Egmo nods with a smirk playing on his lips. He knew Alex wouldn't go for that idea. I mean, who would spend the day reading just to go read in a different location? Well Egmo did, but that wasn't the point. He took a few moments to think of places that could be more entertaining for Alex. "Hmmm… Well there is a new coffee shop that I have been waiting to try or we could see if there is any movies that interest you. If needed, I can drive you across town to the theater that plays exclusively silent films. There is also just walking around aimlessly around the city park if that is your thing." The man takes a moment for the options to sink in. "So, do any of those options intrigue you?"
Alex blinked. "I er… Either one sounds fine." He replied with a quick smile. "The coffee shop or the movies sounds best. I'd rather not do a silent film right now." He stretched.
Egmo nods and stands up. "The coffee shop it is." He stretches out any muscles that might have tightened while he was sitting. Which shouldn't be much because he only sitting for about twenty minutes. But things don't usual work as they expected. "Shall we?" He asks jokingly as he puts an arm out towards the door.
Alex smiled at Egmo. "Yeah, sure." He replied. He put shoes on, and followed Egmo out the door.
Egmo nods once as if to acknowledge his answer before walking out the door. He always had his boots on and will only take them off if the person who owns the building asks. Once Alex joins him outside, he starts down the street in silence. The coffee shop was actually quite close so they would only need to walk for a short amount of time.
Alex followed Egmo, putting his hands in his pockets. He zipped up his jacket, letting out a quick breath. He didn't know what to say now, though he sort of wished he had bothered to change into a different shirt before they left.
Egmo crosses his arms across his chest as he walks down the street with Alex. They settle into a silence that didn’t seem neither awkward nor uncomfortable. He contemplated if he should say something to fill the air but nothing comes to mind. So he ends up deciding to stay quiet and observe his surroundings and if Alex wanted to start a conversation then he would oblige.
Alex was quiet as they walked, looking around the streets as they walked. "You know…a lot of things have changed." he finally said softly. "And I know that I've said that a lot, but I…it really has changed. And it's really weird, and I know it's annoying that I say it so much, but…" he shook his head. "I don't really know how to process it, half the time."
Egmo was staring at a small tree filled with birds when Alex spoke. He looked at him as he tries to process the words the man was telling him. It was something that seemed so obvious and yet wasn't something he thought of often. Their year is so different from where Alex was originally from and the difference must be striking. Egmo nods along with Alex's statements in understanding. Well less understanding and more of that Egmo hears what he is saying but doesn't have the experience to relate. "Its not annoying when you say that," He began choosing his words carefully, "It is expected. This is a new century and nothing looks the same. I would be more surprised if you were completely comfortable."
Alex shrugged a little bit. "Yeah. I just…I guess I don't really know how to handle things. You know? Because so many of the laws have changed, and things are illegal that weren't, or aren't illegal that were…" he shook his head slightly, looking over at Egmo. He smiled faintly, running his hands through his hair. "I just…don't know what to think."
Egmo moved his arms to his pockets so he looked more open. Crossed arms felt a bit more closed off giving almost an impatient vibe. He didn't want to rush Alex especially with everything that he is processing at that moment. He wanted to be supportive, at least as supportive as he could be, and have the man feel comfortable. "Then don't. Trying to process an entire century of advancements is way to much of a task. Just take it decade by decade and then it won't seem so suffocating."
Alex sighed. "I've been trying to do that. And I'm still…boggled that there was a second world war, to be honest. The war I was in…that was supposed to be the big one. The war to end all wars. And…it wasn't." He shook his head a little bit. "I guess I just…I don't understand how that could happen so fast."
Egmo nods in understanding. He remembers briefly learning of both wars in high school. It never really occurred to him that he would meet someone from the first war. The second one always seemed more real as it was recent but the first one, the one that use to be dubbed The Great War, always seemed so detached. Like it happened in a different timeline. "Yeah. Germany was angry and humiliated. Or at least that is what I remember learning for why WWII happened. But I can't even imagine how it is like to be in either war." He said thinking back to the week his school dedicated to World War 2.
"Yeah, that's what my books said." He said. At Egmo's last comment, he let out a huff of a laugh. "No, you can't imagine." he shook his head a little bit, remembering how many nights he would still wake up with the sounds of shells in his ears, with the screams of horses and the shouts of dying men. The stench of the trenches in his nose and the taste of ash in his mouth. His lips tightened for a moment.
Egmo fell silent not knowing what to say. What could he say at a moment like this? He had no expressence in war and the wars currently happening, he had no part in. The were battles he has been in but nothing close to a war. Just some a couple of hours of being hit before they could apprehend the guy. It was more intergalactic police work than a war. So the man stayed silent, leaving time for Alex to continue to talk about his past or change the subject.
Alex swallowed. "Sorry." he said softly. "I…guess I'm still not totally…" he shook his head quickly, glancing over at Egmo for a moment, then away again, still walking. "I'm not completely…over any of it. Sorry." his voice was quiet, a little subdued.
Egmo gave Alex a reassuring pat on the shoulder when he apologized. Man, he wished he was better at comforting people but he had work with the low charisma skills he got. "You don't need to apologize for anything." He says softly when Alex glanced to him and they locked eyes for a moment. He continues to listen to his last statement before adding, "War isn't something you get over. Everything you see or do is most likely going to follow you for years maybe even to your grave. THe question is, can you live with those memories."
Alex bit his lip for a moment, then nodded slowly. "I…alright." he replied. "Thanks. And I've been trying to live with it all, but…it's not like there's other vets of my era to talk about it with. The closest I can get is vets from the second world war." he shook his head a little. "Which isn't the same at all."
