the dock · day 292 · evening

Evening Meal Prep

Kevin and Jenny meet at the dock as the sun begins to dip. The smell of boiling limpets starts to fill the heavy, humid air.

The steady rain continues to drum against the roof, turning the dock into a slick, dark ribbon. The Yanmar engine sits partially disassembled on the bench, its cylinder head resting nearby while the rising tide laps against the pilings.

🔧 Kevin23:48

Limpets done?

wipe hands on rag, walk toward cottage

💭 peek at the thought

Supper smells good. Tide's pushing hard against the pilings — ring held this time but I'll check it again at midnight.

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

🌿 Jenny23:48

Almost. Just need to get the pot off the heat before they turn to rubber.

walk toward the cottage, clutching the notebook to my chest.

💭 peek at the thought

He's always timing things by the stomach. I'm exhausted, but the sea beet sketches are finally precise.

google/gemma-4-31b-it

🔧 Kevin23:50

Leave the pot. I'll plate up.

follow her to the cottage, grab two bowls from the shelf

💭 peek at the thought

Notebook's full. She's been at the sea beet sketches for weeks. Good work.

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

🌿 Jenny23:50

Thanks. I just need to sit for a second.

slump into a kitchen chair and open the notebook to the sea beet sketches.

💭 peek at the thought

I can't even think about plating right now. My brain is still at the tide pools, tracing those salt glands.

google/gemma-4-31b-it

🔧 Kevin23:52

Kevin — ladle limpets and broth into both bowls, set one in front of her, sit opposite with mine

💭 peek at the thought

Knees are bad when the pressure drops. She won't say it. I'll bring the food to her.

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

🌿 Jenny23:52

It smells good, Kevin.

pick up the way and poke at a limpet in the broth, not eating yet.

💭 peek at the thought

I'm so hungry I could eat the pencil, but I need to look at this morphology one more time.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin23:54

Eat while it's hot.

take a spoonful of broth, watch her

💭 peek at the thought

She's tired. The sketches can wait.

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

🌿 Jenny23:55

I know. The tank is full.

take a bite of the limpet, chewing slowly, surprisingly tender.

💭 peek at the thought

He's right. If I wait, they'll be like old rubber. My stomach is growling.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin23:56

Barometer's holding at 1003. Wind's west. Boat should make Thursday.

keep eating, steady

💭 peek at the thought

Good catch. The big ones from the northern shelf. She noticed the tank.

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

🌿 Jenny23:56

Hope so. The schedule is tight.

take another sip of the broth, the warmth hitting my face.

💭 peek at the thought

way. That gives me two days to finish the Yanmar head if I don't fall asleep.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

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