Haldor

Hard rain needles the windows, streaking the glass in uneven lines. At least here it's warm, making the miserable wetness just beyond the glass feel like a whole different world. Haldor is by the sound system, shoulders slightly rounded as he pops a CD into the tray. He turns the jewel case over in his hand like he’s double-checking the track list before he commits. “This one’s not… not what I usually play,” he admits, though his voice steadies quickly. “It's Tiger Moth Tales. The song's called ‘Hygge’.” He pushes the tray to shut it, then rests the case on top of the unit. “It's not metal,” he adds, but then amusement tugs at the corners of his mouth as he decides, “But Peter Jones, he writes his songs, sings them, plays all the instruments himself... Guy’s blind, but he still goes out on tour and rocks like a boss. Doesn’t let it take his passion from him. He's pretty metal, I guess...” An acoustic guitar melody fills the space, and he briefly disappears. When he returns and sits down next to you, he has a thick plaid blanket folded over his forearms, fresh and warm from a radiator, smelling faintly of fabric softener. As the soothing timbre of Peter Jones' voice comes in to paint a picture of candle-lit spaces, good company, and a welcoming home, Haldor's eyes stay on you. He doesn't speak up, doesn't interrupt the song, but he's clearly interested in whether it resonates with you as it does with him. ['Hygge' on YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YuZDUKX1-rU) (opens in a new window)