#Time Loop

[yunisverse]

sometimes i remember my first ever experience with a time loop story when i was like 8: Help! I'm Trapped in the First Day of Summer Camp by Todd Strasser.

The title says it all; kid goes to camp, makes friends with "cool kids" and gets peer pressured into being a shithead and a bully, wakes up the next day with things reset to arriving at camp.

But the thing is, this book is part of a series. Most of the books are this same kid getting caught up in body swap shenanigans, but he had gotten caught in a time loop once in a previous book. So he knew the score. He just needed to not be a jerk today. Cue him being overly nice to the point of blatant insincerity, making everyone wildly uncomfortable. No growth, just trying to appease the forces that be. Loop continues looping.

Yadda yadda, finally figures out how to be a genuinely nice kid who stands up to bullies and makes friends with the nerdy kid, etc etc, got everything perfectly right.

When that loop doesn't work he immediately throws himself off the bus to camp to kill himself. Loop again.

Finally, having resigned himself to never escaping the loop but at least he can dedicate it to being a good kid with nice friends, a thought occurs to him. There's one thing he hasn't done a single time in all the loops.

He brushes his teeth before bed. And wakes up the next day.

and frankly, i think more time loops should be hinged on morality-neutral mundane tasks. escape the time loop by taking your meds. free yourself by taking a shower. my man todd was a visionary

[stitchlingbelle]

Time loop but everyone knows. Time loop all about Jerry's personal development and we're all just stuck in it. Time loop where you go about your day mostly because what else is there to do. Every once in a while you snap and do the random stuff but mostly you just keep going to work and making spaghetti bc at the end of the day you need to eat something. Time loop where you have to live like it'll end tomorrow and what you did today will matter, forever.

*flirtatiously* die horribly in this time loop often?

[lamentable-comedy]

my castmate, getting emotional on closing night: do you ever think about how we might be in this play again... but this is still the last time we'll ever be in this production, with these people at this time? and even within that, each show is the last time we'll ever do that specific performance. even within a given unique production, there are a thousand little things that are different night to night. different performance choices, different audience, different thoughts in our heads and ways we play off each other. it's like. theatre is by its nature ephemeral and there's no way to ever go back and experience that specific version of a play ever again.

me, who's lived through the time loop of this night 300 times: y'know--

[masquerain-with-a-mask]

shout-out to timeloops protagonists, gotta be one of my favorite genders

[nekolikedacat]

Sonic’s brows furrowed in worry. “Are you still not feeling well?” Before Tails could protest, he added, “I know when you’re lying to me.” “No, I’m-” Tails needed to remember to do something about this next time. The conversation always frustrated him, “I’m fine now. Better.” “Tails…” he pushed himself away as Sonic reached out; with hurt evident on the his face, Sonic pried, “what’s wrong? “Nothing.” or Tails falls down the stairs. Repeatedly.

heres my contribution to @sthbigbang!! :D really proud of this one

big thanks to @whomst-yall for this piece, and @dunkinbublin for this one (as well as @mattreverse for beta reading)! it was fun working with everyone!! x3

enjoy reading! :3

[wpmz]

everybody talks about escaping the time loop but no one ever talks about what happens after you escape the time loop. how do you cope with normal life after spending eternities learning and relearning the exact same series of events? do you struggle to remember what it was like before? what happens when life is no longer predictable, when you can no longer rely on the routine you have gotten to know so well? do you fall into old habits, perform rituals that once served meaning but now divorced from their original context appear strange? do you talk to someone, thrown off by how their responses are familiar yet not the same repeated phrases you have grown to expect? do you wonder how you ever lived without being able to know what happens next? do you fall back into that same routine, desperate for the sense of familiarity that had grown so comfortable to you? yes, time moves forward now, but did you ever truly leave the time loop? can you, now that it is all you know?

[skyedom]

[felixcloud6288]

The world is trapped in a time-loop and the only people aware of it are the students and the professor of a freshman undergraduate math course.

The professor, not one to miss an opportunity, decides to teach the students new topics each loop, test the students for understanding, review concepts they're struggling with, and then start teaching them material from other math courses.

Over time, the students start using the loops to do individual research in whatever topics catch their interests and start teaching the class and the professor all sorts of topics ranging from biology to philosophy to history to physics (They understandably can't give great presentations because they have to start making their presentations the morning of).

They also begin studying cultures, foreign languages, and politics together. Some days are spent practicing cooking, dancing, singing, and all sorts of activities performed across the world. Other days are spent discussing the problems of the world and planning out how to tackle them once they escape the loop.

Once the time loop finally ends, these freshman students all have the intellect and skill of people with multiple PhDs. They are a united coalition of many backgrounds who all have a unified goal to make the world a better place...but they're technically undergrad freshmen.

[dayenurose]

Time Travel Fic Recs Featuring Romy

Welcome to this year’s addition to my Romy Fanfic Rec Collection. I was inspired by the ‘Time Loop’ prompt, though I decided to expand it to cover 'Time Travel' in general. @angel-gidget designed the lovely banner. Thanks Gidge. <3 

And now, I hope you enjoy a few of my favorite time travel fics featuring Rogue and Gambit.

For @roguegambitweek 2025 - Day 7: Free Day, Day 5: Time Loop

Betrayal by Valerie J [ff.net]

Rating: T | Universe: X-Men: Comics | Words: 77,333 | Chapters: 25 | Status: Complete | Date: Oct 10, 2001-Jan 20, 2002 |

Call Back Yesterday by xenokattz ( @xenokattz ) [ao3]

Rating: T | Universe: X-Men: Movies | Words: 17,605 | Chapters: 7 | Status: Complete | Date: May 28-29, 2012 |

The Chase by Chellerbelle ( @chellerbelles ) [ao3] [ff.net]

Rating: T | Universe: WatX | Words: 43,867 | Chapters: 11 | Status: Complete | Date: Jun 7-27, 2012 |

But Here We Are by AppleJ ( @applejacks1552 ) [ao3]

Rating: M | Universe: X-Men: Comics | Words: 32,978 | Chapters: 30 | Status: Complete | Date: Feb 24, 2019 |

Converging by AnaExpert (Ana Xpert) ( @anaxpert-blog ) [ao3] [ff.net]

Rating: M | Universe: X-Men: Comics | Words: 43,369 | Chapters: 15 | Status: Complete | Date: Jun 4, 2017-Sep 3, 2020 |

Chapter 13 - Day 12: Out of Sight, Out of Time of Fourteen Ways to Fall for You by lettersfromnowhere ( @lettersfromn0where ) [Ch 13] [ao3]

Rating: G | Universe: X-Men | Words: 2,256 (31,446) | Chapters: 14 | Status: Complete | Date: Jun 24-Aug 5, 2019 |

Pearls of Wisdom by chitane ( @unleash-hell-little-one ) [ao3] [ff.net]

Rating: T | Universe: X-Men | Words: 4,838 | Chapters: 3 | Status: WIP | Date: Feb 26-Mar 20, 2021

A More Perfect World by DemonaHw ( @demonahw ) [ao3]

Rating: T | Universe: XtAS/’97 | Words: 4,797 | Chapters: 2 | Status: WIP | Date: Jun 11, 2024-Jan 8, 2025

Thanks to all the authors for writing and sharing your stories. They are amazing fics that allow us to travel through time.

If you read any of these fics, please leave a comment and let the authors know you enjoyed them.

Happy Reading!

Fic Summaries and Notes Below the Cut:

Betrayal by Valerie J [ff.net]

Rating: T | Universe: X-Men: Comics | Words: 77,333 | Chapters: 25 | Status: Complete | Date: Oct 10, 2001-Jan 20, 2002 |

Summary: [Complete] When Bishop first joined the X-Men, he warned them that they would be betrayed by one of their own. He was right, but that’s only the beginning of the story. (This story diverges from continuity just after X-Men #45.)

Notes: There is so much story potential in the relationship between Bishop and the Witness. Bring that to the present and you get a fascinating story which touches on so much more than time travel. Relationships are tested, secrets are revealed, and choices are made. This is an excellent fic is the start of a trilogy which is well worth the read.

Call Back Yesterday by xenokattz ( @xenokattz ) [ao3]

Rating: T | Universe: X-Men: Movies | Words: 17,605 | Chapters: 7 | Status: Complete | Date: May 28-29, 2012 |

Summary: After 2005, the world went to shit. That was Logan’s summary. Global climate change. All the TVs were rectangular and thin. All the cars were purportedly powered by electricity. The music sucked. Network explained events with more detail, but the gist of it was after 2005, the world went to shit. And Remy had to fix it before he could go home to good old 1993. 

Notes: This story sticks with me long after I finished reading. While there is something melancholic and bittersweet about it, the fic offers a compelling story of love, community, and saving the world. There’s a figurative ticking clock which keeps you reading right up to the last moment. And, it’s the perfect length that you might find yourself looping around and reading it again after you finish.

The Chase by Chellerbelle ( @chellerbelles ) [ao3] [ff.net]

Rating: T | Universe: WatX | Words: 43,867 | Chapters: 11 | Status: Complete | Date: Jun 7-27, 2012 |

Summary:  In the Present, Gambit tries to auction off Emma Frost’s diamond hand and finds himself caught between the X-men and Sinister’s Marauders. 20 Years in the Future, Professor Xavier seeks to save his X-men from being murdered in the past by the marauders, and prevent the Age of Apocalypse from ever happening. 

Notes: I love the complicated timey-wimey nature of this story. Chelle manages to not only juggle one or two times lines, but plays out a half dozen or so various timelines in over a dozen time frames. And, she makes excellent use of the time travel elements and shows what happens to the future when you use foreknowledge to change your present. 

But Here We Are by AppleJ ( @applejacks1552 ) [ao3]

Rating: M | Universe: X-Men: Comics | Words: 32,978 | Chapters: 30 | Status: Complete | Date: Feb 24, 2019 |

Summary: They never thought this would be possible, but Rogue is uneXpectedly eXpecting. Yet nothing is ever THAT simple in the life of an X-Man. What secret will Gambit discover that complicates their happily-ever-after?

Notes: This is one of those fics you find yourself asking, where's the time travel. And then, it shows up and it is such an important element of the story. It really grabs you as Rogue and Gambit are facing upcoming parenthood--and for anyone who knows the the X-Men, then you know that there are no certainities when it comes to being an X-Man and a parent.

Converging by AnaExpert (Ana Xpert) ( @anaxpert-blog ) [ao3] [ff.net]

Rating: M | Universe: X-Men: Comics | Words: 43,369 | Chapters: 15 | Status: Complete | Date: Jun 4, 2017-Sep 3, 2020 |

Summary: Rogue seems happy with her new life, or is she? Gambit is finally showing signs of moving on from her. Living separate lives, but forever in each other’s hearts. An old buried secret is revealed and it completely changes everything. Expect sex, drama, angst and plot twists.

Note: What if you had the ability to change a painful incident from the past? Would you take the opportunity? This fic grapples with that question along with other complications of what happens to your present when you change the past.

Note.2: The ff.net version may be slightly easier to read. The story has multi-character POV and will change POV within the chapters. The formatting which signifies change of POV didn’t always get transferred over to ao3, so it can take a moment to note the change in POV. POVs are separated in ff.net. 

Chapter 13 - Day 12: Out of Sight, Out of Time of Fourteen Ways to Fall for You by lettersfromnowhere ( @lettersfromn0where ) [Ch 13] [ao3]

Rating: G | Universe: X-Men | Words: 2,256 (31,446) | Chapters: 14 | Status: Complete | Date: Jun 24-Aug 5, 2019 |

Summary: Day 12: because there TOTALLY isn’t enough time travel in the X-Men universe as is! (A time travel AU)

Note: This fic is a lot of fun. There's a framing sequence not only at the beginning and end of the story, but each chapter as well. Aliens want to know if soulmates are real, so they kidnap Rogue and Gambit and put them through a myriad of fanfic tropes. And when it comes to time travel, this chapter hits all the right points you want in a across time romance in a bite size package.

Pearls of Wisdom by chitane ( @unleash-hell-little-one ) [ao3] [ff.net]

Rating: T | Universe: X-Men | Words: 4,838 | Chapters: 3 | Status: WIP | Date: Feb 26-Mar 20, 2021 |

Summary: After a mishap with one of Forge’s latest science projects, Rogue somehow finds herself 12 years into the past. AU Time Travel. 

Notes: I would love to see this fic continue. I want to know what happens. Rogue is in a position where she knows how things are supposed to play out, but doesn't *know* what it was actually like.

A More Perfect World by DemonaHw ( @demonahw ) [ao3]

Rating: T | Universe: XtAS/’97 | Words: 4,797 | Chapters: 2 | Status: WIP | Date: Jun 11, 2024-Jan 8, 2025 |

Summary: Newly arrived with the X-men, Remy LeBeau was growing accustomed to dying. Each time he did he woke up back in his bead on the morning of April 10th. But he could deal with that: he’d seen Groundhog Day and it wasn’t as if he had any plans. But he was starting to realise that

Notes: Yay! A time loop story at last. And, another story I really want to see continue. The novelty of living forever without consequences loses its appeal after a time, and the consequences of repeatedly dying remains even when the death doesn't. The fic really gives the reader something to think about.

[forcefemdemonprincess]

Traps you in the time loop until you come out a girl

[sleepless-in-starbucks]

guy who's stuck in a timeloop for so long he stops wanting to leave it. guy who started out trying to escape but slowly grew used to and became comforted by the familiarity of the repeating day. guy who is no longer who he was before the timeloop. guy who is offered a way out and violently refuses it because he can't leave, doesn't want to leave. guy who escapes the timeloop by chance or force or accident and doesn't know how to live anymore. guy who keeps going through motions that don't match the situation and keeps having conversations that aren't actually occurring. guy who panics every time he realizes he can't predict the next instant. guy who left the timeloop but still lives with it.

[captainkirkk]

I know time loop stories are often about characters going on an emotional journey and/or learning a lesson but if I was stuck in a time loop I would very quickly stop caring about consequences

Who cares if I spend all my money if the purchase wouldn't have even happened the next day? Who cares if I finally flip someone at work off? If I got angry and wanted to throw my phone at the wall, I could without needing to buy a new one.

Coming out of a time loop must be incredibly difficult. You'd have to relearn small petty consequences the way an astronaut relearns gravity after returning to earth. You have to relearn how to live like the next day actually matters.

[thisdastampdoesnotexist]

[arachnid-party]

heh. nice argument. unfortunately for you, i’ve been trapped in a time loop for the last 6 months and i know exactly what to do [kisses you with tongue]

[dclovesdanny]

Time loop x Dead Serious

Damian had been in a time loop for 99 days.

It had taken 40 loops for him to realize Phantom, the newest member of the Justice League, was looping as well. When he finally managed to corner him, Phantom was as confused as he was. Apparently, Phantom’s mentor, who was the embodiment of time, was unable to be contacted.

Damian found out about Phantom’s civilian identity in loop 45 after he joined Phantom on a patrol.

Loop 56 was when they started getting closer than just allies. That was the loop where they saw someone die for the first time.

(Damian was too distracted. He didn’t realize Timothy was behind him. He had forgotten about the goons behind him. He didn’t see the bullet coming.)

(He couldn’t meet Timothy’s eyes when he was at breakfast that morning.)

It was loop 85 when they finally found out that someone had apparently found clockwork summoning circle. It took 3 more days for them to locate the cult and discover the cult was working with the League of Assassins.

(Damian could feel the eyes of his family, but he wasn’t willing to pretend he was the same. He had seen each of them die on patrol and knew each of their deaths was due to his actions. He refused to act the same.)

They spent two loops doing reconnaissance, and eight days of planning.

(Damian and Daniel-Danny, he had asked to be called Danny, were becoming codependent. Damian knew the signs of it. Danny had even brought it up. Still, they both had seen their friends and family die and wake up in the morning without any recollection. They were the only other people who understood what they had seen, the changes that happened in their minds.)

Loop day 99 was their “purge day”as Danny called it. Danny had taken him for a day of freedom before the fight, somehow, knowing that Damian couldn’t bear to look at his family right now.(He knew Danny felt the same. Danny had been the one who called him in a haze on loop 62 when his parents discovered who he was and tried to kill him. Danny had apparently had that happen once before during this loop, and it happened one other time after Danny and Damien became allies. Both times ended with the two of them silently cuddling through the night.)

The fight had been remarkably easy. Undoing the summoning circle was… more complicated.

Clockwork looked genuinely sorry. He apologized to them, and gave them both necklaces of time medallions, so that things like this or like speedsters would leave them unchanged.(Danny laughed a little after that, though it seemed partially hysterical.)

Danny spent that night in Damian’s arms in silence. Damien couldn’t fathom letting him go.

(the loop was ending, but what did that mean for them? They couldn’t pretend to be strangers again tomorrow. Were they supposed to be back to normal? how could Damien scoff and call Timothy by his last name when he had seen Timothy die for him? How could Danny act as if he trusted his parents when he had seen them find out he was a ghost and try to murder him? How were they supposed to move on?)

As Damien awoke to the sound of his door being opened, his arms still wrapped around Danny’s sleeping figure, he slowly realized that he had gotten into the habit of not setting his alarm anymore.