insinuating, Nami's brows perked up as she imagined encountering the increasingly famous Diva. To her surprise, Lucy eventually noticed the two of them staring at the poster, walking over to join them before tilting her head to the side and remarking, "Oh, I know this girl. She's Sh-"
Before Lucy could say something potentially ruinous, Thomas interrupted her, stating, "You shouldn't disclose her identity publicly, Lucy. Her father is famous, and not in a good way. If people learned of their connection, all of her father's enemies would attempt to kill or kidnap her..."
Opening her eyes wide, Lucy responded with a surprised, "Oh..." before looking up at the poster, furrowing her brows, and asking, "Would people really do such a thing?"
Nodding his head in affirmation, Thomas replied, "Most Pirates are cruel and malicious people who do everything in their power to benefit from a situation. Nami should have told you about what happened at her village, and I've warned you about the dangers of the Celestial Dragons...never underestimate the depravity and wickedness of humans who seek power for the sole purpose of dominating others..."
Hearing Thomas reference her past, a sigh escaped Nami's throat as her previously good mood diminished. She understood he was using her as an example so that Lucy would comprehend the importance of what he was saying, but it still bothered her. Not being present at the time of Arlong's defeat denied her the 'closure' she would have obtained by witnessing his downfall directly.
Realizing he may have stepped on a landmine, Thomas's smile became even wrier as he muttered, "Sorry...as an apology, I'll foot the bill for a few of the outfits you pick out..."
Regaining her vigor in an instant, Nami was practically beaming as she exclaimed, "No take-backs...!" before dragging Lucy over to the location of the most expensive articles of clothing. She was still a little upset, but, understanding Thomas hadn't meant any harm, she put on a happy front that became authentic when he was forced to fork over nearly 3,800,000 Berries for the outfits she selected for herself and Lucy.
Though his smile visibly cramped when he saw the receipt, Thomas paid it without a fuss. The impromptu fashion show he had received was worth a few million Berries, and the weight of the bags wasn't too much to bear now that he possessed superhuman strength.
Fortunately, while Thomas originally planned to carry around the bags the rest of the day like a proper chaperone, Nami had them return to the ship to drop things off before making their way to the town center, the location of Gol D. Roger's execution platform.
Shortly after reaching the remarkably crowded square, Lucy made her way over to climb the metal scaffolding. She wanted to see what Gol D. Roger witnessed just before his death, so she ignored Nami's protests, pushing her way through the crowd with a starry-eyed smile on her face.
Just as Thomas was beginning to wonder if Buggy and Alvida were going to make an appearance, Benienma abruptly appeared from his shadow to inform him, "There are enemies, dechi..." Then, as if spurred by the petite sparrow's words, a very conspicuous group of people wearing tan cloaks forced their way into the square...
...
..
.
(A/N: Nami is entrapping herself. Even if she's currently taking advantage of him, giving Thomas the boyfriend treatment will invariably make it a reality (O w O)...)

Chapter 35: Intervention