sablebay

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the morning started off with half a dozen animals (and half of them sick!) breaking into her apartment during a pet drive event on the lot. but saylee did take a liking to one in particular! everyone, meet teddy.

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as you can tell in the background, saylee is making some progress on the apartment reno! she is getting approval from her grandpa about replacing some of the old kitchen counters next. "what about these ones from the home chef hustle kit? very chic!"

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hacker voice: "i'm in"

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while out to leave an offering of fruit at the spirit house, saylee ran into one of her neighbors, sebastian. new to tomarang, he asked for some local tips and ideas of how to spend his time. "been to the night market yet?" "can't say that i have." "i was just about to head that way! follow me."

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grandpa chai invited saylee over for dinner and imparted some wisdom while she was there. she left feeling a bit lighter and more excited about what her future might hold.

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tomarang in the summer 🌞

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saylee's grandfather - chai - offered to let her move into one of the old apartments that he manages. it's outdated and rundown, but not only is she right next door to him but he's also offering a massive discount on the rent. plus, if she fixes it up, he's willing to pay! it's far from the jet setting worldly places she stayed in with her mother, but it's a new start and exactly what she needs.

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welcome (back) to tomarang, saylee rose! having grown up traveling the world with her mother (who recently passed in a tragic accident climbing mt. komorebi), saylee is a freelance programmer who has returned to her home to reconnect with her roots. and her maternal grandfather. thought currently mourning, there is nothing like the comforts and familiarity at home to help her heal. 

traits

◇ child of the village ◇ active ◇ geek

generation goals

☐ complete the fount of tomarani knowledge aspiration ☐ max the fitness and programming skills ☐ complete the climb at mt. komorebi to honor our mother ☐ complete the tassels collection ☐ save enough money to purchase a dream home (50k minimum)

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spring, 1912

"edie, wait - " she turned, though the smile that she had been prepared with quickly faltered once edith saw henry. "...oh." was all she managed. "oh?" henry was smiling, an eagerness in his eyes that she didn't have the heart to argue with. "that's all?" "of course not, henry," edie relented, pulling her friend into a hug and holding tight, as if her arms along might keep him here in britchester. they were in their final year, so close to graduating and sorting our the rest of their lives. but who knew if they would even get that chance now. "hey, don't," his voice was gentle, nudging her back enough to see the tears threatening to spill. "i'll be back before you know it, alright? you'll see." "you'd better," somehow she managed a small laugh, charmed again by the same farm boy naivete that he'd first come to the university with four years ago. "i mean it. don't make me come all the way out there myself to drag you back." for the first time, his mood faltered. something nervous passed over his face, perhaps a short lived understanding of the gravity of what he was being sent into. "i won't," he said quietly. "i'll miss you," she said, tugging at his arm like a child. "all of you." "but me specifically, yeah?" there it was again, that self assured grin. "you specifically," she confirmed, leaning close. "yes."

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spring, 1911

and following one more night of companionship, drinks, and games with his friends, edward roy heads out to serve in the army come morning. the spring semester carries on without him, the world continues to spin, and his friends await news of his journey and that of their own inevitable departures.

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spring, 1911

"it's not volunteering if you don't actually have a choice, richard." "i didn't say i volunteered. only that it's my choice, that if my country needs me i'm willing to serve." "what choice? enlist or what? be arrested?" the debate had been going on for a while at this point, but that wasn't anything new. since returning for the spring semester, henry and the other two boys had signed up for the selective service, which - to edie's exact point - had been required. still, the three had done so with a lofty sense of patriotism, lured in by the posters and speakers who promised gloried heroics and a life of greater purpose. henry often wondered if edie struggled to understand it because enlistment wasn't an opportunity for her. it had been the four of them since that first fall semester. this was the first time she'd been intentionally excluded on the basis of her gender. "look, eds, i get what you're saying. i do. i can only speak for myself in this moment, and i'm proud to have signed up. but really, what are the odds that-" "is that a uniform?" henry interrupted the conversation as edward rounded the corner into their section of the library. the other two stared, eyes wide in a mix of awe and horror. "don't get your knickers in a twist, alright?" edward chuckled and took the remaining seat. "yeah, i got my orders." the continued silence that followed was clearly not what he expected. he continued, sensing his friends' uncertainty at whether they should offer congratulations or condolences. "look, we all know i was never going to make it at the banks like my dad wants. i'm only here at university because i have no fucking clue what else to do. but this... this is a chance for me to make something of myself. to really be something." edie slumped back against her chair, defeated, but did not argue. henry leaned forward in his seat to avoid doing the same. foolishly, he realized he had always assumed that they would ship out together. not one at a time like this. "when do you leave?" richard asked. "24 hours." another round of stunned silence. henry broke it tentatively, offering a grin. "then what the hell are we doing at the library?! let's get you to the pub!"

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Yeah, heel toe, docie doe, come on, baby, let's go, boot scootin' Oh, Cadillac, Black Jack, baby meet me outback we're gonna boogie Oh, get down turn around go to town boot scootin' boogie

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the days are long and hard on the ranch, and though amina wouldn't trade it for anything, she appreciated it when jacklyn offered to show her around downtown - particularly the local dance hall.

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winterfest, 1910

dear anna, happy winterfest, or new year depending on when this reaches you. i managed to make my way down to brindleton bay in time for the holiday. we all missed you, of course, though i know the work you are doing across the sea is important. lucy is pregnant - terribly so. i'm sure i'll hear about another niece or nephew by the time i get back to school. emma is still here. she's got a lot more gray to her these days, but she's still as sweet as ever. i'm sure she misses you, too. it was good to see everyone, though to be honest, father was distracted and a bit tense. there is talk of a draft soon for the war, even if the fighting feels so far away from here now. you're closer to it - what is it like in windenburg? are you seeing more soldiers about? there was a man handing out flyers on campus. edward spoke to him already, had glowing reviews. i do not how to feel. if a draft happens, of course i will do my duty. and it is good to serve one's country, is it not? honorable. i may need to pause my studies if that happens, but i am hoping they at least let me finish. of course, i don't know how much of a need there is for marine biology in the army. please let me know how you are. i will write again if there are any updates. love, henry

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winter, 1910

the train from britchester was a long one, and the sun was beginning its descent by the time henry made it home to brindleton bay. he has promised he'd be home in time for winterfest dinner. no sooner had he rounded the corner from the station to the familiar main street, then he heard his name shouted across the square. "henry!" at the end of the block stood a gangly mary - a teenager now, if only just - and henry stopped in his tracks when he realized how quickly his little sister had grown in his absence. he had little time to recover from the revelation before she had barreled into his chest, knocking him back a step with the force, hugging him fiercely. "you must tell me everything! mother reads the letters you send, but i know you don't tell her any of the interesting bits," she insisted, her grin wide. henry laughed, "it's school, mary, not a party." "it's university," she corrected, "so, yes it is. louis appleton says so." he wrapped an arm around her shoulder and began the walk back to the farm. "well, i guess if if louis appleton says so..."

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bea stopped by to see the new place, so amina gave her mom a nectar making tutorial and sent her home with a bottle.

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after putting out a job ad on the local community board, amina's neighbor jacklyn stopped by and offered to help out around the ranch.