Reconciling the impossible...

I have mentioned Captain Awkward several times here, but he is simply, without doubt one of my favorite characters in the company. He's getting close to sixty and the official retirement age here in Japan now and is a nice guy but a quite typical Japanese mild-comb-over salaryman close to the end of the career (of course having stayed all the time in one company). I have known him for quite a few years now and would like to think that we have a pretty good relationship, we are very different in terms of background, age and so but respect each other. But we very rarely small talk or socialize outside of work related stuff.

The other day he came around my seat and stopped behind me, standing still for a few seconds. I felt the awkwardness radiate around my area and turned around. He stood there for a while, slurping his tea (yes, he's one of those people who slurp any hot drink) and then very mildly asks "Salaryman, have you seen Avatar?". I am completely thrown off balance by the sudden question and answer back "No, have you?". For a moment he smiles to himself and seem to space out a bit before he answers "Yes, several times". In my mind the image of the movie "Avatar" and the comb-over "ossan" (old geezer in Japanese, but I mean it slightly affectionately) fervently tries to reconcile and I can only squeeze out "I don’t really see you as the type who would enjoy that type of movie...?". Again he smiles and says "the 3D was really amazing, I also really liked Terminator, the 2nd one was really cool with the special effects". Then he walks away, slurping his tea...

I am left alone feeling both slightly honored that he shared this with me, but also slightly awkward at the abrupt end of the conversation and still trying to reconcile the movies with my colleague...