One Piece : Wild Hunt

As neither of them could sleep, Thomas and Vivi spent a little over two hours discussing various ways in which he could improve conditions in Alabasta.
After realizing he had a chance with the blue-haired beauty, even if his size would make things difficult, Thomas decided to go 'all in' on leaving a favorable impression on the Princess.
Fortunately, Magecraft could solve both of their problems. Spells to alter the size of an object or transform it completely were fairly common, and if he revised his 'image,' he could permanently change his appearance with Reinforcement. The same method would allow him to transmute ordinary, infertile sand into arable land.
Though Vivi struggled to believe Thomas's claims at first, she was fully convinced when he casually converted a handful of Whiskey Peak's red sand into mulchy soil. It took a fair amount of magical power, but Thomas speculated he could transform a few acres a day if he went all out. It was nowhere near what Alabasta needed to flourish, but having more arable land in a desert was never bad.
The best thing Thomas could do for Alabasta, which he pointed out, was to have Caenis 'fix' the Sandora River that had gradually succumbed to the sea's encroachment. The massive river was to Alabasta what the Nile was to Egypt, so decreasing its salinity and revitalizing its current would impact the lives of all 10,000,000 citizens inhabiting the country. Caenis producing rain would also allow the various Oases around the country to replenish, breathing life into a nation that had been gripped by drought for years.
After hearing the many ways in which Thomas and his Spirits could help revitalize her country, Vivi secretly regretted her words about 'not' asking him to marry her. His mind was full of ideas that could drastically change the way people in Alabasta lived for the better. More importantly, most of his ideas didn't burden the people. Instead, they were more like 'miracles' that solved some of her country's underlying issues without the need to expend billions of Berries and mobilize tens, if not hundreds of thousands of workers.
As the type of Princess that would readily take a bullet for one of her people, there was nothing Vivi wasn't personally willing to sacrifice to obtain Thomas's support. Unfortunately, she understood that Alabasta wasn't the only country that would benefit from his help. Thus, until he had completed his journey with the Straw Hats, she didn't have the heart to ask Thomas to abandon his crew and remain at her side. Instead, just as they were about to make their way back to the tavern, she said, "If this works out and everything goes as planned, know that you will always be welcome in Alabasta..."
Adopting a smile, Thomas replied, "It 'will' work out. I guarantee it. You just need to convince Igaram while I explain the situation to Nami, Lucy, Zoro, and Usopp. After that, we can either flee Whiskey Peak directly or stage a fight with the members of Baroque Works. If we cause a scene or take over the town, we can draw out some of the lower-digit agents and weaker Crocodile's forces before we reach Alabasta."
Blinking in surprise, Vivi remarked, "Wow, I didn't even think of that. You would make a good Military Strategist, Tom."
Shaking his head, Thomas replied, "Not really. I'm just making the most of my foreknowledge and the information available. If I had to figure things out like a normal person, I wouldn't be nearly as confident..."
Adopting a supportive smile, Vivi stated, "You shouldn't denigrate yourself in such a way, Tom. You're conspiring to take down a Warlord of the Sea. Most people would feel utterly helpless against such a foe, yet you regard your crew's victory as a matter of course. Even if you've 'seen' the future, your belief in your Captain and the bond you share with your companions is what will allow us to attain victory."
Exhaling through his nose, Thomas stared into Vivi's eyes with a wry smile as he remarked, "You're a good woman, Vivi..."
Averting her eyes and combing back her bangs, a faint blush developed through Vivi's cheeks as she asserted, "Then it seems we're suited to one another. As I said before, you're a good man, Thomas. I'm not sure what you experienced that shattered your confidence, but not just anyone could face a Warlord and help restore a nation. Once Crocodile has been defeated, I would like to help restore your self-esteem...even if only a little..."
Reaching out his hand, Thomas caressed Vivi's head, his expression and tone softening as he whispered, "Just hearing you say things like this has done wonders for my self-esteem. As for what broke me in the first place, I don't mind telling you..."
Retracting his hand from Vivi's head, Thomas averted his eyes, staring off into space as he revealed, "I was once engaged to my childhood friend, a girl I grew up alongside and eventually went on to date. After the incident that derailed my life, she was one of the few people who remained at my side, giving me hope that things would eventually return to normal..."
Inhaling a deep breath, Thomas clenched the muscles of his jaw a few times before appending, "At least, that's what I had deluded myself into thinking. I did everything to try and make that woman happy, yet, just as things were starting to change for the better, I found her having sex with another of my childhood friends, a man I had once regarded as a brother due to how close we were..."
Shaking his head, Thomas's expression revealed a deep melancholy as he returned his gaze to Vivi, concluding, "After that, I spiraled for a few years and have since avoided committing to anyone or anything. I only recently received the opportunity to change things. However, even though my past can no longer influence me directly, I'm still affected by the sequelae of a self-deprecating, self-destructive lifestyle..."
Adopting a faint but genuine smile, Thomas preempted Vivi's response by stating, "Don't worry. I've received a lot of help and am rapidly improving. That's the reason I choose to help people, though. Others in my situation might condemn or call me stupid, but I believe helping others is the best way to help myself..."
Exhaling through her nose, Vivi left Thomas at a loss for words as she spread her arms and adopted a sad smile, asking, "Do you mind if I hug you...?"
With Thomas failing to respond, Vivi took the initiative to step forward and give him the most comforting hug she could manage. The drastic disparity in their sizes made things a little awkward, as Vivi's head barely reached Thomas's diaphragm, but the blue-haired Princess did her best to console his clearly broken heart. He had rekindled her hope and promised to help revitalize her Kingdom, so mending his heart and restoring his confidence were the least she could offer as recompense...
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After reaching the tavern and separating from Vivi, Thomas made his way over to where Nami, Lucy, and Zoro were eating breakfast, taking his seat as the former pointedly inquired, "Did you have fun last night...?"
Shaking his head, Thomas replied, "It's complicated..." before looking around at the largely empty tavern and adding, "Once you're finished eating, we should speak in private..."
Seeing how 'serious' Thomas was behaving, Nami raised her brows but didn't question him on the spot. Instead, she put down her knife and fork, saying, "I don't have much of an appetite after last night's festivities. We can discuss it now if it's something important...?"
Nodding his head, Thomas rose to his feet, prompting Nami to do the same. The former tried to lead the way outside, but Nami appeared to have different intentions, dragging him to the girl's bathroom after having checked it for Den Den Mushi the previous night. The reverberations off the walls and the sound of running water could also interfere with audio, so she turned on all the faucets before seizing the opportunity to freshen up as she inquired, "So, what did you want to discuss?"
Without beating around the bush, Thomas replied, "That girl who tried to seduce and drug me last night is the Princess of the Alabasta Kingdom..."
Furrowing her brows, Nami turned to face Thomas directly, asking, "Were you not aware of that beforehand...?"
Nodding his head, Thomas replied, "I was. Her perfume made me a little muddleheaded, but I knew about her circumstances before we arrived at Whiskey Peak. I just used last night to confirm a few things..."
"Right..."
Crossing her arms, Nami inhaled a deep breath before exhaling it as an exasperated sigh. Even if Thomas wasn't present, she knew they would somehow become entangled with the aforementioned Princess, so she skipped interrogating him and asked, "Did you negotiate a proper reward for our assistance...?"
Adopting a faint smile, Thomas explained, "Her country is in dire straits due to a persistent drought, so an immediate monetary reward is out of the question. However, the person we'll be dealing with happens to run a very successful casino as the public face of their underground business. It would be best if we left the funds to help the Kingdom rebuild, but I'm sure you could negotiate for 10-50% in exchange for our services. That should equate to a few hundred million, if not more..."
As illusory Berry symbols appeared in her eyes, Nami reached up to give Thomas a pat on the shoulder, a radiant smile on her face as she stated, "You did good," before asking, "I'm assuming you already have a plan...?"
Nodding his head, Thomas gave a cursory explanation of everything he had discussed with Vivi. The pupils of Nami's eyes shrank when she heard they would be facing a Warlord, but she got over it pretty quickly when he confirmed their alternate reality counterparts would have faced Crocodile regardless. This time around, they were armed with the knowledge of Crocodile's weakness from the very beginning and had numerous ways to counteract just about anything he threw at them.
Interrupting the conversation between Thomas and Nami, Vivi poked her head into the bathroom, smiling wrily as she asked, "Is this a bad time...?"
Before Thomas could respond, Nami replied, "It's a perfect time, actually. There are a few things I wanted to discuss with you."
Following her words, Nami looked up at Thomas, a smile that wasn't quite a smile adorning her face as she asked, "Mind giving us some privacy, my dear Magus~?"
Adopting a wry smile, Thomas replied, "Right..." before making his way to the exit, passing Vivi in the process. He wanted to say something to her, but upon seeing her staring directly at Nami with a 'resolute' look on her face, he decided to leave the two women alone...
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Immediately following Thomas's departure, Nami crossed her arms and got to the heart of the matter, questioning, "How much did Thomas tell you about his powers?"
Understanding what Nami was truly asking, Vivi mirrored the orange-haired woman's actions, crossing her arms as she asserted, "He told me everything..."
Narrowing her eyes, Nami asked, "And you're okay with it? He could be manipulating you to get what he wants..."
Furrowing her brows deeply, Vivi surprised Nami by asking, "Are you truly members of the same crew? Thomas speaks so highly of everyone in the Straw Hats. Hearing you smear him like this, it's no wonder he hasn't been able to build his confidence..."
Before Nami could respond, Vivi practically stared daggers at her as she insisted, "Thomas is a good man. If he was half as conniving as you seem to think, why would he tell you about his knowledge of the future? You are blinded by your egocentrism."
Standing her ground, Nami's expression and tone hardened as she asked, "You've only known him for a single evening yet accuse me of being blind? What did he say or do to make you abandon reason...?"
Leaving Nami at a loss for words, Vivi answered, "Absolutely nothing. He had every opportunity to take advantage of me but chose not to. Instead, he comforted me, spurned my advances, and told me the truth in an effort to dissuade me from promising him a physical reward. If anyone is being taken advantage of in this situation, I'm absolutely certain you're the one taking advantage of Thomas. With his power, he could rule a country with very little effort. Instead, he chooses to travel with your group, helping to make your dreams a reality..."
Placing her hand over her heart, a pained expression marred Vivi's face as she expressed, "I honestly feel sorry for him...he's clearly working hard to make your lives easier, yet he has people like you questioning his integrity and the purity of his intentions. Tell me, has he ever once declined to help you with something? Have you ever thanked him for his efforts...?"
"..."
Seeing Nami remain silent, Vivi narrowed her eyes as she said, "I thought so..." before adding, "If you genuinely cared about him, you wouldn't have started this discussion by trying to sabotage him..."
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(A/N: Vivi is really fighting for that top spot on the podium...)

Shortly after departing the girl's bathroom, Thomas found himself nearly face-to-face with a glowering Igaram. The misshapen man was just over 7'1''(218cm), so they were roughly eye-level as he gestured towards the back house of the tavern, asking, "Care to see some of our finer brews...?"
"Sure, why not?" replied Thomas. He imagined Igaram was thinking he was attempting to take advantage of Vivi and Alabasta's predicament for personal gain. However, as their nation was doomed without external aid, they didn't have much choice but to rely on outsiders.
After passing through a kitchen area and descending a flight of stairs to a large wine cellar, Igaram turned to Thomas, staring daggers at him as he asked, "Who are you? What are your intentions toward our Princess...?"
Hardening his gaze, Thomas replied, "If I had any 'intentions' toward her, I would have acted upon them last night. Now, before you ask any other stupid questions, know I don't appreciate being interrogated by someone I'm trying to help..."
Narrowing his eyes, Igaram reached into his pocket, pulling out a handful of iron-rich red sand, demanding, "Then show me you have the power you profess. If you truly possess the ability to make Alabasta's land arable, I'll have nothing else to say on the matter..."
Inserting his finger into the clump of sand, Thomas used Reinforcement Magecraft to convert it to rich, mulchy soil in less than a second. Igaram's eyes widened as he did so, a subdued, "Remarkable..." emanating from his throat before he coughed a few times to cover it up. Then, with a serious countenance, he declared, "I will defer to the Princess's judgment on this matter. Tell me what you require."
As he had already formulated a plan with Vivi, Thomas replied, "For now, you should continue to act as a member of Baroque Works. We'll pretend to tap out prematurely tonight, so you can order your men to attack once night falls. Once the dust settles, we'll oust the Millions and Billions from the city while taking you and the other Frontier Agents hostage. Once the higher-ups learn we're occupying the city, they'll invariably send someone to 'deal' with us. Depending on who they send, we can drastically reduce the strength of Crocodile's executive forces."
Nodding his head in approval, Igaram remarked, "It's a sound plan. That is, assuming you and your ilk are as capable as you purport them to be..."
Shrugging his shoulders, Thomas left Igaram at a loss for words as he replied, "The strongest people in Baroque Works are Sir Crocodile and Daz Bonez. We already know the weakness of the former, and the latter is no match for our crew's First Mate, Roronora Zoro. As for Miss All Sunday, you can just leave her to me. Anyone ranked lower than them barely even qualifies as fodder."
"..."
Though he felt Thomas was being a little presumptuous, Igaram decided to trust in the former's assertion, responding, "Very well. Just know that I won't be pulling my punches. We need to make things convincing, just in case things go South and you're not nearly as powerful as you claim..."
Understanding that Igaram just wanted to punch or shoot him with his shotgun saxophone, Thomas resisted the urge to roll his eyes, narrowing them as he stated, "I give at least as good as I get. Be careful you don't hurt yourself..."
"Hmph...!"
After snorting through his nose, Igaram walked past Thomas, stating, "I hope you know what you're doing..." before making his way up the stairs, leaving the latter alone in the wine cellar. Thomas eventually followed suit but not before picking up a large keg to justify his visit to the underground storage area. It weighed close to 300kgs, but he was able to heft it onto his shoulder without straining himself in the slightest...
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With nothing else to do until sunset, Thomas spent a few hours hanging out with Caenis, Astolfo, Atalanta, and Benienma after apprising them of the situation.
Though men were prohibited from entering the women's cabin, it was a one-way street as the girls were allowed to come and go as they pleased. Thomas and Zoro didn't really care, but it had caused Usopp a great deal of stress as he wasn't very good at dealing with women. It didn't help that everyone but Astolfo practically ignored him.
Fortunately, Usopp wasn't present, so Thomas didn't have to worry about the long-nosed man staring at him as he sat nestled between Caenis and Astolfo. The latter was snuggling against him while squeezing his arm and rubbing her cheek against his bicep, but Thomas didn't mind. He felt like a substantial weight had been removed from his shoulders after confiding in Vivi, so he was in too good a mood to let Astolfo's gender perturb him. So long as she didn't take things too far...
"Astolfo..."
Despite several light warnings, Astolfo's finger invariably found their way to Thomas's inner thigh, a playful smile developing across her face as she mused, "You're alone with a bunch of cute girls. Just drinking is bland. We should liven things up so that you're properly 'motivated' before going into battle..."
Exhaling a faint sigh through his nose, Thomas was about to reject the pink-haired imp's proposal when Caenis supplied, "It's a good idea. Back in my day, soldiers going into battle would spend the hours before eating, drinking, and fucking freely. Only the Fates knew when they would meet their end, so they made the most of what could be their final moments."
Smiling wryly, Thomas removed Astolfo's hand from his semi, remarking, "I have no intention of dying anytime soon..."
Instead of getting upset, Astolfo grinned like a mischievous succubus as she appended, "And we have no intentions of letting you. All I'm saying is that we should spice things up. You know, like playing a drinking game? If we set some ground rules and ensure things are fair, even Atalanta should be willing to play with us..."
Hearing Astolfo's words, Atalanta's brows immediately furrowed. She had acquiesced when Thomas arrived with a barrel of wine and asked if she would like to join them for a few drinks, but there was a reason she was seated away from the rest of the group. She became clingy and enjoyed cuddling when intoxicated.
Before Atalanta could refuse, Astolfo's smile became wry as she implored, "Come on, Lanta. You allow Master to caress your head when he restores your Mana, don't you? This isn't that different. And besides, there's no one around to judge us..."
Raising her hand, Caenis adopted a wolfish grin as she teased, "I wouldn't say that. I can be pretty judgmental when I want to be..."
Adopting a pouty, almost teary-eyed expression, Astolfo looked to Caenis as she said, "You're not helping..."
Shrugging her shoulders, Caenis replied, "I'm not in a hurry to lose the 'exclusivity' I enjoy. If our Master isn't ready to fuck you, suck it up and find a post to sit on. Trying to force the matter by relying on others is just pathetic."
Though her response wasn't 'meant' to be harsh, Ceanis's brash words caused Astolfo to tear up legitimately. She was hoping the others would support her, so she couldn't help feeling betrayed. Fortunately, just as the first tears were about to fall, Atalanta exhaled a sigh and said, "I'll play..." in a faint, nearly inaudible tone.
Bouncing back immediately, Astolfo was all smiles as she replied, "That's great~!" in a cheerful tone. There were still traces of tears at the corners of her eyes, but she quickly wiped them away before looking at Thomas with visibly glistening, unrepentantly expectant eyes.
Suppressing a sigh, Thomas adopted a faint smile as he asked, "What are the rules? I will have to refuse to play if it's too risque..."
Understanding Thomas's concerns, Astolfo's smile became even more radiant as she replied, "We'll have Benienma act as an impartial 'dealer.' Since each of us has quantifiable Luck Parameters, it wouldn't be fair if we took turns rolling dice or playing cards. We also know she won't cheat, so she's the best person to play the part. You can always reward her by letting her wash your back or something later."
Though she initially wasn't interested in Astolfo's proposition, Benienma's eyes lit up at the prospect of washing Thomas's back. One of the official duties of a Kosho was cleansing their Lord's back, so his refusal to let her do so caused her a considerable amount of frustration. She even offered to violate bathroom etiquette by wearing a swimsuit, but her Master was obstinate over the most insensible things...
Seeing Benienma 'glaring' at him, Thomas nearly refused to participate on the spot. The petite sparrow was the one who undressed and cleaned his body when he lost consciousness, but he still wasn't comfortable with the idea of letting her join him in the bath. He might relent if she 'only' washed his back, but his instincts told him she would want to ensure every part of his body was squeaky clean...
Not wanting to waste Atalanta's kindness or quash Astolfo's excitement, Thomas exhaled a faint, ostensibly defeated sigh through his nose as he replied, "Fine. But if things get out of hand, this is the last time we play a drinking game for the foreseeable future. Now-"
Before Thomas could ask what the rules were a second time, Astolfo pounced on him, throwing her arms around his neck as she exclaimed, "Yay~! Thank you, thank you, thank you~!" before pressing a prolonged and somewhat sloppy kiss on his cheek. Then, after alighting from the sofa, she excitedly explained, "The rules are simple! Benienma will roll dice within a cup, and everyone will guess whether the total value is odd or even. If you guess correctly, you get to move on. If there are only two people left, the first person to state their guess gets priority. The last man or woman standing becomes the Master and gets to command two of the eliminated players to engage in an 'activity' for between 3-7 minutes. Any questions~?"
Raising her hand, Caenis adopted a cheeky grin as she asked, "What are the limits as far as orders are concerned? I'm down for anything goes, but Atalanta might get butthurt if I ask her to sit on our Master's cock."
Furrowing her brows, Atalanta asserted, "I will only offer my virginity to the one who defeats me in a footrace without relying on external aid or underhanded means..."
Rolling her eyes, Caenis maintained her smile as she retorted, "We both know the Priestesses of Artemis were into pegging. Taking it up the butt isn't the same as relinquishing your chastity."
"..."
Instead of refuting Caenis's words, Atalanta turned her attention to Astolfo to see what she had to say. She would never admit it, but the thought of doing 'butt stuff' had crossed her mind a few times over the past year. Thomas was kind and considerate, so she sometimes felt she owed him more than just permitting him to touch her ears.
Unfortunately, while she was the closest thing Atalanta had to a friend within the group, Astolfo wasn't aware of the dichromatic cat girl's desire to repay Thomas's 'kindness.' She was ultimately just using the game as an excuse to expose her 'secret' to Thomas, so she raised her finger and assured, "Though stripping is allowed, let's limit touching to over the clothes, or, at the very least, panties. If the game proves enjoyable, we can always play with fewer restrictions in the future. Now, unless there are more questions, shall we begin~?"
With no one else having anything to ask, Astolfo whipped out the cup of dice she had prepared in advance, entrusting it to Benienama. Then, with bated breath, everyone watched intently as Benienma gave the tiny cup a good shake, covering the top with her hand as she asked, "Odds or even? No changing your minds once you decide..."
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(A/N: A variation of the King's Game, a common theme within my novels xD...)

Though he was puzzled by Vivi's reaction, Thomas wasn't a complete idiot. He might have missed it back in his previous world, but women in the world of One Piece were a lot more 'animated.' The same could be said for everyone that inhabited the anime-inspired world, but Thomas paid a lot more attention to beautiful women than random people.
As he no longer felt that women of Vivi's caliber were out of his league, a sentiment he owed entirely to Caenis, Thomas managed a narrow-eyed smile as he gestured toward the edge of her bed, requesting, "Shall we discuss terms...?"
Nodding in affirmation, Vivi sat down on the edge of her bed, tensing a bit when Thomas sat closer than was strictly necessary. Their bodies didn't touch, but it would only take a slight movement on either of their parts for their knees to bump. Thomas's size also made him seem a lot closer than he actually was...
Breaking the ice, Thomas revealed, "I'm aware that a certain 'reptile' has fabricated a drought in your country. I am also aware that your father has been falsely accused, leading to civil unrest and the emergence of rebel forces who believe he is 'stealing' their rain..."
Asking the first question that entered her mind, Vivi inquired, "How do you know all of this? I spent the last two years undercover and only recently learned there might be a connection between my country's benefactor, Sir Crocodile, Baroque Works, and the drought plaguing my homeland..."
Blinking in surprise, Thomas asked, "Really? I thought you would have already figured it out by now..."
Though he had read the One Piece manga and watched the anime several times, Thomas's knowledge of the plot was far from flawless. He recalled that Mr 5 and Miss Valentine showed up to eliminate Vivi and Igaram after discovering their identities, but he forgot that it was 'after' their escape from Whiskey Peak that Robin, Miss All Sunday, helped the Princess learn the truth about Mr 0's, better known as Sir Crocodile's, identity.
Instead of trying to backpedal, Thomas gave an affirming nod, revealing, "Crocodile is using a combination of his Devil Fruit and an illegal chemical known as Dance Powder to promote rainfall in certain locations, inducing droughts in others."
Nodding her head, Vivi replied, "That's one of the reasons people turned against my father. They believe he is hoarding the rain to make Alubarna prosper at the expense of the rest of the country."
Adopting a smile, Thomas said, "That's where we come in. You might find this difficult to believe, but one of my companions possesses the ability to influence the weather to create storms. With enough time and energy, she could make a storm covering all of Alabasta. That should assuage most of the citizenry's concerns, at least long enough for us to deal with Crocodile and his minions. Once they're out of the way, we just need to be rid of the Dance Powder, and the climate will gradually return to normal."
Though she found it difficult to imagine someone creating a rainstorm that affects her entire nation, an island with a width exceeding 2700km and a median length of 1900km, Vivi didn't challenge Thomas's claim. Instead, she asked, "And what do you expect in return? Alabasta isn't very wealthy, and our people need that money to fund food and other resources..."
Shrugging his shoulders, Thomas's expression softened as he replied, "I'm sure Nami would request something like 1,000,000,000 Berries as a prize, but most of us don't care about things like that. Lucy will help out the moment she learns that people are starving. As for Zoro, he would be happy so long as there are powerful opponents..."
Swallowing a knot that had developed in her throat, Vivi leaned almost imperceptibly closer to Thomas as she asked, "And what about you? What do 'you' want, Thomas...?"
Suppressing his baser instincts, the corners of Thomas's smile curled up as he answered, "I got to experience having a gorgeous Princess sitting on my lap and serving me alcohol. That's something money can't typically buy, so I'm pretty content as is. If you want to 'reward' me further, that's up to you..."
As he was effectively 'casting his dice' blindly, Thomas's brain nearly short-circuited when Vivi adopted a resolute expression and replied, "If you're truly able to help my people out of this predicament...I don't mind giving you 'any' reward I can personally grant..."
Hanging her head, Vivi blushed up to her ears as she appended, "Even if that reward happens to be me..." in a meek, nearly inaudible tone. If not for their proximity, Thomas wouldn't have been able to hear it. Hell, even though they were mere centimeters away from each other, he was almost certain he had 'misheard' her...
Reaching up to his face, Thomas gave his cheek a pinch to confirm he wasn't dreaming or hallucinating. Vivi noticed this, an amused chuckle emanating from her throat before she turned her distinct purple eyes up at him and asserted, "I really mean it. You could have done whatever you wanted to me last night, but you chose to comfort me. If you can save my country...I'll owe you more than I can ever hope to repay...no matter how much you ask of me..."
Mirroring Vivi's reaction from earlier, Thomas swallowed harder before averting his eyes from the Princess's earnest gaze. He 'really' wanted to accept her proposition, but now that it was actually on the table, he felt like he would be a massive dick not to apprise her of his circumstances. If she had abruptly fallen in love with him, she might be devastated to learn he slept or intended to sleep with other women...
Exhaling loudly through his nose, Thomas shook his head and said, "You should offer yourself to the person you love, not someone like me. I'm an opportunist with more lust than sense, Vivi. I haven't been in a committed relationship for more than fifteen years, and I typically jump at the chance to sleep with attractive women. If you were someone ordinary, I-"
Furrowing her brows slightly, Vivi interjected, stating, "I've already made my decision. If you do not wish to accept my offer, you need only refuse when the time comes. As for the matter concerning your relationship with other women...it wasn't like I was suggesting we get married. I know you still have a journey to go on and dreams you wish to make a reality...I just wanted to provide you a night we could both remember..."
Though she could hardly believe the words coming from her mouth, Vivi spoke with 'conviction' from start to finish. She had been terrified beyond compare when she realized she had ingested the muscle relaxer intended for Thomas. If the latter hadn't been aware of her identity, she knew how the night would have ended. People generally didn't take kindly to being drugged and rendered defenseless. Had it been just about anyone else in Thomas's position, she would have paid a 'very' steep price...
As Thomas turned to look at her, Vivi inadvertently looked away before forcing herself to meet his gaze, smiling wryly as she added, "If it makes things easier, you should know I like big, strong, and reliable men...you're also pretty handsome, so I really don't mind. It's just, how sure are you of your victory? Sir Crocodile is one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, one of the Three Great Powers that control and regulate the Grand Line. Baroque Works is also filled with powerful fighters and has a literal army to support them..."
Suppressing his inhibitions, Thomas regained his smile as he replied, "So long as we plan accordingly, dealing with Crocodile isn't that difficult. We already know his biggest weakness, so we just need to corner him before he can use his Awakening. If that doesn't work...well, let's just say I have a few sure-fire methods of dealing with him..."
Staring down at the back of his hand, which had regenerated his missing Command Spells, the image of Musashi appeared in Thomas's mind. He didn't want to disrupt her journey so soon after they had parted ways, but he had lost faith in the plot long ago. If things went South and he couldn't see a reasonable path to victory, he would summon Musashi to deal with the wayward Shichibukai in an instant...
Following Thomas's gaze, Vivi's tone was tinged with confusion as she asked, "A tattoo...?"
Exhaling a faint chuckle, Thomas flipped his hand over, amassing a tiny sphere of Magical Energy as he explained, "I ate a Devil Fruit called the Mana-Mana-no-Mi. It gives me all kinds of abilities, including the power to summon mighty Spirits when I'm in need..."
Seeing the energy gathering in Thomas's palm, Vivi's eyes glistened as she remarked, "It's very pretty..."
Smiling wryly, Thomas responded, "It's very destructive. This little ball can generate as much kinetic energy as a cannonball. And that's just one of its many, many uses. Once my control has improved, there isn't much I won't be able to do..."
Crushing the ball of magical energy in his hand, Thomas reabsorbed it into his body as he revealed, "And if you think that sounds scary, I'm only the third strongest member of the Straw Hats. My Captain, Lucy, can level entire buildings with her full-powered punches and kicks..."
Though it wasn't the first time Thomas had mentioned someone else as the Captain, Vivi couldn't help questioning, "Lucy? That strange girl that ate so much food she resembled a ball...?"
Recalling the gruesome and somewhat 'dangerous' sight, Thomas's smile became wry as he replied, "Yeah, that's her. But don't let her appearance fool you. When she gets serious, there are very few opponents she can't defeat, Warlord or otherwise. She may get knocked down a few times, but she always gets back up stronger, faster, and more determined than ever. If I had even half her mettle and willpower...I honestly can't imagine how strong I would become..."
Raising her brows slightly, Vivi remarked, "You seem to respect your Captain a great deal..." before adopting a playful smile and asking, "Is there anyone else going on, I wonder~? I noticed you were paying a lot of attention to her and that girl with the orange hair while we were drinking together..."
Exhaling an exasperated sigh, Thomas shook his head before explaining, "I can't help but worry about them. Despite her strength, Lucy is a bit of an idiot. Even though I know she can protect herself, I can't help feeling anxious seeing her surrounded by a group of men actively attempting to get her drunk senseless. If any of them tried to take liberties with her or Nami, we probably wouldn't be having this conversation right now..."
Adopting an apologetic smile, Vivi offered a faint, "Sorry..." before falling silent. She had seen the fate that awaited the female members of Pirate crews that lacked substantial Bounties. Those who died were considered the lucky ones, as those who were captured became 'comfort girls' for the Billions and Millions, the most numerable and lowest-ranking members of Baroque Works. Few survived more than a few weeks before taking their lives in despair, while the remainder ended up being sold into slavery after having their bodies and minds broken beyond repair...
Recalling how she had willfully participated in a scheme that would have ensured Thomas and his crew suffer a similar fate, assuming they weren't able to defend themselves, Vivi hung her head in shame. Everything she had done the past two years was for the sake of her citizens and country, but that didn't change the fact she had aided in the ruination of hundreds, if not thousands of people...
Seeing Vivi's previously good mood deteriorating rapidly, Thomas exhaled a faintly exasperated sigh before extending his hand to caress her head, a habit he had developed thanks to Astolfo. The blue-haired Princess was a little surprised at first, but after raising her gaze to find Thomas staring at her with concern, she regained a smile, surprising him by softly asserting, "You're a good man, Thomas..."
Before Thomas could shake his head and refute Vivi's claim, the latter left him at a loss for words as she abruptly snuggled closer to him and placed her head on his bicep. Then, for several minutes, the two of them stayed like that until she tentatively suggested, "If you're still tired...we can sleep together. This time without a distance separating us..."
Though he felt obligated to refuse, Thomas only hesitated for a short while before adopting a faint smile of his own and replying, "I'd like that..."
...
..
.
(A/N: This ship is equipped with a state-of-the-art turbo engine...could this be the legendary Pluton!?)

Chapter 42: Integrity