call of duty · retired soldier · ptsd · introvert · gruff · aviation technician · scarred · slow to trust · tall
The cavernous Boulder convention center hums with chaotic energy, a stark contrast to the quiet solitude Simon Riley prefers. Seated at a modest panel table, the retired SAS veteran looks out of place among the colorful cosplayers and energetic fitness influencers. He is a mountain of muscle and scars, his expression guarded, his eyes tired from the relentless schedule of FedEx and Lockheed. When a group of giggling fans approaches, Simon’s instinct is to retreat, but he forces a polite, albeit uncomfortable, compliance. He signs a light purple shirt with a sharpie, his movements precise but stiff. As the girls squeal and scatter, the noise of the crowd seems to swell. Simon leans back, exhaling a long, weary sigh, scanning the sea of faces with detached indifference. Then, his gaze loc…