One Piece : Wild Hunt

After a fairly awkward breakfast and helping transport supplies to the Going Merry, Thomas, Vivi, Caenis, Astolfo, Benienma, Atalanta, Robin, Illya, Chloe, Artoria, and Ruby stood on the shores of the Sandora River as they saw off Lucy, Zoro, Nami, Usopp, and Chopper. Vivi, Astolfo, and Chopper teared up quite a bit during the departure, but virtually everyone wore smiles as they vowed to meet again.
"There they go..." muttered Thomas, his eyes fixed on the quarterdeck where Lucy, Usopp, and Chopper continued to wave.
Resting her head against Thomas's bicep, Vivi replied, "I'm certain we'll see them again..."
Though he nodded his head, neither Thomas nor anyone else present said anything until the Merry had become a dot on the horizon. Unsurprisingly, the first to disrupt the silence was Caenis, questioning, "How much longer are we planning to just stand here?"
Exhaling a faint sigh through his nose, Thomas replied, "This is long enough," before turning to Robin and asking, "You about ready to read your first Poneglyph...?"
As her smile became more prominent, Robin mused, "I've had twenty years to prepare. However, shouldn't we wait until this evening before making our move?"
Answering in place of Thomas, Astolfo adopted a massive grin as she revealed, "I discovered a secret access tunnel while I was exploring the underground waterway. Alubarna actually has a ton of secret passages and hidden chambers to explore."
Narrowing her eyes slightly, Robin replied, "I see..." before looking to Thomas and questioning, "Will you be a gentleman and escort me~?"
Though he was originally planning to help Benienma set up an Enma-tei near their current location, Thomas didn't hesitate to reply, "Sure. I doubt you need one, but I don't mind accompanying you."
Exhaling a faint chuckle, Robin stared directly into Thomas's eyes as she remarked, "I'm actually a lot more vulnerable than I appear..."
Raising his brows, Thomas resisted the urge to express his doubts. Robin hadn't been made Crocodile's partner simply because of her knowledge and ability to read Poneglyphs. She had remarkable mastery of her Devil Fruit, so much so that she could effortlessly defeat the 'strongest' warrior of Alabasta in an instant.
Seeing through Thomas's thoughts, Robin mused, "You think too highly of me..." before shifting her gaze to Caenis and adding, "Compared to some of the other women around you, I'm fairly average."
Adopting a toothy grin, Caenis asserted, "You're a scholar. I'm a warrior. We may both be women, but our specializations are completely different. Comparing your strength to mine is just stupid. You won't find me pitting my knowledge of this world's history against yours."
Not expecting Caenis to be so 'reasonable,' Robin's eyes widened ever so slightly. She had a pretty good sense for other people's characters and thought Caenis to be the type that boasted unabashedly. It was rare for her to be wrong.
Worried that a fight might break out, Vivi promptly suggested returning to the palace. Thomas agreed with her, but as they were already at the site of the future Enma-tei, he had Benienma utilize her Inn Creation ability to construct an enormous bathhouse. Cobra had gifted him the ruined city of Erumalu as part of Vivi's 'dowry,' so Thomas intended to turn the former Green City into a metropolis even greater than Alubarna and the port city of Nanohana...
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With the amenities of the Enma-tei drastically exceeding even those of the Royal Palace, nearly everyone chose to stay behind when Thomas, Vivi, Robin, Astolfo, and Artoria returned to Alubarna. There, after Vivi informed her father that the Enma-tei had been established, the group made their way into the underground waterway, spending nearly two hours to reach their destination, a large chamber with ornate yellow walls and reflective blue tiles that contained a large, purportedly indestructible blue cube.
Seeing a Poneglyph for the first time, a genuine, almost child-like smile developed across Robin's face. She wasn't exaggerating when she said she had just about given up on her dream to ascertain the true history of the world. It was impossible for a single woman to oppose the entirety of the World Government, and she didn't trust the Revolutionary Army. Thus, she almost couldn't believe that one of the stones she had spent much of her life searching for was standing right in front of her...
Interrupting Robin's daze, Thomas asked, "Do you think these tiles are made from the same substance as the Poneglyphs? They have a similar color."
Looking down, a thoughtful glimmer flashed across Robin's eyes as she replied, "You're right..." Then, with a playful smile on her face, she looked back at him and asked, "Want to try punching one?"
Returning a smile, Thomas replied, "I had something a little different in mind," as he pulled out the EMIYA Install Card. The Trace ability allowed him to analyze the structure of objects down to the molecular level. Then, using Material Transmutation and Projection Magecraft, he could replicate the material to produce nearly indestructible weapons and armor.
Seeing Thomas pull out his Install Card, Robin discretely pulled out her own, concealing it in her sleeve and palm. She wanted to believe she could trust him, but twenty years on the run had made her 'very' cautious around other people.
Oblivious to Robin's thoughts, Thomas installed the EMIYA card before approaching the Poneglyph and placing his hand on it. The moment he did so, various images appeared in his mind, almost like he was looking out at the world from the perspective of the Poneglyph. Unfortunately, perhaps due to his limited Mastery and Affinity, Thomas couldn't make sense of the massive influx of information. As a result, he experienced a feeling similar to the frustration one would feel when trying to remember the name of a person or place they should know but couldn't recall.
Retracting his hand from the Poneglyph, Thomas looked down at the tiles beneath him as he said, "They really are the same material. The molecular bonds are so strong that they adhere to each other in a process similar to cold welding. If someone wanted to steal or relocate this Poneglyph, they would need to move this entire structure, not just the primary cube."
"That's one way to prevent theft," mused Robin. Then, after slipping her Install Card back into her sleeve, she approached the Poneglyph, placing her hand on it as she asked, "Would you like me to read it aloud...?"
Shaking his head, Thomas replied, "While I'm interested in the true history of this world, I'm not a very patient man. I'll wait until you've translated all the Rio Poneglyphs before asking for the specifics."
Shifting his gaze to Vivi, Thomas added, "The real people you should be asking are Vivi and her father. I'm sure they'd like to learn the secret their family has been protecting these past eight hundred years."
Though it was imperceptible to everyone present, Robin furrowed her brows when she heard Thomas's words. She wanted to retort that the Nefertari Family hadn't been protecting the Poneglyph, but she honestly wasn't sure. Given what she had learned from Thomas, there was a good chance that the Nefertari Family had secretly been standing in opposition to the World Government since the Void Century.
Shaking her head, Vivi answered, "I'm fine with remaining in the dark, at least for the time being. However, once you've concluded your journey, I'd like to know everything..."
Adopting an affectionate smile, Thomas approached Vivi, extending his hand to caress her head as he whispered, "You're so fucking adorable..."
Though she wasn't really upset, Astolfo issued a pouty, "Awww..." before asking, "What about me? Am I not adorable...?"
Resisting the urge to roll his eyes, Thomas gestured for Astolfo to come over so he could caress her alongside Vivi. He then noticed that Artoria was staring at them with a deadpan look on her face, but, as he was still a little perturbed by her inclusion in their group, he suppressed the urge to invite her over to join them...
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With Robin committing the Poneglyph to memory and Thomas's journal making a perfect copy of the text, the group returned to the Royal Palace for a quick audience with the King before returning to the Enma-tei. Cobra had already dispatched a preliminary workforce of six-thousand people to assist in reclaiming and eventually settling the city, but they still had a lot of work to do.
Unfortunately, unless Thomas paid off their debts, the Yokai within the Enma-tei could not leave its grounds. He had already done so with a few Oni, forming the Enma-tei's security forces, but he couldn't force them to do manual labor. His Bounty also prevented him from drawing too much attention to himself, so his options were to leave the reclamation to the people of Alabasta or abide by Benienma's suggestion to contract a group of merchants to operate outside the Enma-tei.
Since he would eventually need to create a fleet of ships to 'explain' how he was able to transport goods between the various Enma-tei, Thomas decided to follow Benienma's suggestion, investing 3.8 billion Berries in a small fleet of ships and enough people to crew them. This included a red-haired woman that reminded Thomas of Baiken from Guilty Gear. The two had strikingly similar appearances, but the woman was named Wang Zhi, a former smuggler-turned-Pirate Lord who eventually became an Oni due to introducing and spreading firearms throughout Southeast Asia. She even smuggled goods for Oda Nobunaga, putting her on a similar level as many 'modern' Heroic Spirits.
Though Wang Zhi alone had cost him nearly a billion Berries, Thomas believed her to be a sound investment as she possessed Voyager of the Storms and a form of Presence Concealment that applied to all ships within her fleet. By flipping themselves over, her ships could enter the Boundary between Hell and the Mortal World, a method remarkably similar to how people entered 'Davy Jones' Locker' in the Pirates of the Caribean movies. Their reflections could still be seen in the water, but they were impossible to interact with unless you had a similar ability to cross Boundaries.
With Wang Zhi's help, it only took three weeks for the area between the Enma-tei and the Sandora River to be transformed into a fully functional port, complete with several warehouses, a wharf, and a drydock. The rest of the city took much longer to reclaim, but the process gradually sped up as people from all over Alabasta migrated over to benefit from the Enma-tei's provisionally free food and baths.
In a mere three months, Erumalu went from being a half-buried ghost town to the fifth most populous city in all of Alabasta. During that time, Thomas remained hidden within the Enma-tei, dividing his time between training, supplying Mana to Caenis, and coordinating the formation of his burgeoning information network with Robin. Through her, he learned that most islands in the Grand Line, even Alabasta, had an underground family or Mafia managing the black market. Baroque Works had taken over that position during Crocodile's reign, but now that he was absent, there were a lot of people attempting to make a move on Alabasta.
Fortunately, as Cobra was concentrating forces in Nanohana, most of the people wishing to create a foothold within Alabasta were forced to sail up the Sandora River, invariably finding themselves at the revitalized Erumalu and, shortly after that, the doors of the Enma-tei. In their eyes, the latter was a prime choice for a base of operations, so Thomas, having changed his appearance and adopted the alias 'Tenno,' was rapidly gaining infamy in the underworld by crushing anyone that attempted to encroach on his territory and benefit from Alabasta's imminent economic boom. He even received a delegation from one of the Six Underworld Emperors, the one responsible for shipping, 'Deep Ocean Current' Umit.
Though Umit's group threatened to scuttle Meng Zhi's fleet if they didn't yield 30% of their total earnings, Thomas ignored their warning. Instead, he ordered Meng Zhi to sink any merchant or pirate ship lacking a permit to conduct trade in Alabasta's territorial water. This kicked off a miniature war between Thomas's and Umit's forces, but as the latter was never able to secure a foothold in the region, their skirmishes were 'very' one-sided. Umit had developed a unique method of Coating that allowed his ships to travel great distances under the sea, but, even with numerous Fishmen in his crew, his men were absolutely no match for Caenis, who, after sinking more than a hundred ships, earned the epithet 'Humanoid Sea King'...
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(A/N: Sasuga, Tenno-sama...)

After an afternoon of reviewing migration forms and approving expense requests, Thomas decided to take a break in the Imperial Suite's private bath, a large, square-shaped tub that could easily accommodate 40-50 people with room to spare.
As everyone living in the Imperial Suite had access to the bath, Thomas was unsurprised to find Robin and Astolfo getting their backs scrubbed by two of the suite's rotating personnel, a duo of fairly young-looking kitsune with fox ears and tails. Thomas was originally against having them work in the bath, but, as the girls could apparently accumulate 'merits' by serving high-ranking guests, he eventually relented.
Noticing Thomas's presence, Astolfo adopted a bright smile and called out to him while Robin waited for him to approach before calmly inquiring, "Another tiring day~?"
Having gotten used to communal bathing, Thomas sat beside Robin and Astolfo without batting an eye, answering, "We're getting pretty close to 100,000 residents." in a casual but audibly fatigued tone. He really wasn't cut out for administrative work, but he was doing his best to lessen the burden on Vivi. She had been given the position of Viceroy by her father, making her the 'official' Governor of Erumalu. Compared to her workload and responsibilities, his were fairly light.
Nearly as soon as Thomas sat down, a marginally more mature-looking kitsune entered the bath, hurrying over to help wash his back. This was typically Benienma's 'responsibility,' but the dutiful sparrow was currently away, serving as one of Vivi's bodyguards while she hosted an economic conference.
While the somewhat nervous-looking kitsune gave his back a thorough cleansing, Thomas carried on a conversation with Robin and Astolfo. The former had originally offered to serve as his assistant, filling the same role for him as she did with Crocodile, but Thomas ultimately refused. Instead, he made her the acting Okami of the second Enma-tei, utilizing her insight as a member of the Underworld to bring their practices and policies up to speed.
Once their bodies were thoroughly scrubbed down and rinsed, Thomas and the two girls entered the bath while their attendants went to ready sake, ice, and Tamago. Instead of sitting apart, however, Thomas relaxed with his arms spread wide, allowing the duo to nestle close to him. He and Robin had yet to have sex, but she would occasionally 'surprise' him with her Devil Fruit's abilities. Once, after learning it was his birthday, she even sprouted a mouth on her palm, using it to give him the most confusing yet stimulating hand-turned-blowjob he had ever received...
While tracing her finger along Thomas's chest, Robin asked, "Since we're about to reach 100,000 residents, does that mean you'll be leaving soon?"
Nodding his head, Thomas replied, "I want to set up a few more Enma-tei before our relationship with the Underworld worsens. One of the islands Astolfo scouted has a modern setting and an underground fighting arena. It's also fairly close to Karakuri Island, the birthplace of Dr. Vegapunk, so I plan to check it out and see if I can't acquire some modern or 'futuristic' goods."
Even without Thomas referring to it by name, Robin immediately knew which island he was referring to, remarking, "You must be referring to Tokyoku Island. There is a substantial Marine presence in the area, and I heard the people there aren't very welcoming to outsiders."
As he had already done his homework on the island, Thomas replied, "That's true under normal circumstances, but they make an exception for those attempting to enter the Underground Fighting Arena. So long as you can pay the entrance fee and are willing to sign a waiver, they'll let pretty much anyone enter the country. Then, once you become famous, you can move about as you please."
Having heard the rumors of Tokyoku's passion for celebrities and idolatry, Robin didn't attempt to dispute Thomas's statement. Instead, she asked, "Who will you take with you? I initially assumed you would sneak into the country with Astolfo, but it seems you have something different in mind."
Hearing Robin's words, Astolfo blurted out, "I'm going with you...!" in an assertive tone. The thought of being left behind was unbearable, so she immediately adopted a pouty expression to pull at Thomas's heartstrings.
Exhaling a faint chuckle, Thomas pulled both girls closer as he muttered, "As if I could leave you behind..." Then, before Astolfo could respond, he silenced her with a kiss, soothing and exciting her simultaneously.
With Astolfo temporarily becoming as meek as a kitten with a full belly, Thomas caressed her head as he responded to Robin, stating, "Caenis already has a substantial reputation, so I was thinking of registering her for the arena while playing the part of a Sponsor. What do you think...?"
Blinking in surprise, Robin admitted, "I honestly expected you to seize the spotlight for yourself. Haven't you been looking for an opportunity to test your strength?"
Adopting a wry smile, Thomas said, "Be that as it may, my greatest asset is the people who support me. If I can help Caenis attain her Ascensions, I'll have a lot of leeway moving forward."
Returning a smile of her own, Robin mused, "How thoughtful..." before resting her head on Thomas's chest. Then, in response to his previous question, she stated, "It's a reasonable plan. While the Emperors of the Underworld are presumed to possess great strength, no one knows their actual capabilities. If Caenis claims the title of Champion yet treats you with deference during 'negotiations,' it will drastically affect how others perceive you..."
Inserting herself into the conversation, Astolfo remarked, "It also gives Caenie a chance to beat up bad guys. Then, once her excitement reaches the peak, Master can give her a big, fat reward..."
Punctuating her words, Astolfo grasped Thomas's semi, gently kneading it with her fingers as she narrowed her eyes and licked her lips. Her 'switch' had been flipped since Thomas kissed her, so she was eager to move the discussion from the bath to the bedroom. If not for the rule prohibiting it, she would have already pounced.
Never one to disappoint his women, at least when he had the option to avoid it, Thomas planted another kiss on Astolfo before releasing his hold on the two girls and responding, "I've got time..." in his best attempt at a smoldering tone. Fortunately, as his mastery over his Adaptive Trait had increased quite a bit in the past few months, he could even give someone like Vin Diesel a run for his money if he wanted.
As an indicator that his efforts weren't for naught, Astolfo closed her eyes and trembled. When she subsequently opened them, a glossy sheen was present as she whimpered, "I don't think I can wait much longer..."
Finding Astolfo's behavior adorable, Thomas planted one final kiss on her forehead before turning to Robin and asking, "How about it? Want to come along?"
Though she appreciated the invitation, Robin ultimately shook her head, answering, "I still have work to do. I only came to bathe because Astolfo asked me to accompany her. Feel free to invite me again the next time our paths cross like this..."
Adopting a faint smile, Thomas replied, "Something to look forward to..." before promptly rising to his feet with Astolfo tucked under his left arm. She enjoyed being carried like a Princess, but she 'preferred' being thrown over his shoulder or carried like a sack of potatoes as she wriggled about, laughed, and cupped her cheeks with a silly grin on her face...
Following Thomas's and Astolfo's departure with her eyes, Robin waited until they ascended the stairs to the second floor before exhaling a tired but audibly steamy sigh. If Thomas had pressed a little harder, she would have readily accompanied him. Unfortunately, while he had become more assertive, he wasn't quite as bold as she would like him to be.
Interrupting Robin's thoughts, the kitsune carrying sake approached her to ask, "Does Okami-sama plan to stay in the bath, or should we take the sake to your room?"
Regaining her smile, Robin replied, "The heat appears to have gone to my head, so please prepare a cold compress. As for the sake...please place it in a bucket of ice and set it near my desk."
Bowing respectfully, the kitsune attendant replied, "As you will, Okami-sama," before quickly scurrying off to carry out Robin's orders. As she and the other kitsune did so, Robin exhaled another prolonged sigh, this time sinking into the bath until she was blowing bubbles beneath the water...
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In preparation for his visit to Tokyoku Island, Thomas informed both Vivi and the King, the former completely clearing her schedule so they could spend at least a week together before his departure. He wasn't planning to be gone for more than a few weeks, but Vivi insisted they spend time together since there was no way of knowing what incidents might occur on his journey. If he received news that the Straw Hats were in need of assistance or encountered a powerful foe with an Install Card, his return could be delayed by weeks, potentially even months.
As he enjoyed relaxing and spending time with Vivi, Thomas didn't even attempt to argue with her. Instead, he gave her a ring made of the same material as Poneglyphs, assuring her that, no matter what happened, he would always return to her. Alabasta may not be his place of birth, but so long as he knew Vivi was waiting for him, Thomas considered it his home.
Spurred by her indestructible ring and Thomas's promise, Vivi practically locked him in her room for the better part of their week together. Caenis and several others came to check on him, but that just resulted in them getting pulled in to join them.
Fortunately, not that he minded knocking Vivi up, one of the first spells Thomas had learned from Chiron was a contraception spell. He looked forward to becoming a father one day but didn't plan on having kids until he was nearing the end of his journey. He might have considered it if Vivi asked him to impregnate her, but other than insisting that he cum inside her, she never 'expressly' mentioned wanting to become a mother.
Just in case, Thomas had some of his semen frozen and preserved so that Vivi could bear his child even if something happened to him. There was no guarantee that she would want to, but after spending so much time together, Thomas was fairly certain she would at least consider it. She and Benienma had become friends, and, during their time together, the ever-faithful sparrow had gone to great lengths to implant the notion of preserving his lineage in the dutiful blunette's mind...
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After tying off some loose ends, Thomas, accompanied by Caenis, Astolfo, Artoria, Illya, Chloe, and Ruby, boarded Meng Zhi's flagship, the Feilong. It was a three-masted ship with unique red sails, but its most prominent features were its pagoda-like quarterdeck, draconic bowsprit, and the more than one hundred cannons lining its hull. It also had wheels and numerous ports for oars, so it could even sail through the Calm Belt if Meng Zhi felt so inclined.
As he would be entering Tokyoku as Caenis's sponsor, Thomas decided to enter via the port rather than trespassing using Astolfo's Hippogriff. Their chosen route would also take past Amazon Lily, so he intended to offload Illya and Chloe, at least for a short while, as they sailed into the Marine-infested region. Karakuri and Tokyoku were only a few hundred kilometers away from both Marineford and Impel Down, so sailing through the region with two of the world's most infamous lolis was practically pleading for an Admiral to race over and apprehend them...
Coincidentally, Tokyoku and Karakuri also happened to be near Sabaody, a place the Straw Hats 'had' to stop at before entering the New World. If a major event such as the Paramount War occurred, Thomas wanted to be in a position to act. Though, considering he hadn't received even an iota of news pertaining to Blackbeard, his expectations were low...
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(A/N: Inb4 Thomas 'forgets' to pick up Illya and Chloe on his return trip...)

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...
...
..
.
(A/N: I wonder what it would be like to open your eyes and find an unfamiliar ass in front of you...?)

Chapter 91: Undercurrents