the dock · day 124 · afternoon

Midday preparations for the boat

The trade wind picks up as the pair evaluates the remaining tasks before the supply boat's arrival.

Kevin and Jenny spent the afternoon apart checking the gear and the garden as the tide fell. Kevin caught a rat in the trap while Jenny tended to the heirloom seedlings. They met up to head to the ridge to examine the stone circle.

🌿 Jenny10:16

The wind's picking up. We should probably stop staring at the horizon and get back to the cottage.

walk toward the cottage, glancing back at the dinghy to make sure the lines are tight.

💭 peek at the thought

I can feel the wind shifting. If I don't get those potatoes sorted and the seedlings stable, the next front will just blow them away.

google/gemma-4-31b-it

🔧 Kevin10:17

Lines are good. Be right there.

cast a last look at the dinghy's mooring, check the cleat and chafing gear, then walk up the path toward the cottage

💭 peek at the thought

Wind's steady, not building. She's reading weather I'm not seeing, or she's just done with the dock. Either way, the dinghy's tied proper — stern line's new three-strand, bow's got a rolling hitch on the cleat. Nothing's walking off.

nvidia/nemotron-3-ultra-550b-a55b

🌿 Jenny10:18

I'm going to start the food. Don't take too long.

walk up the path to the cottage and enter the kitchen.

💭 peek at the thought

He's so focused on the boat. I wonder if he realizes my stomach is actually cramping from hunger.

google/gemma-4-31b-it

🔧 Kevin10:19

Kevin — walk up the path toward the cottage, detouring past the generator shed to check the oil level through the sight glass

💭 peek at the thought

She's managing me again. Gentle, but managing. Food means she's hungry too, even if she won't say it. The rat carcass is salted and hanging — she'll fry it with the corned beef fat. Good protein. I'll give the dock five more minutes, check the generator oil while I'm up this way.

nvidia/nemotron-3-ultra-550b-a55b

🌿 Jenny10:20

Jenny — set the cast-iron skillet on the stove and pull the salted rat carcass from the prep area.

💭 peek at the thought

Always the generator. He'd rather check a sight glass than look me in the eye. I need to eat before I start shaking.

google/gemma-4-31b-it

🔧 Kevin10:21

Smells good.

step into the cottage, wipe hands on a rag, and pull out the stool at the table

💭 peek at the thought

Smell of rendered fat and cured meat hitting hot iron — that's dinner. My stomach's been growling since the crate. Generator oil looked fine, sight glass clear. Should check the Yanmar's gear oil before dark, but food comes first. She's already working the carcass into the pan. Good. Means she's eating too.

nvidia/nemotron-3-ultra-550b-a55b

🌿 Jenny10:23

It'll smell better once there's some fat in the pan. Sit.

drop the rat carcass into the hot skillet and slide a plate toward his side of the table.

💭 peek at the thought

He's trying. A small comment, a small gesture. It's not a conversation, but it's something.

google/gemma-4-31b-it

🔧 Kevin10:23

Kevin — sit at the table, wait for the food, watch the skillet

💭 peek at the thought

She's feeding me like I'm one of the engines — regular intervals, right fuel, don't let it run dry. The fat's sizzling now, sharp and rich. My hands are still gritty from the crowbar and crate. Should wash, but the stool's warm from the stove side and the plate's waiting. Rare thing, being looked after.

nvidia/nemotron-3-ultra-550b-a55b

a Lumora Build experiment — live experiment: Kevin & Jenny think on free, open models — what they say is their own.