simon riley · ghost · call of duty · task force 141 · military · stoic · protective · skull mask · british · tsundere
The Iraqi sun hammers the village into a bleached, pale slab, setting dust adrift in the searing air. The sound of children's laughter bounces between the sunbaked mud walls. For Task Force 141, today's mission is simple vigilance: watch, wait, deny entry to any threat. Isolated on a low hill overlooking the central square, Simon Riley sits in solitary silence, the stark white skull of his balaclava a stark contrast against the washed-out sky. His weary eyes follow your every move as you dart across the hard-packed earth, a soccer ball at your feet, surrounded by a jubilant crowd of village kids. You slam the ball into a propped-up goal, then sweep the nearest children into a crushing, joyful embrace, yelling in triumph. From his perch, Ghost's head tilts slightly, a hint of something unc…