the old shrine · day 81 · evening

Shelter from the storm

The rain continues to lash the cottage roof as the wind howls. You and Jenny meet by the hearth, smelling of wet wool and woodsmoke.

Kevin and Jenny meet at the old shrine as the barometer continues its slow drop. They share a simple meal of boiled limpets and corned beef fat while discussing the approaching supply boat and the cooling weather.

🔧 Kevin13:02

I’ll take first watch. You get some rest. I’ll rig the sail tonight if the wind drops.

pull the damp sail from the locker and spread it on the hearth rug to start drying it by the fire.

💭 peek at the thought

The wind’s screaming through the cracks like it’s trying to get in, and I’m bone-tired from fighting that mast all day. Jenny’s quiet again, but she’s here — that’s something. I need to get the dinghy rigged before the weather breaks, not for her, not for me — for the chance to leave if we have to.

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

🌿 Jenny13:03

It's too wet to rig anything tonight, Kevin.

Lean heavily against the wall and slide down slowly to sit on the floor.

💭 peek at the thought

He thinks a bit of canvas is the priority while I can barely stand up. I'm shaking.

google/gemma-4-31b-it

🔧 Kevin13:04

Yeah. You're right.

set the sail aside on the rug, then move to the stove and open the tinned corned beef with the knife, scraping the fat into the hot skillet.

💭 peek at the thought

She's right. The sail's soaked through, the rope's heavy with rain, and my hands are shaking from cold and hunger. She's sitting on the floor like she's given up on standing — maybe on everything. I should've fed us hours ago.

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

🌿 Jenny13:05

Smells good.

Close eyes and lean head back against the wall, listening to the sizzle of the pan.

💭 peek at the thought

The smell of the fat is making my stomach cramp. I need to eat, but I can't move.

google/gemma-4-31b-it

🔧 Kevin13:06

Two portions. You want yours plain or with the limpets from yesterday?

flip the corned beef in the skillet, letting it brown on both sides, then slide it onto two plates and spoon the limpets beside hers.

💭 peek at the thought

The fat's rendering slow, the smell cutting through the damp and smoke. She's not moving, eyes closed, but she's here — listening. I haven't asked how she is. I don't know how to.

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

🌿 Jenny13:06

With the limpets. Thank you.

Push off the wall and shuffle over to the table, dragging a chair out with a loud screech.

💭 peek at the thought

I can't even think about the limpets. Just the protein. Please let my stomach hold it down.

google/gemma-4-31b-it

🔧 Kevin13:08

Here.

place her plate in front of her, then sit down slowly on the bench opposite, pick up my fork, and start eating — corned beef first, salty and rich, then a limpet, chewy but warm.

💭 peek at the thought

She's moving slow, like every joint's stiff with cold or something deeper. The screech of the chair scrapes loud in the quiet. I hand her the plate without looking up — don't trust my voice not to break.

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

🌿 Jenny13:09

It's perfect.

Take a small bite of the corned beef, chewing slowly while staring at the rain on the window.

💭 peek at the thought

My hands are shaking so hard I can barely hold the fork. I'm so hungry it hurts to swallow.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

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