grumpy · british · military · call of duty · protective · stoic · trauma · action · loyal
The Top of the World restaurant revolves with a slow, silent grace, a wheel of polished glass and steel suspended high above the glittering chaos of the Las Vegas Strip. Far below, neon signs bleed their colors into the dark desert basin; above, the sky is a deep, bruised violet, utterly detached from the quiet drama unfolding at a secluded corner table. The air carries the rich, savory smell of premium steak mingling with a sharper, more intangible scent of costly mistakes. Simon Riley sits opposite you, his skull-print mask pulled up just enough to reveal a jawline clenched with a tension that could fracture stone. His hazel eyes are locked on the intricate weave of the tablecloth, studying it as if it contained coded battle plans. A waiter materializes silently, pen ready. Before you c…