#retr��

[nestedneons]

Flux Capacitor collection

Context and future perks

[byruit]

The cloud, yes

[charles-leclerc-official]

When you say you think either Lando or Oscar will leave, where do you think they would go? We know Lando has been on rbr's list for a long time, but I don't see him going from competing with Oscar to competing with Max 🤔

Red Bull have been eyeing both of them so I can see that being the most likely option. Oscar I think has more options than Lando simply because he isn't as tied down I guess? Like Lando does have the Red Bull connections, and if they keep the car in the top 3 I can see it being the most likely.

Going into 2026 we may see some bigger things change in the team market depending on how they adapt to the new regulations and that will dictate driver moves (boring answer but it's hard to predict 2026)

And umm, I hate to be the one to bring this up, but there is a world where Max isn't competing in 2026.

[lunion]

I'm about to start playing Fallout 1

Step one: Read the 121 pages manual

[aviiatrix]

// Due to circumstances with one of our elderly dogs getting hurt I haven’t really slept and I have to stay up to fix my sleep. I may answer small-ish stuff but that’s if I can make sure I’m coherent enough to write. Otherwise I may just be around tomorrow after my sleep is fixed. 😭 Or if I can squeeze a small nap in today.

[rastronomicals]

6:07 AM EDT September 16, 2024:

Retreds - "Johnny Be Good" From the Compilation album   Teenage Shutdown Vol. 11: Move It! (October 10, 2000)

Last song scrobbled from iTunes at Last.fm

From the semi-notorious series of compilations chronicling 60's garage.

--

[vlruso]

Meta AI Researchers Introduce RA-DIT: A New Artificial Intelligence Approach to Retrofitting Language Models with Enhanced Retrieval Capabilities for Knowledge-Intensive Tasks

🚀 Exciting news from the world of artificial intelligence! 🤖📚Meta AI researchers have introduced RA-DIT, a game-changing approach to retrofitting language models with enhanced retrieval capabilities for knowledge-intensive tasks. This lightweight fine-tuning methodology equips large language models (LLMs) with efficient retrieval capabilities, outperforming existing models in zero and few-shot learning tasks. 🔥 RA-DIT operates through a two-stage process, optimizing the LLM's use of retrieved information and refining the retriever's results. By improving knowledge utilization and contextual awareness, RA-DIT achieves state-of-the-art results in knowledge-intensive benchmarks. 📊 Read the full blog post to dive deeper into the technical details and explore how RA-DIT enhances language models for better performance in knowledge-intensive tasks. 📝🔍 🔗 Link: [Meta AI Researchers Introduce RA-DIT: A New Artificial Intelligence Approach to Retrofitting Language Models with Enhanced Retrieval Capabilities for Knowledge-Intensive Tasks](https://ift.tt/fjCuMIw) Stay at the forefront of AI advancements 🌟 and discover how RA-DIT takes language models to new heights! 🚀 #AI #ArtificialIntelligence #LanguageModels #RA-DIT #Research #KnowledgeIntensiveTasks #Technology #Innovation List of Useful Links: AI Scrum Bot - ask about AI scrum and agile Our Telegram @itinai Twitter -  @itinaicom

[alritaklegacy]

Ktah: Don't you get medical care?

Luthia: Don't need it. Perfect immunity. I can raise and lower my cholesterol at will.

Ktah: Why would you need to raise your cholesterol?

Luthia: So I can lower it.

[deep-peach]

so glad i caught spiderverse before it left theatres! i had no idea it was a part 1…. they rly recreated the potc dead man’s chest theatre experience lol

[givemegifs]

[felinecyan]

Reality of Realizations

[Shoto Todoroki x Female!Reader]

Synopsis: After the Sports Festival, Shoto comes to realize just how awful his behavior was, and he’s determined to make things right.

WC: 3559

Category: Mega Fluff, Awkward!Shoto

This idea smacked me to my keyboard at 3 am and took me hostage until I finished it… I hope you enjoy it!! ☺️🫶

『••✎••』

In the beginning, Shoto didn’t feel guilty. He felt indifference. To him, U.A. was about succeeding his father without his father’s side of his bloodline, the fire part of his quirk. Everything was about becoming a hero that wasn't like Endeavor. Everything was about getting stronger without using fire.

Friendships weren’t his concern. In fact, he didn't give them much thought at all. He didn’t feel like they would be beneficial to his cause.

For some reason, though, you wanted to be around him. Maybe it was because you saw something in him, some type of potential that even he didn’t recognize. Or maybe you just had a lot of energy that needed to be spent, and being around him was your only means of releasing it. Either way, you never left him alone. You followed him, sat next to him in class, and asked him about his quirk.

And with his current mindset, he was rather annoyed with your persistence. He knew he could handle it himself. He could do well in school and become a great hero without any help. You were a distraction to his goal, and he was not having it.

When you first tried to start a conversation, Shoto looked straight ahead. His gaze remained fixed on the whiteboard. If you continued to be persistent, he would snap at you. It was a guarantee.

As much as he wouldn’t like to admit, sometimes the father-son resemblance would shine through.

You tried again, asking him what his favorite food was. When he didn’t answer, you shrugged and turned your head toward the window—another failed attempt.

Your attempts only increasingly became more annoying as time went on. The same questions, the same responses, and the same outcome:

An angry Todoroki who just wanted to be left alone.

But it wasn't until the Sports Festival that things changed for him. Midoriya helped him realize that his father wouldn’t define him, but his own choices would. It was enlightening, and after their fight, he felt a strong sense of respect for the green-haired boy.

And due to that awakening, he realized just how absolutely rude he had been toward you.

You were one of his classmates, a person who was in the same school as him, training to be a hero just like him. You were someone who deserved respect, and he didn’t treat you the way you should have been.

That guilt settled in.

He was a horrible person.

He had to make up for it.

And, no, a simple apology would not be enough. He needed to go the extra mile and show you that he meant what he said and that he was truly sorry.

The question was, how?

He knew little about you. He never spoke to you, not in the way you had tried speaking to him, so how would he know your favorite food, your favorite color, your favorite animal? How would he know what kind of flowers or sweets you liked?

How could he make you happy when he was the one who hurt you in the first place?

He thought long and hard. He pondered and pondered, trying to think of what you could possibly enjoy, but his mind would draw a blank.

So, he did the only thing he could think of: he asked Midoriya for help. The green-haired boy had that entire notebook dedicated to all the quirks every classmate had, so surely it could give him some insight into how to approach you.

Surely, it would help.

After class, Todoroki went over to Midoriya. He kept his hands in his pockets, and he looked the other way, not quite wanting to see Midoriya's expression.

Needless to say, he was absolutely surprised when Todoroki asked him for help. Surprised and absolutely delighted. The way he started bouncing in his seat with the biggest smile on his face made Todoroki want to reconsider the offer. But before he could retract, Midoriya already had his notebook out.

He flipped through a few pages, his finger stopping when he found your name. Honestly, it was unnerving just how many notes were dedicated to each individual.

Midoriya read your likes and dislikes; apparently, they were all through observation and not from you telling him. Maybe if Todoroki wasn’t so mean to you, then he would‘ve known what you liked, too.

He figured you had to make it obvious for Midoriya to write it down, right? There’s no way Midoriya would be able to figure out that information from just watching.

Then again, his analysis was pretty spot on. He knew what your personality was; he dealt with it firsthand. Of course, at the time, he didn't think too much about it. All he thought was how much he wanted you to leave him alone. Now, however, he wanted you to ask him those questions.

He wanted to be your friend.

He learned that you loved reading books. Not only that, but you loved flowers. Not the typical roses or sunflowers, but the less popular flowers. The type of flower that not a lot of people would think of when thinking about the beauty of a flower.

You also loved sweets, mostly anything with the word "chocolate" in the name. You had a sweet tooth, and it was very apparent.

Todoroki didn’t know why, but he found himself smiling. Finding out your likes and dislikes and learning about your personality was interesting. He wished he hadn’t been so blind before. Maybe then, he could've been friends with you earlier.

But it was okay. He could still become your friend. He could still fix things.

Midoriya had written down a list of things that you would appreciate the most, and then it was on the planning portion.

Gift-giving was still a relatively new concept for Shoto. He never had any real reason to give someone a gift before, and when he did give gifts, it was mostly for his siblings on special occasions.

He never really had the opportunity to buy a gift for a friend.

Midoriya told him that the best gifts were meaningful and came from the heart.

"Think of a memory you have with them. Think of something that they would really enjoy."

But the issue was, he had no memories with you. No good ones, anyhow. They were all trash because he never gave you the chance to have a good memory with him.

"Hey, Todoroki, if you were—"

You always sounded so genuine when asking him those foolish questions, but the moment he turned his head, his glare could have killed you.

"Do you always have to bother me? Doesn’t it get tiring asking the same things, day in and day out?" His tone was harsh, and he didn't mean for it to sound that way, but it was the only tone he ever used on you.

"No wonder your parents sent you to boarding school in America before applying here. I wouldn’t be able to deal with you either."

Yeah, those were his words. Those were his exact words. Not the nicest, were they?

The sentence was completely laced with poison, and even Shoto knew it then. He truly didn’t mean to bring that up; it was a low blow, but the damage was done, and the second it was said, your expression fell.

Shame, really. You were only trying to be nice. You didn’t deserve his spiteful attitude. You were kind and thoughtful, and you were a very good person, but he couldn’t bring himself to accept your kindness.

So, how the hell was he going to be able to apologize to you? How was he going to give you a present that meant something when all his memories of you were filled with his hate?

He sat on his bed, his legs crossed as he held his head. He needed an idea, but his mind drew a blank. What the hell was he supposed to do?

Midoriya told him that a homemade gift was probably the best among a couple of special items. If he made something himself, he could show how much effort he put into it. He could make something meaningful and show just how sorry he was.

But... he wasn't the most creative person. In fact, his creativity was nonexistent. He didn’t know the first thing about making something from scratch.

He knew how to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and a tasty soba, but other than that, he was lost.

And it wasn't like he could ask for his siblings' help. He took that as a sign of not owning up to his mistakes. If he couldn’t figure this out, then he didn't deserve your friendship.

His eyes were fixated on his desk. His textbooks were sprawled out, and a couple of papers were scattered across the table. He was currently studying for the next exam, and his phone was off to the side, plugged into the wall to charge.

His mind should’ve been on schoolwork, but the only thing he could think of was you. He needed an idea, and soon, because if he didn't do anything, his guilt would eat him alive.

His mind continued to wander.

Flowers, chocolate, a book, a teddy bear.

None of these would be enough. None of these were personal; none of these would mean something.

His eyes wandered from his desk to the window. The sky was orange, a beautiful sunset. He watched as the clouds passed and the birds flew by.

Birds.

Why does that remind him of something?

What do birds have to do with a gift?

He closed his eyes, trying to remember a moment. Any moment, whether good or bad, anything that could help him get a hint as to what to do.

And then, a memory flashed.

It was a rainy day, and you were late.

You were walking and running, but the rain was coming down pretty hard. You weren’t an idiot, so you weren't wearing the U.A. uniform. Instead, you wore a jacket. But even then, you were still soaked.

You didn’t have an umbrella, a raincoat, or any protective gear. You were running through the rain, trying to get to the school before the bell rang.

Luckily, it wasn't too far away.

Shoto remembered seeing you run, and for a brief second, he thought you were an idiot. He wondered why you didn't just take the bus or the train. If you lived near the school, you would've had plenty of time.

And still, even being as late as you were, you were still determined to have your daily conversations with Shoto.

You were definitely an odd ball, but in that moment, a certain memory came to mind.

When you finally made it to class, you were absolutely soaked. Your hair was sticking to your face, and your shoes were squishing with every step you took.

You sat down, understandably grumpy, but you weren’t upset that you were late, wet, or even sick the next day. No, what was upsetting you was the fact that you had lost something.

A hairclip, to be specific.

You lost a hairclip.

It was a clip that had a hummingbird attached to it. The clip itself was silver, but the hummingbird was painted green. He knows this because you wouldn’t stop talking about it.

He remembered you saying that it was a gift from a family member. He didn’t know who, nor did he care at the time, but you cared.

You really cared.

You spent the majority of the day searching for the hairclip. You searched the hallways, the bathroom, the cafeteria, everywhere you could think of, but it wasn’t there. It was nowhere to be found.

And for a week, you wore your hair down, which was the complete opposite of what you normally did.

If only Shoto realized this at the time, then he would've helped you look for it. He was good at finding things, ironically, but the thought didn’t cross his mind, and neither did the memory.

Until now.

In a split second, he bolted up. He rushed downstairs, not caring if he was loud. He didn’t care if his family could hear him; he didn’t care if he was disturbing their peace.

He had an idea, a good one, and it was perfect.

It was the most personal gift he could think of. Throw in a couple of your favorites, and it would be perfect.

He would make you a gift basket, but he would add his own touch to it. Again, he wasn’t that creative, but he had a basic idea. You’d like ribbons, right? Why not a nice bow?

Unfortunately, your specific hummingbird hair clip was long gone, but the internet seemed to have everything. He searched for hours, ignoring his study guide for the upcoming exam, and finally, after what seemed like forever, he found a silver hummingbird. It wasn’t painted green, but it was the same model as your old one.

It was the best he could do. And fortunately, due to the one-day shipping, he would have it by the time Monday rolled around.

He ordered it, and when it came in, he put the basket together. He bought you a book based on your favorite genre, some chocolate, a bouquet of some of your favorite flowers, and then, he added the ribbon.

The clip he put in a special case, away from the basket. He would be giving this separately because it would mean more, and he felt like this was something that shouldn’t be touched by anything else.

And, well, he wanted to see your reaction to his apology. It would be easier to read your expression if he didn't give you both the gift at the same time.

Oh, right, the apology.

He didn’t really think about that, and honestly, he didn’t know how to start.

But the best way to do anything is with practice, right?

Screw that upcoming test. He had something much more important to deal with, and knowing him, he’d probably still ace the test anyway.

He cleared his throat, standing in the middle of his room.

Okay, how would he start?

Hi? No, that was too casual.

Hello? No, it's not formal enough.

Greetings?

No, no, he shouldn’t sound like a robot.

He needed something more genuine, more real.

Maybe... maybe he should start by telling you how sorry he was. Yeah, that would be the best.

He cleared his throat again.

"Hey," his voice cracked, and his eyes widened. He sounded so awkward. That was so not smooth.

He started over.

"I know we haven't spoken in a while," he started. "I'm... I'm sorry for everything I've done. For everything I've said. You didn't deserve any of that."

This felt like a speech. Maybe he should tone it down.

"I… I was a horrible person, and I wish I could take back all the things I said, but I can't, and I'm sorry. I'm truly sorry. And I know a simple sorry won't fix everything, so..."

He went over to the desk and picked up the box with the silver hummingbird inside.

"I want to give you this. I hope you like it."

Okay, practice over. He’s better off winging it. He truly regretted how he acted, so regardless of how the apology goes, hopefully, you can see that he's being genuine.

He sighed.

Hopefully.

The next day came quicker than expected. He spent the entire night preparing, and by the time the morning came, he was exhausted.

But it was okay because soon, he'd be able to see you and, hopefully, make amends.

Panic didn’t set in until he caught sight of you at your locker, picking out your books.

The moment his eyes landed on you, his heart started to race. His throat went dry, and his hands got clammy.

This is it, he thought—all or nothing.

He took a deep breath.

Here goes.

"Excuse me," he started. His voice sounded shaky, but he ignored it. He had to stay confident and pretend he wasn’t nervous.

You turned to him, and the moment your eyes met his, he swore he could feel his heart stop.

Those eyes… full of utter shock and surprise. You were really caught off guard. And he was, too, because not a single word was uttered from his lips.

"Um," you cleared your throat. "Hey, Todoroki," you smiled at him. You seemed hesitant, and honestly, who could blame you? He had never really been nice to you.

"I was just heading to class, but uh," you rubbed the back of your neck. "Did you… did you need something?"

The question made him snap back into reality.

He was still speechless, so to fix the awkward atmosphere, he decided just to hand you the basket.

You were obviously confused. Your brows were furrowed, and you stared at the present like it was some foreign object.

"What's this?"

"It's a gift."

Your confusion didn't fade. In fact, it was almost replaced with concern.

"For... me?"

Oh, for the love of…, snap out of it, Shoto!

He shook his head.

"Yes, for you," he handed you the gift, and when you held it, he couldn’t stop his heart from skipping a beat. "I…"

He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Look, I'm... I'm sorry. For everything."

You just stared at him blankly, and for a moment, Shoto felt the panic rise. What if you didn’t forgive him?

You were quiet for a while, and his nervousness only grew. He decided to try again.

"You were just trying to be friends, and all I did was push you away. I was so… rude and cold, and you didn’t deserve any of that. You were just trying to be kind. So, I wanted to make it up to you. I wanted to do something nice and show you how deeply apologetic I am."

Silence.

He didn't know what to say anymore, so he continued, hoping he wasn't making a bigger mess than what it was.

"I also, uh, got you this," he pulled out the case from inside his uniform. With the way you were silent the entire time, he was starting to think you wouldn’t accept the gift.

So, the moment your hand reached out to grab the box, he was relieved to know you were willing to listen.

"I know it’s not your original, but it's the closest I could find. And, well, it's the least I could do, considering how I acted."

When you opened the box, he could see the way your eyes lit up. He was so nervous about this, so scared that you wouldn’t like it, but the way you smiled proved him wrong.

And that smile. Oh, that smile.

He caused that smile. Instead of stealing it away or making it go away, he made it appear.

"Todoroki, I," you were speechless. Utterly speechless, he could tell by the way you looked up at him.

You were trying to find the right words, and honestly, he didn’t blame you. He was in a similar situation.

"You didn’t have to get me this," you said, a bright smile on your face. You were holding the hummingbird gently like it was a precious object. "I probably would've forgiven you even if you didn’t get me anything."

Wait, was that a yes?

Was that a yes?!

Shoto could feel the corners of his lips twitch. He felt himself smiling.

"Thank you," you continued, still holding the hummingbird carefully. "It means a lot to me. I appreciate the effort you put into this. And, um, thank you for the apology. I really needed to hear it. Honestly, I thought I did something wrong, so I'm glad that wasn’t the case."

You laughed a bit, and even if he was confused about why you were laughing at all, he was relieved that you were accepting his apology.

"You did nothing wrong," he told you. "I was the one who messed up. I have issues, but that's not an excuse to be a jerk."

You smiled again, and he noticed the way you fiddled with the box. It was clear you wanted to attach the hairclip.

"I can… um, help you with that if you want."

The instant nod from you was enough for him to grab it delicately from the box, and when he did, you turned around.

It was a really pretty clip, and it suited you. Whoever originally gave it to you clearly had great taste.

It took a second, but he finally placed it into your hair. When you turned back around, he nodded in approval.

"You look nice," he told you.

"Thank you."

There was a pause.

"Um, did you, uh, want to sit together during lunch? I mean, you don't have to if you don't want to, but I thought I'd ask."

The amount of joy he suddenly felt was unexplainable. You were accepting him, and it was the most amazing thing he had ever experienced.

"Yeah, sure," he nodded. "That sounds nice."

Mission make up with you: success.

The guilt of everything still lingered, and he would have to apologize to everyone else as well, but that could be done later.

Right now, all that mattered was his new friend. A friend that should’ve been his a long time ago.

[niguramu]

「虫喰いの時計スタンド」入荷 壁掛け時計を置き時計として使用するためのスタンドです。 住宅の壁に穴を開けられない場合や、チェスト等の上の置時計にしたい場合にご使用ください。また、キーリングなどの小物のスタンドとしてもご利用いただけます。 #retre #clockstand #クロックスタンド #wormyoak #虫喰い楢 #Keyringstand #wallclock #wormywood #wormyoak #oak #wallinterior #yamazakiyoshiki #壁掛け時計 #時計 #clock #広葉樹 #尾山製材 #楢 #山崎義樹 https://www.niguramu.jp/products/134rwcst/ https://www.instagram.com/p/Cnd8BkpPZ2Y/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[plaguedocboi]

Bottomless Pits

We post holes here, sir.

Sinkholes, pit caves, wells and cenotes all have one thing in common; sometimes they’re bottomless. Not truly “bottomless”, of course, but in appearance, reputation, or of incredible depth. We’ve seen a few of these “bottomless pits” in prior lists such as the Lost Sea in Tennessee or the Devil’s Hole in Nevada, but today we will focus on those strange places in the earth that seem to be endless.

1. Laguna Kaan Luum, Mexico

This one threw me for a loop because I was originally only seeing pictures like the one above, so I was like ‘oh, that’s cool, so it’s kinda like Dean’s Blue Hole, where it’s an ocean sinkhole right off the shore…’

No. It’s not that. Let’s zoom out a bit.

Yeah. This is a lake with one giant sinkhole in the middle! It’s about 2,000 feet across and reaches depths of 278 feet, with the surrounding shallows a very pleasant 4 feet deep! I’m mostly including it on the list because the full image hit me like a bus.

2. Sima Humboldt, Venezuela

Tepuis are large plateau mountains found across Venezuela, often with sheer sides and inaccessible tops that inspired explorers to imagine dinosaurs still surviving on these isolated mesas. Even on their own, tepuis are incredible, beautiful and mysterious. Add a sinkhole with an even more isolated forest at the bottom, and you have all the ingredients for some crazy shit to happen. Sima Humboldt and Sima Martel are two enormous sinkholes at the top of Cerro Sarisariñama. Humboldt is the largest at over a thousand feet across and nearly the same in depth, with a jungle flourishing at the bottom. The sinkhole forests are home to many endemic species of both plant and animals, but so far, no prehistoric monsters have been found in any of them.

3. Well of Barhout, Yemen

The “well of hell” is a massive sinkhole in the desert, measuring about 100 feet in diameter and plunging down over 300 feet. Understandably, there are many myths and legends about this place, including a story about an evil djinn which lives at the bottom and takes the head of anyone foolish enough to climb in. In fact, so pervasive are these legends that the sinkhole was only formally explored in 2021! Luckily they did not find any evil spirits, but they did find stalagmites which reached 30 feet tall, cave pearls, and waterfalls which provided refuge for frogs and snakes.

4. Myakka sinkhole, Florida

This murky abyss is filled with more than just water, it is also home to over a hundred alligators. Due to the poor visibility and very high concentration of large carnivores, it is very difficult to study this pit. Only a few people have ever glimpsed the bottom of this 134-foot deep sinkhole, but apparently we aren’t missing much because the water down there is stagnant and inhospitable to most life. Exactly why this area is so popular among alligators is still unknown, but it’s likely due to a combination of food availability and ideal temperatures.

5. The Pit cenote, Mexico

Like Cenote Angelita, The Pit is a layered cenote. The first 88 feet is freshwater, then there is a “fog” of hydrogen sulfide, below which lies over 300 feet of brackish water. The Pit is a spectacular-looking cenote, with an almost otherworldly quality, which makes it very popular among divers. So far, this pit has been explored to a depth of 390 feet, but unexplored passages extend further.

6. Thor’s well, Oregon

Like a drainpipe continuously swallowing an unbroken stream of ocean water, Thor’s well is often likened to a bottomless pit. However, it is actually only about 20 feet deep, and the drain effect is due to the fact that it connects back to the ocean, not swallowing the water but simply rerouting it. This does not mean that there is no danger, though. The rocks are slippery and sharp, and this area sees a higher than average number of ‘sneaker waves’; waves that look normal as they roll in but are actually much larger than they appear, potentially sweeping people out to sea as they retreat. The true danger here is the ocean, not the well.

7. Vouliagmeni Lake, Greece

This incredibly beautiful saltwater lake has been rumored to have healing properties for thousands of years, and today continues to draw in visitors for its medicinal minerals and “doctor fish”. But this famous lake hides a secret; a labyrinth of caves whose depths have never been fully explored, and whose connection to the ocean remains undiscovered. Passages stretch over a mile into the mountains, with an average depth of 260 feet. The largest of these caverns is nearly 500 feet wide and full of warm sea water. Although a spectacular diving spot, these unknown caverns are best not underestimated.

8. Santa Rosa blue hole, New Mexico

A gorgeous natural swimming hole, this cenote is roughly 80 feet wide and 80 feet deep (in most places) and is a popular destination for tourists. It was also used for diving certification tests, until an incident in 1976. There is one spot in this picturesque cenote that goes down much further than 80 feet; the entrance to a cave. In the dark, twisting passages, two young divers got lost and died, and the cave was later sealed with a metal grate to prevent other divers from attempting to enter. The cave was mostly forgotten about until 2013, when cave divers were given permission to attempt to map the area. The blue hole is at least 200 feet deep, but the bottom of the cave still has not been found.

9. Roaring River Spring, Missouri

This turquoise river bubbles up from a ten-foot wide pool of deep water hidden within a sheer-sided canyon. But despite its peaceful appearance, this spring discharges 20 million gallons of water a day, and the exact source is still unknown. In 1979, divers attempted to map the cave, but reached a point 225 feet down where the passage constricted and had a water flow like “the force of an open fire hydrant”, preventing them from going any further. In 2020, divers waited until the water flow was lowest in the summer and descended to a depth of 472 feet with no bottom in sight, making this the deepest spring in the US!

10. Your Mom.

I jest, of course. Here’s the real one:

Hranice Abyss, Czech Republic

A tiny greenish lake in the forest is the opening to the deepest freshwater cave in the world, deeper than the Empire State Building is high and still seemingly bottomless. It is so deep that scientists think it may have been formed by a totally different process than most freshwater caves; instead of water eroding away the ground from above, it may have been created by acidic groundwater coming up from below. And this water is extremely acidic, able to burn a diver’s skin if not covered properly. This, combined with fallen trees and other debris, poor visibility, and the sheer vertical drop of the cave, creates incredibly dangerous conditions for diving. Because of this, no diver or ROV has reached the bottom yet. But with a recent study using seismic sensors, scientists have estimated that the abyss may be over a kilometer deep, twice what was previously thought.

[dees-writing-corner]

salt's sweeter than sugar

pairing: barista!yunho x barista!reader

genre: fluff

word count: 2.5k

a/n I'm back!!! For real this time. I've finished my first year of uni and I'll have plenty of time to focus on writing until the end of september!!

main masterlist

Tying the apron around my waist, I turned to face the mirror as I pulled half of my hair up, making sure everything was out of my face before I opened the cafe for the day.  

“Well, good morning, darling. I didn’t expect to see you today. I haven’t seen you in quite a while.”  

Raising a brow, I shifted my eyes up to see Yunho leaning against the frame of the door with his arms crossed over his chest, a smirk ever so present on his face.  

“What are you doing in? I thought Jongho was in today?”  

It’s weird to be on the same shift with Yunho alone, our manager decided that it was best to put the two of us apart a month after I started working here because of how we were with each other. And even if we were on the same shift, there was another one of the boys with us.  

Now don’t get me wrong, it’s not like we don’t like each other, it’s just the fact that Yunho is very.... flirty, if you will. And I’m not exactly that comfortable with the amount of attention from him.  

“He called in sick today.” Yunho made his way over to me, hanging up his coat before putting on one of the brown aprons. “I was the only one available, so I’m covering.”  

Humming, I moved out of his way and made my way to the main area of the shop to the coffee machine, turning it on for the day. Allowing the water to flow through the machine for a minute, I let my eyes wander around the shop, landing on Yunho’s form as he walked out of the back room, shifting some of the chairs around. He had taken time to roll up the sleeves of his white button-up while he was in the back, the tattoos he had on his left arm on full display.  

“I’d take a picture if I were you, darling. It’ll last longer.”  

Huffing, I turned my attention back to the espresso machine, “Do you want something to drink before we open the shop?” Shifting my eyes up, my gaze darted from him to the table. “Also, that table in front of you is crooked, so if you could move it to the left a bit, it’d look great.”  

Yunho took a small step back as he looked at the table in front of him, which was indeed crooked.  

“Yeah, sure, um, an iced vanilla latte please, thank you, sweets.”  

Pouring milk and vanilla syrup over the ice, I put a pinch of salt in the ground coffee before slotting it into the espresso machine, I learnt a long time ago that a bit of salt help to bring out the natural sweetness and balances out the bitterness in the coffee.  

As Yunho made his way over to the counter, I wiped away to stray bits of ground coffee away from the counter. 

“Do you do this every shift?”  

Looking up briefly, I watched as he leaned against the counter, “Do what?”  

“Make drinks before a shift. I thought San was the only one that did that.”  

Pouring the espresso into the glass, I put a straw into it before handing it to Yunho.  

“Hmm, there’s a reason San and I are rarely on the same shift. We both make sure everyone is hydrated through the day.”  

Yunho picked the glass up, taking a sip from it before looking at me in surprise, “This is better than Sannie’s. How?”  

Smiling, I busied with making the hot latte for myself, “That’s a secret that you just can’t know.” 

Sighing, I slid my phone back into my pocket as I walked out of the break room. 

The cafe was mostly empty, most people opting to takeaway instead of sitting in. 

I walked up to Yunho behind the counter as he prepared some more takeaway cups. 

“Your turn for lunch. I’ll finish this up for you.” 

“Oh. Thank you. Could you do the coffee beans as well? We’re running a bit low.” 

Nodding, I took over his task as he moved away from the counter. “Yeah, I’ll do that. Now go! Enjoy your lunch break!” 

Yunho grinned as he walked into the back, “See you in half an hour princess.” 

Staring at his retreating figure, I shook my head in disbelief. I genuinely cannot tell if he’s just like this with everyone or if he just wants to annoy me. 

Putting our logo stickers onto the cups, I slowly made my way through the pile, occasionally serving a customer coffee. 

Placing the cups into the holders, I opened the cupboard under the espresso machine for the coffee beans. 

‘Ding’ 

Hearing the bell ring from above the door, I stood back up to serve the customer, the I froze slightly when I saw the person. 

Putting a small smile on, I walked up to the till. 

“Hi, what can I get you today?” 

“Just a latte, like always. Thank you, darling.” 

Trying not to gag, I put the order in and couldn’t help but think that I much preferred Yunho calling me that. 

“Alright, that’s gone through. If you could just go to the end counter for your coffee, that’d be great.” 

Moving behind the espresso machine, I quickly refilled the coffee beans before starting on the latte. Concentrating on the grinder, I tried not to think about the man currently leaning on the counter and staring at me. He was a man in his thirties with greasy hair that covered the sides of his face. He comes in every week for the same order but makes weird small talk and comments that just don’t sit right with me. 

“You should have your hair pulled up more often. You’ve got a lovely neck.” 

Taking a glance at him, I could see that he has now practically pressed his whole torso onto the counter. 

Smiling awkwardly, I head the jug of milk against the steamer, “Yeah? Sorry, but could you -” 

“Yeah. You should maybe start wearing a necklace as well, I’m sure it’ll make your neck even prettier.” 

In a rush to make his coffee, I accidently blasted a jet of steam onto my wrist, causing me to wince and drop the towel I was using to clean the steamer. 

The skin on the inside of my wrist was now bright red with the constant throbbing and burning sensation accompanying it. 

I was just about to pick up the towel when Yunho stepped up beside me, gently pushing me to the side. 

“I’ll finish making the coffee, darling, you go and put your arm under some cold water and put some ointment on.” 

Nodding, I made my way into the back, trying to seem like I was rushing as I tried to get away from the guy. 

Turning the tap on, I put my wrist under the cold water, sighing in content when the burning sensation subsided. 

“So that’s the guy?” 

“What?” 

Confused, I turned to see Yunho leaning against the doorframe. 

“The weird guy that makes creepy comments about you and makes you feel uncomfortable.” 

“Yeah, that’s him. I don’t even know how he knows what shifts I work because they aren’t set.” 

Turning off the tap, I grabbed a towel to dab away the water, before Yunho came up beside me, a tube of ointment in his hand. 

“Why haven’t we got him banned yet?” 

Watching Yunho’s slender fingers collect some of the gel and put on my wrist, I shook my head. 

“Seonghwa and Hongjoong tried get him banned, but head office said it wasn’t that serious. On the bright side, they also said it causes something to happen then they’ll think about it.” 

Yunho nodded as he screwed the top back on, “Do you want to take the rest of the day off? We’ve only -” 

“It’s just a small burn, that I don’t even feel anymore. I’m fine to work Yunho.” 

“No mum, I’m staying in tonight.” 

Plopping down onto the sofa, I held my phone up, staring at my mother's face on the screen. 

“Why? It’s a Friday night! You don’t have work tomorrow, go out with friends! Or on a date!” 

Giving her a deadpan look, I shook my head, “Well, I originally planned to go out tonight with San and Yeosang but San landed himself in A&E so -” 

‘Ding Dong’ 

Pausing mid-sentence, I looked at my mum before looking back, towards the corridor. 

“Expecting someone?” 

“Umm, no, I don’t know who that is. Give me a minute.” 

With my mum still on the phone, I stood up and made my way to the door. Opening the door slightly, my eyes widened at the sight of the person stood there. 

“Good evening, darling.” 

Opening the door more, my eyes landed on the takeaway he held in his hand. 

“What’re you doing here? I thought -” 

“And who’s this young man?” 

Looking down at the phone in my hand, I forgot that I was still on the phone with my mum. 

Opening my mouth to reply, I was silenced by Yunho taking the phone from me and smiling brightly at my mum. 

“Hello, I’m Yunho.” He lifted the bags in his hand at the phone. “Just here to have dinner with Y/N.” 

Staring blankly at Yunho, I tried to comprehend the situation before me. 

“Oh! But Y/N was just saying that -” 

Plucking my phone out of Yunho’s hand, I sent my mum a small smile, “Mum, I’m gonna hang up now, I’ll talk to you tomorrow.” 

“Okay, enjoy your date. Love you.” 

“Love you too.” 

Hanging up the call, I turned back to Yunho, who had made himself comfortable against my wall. 

“Okay, what’re you doing here?” 

Yunho stood up a bit straighter as he shrugged, “I just told your mum, I’ve brought dinner for us.” 

“Why?” 

“Because San and Yeosang texted me. They thought you’d feel a bit lonely, since the three of you have this routine every Friday.” 

I looked from him to the takeaway, back to him again. 

“Is that -” 

“From the Indonesian restaurant on the corner next to the train station.” 

Well, I can’t say no to that now, can I? 

“Are you gonna let me in or what?” Yuho raised a brow at my space-out state. 

“Fine. Come in.” 

I stepped aside from the doorway, taking the food from him as he took his shoes off. 

“How’s that burn doing anyway, sweetheart?” 

Taking the food out of the bag and placing it on the kitchen island, I looked up to see Yunho perched across from me, leaning his elbows on the wood. 

“It’s fine, barely notice it. Now, question though. How do you know about the Indonesian restaurant?” 

“San and Yeosang mentioned it.” 

Placing a couple of plates and cutlery in front of us, I wasn’t too surprised at his answer. Know those two, they probably told him to get the food from there or else I’d say no. 

Quietly eating our dinner, I glanced up at Yunho every now and then. In place of the white shirt and black slacks were a black shirt and black jeans, paired with a leather jacket that was thrown over the back of my sofa. 

Finishing off the last bit of food, I stood up from the kitchen stool, stretching my back out a bit, earning a chuckle from Yunho. 

Raising a brow, I looked to him, “What?” 

He shook his head as he got up from his place, “Nothing, darling.” 

Frowning, I watched as he gathered up the plates, “You know, I can’t tell if you’re like this with everyone or not.” 

He out the dishes in the sink for me, before turning around, “Like what?” 

“The nicknames and the flirting. I can’t tell if it’s just how you are or what.” 

Yunho took a couple of steps towards me, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips, “Oh, sweetheart, I’m not like this to everyone. Can you actually not tell?” 

“What?” 

“That I like you and I want to take you out on a date.” 

Blinking owlishly at him, “You what now?” 

Yunho let out a small laugh, “I want to take you out on a date. What’d you say.” 

Looking at him, I could see the nervousness in his eyes, which told me that he does actually mean it. 

“Yeah, okay. I’ll go on a date with you” 

Maybe it was the way answered it, but Yunho still seemed nervous, “You don’t have to say yes. It’s not gonna make work weird if you say no, I mean we barely -” 

“Yunho,” I took a step forward, placing a hand on his tattooed arm, trying to stop his rambling. “I’m saying yes because I want to.” 

Yunho broke out into a grin, “Okay! I’ll send you the detail?” 

Nodding, I walked Yunho to the door, “Yeah.” 

Once he had his shoes and jacket back on, I held open the door for him. 

“Right, I better get going now, see you soon.” 

Yunho quickly leaned down, and pressed a soft kiss on my cheek, before turning to walk to his car. 

Surprised, I watched as he walked away, a slight bounce in his steps. Honestly, behind all the dark clothes and tattoos, he’s a puppy.

“So, how’d it go on Friday?” 

Looking up from the mirror, I saw Yeosang lean against the breakroom table. 

“Hmmm?” Concentrating on putting my hair up, my brain wasn’t quite processing Yeosang’s question. 

“How’d it go with Yunho on Friday.” 

Trying to not grin, I nodded, “Good, he was good company.” 

Wooyoung entered through the back door, doing a double take when he saw me, “Why’re you so happy at 6 o’clock in the morning.” 

���What?” 

Wooyoung waved a hand at my face, “Your face is way too happy for this time of the morning. Why?” 

My eyes went from Wooyoung to Yeosang, who had a raised brow as if to say ‘do tell’. 

“Well,” turning back to the mirror to straighten out my shirt, “I’ve got a date Saturday night.” 

Wooyoung let out a screech, while Yeosang looked smug. 

“What? Who? How? When? WHO?” 

In a blink of an eye, Wooyoung was next to, bouncing on his feet like an overexcited toddler. 

“Come on. Tell me. Please.” 

“Yunho asked me out on Friday when San had to go to the A&E.” 

Yeosang took out his phone, as he made his way out the back door, “I’ve got to tell San about this. He lost the bet.” 

Staring at his back in disbelief, “Yeosang!” 

Unbelievable. Leave it to these two to bet on my love life. 

“Okay. Give me the details.” 

[retromania4ever]

WRC... Max Attack 👌 🔥

//Retr⭕mania//