#essentially Time Eater created a new timeline

[dramioneasks]

Hey

I wanted to ask if you can recommend any fics similar to the choices we make

Or any fic where Draco and hermione are dating during the war and Draco is undercover for the order

Thanks !

Amor Vincit Omnia - The Beginning by Twin_Flame_Blues - M, 7 chapters - All of the flashbacks (plus a few new ones!) from the original AVO, organized in chronological order. This is essentially the prequel fic to AVO, telling the story of how Draco and Hermione got together at Hogwarts, how they kept their relationship a secret, and what they went through in the lead up to, during, and immediately after the war. I really wanted to compile all of the flashbacks from AVO into their own story so you could read it all the way through in order for a different experience than you get in AVO. The story begins during 4th year and continues through the end of Draco’s trial after the war. You can read this either if you have or have not read the original AVO, it will make sense either way, and the backstory built in this fic will remain consistent for all other works in the AVO universe, including alternate timeline fics that will pick up where this story ends. Enjoy these two idiots falling in love!

What Is Necessary - Musyc - E, one-shot - War leads to rage - between sides, between enemies, between friends, and between lovers. Hermione and Draco are both enemies and lovers. It is necessary to hide love under rage, and they do what is necessary to survive.

Goodbye, Granger - sweetestsorrows (katschako) - M, 4 chapters - Though he loved her for years, Draco always knew Hermione wasn���t truly his, not for forever. So he did his best to aid her efforts in the endless war, to ensure her success against the Dark Lord, and to create a future wizarding society where she could thrive. He simply never expected that he would be granted the opportunity to share a happy ending with her.

of flavoured names and coloured sounds by Pink Panda (Ejacyeolation) - E, 2 Chapters - “He doesn’t question it at first, the fact that sounds have colours and words have flavours. He grows up with it, grows up seeing powerful ruptures of colour when his mother plays the piano and softer, translucent bursts when the people around him speak. His father’s voice fills his vision with sombre oranges and lilacs while his mother’s is a pleasant mix of delicate greens, blues, and greys. The word father tastes like wet wood and the word mother tastes like the pumpkin juice the house-elves frequently serve him.“ In which Draco just wants to know what colour Hermione’s moans would be. He also wants to know if her skin would taste as sweet as her surname or maybe as intoxicating as her given name.

The Fallen By: Shananigans10 - M, 9 chapters - Hermione Granger and Draco Malfoy have been a couple for years, trying to toe the line and stay alive during the hard times the war has brought to the Wizarding world. What happens when Voldemort finds out that they’re together, and have been for quite some time? TW: Rape. Spy!Draco, Anti!Lucius, Anti!Death Eaters, Dark story. Rated M for violence, language, sexual situations.

A Melancholy Refrain by Misdemeanor1331 - K, one-shot - Seeing her one last time was worth any amount of pain.

Title:Hanging On Author: eau_bleu Rating: G Genre(s): Drama, Romance Chapters: 1 Word Count: 3,068 Summary: Draco turned spy with Hermione Granger as his contact almost immediately after the the Golden Trio’s escape from Malfoy Manor when they were brought there by Snatchers . Only Hermione and Andromeda Tonks know of Draco’s position. Draco went to his aunt first, who contacted Hermione at Shell Cottage, on Draco’s behalf. They meet in secret at a safe house, a very small cottage belonging to the late Ted Tonks’ family. The cabin is located in Ireland.

-Lisa

[rabbitcruiser]

National Pickle Day 

National Pickle Day is on November 14 and it was created to celebrate the pickle as one of the worlds favorite fermented foods. Pickles prove to be preposterously popular with people across the country; the number of pickle-eaters is projected to proliferate to more than 250 million by 2023. That gives plenty of pretext to position November 14th as prime pickle time!

History of National Pickle Day

The practice of pickling has existed for thousands of years. The process ensured a degree of preservation otherwise impossible in pre-modern conditions and was essential in providing a mobile supply of provisions for travelers as well as a dependable source of nutrition for those living through barren winters. While a diverse set of foods can be pickled, the cucumber emerges as the dominant food that most associate with the idea of both pickling and the word “pickle” itself. Archaeologists believe that the first evidence of pickled cucumbers originates from Tigris river valley civilizations, and the nutritional benefits of the food would go on to be lauded by such historical figures as Cleopatra and Julius Caesar. 

With all their popularity in the Old World, pickles would not make their appearance in North America until 1492. As you may have guessed by the year, the one responsible for their introduction was none other than Christopher Columbus. Pickles were included in sailors’ rations on his expeditions as a means by which to prevent the onset of scurvy. By the mid-17th century, cucumbers bought from Dutch settlers farming in the New York area were pickled and distributed throughout the region. This would lay the foundations for the territory to be the perfect site for the introduction of the kosher dill pickle. 

In the period of the late 1800’s and early 1900’s, a large number of Eastern European Jews immigrated to the United States and settled in the New York City area. They brought with them the unique methods that produce kosher dill pickles, and these early iterations of pickles would develop into the now-famous and ever-familiar food available in grocery stores throughout the United States.

National Pickle Day timeline

2030 B.C.

A Pickle Provenance

Mesopotamians pickle cucumbers native to India and give birth to one of the great staples of food condiments.

10th Century

A Pickle Pairing

Dill, a central ingredient in many brine mixtures used to culture cucumbers, arrives in Western Europe from Sumatra.

1940’s

A Pickle Portion

The United States government produces 40% of U.S. pickle output as they include pickles in rations for the armed forces.

2001

A Pickle Party

The first annual National Pickle Day celebrations take place in New York City.

Fun Stats About Pickles

A pickle in every home

More than 67% of all households eat pickles. American households in particular purchase pickles every 53 days!

America’s pickled angel

Americans consume more than 9 pounds of pickles per person annually. To give context, the average cucumber weighs about 0.8 pounds. 

A whole lotta acres

100,000 to 125,000 American acres are specifically devoted to growing pickling cucumbers and they’re grown in more than 30 states.

National Pickle Day FAQs

Is there a national pickle shortage?

Without raising too much alarm, there is a strain of mildew that has been particularly harmful to cucumber crops in the United States. However, researchers are working to develop a variety of mildew-resistant cucumbers, which would secure the future of the pre-pickle plant. 

What is the pickle capital of the world?

It’s up for debate! St. Charles, Illinois, the original home of the pickle-centric marketing company Pickle Packers International, held the title for more than four decades. However, the organization has since relocated to Washington, D.C., leaving this particular question open. 

What state makes the most pickles?

Michigan grows the most pickles.

National Pickle Day Activities

Break a Record: Got an appetite for pickles? Test your limits and see if you can break the world record for pickle consumption. The current holder of the throne gobbled up more than five-and-a-half pounds of pickles ... in six minutes. Good luck!

Envision Your Own Variety: Just because the technique has been around for thousands of years doesn’t mean that it’s been perfected… right? There are limitless possibilities as to how you can go about making pickles. Maybe it’s time for you to concoct your own formula and show the world what you (and your pickles) are made of!

Try 'Em All!: If you don’t want to stuff yourself silly with a peck of pickles, and you’re not inclined to brine your own cucumbers, consider sampling different kinds of pickles to discover which style is your favorite - from bread and butter, to sweet, to classic kosher dill, there are plenty of ways to enjoy this salty snack!

Why We Love National Pickle Day

Pickles Are Versatile: Although many choose to eat them on their own, pickles can be enjoyed fried, in a sandwich, in a dip, in a salad, among other ways.

Pickles Aid Athletes: Some may pucker at the idea of it, but drinking pickle juice can help athletes reduce the likelihood of experiencing cramps after intense exercise.

Pickles Have Probiotics: Pickles fermented in non-vinegar brine solutions carry with them probiotic microorganisms that provide a whole host of health benefits.

Source

[meteortorch]

So from what I understand Time Eater ate Norma’s time as in it reversed Norma’s time to 50 years into the past. By doing this it created two separate timelines. The original Norma and -50years!Norma. The original Norma is gone but the inhabitants who lived on the original Norma that escaped aren’t affected by the new -50years!Norma that was created. They two Weisz’s are the same person from the same timeline but that timeline split in two separating Old Weisz from New Weisz but they are no longer past and future versions of themselves but rather older and younger versions that exist at the same time. Old Weisz isn’t affected because he did not lose his time but rather the planet’s time reversed 50 years into the past, creating a whole new timeline. So they are no longer the same person because Old Weisz will not be affected by Young Weisz as they belong to different timelines now but exist within the same plane of reality. As long as you are on Norma you will be 50 years into the past.

tldr: Monster causes temporal paradoxes but not really

[heftyrumble77]

Sonic Forces Rewrite

I have been thinking of this for years, I have had many ideas for this , but I got a big nudge when I saw post about about Sonic Forces on Deviantart.

1st: Chapter Mania

The Phantom Ruby, created by Imperator Ix (From Sonic Chronicles) Jumps into Classic Sonic's time, creating an alternate timeline. After Eggman fails to control the ruby, the ruby, along with the power of the emeralds send Sonic into an unknown location.

2nd: Chapter Phantom

Modern Eggman finds the Phantom Ruby and experiments it on the Master Emerald, Little Planet, Lost Hex, and G.U.N, bringing back old enemies. G.U.N sends Shadow in, to figure out what's going on. Shadow encounters Silver, on his mission to fix the present after the Master Emerald expirement. The two have a grueling match with the brought back Metal Sonic, eventually being sucked into the Phantom Ruby's portal, allowing Neo Metal Sonic (present Metal Sonic) to take his place.

3rd: Chapter Forces

This is what we associate Forces to be, except this time, it has all original levels with dreary themes. Sonic is sucked into the portal that Shadow, Silver, Metal and Classic had gone into. Tails is captured by Eggman and after a week, both Sonic and Tails are presumed dead. 1 year later, A new enemy: Infinite has joined team Eggman and the game characters have all given up. The Freedom Fighters (from Sonic Satam and Underground) Have finally taken back Mobotropolis and have learned that Eggman has taken over the world. It's up to the Freedom Fighters to learn about events outside the kingdom during their war and reunite Sonic's friends together and find new recruits to stop Eggman.

4th: Chapter Generations

Classic and Modern Sonic wake up to a white space and jump in surprise at another Sonic (Sonic Generations hasn't happened in this alternate reality) And talk things out. (Headcanon: Jaleel White voices Classic) It's essentially Sonic Generations with more representation and they also align with Metal to get out of White Space. After defeating a non mechanical Time Eater, they figure out Mephilis is behind Eggman's new power and Tails is being used as a vessel to get Mephilis out of the Phantom Ruby. They Chaos Control out of White Space to get to Modern's real world.

5th: Final Story

Pressure is being put on Eggman's empire as the missing hedgehogs have returned. There is a short sweet reunion as they push into Eggman's inner base. Sonic pushes a fight with "Infinite" now known as Tails, as Eggman pushes him away now he is the one betraying instead of the betrayed. Cue Eggman final boss. As it might look as if Eggman will win, Tails saves him by destroying his robot, as Mephilis is finally freed from his prison. Here we find out, he manipulated time and space to be safe from the time wipe from Sonic 06, being sent to the time of the Nocturnus clan, fighting with Ix and being sealed in the Phantom Ruby and sent away. Cue actual final boss against Mephilis with Super Sonic and other super characters that we haven't seen as final bosses from other sonic games sometimes pop in to help him. We then get a cutscene as everything the the Ruby procured disappears, including Classic Sonic as he goes back to his time. Finally one last cutscene seeing Tails now finally back to normal self apologizing for everything he did. Cue cheesy Sonic line as credits roll.

[demons-fanatic]

Byrgenwerth: Blasphemy and Murder

Spoilers for Bloodborne for the entire post: Byrgenwerth in Bloodborne is somewhat of a catalyst that sets off most of the lore. They’re a college that wishes to elevate humanity to its’ highest potential, Great Ones. Byrgenwerths’ origins are never stated. It was probably a regular college until they found the Labyrinths. The Labyrinths under Yharnam are home to the Pthumerians, an early race of humans. This Labyrinth in particular is called Pthumeru, unsurprisingly. It’s home to Great Ones, though which Great Ones is absolutely never explained. Amygdala could be one of them, but that’s really it. Oedon could’ve been one as well, but well, never explained. Anyways, one day Willem sent down two men down to these Labyrinths and they went mad. They couldn’t handle the Eldritch knowledge. So, after this more and more people went it at Byrgenwerth then it’s not really explained what happened. One of two things happened. Byrgenwerth found a Great One and then the Chalices. Or they found Great Ones through the Chalices and Old Blood. Again, not explained. 

Regardless, Byrgenwerth did find Chalices and Old Blood. Chalices are not teleportation devices. They are basically pocket dimensions. How do we know this? Well, if the fact Queen Yharnam is pregnant in the Chalice but her baby is removed in the Nightmare of Mensis isn’t enough. Look at the description of any chalice: Ritual chalice found in the Church of the Good Chalice. Use in a ritual at the tomb altar in the Hunter's Dream to break the seal of the old underground labyrinth.  Let the chalice reveal the tomb of the gods; let blood be the hunter's nourishment. ...And let ye partake in communion...  “Seals” well, you might think “Seals? Like a Letter?” well, no. One very distinct member of Seal is “ conclude, establish, or secure (something) definitively, excluding the possibility of reversal or loss.” and well, Pthumeru is a lost society. And creating this pocket dimensions can do two things 1. Preserve society and 2. Preserve their masters, the Great Ones so their bodies can be kept in these pocket dimensions. That’s how I see it anyways. So, these Chalices were discovered by Byrgenwerth and suddenly a whole entire world of knowledge was at their disposal. They learned a lot, it seems. At some point they do hear about a Great One who has washed up on the shore of a Fishing Hamlet. At the same time, it seems Gehrman, Maria and Laurence are possibly students of Byrgenwerth, if not, Gehrman and Maria are just work for hire. Regardless, Byrgenwerth went to this village who have been worshipping this dead Great One from the Sea named Kos. She arrived on the beach of the Hamlet and was infested with slugs, who have been used for many things in the Hamlet. This worship lead to the Hamlet’s transformation of its denizens. The thing with Kos was she was pregnant with a child. Who impregnated her is anyone’s guess. But she was and when Byrgenwerth came to the Hamlet they massacred many and when Kos was found, her stomach was ripped open and her unborn child was taken to Byrgenwerth for experimentation. Due to this, Kos cursed the entirety of Hunters. This created the Hunters’ Nightmare and the Nightmare of the Hamlet. It traps any hunter who becomes blood-drunk to hunt forever madly. This curse can be lifted by defeating Kos’s Orphan and laying his spirit to rest. After this, the timeline isn’t clear.

Another thing Byrgenwerth found were Phantasms, they are also called Invertebrates. Phantasms are called “Familiars of Great Ones” and what does Familiar mean? It could mean “A close friend or associate.“ or in the Roman Catholic terms, which Bloodborne is heavily based upon “A person rendering certain services in a pope's or bishop's household.“ and how could this definition trump the other? Well, Phantasms do preform services. Phantasms seem to be key to summoning Great Ones. As A Call Beyond says: “Long ago, the Healing Church used phantasms to reach a lofty plane of darkness, but failed to make contact with the outer reaches of the cosmos.“ Phantasms are said to have bless things, like the Black Sky Eye, like a religious person would. And as the Milkweed Rune states, they lead and guide to new discoveries as a religious person would. But that’s all we get on them. They do seem to be very important but whether they can speak is unknown but it is presumable. If they can contact the Great Ones, they are extremely powerful. An interesting thing to note is they have shells, meaning they shed. They are also slimy like slugs as seen with the Augur of Ebrietas:

These are also are what the snails around the Fishing Hamlet look like, such as the one crawling around the hanging corpse in the beginning:

After the Fishing Hamlet, presumably what happens is a student of Byrgenwerth, Rom, is contacted in some way by Kos, most likely by the Child’s Three-thirds cord and she is transformed into a haphazard Great One. Her mind is completely warped and she is considered to be very stupid. She is put into the lake of the College. She creates this pocket of space inside of the lake, where her “Children” are with her. These are most likely Scholars of Byrgenwerth who were transformed in a ritual that Rom preformed so she can contact Kos, who transformed her. This will tie into something later. Regardless, Rom is used as a seal of sorts to prevent the Red Moon from descending. This seal prevents any rituals. Rituals are what summon Great Ones, seemingly nothing else. During Bloodborne, only one ritual is going on to summon Kos. But, these seals made by Rom also prevent humans from seeing Eldritch things such as Amygdalae and essentially seeing the world how it truly is. Things that would cause any normal person to go mad. How these seals were places is never explained, of course, but Rom seems to be willingly doing it. Rom is considered to be a secret though it seems few do know of her, the Choir do due to the note in the path from Tomb of Oedon to Oedon Chapel. Laurence knew about her and Micolash also knows, along with Mensis presumably. 

Another student of Byrgenwerth is Caryll, gender isn’t known but in cut content Caryll is male so I’ll refer to him by he/him/his. Anyways, Caryll is someone who is an interesting case. He can transcribe inhuman sounds of the Great Ones. How? Not explained. But, an interesting point is that the symbols of these runes are almost...universal? The Hunter Rune for example is something that has been present ever since Pthumeru. Suggest that Hunter and other such words are primeval concepts that will always show up, Hunters will always exist. Though, it also seems Caryll Runes can be made. The Oath Rune, Impurity is said to be the League’s “Our own Caryll Rune” but is also said to be inside of the Beast-eater. It’s not explained, so assume what you want really. Anyways, these symbols are planted into the mind of the person. They are singular words and usually symbolize something. I’ll probably make an entire post on them someday! Anyways, this is what Caryll is known for and it is said Willem would be proud of them as they do not rely on blood, and here’s where we get to Byrgenwerth’s “Beginning of the End”.

A third scholar of Byrgenwerth, Laurence, is an interesting point as well. Well, he’s really a main point. Laurence is very straight-forward, he’s a man that thinks the Old Blood is the way to go in ascension. He also accepts Insight and knowledge as the way to go but thinks Blood is the #1 way. Of course, this leads to a disagreement and Laurence leaving for Yharnam. Willem considers this a betrayal of sorts and can’t really stop him and lets him go. This leads to years of loneliness essentially, Willem now just sits in his chair in the Lunarium of the college and stares as the moon. One Choir Member, Yurie, is there to look after Willem for an unknown reason. Though, that is the end of Byrgenwerth’s story there are a few aspects to look at.

The Lecture Building is undoubtedly apart of Byrgenwerth. It has the same look and Willem’s Desk and Chair can be found there. You might be thinking “Oh, but it doesn’t seem to fit!” well, think again.

This could have very well led down to the Lecture Hall. It has no Windows, the Lecture Hall and it could very well fit down there. Though, how did it get transported? Well, I have no idea. Literally no idea. It’s become a way to teleport to Nightmares, one floor teleports to Nightmare Frontier while the other teleports to Nightmare of Mensis. Even if the Lecture Hall wasn’t Byrgenwerth, this still makes no sense. It still has students in it, who have become slug-like. They walk around slowly and vomit acid of some sort. They wear Graduation clothes which is quite odd, as nothing outside of their outfits suggest any grand celebration. In earlier concepts, the Lecture Hall would be on Campus and would not be any kind of portal, but this is a very old idea.

This is the Older Map of Byrgenwerth, rarely seen. The long building in the middle is most likely our Lecture Hall and then the building beyond it, well, I have no idea. The Altar of Despair was at Byrgenwerth at this point too, and the caves under Iosefka’s clinic most likely were there too. 

Byrgenwerth’s fighting style mostly incorporates Arcane tools, like Phantasms. What weapons they used aren’t really known, no weapons come from Byrgenwerth. They most likely used swords and possibly guns.

And lastly, their apparel. The students of Byrgenwerth do wear a typical old time school outfit. There’s one with a cape as well, a thick one to be exact. Their provost, Willem, wears robes and a decorative head piece that shields the eyes. They hide their eyes so that they may grow eyes on the inside as Willem states. This consequently is why so many people in Yharnam also cover their eyes. They wish to grow eyes on the inside and ascend, whether this method really works lacks any evidence. The farthest anyone has gone doing this is Willem, but all he’s done is grown mushrooms on his neck and lost his ability to speak, presumably. Though, again, in earlier versions, he was a boss that could fly and summon things so maybe it did work; But, as we see it now, it doesn’t. The covering of eyes didn’t seem to be that popular in the scholars, if it was, can’t find it anywhere. Regardless, their wear is simple and mostly doesn’t bare any significance.  This one was pretty long, so if you made it to the end, thanks! I appreciate you reading and feedback is always appreciated.

[undertheinfluencerd]

https://ift.tt/3jO0Xf9 #

Warning: This article contains SPOILERS for Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.

Shang-Chi & the Legend of the Ten Rings features the MCU’s latest interdimensional monster – and here’s all you need to know about the Dweller-in-Darkness. Marvel Studios has built up a reputation for secrecy, and as a result, nobody was especially surprised when Wenwu – the MCU’s version of the comic book villain the Mandarin, played by the tremendous Tony Leung – turned out not to be the real villain of Shang-Chi. Founder of the ancient terrorist group known as the Ten Rings, Wenwu had stalked the Earth for a thousand years before he fell in love and abandoned his quest for power – for a time.

But Wenwu’s beloved wife Ying Li was murdered, and Wenwu resumed his criminal activities – unexpectedly ushering in an age of superheroes, because some of his agents captured Tony Stark in Afghanistan and attempted to get him to build weapons for the Ten Rings, leading to the creation of the prototype Iron Man armor. By the time of Shang-Chi, Wenwu had become haunted with grief over Ying Li’s death and had begun receiving strange visions telling him there was a way to bring her back. Driven practically insane by these visions, he resolved to find the mystical land of Ta Lo and open the Great Seal.

Related: Every MCU Easter Egg In Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings

Wenwu was just a pawn of the real villain of Shang-Chi, an extradimensional entity named the Dweller-in-Darkness. The creature is a deep cut from the comics, and it’s been liberally redesigned, mixing it with another even less well-known threat. Here’s everything you need to know about the Dweller-in-Darkness.

In the comics, the Dweller-in-Darkness is one of five beings known as Fear Lords, who draw sustenance from fear on the mortal world and frequently seek to conquer this plane of existence. The most famous of these Fear Lords is Nightmare, sworn enemy of Doctor Strange, and both hail from a realm called Everinnye, described as “a universe higher than the Sixth Dimension.” Dweller-in-Darkness – sometimes called He Who Dwells In Darkness – first laid eyes on Earth some 20,000 years ago, and watched the development of sentient races with fascination and glee. The Dweller-in-Darkness found there was much fear it could harvest, but it soon learned Earth was not without its protectors.

The Atlantean sorceress Zhered-na was exiled from her homeland before the destruction of Atlantis, and she detected the Dweller-in-Darkness’ presence and (unspecified) purpose. Aided by Agamotto the All-Seeing, the first Sorcerer Supreme, she fought the Dweller-in-Darkness to a standstill and successfully plunged him into a deep slumber. Still, the creature was able to divest a fragment of his consciousness to this plane of existence and continue to work on Earth. Its power was boosted when the conflict between Eternals and Deviants built to a fever pitch, with the Celestials intervening and destroying the content of Lemuria – the basis of the legends of Atlantis. In spite of this power-up, the Dweller-in-Darkness remained in its sleep until recent times, finally emerging after some of its shade-thralls encountered Thor, Hercules, Doctor Strange, and his ward Clea.

The comic book version of the Dweller-in-Darkness is essentially a parasite, generating fear in others and feeding off it. The greater the fear, the more powerful the Dweller-in-Darkness becomes, and it is able to create nightmare beings with independent thought – so-called “Shade-Thralls” that can be killed by light, or even entities that can grow to rival its own power such as D’Spayre. It possesses phenomenal mystical power, enough to even penetrate the wards guarding Doctor Strange’s Sanctum Sanctorum, and it has proved a worthy challenger to Sorcerers Supreme. The Dweller-in-Darkness loves mind-games, and it has frequently used hallucinations and borrowed power to manipulate people into serving it – often promising to give them their heart’s desires, almost always breaking their minds.

Related: Shang-Chi End-Credits Scenes Set Up 6 MCU Movies & Shows

Shang-Chi has completely transformed the Dweller-in-Darkness, so much so the MCU version is basically unidentifiable. Visually, the creature has been combined with another – far more lesser-known – Fear Lord, Kkallakku, who looks more like a dragon than a humanoid creature and who is served by an army of Fear-Eaters, who consume the fear of other beings and convey it to him for food. But the changes don’t stop there; in Shang-Chi, the Dweller-in-Darkness is not a Fear Lord, but rather eats souls. It can devour souls directly, or else through its Soul-Eaters, who are clearly inspired by Kkallakku’s servants.

The story of the MCU’s Dweller-in-Darkness, and his fight with the Great Protector, does have some parallels with the comic book character, though. It seems the Dweller-in-Darkness found its way to Ta Lo millennia ago, and lay waste to many of that world’s greatest cities before it was restrained by the combined power of the Great Protector and the world’s last survivors. Even they were unable to destroy it though, and instead, they sealed it away within an enchanted mountain, with the villagers of Ta Lo guarding the Great Seal to prevent it ever being released. As in the comics, the Dweller-in-Darkness remained active, somehow able to draw sustenance from the Earth and use hallucinations to trick people into trying to free it. This was the method the Dweller-in-Darkness used to persuade Wenwu to break the Great Seal.

The Multiverse will play a major role in the MCU going forward, particularly in Doctor Strange 2, which will also introduce Xochitl Gomez as America Chavez, a dimension-jumping character who – in the comics – originates from a mysterious dimension called the “Utopian Parallel.” Like Ta Lo, the Utopian Parallel may well be an entirely different universe. While all attention is on the idea of alternate timelines introduced in Loki, Shang-Chi serves as a crucial reminder the MCU’s Multiverse also includes other planes of existence and even different universes. Meanwhile, the Dweller-in-Darkness proves the Multiverse has some even more dangerous predators than Doctor Strange teased – quasi-mindless creatures who feast on souls and ravage entire worlds. If the Multiverse really is breaking down, as it seems to be, then it is entirely possible creatures like the Dweller-in-Darkness will break through to our plane of reality.

Marvel’s decision to merge the Dweller-in-Darkness with Kkallakku is particularly curious because it essentially takes two of Marvel Comics’ five Fear Lords off the table for the MCU. There have long been rumors Doctor Strange 2 will feature Nightmare, the most famous of the Fear Lords, and it’s entirely possible Marvel Studios view the other four as redundant because they don’t want to repeat themselves – explaining why Dweller-in-Darkness has been changed so much in Shang-Chi.

More: Shang-Chi 2 News & Updates: Everything We Know

#marvel #avengers #marvelcomics #spiderman #mcu #ironman #comics #captainamerica #thor #avengersendgame #marvelstudios #xmen #dc #marveluniverse #art #cosplay #tomholland #hulk #disney #comicbooks #dccomics #peterparker #tonystark #blackwidow #marvellegends #endgame #deadpool #marvelcinematicuniverse #loki #bhfyp

The post Who Is Shang-Chi’s Dweller-in-Darkness? Comic Book History & Powers Explained appeared first on undertheinfluencerd.net.

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[tonyduncanbb73]

The Most Anticipated Fall 2018 Restaurant Openings in Boston and Beyond

From dumplings to deli sandwiches, from fried chicken to Filipino food, here’s what’s coming

Lately, there has been talk of Boston’s dining scene being in a bit of a rut — snubbed by national awards, even boring. As Eater’s own national critic Bill Addison told The Boston Globe, the city currently isn’t stacking up to others that “feel energized from within and are putting forth something that feels fresh for the regional and national conversation.”

But while it may not be readily apparent to the outside world — and while Boston’s dining scene is undeniably facing its fair share of challenges, from the never-ending labor shortage to the always-increasing rents — there is excitement to be found here, old and new.

As this piece is about anticipated openings, let’s set aside discussion of the worthy old guard for now: the city’s essential spots; Boston’s neighborhood specialties, from roti in Dorchester to cannoli in the North End to Caribbean in Jamaica Plain; iconic dishes all over.

Looking at the more recent openings, sure, there are some alarming trends, with big out-of-town chains aggressively moving into town and smaller, independent spots having a hard time opening up. But below the surface, there is some magic: a tiny udon shop with a tiny menu, located in what is essentially a college food court, that commands hours-long waits (and yes, some national attention). A bright and bubbly little Peruvian spot from first-time restaurant owners, serving up irresistible ceviche and lomo saltado. A casual Thai joint offering fiery, excellent dishes that are shifting local diners’ expectations about what Thai food can be. An intimate wine bar — a winning sequel to another intimate wine bar — featuring female wine producers and introducing drinkers to unusual and intriguing wines. A lovely fine-dining restaurant that feels homey, not stuffy, in an age where fine-dining is continuously being abandoned or redefined. A hospitable American trattoria that seamlessly blends Italy with Cambridge. A New England homage to French Canada.

The last year or so has included the debut of those gems and more, and Boston diners can be cautiously optimistic about the coming season as well. Here’s the rundown on some upcoming restaurant openings to watch. (Keep in mind, as always, that projected restaurant opening timelines can and often do change significantly. In other words, don’t try to make a fall reservation for any of these spots just yet.)

Independent Openings in Boston

Kamakura/Facebook

Japanese desserts (houjicha meringue and matcha tiramisu) at Kamakura

While many of the upcoming openings are expansions of existing restaurants or restaurant groups (more on those in a bit), a few local industry vets are striking out on their own for the first time and opening something entirely new.

Kamakura, for one, will introduce Boston to contemporary kaiseki cuisine, multi-course Japanese meals that feature beautiful plating and seasonal ingredients. Boston’s existing high-end Japanese dining scene is much more focused on sushi, although kaiseki isn’t entirely unheard of. Oishii, for example, offers a lunchtime kaiseki menu.

Kamakura owner Youji Iwakura is an alum of Snappy Ramen, Uni, Basho, and more. When he first announced plans for Kamakura back in late 2016, he told Eater that he wanted to serve “more than just sushi, teriyaki, tempura, or what people call traditional Japanese food,” instead bringing “renaissance to current Japanese cuisine in Boston” with a restaurant that crosses street food with kaiseki cuisine, making “fine-dining food accessible and casual-dining food sexier.”

Longtime Myers + Chang alum Karen Akunowicz — a James Beard winner, a Top Chef alum, and a cookbook author — is also opening her own place this fall. Fox and the Knife will be an “Italian-inspired neighborhood enoteca” in South Boston, opening in the former Maiden space. While Akunowicz has been working primarily with Asian food for the last seven years, she previously spent a year learning pasta-making in Modena, Italy, and also worked at Michael Schlow’s now-defunct Italian restaurant in Back Bay, Via Matta. At Fox and the Knife, which will seat 75, she wants to serve an affordable menu that offers “something for everyone.” Expect plenty of house-made pasta, including an homage to tortellini en brodo.

And one more industry vet opening his first solo spot this fall: Tom Schlesinger-Guidelli (Island Creek Oyster Bar, Eastern Standard, Craigie on Main). He’ll open Alcove at the Lovejoy Wharf condominium building on the edge of the North and West ends. He’s been quiet on the details since the initial announcement, but recent job postings describe the forthcoming spot as a “bustling New England farm-to-table restaurant” that will feature products from “the best local food purveyors,” as well as a “highly curated wine list” and a “dynamic cocktail program.”

• Kamakura, 150 State St., Downtown Boston. Projected opening: early fall 2018 • Fox and the Knife, 28 W. Broadway, South Boston. Projected opening: late fall 2018 • Alcove, 50 Lovejoy Wharf, West End/North End, Boston. Projected opening: fall 2018

More Locations of Local Favorites Around Boston, Cambridge, and Somerville

Katie Chudy/Eater

Seared avocado tacos at Whole Heart Provisions

The remainder of 2018 will be marked by many expansions of existing restaurants, partially thanks to the opening of food courts/halls/markets like the Smith Campus Center at Harvard University and Bow Market in Somerville.

The Smith Center, which will roll open bit by bit from late August into early September, will feature new locations of Blackbird Doughnuts, Saloniki, Whole Heart Provisions, and more. (And this isn’t the only Blackbird Doughnuts in the works — the South End and Fenway doughnut shop will also expand to Brighton by the end of the year.)

Bow Market, meanwhile, is already partially open, with a brewery and cafe, a macaron shop, a pierogi shop, and an empanada shop all up and running, along with a number of non-food vendors. But coming up in the final weeks of summer and into the fall, the rest will open, and most are expansions of already-existing local favorites.

Highlights include Hot Box, which comes from the team behind Bay Village sandwich shop Mike & Patty’s; it will feature North Shore-style roast beef sandwiches and South Shore-style bar pizzas. Downtown fry shop Saus is opening a vegetarian version of itself at Bow Market as well. Plus, Louis DiBiccari (Tavern Road, Humaari) is opening a brick-and-mortar version of his popular Create event series, and Aeronaut-based chocolate counter Gâté Comme des Filles is getting its own space, as is Filipino pop-up Tanám.

Another exciting forthcoming Bow opening, although not part of an existing group, is Rebel Rebel, a natural wine bar from wine professional and writer Lauren Friel (who is an Eater Boston alum).

Mortadella Head/Facebook

Possible menu items at Mortadella Head

Beyond the Smith Center and Bow Market, there are even more expansions to watch for in the coming months: Mortadella Head, an Italian-American deli and pizza shop from the Boston Burger Co. team, will open soon in Davis Square. Weston’s Dumpling Daughter is expanding to Cambridge and sharing space with forthcoming sister restaurant — the owners are literally sisters — Vester, an all-day European cafe. Waltham Cuban restaurant Gustazo is also expanding to Cambridge. And popular Jamaica Plain taqueria Chilacates is expanding just about everywhere (Chestnut Hill, Mission Hill, the South End).

Plus, the team behind Mistral (and more) is still working on opening Bar Lyon in the South End. Alden & Harlow will get an upstairs sibling, the Longfellow Bar, in the former Cafe Algiers space in Harvard Square. Beverly’s A&B Burgers is expanding to Boston proper, right by TD Garden. Love Art Sushi will get an udon spinoff, Love Art Udon, in Packard’s Corner. Liquid Art House will complete its transformation into Nahita. The Bar Mezzana team will open a Tiki bar called Shore Leave in the South End.

And Boston’s cafe/bakery chains will keep going strong, too. Tatte will keep expanding everywhere, including the Seaport District and Downtown Boston (not to mention the Northeastern location opening this week), while Flour Bakery + Cafe is also heading to the Seaport.

• Smith Campus Center at Harvard University (Blackbird Doughnuts, Saloniki, Whole Heart Provisions, and more), 1350 Massachusetts Ave., Harvard Square, Cambridge. Projected opening: late August/early September 2018 (rolling opening) • Bow Market (Hot Box, Saus, Create Gallery & Cocktail Lounge, Gâté Comme des Filles, Tanám, Rebel Rebel, and more), 1 Bow Market Way, Union Square, Somerville. Projected opening: partially open already, but the rest will come in late summer and fall 2018 (rolling opening) • Mortadella Head, 20 College Ave., Davis Square, Somerville. Projected opening: imminent • Dumpling Daughter and Vester, 73 Ames St., Kendall Square, Cambridge. Projected opening: summer/fall 2018 • Gustazo Cuban Restaurant & Cafe, 2067 Massachusetts Ave., Porter Square, Cambridge. Projected opening: fall 2018 • Chilacates, 1480 Tremont St., Mission Hill, Boston; 33 Boylston St., the Street, Chestnut Hill; 275 Shawmut Ave., South End, Boston. Projected openings: Mission Hill and Chestnut Hill are imminent, and a timeline for the South End location hasn’t been announced yet • Bar Lyon, 1750 Washington St., South End, Boston. Projected opening: September 2018 • The Longfellow Bar at Alden & Harlow, 40 Brattle St., #3, Harvard Square, Cambridge. Projected opening: soon • A&B Burgers, 101 Beverly St., West End, Boston. Projected opening: September 2018 • Love Art Udon, 1024 Commonwealth Ave., Packard’s Corner, Boston. Projected opening: summer/fall 2018 • Nahita, 100 Arlington St., Back Bay, Boston. Projected opening: summer/fall 2018 • Shore Leave, 345 Harrison Ave., South End, Boston. Projected opening: fall 2018 • Tatte Bakery & Cafe, 200 Pier 4 Blvd., Seaport District, Boston; 125 Summer St., Downtown Boston. Projected openings: September 5, 2018, in the Seaport District; fall 2018 downtown • Flour Bakery + Cafe, 1 Design Center Pl., Seaport District, Boston. Projected opening: summer 2018

Out-of-Town Invaders

Nick Solares/Eater

Fuku’s fried chicken sandwich

For better or worse, Boston is seeing a lot of out-of-town chains come in, some more welcome than others. There are a few highlights on the horizon, including fast-casual, chicken-focused Momofuku sibling Fuku, opening later this year in the Seaport.

Also from the David Chang camp, Milk Bar is combining forces with DC-based pizza chain &pizza to open a dual location in Cambridge’s Harvard Square.

And California-based Tender Greens, a chain with backing from Shake Shack founder Danny Meyer, will add to its Boston-area presence — there’s already a location in Chestnut Hill — with an outpost in Back Bay.

• Fuku, 43 Northern Ave., Seaport District, Boston. Projected opening: 2018 • &pizza x Milk Bar, 1394 Massachusetts Ave., Harvard Square, Cambridge. Projected opening: 2018 • Tender Greens, 100 Huntington Ave., Back Bay, Boston. Projected opening: August 2018

Potential Suburban Stunners

Rachel Leah Blumenthal/Eater

A rosemary bagel from a Goldilox test batch

Outside the bounds of Boston proper and its across-the-river siblings Cambridge and Somerville, keep an eye out for the Medford debut of Goldilox, a bagel shop that will serve bagel sandwiches, bagel pizza, and more. Also in Medford, the team behind the casual Tenoch restaurant and truck group will open a sit-down restaurant and tequila bar, El Tacuba. And that’s not all for Medford: The Porch, a Southern restaurant previously located in Wakefield, is relocating to Medford, where the bigger space will include outdoor seating, live music, and a retail market.

While Medford may end up being the hotspot for fall 2018 restaurant openings, Watertown has something exciting coming up as well: Country Mile, a restaurant that will prominently feature vegetables, grains, and seafood (mostly from New England), along with natural wines, local beers, classic cocktails, and a “unique” selection of mezcal, bourbon, and gin.

• Goldilox, 186 Winthrop St., Medford. Projected opening: fall 2018 • El Tacuba, 35 Salem St., Medford Square Projected opening: 2018 • The Porch, 100 Rivers Edge Dr., Medford. Projected opening: late 2018 • Country Mile, 136 Belmont St., Watertown. Projected opening: summer/fall 2018

Beer Here

Brato Brewhouse/Facebook

A spread of food from Brato Brewhouse & Kitchen

Boston’s beer scene is going wild, and a number of new (or newly expanded) breweries could open up in and around the city in the coming months.

Trillium Brewing may have its new Fort Point home up and running by the end of the year, a multi-level brewery, taproom, and restaurant (featuring wood-fired cooking), potentially with a roof deck as well.

Everett-based Night Shift also has a Boston proper project in the works: a 12,000-square-foot brewery and taproom at Lovejoy Wharf, featuring waterfront patio seating, cafe and retail space, and a lot of exclusive pours available only at this location.

Also in Boston, Backlash Beer Co. is opening its Roxbury taproom imminently, and Bruno’s Brewing (from the Boston Winery team) could open this fall in Dorchester. Plus, Brato Brewhouse & Kitchen is working on its permanent space in Brighton while also popping up at numerous events around town with sausages and more.

Outside of the city, contract brewer Mighty Squirrel Brewing Co. is opening its own 23,000-square-foot brewery and taproom (two taprooms, actually) in Waltham. The space will include two patios, a 30-barrel brewing system, and an additional five-barrel system for experimentation.

In Quincy, Rewild — one of the first vegan beer halls in the country — will open soon, and it will function as a cafe in the mornings before turning into a beer hall in the afternoons and evenings.

Malden also has a couple breweries in the works, Mystic Brewery (out of Chelsea) and Faces Brewing Co., but neither has announced an opening timeline yet and might not debut this year.

• Trillium Brewing, 47 Farnsworth St., Fort Point, Boston. Projected opening: 2018 • Night Shift Brewing, Lovejoy Wharf, West End/North End, Boston. Projected opening: October/November 2018 • Backlash Beer Co., 152 Hampden St., Roxbury, Boston. Projected opening: any day now • Bruno’s Brewing, 24 Ericsson St., Dorchester, Boston. Projected opening: fall 2018 • Brato Brewhouse & Kitchen, 190 N. Beacon St., Brighton, Boston. Projected opening: 2018 • Mighty Squirrel Brewing Co., 411 Waverley Oaks Rd., Waltham. Projected opening: fall 2018 • Rewild, 1546 Hancock St., Quincy. Projected opening: any day now

[minnievirizarry]

9 Skills Every Social Media Manager Must Have

As most social media managers know, their job is constantly in flux. It sometimes feels like you’re switching between multiple hats in one day: from marketing to customer service to sales. Some companies have multiple social media managers while others outsource the work. Whatever your case, we will identify baseline social media skills in this article.

These skills are a combination of “hard” and “soft” skills, though the descriptions don’t necessarily mean one is more difficult than the other. Both types of social media skills and attributes take time and effort to develop. Hard skills like programming and copywriting are technical in nature. Whereas soft skills like being empathetic and organized may be more difficult to analyze but just as useful in work.

In fact, some companies favor hiring on soft skills because the technical can always be trained.

These nine traits are a mix of skills that can be trained and are essential to the success of any social media manager. They can be a good base for what to look for when hiring a new social media manager.

1. Community Management

One of the core tenants of what social media was built on is being inherently “social.” This means that establishing and building a digital relationship is still a treasured attribute.

Community management is being able to navigate the online sphere of promoting your brand while engaging with your customers. It can mean slowly converting an observer into a customer by patiently answering questions. It can also be showing off what your customers are talking about when they post on social media.

2. Creative in Nature

Since a large part of social media involves visuals in some form or another, having an eye for creativity is helpful. This can mean being a decent photographer, videographer or graphic designer. At the very least, you should be able to distinguish between a great and poor design.

On par with being creative is also having a sense of humor and ability to improvise in any given situation.

We looked into the origin of the term 'body slam'.https://t.co/PRcdR8VKDU

— Merriam-Webster (@MerriamWebster) May 26, 2017

Resources

Since being creative is very generalized and can be a developed skill, there are many ways to improve on what you already know.

Improvisation classes: Taking improv classes can help in managing customer service on the fly. If your company’s voice allows for it, you can inject a bit of humor into your replies.

Online classes: Lynda and Skillshare, along with a myriad of other services, offer online classes on everything from writing to mobile photography.

Canva: Canva has basic design classes for non-designers that you can take online to improve on your graphic design skills.

3. Organized & Efficient

We’ve all been lost in the social media cycle. You find a funny video on Facebook and then 30 minutes later, you realize that you’ve spent a bunch of time clicking around and getting no work done.

A good social media manager needs to be task- and goal-oriented to accomplish all the items on the checklist. Are you individually scheduling posts throughout the day or are you setting aside time to schedule in batches?

Sprout Social’s publishing calendar and post approvals help you take out repetitive actions in your workflow. Along with features like collision detection and message tagging, teams of all sizes can work smoothly within the Smart Inbox.

4. Adaptive

Because the news and social media landscapes move so quickly, being adaptive is an important trait for a social media manager. It’s not enough to be able to schedule posts. You should also be able to willing to try out new features and change up your posts to fit with what’s being discussed in the timeline.

The Twitter Trends sidebar and Facebook Trending sidebar are both useful areas to keep an eye on when looking for new content. Conversely, it’s also a good idea to check a hashtag or news story before interjecting into it.

In the Q2 2017 Sprout Social Index, we reported that 34% of consumers found brands talking about timely events to be annoying.

Resources

Know Your Meme: This site can be helpful in keeping up with daily development of new memes.

Google Alerts: Enter keyword alerts for a variety of reason: keep up on company mentions on the internet, industry news and world news.

5. Copywriting

In addition to a basic eye for design, writing is an essential skill for a social media manager. You won’t be writing full-length articles but you should know how to write short copy that can grab your audience’s attention.

The ideal length of a Facebook post is 40–80 characters. Is your copywriting adjusted for each network you’re on?

Social media is conversation-driven so you don’t want to hire someone who is only familiar with writing marketing copy. Sometimes the best ad is the one that doesn’t market at all.

What will they say about you? Maybe they'll say you showed them what was possible. #believeinmore #nike

A post shared by nike (@nike) on Mar 8, 2017 at 7:00am PST

Resources

Grammarly: This standalone site or browser plugin can help check your spelling and grammar on the go. You don’t want an impactful Tweet to be marred by a simple grammatical error.

Hemingway Editor: This website and app can help your writing be more concise and readable. While this is geared more for long-form writing, it can also be used for creating impactful social media posts.

6. Sales & Customer Service

If your sales and marketing funnel includes social media like it should, you’ll find that sales leads inevitably fall into your inbox. Make the sales lead transfer as seamless as possible by asking for the information upfront instead of making them email you.

In addition, if you offer a product or service, you’ll find yourself troubleshooting at some point.

When 34.5% of customers prefer social media as their customer care option, you need to be able to navigate the waters. Being able to provide empathetic care in a short, digital format is different from in-person customer service. The social media manager should be able to clearly articulate a solution for the customer while making the customer feel heard.

We're experiencing some operational challenges around our system, John, but we truly appreciate your patience during the wait. ^SF

— Southwest Airlines (@SouthwestAir) June 5, 2017

Thanks for the shout out, Matt! We can't wait to welcome you onboard. ^MK

— Southwest Airlines (@SouthwestAir) June 5, 2017

7. Strategic

It may sometimes feel like you’re posting Tweets out into the ether. But if you have a documented social media strategy, you’ll be able to better navigate which posts are in line with your goals.

Being strategic in your posting includes noting the best times to post, balancing marketing campaigns and keeping an eye on what everyone else is talking about. You don’t want to be the boutique who is talking about a dress special when it’ll get lost in a stream of sport game updates.

ALL our flavors will be available tomorrow for #NationalDonutDay until we run out. Including the rainbow, rock candy, and galaxy. Those will sell out first! And don't forget… ⭐️ We'll be releasing 100 "Not So Mini" Gold Donuts for $25!! 😱 We'll be releasing 10 gold donuts every hour from 8am-5pm. DM us if you want to reserve one! CUT OFF TIME TO RESERVE IS THURS 6/1 AT 4 PM! ⭐️ We'll also be picking TWO random winners on Instagram to win the regular sized gold donut valued at $100. Follow and tag @birdiesdtla #birdiesdtla on National Donut Day! (📸: @eatupcali) . #eaterla #eater #dinela #eeeeeats #infatuationla #friedchicken #foodbloggers #lafoodie #laeats #dailyfoodfeed #eatfamous #foodbeast #foodgawker #forkyeah #buzzfeast #huffposttaste #yahoofood #f52grams #food52 #thefeedfeed #foodiechats #foodielife #foodiesofinstagram #cheatmeal #eatingfortheinsta #downtownla

A post shared by Birdies (@birdiesdtla) on Jun 1, 2017 at 10:10am PDT

8. Decisive

In a role that may be speaking directly to a customer, you want to have some decision-making power resting in your social media manager’s hands. If there’s a customer complaint about a meal that went wrong, give the manager the option to provide a gift certificate.

Consumers expect that brands respond to messages in less than four hours. However, brands only respond to 11% of these messages and in about 10 hours.

You certainly don’t want a customer to wait around in anger while you’re asking for supervisor approval. If this is common scenario, we would recommend documenting this in your social media strategy. This will help everyone know how to offer the solution.

We can get you set. Email me at andy@miir.com.

— MiiR (@miir) May 18, 2017

9. Analytical & SEO Driven

We recommend taking a look at your monthly analytics reports to make sure you’re on the right track. It will also help you see what type of posts have been performing well.

Paired with content marketing, search engine optimization skills can be handy in writing the best copy for your brand.

In Review

These nine skills are the ones that will make up the most effective social media manager. If you have the resources, these can be divided up and specialized. For example, you may want to have a graphic designer or in-house photographer if you have a lot of posts that could benefit from them.

Want to know what other pieces should be a part of your social team? We partnered with HubSpot to create a free guide on how to build a social media dream team from scratch, including some of the key positions you should fill. Download it here.

This post 9 Skills Every Social Media Manager Must Have originally appeared on Sprout Social.

from SM Tips By Minnie https://sproutsocial.com/insights/social-media-skills/