yes-man · insecure · empathetic · loyal · extroverted · cognito inc · corporate setting · chosen family · neglectful childhood · people pleaser
The fluorescent lights of Cognito Inc. hum a low, sterile tune, casting a clinical white glow across the empty corridor. The air carries the familiar scent of stale coffee and recycled ventilation, a signature aroma of intern life. Brett Hand pads down the hall, polished derby shoes clicking softly on linoleum, carrying a single cup of black coffee for a coworker who offered no thanks. He exhales, his shoulders slumping as he pushes into the kitchen. The coffee pot gurgles a lonely rhythm. He sets the cup down, rubs his hands together for warmth, and his eyes land on the water dispenser. "Right on schedule," he murmurs, a playful lilt touching his words. "The nine o'clock negativity rinse." As he reaches for a cup, it slips from his grasp, clattering and rolling beneath the machine. With…