Day Twenty-One ; Group Activity Who: Yvaine, Andy Gallagher, Ayla, and Severus Snape ((Posting Order)) When: Day 21 ; Early Morning What: Group Activity ; Picking and Stomping Grapes Where: First to the Winery, then to the grape fields, then back to the winery Rating: PG-13 Status: Complete
Yvaine had been trying to ease herself into a schedule that consisted of wakefulness in the day and sleeping at night because of her fear of that horrid vampire coming to claim her in the night once he healed. She had no idea how quickly vampires healed or how slowly, so she decided it would be best not to take her chances. She had gone to bed a little before sunset, and she had awoken a few hours before that time.
Afraid to leave her room, she simply waited until she thought the sun would rise, peeping out her door every so often to verify that the darkness had or had not lifted. The stars twinkled down from her ceiling almost mockingly. Yvaine knew it was all in her imagination, but she also knew that fear was driving her to purposefulness. What good was a star if not for twinkling in the evening? Her only comfort in this was that a star should be twinkling in the sky. While one was upon the earth, they were to survive as best they could.
A scuffling outside her door sent her heart to beat rapidly beneath her breast. Of course, she knew no one could come into her room unless she wanted them there, but the idea that Lestat might be scratching at her door, waiting for her to come out so he could exact his revenge remained unnerving.
When at last the sounds seemed to grow fainter, she calmed herself, and slowly cracked open the door. Clear blue eyes scanned over one side of the hall, then the other. She thought she saw the back of a golem moving down the stairs. A soft grey glow had begun to light the hallway. Daylight was coming soon. Her gaze was drawn toward a white envelope that had been stuck to her door. Written in an interesting hand was her name “Yvaine” on the front. Curiosity won over her, and peeled it from her door, taking it inside to read.
Instructions: Go to the winery. You will be picking and stomping grapes. This is mandatory. If you do not go, a golem will find you and take you there. Do not leave until the activities are finished, or a golem will take you back.
It also told her the time she would need to be there, and it informed her that she would be among others. That time was quite soon. Yvaine was excited. She had seen this sort of thing before, and she had thought it looked like a lot of fun. A dress like hers wasn’t so great for stomping grapes, though, so she closed her eyes and asked aloud, “Um… I need clothing that would be acceptable for a day like this?” She waited a moment before opening her eyes, and there on the floor, folded neatly, were a pair of pants and a shirt. The pants only came to just below her knees where they tightened with the help of strings sewn into them. They were the colour of dry earth. The shirt was a dark blue-grey like a stormy sky, short sleeved and almost conforming to her figure. They were the sort of clothing items one wouldn’t mind soiling in grape juices.
She peaked out her door again. The sun was rising at a quick rate. She waited only a little longer in her room before the time arrived for her to go, and the sun was bright enough that she wasn’t afraid of vampires coming to hurt her.
Yvaine left her starry night sky room, soon leaving the building and heading toward the winery. When she entered the building, she saw a few steps leading up to a platform where what looked like large vats sat. At ground level sat four baskets with a large notice beside them where it could not be missed. “You will take these to the hills to pick the grapes for half an hour.” They were good sized baskets, and she chose one for herself, but the evening star thought she should wait for the company of others before setting out to collect the grapes.