you fate is in my lovely hands

Dalia Mernick. Goddess; Moirai sister, old as time. "The thing about fate is, are you the master of your fate, or are you the stars?”

[daliamernickx]

A Night at Elsewhere || Dalia+Rhina

[rhinatempest-blog]

  "Ah I see, maybe because you’re completely surrounded by them, we’ve got other means of entertainment at the club," Rhina said. "I think even our most quietest spots won’t allow you to completely read in peace - not counting our flats of course." Rhina thought about what she said for a moment before answering. "I wouldn’t say nothing, I mean television is much more fast paced with not nearly as much time to flesh out characters or their situations or so on - yes, it’s visual, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that we can’t imagine parts that they don’t show," she said looking up from the shelves to Dalia. 

"I’ll take a paperback, smaller and lighter, my bag is usually heavy and chaotic as it is," Rhina said with a grin. She waved off her explanation. "Don’t worry I understand what you meant. Hm, I’ll have a read, I don’t know how long it will take, but I’ll try and finish it." 

[daliamernickx]

"Yes, you are probably right. But, I wouldn't have it any other way." Dalia said, with a contented smile. "That is why I don't really travel further than my home and here; much too loud." She said with a smirk. Dalia never really stepped foot outside unless she was coming to Elsewhere. It was very difficult to walk in a world she felt like she didn't know or belong to anymore. "That is a good point; I suppose living through the ages when all you had was a book and your imagination makes ones skeptical to television." 

"As you wish," She said as she pulled a paperback of Dracula off the shelf. She examined it for a moment; no tears or scratches or marks. She let out a satisfied sigh as she brought the book over to the counter, rung up the price and smiled at Rhina. "Take some time out to read it; you will not regret it. I give you my word." She said sincerely. 

[daliamernickx]

A Night at Elsewhere || Dalia + Lasaite

[sydney-lasaite-deactivated20150]

  "Yes, Halloween," she said, glancing around at Elsewhere. The Mernicks had decorated for Halloween at last, effectively transforming the bookstore into something spookier. "I like the decorations, by the way. Very Samhain-esque."

Lasaite glanced down at Dalia’s comment, turning The Turn of the Screw over in her hands. It didn’t look all that interesting, but she knew better than to judge a book by its cover. “I haven’t,” she said honestly, opening the cover. “Let’s see, 1898… it’s old enough to be a classic, then, and probably Gothic.” She’d once said that Gothic literature was too somber for her taste, but perhaps that was just what she needed. “All right. A few hours of Halloween-themed reading it is.”

Her smile widened as she shut the book and looked back up. “Thank you, Miss Mernick. I… how are you, since we last spoke?”

[daliamernickx]

"Thank you very much; my brothers and sisters worked very hard on them, considering we do not celebrate holidays." Dalia said, quickly looking around. "But, it's good for business." She said with a smile. 

Dalia gave Lasaite a nod. "Oh, good. I believe you will enjoy it, then." She said, watching the girl eye the book with a curious and wary gaze. "It's a Gothic ghost story; I remember when it was written, actually. People we very much interested in ghost stories and murder mysteries at the time." She said, the same soft smile still on her face. 

"I hope you enjoy it." She said. Dalia shrugged lightly at Lasaite's question. "About the same." Dalia replied simply. With a slightly raised eyebrow, she eyed Lasaite for a moment. "Please, call me Dalia. And how are you?" She asked. 

[daliamernickx]

A Night at Elsewhere || Dalia+Rhina

[rhinatempest-blog]

  "That’s true I guess, although it doesn’t help when I don’t exactly know what I’m into," Rhina replied with a light laugh. "I usually watch just about anything on tv, whatever strikes my fancy…that isn’t helping either." She noted Dalia’s formal, polite tone wondering how one could keep it up even very early in the morning. 

"Horror seems apt because of Halloween and all," Rhina said peering at the books shelved in that section. She took a few out looking at the covers and even reading the blurb, before putting it back in its place. "I might take a look at Dracula, a lot of the clubs patrons are vampires so why not have a read at a human, fictionalised view of them,” she said spotting the book on the shelf and picking it up. 

[daliamernickx]

"I'm the opposite; I don't keep up with television shows, but I am usually up to date on the latest books and such." Dalia said with a low chuckle. "Television leaves nothing to the imagination, but with books, anything is fair game." She said, looking around the book store for a moment before her gaze returned to the woman in front of her. 

Dalia gave the woman a nod and began to move slowly toward where she saw the novel last. "I have a few murder mysteries and horror fictions that I would recommend for you, but if Dracula is catching your eye, I still have a few copies; paper back and hard-cover." She said with a smile. "Stoker gives an...interesting perspective on vampires. The story is brilliantly told, and it's not at all hard to read." Dalia paused. "Not that I do not believe you would find it hard to read." She corrected. 

[queen-isis-khalid-blog]

  Dalia, honey, I wouldn’t expect you to bother with Adam’s antics. One of y’all has to be the smart one.

[daliamernickx]

"That is very true, but Adam is smart; he just likes to have fun."

[daliamernickx]

A Night at Elsewhere || Dalia + Lasaite

[sydney-lasaite-deactivated20150]

  Lasaite smiled . “I could be better,” she said, then shook her head slightly. Her strange habit of spitting out the truth was still in effect, even though a full day had passed since the masquerade, and now that she was sober she was beginning to think that her loose tongue had nothing to do with alcohol. “I mean—I will be fine. Thank you for asking.”

She looked back at the thriller she’d set down and seized it again, rushing on to the topic of books in the hope that Dalia would forget about her earlier slip-up. “I think I’m out of the fairytale phase, officially,” she said. “I’m looking for—oh, I don’t know. What would you recommend, Miss Mernick?”

[daliamernickx]

Dalia raised an eyebrow at the girl's response for a moment, but softened her expression as the conversation quickly moved on. She thought it best not to delve into Lasaite's personal life. Dalia did have a knack for helping people and listening, but she usually did it on the other person's terms. "Well, in keeping with the theme of Halloween, I would recommend something scary." Dalia said, with a slight grin.

"New horrors, murder mysteries, classic horrors; they are all wonderful," Dalia said. "But for you, I would recommend..." She trailed off for a moment as she quickly searched through the shelves of new acquired and classic horrors and murder mysteries. She let out a small, satisfied sigh as she pulled the book she was looking for off the shelf. "The Turn of The Screw. That is, if you haven't already read it." Dalia said with a chuckle.  

[daliamernickx]

A Night at Elsewhere || Dalia+Rhina

[rhinatempest-blog]

  Rhina watched as the other woman cracked a grin and began to laugh at her comment. She smiled in return, easing up a little more at her reaction, she was always a little wary when conversing with a God, she wanted the rest of her life to progress with ease. She let out a small laugh at her comment. “Is it really drivel? A few of my patrons have talked about a couple of the popular ones, haven’t really read any myself.”

Rhina walked further inside taking a closer look at a couple of the shelves, trailing a finger along the spines as she walked examining the titles. “I don’t really read fiction, but I guess I’ll take a little look while I’m here. Horror stories? Hm, which ones do you recommend?” Rhina could exactly name any from the top of her head, she had seen quite a few horror movies, she expected literature to be different.

[daliamernickx]

"From what I have heard and observed, yes." Dalia replied. "Though, there will always be a few who enjoy it; and there is nothing wrong with enjoying any type of book." Dalia said with a slight nod. "Personally, I would not recommend them, but if that is what you are into..." She said, with the same amount of politeness and etiquette that radiated from her in every conversation. 

Dalia followed the woman as she walked further into Elsewhere, and watched her, for a moment, with curiosity. "There are some wonderful adult fiction stories that we have in store; lots of murder mysteries, drama, romance; but I prefer the mysteries." She said with a gentle grin. "I tend to reccomend the classis horrors to a few of our patrons; Bram Stoker's Dracula, Mary Shelly's Frankenstein, The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and anything at all by Edgar Allen Poe. They're all wonderful authors and fantastic stories." 

[queen-isis-khalid-blog]

Why is there a larger amount of drunk people than usual today?

Did someone let Adam have a toga party again?

[daliamernickx]

"Not that I am aware, but then again, I rarely attend Adam's parties. I did not notice the influx of intoxicated people; is that unusual?" 

[daliamernickx]

A Night at Elsewhere || Dalia+Rhina

[rhinatempest-blog]

  Rhina walked along the streets languidly, stretching her arms over her head and making a load groaning noise as she felt her muscles pull slightly. When she asked herself what she was doing this late in the night, or should she say this early in the morning, Rhina couldn’t come up with a legitimate reason. Despite her long, late shift over at the Doomed Dance Floor-she would have usually preferred to rush up to her bedroom, bury herself under her covers, even if she couldn’t sleep. But there was something about the air outside that made her step out and breathe deeply. 

She walked onwards peering through the different shop windows despite the darkness which shrouded them. Rhina felt like a child again, wondering around on her own, early in the morning; it was refreshing. After coming across a well lit shop, Rhina decided to walk inside, of course the shop that she walked into was the famous book shop, Elsewhere. She hadn’t entered it before, not properly anyway. One, all the books that she needed for spells and potions she already owned, and two, Rhina just didn’t fancy seeing all the Gods in one place, which was, if you thought about it, highly probable.

Rhina who wasn’t expecting a conversation this early in the morning was greeted warmly by Dalia Mernick. “No, I’m not much of a reader, I was just passing when I noticed Elsewhere was open. You’re not up early to read dirty fiction, are you?” Rhina joked, grinning slightly trying to feel more at ease. 

[daliamernickx]

Dalia tilted her head at the woman; she recognised her somewhere, but she couldn't put the face to the name... After a moment of thought, Dalia laughed at Rhina's comment and shook her head once. "No, I try and steer clear of that drivel." She said, matching Rhina Tempest's grin. She'd met the other co-owner of the Doomed Dance Floor at the masquerade, Myrah. Both women at an air of mystery about them, but seemed pleasant enough. 

"Are you sure I couldn't be of any assistance?" Dalia asked again, her head still tilted slightly to the right. "We have a new shipment of horror stories and mysteries; just in time for Halloween." She said hopefully. Dalia did enjoy the occassional few horror or mystery books from time to time. What better way to spend time than immersing yourself in a good book. 

She thought quickly about how many horror writers and authors Dalia had given life to over the centuries. Poe, Christie, H.P LoveCraft, Stephen King; all her work. Without them, Dalia believed, the world would be a duller place. As well as all the authors thoughout the centuries. But, she did think the world would have been better off not knowing the Twilight Saga or Fifty Shades of Grey. 

[daliamernickx]

A Night at Elsewhere || Dalia + Lasaite

[sydney-lasaite-deactivated20150]

  After her conversation with Adam, she’d gone to have early morning breakfast and returned to Elsewhere with a new outfit and her hunting clothes in the wash. She hadn’t expected anyone to notice her when she popped in, but it really wasn’t a surprise. Ever since their talk at the museum, she’d had a feeling that Dalia would treat her with more sympathy/pity when they next saw each other again.

Lasaite didn’t need pity, or sympathy. But conversation with Dalia wasn’t something she would turn down. Dalia, she found, was beginning to turn out to be one of the more… pleasant company to be around. 

She looked up when she heard footsteps and half-smiled when she saw Dalia. She put the latest thriller back in its place and shook her head. “No, thank you, Dalia. I just need a distraction, that’s all. Hopefully I’ll find a book good enough to do the job. But thank you for asking.”

[daliamernickx]

"Oh, Lasaite." Dalia said, slightly surprised. She should have recognized the girl from her hair. But, then again, Lasaite was in Elsewhere almost every other day, so Dalia wasn't really surprised that she was in here so late. "If it is books to pass the time you're looking for, you have come to the right place." Dalia said with a plesant smile. 

"Do you have anything in particular you would like to read? Or maybe on the prowl for something new? Or something frightening, seeing as it is close to Halloween." She said, somewhat excitedly. Books were one of Dalia's saving graces when she needed to retreat from this world and into another. 

Lasaite was also good company, so spending some time talking to the girl would also help Dalia pass the time. She shook her head. "Ignore me. I have just been alone in here too long." She said with a chuckle. "How are you, since we last spoke?" 

[daliamernickx]

A Night at Elsewhere || Dalia+? {OPEN}

Dalia closed the book she was reading with a steady sigh. She rubbed her eyes and stretched, before pushing her chair back and looking around Elsewhere. Although they were open 24/7, people did not seem to want a book at 3:26 in the morning. This disappointed Dalia, to some extend. No matter the time of day, reading expanded the mind and the imagination. Reading opened up so many doors to new experiences and wonders, and yet humanity seemed to be obsessed with smart phones and laptops and IPods. 

She shook her head; Dalia did not want to think about humanity or how complicated and unimportant they all were. They were not unimportant to Dalia, oh no. They all believed themselves to be unimportant. Which, in the bigger scheme of the universe, was true. But not to Dalia. They would always be Dalia's humans, even though they would soon enter a downward spiral that she did not think they could return from. Humanity was destructive, and there was nothing Dalia could do about it. 

Her head shot up as the door into the entrance of Elsewhere opened with a creak. A soft smile crept onto Dalia lips as she made her way downstairs, peeking at the person who had just entered. The smile grew wider and gentler as she approached the person, and Dalia placed her hands by her side. For a moment, she was silent, giving the customer a moment, before she asked; "Is there anything I can help you with tonight?" 

[alexanderlamkin-deactivated2026]

  "Oh, I—" approached her, wiping his mouth, "I got caught in the middle of a bit of a fight outside a bar;— I think I may have bit my lip." He caught a glimpse into her face within the dark, and the sense of knowing within her eyes raised goose flesh onto the back of his neck. “I haven’t had a chance to look,” he continued, his previous carnal edge waivering slightly, “Is it bad..?” Alexander lowered his lip with thumb and forefinger, adequately revealing his canines, teeth stained pink, gums tinged darker still, while his mouth was briefly open.

[daliamernickx]

Dalia was tempted to step back as the man approached her, but she stood still as he grew closer and closer. The worry inside of her writhed for a moment, but there was too much blood; too much for a cut lip, which Dalia couldn't see anyway, on further inspection. The man nearly fooled her, which was an admirable feat. The blood staining his teeth and his mouth, and the lack of pain the man seemed to be in made Dalia pause for a moment, before sighing lightly as the worry left her body. "You do not have to lie to me; I will not report you or the man whom, I assume, you just...drank from." Dalia said, not completely sure of the vampire terminology. 

[alexanderlamkin-deactivated2026]

Crisp midnight wind whipped at his cheeks, stung the gaunt planes red, and pushed stray rivulets of blood in whichever direction it so pleased to bluster, trails coursing from the corner of his mouth back towards his jaw. Sensing the change in direction, Alexander wiped at the arrant trail with his coat sleeve, smearing the mess across his skin and the wooly fibres alike. He had a suspicion of this, paranoid of any embarrassing stain still visible, and he worried at his cheek with his fingertips to ensure he looked presentable once again. Never mind the bewildered young man he had left behind in the depths of the shadowed side street; he would soon recover, but Alexander’s jacket would require dry-cleaning. Surely an odd sight, had anyone seen him.

[daliamernickx]

Not having to sleep had its advantages. Dalia could study the vibrant night life of Prauge, for one. Midnight was also the time that she felt most connected to the Earth; when night became morning, and a new day was born, leaving behind the mistakes and hardships of yesterday. As she walked, the crisp wind blew right through her, and she tightened her jacket as she walked. Her eyes were suddenly drawn to an unusually bloody looking man, and she stopped, squinting slightly to see if she was mistaken. "I beg your pardon, but...is that blood?" She asked. "If so, do you need to be taken to a hospital?" Dalia continued, curious and a slight worry rising in her stomach. 

[headdemoness]

  More than most of either Hell or Heaven, Margaux was quite well aware of the Mernick family and had been for some time. The knowledge was what came with so many years of existence. She could be offended, but a simple, nonchalant hum dismisses the temptation. “Oh, no, I was merely talking in a general sense. Powerful friends are useful anywhere.” She tilted her her head now, studying the woman with a measure of calculation.

“Indulge my curiosity for a moment  ––-  what makes you, of all the Mernicks, the wrong person to approach?”

[daliamernickx]

"That is very true. Powerful friends are good to have around, if you need them." Dalia said. The woman peaked Dalia's curiosity; she was incredibly straight ford, and got right to the point. To some extend, Dalia admired that quality. "I do not believe in... taking sides, for use of a better phrase." Dalia said. "Especially between angels and demons. Neutrality is key." 

[nicandretta-archive-deactivated]

  "Oh, it’s something you can tell right away!"

"Like if you look at that girl over there, she seems to have a hard time just letting the sex roll off naturally. No guy’s gonna want that."

[daliamernickx]

"Letting the sex roll off naturally... that's an odd phrase. How does one get sex to roll off them?" 

[the-bastien]

  "Sounds like they didn’t make a good first impression on you," not surprising, the humans made angels out to be these great being. In reality, they were much more lack luster.

[daliamernickx]

"It was not a bad first impression, but in terms of first impressions...it was not the best." Dalia admitted. "He was a little cold, but very polite." 

[craftchild-deactivated20150311]

  "You’re guessing right," Myrah said without missing a beat. "Myrah Adaire, keeper of the keys, the secrets, and the booze, at your service."

[daliamernickx]

"It's a pleasure, Ms. Adaire." Dalia said with slight nod. She'd never met the woman before, but Dalia had heard stories about the two witches who owned the Doomed Dance Floor, and so far, the lavish parties were living up to their stories. "It was incredibly kind of you to open your doors and provide...what looks like the whole of Prauge, free alcohol." 

[craftchild-deactivated20150311]

  "You’re guessing right," Myrah said without missing a beat. "Myrah Adaire, keeper of the keys, the secrets, and the booze, at your service."

[daliamernickx]

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Ms Adaire." Dalia said. "It was very kind of you to offer free alcohol to your patrons. It must cost you a lot of money."