#even if it only becomes overt in Jenna's route

[orphanofkos]

a lot of gay gays struggle with intimacy and try to drown out their need for an emotional connection by having as much casual sex as possible, and telling themselves that they're fulfilled because look at how much sex i'm having haha! while pushing away anyone who actually wants to get to know them or wants them to open up. Flynn fits this archetype perfectly, and it's a phenomenon that i've seen in real life so it's heartbreaking to see in the game. but then adding on everything that happened with Sydney — how the last person that Flynn truly loved was taken from him as a child — it makes him gun shy about getting close to people, trying to have a bond that comes close to what he had with Sydney, which might REPLACE what he had with Sydney. but what I think is really going on is that Flynn, who knew he was gay from an early age, was terrified of his relationship with Sydney being construed by others as sexual, and even deeper than that, was terrified that his love for Sydney might actually BE sexual (I'm not saying that it was, but growing up with conservative mormon parents will convince you that all gay men are pedophiles who prey on young boys; Flynn was scared that he might be grooming Sydney). And as a side note, this is why I think Flynn is the only one to criticize Chase's relationship with Leo; the age gap between Leo and Chase is the same as the gap between Flynn and Sydney, both pairs are old childhood friends, and both pairs have the same essential protector/protected role; Flynn can't help but see his own worst fears about himself reflected in what Leo does to Chase; in Flynn mind, Leo crossed a boundary that Flynn considers sacred.

and as another aside, this is why it's so heartbreaking that Chase abandons Flynn at the smoke room; Chase essentially confirms Flynn's beliefs about himself being undeserving of intimacy. a lot of Flynn's abrasiveness can be construed as an attempt to keep people at arm's length, but I think he specifically tries to make Chase uncomfortable to obviate any potential relationship; he comes on too strong to Chase with the intention of scaring him away (like when he pins Chase against the truck to "flirt" or even inviting him to the smoke room at all), but when Chase remains obstinate in pursing a relationship with him he begins to warm up to the idea of actual intimacy; they are (theoretically) old friends. Chase seeing Flynn for what he is (for what Flynn believe himself to be) and then abandoning him is just confirmation that he's right where he belongs; sandwiched between four other guys and completely alone.