Stairs Are Faster/Playing With


 * Basic Trope: The elevator takes too long, so the character takes the stairs instead.
 * Played Straight: On the run from Bob, Alice pushes the button for the elevator, but when Bob catches up, she takes the stairs instead.
 * Exaggerated: The elevator takes 3 hours to go up one floor.
 * Downplayed: Alice waits one second for the elevator before taking the stairs down one floor.
 * Justified: Bob was seconds away from catching up to Alice so she had no time to wait.
 * Alternatively: The elevator was out of order.
 * Which floor the elevator is located at is displayed at the doors - Alice may have seen that all the elevators are too far away from her floor. Alternatively, there may be other people in the building chasing her - taking the elevator would mean Bob can tell his accomplices what floor she's at (especially if there's a chance one of them has access to a fire alarm, which would disable all elevators where they are and leave Alice a sitting duck).
 * Inverted: Alice starts to take the stairs, but ends up taking the elevator instead.
 * Subverted: Bob is just about to catch up to Alice when the elevator door opens.
 * Double Subverted: But the elevator is full so Alice ends up taking the stairs.
 * Parodied: The elevator door opens seconds after Alice leaves to take the stairs.
 * Zig Zagged: Alice switches back and forth between stairs and the elevator.
 * Deconstructed: In a rush to get away from Bob, Alice trips and breaks her leg.
 * Reconstructed: When Bob catches up, Alice catches him by surprise by kicking him where it hurts with her other foot.
 * Averted: The elevator door instantly opens giving Alice no problem.
 * Enforced: ???
 * Lampshaded: "Damn these elevators are slow! I could be at the bottom by the time this thing gets up here"
 * Invoked: ???
 * Exploited: Bob's accomplices are waiting for her in the stairway.
 * Defied: Alice refuses to take the stairs and fights off Bob while waiting for the elevator.
 * Discussed: ???
 * Conversed: "Isn't it funny how elevators take the longest when characters need it the most?"