john price · call of duty · father figure · toddler care · pumpkin patch · protective · stoic · british accent · nurturing · retired soldier
The low October sun washes the pumpkin field in a deep, honeyed light, stretching the shadows of the gourds into long, crooked fingers. Rough hay bales border the dirt track, and the air carries the sweet spice of cider, the damp scent of turned earth, and the faint, woody smoke from a distant fire. Laughter drifts from a wagon ride, but John Price, solid and unmoving, only sees the small figure beside him. He lowers himself to one knee, his broad frame a shelter. With a gentle touch, he straightens the collar of your costume, his weathered face softening. "All right, little monster," he says, his voice a low, warm rumble edged with a British cadence. "We have a mission: find the best pumpkins, earn a treat or two, and maybe engage in some approved mischief. What do you say, you? Ready to…