AU History: For the first eighteen years of his life, Meliodas had lived by every command his father had given him, brainwashed at a young age to believe his family needed to take as much power and clout as possible to make their mark in the world. A powerful psycho-manipulative drug named 'Demon' was responsible for keeping Meliodas so focused on his father's orders and, for awhile, Meliodas had been wholly dependent on it. His father's loyalty to the Company was unquestionable and, by far, he was a valued scientist, but he was constantly at odds with another family in the Company's hierarchy. While Meliodas' family had primarily been invested in generations of weapons designers, this opposing family had tackled medical advancements and defensive tech. Meliodas' father, the bastard offspring of one of the Nine, believed that if he couldn't ascend to be one of them that he should at least have some control of whatever he could set his hands on. He turned Meliodas into an enforcer of his, utilizing him in handling security for various deals with criminal groups. Rather than being properly schooled, Meliodas was trained from youth in various forms of hand-to-hand combat by experts hired by his family, turning him into a brawler designed for underhanded and brutal fighting deserving of an underground enforcer. As a cover, Meliodas briefly maintained a double-life as a Killjoy, making a name for himself if only because he showed a lot of talent going in from day one. At that age, Meliodas would show a twisted and cruel side that enjoyed dirtying his hands and hurting anyone that got out of line, taking to his warrants with brutal efficiency and, seemingly, a total disregard for the concept of mercy. Back then, he was easily a sadist.
Hardened by a rigorous training regimen, medication of his father's design, tech enhancements, and by psychological manipulation, Meliodas came to become an extremely hardened and cruel member of their little covert group, and as a Killjoy, he was brutally efficient whenever a warrant allowed it. Fellow Killjoys would recognize Meliodas as a very unhappy young man, constantly looking for warrants to handle in dangerous places. He was always tireless and impatient with others to the point of blind rudeness and callousness. After a few of his teenage years had been spent in this double-life, Meliodas came to meet the daughter of his father's rival. A member of Leithian, she had been a doctor, treating one of Meliodas' fellow agents among the Killjoys. Though he knew who she was and that she represented the competition his father hated, Meliodas grew to like her and met with her time and time again. Meliodas' crush, concerned with his well-being, helped pull him away from the manipulative control of his father's continual dragging, and psychological manipulation, helping him recover something of his life in return. His mood improved, Meliodas began to see other people in finer lights and his overall disposition changed for the better--something his father became aware of rather quickly. Becoming something more of a quirky and cheerful individual, Meliodas' attitude couldn't possibly escape his father's notice, especially when it was intended that Meliodas be as brutal a person as possible. His work as his father's enforcer diminished him and his dangerous personality, lowering his effectiveness in both his position as a Killjoy and as his father's enforcer. During one operation gone poorly, Meliodas was caught in an ambush that nearly killed him, eventually leading to the discovery by a fellow RAC agent that he had been aiding his father in underworld dealings. Given their unwillingness to allow an agent to be ganged up on in prison and killed, the RAC incentivized Meliodas to give up his father. The Nine, willing to be rid of false bloodlines as often as possible, saw this as a chance to be rid of Meliodas' father as a possible heir. An operative of The Nine suggested to RAC officials to allow Meliodas to go free provided he not only help prove his father was responsible for the illegal dealings but that Meliodas would have to cease to use his father's name. The resulting action would ensure that Meliodas could never even attempt to use his generational connection to The Nine to gain any semblance of political power. He would also be unable to operate on warrants so long as the RAC viewed him with this level of distrust.
In the last moment before his capture, Meliodas' father used the last of his remaining contacts to put a hit on his rival's daughter once he discovered she was the one who had helped give Meliodas his life back. The hit ultimately failed, though Meliodas was lead to believe at the very beginning that it was a success. Lost in his grief over love lost and left with two younger brothers who were both still set in his father's brainwashing regimen, Meliodas took his share of the remaining family assets after the Nine claimed the 'criminal share' and used it to open a bar in Old Town. He was told to never use his father’s name again, thus forcing him to deny his connection to The Nine. Unphased by this, Meliodas settled into the life of a bar owner while his little brothers, both left behind in his absence, came to loathe him in secret, looking to try and build their family back up after their father's imprisonment. Gaining a new life without being under the influence of severe psychological stress, drug-related stress, and his double-identity, Meliodas would gain the attention of criminals, on occasion, looking for revenge. He became renowned as the bartender who'd put on a show and hurl unwanted, vengeance-seeking patrons from his premises with fresh new scars.
That would bring Meliodas to the present, years later, with old grudges still set on him and the eyes of the RAC on him from time to time. Due to the passage of time, Meliodas himself would be something more of a 'myth' to most Killjoys he would have known, since his reduced rate of aging would slow his aging dramatically, making him still look like the teenager from way back then. Freed from the shackles of his father, Meliodas would spend those few years settling into the demeanor of an eccentric bar owner whose selection of brews was exceptional, but his specially prepared food was atrocious. Always kind to his non-violent patrons, Meliodas would hold onto some loyal guests willing to defend him in a pinch if other miscreants came in looking to get revenge as well. Meliodas would never come to hate anyone coming to him for revenge, sparing anyone who tried to take his life in that time. At no point would he take another life, refusing to harm anyone to the point of crippling them or ruining their lives, becoming somewhat more peaceful as a result of his crush's good influence and her brand of kindness. Occasionally receiving minor donations from the father of his presumed-to-be-deceased crush, Meliodas has kept afloat for those few years. The psychological scars Meliodas' father left on him would, for the most part, remain buried to most people he would encounter and he would just appear to be the quirky, teenaged bar owner in Old Town with a horrendously bad menu and delicious drinks. His cheerful demeanor would encourage plenty of people to stay, and the reliability of the bartender/owner keeping out dangerous elements would give patrons the inclination that it was something of a haven.
Meliodas wasn't and isn't immune to relapses. While he may enjoy his current life much more and while he may try to do right by others in the present, he isn't a stone wall. His gentle, joyful demeanor may never be totally distant from the cruel and sadistic nature he once had been brainwashed into. This possibility is the one thing Meliodas fears the most.
Most bars in town would have attempted to cater to more expensive tastes and vices, but this owner didn't have it in him to try and match the ever-changing tides of the crowd. The crowd he did manage to pull was quiet and kept to itself, appreciating the warmth of old, worn-in furniture and an atmosphere of ease. Once, there was a novelty in a bartender being young enough just to start learning how to shave, but as the years ticked by, the novelty turned into a spotty sort of rumor. He must have been enhanced somehow, always to look so young. The guy was always energetic and quick to snatch mugs and glasses, refilling them and cleaning the used ones. Despite the fact that he was alone, he was doing everything to take care of the place with the bustling efficiency of someone who had long since learned the mistakes that came with doing things the wrong way many times. At first, the place had been a joke, but after half a decade it became a minor local landmark. What pulled in the customers wasn't necessarily just the atmosphere, either. On occasion, there was a challenge issued to the bartender, whether silent or loud enough to split eardrums. People looking to gain names for themselves and brag they could 'take down a Killjoy' found themselves with busted lips and everything else bruised all over when the owner turned them upon their heads.
Meliodas closed most nights, smiling to himself as he cleaned a glass or refilled a drink, listening to the local, hushed gossips coming from workers who pushed themselves too hard in the day and wanted the peace and warmth of hard-earned company. The look of silent satisfaction he wore was a good picture, giving the impression that he was enjoying the night the same as everyone else. On peaceful nights, he hummed and cleaned glasses despite the handy dishwasher he had available. He poured drinks even when there were automatic taps and mixers. Bartenders with the same resources could let tech handle the complex stuff, but he always did it by hand, and the whole bar enjoyed it when he did. With quite a bit of dexterity, he spun glasses and eyes fell on him in the middle of his show before sudsy drinks were set in front of thirsty patrons. Gossip filled the bar that one night the same as every other one. Meliodas stood behind the bar and leaned against it, his youthful smile offering nothing but friendliness.
Closing in the night, Meliodas would shoo away his stray patrons and lock up. On occasion, he would catch the red bars rise from the glass of his windows--scanners checking the interior. Prying eyes that looked in to make sure nothing was amiss were often disappointed by how slow Meliodas' life had been in the last few years. The Killjoys kept tabs on him for a good reason, but it did come to annoy him that there were times when the scanner searches increased in frequency. He could have sworn he was too much out of practice to bother them. Even so, if Meliodas did have a complaint about being on the wrong side of things, he never told a soul. If anything, Meliodas hadn't spoken to anyone about his personal life since the first few months of owning the place. After he broke a few jaws and sent a few vengeful souls to the hospital, the stream of friends looking for revenge came to a much slower trickle. He felt fine with his reputation and left it at that. If they still held a grudge over his sins, he couldn't help it. There was no point in getting bent out of shape about something he accepted as his fault a long time ago. He couldn't blame all of it on the old man.
Even so, when he was finally alone for the night and had a chance to clean the remainders of the bar, Meliodas stood in the clean dining room with a simple, cheery smile on his face, watching the windows for more scanners. When he felt he was alone and when he knew no one could know, his smile dropped, and he heaved a sigh from the core of his body. The weight of everything he carried weighed down on him, and he finally felt a chance to let weariness take hold of him. Smiling tired him out. The constant cheer and his attempts to make everyday fun and enjoyable sucked the strength out of him minute by minute. Meliodas sat by the window, watching dark shadows pass. No matter how much laughing, joking, gossiping and no matter how many games he played to pass the time, he was still left by himself at the end of the day.
Miscellaneous Notes: EDIT! Altered Meliodas' age to further justify the fact that he owns a bar. Running a business in a stable way with little experience would take quite a few more years than I gave him credit for! A decade and a half would give him a better shot at it being stable at this point in time. It also serves to make his youthful appearance seem even more outlandish at this time since he'll be a decade older.
Meliodas | The Seven Deadly Sins | Not Reserved
Hardened by a rigorous training regimen, medication of his father's design, tech enhancements, and by psychological manipulation, Meliodas came to become an extremely hardened and cruel member of their little covert group, and as a Killjoy, he was brutally efficient whenever a warrant allowed it. Fellow Killjoys would recognize Meliodas as a very unhappy young man, constantly looking for warrants to handle in dangerous places. He was always tireless and impatient with others to the point of blind rudeness and callousness. After a few of his teenage years had been spent in this double-life, Meliodas came to meet the daughter of his father's rival. A member of Leithian, she had been a doctor, treating one of Meliodas' fellow agents among the Killjoys. Though he knew who she was and that she represented the competition his father hated, Meliodas grew to like her and met with her time and time again. Meliodas' crush, concerned with his well-being, helped pull him away from the manipulative control of his father's continual dragging, and psychological manipulation, helping him recover something of his life in return. His mood improved, Meliodas began to see other people in finer lights and his overall disposition changed for the better--something his father became aware of rather quickly. Becoming something more of a quirky and cheerful individual, Meliodas' attitude couldn't possibly escape his father's notice, especially when it was intended that Meliodas be as brutal a person as possible. His work as his father's enforcer diminished him and his dangerous personality, lowering his effectiveness in both his position as a Killjoy and as his father's enforcer. During one operation gone poorly, Meliodas was caught in an ambush that nearly killed him, eventually leading to the discovery by a fellow RAC agent that he had been aiding his father in underworld dealings. Given their unwillingness to allow an agent to be ganged up on in prison and killed, the RAC incentivized Meliodas to give up his father. The Nine, willing to be rid of false bloodlines as often as possible, saw this as a chance to be rid of Meliodas' father as a possible heir. An operative of The Nine suggested to RAC officials to allow Meliodas to go free provided he not only help prove his father was responsible for the illegal dealings but that Meliodas would have to cease to use his father's name. The resulting action would ensure that Meliodas could never even attempt to use his generational connection to The Nine to gain any semblance of political power. He would also be unable to operate on warrants so long as the RAC viewed him with this level of distrust.
In the last moment before his capture, Meliodas' father used the last of his remaining contacts to put a hit on his rival's daughter once he discovered she was the one who had helped give Meliodas his life back. The hit ultimately failed, though Meliodas was lead to believe at the very beginning that it was a success. Lost in his grief over love lost and left with two younger brothers who were both still set in his father's brainwashing regimen, Meliodas took his share of the remaining family assets after the Nine claimed the 'criminal share' and used it to open a bar in Old Town. He was told to never use his father’s name again, thus forcing him to deny his connection to The Nine. Unphased by this, Meliodas settled into the life of a bar owner while his little brothers, both left behind in his absence, came to loathe him in secret, looking to try and build their family back up after their father's imprisonment. Gaining a new life without being under the influence of severe psychological stress, drug-related stress, and his double-identity, Meliodas would gain the attention of criminals, on occasion, looking for revenge. He became renowned as the bartender who'd put on a show and hurl unwanted, vengeance-seeking patrons from his premises with fresh new scars.
That would bring Meliodas to the present, years later, with old grudges still set on him and the eyes of the RAC on him from time to time. Due to the passage of time, Meliodas himself would be something more of a 'myth' to most Killjoys he would have known, since his reduced rate of aging would slow his aging dramatically, making him still look like the teenager from way back then. Freed from the shackles of his father, Meliodas would spend those few years settling into the demeanor of an eccentric bar owner whose selection of brews was exceptional, but his specially prepared food was atrocious. Always kind to his non-violent patrons, Meliodas would hold onto some loyal guests willing to defend him in a pinch if other miscreants came in looking to get revenge as well. Meliodas would never come to hate anyone coming to him for revenge, sparing anyone who tried to take his life in that time. At no point would he take another life, refusing to harm anyone to the point of crippling them or ruining their lives, becoming somewhat more peaceful as a result of his crush's good influence and her brand of kindness. Occasionally receiving minor donations from the father of his presumed-to-be-deceased crush, Meliodas has kept afloat for those few years. The psychological scars Meliodas' father left on him would, for the most part, remain buried to most people he would encounter and he would just appear to be the quirky, teenaged bar owner in Old Town with a horrendously bad menu and delicious drinks. His cheerful demeanor would encourage plenty of people to stay, and the reliability of the bartender/owner keeping out dangerous elements would give patrons the inclination that it was something of a haven.
Meliodas wasn't and isn't immune to relapses. While he may enjoy his current life much more and while he may try to do right by others in the present, he isn't a stone wall. His gentle, joyful demeanor may never be totally distant from the cruel and sadistic nature he once had been brainwashed into. This possibility is the one thing Meliodas fears the most.
CRAU: Nope.
Original History: Meliodas' wiki link.
Inventory: Nothing from his canon.
Samples:
Most bars in town would have attempted to cater to more expensive tastes and vices, but this owner didn't have it in him to try and match the ever-changing tides of the crowd. The crowd he did manage to pull was quiet and kept to itself, appreciating the warmth of old, worn-in furniture and an atmosphere of ease. Once, there was a novelty in a bartender being young enough just to start learning how to shave, but as the years ticked by, the novelty turned into a spotty sort of rumor. He must have been enhanced somehow, always to look so young. The guy was always energetic and quick to snatch mugs and glasses, refilling them and cleaning the used ones. Despite the fact that he was alone, he was doing everything to take care of the place with the bustling efficiency of someone who had long since learned the mistakes that came with doing things the wrong way many times. At first, the place had been a joke, but after half a decade it became a minor local landmark. What pulled in the customers wasn't necessarily just the atmosphere, either. On occasion, there was a challenge issued to the bartender, whether silent or loud enough to split eardrums. People looking to gain names for themselves and brag they could 'take down a Killjoy' found themselves with busted lips and everything else bruised all over when the owner turned them upon their heads.
Meliodas closed most nights, smiling to himself as he cleaned a glass or refilled a drink, listening to the local, hushed gossips coming from workers who pushed themselves too hard in the day and wanted the peace and warmth of hard-earned company. The look of silent satisfaction he wore was a good picture, giving the impression that he was enjoying the night the same as everyone else. On peaceful nights, he hummed and cleaned glasses despite the handy dishwasher he had available. He poured drinks even when there were automatic taps and mixers. Bartenders with the same resources could let tech handle the complex stuff, but he always did it by hand, and the whole bar enjoyed it when he did. With quite a bit of dexterity, he spun glasses and eyes fell on him in the middle of his show before sudsy drinks were set in front of thirsty patrons. Gossip filled the bar that one night the same as every other one. Meliodas stood behind the bar and leaned against it, his youthful smile offering nothing but friendliness.
Closing in the night, Meliodas would shoo away his stray patrons and lock up. On occasion, he would catch the red bars rise from the glass of his windows--scanners checking the interior. Prying eyes that looked in to make sure nothing was amiss were often disappointed by how slow Meliodas' life had been in the last few years. The Killjoys kept tabs on him for a good reason, but it did come to annoy him that there were times when the scanner searches increased in frequency. He could have sworn he was too much out of practice to bother them. Even so, if Meliodas did have a complaint about being on the wrong side of things, he never told a soul. If anything, Meliodas hadn't spoken to anyone about his personal life since the first few months of owning the place. After he broke a few jaws and sent a few vengeful souls to the hospital, the stream of friends looking for revenge came to a much slower trickle. He felt fine with his reputation and left it at that. If they still held a grudge over his sins, he couldn't help it. There was no point in getting bent out of shape about something he accepted as his fault a long time ago. He couldn't blame all of it on the old man.
Even so, when he was finally alone for the night and had a chance to clean the remainders of the bar, Meliodas stood in the clean dining room with a simple, cheery smile on his face, watching the windows for more scanners. When he felt he was alone and when he knew no one could know, his smile dropped, and he heaved a sigh from the core of his body. The weight of everything he carried weighed down on him, and he finally felt a chance to let weariness take hold of him. Smiling tired him out. The constant cheer and his attempts to make everyday fun and enjoyable sucked the strength out of him minute by minute. Meliodas sat by the window, watching dark shadows pass. No matter how much laughing, joking, gossiping and no matter how many games he played to pass the time, he was still left by himself at the end of the day.
Miscellaneous Notes: EDIT! Altered Meliodas' age to further justify the fact that he owns a bar. Running a business in a stable way with little experience would take quite a few more years than I gave him credit for! A decade and a half would give him a better shot at it being stable at this point in time. It also serves to make his youthful appearance seem even more outlandish at this time since he'll be a decade older.