Mechanical Difficulties

[kairoticpoint.livejournal.com]

It was early afternoon, and Kieron was far more bored than he should be. He didn't have work until six, there was nothing to do in his apartment, he'd finished the only book he felt was worth rereading lately and none of his buddies were around to talk to until after sunset... when he would be at work. He hated when things fell out that way.

Kieron dropped a book in the return slot as he made his way into the library, trying to think of what he wanted to do with his time. He was bored with looking through the published journals that only the college library had - those had lost their shiny after about a year, anyway - so that was out. He considered taking over one of the computers in the corner, but decided he didn't feel like breaking into someone else's student account to do so. Yet. Maybe he'd get bored enough. He could look around for people he knew, but something told him he wouldn't quite be that lucky today. With a shrug, he decided his best bet would be to find a book he actually hadn't read yet.

Figuring the top floor of the library would be his best bet in finding something new (he rarely went all the way up there - five floors was a lot, thank you), he decided he was too lazy for the stairs and instead made his way to the elevator. He pushed the button... and then played the waiting game. As far as he could remember, the elevator in this building was pretty slow...

Comments

[evocadora.livejournal.com]

To say she did not want to be here would be an understatement. Paul Coggins was one of the most annoying persons Stephanie had the misfortune of knowing, which was made even worse by the fact that she was stuck with him with ridiculous frequency. She had made the mistake of being pleasant to him when they first met — he was somewhat dashing, if she was honest with herself, but that had worn off very quickly when he decided that she would be a perfect girlfriend. Coupled with the fact that professors kept finding reasons to pair them for projects (and that they were already paired for what was meant to be at least a two-year undertaking)...

In any case, she headed straight for the elevator, paying no mind to anyone unless it was to avoid running into them, and jabbed the already lit 'up' button. Paul enjoyed meeting on the fourth floor (something about the wonder of the view, which he'd turned into a compliment on her appearance), and she didn't intend to walk all the way up.

[kairoticpoint.livejournal.com]

Kieron watched her out of the corner of his eye as he moved to lean against the wall beside the button. He smirked a little when she pushed the button. He always found it amusing. Did people think it would make the elevator go faster, or that the person before just hadn't pushed it the right way?

The light behind the button turned itself off, but the doors did nothing. He rolled his eyes and pressed the button a few more times, but it kept going off each time -- The doors eventually opened. He sighed theatrically and shook his head. "Slow piece of..." mumbled just loud enough for her to hear, though he had an amused smile on his face. He stuck his hand against the opening and nodded for her to go on in before him. "After you."

[evocadora.livejournal.com]

Stephanie couldn't help a little hope that the elevator wouldn't work at all (which would leave her hiking up three flights of stairs in heels, so perhaps it was best that it did show up). The thought of possibly missing the meeting, and the fact that the other wasn't Paul, meant she could manage something close to a neutral look in his direction. She didn't otherwise acknowledge him before stepping into the elevator, giving the '4' button as harsh a jab as she'd given the 'up' button. She took a place in the corner opposite the controls and crossed her arms, returning to her scowl and her unhappy thoughts.

[kairoticpoint.livejournal.com]

Ooh, a happy one. Kieron watched her, then shook his head slightly before taking the corner opposite the controls. He reached over and hit the "Door Close" button, then crossed his arms and looked up at the ceiling, as is proper elevator etiquette for one who doesn't like looking down at the floor.

He toyed with the idea of whistling or humming, but his scowly companion would probably pull out a knife and cut him, and he rather liked his blood to stay inside his body. Instead, he amused himself with random thoughts. Sure, it meant that he smirked a little, but at least he kept quiet.

[evocadora.livejournal.com]

The elevator didn't have a display to tell you which floor you were on, but it did ding as it passed each floor. Stephanie's frown deepened as they passed the third floor, and she closed her eyes, dreading the next ding and the opening of the doors. Just before when it should have happened, though, the elevator lurched and, with an unearthly groan, came to a stop. Stephanie had grabbed onto the nearest support (the bar on the back of the elevator) as soon as the elevator jolted itself, and stared at the doors. "What...?"

[kairoticpoint.livejournal.com]

Kieron didn't feel the need to grab onto the back rail, but he did stand up straight, eyes narrowed in concern. "The hell just happened?"

He pushed the "Door Open" button a few times as if he thought it would help. When that did nothing, he went to the doors themselves and started vaguely pulling at one of them. He chucked, but just a bit. "Really? Seriously?"

[evocadora.livejournal.com]

"Is something wrong with it?" Perhaps if she'd tried harder, she could have kept the hope from sneaking into her tone.

[kairoticpoint.livejournal.com]

He gave her a slightly baffled look. "You know, the way you were looking, I'd think this would just piss you off even more." He shook his head and, giving up on the doors, reclaimed his corner.

[evocadora.livejournal.com]

"This might be the best thing that could have happened," she corrected, finding a more comfortable way to lean against the wall and looking rather satisfied with the situation.

[kairoticpoint.livejournal.com]

"Really." This was getting very interesting, very fast. Kieron sank into a seated position, smirking up at her as he absently ran a hand through his hair. He laughs a little. "I'm assuming it's not my company that makes this the best thing that could have happened to you, so if I may ask, what's got you wanting so badly to be stuck in an elevator?"

[evocadora.livejournal.com]

"Paul," she said simply, just the thought bringing back some of her earlier anger. "What are you going to be late for?"

[kairoticpoint.livejournal.com]

He waved hand and shook his head. "I'm not. I'm just here to kill time, really. I mean, I have work at six, but I don't think we're going to be stuck here that long, unless you really don't want to push the emergency call button anytime soon." He grinned a bit. "So, who's Paul?"

[evocadora.livejournal.com]

"An idiot." Who couldn't reschedule their meeting because he had class in about half an hour. "I'll have to remember to call him." Preferably sometime after leaving both the elevator and the building itself.

[kairoticpoint.livejournal.com]

Kieron whistled. "You really have it out for this Paul guy, don't you?"

[evocadora.livejournal.com]

Stephanie laughed. "You could say that. I wish he could get the message so easily."

[kairoticpoint.livejournal.com]

Kieron gave a wince. "Ooh, the thick-headed kind? Hate those." He laughed a little, too. "I think I'm glad I'm not stuck in an elevator with you and Paul. I might have had to cut the door open or something."

[evocadora.livejournal.com]

Stephanie frowned. "I would have taken the stairs. What were you going to do in the library?"

[kairoticpoint.livejournal.com]

"Fair point," he said with a salute. He shrugged a shoulder at her question. "Read, if I found anything worth reading. I've got some friends who practically live here because their course load is so crazy, so odds are I would have run into someone eventually. And I'm guessing you weren't meeting Paul on the fourth floor to punch his lights out, so what sort of meeting are you missing?"

[evocadora.livejournal.com]

She didn't mind thinking about the assignment as long as she could separate it from thinking about Paul. "We're on a project team together, today was to discuss requirements."

[kairoticpoint.livejournal.com]

"Ah. What class?"

[evocadora.livejournal.com]

"763." After a moment, she continued, realizing that probably wasn't enough information. "It's an ongoing assignment for architecture majors."

[kairoticpoint.livejournal.com]

"Wow. Big deal, then." He smiled a little. "Guess some higher power must be looking out for you, then, stopping the elevator and giving you just that much longer to put off the inevitable."

[evocadora.livejournal.com]

"If only it could find a way to give me another partner." She smiled herself. "Although the elevator isn't a bad start."

[kairoticpoint.livejournal.com]

"You could always tell whoever's in charge that it really, seriously isn't going to work." He paused, then grinned mischievously. "Think they'd believe you if you told them he was sexually harassing you, or something?"

[evocadora.livejournal.com]

"Women shouldn't be in the program in the first place," she said, rolling her eyes. "No one wants to do anything about it."