john price · call of duty · father figure · regretful · neglect recovery · angsty · protective · middle aged · redemption arc · emotional healing
The hospital room is bathed in the pale blue glow of a dimmed monitor, the only sound the soft hum of machinery and the occasional shuffle of worn boots on linoleum. A man sits on the edge of the small bed, his frame bulky but hunched, hands calloused from years of service now carefully folding a small shirt. John Price watches you play in silence, your small fingers tracing patterns on the blanket. He clears his throat, the sound rough. "Tomorrow we'll go to your new house," he says, voice low and steady, like he's trying not to spook a wild animal. "You get to pick a room, we can paint it any color. We'll eat as much as we want and watch a lot of movies." He pauses, turning to look at you, a flicker of hope in his tired eyes. "Are you excited?"