Service please....(open)

[hrsegrl]

Marisol sat rather upset at how long it was taking her to get some service. It wasn't like she was some young rider who could move around and slip into the kitchens at this awful time of day to get some food for herself. She should have walked up to her Weyr and called down the shaft but, in all honesty she was not in the mood to dine alone. No doubt Q'tre was busy doing Weyrleader duties.

She wished Adeloth would just fly already. She wanted her mate back! The woman glowered at her empty plate. She was going to have a word with the Headwoman about this. It wasn't right to keep someone of her rank waiting around for food. Marisol had plenty more things than the average rider to worry about and was getting worse service. It must have to do with her age.

She looked down at the age spot that had shown up on her forearm. Mari didn't want to be old and more importantly she didn't like being treated like she had aged. Just because she was retired didn't mean she should be disrespected. Calling over the din of the Weyrhall she said, "WHAT DOES A WOMAN HAVE TO DO TO GET SOME FOOD?"

The Weyrhall went silent. A significant feat at that time in the evening, most the riders would be eating around now.

[kayla]

Neory had been helping with the serving. To be honest, she enjoyed when she got to help coordinate the serving. Since she was still within the candidate age, she was not quite an assistant to the Headwoman, but she was one of the more trusted drudges and often got assigned supervisory positions since the Headwoman, Venaru, and Lyra were only three people and not able to oversee everything.

However, she did not realize that Breck, who was assigned to the High Table, was completely ignoring Marisol. She didn't realize it until she heard the retired Weyrwoman yell. "Shards! Breck!" She'd leave the girl's punishment to the Headwoman or Venaru. She had been assigned the High Table because she'd proven herself. Which meant this was some kind of deliberate slight.

She didn't wait to send someone over to the table, but grabbed a charger of meat in one hand, balanced a plate of greens on her arm, and grabbed the pitcher of redberry juice. Carefully balanced, she head directly to the Weyrwoman.

She would serve her the choicest pieces. "Weyrwoman Marisol, if you'd like wine instead of juice, I'll be right back with that."

She wanted to apologize, but she was not the one that had ignored the weyrwoman, and she doubted that Marisol would be particularly interested in hearing apologies or excuses. "Breck will be suitably punished, ma'am."

In fact, as soon as Neory finished serving the weyrwoman, she would remove Breck from serving and take over the High Table herself.

[hrsegrl]

She was not rude to the young woman who did bring her food. In fact for being so angry a moment before Marisol was quite calm. "Thank you my dear. Juice will be fine." The retired Weyrwoman had been around the Weyr long enough to be a pretty good judge of people. This young woman obviously felt responsible for other people. Marisol smiled at her, "Don't worry your pretty head about it. Leave that to me. I'm rather good at running things around here, even if that means dealing out punishments."

It wasn't hard to see that Marisol was tired. She looked worn out, not her normal self at all. She was usually so vibrant and fiery. Today she felt like she had to fight for every little thing and she simply didn't feel well.

"My dear, what is your name?" Marisol asked curiously. She always curious about people. There was no telling what Marisol was thinking when she asked such general questions but the girl should be reassured that Mari had used a warm tone.

[kayla]

She did smile in return to the retired weyrwoman, and even looked at her rather than being all deferential, since the woman's tone seemed to invite less formal interaction. She noticed that weyrwoman seemed tired, but managed not to frown.

"I'm Neory, Ma'am." While she'd smile and would meet her gaze, she would still be quite respectful. If anyone deserved respect it was Marisol, and Neory would definitely not be the one to skimp on that. "If there is anything at all I can get for you, please let me know."

[hrsegrl]

"Neory. That is a pretty name." Marisol commented as if the girl were an equal. She really didn't care too much about rank now that she was retired it didn't really matter to her. "Since you have shown you are not afraid of helping a frustrated old woman, I'd like to do something for you." Marisol always had favorites.

The Weyr knew this. Certain people became acquainted with her, whether by chance or by being noticed. Often they had a quality about them, something that MArisol liked. "Come up to my Weyr later and as a treat you can come see Beynath. Every so often she likes to see a new face."

[kayla]

Neory could not help it. Her smile widened at the invitation, and then even more at the promise to meet the legendary Queen Dragon. "Why would I be afraid of helping you? I can't imagine why Breck ignored you in the first place."

"I would be honored to visit you, and honored to meet your Beynath. Thank you." And she had meant that sincerely. She had not helped in order to gain the woman's favor, but most of the girls would love to be tapped by Marisol as a "favorite," and Neory would not try to argue against it.

She smiled to her, "Is there anything else you would like? Klah or chai perhaps?" While the Retired Weyrwoman was well known, not all of her preferences were and she looked tired.

[hrsegrl]

"I'm intimidating to some. Others would have heard my outburst and shyed away from possible trouble." Marisol answered. "I will see you then." Not that she would need a reminder. Marisol wasn't really in the mood for formality. She hoped her grandson would be up to see her later. Really she wasn't feeling well at all.

A sneeze escaped her. No doubt she had picked some illness up from being in the Lower Caverns near all the children lately. And of course, with Reiko slipping up to see her, it wouldn't suprise her if she had caught something.

"Thank you, but no. I'm just going to finish this and probably head down to the infirmiry." She sneezed again, just as she was about to say that it sounded like she needed to visit the healers.

[kayla]

Normally, Neory would not have taken much notice over a sneeze. A sneeze could just mean that something tickled the nose. But with how tired Marisol looked and her own mentioning she was going to the infirmiry, Neory was concerned.

"Marisol, would you like a hand getting down to the infirmiry? I know that you're quite capable of making it yourself, but I also know, when one isn't feeling well, a little help can sometimes be welcomed."