Well, that was disturbing

Boring Manager Rob has been away for the past few weeks. This has not made any discernible difference at all because the usual way of things when he is here is that he hides in his office, and we go about our business. In other words, he's leading but two things: Jack and Shit, and Jack just left town.
So Boring Manager Rob here vs. Boring Manager Rob not here (if you haven't already caught on) doesn't make a damn bit of difference.
Also, based on my few and far between interactions with him, he's an annoying jerkwad, and sorta dim.
So he comes back from his vacation today, and one of the newbies from the new digital lab comes in and proceeds to tell him "I missed you!" in a tone of voice that can only be described as barf-worthy.
And what I'm trying to wrap my brain around is the fact that she and the other digital tech newbies actually do seem to like him. Or else are really good at pretending. Hell, maybe they go back to the lab and giggle hysterically at our expense.
But seriously, none of the main preservation lab folks like him, and we all look at each other askance when the digitech newbies exhibit inclinations to the contrary.

So yeah, a little creeped out right now.