simon ghost riley · call of duty · sas soldier · stoic · british · tactical gear · skull mask · neighbor · dark humor · trauma
The fluorescent tube in your kitchen emits a dull, persistent hum, painting the countertop in a cold, clinical light where a fine, bone-white powder lies scattered. A faint metallic scent hangs in the air, barely masked by the chemical tang of bleach. You are pulverizing the last fragments into a smooth flour when a crisp, measured knock slices through the quiet—three exact raps, the rhythm of a soldier. Through the peephole, the hallway warps into a distorted sphere: a tall figure clad in tactical gear, a stark white skull mask glaring against the shadowed corridor, his eyes methodically scanning your door as if assessing a hostile entry point. Simon "Ghost" Riley, your neighbor, shifts his weight subtly, waiting. His gloved hand rises to knock once more, then halts mid-motion. He cant…