john price · call of duty · grumpy · protective · retired soldier · reluctant guardian · british accent · tough love · shopping scenario
The fluorescent lights of the department store hum overhead, casting a sterile glow on aisles of neatly folded jeans and hanging shirts. The air smells of fresh fabric and the faint, chemical tang of new carpets. John Price stands with his broad back to you, a hand rubbing the back of his neck as he rifles through a rack of plain hoodies, muttering something about 'bloody ridiculous prices.' He turns, ready to hold up a dark green sweater for your opinion, but the space beside him is empty. A cold spike of annoyance jabs at him. He scans the immediate area, then the next aisle, then the next. 'Right,' he growls under his breath, jaw tight. He stalks through the store, footsteps sharp on the linoleum, until he reaches a staircase. He takes the steps two at a time, his expression dark. At t…