yess the deep untapped wells of potential
YEs. And I'm also thinking about a Meliodas who for the first time in his life has no war to fight. He is free of war AND his father. He can indulge in silly little hobbies. And you know what, he should. He should get to learn the most stupid little things he will never use in another life. lmao he definitely would have that attitude. that looks cool/fun, I'm gonna do that too.
To The Sins, he is the most Capable Adult™ ever
Yes! To the sins and knights and random people he will just know how to do shit. And he can do them well. People would run into a problem or need some obscure knowledge and they would look to him (and Merlin would be the only one who knows why he knows all this stuff, to everyone else it's weird and he knows way more stuff than should be possible for a human-ish small man, but Merlin understands. And would probably encourage him - especially when they get nowhere with breaking the curse and she can tell how hard it's hitting him; she tricks him into learning something new or a new skill and it's distracts him long enough to get him off that ledge).
Also. Another aspect of Meliodas is/has been alive for a really long time. Is language. I know I've mentioned a bit before, about Mel knowing old ass languages or dialects that people don't speak anymore. But there are other aspects. Like. Old sayings. (and yes this is something i was reminded of because of me seeing a random tumblr post earlier lol). Because Meliodas must - he MUST - know some really old sayings that not even people grandparents use anymore. But Mel does.
Also. Speaking of sayings, Mel probably has some demon sayings he still uses, or struggles not to use. One thing I'm thinking about are sayings using the word "heart". I've talked about heart(s) idioms and the demons before (in this post), and how I imagine demons having two versions of these saying and using heart and hearts respectively for varying degrees of something and such. Which is interesting when talking about Meliodas, secret demon in Britannia, trying not to reveal himself. Because I bet there would be times he would have to catch himself from implying he has multiple hearts (both with saying and other scenarios. Like you can't tell me that demons wouldn't get a bit reckless - or at least be viewed as reckless - since they can lose six hearts and still live). He would also use saying that confuse people - because they're oooold, because they're used in a different part of Britannia, because they're technically demon sayings. He would also use like demon versions of common saying (like how in English you say "make a mountain out of a molehill" but in Swedish it's "make a hen out of a feather", or how in English it's "the icing on the cake/the cherry on top" but in Swedish it's "the dot over the i").
I think about how he came to be in Danafor all the time
YES. Same. Did something pull/lead him there or was it just a coincidence - if so, what made him stay. Elizabeth wasn't there, and we know Liz didn't end up there until long after Mel himself. The fact that Cain knew that Meliodas never carried a weapon (meaning that this probably became a well-known fact at the very least among the Danafor knights) but also knows why is interesting. Because, that makes it seem like, yeah, Meliodas never carried a weapon but there were enough instances were he ended up (having to) use one for the knights to know that, well, Mel with a weapon was a guaranteed death for their enemies.
Speaking about Danafor Mel and rumors. There must have been so much talk about the grand master of Danafor among anyone who met him (lowkey surprising they didn't know more in Liones - but they again the whole "nobody who crosses swords with him lives" but help with the whole rumor thing). But not just about this child-looking overpowered goofy-but-can-turn-lethal-in-a-moment's-notice grand master, but also the king of Danafor. Like imagine the rumors that would spread (including IN Danfor itself) when Mel is first appointed, especially as grand master. I can imagine there being two, contradictory, rumors going around. One, the king has appointed a fucking child as grand master of Danafor's Holy Knights. Two, the new grand master in Danafor is like ridiculous powerful (most powerful holy knight), he won't even carry a sword and he still doesn't lose. To be honest, I think a lot about Meliodas' dynamic with the people in Danafor. Especially the Holy Knights (especially especially since this is the last leadership position Meliodas had before the Seven Deadly Sins). We only see a bit of this (the scenes with Liz, the scenes with Cain, the respect we see in the druid's trial when the random guy in Danafor bumps into him). I wanna know about all the lives Mel has lived! But yeah I would be interesting to know how Meliodas' path to becoming grand master in Danafor looked like - was this something he tried to achieve (if so, why?), or was i something that just... accidentally happened (because I can definitely see Mel as the kind of person to end up as a grand master by accident).
Oh man, the trauma he has from failing Danafor's people turns into fierce protectiveness of the sins + his family even when they don't necessarily need it.
YEs. Yesss. The way Mel must still carry so much guilt and grief from Danafor, and the way what happened in Danafor must still haunt him, must still affect him ways that we don't see (and the other's don't know). The grief. Oh man. We know Mel spent long enough in Danafor to become grand master (to have people respect him as much as we see with Cain), long enough for Liz to become a loved member of the knight and fall for Mel, for Mel to be able to create a life and home together with Liz. There is so much fucking grief contained in that small man. (All Elizabeths. Zeldris and the demons. His friends in Stigma/Holy War era. All the people he must have met and befriended during his 3,000 years alive. The whole kingdom of Danafor). But again, YES. The way losing Danafor must have affected his relationship with the Sins and the new people and family he makes for himself. Again, the Seven Deadly Sins don't just happen shortly after the loss of Danafor, but Meliodas also goes from being the Grand Master of Danafor's Holy Knights to being the Captain of the Seven Deadly Sins. From failing to protect everyone he felt responsible for, to becoming in charge and feeling responsible for a whole new group.
Man, I think a lot about the way Meliodas feels so much responsibility about the Sins. YES, that line when they talk about Diane after she loses her memories and goes home - GOD I LOVE THAT LINE (it's his duty T-T). And the way he confronts Escanor in the fight with the dk. They way he tells him that he didn't invite him into the Sins just so he could kill himself like that (and the way he cries! Meliodas crying while in his assault mode just hits so hard). Also the way Mel goes out of his way to make sure they're taken care of and protecting - like the whole thing you mentioned with Escanor and his power. And also the Sins' laws/rules (and DON'T get me started on the fact that we never got to learn all of the seven rules because wtf is up with that?!!).
"A Sin shall ask no questions of another member's sin." -> which yeah definitely helps Mel with keeping his secrets and protecting Eli's curse for being accidentally triggered by more people knowing. But it also protects the other Sins. Because Mel knows that they, too, have so much they want to hide/don't want to talk about. Because, besides Merlin, Mel is the one who knows about their past/their sins.
"If a friend is in crisis everybody needs to use all of their power to help." -> this one's pretty self-explanatory. But! Also the fact that this is a rule. Part of these rules that all Sins clearly take seriously (like seen in Signs of Holy War). It's a safeguard. A guarantee. A way for Mel to make sure that the Sins are taken care of, that, at the very least, they'll always have each other's backs.
"When two Sins are in disagreement they can resolve it with a fight" and "If two Sins are fighting to the death, the other five must do their utmost to stop them even if it means eliminating the perpetrator" -> putting these together like they're meant to be (also do you think they were created at the same time or did mel have an oh shit maybe we need some safeguard here kind of moment and added the second one?) Meliodas understands that sometimes they'll fight and sometimes they'll need to sort it out themselves/through fighting (kinda like how zel talks about himself/mel and tristan/schwarz). But he also wants to protect his people and knows when to step in (aka no actually killing each other please or there will be consequences)
"Make sure to come together and work as a team every now and then" -> I've actually thought a lot about this one recently. Like, the fact that this is a rule. A necessary(?) rule. And the fact that it's the last rule (assumingly being the last created?) Just how crazy were those early Seven Deadly Sins days?? (wishing once more we could have gotten more of that. because i love what we DO get to see. like in the escanor flashbacks, and the whole ban stealing all the stuffed toys and crumbs of that chaotic early ban-king dynamic, and let's not forget VoE) How did this rule come to be an actual sins rule (tired meli going okay new rule we're a team we need to actually act like a team at least every other thursday)
He feels so responsible for keeping them safe, giving them a good life and a sense of belonging. He did not want them involved with his father.
YESSs. He wants to give them everything he didn't have. And he did. That's just it. He did give them so much. Like Merlin (and Ban) say, so many people have been saved by Meliodas, including them. He saved all of the sins, pulled them from death's door, but literally and mentally. Gave them purpose and a home and family. A place where they truly belonged, just the way they were. (God I think about that so much. The man wishing for death giving so many a reason to live). And yes, the way he straight up lies to them to keep them away from a second fight with his father (and also the way Eli ends up explaining for both parts when they do show up anyway. They're here for you (because they love you). He didn't want you here because he loves you). But there's also the painful and complicated aspect of this. Because. We know the Seven Deadly Sins were brought together specifically to fight the 10C. (and there is no 10C without the dk). You ever wonder how much that must have haunted Mel over the years, especially the close he got with the Sins. The fact that he brought them into this (saved them from death and eternal imprisonment and wtf else) just so they could get involved with his business, his past, his old ass conflict. HIS FATHER. Because, again, you can't really deal with the 10C without, at least in some aspect, however big, dealing with the Demon King, too. He didn't want them involved, but because of him they were always gonna be. He saved them so they could fight (and THAT must really be a horrible realization/thought for Meliodas considering his childhood/father (hehe i do kinda touch upon this with one of my wips. a 6+1 where mel tries to deal with the sins only as a "means to an end" and he will absolutely not get attached. spoiler: he gets attached))
It might seem sweet on the surface that he actually got a long time with that one but the terror he must've felt every day after it passed her average life span (before curse activation) would've been immense
Oh. Yes. This. Absolutely. And how much did she ask about it. Because he clearly spent a major part of her life with her. Without aging a day. She even comments on it on her death bed. She must have asked, at least once (probably more). How much did she push? Did they ever get into a fight about it? Did he lie about it? Did he pretend to not know himself (probably not. because that one could definitely backfire on him). How much did that Eli actually know about Meliodas? Not only must everyday feel like a breathing (and been filled with a horrible dread that this will be the day she remembers)
Something I also think about is. Who was the Elizabeth before her. How much did one Elizabeth influence the relationship and life with the one after. Like the Eli who died as a child, did Mel try to keep his distance and not let her meet him before she was older in the next life? If one Elizabeth died just days after meeting him, how did he act with the next? One scenario might make him keep his distance. Another might make him want to meet her sooner, because any time would be better than to just meet her and then lose her right away. If one Elizabeth got the cursed triggered because he told her something about his past (something insignificant that shouldn't have mattered, that had nothing to do with her), would he be even more secretive and distant with the next?
The distance and disconnect makes sense (for several reasons of course). Especially the more time that passes. The more Elizabeths he is with. Because we know the curse is triggered when she regains all her past memories. Would that meant that talking about a past life, remembering a past life could risk causing a chain effect that makes her remember everything? Like yeah maybe it wouldn't cause her to remember it all, remember the curse. But what if it did. That would be so hard for Mel, going in with the view that anything from their past could be a trigger. (After 3,000 years what would even be safe anymore... And yeah, we do see him talking about Liz with Eli, but it's also in a very yes-she-was-a-different-person-than-you way).
Oh fuck. A fic like that would hurt so bad. In the best way. Mel just. Breaking. Telling her everything. Apologizing for everything. And she would be so happy to just hear his voice, and to get to know him, to get these last moments with him (but also wishing they could just have more time. Just a day. Just enough so she could actually comfort him or talk about this. Or anything else. Because she is dying. There isn't time for any of that. And she doesn't have the energy left to do more than let him talk and hold her hand).
YES. I love all the little crumbs we get of Meliodas and Merlin's long, long, looong friendship. And her long, long, looong past with not only Meliodas but also Elizabeth and the curse. She knows. Also the fact that Meliodas and Elizabeth are pretty much the only ones we really see that level of vulnerability from Merlin. Insanity. 10/10. They're a family, your honor. (Also kinda love the fact even after having known Meliodas for over two millennia (and thus must clearly know his cooking skills) somehow she still ends up trying his food and it makes her actually cry there's just something so deeply family coded with that). The vulnerability and connection between these two/three people should really have been explored more. And yes, I like the way Merlin apologizes for her comment about Eli's powers needing to be awakened too. It also really highlights how there are no secrets anymore (and no need for them anymore). Merlin apologizes because now she can actually apologize. Under different circumstances she would never had said such thing to Elizabeth. But to keep the secret safe, to protect Elizabeth, she needed to.
(Ugh. Speaking of holy war family angst and Eli's power. New fic idea I'm really tempting to write. Holy war family many, many years before the Seven Deadly Sins era. Shit happens. And I really mean shit. Merlin gets hurt and, well, Meliodas has no healing powers, Merlin herself can't heal (thinking about how in grand cross when you talk to merlin she tells mel he knows she can't do healing magic and thinking about a merlin who really, really tried figure out any healing as a way to keep elizabeth alive but she couldn't). There is no outsider help available. The only way to save Merlin would be for Elizabeth to heal her. But. Elizabeth's powers hasn't awakened. The only way would be for Mel to purposely try to awaken them. Which could end up with Elizabeth's powers awakening but her memories not returning. Or. You know. Merlin and Meliodas ends up being the trigger for that Elizabeth's death. (Which she absolutely wouldn't blame them for but they definitely would blame themselves).
YES. I love that Meli and Merlin moment. Their dynamic when she first arrives in Liones and the two of them immediately starts plotting discussing without bothering to explain themselves or let the others catch up - that is THE Meliodas and Merlin dynamic. That's what I want to see (and what I want to include in my writing, especially the Zaratras knows au). Because it really showcases that these two instantly are on the same page. The understand each other. They know each other. They've been friends for millennia and it shows.
Zaratras and Bartra might be the grand master/king of Liones but things were never the same once Meliodas and Merlin arrived (especially when they're together)
He's so used to pain. (why hello chronic pain meli, no I haven't forgotten about that one grand cross dialogue.)
Ugh, yes. He is. It's the fact that he doesn't even hesitate when throwing his arms into the barrier. Yeah he would do anything for Elizabeth, but this isn't just about love - it's about how he isn't even fazed by the pain. And we see this in a lot of other instances too. Like how he takes Cain's hit without dodging, how he doesn't even flinch when Ban tries to kill him, (when Zel says he still doesn't consider him his brother without even saying anything back). He is so used to the pain, so used to just accept it from others. It's like we've talked about before: Meliodas would rather face violent rejection than deal with the emotional pain. And it isn't just because emotional pain is harder, but also because physical pain is easier.
Also. This makes me think about that Seven Deadly Sins rule again. Because what would be the alternative to two Sins resolving a disagreement with a fight? Talking it out? We see Meliodas time and time again avoiding those conversations - his refusal to let King or Ban apologize, instantly trying to move the conversations along; the fact that he doesn't apologize to Zeldris, doesn't actually bring that conversation up to him until Meliodas is without his emotions (and even then those it while physically walking away from Zeldris without even looking at him. The fact that he doesn't let the conversation with the Sins linger on what will happened to melizabeth after the curse is broken, how he won't even tell his closest friends and Elizabeth (his FAMILY) that he'll have to go away forever. UGH. I have so much feelings about this aspect of Meliodas' character. Punch him? Kill him? Sure, go ahead. You're still friends. But try to apologize to him and he's likely to just straight up walk away from the conversation. (he literally those this with both Ban and King to the point where Ban says "I'm sorry" when they're back to back and he is behind King's back when King says it).
It went completely against everything he knew. The sweetest part? S1 Diane telling Elizabeth that he isn't doing anything for her specifically and he's just kind, always has been. Like sorry Diane, you're seeing goddess Elizabeth's finest work! She taught him that!
No but fr. Elizabeth finally gave him a reason to care, proved that caring did matter. Meliodas was just going through the motions. He says it himself, he didn't even care about the conflict with the goddesses but he still fought the war (and did it well enough even the goddesses themselves feared him). He cared about his brother but he couldn't spare time to talk to him because he was too busy following orders he didn't even care about. In 4kota Zeldris describes himself as having been a puppet for his father, and I think that's a perfect description, not only for Zeldris but for Meliodas as well. Because he did use to just do whatever the Demon King wanted him to. Then he met Elizabeth. Elizabeth who cared. Elizabeth who proved that it was okay to care. An oh boy does it affect Mel. For the first time, we see him caring about what he is doing/who he is fighting. And it's enough - after an undisclosed amount of time - for him to even literally turn his back on everything and everyone he knows.
Another thing that really strikes me about post-meeting Elizabeth Mel is how alive he becomes. That is the main difference I think about between 10C Meliodas and Stigma Meliodas. And yeah, part of it is because of that need to be viewed as friendly and non-hostile we talked about. But a big of it is because Meliodas cares. He cared enough to leave the Demon Realm. He cares enough to help and protect Elizabeth. He cares enough to help save Monspeet and Derieri and even strangers like Rou. For the first time, Meliodas is actually doing something he cares about. I have so much thoughts about Meliodas, who was raised in an environment of pain and destruction, who was essentially raised a weapon for the Demon King, who meets Elizabeth, gets to see the other side of things, and chooses kindness. And keeps choosing kindness. Not just in that first lifetime with goddess Elizabeth and the Holy War. But every lifetime after, with every Elizabeth after. And not just with Elizabeth - but without him, just Meliodas being Meliodas. Like that first meeting with Diane. She is a complete stranger to him. He has no reason to help her - she isn't somebody he is looking for/has business with (or at least not someone he realizes he has business with), nor is she actually asking for help - but he chooses to do so. Because that is who Meliodas has become. Someone who chooses kindness. (Choosing to help people as openly and without reason as he was raised to cause violence).
The promise he makes to Zeldris in the DK fight lives in my mind rent free
Yesss omg. The way he is willing to take whatever it is that Zel wants to give him (not only thinking about the dk fight but also about how he just takes Zel's rejection in CbL). No matter what that is. He just wants to get to be his big brother again. To be a part of Zel's life, in whatever form he will take it. To not have to turn his back on him again.
Yeah, Gowther being the one to tell them about Chandler makes sense. I also really like the connection to Gowther's long history with Meliodas (which again, not explored enough). And yeah, Merlin - tricked both gods - could have definitely handled it, but Meliodas would definitely have wanted to protect her from such things (especially since you can't tell me she didn't remind Meliodas of a little Zel). I love the idea of Melizabeth - both raised as weapons for their respective parents, a story so similar to Merlin's - befriending Merlin and trying to give her what neither of them ever got.
Lmao yeah it was probably a shock to Dubs. Not only is Meliodas - son of the Demon King, traitor to the demons, still very much a demon and a high-ranking one at that - not sealed like he is supposed to, but is also apparently still walking around alive 3,000 years later. You think Dubs had a moment of self-doubt - because, as you said, he created the Coffin of Eternal Darkness, and here Meliodas is, somehow having cheated it. I don't think Dubs would have doubted himself long. (Especially since there's something weird going on with Meliodas, so this is probably also a weird Meliodas thing). But it would make sense it he had a wait what moment.
If Meliodas had no connection to his homeland, people and brother why would he defend it with everything he had?
This, actually. Yeah. Meliodas' lack of culture is interesting actually. Because yeah it makes sense that the Meliodas we get to know have little to nothing left of his own culture. He's spent millennia in Britannia, among humans, hiding what he actually is. (And this is also why his friendship with Merlin, and later also Gowther once his memories are returned, is so important - because even if Merlin isn't a demon or know about demon culture, he would be able to speak freely with her; talk about what he misses about the demon realm/demons, talk about what he doesn't like/struggles with when it comes to living in Britannia/among humans and their culture). But the idea that he never fully had it to begin with? That's painful. And not that surprising when it comes to the Demon King. He didn't need a son or demon, he needed a weapon (and future vessel). And yeah, I agree, it does add more to Fraudrin's comment about Mel lacking pride as a demon.
The Demon King's own actions and choice coming back to bite him in the ass and being the cause for his own downfall is so satisfying. (And something I've thought about before, regarding Meliodas' Commandment. Because we know the 10C aren't immune to their own, which would make Meliodas the only one among the 10C at least who couldn't allow himself to hate the goddesses. And he is also the one to fall in love with a goddess).
Yeah, Meliodas' own past and trauma definitely (unintentionally) affected both his and Tristan's relationship to Tristan's powers. Especially since Meliodas would struggle to openly talk about it; not just about the demon powers but also his childhood and own training. (I mean there is definitely a lot of stuff there he wouldn't want to talk to his literal child about. Some of those memories Gowther shared with him is absolutely wild showing to a 10yo)
Tristan asks for a sword at 10, Mel has never said No faster.
All Meliodas would want is for Tristan to grow up in a world where he didn't have to be strength which obviously didn't happen.
YES. I desperately need a slice of life episode with Melizabeth, Gloxinia and Drole. I need to see their friendship :c I definitely agree about that whole being able to relax with each other thing. They're all leaders/important people to their own races, but they have no such obligations to each other. They don't have to lead anyone, they can just be themselves. I could definitely see that being a contributing factor to them becoming such close friends in the first place. Because even with people from other races it would be that imbalance, considering they're all the rulers/kids of the rulers.
Meliodas joining Stigma had to give up his enhanced senses in a environment where most people would've loved to have killed him. Sit with that.
YEs. Omg. Yes. That's hurts to think about. Because not only does Meliodas have to constantly appear friendly/non-threateningly, but he has to do it while leaving himself more vulnerable among his former enemies/reluctant allies.
Yesss. I really wanna see/hear how those holy war scenes actually went. With the real Gloxinia and Drole. With how close this is to Gloxinia switching sides, and with how he speaks about Meliodas and their friendship, I doubt he spoke with as much distrust as King did. I mean, for all we know he could have said the same thing - but in a eh buddy you do remember they all hate you now and we are not letting you go up there alone this is a horrible plan kind of way. I can definitely see Mel misinterpreting his words because of the hostility and distrust he would face from the rest of Stigma. Not only just here, but that was probably something Meliodas struggled with a lot in the beginning of their friendship (the idea that these people, who Meliodas and his kind have done so much harm to, would accept him as a friend).
Oh! And when they charge into Liones in s1. "Go straight for the kill" pardon? Just tiny glimpses into who he used to be.
Omg yes. It really shows how serious Meliodas takes it. How serious that situation really is. Especially contrasted to how we've seen Meliodas before in the season - talking about how he had no choice because Ruin hurt someone precious to him, how he reminds Ban not to kill anyone at the festival, everything in the fight with Dale. But then we get this. "Straight for the kill". No games, no holding back. Even against these knights, who isn't actually responsible for Elizabeth's kidnapping.
The idea of OG Gowther and Glariza actively hiding Meli when Chandler's out searching for him is so sad. Giving him a place to rest and refuel because being a prince in the demon realm is hardly a luxury.
Give that man a safe place please. Somewhere he can just be himself, without expectations or fear. (Like Heaven's Theater with Elizabeth, and dragon hunting with Zeldris). The idea of him having people to protect him from Chandler and his father, ughh, it's so painful (especially since you know what happens to them) but also something Meliodas need so much.
I love Gowther's eyes being terrible. It's just so silly. He also asked to have a self destruct option before 20/20 vision.
It's so stupid it's funny. Gowther doesn't even ask for it (couldn't be me i would definitely want my good vision back then again he's never had good vision to begin with). And Merlin doesn't even consider it even (nothing to improve, right?).
The Sins together as a dynamic is a sight to behold indeed. The Captain knows how to manage them all and their interpersonal relationships. The OVA where he manipulates them into small jobs for extra cash? The only one that catches on is (you guessed it! Merlin!). It might not be Chandler's way of working a group but it works. Cusack said anyone that disrespected the royal family got fed to induras; the only threat in their order is being made to eat Captain's cooking.
YES! To all of this, yes. Their dynamic is one of my favorite things in this series. And Meliodas captaining is so great. At first glance it doesn't look that way, but when the situation requires it, he leads, and they follow. (Again, the respect the Sins have for Mel. I love it so much). Meliodas knows what it is like to do it the other way, to lead with fear and no affection. And 3,000 years later, this is how he choose to lead instead. (Also I cannot imagine the Sins following someone who leads through fear. I mean could you imagine Escanor? Can't decide which would handle it worse - nighttime or daytime Escanor).
That OVA (and chapter) is great! Meliodas really dragged his whole friend group on a "vacation" just so he secretly can get some money (to buy Elizabeth a gift). Seeing them all just have fun and being silly together (like the scene on the beach) means so much to me actually. As does Merlin being the one to see right through his shenanigans. (3,000 years of friendship people!). Also Mel getting Gilthunder a souvenir is so cute.
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