"Here's all you have to know about men and women: women are crazy, men are stupid. And the main reason women are crazy is that men are stupid."
― George Carlin, When Will Jesus Bring the Pork chops
.☀.🌑.☀.🌑.
Right now Meliodas had no idea what he was doing here, neck-deep in some out-of-control house party thrown on the shadier side of South London's infamous Croydon. All around him people reveled, music pumping from the amped-up speakers, alcohol pouring into matching plastic cups by the dozen. No doubt there was some sketchy activity going on upstairs - not anything new for a house party. White lines spread on tables, crushed pills and spiked drinks were nothing new in the London scene; such traditions were as old as the Victorian era. Nevertheless, it all had a new air to it this time round; Meliodas felt different about it once more.
Working in the Boar Hat and growing up with his father gave Meliodas a keen insight into a life that many would only imagine to be true in fiction. From a young age he had learned about growing cannabis, spending entire afternoons tending to the leaves in stuffy greenhouse rooms while carrying around his tiny watering can. Next came measuring out the cocaine, mixing and crushing pills to keep the product costs as cheap as possible. Once that was mastered he was on the streets, after school, selling the drugs to locals out of the back of his school bag.
From birth, more or less, Meliodas had been surrounded by the gritty side of London - the drug scene. There was nothing to disenchant him from the reality.
Nevertheless, every time he ended up back in this spot - this spot of intense anger and pain and fatigue - he would find himself drawn back to what he knew: the dangerous dungeon of London's nightlife. Maybe it was the familiarity; maybe it was the ease of knowing what came next; whatever brought Meliodas here never failed to keep attracting him. Ever.
"You know, if we're gonna be at a party you hafta loosen up," Ban cackled over the music, liquor bottle in hand as he nudged his shorter counterpart. Showing off his gleaming fox-like grin, he smiled, "You better not have dragged me away from movie night for some half-assed escapism shit."
"When have I ever- " Meliodas was halted by Ban's swift brow raise, calling out the immediate bullshit. Utter bullshit. Grumbling, the blonde rolled his eyes. "Fine. I did the one time."
"And that one time you also had a massive feud with your roommate that you swear you wouldn't jump over the moon for," Ban deadpanned, taking a generous gulp of his half-empty bottle. Golden brown liquid swirled in the clear glass as Ban swayed. "Now I may not be Sherlock, but it doesn't take a genius to put two and two together. Something's going on in that fucked up head of yours."
"Right, because you know me so well," Meliodas hummed, nodding. Not that Ban was wrong. Something was going on in his head - something major and life-changing and ready to cripple him. On the best of days Meliodas never liked to trust his already sketchy brain; on a day like this he placed even less faith in the deceptively cruel neurons of his most vital organ.
"I know more than most people," Ban shrugged, leaning against the wall behind them. Just beside him dangled a flower pot, bright white hydrangeas standing out against the shoddy council-house paintwork on the building. "And that's enough."
God, he was guilt-tripping again. From miles off, kilometers, Meliodas could sense the scheming weasel known as Ban sinking his guilt-tripping claws right into him. Only Ban, in these times of deep anger and hurt and frustration, could summon up the more positive and gentle parts of him. The more humane parts of him. Parts of him that felt guilt and remorse and... hopeless. Utterly, completely hopeless.
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Love Me, Harm Me
Fanfiction"Sometimes he would have his better days. The days where he would be loving, caring and sweet. But then the bad days would come..." Elizabeth believes that somewhere, deep down, Meliodas truly loves her. She knows he does. She sees it on his better...
