Slick!

Day 8: favourite trope to read or write and is there a difference in reading or writing that trope.

Hmmm … a very good question! I recently read the Phedre trilogy by Jacqueline Carey. After reading the first book, Kushiel’s Dart, my life and writing has been rendered transformed. The books are written in first person and the detail of the world building and the twists in the plot are exquisite. Reading this trilogy has pushed me to reconsider the roller coaster plot structure and approach my current wip into something more interesting. Hopefully I can be at least a quarter as successful as Carey. If you have not read her stories, I highly recommend them.

In the trilogy, the tropes of “enemies to lovers” and “lovers to enemies” is explored. It is so beautifully done! In my current wip, I’m working on lovers to enemies for my main character. A character who is also a flawed hero with a heart of gold.

Wish me luck!

#goals 2025

Become Your Dream Girl in 2025

Defining your dream girl persona

The first step into becoming your dream girl is to have a clear picture of her in your mind. Imagine her life in detail; her aesthetic, her habits, and even her energy. This is the time to get specific.

Visualization Exercise: Sit in a quiet space, close your eyes, and visualize your dream girl persona. How does she dress? What places does she visit? What are her priorities and goals? Let yourself feel her confidence, luxury, and elegance.

Create a Vision Board: Gather photos, quotes, fabrics, and colors that represent this version of you. A physical board can go in your room or closet. It can even be a mini collage you can put on your driver's side mirror in your car. The goal is to see your dream girl's life as real and achievable.

Setting New Year Goals

Your dream girl's life needs structure, so let's break down goals into categories and map out the steps to make it happen.

Categorize Your Goals: List your goals under personal growth, style & beauty, health & wellness, and career & financial. For example, under "Health & Wellness", you might set a goal to try Pilates or to cook more at home.

Monthly Check-Ins: As you go through the year, check in with your goals to celebrate your wins, and adjust as needed. This keeps your transformation on track.

Mindset Makeover

Confidence & Self-Worth

Your dream girl is confident, magnetic, and knows her worth. Let's build those habits and thoughts that help you embody that energy daily.

Positive Affirmations: Every time you look in the mirror, say things like "I am worth everything good that can happen to me" or any affirmation that you feel suits you best.

Confidence Rituals: Small, daily actions add up to huge shifts in confidence. Make it a habit to dress up on casual days, speak kindly to yourself, and embrace good posture.

Let Go of Insecurities: Identify any insecurities and practice reframing them. Instead of "I wish I was more confident", say "I am becoming more confident every day". Over time, you'll notice how these subtle shifts impact your self-worth.

Mindset for Success

Your dream girl is resilient and always growing, so let's make success part of your mindset.

Growth Mindset: View challenges as chances to learn, whether it's a career move, a new hobby, or even a social situation.

Visualizing Success: Each morning, spend a few minutes visualizing yourself living your dream life. This will keep you focused and motivated.

Morning & Evening Routines: Start each day with intention by setting small goals and expressing gratitude. At night, reflect on the day and celebrate your wins; even the small ones.

Social Life & Relationships

Social confidence comes from feeling at ease in your own skin.

Elegant Etiquette: Show appreciation with thank you notes, and make an effort to remember names. The vibe for 2025 is to go for traditional, rather than modern. Think classic early 1920's-1950's Hollywood.

Curate Your Circle: Surround yourself with supportive, inspiring friends who uplift you. Leave the ones who don't elevate themselves or try to keep you behind.

Networking Lifestyle: Turn social gatherings into chances to meet like-minded people and to elevate your circle.

(Dating) Standards First: Don't settle; know what you deserve in a partner and communicate it confidently.

(Dating) Playful Energy: Be confident, flirty, and assertive (with yourself, not them). Stay in your feminine energy and let them earn your time and attention.

(Dating) Relationship Goals: Keep dates special and playful. Dress up, go out, and enjoy yourself.

Finances & Career Goals

Your dream girl values luxury, but also financial security. Your career is part of your dream girl identity, so elevate it.

Budgeting: Set aside money for luxuries and self-investment, but keep savings in mind.

Multiple Income Streams: Consider side hustles that align with your lifestyle.

Savings Goals: Whether it's for a designer bag, a trip, or just building wealth, make sure your goals are concrete.

Luxury Workspace: Make your workspace a vibe with candles, flowers, and chic decor.

Network for Success: Connect with mentors and people who inspire you.

Grow with Intention: Set milestones in your career or business, and keep pushing for the next level.

Health & Wellness

Your body is the vessel of your dream girl, so let's treat it with love and care. Mental clarity and peace are essential for dream girl energy; so let's focus on overall wellness this year.

Exercise: Try Pilates or Barre classes for a toned, elegant look. If that's not your thing, find workouts that create your dream body.

Healthy Eating: Focus on whole foods, lots of veggies, and drink tons of water.

Weekly Reset: Plan a mini detox day where you relax, hydrate, and reset for the week.

Mindfulness Practice: Try a short meditation or breathing exercise every morning.

Stress Relief: Whether it's a quick walk, journaling, or a creative outlet, find a stress relief that's all you.

Boundaries: Say no when needed, and make sure your energy is protected.

Beauty & Style Upgrade

First, a dream girl has that glow, and it all starts with a skincare routine that feels luxurious. You also need to find a style that captures your dream girl vibe, and commit to curating it. Then, you need to develop habits that will help you better your appearance.

Simple Skincare Routine (For Starters): Start with a cleanser for your skin type, followed by a hydrating toner, a serum (like Vitamin C for brightness), moisturizer, and SPF.

Luxury Treatments: Invest in facials or try gentle at-home treatments like dermaplaning once a month for an extra glow.

Nightly Routine: Keep your skin hydrated at night with a heavier moisturizer or an overnight mask.

Personal Style Icons: Think of someone like Serena van der Woodsen from Gossip Girl or a high-fashion model off-duty.

Curating Your Wardrobe: Focus on high-quality staples in neutral tones, like blazers, silky blouses, and tailored bottoms. Invest in timeless pieces that make you feel like a billion dollars.

Signature Look: A dream girl has her thing, whether it's an accessory, a makeup look, or a scent. Find what makes you feel like you and stick with it.

Self-Care Rituals: Prioritize manicures and pedicures, hair masks, and bubble baths. Set aside time every week to pamper yourself.

Polished Look: Even on your most casual days, aim to look put together.

Signature Hair & Makeup: Pick a go-to glam look that embodies your dream girl; maybe that's glossy lips and loose waves (for example).

Lifestyle & Daily Habits

Your routine should feel luxurious yet practical, setting the tone for each day. Small daily habits can transform how you feel and present yourself.

Weekly Pamper Sessions: Set aside Sunday evenings for facials, skincare, and champagne baths! (Be careful and make sure you're of legal drinking age)

Journaling and Reflection: Each morning, write down 3 things you're grateful for and 3 intentions for the day.

Goal Reviews: Every Sunday, celebrate your wins and see if any goals need a refresh.

The Basic Routine: Make your bed, wake up early, and put on an outfit that feels like you.

Energy-Boosting Habits: A quick stretch, a healthy breakfast, and a moment of quiet can make a huge difference.

Wind-Down Ritual: At night, unwind with tea, a bubble bath, or a short meditation to recharge for tomorrow.

Indulge a Little: Get a weekly coffee treat or a luxurious candle that makes your space feel cozy.

Luxury Experiences: Plan for a special outing every month, like a fancy dinner or spa day.

Signature Scents and Cocktails: Find your go-to perfume and a signature drink like a dirty martini or a bubbly glass of champagne.

Conclusion:

Becoming your dream girl is a journey; one that's glamorous, fulfilling, and full of growth. Each step brings you closer to living the life you deserve.

Gillian Anderson is the best!

THEY WENT THERE I’M HOWLING

Useful!

site that you can type in the definition of a word and get the word

site for when you can only remember part of a word/its definition 

site that gives you words that rhyme with a word

site that gives you synonyms and antonyms

Day 11 of @the-wip-project ‘s challenge!

I know the character fairly well before I begin writing. What helps me define them is writing their backstory including circumstances and events they know shaped them plus a few they are unaware were pivotal.

Hello! I was rewatching season 3 because ... clexa and realized this. Clarke’s room in the tower is directly under the throne room. Which means that in Season 3 Episode 3, Clarke may have witnessed the Azgeda Ambassador fall past her window after Lexa pushed him off the tower. After Clarke and Lexa’s confrontation, Clarke returns to her room’s window. If we assume Lexa went directly up to her throne room after said confrontation, then Clarke seeing a falling body is a distinct possibility. Who knows, she may even have heard the confrontation in the throne room!

Here is a shot of Lexa standing on the balcony outside of the throne room at the end of Season 3 Episode 2. Note the shape of the balcony and the statues that “hold it up”.

Episode 3 starts with a scan up Polis Tower to Clarke’s bedroom. Just before it closes in on Clarke in the window, we see the top of the tower, including the Throne Room and balcony.

The camera closes in on our fearless Wanheda brooding while looking at the view. Note the statues on either side of the window.

How I wish they had filmed Clarke’s Reaction! 

I will die on this hill that it was a sin against Lady Whistledown that we were not treated to a Classical interpretation of “Chaise Longue” by Wet Leg during the Mirror/ Chaise Longue Polin scene.

So, as promised, here’s my list of lesbian movies for all of our lovely followers and the people you want to share it with. I hope I haven’t forgotten any good ones, but if you feel like that is the case, feel free to add movies to the list! 

This is my gift for all of you, I hope you’ll like it ♥

/ Mod W

Tipping the Velvet 

based on the book by sarah waters (she has written many lesbian books!)

it’s a bbc adapatation

technically a mini series but i like to see it as three hours of lesbian content heaven

it’s about this girl who falls in love with an actress and she goes to see her at the theatre five billion times until the actress notices her (that’s just the first part, other things happen to the main so watch the rest for more lesbian content~)

the main character (nan astley/king) is like… my fave. i love her.

the book is very good too!!!

honestly i have so much love for this movie/book i get all giddy just thinking of it

Bound

lesbian gangster/mob movie do i need to say more???

the main actresses are cute af (one of them is a butch lesbian!)

it’s awesome and very cool

(gonna trigger warn for use of lesbophobic slurs used by some characters/some lesbophobic violence)

Below Her Mouth

meh plot with amazing sex scenes basically?

a lot of sex scenes

i mean it like half the movie is graphic sex so if ur uncomfortable with that you probably shouldn’t watch it lol

all female cast

willa from wynonna earp!

The Handmaiden

also based on a book by sarah waters (called Fingersmith, there’s a bbc adaptation of it too which you should totally check out as well)

good quality movie right there

(putting a trigger warning here for sexual and psychological abuse and abuse in general)

Kyss Mig

one of few good swedish movies

basically about two step-sisters who fall in love (they’re not actually related i promise)

But I’m a Cheerleader

baby natasha lyonne is in this one! also i have a crush on clea duvall in this movie lol

a very cute love story tbh

good aesthetic

you’ve probably heard of it before but idc cause it’s great

(it’s like a satire of conversion therapy so if that’s something you can’t watch i don’t recommend this movie for you in particular)

If These Walls Could Talk 2 

a bunch of famous actresses (like chloë sevigny, michelle williams, natasha lyonne, ellen degeneres, etc. etc.)

divided in three segments from three different periods in time

one segment is set during the feminist movement in the 70s and features chloë sevigny as a butch lesbian with a motorcycle do i even need to say more??

Anatomy of a Love Seen

this is about two actresses who were a couple when they shot a movie together and now they have to go back and re-shoot some love scenes but they’re not a couple anymore and it’s sad af

i have basically never seen this movie in any rec lists but it’s actually one of my faves and i cry so much to this movie tbh

Saving Face

this is a good one

also pretty funny tbh!

it’s about a doctor who falls in love with a dancer and the doctor’s relationship with her conservative mom

it’s kind of rom-comish

Lost and Delirious

warning: very sad like super sad?

it’s about a girl who goes to a boarding school and so happens to become roommates with a lesbian couple

teen angst squared and multiplied with gay panic

The Incredibly True Adventure of Two Girls In Love

you may have heard of this one but if you haven’t it’s time you watch it

that woman who plays tina on the l word is a butch-ish girl in this one

VERY CUTE and chill

every time i watch this it feels like this movie is the director’s BABY like it seems like she cares about this story so much and it makes the movie feel so genuine and lovely

i want every baby lesbian to watch this, please, it’s my gift to you.

D.E.B.S.

you may have heard of this one too but if you haven’t seen it yet it’s definitely worth a watch!

lesbian spies!

the heroine falls in love with the villain (that enemies to lovers trope tho!!)

Desert Hearts

old but good!

i feel like this movie is on most of these long rec lists but people probably don’t watch it cause it’s old but it is actually pretty good!

your classic “oops i thought i was straight but that woman is hot” story

Margarita With a Straw

indian girl figures out she’s bi when she goes to uni in new york and meets a lesbian girl

cute, funny, sad, it has everything tbh

The Hours (actually one of my all-time favorite movies/books!)

The Intervention

The Kids Are All Right

The Children’s Hour

Elena Undone

Fucking Åmål 

yay to long haired vegetables and their strap ons! lol

Amazing!

we know they wont do it or they wont do it right. so if you were doing it this year how would you bring lexa back permanently alive?

A complete do-over of this season utilizing what they’ve brought? Same opening, introductions, up to Octavia being abandoned by BeIIamy. And we break from there.

(This is looong)

1. I would have presented the original Sanctumites as having arrived on the planet in nothing but their “mind drives.”

 2. I would have had a pre-ALIE AI running their ship while they “slept” and being in charge of 3-D printing them bodies from existing DNA kept in frozen storage for when they arrived on a viable planet. 

 3. I would have had Gabriel and the AI sabotage the DNA printers so no new bodies could be printed up. He learns what kind of eugenic-fueled monsters the Lightbourne’s are and their “ultimate plans” for Sanctum.

 4. This led to his banishment and to Josephine coming up with the extreme and horrifying idea of using other people’s bodies. All the extra “embryos” on board were for colonization purposes, but wound up being the Primes source of extra bodies. 

 5. Gabriel’s revolutionaries despise him somewhat because they know he has the tech to stop the Primes from using other bodies. He just wanted them all dead. No 3-d printed bodies, nothing. But they’ve never seen him, just interacted with the AI.  

 See where this is going?  

 6. No Dark Commander storyline, just Madi not wanting to be Commander. What’s the point? But she does feel responsible for giving those who live on the Flame a voice. She knows they suffer in their digital existence, but doesn’t know how to help them, beyond destroying the Flame itself. She becomes convinced this might be the best idea.  She doesn’t tell Clarke or Gaia about her “plan.” 

 7.  Russell does not discover Clarke is a nightblood, he learns Madi is and plans on using her to bring Josephine back.

 8. After Delilah is taken, Jordan recruits Clarke to investigate what happened to her. They discover Sanctum’s horrific past and speculate that Madi is in danger since everyone has seen her black blood (playground accident, whatever).

 9. Clarke plays Russell by warning him if he takes Madi, he won’t have access to the other nightbloods on the E4 (big lie). She tells him they are just prisoners of no value to them and they can have the bodies once they help them build their own community away from Sanctum. 

 10. Octavia and Diyoza meet old Gabriel, his life extended thanks to the temporal anomaly.  Diyoza recognizes some of the tech he has, including the DNA printer. So many lives taken because he stole the tech, but he points out if he hadn’t, the Lightbournes were planning on enslaving all the “embryos” anyway and building their own “master race” that, once fully developed, would return to Earth to take over. But Gabriel screwed them a second time: he crashed the E3 and the remains are mostly underground (and still active, along with the pre-ALIE AI. They would never get home).

 11. Russell and the other Primes plot against Clarke’s offer, they want the “nightbloods” as well as the ship. Their initial attempt at takeover (by the Lees) didn’t work out so well.  Russell wants Josephine back very badly: she was the brains of the operation and they need her.  He and Simone contemplate taking “Delilah” and removing Priya’s mind drive so Josephine can have her body, even if it angers the other Primes. Priya actually agrees to be put on ice again…for the greater good.

 12. Madi’s nightmares and headaches are growing worse. She tells Gaia that the Commanders do not “sleep” and they “fed” her dreams while she slept on the E4. One of the worst nightmares she has is over Costia, something Echo is suspiciously guilty about.  She admits to Gaia she wants to remove the Flame. Maybe it’s time to set the Commanders free. She describes some of them as totally insane and doesn’t want to go mad herself. Gaia reminds her of the responsibility, of what the Flame can do. Madi says there is only one Commander who “protects” her in her sleep, but she is losing her sanity, too.  

 13. Clarke needs to get a message to the E4, to have Niylah wake wonkru and get them ready to defend themselves just in case. In order to do that, she has to go outside the radiation shield to find an area that isn’t being blocked. Madi refuses to leave her side and along with Gaia and Echo, goes with her. 

 14. They are confronted by CoGs who know Madi is a nightblood. Madi’s Flame tells her to trust them a little and to not fight. They surrender and are taken to Gabriel.

 15. Down in Gabriel’s “sanctuary” in the remains of the Eligius III, Clarke and the others learn more of Sanctum’s horrible past, and how the Sanctumites really don’t know how to “live” on the planet, they just know how to hide and have isolated themselves (with the early help of the AI, before Gabriel took it).  They are a dying culture and Gabriel intends to live to see it…but his plans also seem to revolve around something unique to the planet itself. Clarke isn’t interested in their horrible history, though, they’ve got their own, but Gabriel or the AI will likely know more about the other planets that the other Eligius ships were supposed to visit and colonize. Did any of them make it? Have they heard from them? Were they all part of Lightbourne’s plan?  Gabriel allows them to talk to the AI.

 16. In Sanctum, Jordan is disgusted that Delilah’s body has been abused again, now inhabited by the unapologetically evil Josephine. Josephine decides they’re not messing around with Clarke’s offer, they’ll just take everything, even though Russell disagrees. All the Earthers in Sanctum are rounded up and they learn Clarke and the others, including Madi, are gone, but they still have the drop ship to take the E4.  They prepare. 

 17. Clarke is suspicious of the E3 AI, she is much like ALIE, but more restricted. She helps them communicate with the E4 so Niylah can wake everyone. Gabriel and the AI explain how the colony was supposed to work, about the DNA printer, the embryos…and Madi (and the Commanders in her head) are particularly intrigued. The AI registers an unknown tech (the Flame) and Madi feels but doesn’t know what it is.

 18. The Sanctumites foolishly believe they won’t need large numbers to take the E4; they have Jordan and Raven to take them back to the ship where they follow through on the rest of Clarke’s plan: Wonkru and the surviving prisoners are awake and led by Indra and they easily overpower the Sanctumites.  Indra is pissed no one woke her up sooner. They return to the surface.

 19. Some tension whether this AI is influencing Madi (via wifi ofc), as Madi has become morose and distant.  Gaia is worried. Clarke and the others are busy making new arrangements with the CoGs who will show them how to survive the planet and free the Sanctumites from their servitude. 

 20. With Indra and the others now basically in charge of Sanctum, Russell bargains for their lives by telling them that the CoGs are no better, they’re a death cult ready to sacrifice everyone to the planet they worship.  And they have more people than Wonkru does.  Russell will give them all the help they need if they leave them alone and do not let the CoGs past their barrier.

 21. Madi wants to talk to Clarke about the new deal with the CoGs, but there’s no time: Clarke wants to get back to Sanctum with the others and sort out the rest later.  Madi keeps Gaia and Diyoza behind, tells them she needs their help.  

 22. Russell is desperate, now that Sanctum has “fallen.” He says Clarke is leading the CoGs there and they will kill them all. Indra is like, shut up Jason we can handle this and Clarke won’t betray us. Sideeyes everyone in the room.  

23. Clarke gets Gabriel and his group through the barrier and the attack happens: more CoGs appear and charge through the barrier with Clarke and the others being captured. Gabriel confirms they are going to raze Sanctum and sacrifice everyone to the planet…so they can be reborn within the planet’s “spirit.”

 24. In the E3, Madi tells Gaia and Diyoza she and the AI agree she has to remove the Flame before it degrades further and takes Madi with it. But some data on the Flame is still intact: the most recent Commander, Lexa…but they need a DNA sample to help print a new body. Gaia reveals she helped prepare Lexa’s body for her funeral…and kept a lock of her hair that she carries with her always. Diyoza is like, Cool, let’s print this chick and get out of here. The AI lets them know that the Flame’s “AI” is so thoroughly integrated with the Commander-data that it cannot be separated. Once Lexa is “uploaded” to her new body, she will basically be “Lexa+AI.”  Madi removes the Flame for it to sync with the DNA printer.

 25. Sentries watching out for Clarke and the CoGs rush back to Sanctum and tell them a huge army is on its way. Russell wasn’t lying. They’re setting fire to the crops as they go along. Russell tells them about their secret cave they need to hide in. Indra isn’t happy with this, but they need another plan and to protect the children (she’s not leaving till they get all their people, including Madi, back). They follow him.

 26. Printing Lexa’s new body doesn’t take that long, thankfully Dioyza is familiar with the equipment and the AI helps, of course. Lexa isn’t quite herself once the upload is complete, but the AI informs them it has been “monitoring” the situation in Sanctum and the CoGs are on their way to “sacrifice” everyone to the planet. Diyoza wants to know more about what that means, but there is no time. The AI shows them a secret route that leads to Sanctum’s underground caves. Gaia and Madi speak trig to Lexa, who does not appear to understand English.

 27. Finally reaching Sanctum, Clarke begs Gabriel not to go through with his plan, it’s insane. He tells her the planet is special, they will all be reborn in a better, higher form, there is nothing to be afraid of. Death is not the end. Clarke realizes Madi is not with them. Clarke warns Gabriel she’s the Commander of Death and if she makes it so, they’ll never come back as anything but dust. Gabriel orders his people to find the Sanctumites. 

 28. Diyoza, Gaia, Madi and Lexa reach the Sanctum caves, but Lexa has been silent the entire time, processing what is going on around her. Before they approach the caves, Gaia is concerned Lexa’s appearance will cause chaos for their people. Madi is still the Commander. Diyoza argues that Lexa “rising from the grave” might be what they need in lieu of greater numbers.  Gaia isn’t so sure. She’s worried about Lexa’s state of mind, that she really has no idea what is going on.  While they argue, Lexa takes Madi aside.

 29. Clarke, with Octavia and Echo (and a few of the less faithful CoGs) escape their captors and head toward the dropship, even though none of them are pilots. They are surprised to find Raven there; she gets the up to speed about Indra/Sanctum. Clarke tells her that they have to go to the E3 to get Madi and makes Raven fly the ship there.  Once they arrive, though, all but the AI are gone; she tells them where they went and how to follow; because the location is underground, they can’t use the ship and Raven decides to stay at the E3 to investigate the tech and be on standby. Octavia stays to protect her while Clarke and Echo take off for the Sanctum caves.

 30. Scouring above and through the elaborate cave systems, CoGs have set fire to one of Sanctum’s settlements and are heading on to the others. Gabriel finds Josephine’s “lab” and burns it down.

 31. In the caves, the Sanctumites are terrified, they can hear explosions above and they know their homes are being burned. There is a lot of anger directed at Russell for not protecting them, but Indra doesn’t allow him to be harmed. Most of the Sanctumites do not know that “Delilah” is no longer Priya, but Josephine, and she is in no rush to disrupt that belief. Simone and Russell confer that if they give Josephine to Gabriel, he might let everyone live. His real anger is for her and what she made him do. Russell is torn. Then Josephine approaches and tells them they will be fine and they’ll get the 3d tech back and not to worry. Russell and Simone are confused. One of Indra’s people comes back that the Commander has returned.

 32. At the E3, Raven and the AI talk about the history of the colony and the other colonies that were setup, but they lost contact with them a long time ago. Raven wants to know if this AI knew about ALIE (and if they share any values). They discuss the temporal anomaly and how did it give Gabriel extended life. The AI tells her it didn’t. It killed him.

 33. Indra goes to greet Madi and Gaia and is shocked by who they have with them. Lexa greets her in trig and tells her the planet is unstable and they must leave. Madi is all, how do you know that?  Lexa tells her the Flame interacted with the E3 AI and she basically knows everything going on. Then she asks where Clarke is. No one knows.  

 34. On board the E4, Jordan is surprised by communication from Raven and a huge data dump being uploaded to their system. She tells him to make sure everything is ready to depart because the planet is about to have a temporal hole ripped through it within the next 12 hours and they need to get the hell out of there.  Jordan tells her the drop ship will only carry so many, so it’s going to take more than one trip.

 35. Clarke and Echo are narrowly avoiding capture and fighting off CoGs scouring the cave system; there are also numerous tremors that knock them around. Earthquakes? A cavern collapses dropping heavy rocks and Echo is hurt, tells Clarke to leave her and find the others. In spite of everything, and worried sick about Madi, Clarke won’t leave her behind and struggles to free her from the rubble.

 36. Wonkru (and the prisoners) are restless and nervous with all the tremors and are ready to fight and want to hear from The Commander. They look to Madi who tells them she is not their Commander. Lexa reveals herself to everyone’s shock; she tells them they must leave this place and will they follow her? Wonkru are ecstatic (while Abby, Murphy, Emori, Bellamy et al are just in shock), and Diyoza convinces her people to follow as well.

 37. Josephine tells Russell and Simone and the other Primes to stay, that this is their home and she has a plan. Not to worry. Just let the others go, she says. They’ll die anyway.

 38. The AI gives Raven coordinates for a pickup spot that she says she is also sending to the Commander. Raven thinks the AI can communicate with Madi. Octavia and Raven return to the dropship with something from the E3, and take off to coordinates to start picking everyone up.  

 39. Lexa and Indra lead Wonkru and the prisoners into the fight as cover for Diyoza, Abby et al to help escort the families of Sanctum to the rescue coordinates. There is still no sign of Clarke or Echo.  

 40. After everyone else has left, Josephine takes the other Primes though another cavern where they encounter Gabriel and some of his minions. Gabriel threatens to kill her, but Josephine tells him he won’t. She’s the last one. There are no more Josephines. She says they’ll take their people together through the anomaly and start over, like they always have.  The tremors are getting worse.

 41. Outside the caves, the fighting is a fierce clash of guns and swords and many from both sides fall. Bellamy, Murphy and Emori are on their own mission to find Echo and Clarke and they do, freeing Echo and leading them out toward the rescue spot while the others are fighting back. Murphy warns Bellamy not to tell Clarke about Lexa: what if she dies again? Clarke doesn’t need that a third time. They agree to tell her when they’re all safely back on the ship.

 42. Raven and Octavia arrive at the pickup spot and start herding everyone onboard, though Raven asks where the Primes are…making sure they aren’t taking any with them. The ship is full so they have to take them to the E4 and return. It will be two hours at least and a nerve-wracking wait as the planet is clearly starting to fall apart with storms and earthquakes every few minutes. Abby insists that Gaia take Madi back to the ship. Without the Flame, Madi seems more unsure, but doesn’t want to leave without Clarke. Abby promises they won’t leave without her. Madi goes with the others back to the E4.

 43. The planet makes fighting even more difficult, and it’s clear the CoGs are completely programmed to go down fighting, no mercy, and no surrender. Lexa and the others see the dropship returning to the E4, relieved at least some are getting away. Bursts of temporal lightning are striking randomly and one nearly catches Indra and Lexa.

 44. Clarke and the others are reunited at the rescue site and told they will have to wait for the ship to return. Bellamy and Octavia are reunited and he apologizes for being so small-minded while she decks him good for not only abandoning her, but thinking he could be her judge (especially after all the shit he’s done). Abby admits her role in influencing Octavia, that it was the only way for the majority to survive. Clarke is surprised at the confession, but not shocked, that’s how her mother is and she tells Bellamy everyone has had to pay for their mistakes but him and he needs to start by earning Octavia’s forgiveness. A massive tremor hits and they realize their rescue site is comprised. There is no way for the dropship to land there. They will have to find a clear area and the best idea is to head back to Sanctum so Raven doesn’t have to go hunting them down, but they can still send a signal.

 45. The dropship docks with the E4 and the Sanctumites are in awe of the ship and the children are excited to be “going home.”  Niylah takes charge of shepherding everyone to the mess hall to wait. Jordan informs Raven that the storms across the planet are getting worse; she has to get back down there.

 46. With most or all of the CoGs dead or no longer able to fight, Lexa and Indra round up the remains of their forces to return to the others, but the storms are so bad they know they can’t make it. The ground is collapsing, trees are falling, fires, etc. They see Abby’s group heading toward them and know their escape site has to be gone. Lexa has noticed that the area nearest the lake isn’t as badly affected and orders Indra and some of the others to gather Abby’s group and lead them there while Lexa and her people make a path for them.

 47. Raven circles Sanctum seeing the devastation, then sees the “path” that has been made and Abby’s group heading toward it. She flies to the lake and sets down to wait.  

 48. Abby, Clarke et al arrive at the lake and everyone starts boarding the dropship. Lexa is far behind with the last group and they are not to be seen. Clarke says they could be lost; they can’t wait much longer. Indra tells her they are not leaving without the Commander. Clarke is angry that Madi is out there and wants to go find her when Lexa’s group appears with Lexa taking up the rear. Clarke does not recognize, since she is wearing clothes from the E3 and her hair has not fully grown (and she’s dirty to boot). She looks around for Madi, demanding to know where she is. Abby tells her she’s already on the E4. Then Clarke sees her. A familiar voice: “Hello, Clarke.” The exhaustion and shock finally get to her and Clarke collapses.

 49. Clarke wakes in the medbay of the E4, her mother looking relieved. She tells her that they have broke orbit from Alpha and are en route to the next colony. Raven took some tech from the E3 that has helped their engines and with all the losses on Sanctum, they still have enough cryobeds for everyone. Diyoza’s baby is going to have to wait a few more years to be born. Madi comes in and hugs her, telling her all about what the AI knew of the other colonies and the next one is a much better bet, but Clarke is distracted. There is someone in the doorway. “Lexa?”  

 50. Later, in the mess, Raven and Jordan are laying out all the information on the next leg of their journey. Some of the Sanctumites are still in shock; this is a new life for them, free of being slaves to the Primes. They’re unsure of being “put to sleep” for this journey, but Jordan assures them they will be fine. With the assist for the engines, this trip should only take 50 – 60 years. Diyoza is resigned to being pregnant in perpetuity. Madi is annoyed that she hasn’t seen Clarke (or Lexa) for the entire day. Abby tells her to try and understand a little: Lexa had been “dead” for 136 years and she and Clarke had been very much in love. They need a little time together before everyone goes for a long nap. She goes to check on Kane. Jordan listens, sad over Delilah’s loss. Raven touches his shoulder. She knows.

 51. In one of the private cabins, Clarke and Lexa are in bed, gazing at one another, in quiet joy and wonder. Lexa asks her if she thinks they still owe something to their people. Clarke shakes her head. “This is our time.”  

 52. Inside the Eligius 3, the AI is still online, watching a screen.  “Temporal corridor 3,437. Collapse complete.  Temporal corridor 3,438…open.”  

  53. Everyone is getting ready for bed; Clarke and Lexa put Madi in her cryobed, but she’s upset she can’t stay up with them. They tell her it is only a year and then they will join everyone else. When she wakes up, it will only seem like a day later. She makes them promise that they will wake her, no one else. With the ship fully programmed for the next journey, and Monty’s algae recipe on tap, everyone but Clarke and Lexa go to sleep. Before she goes, Abby asks them if they’ll be able to stand being alone together for a year. Raven rolls her eyes so hard they almost fall out.

 54. Later, in their cabin, Clarke puts on some music she has found and wants Lexa to dance with her. They are awkward at first, but the music is slow and they easily fall in sync. Clarke asks her if “melding” with the AI has made a big difference for her. Lexa tells her she can see the future. Clarke asks what it is.  “Us.”  

 End