One Piece : Wild Hunt

Following Chloe's departure, Thomas apologized to Illya for his hurtful words before leaving to get some fresh air. He really was sorry, but, at the same time, he couldn't help feeling incredibly frustrated with how things had played out.
Ignoring the glowers of the Royal Guardsmen he passed, Thomas made his way to the palace library before finding a place to lie down.
Despite his efforts to appear proactive and assertive, Thomas was, at the very core of his being, an introvert. He had grand aspirations and liked to imagine himself possessing unflinching convictions, but he wouldn't have become a borderline recluse if he possessed the confidence and strength of character to improve his situation. Not without some divine, or perhaps demonic, intervention...
Instead of reading any of the books around him, Thomas manifested his logbook/journal out of thin air. It recorded most major and minor events in his life and sometimes provided insights he might have overlooked due to his mental and emotional state. Thus, rather than simply mulling over his thoughts and replaying the encounter in his mind, Thomas read what the journal had to say on the matter.
To Thomas's surprise, what awaited him when he opened the journal were the words, 'Things not going according to plan is one of the spices of life. Knowing how a story will progress and end before it reaches the epilogue isn't very interesting.'
Removing the pen from the journal's spine, Thomas threw caution to the wind as he wrote, 'I asked you to send me to the world of One Piece, not some bastardized reality made convoluted by the existence of Magic and Install Cards. I know you like fucking with people, but this isn't what we agreed to.'
Though he regretted the words as he wrote them, Thomas didn't think he was in the wrong. His agreement with Zelretch was to help the man 'after' attaining his goals. Instead, his journey was constantly being derailed by events and people that had nothing to do with the world of One Piece. All because he wasn't a 'complete' asshole.
As he wasn't expecting a response, Thomas's eyes briefly widened when a line of text began to form in the journal. However, when he saw what it had to say, his expression morphed into a deadpan with half-lidded eyes...
'No one is forcing you to assemble Install Cards or render aid to the Prism Pirates.'
"Bullshit!" shouted Thomas. "What else was I supposed to do!? Tell them to fuck off and ignore them!?"
Resisting the urge to throw the journal as far as he could, Thomas grit his teeth and awaited Zelretch's response. What he read left him equal parts exasperated and incensed, as the elderly vamp simply replied, 'That's for you to decide.'
Snapping the journal shut, Thomas tossed it aside and began massaging his forehead. He knew Zelretch was technically correct, but what kind of person would he be if he ignored world-ending stakes and pretended it had nothing to do with him?
"I should have asked to go to Pokemon or something..." groaned Thomas.
As if to call him out on his bullshit, a door-like portal opened a few meters away from Thomas. What awaited him on the opposite side was a world reminiscent of the Detective Pikachu movie in terms of graphical fidelity. The people appeared perfectly normal, but there were realistic Pokemon riding on their shoulders or following behind them in a relatively modern setting...
Furrowing his brows to their limit, Thomas muttered, "You're an asshole..." in a low, somber tone. He may have been able to leave his previous world behind without hesitation, but there were too many things binding him to the world of One Piece for him to simply abandon it. Vivi was chief among them, but she was far from the only person he had made promises to...
In response to Thomas's words, the portal promptly snapped shut. In its place, a crystal clear sphere plopped onto the carpeted floor, followed by a piece of parchment paper.
Though he was tempted to ignore them, Thomas eventually exhaled a sigh before getting up and retrieving the sphere. It was surprisingly light and warm to the touch but otherwise resembled a normal crystal sphere. As for the piece of parchment paper, it said, 'Though you may have been whining like a temperamental child, there is some merit to your claim that the present situation is a violation of our original agreement. However, as you have chosen to remain in that world, this sphere, the Cradle of Desire, is the only compensation I will provide. Its power is paltry compared to a Grail, but it can grant its user power, wisdom, or courage. But only one, so choose wisely.'
Reading Zelretch's message, Thomas honestly wasn't sure how to feel. The Cradle of Desire was undoubtedly a boon, but he felt as though he was being bribed to stop complaining. Beyond that, he was supposed to be attaining strength for himself. Should he really be accepting handouts from a man who egged him to his core...?
For the briefest of moments, Thomas considered smashing the Cradle of Desire on the ground. Instead, he plopped down on the chaise lounge he had previously been lying on, staring blankly at the crystalline sphere as he considered whether to select power, wisdom, or courage...
Adopting a wry smile, Thomas softly muttered, "So, my choices are to be Ganon, Zelda, or Link..."
With that image in his mind, Thomas held up the crystalline sphere and added, "Courage it is..." before closing his eyes as the globe lit up like a small sun. A surge of heat rushed over his body but quickly faded, leaving Thomas wondering if the sphere had actually done anything.
After giving himself a quick once-over and testing the quality of his Mana, Thomas muttered, "I don't feel any different..." in a confused tone. He felt calmer than he had been moments prior, but it wasn't like he had stopped feeling angry or exasperated.
As he had a convenient method of checking his condition, Thomas picked up the journal and opened it to the page depicting his profile. He made a habit of checking it nearly every day, so he would notice if something was different.
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[Profile]
Name: Thomas D. Jensen
Species: Human, Mana Progenitor
Gender: Male
Age: 36
Height: 213.9cm
Weight: 138kgs
Blood Type: O
Likes: Nefertari Vivi, Thick Thighs, Personal Time
Dislikes: Plot Twists, Meddlesome Vampires
Talents: Opportunistic
Natural Enemy: Himself, Mature Little Girls
[Parameters]
Strength: E(18)
Endurance: D(20)
Agility: E(15)
Mana: EX(*)
Luck: EX(*)
NP: Unknown
[Class Skills]
N/A
[Personal Skills]
Wayward Traveler(EX), Mana-Mana-no-Mi(EX), Valor(E), Monstrous Strength(C), Lesser Regeneration(C), Cooking(D), Reinforcement(C), Material Transmutation(D), Rune Magecraft(E), Elemental Magecraft(E)
Valor(E): The ability to negate mental interference such as pressure, confusion, and fascination. It also has the bonus effect of increasing melee damage depending on the user's emotional state.
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Though his Parameters hadn't changed much, Thomas noticed that the 'flavor text' of his Profile had changed a fair amount. His Likes, Dislikes, Talents, and Natural Enemies had all been updated. However, the most notable change was the absence of the Self-Doubt Personal Skill. In its place, while only E-Rank, he now had a Skill called Valor...
"Can something like self-doubt really be erased with such ease?" asked Thomas, his voice calm despite experiencing a sense of incongruency. It reminded him of the time he had been prescribed medication for anxiety, minus the dull-headedness and desire to sleep.
Interrupting Thomas's reverie, Vivi abruptly entered the library, calling out, "Thomas, are you in here?" in an audibly concerned voice. She had heard his outburst a few minutes prior and decided to come and check on him.
Though a part of him still wanted to be alone, Thomas rose to his feet and called out, "I'm over here," revealing his location. In response, Vivi hurried over to his side, a concerned look on her face as she tentatively inquired, "I take it things didn't go well with Illya and Chloe...?"
Shaking his head, Thomas surprised himself by answering, "It's fine," and actually meaning it. Now that he had calmed down, he recalled that Ruby, Chloe, and, to a lesser extent, Illya were necessary if he wanted to break free from Zelretch's influence. Attempting to pawn them off onto others and consequently antagonizing them probably wasn't the wisest decision he could have made.
Acknowledging his mistake, a wry smile developed across Thomas's face as he extended his hand to caress Vivi's head, adding, "Selfishness really does blind people to the things right in front of them..."
Though she had no idea what Thomas was talking about, Vivi returned a smile and stepped closer to him, linking her hands around his waist as she asserted, "I'm sure they'll forgive you." in a faint but certain tone.
Adopting a more relaxed smile, Thomas embraced Vivi as he replied, "If not now, then after I assemble the remaining Install Cards. I imagine it's pretty difficult to stay mad at the person who helped restore your friend's world..."
Realizing that Thomas was making a joke, a faint giggle emanated from Vivi's throat. Then, with slightly narrowed eyes, she looked up at him and said, "There's something different about you today. Did something else happen?"
Instead of going into detail about what had transpired, Thomas answered, "I received a bit of compensation..." before bending down to plant a kiss on Vivi's lips. She was a little surprised by his actions but didn't hesitate to lean into him, enjoying the moment even as Thomas's hands gradually slipped from her waist to her bottom...
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As was often the case when Thomas returned to their shared bedroom, Caenis 'greeted' him with a curt, "You're late," while lying on her side in a way that left nothing concealed.
"You're not wrong," replied Thomas, adding, "I got a bit sidetracked after my conversation with Illya, Chloe, and Ruby."
Rising to a seated position, Caenis raised her left brow as she remarked, "What the hell happened to you? You're still making excuses, but your expression and body language are different than normal..."
Without waiting for Thomas's response, Caenis sprang from the bed and appeared before him in an instant, right hand outstretched as if she were about to flick his forehead. The only reason she stopped was because a magical barrier had appeared around his body, indicating he wasn't simply an imposter.
Retracting her hand, Caenis asked, "What happened? Did you finally teach those brats a lesson...?"
Shaking his head, Thomas replied, "Not yet," before changing the topic by asking, "Have you eaten anything today?"
Looking down at Thomas's waistline, Caenis mused, "Technically...though you couldn't exactly call it a proper meal."
As Heroic Spirits didn't need to consume food for sustenance, Caenis was more than satiated after Thomas's continuous 'Mana Transfers.' She even felt a little engorged, though she would never admit it.
Nodding his head, Thomas said, "Then let's hop in the bath. Afterward, we'll get dressed and head to the main dining hall. Tonight might be the Straw Hats' last night in Alabasta, so Vivi is inviting everyone to partake in a banquet."
Narrowing her eyes, Caenis remarked, "You're acting really bizarre this afternoon...since when do you tell people what to do rather than asking them?"
Placing his hand on Caenis's shoulder, Thomas began guiding her toward the bath as he asked, "Would you rather me get on my knees and beg...?"
Snorting through her nose, Caenis retorted, "Sure. Just don't be surprised when I kick you in the face..."
Catching the white-haired horsewoman off guard, Thomas ruffled her hair as he said, "Don't tempt me..." with a slight smile. He didn't exactly have a foot fetish, but if it were Caenis, he wouldn't mind suckling her toes.
Taken aback by Thomas's words and actions, Caenis didn't immediately elbow him in the gut. She did, hard enough to knock the wind out of him, but there was a brief moment where she looked up at him as if he were a completely different person...
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(A/N: Valor apparently has the hidden trait of making people seek death...)

After fooling around in the bath for a bit, Thomas, followed closely by Caenis, made his way to the main dining hall. There, he found nearly everyone was already present. Lucy was even a little red in the face as she danced alongside Astolfo and a somewhat nervous-looking Usopp. The latter wasn't too good with women, but Lucy and Astolfo didn't seem to care as they forced him to accompany them.
Noticing Thomas, Lucy's smile broadened as she shouted, "Tom! Come and dance with us~!"
Though he would have politely refused under any other circumstance, Thomas only hesitated briefly before joining Lucy and Usopp atop the table. They were about to part for upwards of two, maybe even three years, so he set aside his usual inhibitions and decided to enjoy himself.
Seeing Thomas willfully submit to Lucy's antics, Nami remarked, "You're right. He really is behaving differently..."
Nodding her head, Vivi replied, "I'm not sure if he's just putting on an act, but he's a lot more...assertive than before."
Turning her attention to Vivi, Nami asked, "Oh? How so...?" in a curious tone. The faint blush on Vivi's face told a story in and of itself, but she was interested in hearing the specifics.
Instead of responding to Nami's inquiry, Vivi reached up to massage the heat out of her cheeks. It was just her, Nami, Robin, and the ever-silent Artoria seated together, but she didn't think it was proper to mention how she and Thomas had nearly knocked over a bookshelf when their make-out session got particularly 'intense.'
Narrowing her eyes in amusement, Robin cupped her right cheek as she playfully mused, "How enviable. It must be very 'fulfilling' to have a man as passionate as Tom as a lover..."
Catching Robin a little off guard, Vivi looked her in the eyes as she said, "I'm pretty sure you're one of the girls Tom had his eyes on from the very beginning. Since we'll be working together toward a common goal, I don't mind if you want to start a relationship with him..."
Contrasting the incredulous look on Nami's face, Robin maintained her usual smile as she closed her eyes and replied, "I would be lying if I said I hadn't given it some thought. Before my encounter with Tom, I had just about given up on my dream of locating the Rio Poneglyphs and learning the true history of the world. After all, it took more than twenty years just to ascertain the location of a single Poneglyph. Now, with some help from Astolfo, I could locate the remainder with relative ease..."
Opening her eyes, the corners of Robin's smile curled upward as she added, "If you're truly alright with it, I would like to, at the very least, express my gratitude to Tom for rekindling my hope. Where things go from there, I can only imagine..."
With a somewhat grouchy expression, Nami preempted Vivi's response by raising her glass to her lips and grumbling, "That man really does have the Devil's luck. Even when he's off having fun and partying, his future wife is basically helping him scout women for his harem..."
Smiling wryly, Vivi replied, "I'm not entirely sure that's the case. While it's true Tom plans to have relationships with multiple women, I don't think he intends to build a harem..."
Narrowing her eyes, Nami asked, "What else would you call a relationship between one man and multiple women?"
Without a moment of hesitation, Robin mused, "Polygamy?" in a teasing tone.
Adopting a deadpan expression, Nami resisted the urge to ask what the difference was. Instead, she asserted, "Regardless of what you call it, it doesn't change the fact Tom is incredibly fortunate. He works pretty hard, but the ease at which he accumulates wealth and power is ridiculous. At this rate, it really is just a matter of time before he rules the entire world..."
"Is that such a bad thing?" asked Robin, adding, "The World Government is beyond corrupt. Tom may not possess the disposition or desire to rule, but he has a robust sense of responsibility. That alone makes him better than the vast majority of Celestial Dragons..."
Nodding her head, Vivi appended, "That's kind of what I was alluding to. Rather than 'collecting' women to further his ambitions, Tom is the type of person to pledge his unwavering support to others. So long as they don't cheat on him while receiving his support, I don't think he would mind even if the majority of women he sleeps with moved on or fell in love with other people."
Recalling Thomas mentioning he wouldn't mind sleeping with her, even after she had wronged him, Nami found it difficult to refute Vivi's words. Like most men, Thomas didn't necessarily seek an 'emotional connection' with the women he associated with. He was certainly possessive, but so long as he wasn't in an active relationship with someone, he wouldn't care what they did, much less who they slept with.
Interrupting Nami's thoughts, Vivi added, "Though he presents himself as a 'scoundrel,' I believe Tom when he says he only needs one good woman to be happy. That's why, as his future wife, I've decided to support rather than oppose his relationships with other women. That way, I can protect him from those who only seek to take advantage of him while also forming sisterly bonds with those who intend to remain at his side..."
With Vivi staring directly at her when she mentioned people who only wanted to take advantage of Thomas, the pout on Nami's face intensified. She had a habit of charging men 100,000 Berries a piece if they managed to see her naked. To a similar end, she considered offering Thomas her first time in exchange for 300,000,000. She was certain he would give the money to her if she simply asked for it, but she hated feeling indebted to people...
Disrupting the trio's conversation, Chloe, having just arrived with Illya and Ruby, strolled over to ask, "What's with the serious atmosphere? Isn't this supposed to be a party~?"
Answering in the other girls' stead, Robin replied, "We're discussing the future. Would you like to join us?"
Deducing the true meaning of Robin's words, Chloe directed a half-lidded gaze at Thomas as she muttered, "The future, is it...?"
Adopting an apologetic smile, Vivi said, "I'm not sure what transpired during your conversation with Tom, but I'm certain he wasn't trying to offend or upset you."
Taking a seat, Chloe replied, "I'm well aware of that. I'm just annoyed because he tried to convince Illya and me to babysit tangerine girl and the Straw Hats while he fools around. Like, I get there are other things he wants to focus on, but we have an agreement. How does he plan to break free from Zelretch's influence when he cuts corners and takes long breaks from his training?"
Shaking her head, Chloe preempted the trio's responses by adding, "Forget it. This is supposed to be a going-away party. Let's make the most of the time we have left together."
Though the legal drinking age in Alabasta was only fourteen, Chloe would have consumed alcohol regardless. She didn't feel anything when she did it, but she had killed and assassinated well over a hundred people since arriving in the world of One Piece. She was also a bonafide Pirate, so she felt entitled to drink and make merry whenever the opportunity presented itself. If Thomas or anyone else had a problem with it, they could kiss her squarely on her copper-toned ass...
Seeing Chloe pour and down an entire pint in a single go, Robin exhaled a faint giggle before remarking, "Oh my~" in a playful tone. She knew Chloe was older than she appeared, but it was still surprising seeing her chug an entire pint of rum. The variety they were drinking hadn't been diluted, so it had a minimum alcohol content of 40%.
Testament to the alcohol's strength, a ruddy hue promptly spread through Chloe's cheeks as she filled herself another cup, asserting, "It's too early to be surprised. I'm just getting started...!"
Having made her way over, Illya attempted to stop Chloe before things got too out of hand, but her efforts were rewarded with a rum-tinged kiss. Their exchange drew the attention of Thomas and virtually everyone else attending the party. However, instead of attempting to stop them, the former decided it had nothing to do with him, eventually joining Zoro off to the side as things became increasingly chaotic...
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After getting blackout drunk, Thomas was unsurprised to find Caenis and Astolfo curled up next to him when he awoke. What did surprise him was the presence of Atalanta, Benienma, and Artoria. In other words, all of his Servants had crawled into bed with him and were currently naked.
Contrasting his expectations, Thomas felt uncharacteristically calm, albeit very confused. He doubted he would lay a hand on Benienma and Artoria, even while completely shitfaced, so he convinced himself they had simply crawled into his bed alongside everyone else. Thus, instead of worrying about them, he was far more concerned about the exposed bottom a few centimeters away from his face, its owner an easily deducible mystery as there were only two girls he knew with black hair...
Closing his eyes, Thomas attempted to recall the events of the previous night. He remembered doing karaoke and getting entangled in a drinking game that involved arm-wrestling, but that was about it. The rest of his memories were fragmented, but he could vaguely recall Benienma doing magic/party tricks with a wicker basket and Lucy getting upset when he tried to call it a night early...
Interrupting Thomas's reflection, Caenis softly inquired, "How long are you going to pretend to be asleep...?"
Without opening his eyes, Thomas calmly replied, "As long as it takes..."
Though he was fairly certain nothing had happened, the situation Thomas had found himself in was more than a little compromising. Robin had dark skin, so he was 99% sure the bottom before him belonged to Lucy. Thus, until she woke up and got off of him, he intended to keep his eyes closed and mind focused on other things.
Worsening the situation quite a bit, Thomas felt Caenis shift before a crisp smack echoed throughout the room. Immediately afterward, Lucy awoke with a start, shouting, "What the heck was that for!?" as she sat up, sitting squarely on Thomas's face.
"..."
With Thomas unable to speak, Caenis responded to Lucy's flare with a question, her voice carrying a teasing undertone as she asked, "Enjoying your seat?"
Though she was briefly confused by Caenis's words, the gears in Lucy's mind began to turn when she looked down to find a bare chest beneath her. She also felt something pressing into her special spot, so a faint red hue spread through her face as she answered, "I'm not sure..."
Restraining a laugh, Caenis adopted a wolfish grin as she mused, "Well, either way, you should probably move. Tom can only hold his breath for so long."
Realizing she might be suffocating Thomas, Lucy responded with a fairly innocent "Whoops," before promptly scooting forward. However, instead of getting off Thomas completely, she looked back at him to see if he was awake.
Seeing that Thomas's eyes were closed, Lucy remarked, "Looks like he's still asleep," before facing forward and focusing her attention on a specific part of his body. Lying on his back and being enveloped by naked women as he slept had caused a 'physiological' response in Thomas's body. Lucy sitting on his face hadn't helped, so he was currently at full mast without any blankets to cover it.
Leaving Thomas with questions he wasn't sure he wanted the answer to, Lucy asked, "Is this an adult penis? It's a lot bigger than the other ones I've seen. It almost looks like it's in pain..."
Before Caenis could respond, Thomas abruptly asked, "Mind getting off of me?"
Turning around, Lucy found Thomas looking up at her with a faint smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. In response to his words, she asked, "Are you sure? I can help you, you know?"
Shaking his head, Thomas replied, "Maybe once you've become Pirate King. We're about to part ways, so it's best not to overcomplicate things at the last moment."
With Thomas using her dream as leverage against her, Lucy furrowed her brows but ultimately climbed off him. She thought he would be excited to find her naked in his bed, but he apparently wasn't as 'wolfish' as she had been told all men were. She expected to be 'eaten up,' but Thomas barely even looked at her.
Instead of remaining upset, Lucy promptly regained her usual smile and said, "Fine, then. Once I become Pirate King, you'll have to show me the special hug Aunty Dadan told me about. It's a promise!"
Holding out her pinky finger, Lucy's smile became even broader when Thomas, albeit with a bit of reluctance, extended his hand to link their pinkies. The notion of having sex with Lucy still seemed wrong to him, but, given a few years to prepare, he was certain he could come around to the idea...
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(A/N: I wonder what it would be like to open your eyes and find an unfamiliar ass in front of you...?)

Instead of immediately returning to his and Caenis's love nest, Thomas decided to spend some time with Vivi while checking on the others. He could really use the break.
Fortunately, shortly after dealing with the Officer Agents left behind to protect Rain Dinners, Crocodile's secret base and casino, Lucy and the others rushed to Alubarna to offer assistance. Their help was ultimately unnecessary, but their efforts had earned them guest rooms within the palace, not too far from where Thomas and Caenis were staying.
Entering the room shared by most of the girls, Thomas was unsurprised to find it a complete mess. Lucy and several others were currently in the middle of a fairly intense pillow fight, so there were feathers all over the place and mattresses stacked up to form barricades.
Less than a second after he had entered the room, Thomas experienced a bout of whiplash as a pillow impacted his face like a cannonball, followed by Lucy shouting, "You're wide open, Tom...!"
Pulling the pillow from his face, Thomas smiled wryly as he resisted the urge to join in on the fun. He was a little too old for such things, but, more than that, he was the only guy present among a group of girls in their PJs. There was no one around to judge him, sans Nami, but it didn't feel right to intrude any more than he already had.
"I just came by to see how everyone was," said Thomas, his eyes briefly scanning the room. One of the principal reasons for his intrusion was to inform Robin of the King's decision. To his surprise, he found the mature, raven-haired beauty among one of the mattress forts, exploiting her Devil Fruit to wield six pillows at once...
Seeing through Thomas's thoughts, Robin adopted a faint smile as she remarked, "I didn't have a lot of time to play as a child. Besides, I'm still young at heart."
Adopting a more natural smile, Thomas gave a curt nod before saying, "The King finally gave his permission to inspect the Poneglyph. Since we already know the location of you-know-what, he didn't see any reason to stop us."
Offering a nod of her own, Vivi appended, "I can take you over whenever you're ready."
As she had already been waiting years to peruse Alabasta's Poneglyph, Robin wasn't in a hurry, calmly responding, "It's still daylight outside, and there is an increased Marine presence within the city. I'd rather not create an opportunity for the World Government to discover the location of an Ancient Weapon, so we should wait until things calm down before making our move."
"Sounds good," said Thomas. Then, as he didn't want to get in the way of the girls' playtime, he added, "Enjoy your pillow fight," before half-turning to try and leave the room.
Before Thomas could complete a single step toward the door, Lucy's hand stretched across the room, grabbing his shoulder. However, instead of simply trying to stop him, she rubberbanded over to him, placing him in a headlock as she wrapped her legs around his torso and shouted, "Where do you think you're going!? Stay and play with us...!" in an assertive tone.
Tapping Lucy's arm, which perfectly contorted around his throat, Thomas choked, "Can't...breathe..." as his vision darkened. Lucy hadn't just cut off his airway but the flow of blood to his brain. As a result, it only took a few seconds before his eyes began to roll back, and his legs buckled...
Just as Thomas believed he was about to be choked out, Lucy released her noose-like grip, allowing a tingling warmth to fill his head as she said, "Even if we separate, you're still a member of my crew. There are only a few days left before we have to set sail, so you shouldn't be spending all your time playing with Caenis. It's not fair to everyone else!"
While massaging his neck, Thomas adopted a wry smile and said, "I'm not exactly 'playing' around..."
Crossing her arms in defiance, Lucy exclaimed, "I don't want to hear your excuses! You're here now, so play with us! If you don't...I'll break into your room and steal your mattress!"
"..."
Though he knew Lucy could be 'selfish' at times, this was Thomas's first time experiencing her obstinance directly. He knew she wasn't going to take no for an answer, so, after a brief period of deliberation, he exhaled a sigh and replied, "Fine..." in a defeated tone.
Adopting a massive grin, Lucy snickered like a mischievous kid that had just succeeded in a prank. Then, before Thomas could change his mind, she 'drafted' both him and Vivi onto her team before forcing him to act as a meat shield in the pillow war that followed...
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"You're late," said Caenis with half-lidded eyes, her body lazily splayed out atop their shared bed in nothing but a pair of white lace panties. She had expected Thomas to be gone for an hour or two, so she was a little annoyed that it had taken him nearly five to return.
While stripping out of his clothes, Thomas offered a wry smile as he replied, "That Captain of mine can be pretty selfish when she wants to be..."
Rolling her eyes, Caenis snippily retorted, "Only because you let yourself be pulled into other people's paces. If you had more of a backbone, you could make that woman submit to you in a heartbeat."
Removing his final piece of clothing, Thomas shook his head and said, "I don't 'want' her to submit to me. Though she appears to be a lot smarter than Luffy, Lucy has the mental capacity of a child. Even the thought of putting my hands on her feels wrong..."
Rising to a seated position, Caenis remarked, "That's one of the things I don't understand about you. You won't lay a hand on Lucy because of how naive she is, but you also refuse to touch that Chloe girl despite how mature she behaves. So, which is more important to you? Mental maturity or physical appearance...?"
Furrowing his brows, Thomas asked, "Does it matter?" in an annoyed tone. He expected these sorts of questions from Nami, but Caenis had made it clear she wanted him to make his own decisions. Her 'challenging' him like this was out of character.
Adopting a glower of her own, Caenis replied, "Don't misunderstand my intentions. I'm trying to help you figure your shit out so you can make the best decisions for yourself. I don't give two fucks what you decide to do, so long as you don't whine and bitch about it later."
Exhaling through his nose, Thomas approached the bed as he remarked, "You really know how to get under my skin..."
Leaning backward, supported by her elbows, Caenis adopted a wolfish grin as she retorted, "Yeah, and? Even though I made it clear we'll never have anything more than a physical relationship, you still fell for me like a love-starved pup. If I don't regularly call you out on your bullshit, you may actually start believing the feeling is mutual..."
Balling his right hand into a fist, Thomas briefly considered using his final Command Spell to order Caenis's 'honesty.' He refused to believe she felt nothing for him, not when she was the one that kept dragging him back to bed the past couple of days.
Seeing through Thomas's intentions, Caenis's smile became even more vicious as she said, "I fucking dare you..."
Unclenching his fist, Thomas responded with a faint yet firm, "No...I promised never to use my Command Spells to compel you or anyone else's obedience..."
Snorting through her nose, Caenis spread her legs invitingly as she said, "Yeah, yeah. Now, less talking and more fucking. These rainclouds aren't going to upkeep themselves."
Though he wasn't really in the mood, Thomas didn't hesitate to remove Caenis's white panties, revealing her glistening vulva and visibly pulsating insides. She may not 'love' him, but her body hungered for his cock...
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As it only took five days for a Log Pose to calibrate on Alabasta, the only thing keeping the Straw Hats on the island was Lucy. The moment she was ready to depart, they would set out immediately. Thus, in preparation for that inevitability, Thomas met with Chloe, Illya, Ruby, and the taciturn Artoria to discuss having them accompany the Straw Hats.
"Are you serious?" asked Chloe, crossing her arms and adding, "I get that you're worried about the Straw Hats, but how am I supposed to teach you Magecraft from halfway around the world?"
Though Chloe made a 'very' good point, Thomas had a few of his own, stating, "You and Illya joined me to assemble Install Cards. Since I'll be staying in Alabasta for at least a few months, you'll have a better chance of encountering additional cards by accompanying the Straw Hats. Lucy has a powerful fate, so I'm absolutely certain she'll encounter several on her journey. With my actions weakening her crew, I'm worried that things won't end as well as they should..."
Using Thomas's words against him, Chloe pointed out, "If her fate is as powerful as you say, she'll have no trouble finding new allies to replace those you've poached. Also, even if we stay here, it doesn't really reduce the time it takes us to require the remaining cards. We might be able to assemble a few accompanying the Straw Hats, but we'll eventually need Astolfo's help to track down the rest."
Deciding on a more 'direct' approach, Thomas's expression hardened as he said, "Then let me make myself clear, Chloe. You and Illya are in the way of me doing as I please. I don't mean to sound rude, and I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings, but I can't act freely so long as you're around..."
While Chloe's expression morphed into a frown, Illya appeared genuinely hurt by Thomas's words, hanging her head as she asked, "Are we really in the way...?"
Before Thomas could respond, Ruby darted forward and smacked him with one of her wing-like appendages, exclaiming, "How dare you say such a cruel and insensitive thing! I thought you were better than that, Tom...!"
Though Illya's response caused him to feel guilty, Thomas responded with a grimace when Ruby smacked him. Despite her diminutive size, she had a surprising amount of power, enough to leave a crisp red mark where her wing connected with his cheek.
Restraining the urge to shout, Thomas rubbed his cheek as he argued, "You're misinterpreting my words. I'm not trying to say anyone is useless or anything. In fact, without the EMIYA Card, I'm pretty sure I would get my ass beat by anyone here. The problem is-"
Interrupting Thomas's words, Chloe flatly asserted, "This conversation is utterly pointless. How do you think people like Lucy and Zoro would react if they knew you were asking us to babysit them? Half the reason you're separating from them is to give them a chance to grow, yet, here you are asking us to watch over and protect them from harm. We already let them borrow the David, Diarmuid, and Paracelsus Cards. Unless they encounter someone with a Grade 7 or higher card, they should be able to manage on their own. Just how little faith do you have in them?"
"..."
Taking advantage of Thomas's silence, Chloe rose to her feet and added, "I already gave Nami the means to contact us if they encounter a threat that's too much for them to handle on their own. Now, unless you want to include the Straw Hats in this discussion, I say we drop the matter here. You're the one that agreed to let us accompany you, so you should learn to live with us rather than trying to pawn us off on other people..."
Feeling the need to blow off some steam, Chloe teleported away instead of leaving the room normally. She had been wondering what kind of crap Thomas would pull to try and get rid of them, but she never expected him to make such a contrary, completely asinine suggestion. She knew he was foolish, but this was on an entirely different level...
...
..
.
(A/N: I think the D. in Thomas's name might stand for Doormat xD...)

Chapter 89: Banes and Boons