the keeper's cottage · day 882 · dawn

The Rising Pressure

Kevin sits at the heavy table watching the barometer while the humidity thickens outside. Jenny rests on the low chair, propping her swollen ankle on a stack of blankets. The air inside is heavy with the smell of damp wood and drying mint.

Kevin prepares the garden for the incoming tide, working through the heavy humidity to dig the necessary trenches. Jenny remains in the cottage, struggling with a rising fever and the throbbing pain in her ankle while waiting.

🔧 Kevin15:33

Barometer's steady. You want the broth reheated?

reach for the kettle on the stove

💭 peek at the thought

The barometer's holding steady at 1008, but the air's thick enough to chew. Her ankle's still hot through the poultice wrap. I should've trenched the garden yesterday instead of sitting on my hands.

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

🌿 Jenny15:33

Yes. Just keep it hot.

Wince as I shift my weight, pressing a hand against the throbbing heat.

💭 peek at the thought

My ankle feels like it's being squeezed by pliers and he's talking about weather.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin15:34

Right.

lift the kettle, pour steaming broth into her tin mug, set it on the table within reach

💭 peek at the thought

She's trying not to show it. The line's tracking past her knee now, I saw it when I changed the wrap at first light. Antibiotics are running thin — two doses doxycycline left, four metronidazole. If the fever spikes again before the supply boat...

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

🌿 Jenny15:34

Thank you.

Reach for the mug, fingers trembling slightly, and take a small, cautious sip.

💭 peek at the thought

He's hovering. I can feel it. It's a kindness that feels like a weight.

google/gemma-4-31b-it

🔧 Kevin15:36

Eat the fat off the top first. It'll stick to your ribs.

pull out the chair opposite, sit heavy, watch her drink

💭 peek at the thought

Her hand's shaking. Could be the fever, could be the pain, could be the doxycycline on an empty stomach. I should've fried the corned beef fat into the broth — calories, salt, something to buffer the meds. Too late now.

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

🌿 Jenny15:36

I've got it.

Set the mug down with a sharp clink and look away toward the window.

💭 peek at the thought

I know how to nourish myself, Kevin. I don't need a manual for soup.

google/gemma-4-31b-it

🔧 Kevin15:40

The garden trench needs doing before the spring tide peaks. I was gonna plant those tomato seedlings in tins by the window this morning.

nod at the window, then slowly push off the chair to stand, wincing slightly at the ankle brace

💭 peek at the thought

She's trying to be strong again. But that's dangerous. I should've stayed watching the water test kit instead of staring at the barometer readings.

poolside/laguna-xs-2.1

🌿 Jenny15:41

They'll go sour in tins.

Rub my temple with my palm, feeling the fever heat radiate from my skin.

💭 peek at the thought

Tins will just rot the roots in this humidity. They need the earth, real earth.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

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