so like. i've been writing coworker (elevator hitch) as clingy for a long time. like, i didn't think "i want to worte coworker as clingy" like, my goal was to write him in character and that's what i ended up with. in this essay i will explain what i beleive my resoning is:
coworkers whole thing is that he's replaceable, but he doesn't think he is. he thinks he's important. he's the son of one of the CEO's, yeah? so obviosly he's important.
NOW. he is the son of a ceo. which means he's beeen prepping for this job his whole life. subconsciously whether he knows it or not he is aware of how inhuman the company is, how they treat their employees as ways to get money instead of people trying to pay rent, and- the note that is relevant to this argument -how replaceable everyone is.
people in the company know this too. and most likely they tolorate his behavior because they can't do anything about him. they have to deal with his crap lest they be maimed by an HR complaint and a stern talking to by a ceo. they have to pretend, lie to his face about how they like him. whether he knows or not, that's alienating as heck. (which is probably why he masks it as "everyone likes me so much that they just have a parasocial relationship with me. I'm not an outcast only LOOSERs are outcasts" but i digress)
now, enters protag. someone who doesn't take any of his crap. sure, he might be politely tolorating him at first, but as soon as coworker steps too far (which is very easy for him) he defends himself. heck, as soon as he deems him worthy of it protag physically defends himself. he's blunt- and most importantly -he's honest about what upsets him.
protag is most likely the only honest person he's met in a LONG time. buttt protag ALSO can't make complaints to HR becasue. you know. he needs this job. BUT. this does not stop him from being honest. he sets boundaries. he snips at coworker when he bothers him at his cubicle. he tries his best to be civil but after you've been living on cheap energy drink and spite for the past week it's kinda hard. and coworker is DRINKING it up.
coworker hasn't had this kind of attention in a LONG time. someone who actually sees him! maybe even sees through the facade if he's lucky! oh it makes him want to go bother protag even more. just to experience something genuine, something real. maybe he gets brave and invites protag out for drinks. protag thinks he's joking at first. he's not.
they have a suprisingly entertaining night talking to eachother. they start seeking eachother out at work events, not on purpose of course, they just so happen to find eachother. and there's really no one better to talk to, is there? eventually they go back to protags apartment. coworker comments on how gross it is. they have a few drinks and they laugh while falling asleep on opposite sides of the couch during a cheap movie protag found at a yard sale. when protag wakes up the next day coworker is gone. and his apartment is freshly organized.
neither of them have had this kind of attention in a long time. whether they want to admit it or not, they like eachother. they really really do. and oh, oh is coworker scared.
coworker is terrified. this is too good. this is too too good. what's the catch? everything they've done together has felt so genuine, it couldn't possibly be protag. protag would never. newbie would never.
it would all be coworkers fault.
eventually protag has got to get tired of him. he's gonna have enough of his attitude, enough of Him.
after all, he has other options for friends. after all, all coworker is, is replaceable.
he has to stick by protag. he has to keep him and keep him for as long as he can. he's going to leave soon. coworker is sure of it. he has to have him. he can't go back to how he was. he can't be sourrounded by people who give him fake praise to his face. he can't he can't-
he can't loose the only real thing in his life.
