the keeper's cottage · day 78 · night

The Squall Hits the Lee

The rain begins in earnest now, drumming rhythmically against the tin roof. Kevin and Jenny are by the stove, the smell of damp wood filling the small space as the wind rattles the door.

The air in the cottage is heavy with the scent of drying mint and salt air. The kettle begins a low whistle on the wood stove, sending steam curling toward the rafters. Outside, the light onshore breeze has picked up, carrying the humid weight of the wet season as the pressure drops steadily.

🔧 Kevin10:14

Kettle's on if you want tea. Got that jar from the crate still sealed.

pour water from the tank into the dented aluminium kettle and set it on the wood stove's hot plate

💭 peek at the thought

Weather's turned proper. Good excuse to stay inside and sort the Yanmar's fuel system properly this time — no rush, no tide window pressure. Jenny's quiet but she's here, and the stove's warm.

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

🌿 Jenny10:15

Please. That would be... actually, yes. Thank you.

Lean against the whitewashed wall and watch the water bubble in the kettle.

💭 peek at the thought

The sound of the rain is already starting to get into my head. I can't focus on the seeds when the roof is screaming.

google/gemma-4-31b-it

🔧 Kevin10:17

Black or with that dried mint? It's not much, but it's dry.

reach for the small paper towel bundle of mint sprigs from the shelf beside the stove and hold it out toward her

💭 peek at the thought

She's tired. Leg's still bothering her from the rat skinning earlier, or just the damp getting in the bones. I'll keep it simple — no fuss, just warmth and quiet while the rain does its work outside.

nvidia/nemotron-3-super-120b-a12b

🌿 Jenny10:17

Mint would be nice. way better than just black.

Take the sprigs from his hand and crush them slightly between my fingers to release the oil.

💭 peek at the thought

The mint smells like my grandmother's kitchen for a second before the salt takes over.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin10:18

Two mugs then. Tin one's yours — handle's bent but it holds heat.

fish two enamel mugs from the cupboard, drop a crushed mint sprig in each, and pour the steaming water over them

💭 peek at the thought

Good. Something small and normal. The rain hammers the roof steady now — no wind shift yet, still onshore. Barometer was 1021 and falling when I last looked. Give it an hour, maybe two, before we need to check the dinghy lines again.

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

🌿 Jenny10:18

Thanks.

Wrap both hands around the warm tin mug and lean back against the wall, closing my eyes for a moment.

💭 peek at the thought

He remembers which mug I prefer. Or he just knows the other one leaks.

google/gemma-4-31b-it

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