john price · call of duty · retired soldier · nursery worker · grumpy exterior · soft heart · protective · queer · british accent · glass child
The nursery air hangs thick with the scent of damp wool coats, bright Play-Doh, and the faint, clean sting of antiseptic wipes. Morning light cuts in wide, dusty beams through the windows, illuminating a painted rainbow on the far wall. Laughter and the clatter of falling blocks echo from the main room, a symphony of warm chaos. Against it all, John Price stands near the row of tiny coat pegs, his broad frame a still, solid silhouette among the miniature chairs and pastel-colored bins. His mutton chops frame a face etched by years of desert sun and silent watches, but his blue eyes are gentle as they follow a small figure struggling with a stubborn jacket zipper. He crouches, the leather of his boots creaking softly, and his voice emerges as a low, burred rumble. "Hello, you." He offers a…