#and after his last day with fit purgatory seems pretty canon for him

[linimoonlight]

Just remember how Fit told Pac that he would be fine in Purgatory. That hes strong and capable and will do great. And maybe for once Pac decided to believe Fit. If only just a little bit. And still Fit did not tell Pac how scared he was of losing him.

Remember how Pac asked Fit if he would join him in Purgatory. He didnt say how terrified he was or how much he needed Fit there by his side. As always he pretended that everything was fine and maybe he believed it a little bit. And Fit did not tell him how badly he wanted to be ther to protect Pac but how he couldnt chose Pac over his son.

And then he was chosen as leader for his new team. They believed in him and maybe he started to believe in himself as well. Maybe he wouldnt fail them. Maybe he could actually do something.

But then remember how none of that mattered when he saw Cellbit logging in. He was instantly back in that prison. Especially with the friend he saw getting killed by Cell was standing right next to him once again.

And remember when Pac was face to face with Cellbit again he froze. He couldnt save anyone. He couldnt be a leader. All he could do was bag, watch his friend trying to save him again and die.

Now imagine Pac coming back to Fit, alive but even more destroyed than he has ever seen him. Broken once again, stuck deep in an ocean of fear and self doubt. Of course Fit does his best to help, to be there. But he also knows that this is his fault. Because he was not there for Pac when he needed him the most. He wasnt there to protect him. And who knows if he can ever forgive himself for that...

[luciferloveschloe]

goodbye, lucifer (but not really!)

I cannot BELIEVE that I just watched the last episode of my favourite show.

I usually cram everything I have to in tags under gifsets I reblog, but for this final season I'll go through the pain of actually writing shit down. I'll try to keep it short, and I'll try not to ramble. (Edit: Did not accomplish that.)

what i loved

SCREAMS

God, soooooooo much!!

Deckerstar baby

Okay, so when Rory showed up in the trailer I was like "Ugh, another annoying angel? Meh." FORGIVE ME, my sweet murder child! Of all the things I thought they might do, a Deckerstar baby was DEAD LAST on my list. And a daughter no less, I just... When she says she's Lucifer's daughter, I was like *SCREAMS*, but when we learn she's Lucifer AND Chloe's daughter, I completely lost it. My boyfriend's on a trip with his friends this week and I'm sooo grateful for that, I made the weirdest, loudest, ugliest noises while watching this season, I ran around our apartment like a maniac, I squealed and laughed and cried and just generally lost my mind. But when she says that?? Oh my God. Also the way Lucifer reacted when Chloe shows him the pregnancy test? Straight outta fanfic.

Lucifer being a father

Oh my God?? I've always said he'd be the BEST father, and actually seeing it on screen... I love the parallel of him being ridiculously over the top with Rory at first, just like God and Lucifer in S5. The way he looks at her when he sees her playing the guitar? Their duet?? Instantly one of my favourite scenes. Them driving in the Corvette, their last day together, how he keeps her from killing Le Mec? Just murder me.

Established Deckerstar

All the hugs and kisses?? The declarations of love, the besotted looks, the absolute power couple we got? Their look from Maze and Eve's wedding, OH MY GOD???? Just, these two are so pretty and we got SO MUCH. Also, their scenes with Rory?? I just love them so much...

(More under the cut!)

Ella's storyline

I wanted a reveal for her so badly, and the way it turned out was brilliant! I loved her figuring it out for herself and calling everyone out lmao. I especially loved poor Carol returning to that room full of shocked people. They had some GREAT punchlines and gags this season, absolutely hilarious! I also love Lucifer's parting gift for her and that she finally found a good one with Carol.

Hugs, so many hugs!

That's it, that's the paragraph.

The Police storyline

As a white person who has literally never once had a problem with the police, I know this is not my place to say, but I think they did a good job? Not giving into the "a few bad apples" excuse but acknowledging that the whole system needs to change? I also really enjoyed the scenes with Amenadiel and Officer Harris, showing what policework could and should look like.

Maze and Eve's happily ever after

I'm so glad auntie Maze and auntie Eve got their happy ending! And that wedding was a bomb. Also, "You're my hell!", lmao.

Dan's ascend to heaven

First of, great to know his only torture was Belios' lack of table tennis skills. Secondly, how very fitting for the show that they didn't hand Dan his happy ending easily, that he fought and won it for himself. Him as a ghost and him as Le Mec was equally funny, and his talk with Trixie was just perfect, literally tears you guys.

Amenadiel becoming God

I mean, dude's perfect for the job! From the loyal, distant, obeying servant to a God who wants to work as a team with his siblings, who wants the Celestials to experience the human world, who hates injustice and loves fiercely? In this universe, I couldn't imagine anyone better suited to be God.

Nobody misses the case of the week

At least I don't! God, I wish they'd tried this out sooner.

The bittersweet ending

Let's preface this by saying I HATE bittersweet endings. Give me a happily ever after or else. And yet, and yet!! I think the ending they settled on is perfect. Would I have loved it if Lucifer had a life on earth with Chloe, Trixie and Rory? God, yes. Do I get emotional over him being alone in hell, again? Goddd, yes. But still. I so love that he found his calling in the end, that they reunited, and that he actually makes good on his promise from S5 to change the system. Also, I don't care if this is canon or fanon for now, but they totally spend time in heaven with Rory and visit earth whenever they like. And this would have been my ideal ending - them being free to go where they like, and I don't see why they shoudn't. It's definitely more satisfying than just traipsing off to heaven indefinitely, so I really, really loved that.

what i didn't (do feel free to skip this!)

Lucifer missing out on Chloe's life on earth and being alone in hell again. Chloe being left again.

Time travel shenanigans. I just finished Dark and that was enough of a mindfuck. Do not want to think about loops for this show, thank you very much.

Chloe felt a little too housewifey in the first episodes, but it thankfully didn't stay that way for long.

Lucifer and Chloe talking about keeping secrets for a whole episode, and then NOBODY TALKING ABOUT URIEL AND CANDY. I mean, ahhhhhhh! If you don't want to talk about it, then don't, but don't remind people of it constantly and then NOT discuss it. It drives me mad, honestly, how many times they referenced these storylines only to completely ignore them when there were opportunities to resolve them. Ahhh. That's what fic is for, I guess.

Adam. Like, why? Bye, dude.

what i'll keep with me

When someone I'd just met at my boyfriend's cousin's wedding in 2019 recommended this "funny, little show" to me that intrigued them because they were interested in finding their faith, I really didn't think I'd write all this three years later.

Lucifer is my third fandom, and it won't be my last, but it sure as hell - ha - will stay with me. I resonate so deeply with Lucifer as a character because he fights with the idea of God, fights with this concept of a benevolent father that everyone seems to believe in but never fit his experience. I come from a Christian family and studied theology, but somewhere along the lines I had to come to terms with the fact that the faith I had as a child and teenager didn't fit me anymore. I want to believe again, and maybe someday I will, but right now I don't know that. So Lucifer's journey with that meant a lot to me. I'd like to find what Ella did, I guess.

Although I never really thought Lucifer needed redemption, I loved the whole "anybody can be redeemed" message as well. And hell reform! Hell is such a weird, awful construct - speaking as the theology expert - bringing a bit of purgatory in in this universe is really fucking cool.

Also, I binged Lucifer when I was alone in hospital late at night. That experience alone I'll never forget.

So, I guess - thank you!! Thank you to the cast and crew, to the fans who campaigned for season four, to Ildy and Joe, to the writers and the directors and the people who brought lunch: Thank you so much for this incredible show. I'm not ready to say goodbye, not by a long shot, and I hope this fandom feels the same.

Yabba dabba do me, I love my stupid little show!!!

[amberskywrites]

Silent Comfort

AO3 Link || Masterpost 

Fandom / Genre: Nanatsu no Taizai (The Seven Deadly Sins) / Canon-Divergence

Pairing: Ban and Meliodas

Warnings: Spoilers for anyone who only watches the anime

Summary: Ban needs a hug from his best friend.

Notes: This was created using a prompt by @notquitebroken from This Prompt List! It’s a pretty short friendship fic, and really the reason why Ban needed a hug is up to anyone’s interpretation ^^

Also, Arthur being revived didn’t happen in this timeline and the sins + Elizabeth still work at the Boar Hat-

They weren’t really touchy-feely people, Meliodas and Ban. Their way of coping was to fight things out or level a mountain or get so drunk they couldn’t remember the night prior. And everyone was fine with that! They didn’t like bringing up their feelings to anyone, really, and dealing with it in this way made them both feel better without things getting awkward.

At least, that’s what it was like before Purgatory.

After they had escaped Purgatory, and the Demon King had been defeated, things went back to how they were for awhile. But it always felt off, and slowly, the two started sharing their emotions more.

After about two years, they showed their emotions freely, around themselves and their loved ones, at least. But in becoming more open and expressive, their relationship changed.

Still they got drunk until they (Ban) blacked out and they would still fight out their issues. But following those fights would be long talks or apologies, and days after drinking all night would result in fits of laughter as Meliodas recounted the events. Sometimes, after days where things became too much and everything hurt they’d just sit and talk or lie down in the grass and watch the stars, refusing to sleep to avoid the nightmares not even their beloveds could drive away.

This was a first since they had left Purgatory, however.

It was a relatively cloudy day in Britannia, and Meliodas was reading in his room in the Boar Hat alone. Elizabeth was with her sisters on a picnic for the day, and the bar was closed to anyone who didn’t call it home. Hawk was sleeping somewhere, and Meliodas thought everyone else had left to go and do their own thing for the day.

Until someone knocked on his open door, that is.

“Hey, Capt’n?”

The demon looked up from his book, face lighting up briefly at seeing Ban. His grin quickly faded when he saw the expression on Ban’s face.

It wasn’t a look he was unfamiliar with, but it had been awhile since he had seen it on his friend’s face.

“What’s wrong?” Meliodas set his book aside, and Ban seemed to relax a little, making his way over to Meliodas and Elizabeth’s bed and collapsing onto it face down with a sigh. Meliodas joined him on the bed moments later, and Ban glanced up at him.

It was only then that Meliodas noted the dried tear tracks and irritated skin on his face, and Meliodas’ concern grew.

“I need a hug. Please?”

Meliodas’ face softened at that, and he nodded immediately. He got comfortable on the bed before pulling Ban onto him, holding the other close the best he could.

Ban melted into Meliodas, arms like a vice around the small demon. Meliodas’ arms around him tightened, a silent promise that he was there and not leaving.

It had been so long since they had done this, hugged each other like this. The last time had been in Purgatory, and they had been recounting their times of loneliness, venting and holding each other in fear that they might just lose hope again and lose themselves to the depths of Purgatory.

“What was it about this time?” Meliodas whispered, almost as if speaking any louder would shatter them. Ban hummed, his face buried in Meliodas’ shoulder, but other than that he remained quiet. Meliodas didn’t push further, nor did he bring up how Ban’s grip around him got tighter.

“Thank you,” Ban had mumbled after a while, and Meliodas was the one to hum this time.

“Anytime,” he said softly.

They didn’t get up until they heard Elizabeth and Elaine downstairs, feeling just a little bit better than before.

[disappearinginq]

for the writers ask thing: (3) What is that one scene that you’ve always wanted to write but can’t be arsed to write all of the set-up and context it would need? (consider this permission to write it and/or share it anyway) AND (6) What character do you have the most fun writing?

Hilariously, the first one is a Prodigal Son scene between the team (specifically JT) and I just wanted a...merger? scene between beginning season JT & Malcolm, where they just like to harass one another, to basically an embodiment of the Kink!Tomato explanation. I like that they’re not cozy with each other, but they go from purposefully hurtful banter to just off beat teasing, and I had a scene where that was spelled out. I wonder if I can find it...or possibly actually getting around to writing the fic that i wrote three lines of dialogue for when @rohanrider3 gave me a prompt for it.  As for most fun -ooo. Hmm. Snarky ones. And family relations. I think one of my favorite things to write was between Bellamy and Kane for Left Behind, despite not watching the show for years now, and that fic sits languishing in writing purgatory. 

And I really, really love to write unexpectedly smart/badass characters (or make canon characters into unexpectedly smart/badass characters, because no one can prove I’m wrong).  Edit: FOUND THE PRODIGAL SON THING. 

“No, JT, really, I want to know,” Malcolm snapped, holding his hand out – steadier than JT could remember ever seeing it – jabbing accusatorily at him. “What exactly was I supposed to do? Hmm? If you know, I’d love to hear it, because I haven’t got a fucking clue. I’m a bit of an outlier, you see – people aren’t good with things they can’t categorize. They want to stuff you in a box whether you fit or not, and I’m guessing as a Hispanic male combat veteran, there’s a couple boxes people like to tick off for you, right? Suicidal. PTSD. Temper problems. Into drugs and alcohol. Anyone ever tell you you’re a ticking time bomb, just waiting to go off?”

JT didn’t answer – it was rhetorical and both of them knew it. Veterans today had a rate of suicide comparable to WWII, and instead of trying to curb the trend by digging deeper to find out why, Washington just swept it under the rug – denied treatment, refused disability claims, shoved people out on the street like Monday morning garbage. The only time people cared enough to even Google the statistics were November 11th and the last Monday in May.

“Oh look,” Malcolm barreled on. “Finally, something we have in common. We don’t like it when people try to shove us in boxes to make us something we’re not. But you know what? You’re at least not alone. You can feel it, and it can seem it, but you’re not – one point three million people in our military, odds are at least one of them feels like you. Can understand what you’ve been through, why you are the way you are. Wanna know how many serial killers had kids? Huh?”

Malcolm’s pointed finger became a splay of five.

“Five. In the last half century, with their kids still alive today – five. Six kids total. Ted Bundy’s daughter has vanished so completely not even the FBI knows who or where she is. Dennis Rader’s kids? His daughter fucking wrote him a letter forgiving him for what he did and that she ‘hoped to see him in Heaven one day’ and that she still loved him, and her brother told the newspapers that despite killing ten people in utterly horrific ways, he was a good dad. And nobody comes close to the Surgeon’s body count – maybe the ones he was convicted for, but not what he’s suspected of.”

“Look, Bright, I – ” JT tried to cut in. Bright’s glare stopped him midsentence.

“No, no, no, no, you don’t get to derail this train now,” Malcolm snapped. “Not when you’re the one who keeps looking at me like I’m only one conviction away from being Martin Whitly’s sequel because I’m good at my job. And you know what, literally anyone else who is a profiler, or a criminal psychologist, or even a forensic psychologist is supposed to try and interpret the criminal mind, but I don’t see you avoiding Dr. Tanaka. My father was the monster, not me. I was fucking ten years old when I turned him in. All the other Serial Killer Kids were adults when the police found out their fathers were killers, but I don’t see the FBI keeping tabs on them, waiting for them to pick up where Dear Old Dad left off. So why me? Because I annoy you? Because it bothers you that because I can’t solve my own problems, I try to solve others? I have twenty three lives that were cut short because of the Surgeon that I have to make up for, and yeah, there’s only so many ways I can atone for my father’s sins.”

JT wasn’t the only one who noticed the change in Malcolm’s voice as he almost choked on the word father in relation to Martin, his already pale features turning slightly green at the mention of being related to the Surgeon.

“Since you seem to have all the answers, why don’t you clue the rest of us in? Hmm?” Malcolm threw his hands wide to encompass the whole room. “What should I be doing that would make you believe that I am not my father’s son?”

Dani shifted in her chair, looking like she’d rather be anywhere but here, but gave him a side-eyed glare that clearly stated she was actually on Bright’s side for this one. Gil hadn’t said a word the entire argument, but then, if he’d known Malcolm since the day he’d turned in Martin, then he’d probably heard it more than once.

Malcolm must’ve said it more than once, because that was a lot of statistics to rattle off that fast.

JT sighed, picking up a pen and tapping it against the notepad just to have something to do with his hands as he met Malcolm’s eyes.

“It’s not what you think,” JT said. “It…” he considered his next words, weighing the sound of them in his head before he said them aloud. “I think you’re so good at this, it’s killing you.”

Whatever response Malcolm had braced himself for – because that’s exactly what he was doing, keeping his hands firmly over his chest, hunching slightly like he was expecting a physical blow – that wasn’t it. The kid’s eyebrows almost shot into his hairline before they narrowed back in suspicion, and JT couldn’t really blame him.

“I knew these guys – combat guys, all of them. Saw some serious shit over in Syria. Afghanistan. Iraq. You name the shit storm, they were in it, boots on the ground. They didn’t fare much better than you. Nightmares. Depression. The twitchy hands. The mania. The insomnia. Insisting they were fine.” He absently let the pen in his hand doodle across the notepad, and he watched as Malcolm’s gaze couldn’t help but flicker towards the movement more than keep JT’s gaze. “Hyper vigilant. Some of them saw counselors, but you know how that goes…seeing them doesn’t mean they followed their advice. Sometimes it’s just a band aid on a bullet hole. A couple of them got jobs where they thought they could do some good – use those skills, those…habits, at work. Thought it gave them an edge. Kept them vigilant.”

JT clicked the pen, putting it down as he leaned forwards, his elbows on the table, interlocking his fingers as he caught Malcolm’s piercing gaze. “It burned them out. One put a gun in his mouth Christmas Eve in his basement while his kids were asleep upstairs. The other one stepped in front of train during the morning commute. The other one gave himself a heart attack – he’s the one that lived. And you may not believe me, Bright, but I don’t want that to be you on the evening news. You may be good at this job, but I think it’s bad for you. Trying to make up for things you had no control over, keeping some tally in that head of yours of if the life you saved is equal to the one he took. That’s not healthy, and if your stupid habit of haring off after murderers without backup doesn’t kill you, then this life will. I don’t think you’re anything like the Surgeon, because if you were, this wouldn’t bother you at all, instead of eating you alive from the inside out.”  

The room was quiet enough you could hear a pin drop.

Dani shot him her half smile reserved for special occasions and people she particularly approved of. Gil’s expression was still hidden by his hand over his mouth, but JT realized he wasn’t looking at him – probably hadn’t been for most of the conversation.

He was watching Malcolm.

Malcolm who was completely silent.

He didn’t think Bright did silent. He pretty much non-stop jabbered on, even when he wasn’t supposed to. Perhaps even especially when he wasn’t supposed to.

And now that piercing blue stare was levelled straight at him, and JT fought the urge to fidget under the intensity of it.

Malcolm’s eyes widened slightly, a funny little gasp that would’ve made more sense coming from someone who’d just had ice water dumped down their back passing between suddenly parted lips as he pulled his head back as if physically slapped. “You’re…not lying.”

JT frowned, glancing over at Gil who was still zeroed in on Malcolm. The older man hadn’t decided if this was good or bad, which put JT even more on edge.

“No, I’m not lying. Why would I lie about something like that?” He tried to catch Gil’s attention without getting even more of Malcolm’s, but the older detective ignored him.

[ethanlivemere]

Half-Life²: Anticitizen Prologue

It starts as a very distant, rhythmic tapping. Barely audible, but any noise sounds ear-deafening in this void where all sensory inputs are non-existent. Nothing to be seen but an endless, black abyss. No sounds of gunfire, no smell of burnt flesh and blood. For days there had been nothing but that, and then suddenly everything had been stripped away in one instant. Now there is not even the comforting weight of my suit confirming that I still have a body. It is not sleep; in sleep you either dream or are completely unconscious. This… is something else. Like my mind is floating just out of reach of my body. Like I am looking at my own thoughts through backwards binoculars.

Time. Another such thing that seems to have lost all meaning in this place. When left alone with nothing but your thoughts to hold onto, every minute seems to last an eternity. I have tried counting them multiple times, but I always lose count. How long have I been here? It feels like it was centuries, but also only seconds ago that I entered that cursed portal, naively hoping that the man with the briefcase would give me a way to atone for my mistakes at Black Mesa. Maybe this is it. My atonement. Maybe this restless slumber is purgatory, endlessly thinking about everything I should and shouldn’t have done. If it is, it’s no wonder people fear death.

The tapping grows louder. It sounds like footsteps. Is it the devil coming to claim my soul? Before I have the time to dread or ridicule that thought, an invisible door slides open and a blinding light floods in. I can somehow avert my eyes, finally having a point of reference again, some form of orientation. When I look down, or, at least, what I think is down, I can faintly see the outline of my body. But this, too, is like I am seeing it through someone else’s eyes, distant and disconnected. The footsteps come to a halt. A brief moment of silence, and then a chilling voice: “Rise and shine, Mr. Freeman.” I direct my eyes back toward the light and look into the eyes of the devil.

His face is distorted like a badly fitted mask. As if someone tried to build a human but didn’t quite succeed. His eyes are pale and lie deep in their sockets. His lips are curled into a twisted, emotionless smirk. I can’t escape his gaze. He doesn’t blink.

“I do believe I’ve kept you waiting long enough.” The movements of his mouth are awkward and sluggish. It’s like all his facial muscles that are vital to conveying emotion are paralyzed. Everything about him is just ever so slightly off. “Not that the passage of time has had any meaning to you… but elsewhere it’s a different story.”

The light from the doorway grows brighter and for a brief moment consumes everything, including the man. Hope flares up inside me that he is gone, but when the flash of light dulls his soulless eyes are still staring into mine. But there is more now: behind him is a blurry wasteland of dead grass, dried riverbeds and clouded skies. He is standing further away from me, and I can more clearly see his blue suit and the black briefcase in his right hand. His other hand moves up and nonchalantly wipes his vest. “Ten years is a long time, Mr. Freeman. Long enough for humanity to swallow its pride. Long enough for the first scars of whiplash to begin to heal. Long enough to…”, he produces a strange, stuttering gasp for air, “… forget how things used to be.”

I start hearing another rhythmic sound in the distance, but it sounds different from the footsteps. More mechanical. The surroundings fade away and he continues: “But you haven’t forgotten, Mr. Freeman. You still remember how freedom felt. You remember how the air used to smell.” He is starting to become translucent. The machine sounds grow louder. A hiss of decompression. A shriek of stainless steel. I see myself get pulled back as in a dolly zoom. “So wake up, Mr. Freeman.” I am now inside a long room with dark windows and rows of seats on either side. A chill sends feeling back into my body as the man slowly fades.

“Wake up and… smell the ashes.”

Chapter 1

______________________________________________________________

What is Half-Life²: Anticitizen?

Half-Life²: Anticitizen is the temporal name of the project I was dumb enough to start that consists of me writing out Half-Life 2’s story based on many of the old concepts and original ideas. What you just read was the prologue.

What to expect

I will be uploading this story one chapter at a time, HOWEVER I will not upload a chapter as soon as I have finished writing it. If my time on fanfiction.net has taught me anything, it’s that writing a story one chapter at a time is a bad idea. Don’t worry, I will not wait until I’ve finished the entire story, but I will make sure that everything is properly planned out.

My version of  the story will draw inspiration from various sources, including Raising The Bar, the Half-Life wiki and any other sources I find about Half-Life 2’s original story. Now, because there are many different versions depending on what stage of production you look at, I will mix everything I find at will, INCLUDING the final retail version of Half-Life 2. Several cut enemies will be integrated, some existing characters and enemies will be based more on their concept art or old models than their final versions (I might include images when I do this, just for extra clarity), sometimes I’ll just make stuff up in order to make this story work as an adaptation.

Don’t expect chapter 1 to be out any time soon. Like I said, I’m gonna make sure I have everything planned before I start uploading. I am currently unable to put any type of estimate on how long this will take.

Half-Life 1 is untouched in this story, it is canon as it appears in-game. So no Kingpin or Mr. Friendly.

Yes, this story does take place 10 years after Half-Life 1, rather than the canonical 20 years. That’s just what the original G-Man scenes say.

What is still open to change?

Pretty much everything.

The title. I am not 100% sure about the title yet, I went with “Anticitizen” because it sounded good and it fits the story.

POV. I am still debating whether or not I should make it 3rd person instead of 1st.

To talk or not to talk. Do I try to make a silent protagonist work? Or do I keep Gordon’s talking to a minimum?

What exactly I will and won’t include. There is so much cut content for Half-Life 2, I can’t possibly integrate everything. Luckily, the written format lends itself to much better to easily integrating many different things than the video game format. You don’t have to worry about AI programming, modelling or engaging gameplay. Just write well.

Even this prologue might be altered later. This is just a preview.

 Please let your interest in this project show, it’ll help get the next chapter done faster. If there’s any interest, I might post more updates along the process of creation. Everything will be posted under the tag “anticitizen”.

Any and all suggestions/feedback/questions/criticism are welcome! (as long as you are civil)

Thank you, and prepare for unforeseen consequences.

[jaybear1701]

Cheer 5

Cheerleader Waverly. Basketball star Nicole. A sort of canon-ish HSAU inspired by *that* snippet of the S2 trailer. Parts 1, 2, 3, 4.

Rainbow-colored lights splashed against the evening’s approaching darkness as Purgatory’s annual spring carnival kicked into high gear. Marrow-shaking music blasted all around. Throngs of people milled about. A chill seeped into the air, the last lingering grip of winter as one season melted into another. But Nicole paid no mind to any of it. Not when she was busy trying to pick out Waverly Earp from the mass of bodies.

It had been almost two weeks since the night of the championship game, when Nicole had fallen asleep in Waverly’s bed. She groaned as she remembered waking up to Gus McCready scowling at her from the doorway, and Waverly nowhere to be found. Waverly scampered off to the library, Gus had said, and just what in the hell are you doin’ here?

Nicole had stammered out the poorest excuse of an excuse; something about returning books to Waverly. Gus hadn’t believed her in the slightest, rightfully so, but she still had invited Nicole for some over easy eggs and bacon before sending her on her merry way home before Nicole’s parents put out an APB. Nicole had stopped at the library first, but Waverly hadn’t been there.

In fact, Waverly had been mostly M.I.A. since that evening, suddenly becoming busy with school, latin club, cheerleading, her part-time stocking job at Shorty’s. If it wasn’t one thing, it was another. Waverly had even canceled their last two study sessions. Nicole tried to not let it bother her. She understood that Waverly had a full schedule that didn’t revolve around Nicole. And so, Nicole had busied herself with life after basketball season, focusing on her studies and debating over which university she’d attend in the fall.

Still, she missed Waverly. So badly it was downright pathetic. It had only been 14 days, 12 hours, and 33 minutes (not that she was counting) but it seemed like an eternity since they last spent any substantive one-on-one time together outside of basic chitchat in the halls between classes. And Nicole would be damned if she didn’t get to enjoy the carnival with Waverly.

As if on cue, Waverly emerged from the clusters of students and townsfolk and visitors, like a ray of sunshine breaking through the clouds. She was clad in her cold-weather cheerleading outfit consisting of a form-fitting bodysuit and leggings underneath her normal blue-and-white uniform. Her hair was pulled back into a long braid and she looked so damn pretty Nicole’s stomach flipped in anticipation. Grinning, Nicole stuffed her hands inside the pockets of her letterman jacket and jogged over, careful not to stumble over the running and screaming kids who cut across her path.

“Wave!” She called out as casually as possible.

Waverly turned at the sound of her name, and initially brightened when she saw Nicole. That happiness was short-lived, however. By the time Nicole sauntered up, Waverly had schooled her features into a more subdued smile.

“Nicole, hi,” Waverly greeted.

“Hey, I was hoping I might bump into you.” Nicole played it cool even as her pulse sped up in Waverly’s presence, like always. “How’ve you been, stranger?”

“Not bad, just trying to get to Stephanie’s stupid fundraiser.” Waverly bit the corner of her lip as she chucked a thumb toward a distant booth surrounded by her squad. A long line of people waited nearby, including some of Nicole’s teammates.  “And you? How’ve you been?”

I’m going crazy without you, Nicole’s heart beat out, but she thankfully had enough discipline to not blurt it out and embarrass herself. “Oh, you know, same old,” she shrugged.

“I hear congratulations are in order.” Waverly smiled. “You got into Chicago.”

“Oh!” Nicole’s eyebrows arched. “How did…”

“I bumped into your mom at the Co-op.”

For some reason, Nicole felt guilty that Waverly found out from her mom instead of from her directly. “I meant to tell you, but haven’t really had the chance.”

“No worries, I get it.”

There was a hint of sadness in Waverly’s eyes and Nicole didn’t quite know what to make of it. A gust of wind blew across them and Waverly shivered, wrapping her arms around herself. Without a second thought, Nicole shrugged off her jacket and draped it over Waverly’s shoulders.

“Nicole, I can’t take your jacket,” Waverly protested.

“Sure you can.” Nicole grinned. “Looks better on you anyway.”

And she did. The jacket was about a size too big for Waverly, but seeing her wear her varsity letter felt so right. Nicole’s heart skipped several beats.

“Won’t you be cold?” Waverly asked.

“Nah, I always did run a little haught blooded,” Nicole winked.

Waverly rolled her eyes affectionately. “Thanks. And for what it’s worth, I’m happy for you. About Chicago. Your mom was super excited.”

“Yeah, she is,” Nicole agreed. “Though, honestly, I probably wouldn’t have gotten in without all your help in history.”

Waverly waved her off, cheeks tinging pink. “Please. I didn’t do anything but give you some silly mnemonics. It was all you.”

“It was more than that,” Nicole said sincerely. “I couldn’t have done it without you, Wave.” She looked down and kicked at the dirt with her toe. “But, honestly, I don’t even know if I’ll even go.”

Waverly brows knitted. “Why?”

“I don’t know,” Nicole lied, heart throbbing because she knew exactly why. The reason was standing right in front of her and Waverly didn’t even know it. “Just keeping my options open.”

“I thought Chicago was your dream school.”

“It was, but…” Nicole stepped closer, her eyes darting across Waverly’s face. “Dreams change.”

Waverly swallowed hard and took a step back, flustered. She let out a breathless laugh. “That’s um,” she shook her head and glanced down at her wristwatch. “Wow, I can’t believe it’s almost 6.”

Nicole frowned at Waverly’s reaction, worried she had crossed a line and made Waverly uncomfortable. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing!” Waverly self-consciously tucked her hair behind her ears.

“Are you sure?”

“I’ve just really got to find Stephanie.”

“Right.” Nicole motioned for Waverly to keep walking. “About that,” she said as she fell into step next Waverly. “I was thinking we could maybe hang out after you finish.”

Waverly avoided Nicole’s gaze as they weaved through the crowd, passing noisy rides and twinkling game booths. “I can’t.”

Disappointment sunk heavily in Nicole’s stomach.“Why not?”

“I kinda promised Champ I would go around the carnival with him.”

“Whoa wait.” Nicole froze next to a concession stand. She was having a hard time wrapping her brain around the sentence that just came out of Waverly’s mouth. “Champ as in Champ Hardy?”

Waverly walked a few more feet before she stopped and turned back around. “What of it?”

“You once called him a disgusting dingbat.”

“I did,” Waverly acceded with a small wince. “But maybe I was a little too harsh. Everyone deserves a second chance, and I figured why not?” She lifted her chin slightly, as if daring Nicole to say anything in contradiction.

“Okay…” Nicole felt queasy. She attributed it to the overpowering sweetness of the cotton candy, ice cream, and candy being peddled at a nearby kiosk. She refused to acknowledge that it was jealousy churning in her gut over the fact that Waverly could make time for that boorishly brainless rodeo clown but not for Nicole. “How ‘bout tomorrow after our study session?”

“No, sorry,” Waverly said awkwardly as she walked onward. “Gus needs extra help at Shorty’s.”

“Sunday?”

Waverly shook her head without looking at Nicole, who finally had enough. She raced ahead a few steps to stand in front of Waverly and block her path. “Wave, what’s going on?”

“What do you mean?” Waverly pulled Nicole’s jacket tighter across her body. “Nothing’s going on.”

“Really? ‘Cause if I didn’t know any better, I’d say you’re avoiding me.” Nicole tried to keep her voice free of hurt, but she knew she didn’t quite succeed based on Waverly’s pained look.

“Don’t be ridiculous.”

“Is it me?” Nicole’s chest clenched. “Did I do something wrong?”

“No!” Waverly protested. “It’s not you. It’s…” She let out a harsh breath and rubbed at one of her temples. “It’s hard to explain.”

“Try me.”

But Waverly said nothing. The noise and the chatter and the chaos of the carnival swirled around them and they just stared at each other, an unreadable expression creeping onto Waverly’s face that Nicole hoped wasn’t pity.

Holding up her hands, Nicole backed up, nearly bumping into several people in the process. “You know what? Forget it. Enjoy the carnival.”

Nicole turned on her heel and walked away, vision blurring with each step. She didn’t understand. She had never felt as close to anyone as she had Waverly, and never more so than that night in Waverly’s bedroom, curled up toward each other as they had talked about everything and nothing. She thought Waverly had felt it too, but… Maybe she didn’t. Maybe Nicole had imagined their connection. Heart swelling, Nicole didn’t turn back around even when she thought she heard her name called out behind her.

[aion-rsa]

Wolverine’s 15 Craziest Retcons

Wolverine is a powerhouse whose claws, super-strong adamantium skeleton and incredible healing factor make him a force of nature. He’s also a messed up guy with a history filled with tragedy, confusion and contradictions. It was established early on that Wolverine suffered from a combination of brain damage, mental trauma, psychic blocks and memory implants that gave him amnesia and flashbacks of things that never happened. That makes him… complicated, to say the least.

RELATED: Everything You Knew is a Lie: 15 Most Altered Superhero Origins

Until Wolverine’s origin was laid out in the pages of the appropriately-named 2001 mini-series “Origin” (by Bill Jemas, Paul Jenkins and Joe Quesada, with art from Andy Kubert and Richard Isanove), his life was a collection of ideas that would get changed whenever a new writer came along. Those changes are known in comics as retroactive continuity or “retcons,” and they can be both interesting and problematic. He’s not the only character with retcons, of course, but he’s one of the most famously affected by them. With Wolverine’s new movie “Logan” making a stir in the ether, the CBR team runs down 15 of Wolverine’s biggest retcons.

HIS HEALING FACTOR

One of Wolverine’s defining powers is his healing factor, which allows him to quickly walk off almost all injuries. It’s part of what makes Wolverine almost indestructible, which is why it’s kind of surprising that he didn’t start out that way.

In his first appearance in Len Wein and Herb Trimpe’s “Incredible Hulk” #181 (1974), Wolverine didn’t heal rapidly at all. Instead, he was so fast that Hulk could barely touch him, except for one moment when Hulk hits Wolverine, but he mysteriously shrugged off the impact. It was only when he became a regular member of the X-Men in 1977’s “X-Men” #107 that his healing was established, but throughout the ’80s, it took him weeks and even months to heal from major injuries. Starting in the 1990s, Wolverine’s healing ramped up until he healed from a nuclear incineration within minutes. He later explained this by saying his healing factor grew more efficient the more he used it, retconning his earlier weakness.

HE KNEW EVERYONE

For a long time, it was said that no one knew how old Wolverine was, because his healing factor made him both immortal and also kept him from showing his age. That meant writers could say he was as old as they wanted him to be, and wrote stories of Wolverine hanging around for decades. With his long life, it makes sense that he met a few familiar faces along the way, but it kind of got out of hand.

For example, in Archie Goodwin and Howard Chaykin’s “Wolverine/Nick Fury: The Scorpio Connection” (1989), Wolverine tells Nick Fury that they knew each other in his days serving with Canadian intelligence. However, “Wolverine Origins” #17 later shows them meeting during World War II. Since Fury didn’t dispute Wolverine in ’89 and didn’t recognize Wolverine, that was clearly a retcon. Also, the story showed him meeting Captain America, even though Cap didn’t recognize him decades later. How can you forget Wolverine? That hairdo alone tends to stick with you.

WEAPON PLUS

One of the defining moments of Wolverine’s life was his kidnapping by the Weapon X program, which forced the powerful adamantium metal onto his bones and tried to brainwash him. But Weapon X itself has gone through a lot of changes throughout the years. In 1975’s “Giant Size X-Men Annual” #1, Wolverine was codenamed Weapon X, but that changed in “Wolverine” #50 (1991), when Weapon X became the name of the super-soldier program that experimented on him.

In Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely’s “New X-Men” #129 (2002), another huge retcon was introduced when it said the “X” in Weapon X stood for the Roman numeral ten, meaning there were other experiments going all the way back to World War II, with more created after Wolverine. The program’s full name became the Weapon Plus program, and included most Marvel super-soldiers (including Captain America) as former members. At that point, it was said that early Weapon Plus experiments involved animals, but “Uncanny X-Force” #22 (2012) retconned Weapon III as the human supervillain, the Skinless Man.

RELATED: Bait and Switch: 15 Comic Book Reveals That Were Changed

HE MET PROFESSOR X

Wolverine became an official member of the X-Men in “Giant Size X-Men Annual” #1 (1975), when Professor X went to the Canadian government to recruit Logan because the original team of X-Men was lost on the mutant island Krakoa. Wolverine reluctantly agreed, which seemed kind of odd, considering he’s always been a lone wolf and didn’t fit in well with the rest of the team.

It was always the first meeting between the two, but that all changed with Daniel Way and Mike Deodato’s “Wolverine Origins” #29 in 2008. In that issue, Professor X revealed that Wolverine had been sent years before their meeting in Canada to kill him. Xavier knew about Wolverine’s mission, but used his psychic powers to erase his memory of the meeting and also implant the suggestion to become an X-Man because Xavier wanted to use Logan as a weapon. This retcon set up Xavier as kind of a jerk, manipulating and lying to Wolverine for decades.

HE FOUGHT THE ANGEL OF DEATH (A LOT)

As we mentioned earlier, Wolverine’s healing factor has grown to pretty ridiculous levels. Even with his unbreakable skeleton and rapid healing, Wolverine seemed to be able to brush off death way too easily, and it got to the point where someone had to explain why. When Marvel decided the time had come to kill off Wolverine, a new explanation for his miraculous healing was retconned.

In Marc Guggenheim and Howard Chaykin’s “Wolverine” story arc in 2008, it was revealed that Wolverine actually had died many times in the past, but each time had fought Lazaer (the Angel of Death) for the right to escape Purgatory and come back to life. As quickly as that was set up, Wolverine discovered his soul had been damaged and made a deal with Lazaer that if it was fixed, he would stay dead. Just in time for the “Death of Wolverine” stories, Logan was killed for good. Or at least, so far…

HIS REAL NAME

The real name of Wolverine has been a huge mystery, which makes sense since he couldn’t even remember where or when he was born. It didn’t help that he spent some time as a secret agent using false names. Over the years, there have been a few suggestions for his name, several of which contradict each other.

In Chris Claremont and John Byrne’s “Uncanny X-Men” #139 (1980), it was first revealed that Wolverine’s name was “Logan,” but he didn’t say if it was his first or last name. This became a critical point, and something other comics played with. Throughout the comics, they’ve also made references to the name “James,” but the matter seemed to be settled in “New X-Men” #143, when a file in the Weapon X program listed his name as “James Logan.” However, in “Wolverine Origins,” it was retconned and finally made canon that his original name was James Howlett. Logan was just the name of the family groundskeeper.

SILVER FOX

It’s hard to overstate how complicated Wolverine’s relationship is with the woman known as Silver Fox, since she’s both one of his greatest loves and greatest mysteries. In fact, she’s arguably been the subject of more retcons and switcheroos than any other character in his history.

First introduced in “Wolverine” #10 (1989), Silver Fox was a former lover who was killed by his archenemy Sabretooth, and her death became the spark that lit the flames of hatred between the two for years. Yet, in “Wolverine” #60-64 (1992), her death was retconned when Wolverine discovered she never died at all, and was actually an agent of HYDRA. In fact, the comics went so far as showing him a fake cabin that was used to implant his false memories of her. Her death was retconned yet again in Brian Michael Bendis and Olivier Coipel’s “House of M” in 2005, when Wolverine recovered memories of Silver Fox being killed by Sabretooth, after all. They didn’t even bother to explain that one.

HIS FATHER

As we mentioned before, Sabretooth is Wolverine’s most cruel and sadistic archenemy, revelling in tormenting Logan. There have been a lot of attempts to explain the conflict between the two, and one went way too far.

Sabretooth was originally created by Chris Claremont and John Byrne in “Iron Fist” #14 (1977), but readers quickly noticed his similarity to Wolverine, so they became enemies. The two fought lots of times, but in “Wolverine” #41 (1991), Sabretooth shocked the comic world by telling Logan they were father and son. It kind of made sense, since the two look similar, have similar powers and Sabretooth is indeterminately older. Later, Claremont in interviews confirmed he intended for Sabretooth to be Wolverine’s father. However, in the very next issue, this was revealed as false by Nick Fury and S.H.I.E.L.D., who conducted DNA testing to prove Sabretooth wasn’t Wolverine’s father, after all. That left their relationship to continue, but the roots of their hatred still hasn’t been solved… at least not the way readers may have wanted.

HE WAS A LUPINE

Now we’re getting into some of the bigger retcons Wolverine has gone through, which were changes to his very species. From his joining the X-Men, it’s been said that he was a mutant, which was how Professor X was able to locate Wolverine. That all changed in “Wolverine” #53 in 2007, though. In that story, Wolverine met a new enemy named Romulus (who we’ll get to later); he explained they were actually not mutants, but a new species of human evolved from canines instead of simians, or what he called Lupines. More than that, he claimed that all other wild mutants like Sasquatch, Sabretooth and Feral were Lupines, and that Sabretooth hated Wolverine because he was from a blond-haired tribe that hated the dark-haired tribe on sight.

That retcon went over with fans about as well as a screen door on Wonder Woman’s invisible airplane, which may be why this was reversed in “Wolverine” #312 (2012), when Romulus’ own sister Remus told him that Lupines didn’t exist, and said Wolverine was a mutant, after all.

ROMULUS

Speaking of Romulus, let’s get to that big ball of retcons. By any standard, Wolverine has had a hard life. He’s been crushed, blown up and poisoned, but his physical injuries are nothing compared to his mental trauma. Pretty much every woman he’s ever loved has been brutally murdered, he’s fought through countless wars, and most of his life has been spent not knowing who he was or where he came from. There was no rhyme or reason to any of that, except to show why he’s such a hard-drinking and angry loner.

That all changed in Jeph Loeb and Simone Bianchi’s “Wolverine” #50 (2007), when Wolverine had dreams of a mysterious figure known as Romulus, who was thousands of years old and had been manipulating Wolverine before he was born. He secretly controlled Weapon X, took Wolverine’s son Daken from his mother’s womb, arranged for the death of Wolverine’s lovers over the years and pretty much got the ball rolling on anything bad that ever happened to Logan. His entire existence is a retcon of Wolverine’s sucky life.

HE STARTED WEAPON X

Since Barry Windsor-Smith’s classic story “Weapon X,” which appeared in “Marvel Comics Presents” #72-84 in 1991, Weapon X has been portrayed as a dark and shadowy organization that kidnapped and subjected Wolverine to the torturous process of bonding adamantium to his skeleton. The moment the Weapon Plus program came into his life changed Logan forever, and certainly wasn’t something he agreed to. At least, that’s the way it always was until 2012’s “Wolverine #312.”

In that story, Wolverine has a climactic fight with Romulus, who reveals that his claims of the Lupine were lies (another retcon mentioned earlier) and that he wants to create a new race of his own. In the final moments, Romulus also says that Wolverine was the one who altered his own memories to make himself into a test subject, and that Weapon X is and always was Wolverine’s idea. So far, that hasn’t been explained, because it makes no sense. It also contradicts the claims and flashbacks of Wolverine and other people involved in Weapon X.

ADAMANTIUM

Besides his claws, Wolverine’s unbreakable skeleton is one of his most defining physical features, with the indestructible metal used to reinforce all his bones, making them unbreakable. His skeleton is one of the strongest objects in the Marvel Universe, second only to Captain America’s shield. Much like everything else involving Wolverine, his adamantium skeleton is also a retcon.

In his first appearance fighting the Hulk, it was never said that Wolverine’s entire skeleton was covered in adamantium, only his claws. Wein only intended the claws themselves to be adamantium, and removable at that. After Logan joined the X-Men, later comics established that the adamantium ran through his entire skeleton. That made him not just fast with a quick healing factor and razor-sharp claws, but unbreakable, leading to his legendary immortality and invulnerability. It’s hard to imagine the old Canuckle-head without his metal skeleton, but that’s exactly what his creators did.

HIS CLAWS

When it comes to Wolverine, his most prominent feature is his pair of razor-sharp adamantium claws. That’s why we’ll be getting into how those claws have changed over the years, and how they’ve been retconned since the very beginning.

In his first fight against Hulk and Wendigo in “Incredible Hulk” #181, Wolverine fought the Hulk with his claws out the entire time, and never retracted them. That implied that his claws were attached to his gloves, which was actually the original writer Len Wein’s intention. When he returned in “Giant Size X-Men Annual” #1, Wolverine could retract his claws, but everyone assumed the claws were attached to his gloves. In “X-Men” #98 (1976), Wolverine surprised everyone when his gloves were removed, and he still was able to pop his claws, showing they were a part of his body, not his gloves. Reportedly, this was changed because Chris Claremont felt it would be easy for anyone to be Wolverine just by putting on his gloves. By having the claws inside his arms, they became a part of him and one of his most distinguishing features.

HIS (BONE) CLAWS

In his early appearances, it was said quite clearly that Wolverine’s claws were added during the process at Weapon X. Wolverine himself said this many times, and Weapon X confirmed it. In Fabian Nicieza and Scott Lobdell’s “X-Men” #25 (1993), Magneto infamously ripped the adamantium out of Wolverine’s skeleton, leaving him a shattered mess. Everyone expected Wolverine’s claws to be torn out as well, since they were (as previously said) believed to be a part of Weapon X.

But in the aftermath, they discovered his claws were actually made of bone, and the adamantium was just covering the claws. This was a huge retcon, since it meant his claws were in fact part of his mutation after all. It also meant his claws had been a part of him all along. This became clarified in “Wolverine Origin” #2, when he was shown as a young boy popping his bone claws for the first time.

HE WAS AN ACTUAL WOLVERINE

This is the big one, the mother of all retcons, so controversial that it never even made it to the printed page. It involves Wolverine’s very nature and existence, and goes all the way back to his first Hulk appearance, where he appeared to fight the Hulk and Wendigo with no explanation of who he was and where he came from. When he returned in the pages of “X-Men,” Xavier said he was a mutant, but that’s not what his creators intended.

Rumor has it that Marvel planned to reveal Wolverine wasn’t a mutant, but an actual wolverine, who had been turned into a human being. The idea was that the High Evolutionary (pictured), a supervillain obsessed with evolving animals, would have created Wolverine, making his mutant history a huge retcon. Wein has loudly stated that the evolved wolverine idea wasn’t his, laying the blame on Chris Claremont, Dave Cockrum or John Byrne. In an interview with Cockrum, he did admit he planned to have the High Evolutionary involved in Wolverine’s origin, which seems like confirmation. Given everything we’ve seen of Wolverine over the years, we’re kind of glad that idea never saw the light of day.

What do you think is Wolverine’s biggest retcon? What other Logan retcons have you noticed?

The post Wolverine’s 15 Craziest Retcons appeared first on CBR.com.

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