Who: Katniss and Merlin What: Tech support Where: Stark tower When: Mid-April Rating: Low/None Status: Complete
Katniss was incredibly frustrated. She was not a patient girl and when computers started to go wrong on her, then her patience was all but non-existent. She’d sworn at it, threatened it and even smacked it a few times to no avail. After calling for tech support to come down, she’d made herself a cup of tea and come back to her desk to wait. Groaning, she laying her head on her folded arms on the desk.
“Well I don’t think I need to ask if you’re Miss Everdeen do I? I recognise that ‘I-give-up-this-computer-is-rubbish’ posture” Merlin said with a smile as he approached the desk, “What seems to be the problem?” he asked.
“A shorter answer would be to tell you what is working,” Katniss groaned as she sat upright and glared at the machine again. “The main system started out running so slow, then I tried to open an internet window and everything just locked up,” she threw her hands up at the screen. “And before you ask, I shut it down and turned it back on again. Then it said it needed to restart to configure updates which it did and took an hour! Then when it finally came back online it froze and that’s when I called you guys,” she sighed and fell back in her seat.
“Sounds like it’s been testing you this morning” Merlin said, “I won’t tell you to turn it off and on again, I promise” he smiled cheerfully, as Merlin generally always was. “Okay let’s have a look and see” he said kneeling down next to her and taking control of the mouse and keyboard, “I haven’t seen you around much are you new?” he asked her conversationally as he brought up the computers internal code and scanned through it.
Rubbing her hands over her face, she sighed. “No, I’m new,” she dropped her hands and looked at the computer with a resigned look. “Started middle of last month and just when I was hitting my stride this happens,” she gestured to the screen. “Sorry, it’s just...I had to get a report finished for my manager before two and then this all started.”
“Don’t worry we’ll get you sorted out and if I can help with a few little tricks to get the report done faster then I will okay?” Merlin said, “You’ll be fine. Computer problems happen. Oh and Welcome to Stark Industries” he winked before focusing again on the screen.
Katniss gave a little laugh at that and reached forward for her cup of tea. “Thanks, I’d appreciate that,” she smiled at him and took a sip. “Do you want a tea or coffee or anything?” she offered.
“Thanks but I had one before I left my office. I’m a little picky” he admitted shooting her a smile before turning back to the code he was entering, “It’s the Brit in me, I find American tea a bit of a let down”
"Oh I see, you're one of those tea elitists are you?" Katniss teased with a grin, still with her hands wrapped around her mug. It was nice to have a bit of a laugh after the frustration of the morning. "I was so pissed off on the phone, I didn't catch your name."
“‘Fraid so” he said smiling as his hands moved over the keyboard before he paused to offer his hand, “Merlin” he said, “Internal Systems Manager”
Katniss shook his hand and smiled at him. “Nice to meet you Merlin. A manager eh? Please don’t write me up for swearing at this thing,” she joked and pointed at the computer screen. “I should get marks for not using it as target practice,” she smiled.
“I’d spend all day writing people up if I did that” Merlin told her, “So you definitely have no need to worry about that. But I would appreciate it if you didn’t use it as any kind of target” he grinned as he finished working the code and the computer rebooted.
“Shame, it’d make quite the challenge,” Katniss replied wistfully before smiling at him to let him know she was joking. Mostly, but he didn’t need to know that, she thought to herself.