L.O.J.S.H 224

So far I'm liking the second Marvel Draft more than the other two, and I'll probably go with it. 

I already have a rough idea of how to start the novel and what powers the mc will go for, but I'll need some time to do research, and draw a timeline and a decent plot, so I'll resume updating this story until then.

....

"Do you need help, Brook?" I asked as I approached Brook, who was busy digging from behind. 

Brook stopped what he was doing and turned to face me. A slight smile appeared on his face as he saw me.

"I need to do this myself. You've already done more for me than I can repay," Brook replied, deeply bowing at me.

"I was just fulfilling a promise..." I quickly replied, waving off his gratitude and shaking my head as I walked past him into the cliff's edge. "If you want to thank someone, then thank old man Crocus," I added, shrugging my shoulder as I looked at the waves. 

"I see. But you still have my thanks regardless," Brook replied, nodding his head as he resumed digging. 

"So what will you do now? Crocus asked me to bring you back, but I can't force you to go anywhere," I asked as I took my whisky bottle and turned to Brook over my shoulder. 

"I would have liked to fulfill our original promise to Laboon if possible..." Brook replied in a nostalgic tone. "To sail around the world and back into the Twin Capes to meet him..." he added, tailing at the end of his sentence, and I felt his stare on my back. 

He probably wanted me to throw him a bone and invite him into the crew (even though he was nothing but bones, yohoho- damnit, I unconsciously started making skeleton jokes too). 

But I didn't give him the answer he was expecting, merely keeping quiet as I waited for him to take the hint and keep talking. 

Having Brook around might be fun, but our goals don't align. I had no intention of sailing around the entire world, and I'll likely stay in the new world once I get there. Besides, dealing with our number is already a handful as it is.

"But I suppose I've kept Laboon waiting long enough..." Brook concluded with a sigh, scratching his afro. 

"I see, then keep up the good work," I replied as I turned to brook and took a sip from my whisky bottle. "I'll see you around," I added, patting Brook's shoulder as I walked past him. 

...

"It's been a while, Johnny. Do you need something?"

I heard Crocus's voice coming from the transponder snail, sounding as careless as ever, as the call connected. 

"Been a while indeed, old man," I replied, smiling at the familiar tone. "I'm calling to tell you I found Brook in the Florian Triangle as promised," I added, waving my hand to Laffite, who was looking for me. 

I had called Laffite and asked him to gather everyone before calling Crocus, but I didn't expect him to show up so quickly. 

'I guess being too competent can backfire sometimes.'

I mused with a smile as I gestured for Laffite to wait. 

"I should be able to get him into your place in a month or so," I concluded, pausing and waiting for Crocus to reply. 

"I see. Did Moria cause you any trouble?" Crocus asked in the same carefree tone, but I noticed it was considerably lighter now. 

"Moria had stolen Brook's shadow, but we took care of it without too much fuss," I casually replied, downplaying my effort. 

I would have been doing the opposite had it been anyone else to make them feel indebted to me, but old man Crocus has already helped me a lot back in Drum Kingdom. And I probably owe my life to him. 

Though I didn't notice it at first, it became clear to me once I gave it some thought. It was too much of a coincidence that Lucky Roux would need a ride to Alabasta, only to disappear once we were there and save me from the ambush later. But I digress. 

"By the way, we found some guy called Hogback helping Moria... he's supposed to be a genius, world-famous doctor... do you know anything about the guy?" I asked out of curiosity more than anything else. I haven't heard anything about Hogback so far, and he honestly didn't seem that impressive. 

"Who is that? Never heard of him," Crocus replied, sounding genuinely confused. 

"Well, I guess it doesn't matter," I replied with a chuckle, shaking my head. "Anyway, do you want to talk to Brook?" I asked after a second's pause. 

"There's no need. I'll have plenty of time to talk to Brook once he gets here," Crocus dismissively replied. "Is there anything else? I'm busy sun bathing here..." Crocus added, trailing off at the end of his sentence.

"There's just one more thing..." I remarked and began explaining Brook's new look and how it came to be to Crocus.

...

"I understand..." Crocus remarked with a sigh, having heard my explanation, not sounding keen to comment on the subject. 

"I'll leave you to your sun-bathing then," I concluded, ending the call after hearing an affirmative grunt from the old doctor.

"Sorry to keep you waiting, Laffite. But let's wait for the other's to show up before we discuss our next destination," I remarked as I turned to Laffite, who didn't seem bothered by the wait, and he merely nodded.

...

"So where to next, oh fearless captain?" Doc asked as we gathered near Thriller Bark's shores to discuss our next destination, watching over Brook give his crewmates remains the proper rest they deserved. 

"I want you guys to take to the Twin Capes to meet Crocus," I replied as I turned to Brook, who was building a shrine for the Rumbar pirates. "We've made him wait long enough," I added, shrugging my shoulders. 

"Wait, what do you mean, you guys?" Elly asked, immediately catching on to Johnny's words. "You're not coming?" she asked, head tilted to the side. 

"No. Moria's words are still gnawing at the back of my mind," I replied with a shake of my head. "Something is going on in the Archipelago, and I need to know what it is," I added, sighing as I scratched my head.

"I'll go there to investigate and meet up with you all back in Jaya," I concluded, emphasizing the word 'all' in my sentence. 

"If it's the world government plotting again, then it's dangerous to go, captain," Laffite replied his cheerful smile nowhere in sight, replaced by a concerned frown. 

"They probably learned their lesson and whatever they're planning is probably much worse than the ambush back in Alabasta," Laffite reasoned, gaining several nods of approval from the other crewmates.

"And that's exactly why I'm going alone. I'm not going to pick a fight this time, just to investigate," I replied, making Laffite frown, still sounding unconvinced.

"I'll keep a low profile, and no one will know I was there in the first place since they'll assume I'm still on the Black Pearl with everyone," I added, crossing my arms in front of my chest.

"I'll be in an out before anyone was the wiser, and on the off chance I was found out, I'll be in top shape, and getting away won't be a problem with my devil fruit ability," I concluded, smiling as I saw Laffite's frown ease up. 

"But still-" Elly said, clearly trying to object, but a hand on her shoulder cut her off. She turned to the side and saw Bob shaking his head at her in disapproval, his meaning clear as the sun. 

"Anyway, I've already decided, and even though I don't like pulling rank, I am doing it now," I remarked as I relaxed my arms, putting them in my pocket. 

"You guys finish up here and make your way back to the Twin Capes," I said as I turned around and walked away. "Tell the old man I said hi. I'll see you all soon," I concluded as I took off, heading towards the Archipelago.