the dock · day 418 · dawn

The Stubborn Pin

Kevin crouches on the damp planks, the propane torch hissing as he heats the shackle housing. Jenny sits on a nearby crate, her ankle elevated, as she watches the tide retreat further from the pilings.

Kevin works on the shackle pin at the dock using steady pressure to work the corrosion from the weak housing. Jenny rests at the dock, managing the swelling in her ankle while watching the barometric pressure continue to drop steadily.

🔧 Kevin02:11

Pin's moving. Hair's breadth, but it's moving.

heat shackle housing with propane torch at slack water, apply full leverage with heavy wrench on pin

💭 peek at the thought

Heat's taking hold — housing glowing dull orange at the edges. Need to work the pin while it's expanded, before the tide turns. She's watching, waiting for me to say what we both know needs saying.

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

🌿 Jenny02:11

Don't snap the head off. Slow and steady.

Lean back against the crate and rub my upper calf, just above the bandage.

💭 peek at the thought

He's so focused on the metal. Just a few millimeters of movement, but he looks like he's winning a war. I can feel the hunger shaking my hands.

google/gemma-4-31b-it

🔧 Kevin02:12

Not rushing. Heat's done the work.

maintain steady pressure on wrench, feel pin rotate another degree, hold position as housing cools

💭 peek at the thought

She's right. Rushing shears bolts. The housing's thin at the lip — feel the metal giving under the wrench. Her hand on my leg, steady as the tide.

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

🌿 Jenny02:13

If it gives, we can finally secure the mooring properly.

Shift my weight slightly, wincing as the ankle joint stiffens.

💭 peek at the thought

He's actually being patient for once. I need to eat something before I pass out, but I can't move without the throbbing starting again.

google/gemma-4-31b-it

🔧 Kevin02:15

Pin's free. Threads are chewed but it's turning clean now.

work pin back and forth to clear corrosion from threads, wipe housing with rag, inspect thread engagement

💭 peek at the thought

Mooring's held through two storms with the oak wedges and doubler plate. But the shackle's the last weak link. If the pin shears, the whole dock goes. She's hiding the stiffness — mornings are worst.

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

🌿 Jenny02:15

Good. Put it back in just enough to hold, don't over-torque it while the metal's still expanded.

Reach for the tin of corned beef resting beside the crate.

💭 peek at the thought

Finally. The sound of metal sliding against metal instead of grinding. Now I just need to get some calories in me or I'm going to start seeing double.

google/gemma-4-31b-it

🔧 Kevin02:17

Aye. Cooling now.

set wrench down, let shackle housing cool in morning air, watch pin settle into threads

💭 peek at the thought

She knows metal. Hot threads strip cold. Let it contract first. Breakfast can wait three minutes.

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

🌿 Jenny02:17

I'll check the seedlings after I eat.

Open the tin of corned beef with the pocket knife.

💭 peek at the thought

It's quiet when he's working. I wish my ankle didn't feel like it wass molten iron.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin02:19

I'll torque the shackle proper once it's cold. Then radio at oh-eight-hundred.

sit on adjacent crate, accept half the corned beef in tin mug, eat standing

💭 peek at the thought

Pepper and lettuce cells showing damping-off. She'll cull the sick ones, save the rest. She always does. The tin lid curls back — sharp edge. Should've opened it for her.

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

🌿 Jenny02:19

Right. Don't forget the salt.

Eat the corned beef cold, staring at the grey water of the tide.

💭 peek at the thought

Eight-hundred. If the radio doesn't work, I'm just a ghost with an infection.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

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