Customer Service

Writers: Paula, Noola
Date Posted: 7th March 2010

Characters: Sallita, G'nir
Description: Sallita has a prickly customer during the Tavern's busiest day.
Location: Vintner Hall
Date: month 7, day 21 of Turn 5

G'nir

G'nir had came to Amber Hills hold to enjoy the Gather. After awhile
he got hungry. He was not going to eat it outside in freezing cold,
instead he went to the Vintner Hall's famous tavern. He was not only
one who wanted to sit at the table and eat in warm, the place was
packet full. He managed to get a seat then he waited someone to serve
him. The longer he waited, the angrier he got. He was not a man who
was used to wait his turn patiently.

Finally, he snatched the sleeve of passing tavern worker.

"What man has to do to get service here? I've waited over fifteen
minutes someone to take my order!" he asked angrily.

The day had been just as busy as one might imagine a Gather day to be.
The tavern had been packed and non-stop since the doors had opened
that morning with people coming in for food, drink or just a chance to
get out of the cold. People came in solo or in groups and keeping
track of who had paid for their meals and drinks and who had not was a
constant challenge, even with making people pay up front. It was only
just midday and she was exhausted, with another four hours until her
shift was over and she could go and enjoy the Gather as well.

When the dragonrider grabbed her arm, she almost dropped the stack of
plates she'd just collected from a crowded table. Usually, she could
handle a bit of rudeness with some equity, but her patience was
beginning to fray. She resisted her first impulse, to ask him if he
had eyes and could see how crowded it was, and instead said, "If
you'll be patient just a little longer, Bronzerider, I'll take your
order as soon as I drop these off in the kitchen." She flashed him a
quick smile and tugged her arm loose, continuing on her way quickly
before he could protest.

G'nir fumed and crossed his arms over his chest. "Don't you know who I
am?" he asked from her distancing back.

If Sallita was going to answer, she was distracted from it by a large
crowd heading toward the door. She glanced at the faces and didn't
recognize any of them so she looked for one of the other servers
across the room. Catching the other woman's eye she jerked her head
towards the departing crowd and received a nod in return. They'd all
paid. Sallita sighed and continued to the kitchen, dropping off her
load of dishes for the boy at the sink to get started on before
heading back to see to that bronzerider. She snagged a pitcher of hot
cider and a mug on the way, hoping it would soothe him a bit.
"I do apologize for your wait, bronzerider. It's a bit of a madhouse
in here today," she smiled as pleasantly as she could and poured some
of the cider into the mug for him. "What would you like to order?"

G'nir scowled but couldn't find any fail in her apology. "I want
mashed tubers, heardbeast steak and large pint of ale, and glass of
water," he said. "The steak must be medium."

"Right. Just to warn you, the kitchen is a little backed up as well.
The wait shouldn't be too long, though." She set the pticher down on
the table so he could refill his mug if her wanted. "I'll be right
back with your ale and water." Sallita quickly hurried back to the
kitchen to give the cooks the bronzerider's order.

G'nir let out a resigned sigh and took the mug to his hand. He leaned
backwards in his chair. There were harper's playing at the stage, and
for awhile, he was content to sit and listen them.

It was some time before Sallita was able to get back to the
bronzerider with his meal, though she had swung by quickly with a
glass of water and the requested pint. She'd had her hands full with
several other tables in the mean time though, so she didn't really
notice how much time had passed when the shout from the kitchen
signaled that the order was ready to go out. When she realized who's
food it was, however, she sighed. She gathered up the plate, and
headed toward the bronzerider's table.

"Here you are," she set the plate on the table before the bronzerider.
"Do you need more water? Another pint?"

"You certainly took your time," G'nir's voice was irritated. "The food
is better be worth it," he said ominously.

"I'm sorry sir," Sallita sighed. It would be so good when her shift
was over. Usually she enjoyed her job, but today it was not as fun.
This bronzerider wasn't helping matters either. "I promise you though,
that the cooks here are excellent."

"I certainly hope so," G'nir snorted. "This place hadn't met it's
reputation yet."

"Ah, well, it's not usually this crazy in here, that's for sure." She
wasn't sure what else to say to appease the dragonrider. Some people
just couldn't be pleased and she knew that, but still. Hopefully the
cooks had gotten his order right. She almost couldn't imagine how he'd
react if something was wrong, but she bet he'd be unpleasant about it.

G'nir grunted and dig into his food. After first bite he pushed the
plate away: " Do you call this medium-steak? It's raw!"

Sallita picked the plate up and took a look at the meat. It certainly
did have a bit of pink inside, which meant it wasn't cooked to medium,
as requested. She wouldn't call it -raw- though. Not that it mattered.
There was no salvaging this situation now. Mentally cursing both cooks
and dragonriders, Sallita forced a smile and replied, "I'm sorry,
dragonrider. The cooks are awfully backed up and weren't as careful as
usual. I'll get you another."

G'nir grunted, slightly appeased by her obliging attitude. "Fine, I'll
accept a new one," he nodded.

This time she actually stood and watched the cooks prepare the steak.
She hadn't the time for it, and knew that the other girls were cursing
her absence from the dining room, but she'd be scored if she was going
to be chewed out by this dragonrider one more time. When the meat was
prepared to order, she took the plate back out. "Here you are,
Bronzrider. I hope this is more to your liking," she gave him a
hopeful smile.

"Thank you," G'nir said politely but the look he gave at the food was
sceptic one. He started to eat. This time he had nothing to complain.
It wasn't the best food ever, but it was decent one and the steak was
now properly done.

Sallita sighed with relief, glad the dragonrider hadn't found
something else to gripe about. She quickly slipped away, under the
glares of her coworkers, toward another full table. Only a few more
candlemarks until she was free and could go enjoy the Gather with her
mother and children. Just a few more.

Last updated on the March 19th 2010

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

Customer Service