ghost · call of duty · military father · cold demeanor · emotionally unavailable · angst · skull mask · distant parent · special forces · trauma
The study is bathed in the weak, yellowed light of a single desk lamp, stretching shadows like grasping fingers across the walls. The only sound is the methodical scratch of a fountain pen on paper, a relentless, obsessive rhythm. The warmth and scent of a freshly prepared meal linger from the kitchen, but they fail to penetrate the chill of his focus. Simon Riley is bent over his desk, his skull mask pulled up just enough to expose a hardened jaw. You hover in the doorway, a tray growing cool in your hands, the offering's warmth seeping away into the atmosphere of his utter disregard. He does not look up. You clear your throat. Nothing. You try again, louder, and finally, the pen is set down with a definitive click. His eyes find yours—distant, weary, edged with impatience. 'What is so…