13
Demolishun
135d

We had a Christmas party at work. We did a traditional white elephant gift game. I stole some larping swords from one guy, somebody else stole them from me, and another guy named Bilbo stole them and ended up with them.

After the party I am at my desk. Bilbo comes over with the swords and gives them to me. He said, "You looked like you really wanted these." I said thank you. I was really touched by that gesture.

Bilbo had tried to get golf balls during the game and lost them. So I went to the store at lunch today and got him a 12 pack of Titleists for $25. I don't golf, but people I work with say they are good. I left these on his desk. He comes to me later and says, "I cannot accept these. It is just too much money." I said its not too much and explained I was touched by his gesture. He tells me to take them back and get something nice for myself. Which is another nice gesture. Bilbo said when we get back from Christmas break we can do lunch.

So I am a bit baffled. Did I cross a line I shouldn't cross? Is Bilbo just too nice? I was really hoping he would enjoy this. I get it. We are coworkers and not family. I truly respect and like the guy.

Anyway, I am unsure what to do with them. I didn't really want to take them back. I tried to give them to another guy I work with and he wouldn't take them either. One talked about paying for them then decided he didn't want them. I have more shopping to do so I can take them back then. It kind of weirds me out to say $25 is too much money. I can hardly go a day without spending that much on a couple of random small things.

Comments
  • 2
    juggle them.

    From the sound of it I think the gesture was appreciated so I don't think it crossed a line.

    To its more of a negative feedback (not a bad thing) that puts the system back to equilibrium
  • 5
    Or maybe Bilbo felt bad because he didn't actually want the sword anyway
  • 2
    He sounds depressed

    Irrationally thinking it's too much money, when it's basically the cost of a meal he agreed to go on with you? Lol

    I would just sneak them into his backpack or something. Wouldn't have taken no for an answer. Just stupid. If my intuition is right that he's irrationally depressed that's probably what he'd find a sweet gesture. Sometimes a person's self worth gets so low they can't justify to themselves the smallest of happinesses; it isn't about the money but an irrational shitty feeling where they think their happiness is not worth even the most insignificant amount of money. In my opinion if you can't spend money on happiness, then wtf are you even working for? Get over it! He might cry and that makes me personally uncomfortable to witness, egh, so i typically vamanos / make haste to escape 😝
  • 1
    My father in law is like that. He cannot accept gifts no matter what. He will always take the smallest/worst piece of anything “to be nice”, etc.

    So, he probably appreciated it, but felt too shy/guilty/awkward/something to accept it.
  • 2
    Like two people insisting on holding the door open to the other one. Sometimes it's unselfish to be on the receiving end.

    Balls.
  • 5
    While reading your post I remembered I needed to google smth, but your story was too interesting to interrupt so I carried on. In the end I realised I have no resemblence of what I'd remembered mid-story.

    Now I'm in a state where I know I don't know smth and I've read a good story.

    Thank you!
  • 3
    @netikras the old "walk into a room a forget why you are there trick". lol
  • 0
    Can’t wait for you and Bilbo to kiss 😘
  • 1
    Omg, a former coworker owns me around 500,- or the other way around for the after work drinking and snacking years ago. We didn't count. But he became best friend. It's OK I guess
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