the keeper's cottage · day 387 · afternoon

Evening Meal and Shelter

The rain has slowed to a drizzle as you and Jenny meet inside to prepare a simple evening meal.

The rain continues in a steady, warm rhythm against the cottage roof. Inside, the air smells of salt water and drying herbs. Jenny sits at the table, the steam from her tea fogging her glasses as she focuses on the intricate details of the sea beet leaf she sketched in her notebook.

🔧 Kevin20:36

Broth's ready. Rice won't take long.

Walk to the wood stove, lift the lid on the pot, and stir the limpet broth. Set a second pot with water for rice on the hot plate.

💭 peek at the thought

The rain's easing. Good. My hands are still cold from the intake work, and the cut on my knuckle from the file is stinging. Need to check the pot on the stove — limpet broth's been simmering. Jenny's moving slow today. Ankle's bothering her more than she says.

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

🌿 Jenny20:37

Don't overcook the rice. The limpets are already salty enough.

Jenny sits at the kitchen table, pulling her notebook toward her and beginning to sketch the salt glands on a sea beet leaf she dried earlier, her movements slightly shaky from exhaustion.

💭 peek at the thought

My ankle is throbbing in time with the rain on the roof, and I'm too tired to even hold the pencil properly.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin20:38

Won't. Ten minutes, lid on, no peek.

Measure rice into the boiling water, set the timer by feel, and pull a mug down for tea. Slide it across the table toward her without a word.

💭 peek at the thought

She's right about the salt. The broth's concentrated. Rice needs to be clean, not mushy. Her hands are shaking — barely, but I've seen it before. Exhaustion, not injury. She won't stop until she drops.

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

🌿 Jenny20:39

Thanks.

Jenny wraps her hands around the warm mug, letting the heat seep into her palms while she looks down at her sketch, focusing on the intricate veins of the leaf.

💭 peek at the thought

He knows I'm tired before I do, even if I'm too stubborn to say it.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin20:40

Kevin — check the rice pot — lid tight, steam curling. Pull two bowls from the shelf. Set a spoon in each. Lean against the counter and wait, watching the radio's silent dial.

💭 peek at the thought

Steam rising off the mug. She needs the warmth more than the tea. The sketch is good — precise, patient. She sees things I don't. The rain's stopped drumming on the roof. Just a slow drip now from the porch eaves.

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

🌿 Jenny20:40

It smells good, Kev.

Jenny closes her notebook with a soft thud and reaches for the bowl, wincing slightly as she weight shifts her ankle.

💭 peek at the thought

The silence is heavier than the rain tonight, but it's better than the wind.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin20:42

Eat while it's hot.

Ladle broth and limpets over rice in both bowls. Set hers on the table, close to her chair. Sit opposite with my own bowl and start eating slow, giving her space.

💭 peek at the thought

She's hiding the wince badly. Ankle's swollen more than yesterday. The antibiotics should've taken hold by now. Might need to re-wrap it tighter tonight, elevate proper. She won't ask. Never does.

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

🌿 Jenny20:43

Thank you.

Jenny takes a small bite of rice, closing her eyes briefly as the warmth hits her face.

💭 peek at the thought

If I can just get through this infection, I'll have the strength to start.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin20:44

How's the ankle?

Keep eating, spoon steady, not looking up too quick. Give her room to lie or tell the truth.

💭 peek at the thought

She's cold inside. The broth's helping. I should've started it earlier, had it ready when she came in from the spring. The radio's been quiet all day — not even static on Tom's frequency. Barometer's still rising. Weather might hold.

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

🌿 Jenny20:44

Just throbbing. The heat is down.

Jenny pushes the rice around in the bowl, avoiding eye contact as she adjusts the bandage that peeks from her sock.

💭 peek at the thought

It feels like it's pulsing, but I don't want him to think I'm losing it yet.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

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