Shuonun was sitting in a bus stop with his headphones blasting so loudly that not only he could hear his music but everyone around him could as well. He didn't seem to mind, however. There he sat, tapping his foot absentmindedly and playing with something in his pockets. He glanced up as it started to snow, sneered, and pulled his scarf up over his nose.
(Au where they don't know each other?)
Hazel realized quick who's music was so loud, it wasn't hard. She was tired though, and cold, and barely hesitated to sit by him at the bus stop. She could use the break from standing, walking all day had made the thought of sitting by a stranger less daunting.
When she sat down, Shuonun adjusted in his seat a little so he was angled away from her. He did not, however, turn down his music. If anything, he turned it up.
He was blasting some heavy metal band, if asked he would tell you it was called Hatebreed, and may have been trying to drown out the Christmas music playing in every corner of the city.
Hazel noticed, but didn't mind. The music wasn't bad, she wasn't going to complain about a change from nonstop Christmas music, though other people would. At least the bus stop meant she wasn't actively getting snowed on, unlike when walking. She took the opportunity to brush a bit of snow off her bag, overly alert.
"Aren't you going to say something?" Shuonun sneered. "I'm being annoying in public."
He didn't look down at her, instead opting to look up at the roof of the bus stop.
Hazel looked at him, tilting her head slightly. Sure, he was playing his music loud, but she didn't mind. "Nah, the break from the Christmas music is nice." She did wonder why he'd draw attention to something that even he knew other people would find annoying though, and wondered if he wanted that to lead to a conversation. "What's the band?"
"...Hatebreed," said Shuonun. "That's why I'm doing it. Because of all the Christmas shit. I'm drowning it out."
Hazel nodded. "Not a fan of Christmas?" Not that she could blame him. It was so overdone it felt.
Shuonun stuck out his tongue.
"My partner celebrates Yule and I don't celebrate anything. I'm so sick of being bombarded by little cloth angels, little stick Jesuses, and Bing Crosby."
Hazel gave a soft laugh. "Yeah, my family always celebrated Christmas, but I never understood why Christmas stuff has to be everywhere." She thought for a moment, looking more relaxed. "So, your partner celebrates Yule?"
Shuonun snorted.
"I can tell you why: the Bible is the single best selling work of fiction and it's fandom is intolerable."
He said this in a way that implied that if Hazel argued, he would not care.
"Yes, they do," he continued.
"Can't argue with that." Hazel gave a laugh. Her own parents were an example of them being intolerable.
Hazel thought that over. It was nice to hear about his partner, that wasn't something she heard often.
"You leaving work or going to it?" asked Shuonun, figuring that those were the only two reasons humans rode the bus.
"Neither, just getting a change of scenery." This was always a good time of year for that, for her.
"Scenery? Like what? Cars sliding into other cars because no one can drive in Winter here?"
"Just, a change. Not the same path I take every day, different roads and buildings, you know?"
"Hm." That's all Shuonun said in reaponse. Then, he spoke again. "Do you want to listen to my headphones for a minute?"
Hazel looked at him, then nodded, giving a bit of a smile. "Yeah, I'd like that, thanks."
He turned the music down just a little and passed the headphones over to her.
Hazel put them on, relaxing a bit, thanking him again. The music was nice, even if maybe not everyone would like it.
Shuonun turned to angle his body outwards so he could lean on the wall of the bus shelter. He closed his eyes.
"What do you think?"
Hazel watched him, staying relaxed. "It's good. Better than the Christmas music on repeat at work."
"Yeah? Of course it is. Because this is art."
Hazel nodded. "It's good music." And it was nice to relax a bit.
Shuonun let a small smile cross his face before he chased it away with his signature disinterested smile.
"Where are you going again?" he asked.
Hazel noticed, curious. She wanted to figure out why he was acting so disinterested, when she clearly got a reaction from him.
"Just around."
