#Ghoap is a thing and they are in an open relationship because I said so

[rip-cod-brainrot]

I’m adding Makarov next to my sims file. It’s only fair. It’s just been Graves and the 141 and my OCs, I need drama

[bestreadfanfic]

Landscapes

Summary: Johnny and Simon are both done with their military service and now live in the English countryside. However, Johnny's time in the military left him disabled and with a lot of unresolved issues. You and your boyfriend moved into their sleepy town and Johnny just knows you need saving.

Pairings: Ghoap x reader

Warnings: Domestic abuse, Soap has PTSD, Violence

A/N: So, I was supposed to writing part two on my other story, but I got writer's block. This just popped up in my head.

Johnny wasn’t a creep. Majority of people that came across him would describe him as a good guy that's just a bit intense. In fact, Johnny was such a good person that he risked and was willing to sacrifice his life for his country. While his time in the military didn’t kill him, although sometimes he wished it did, he did lose a leg and got some brain damage. The point is that Johnny sacrificed enough to indulge himself once in a while.

It’s not like he was causing you any harm. No, he was just keeping an eye on you. Despite the fact that he’s only ever really seen you from afar and never even spoke to you he felt this overwhelming protectiveness over you. He knew that your boyfriend was no good. 

Boyfriend

Not your husband. Neither of you two wore a ring. Not to mention that when the two of you moved into the small house down the road and Johnny and Simon went to introduce themselves he very pointedly said that his girlfriend lives with him as well. Johnny didn’t have the chance to speak to you then. It’s not like he really wanted anyway. 

Your boyfriend wasn’t a very pleasant person to be around. It only worsened when he found out that Johnny and Simon were in a relationship. Johnny figured that only a woman that was as unpleasant as him was able to put up with. But they say that opposite attracts. 

It was nearly a month after meeting your boyfriend that Johnny finally saw you. In that month Johnny had plenty of interactions with your boyfriend. None of them that Johnny enjoyed. 

Every morning Johnny would go for a walk. At first Simon would walk with him, but Johnny needed to go alone. It’s not that he didn’t love Simon. He did with all his heart. But he needed the freedom. Needed to prove that he was capable. Even if that meant going for a walk by himself.  

Johnny knew that the only reason Simon allowed him to go on these walks was because they lived in the British countryside. Crime rarely ever happened in their small town. Johnny also knew that despite being in such a safe town Simon would follow him on these little walks. Of course when he first figured this out he was furious, but Johnny had lost the will to fight over most things. He needed these walks for his sanity. If the price to pay was having Simon follow him from afar he would gladly take it. Besides he sacrificed way bigger things before.  

He often zoned out of these walks. That’s probably why he didn’t notice you at first. It was your sobs that brought him out of his daydreams. You were sitting on the side of the road in front of your house just bawling your eyes out. It took him a while to register that you were that asshole’s girlfriend. 

By the time that his foot started to move towards you the front door to your house swung open. The loud noise caused him to stop in his tracks. He hated loud noises now. It caused him to freeze and retreat back inside of his head. His comfort space. He could still see and hear what’s going on around him. He just couldn’t process it. 

He saw your boyfriend stomping outside of the house right up to the two of you. He heard your boyfriend yelling at you and then at him. But he couldn’t understand the words that were spewing out of his mouth. He couldn’t move his foot. His crutches seemed to be buried into the ground keeping him glued to the spot. He wanted to move so bad. Or at least tell him to stop. But he couldn’t. 

His unresponsiveness only seemed to make your boyfriend madder. So mad that he came up to Johnny chest to chest. Johnny was taller but he was in no shape to fight. When your boyfriend lightly shoved Johnny's chest he toppled over like a domino. 

Although that only served further paralyzed Johnny it put you into motion. You put yourself in between Johnny and your boyfriend begging. Johnny couldn't understand what you were saying but did understand that you were attempting to defend him. 

It wasn’t needed however, because in the next 30 seconds your boyfriend was flat on the ground with Simon on top of him pounding his face in. You knew better than to get in between Simon and your boyfriend so you just stood to the side begging him to stop. 

Simon turned his head toward you and for a second Johnny was sure that you were next. But he knew that Simon wasn’t one to hit women. Instead you and Simon exchange a few words. Johnny didn’t understand he could see your mouth move and hear the words, but his brain refused to translate the words.  

Johnny groaned in frustration causing the two of you to snap your heads towards him. The rest was a blur. When Johnny came again he was in his bed. The whole ordeal was a mess but Johnny came out of it with a strange fascination with you. 

He was more aware of you. For someone that he’s never seen around before you seemed to be in a lot of places. He never approached you though. Simon had warned him to avoid both you and your boyfriend at all costs. 

However, Simon never said anything about watching you. It’s not like he was stalking you. No, it just so happens that the two of you rarely had anywhere to go and often enjoyed taking walks through the English countryside.

[brainr0t-landfill]

🌃 Mercurial

ghoap x male reader

Chapter Three: Devour

"I can be good, I can be true

You know I don't love anyone, but I love you"

-Nicole Dollanganger, Chapel

(tw: poverty, dishonest reader)

You don't like it, you don't like it a damn bit.

You don't like the bandage on your bottom lip, you don't like the smiley face doodle next to their supposed names, you don't like that your front door is locked with the only key of the shitty, rental sitting safely on the cracked tile floor.

It makes you feel small, it makes you feel pathetic; like a small thing desperate for help the feeling claws away at you twitching your fingers as you punch their numbers in and thank them, lashes out your throat when the same snobby kid comes into the shop with the same posh car he's brought in four times this month.

It makes you restless, it makes you damn near resentfull to these two men who in no way deserve it, they just helped some poor bloke get home after a night out, they probably never thought about it again or maybe they did; maybe they still do maybe they think about how needy you are as you three text back and fourth.

You feel as like you owe them and it kills you inside, so you decide to repay them.

'hey off work this Sunday wanna hangout? :)'

And then it began, looking back now, from this distance, you can see the way you'd twisted the narrative, convinced them they could love you, that you were good.

It was awkward at first, then it was friendship, then you were sitting cross-legged on the bed getting invited into their relationship. At the time it had seemed too erratic, too fast, no time to sit and think, no time to second guess but from this distance you can see how you wiggled your way into a place meant for them, carved a space out in hearts desperate for stability and already occupied, for someone like you, somone who didn't know how stay.

It was always transactional on your part, or at least it was supposed to be.

You would help them out for the grace they had shown you that night and you would prove to them that the help they gave you that night was justified you would lead them into thinking you were a person deserving of good things. You had no ill intension despite the driving force behind these actions being festering, putrid emotions. And then you'd leave once the cards were even, your feathers smooth. You'd skip town like so many times before and leave them behind with good, happy memories.

But you stayed.

You showed up on time to planned hangouts, you cleaned up after yourself when you stayed over and cleaned up the flat they shared with the spare key Ghost had given you half a year into knowing you and stocked the pantry with foods you knew they liked, listed on a little notepad while they were on what you used to know as business trips.

You were overstepping boundaries, you were too much, you were restless. You were appriciated.

Then you let them in after they got kicked out from their flat because John got into a fight with the nosy landlord. You took notice of their likes, dislikes, the things that set them on edge wrote themn down and acted accordingly.

You gave the neighbours fake names and vague answers whenever they asked about them, you kept scotch in the kitchen closet and sleeping pills behind the cracked bathroom mirror, you kept the door barricaded with a chair at night and didn't even think of unlocking it untill you confirmed it was them.

In turn they opened up to you about their profession, their pasts, their relationship, their insecurities their desires.

You were ingenuine, you were too obedient, you were smothering.

You were becoming irreplaceable.

You were sitting by the window sill with John ,Simon out on an errand, when he said.

"Ye ken, we uhh- we appreciate you a lot hare. Wit' what we do 'n how we can be I ken we ain't the easiest folks to be around."

You snorted into your morning tea shaking your head as you knocked your shoulder against his.

"And I'm just the dew on morning grass ain't I? It's lovely to have y'all around, needed me some reliable mates for a while now anyways. And don't I owe you?"

John turned to you recently plucked eyebrows raised.

"Owe us? Fer what?"

"Y'know, that night by the pub, I'd have probably become a headline that night without you two."

It's his turn to shake his head in disbelief, giving you that lovely smile you're slowly becoming accustomed to.

"Don't ye think that score's been settled a few dozen times by now?"

And before you knew it the three of you were saving up money for a new flat (you should have said no, you shoul have told them you always kept your suitcase packed for when you were finnaly sick of things too familiar, too comforting, too yours).

The scotch and the pills are replaced with fresh strawberries from the farmers market and melanin gummies in the new fridge Simon cleaned every Sunday, days of biting your tounge against customers were now full of work at a different shop with encouraged and nurtured patience and a customer service smile half genuine with the thought of going home to them. Nights out at pubs were slowly becoming dates, vauge answers and calculating looks were confessions and and eyes soft in the light spilling through the tall window of your new apartment.

Someone smoothes their hand down the expanse of your back as you're putting up curtains, it's early but you want it done before you head off to work so all three of you sleep better in the privacy and shade it provides, so the new apertment feels more like home.

Simon's smiling at you, his face is bare and his hands warm, they just got home yesterday, none of you sleep well in new environments, you're glad the new bed has enough room for them to toss and turn.

His cheeks are flushed from sleep.

"Bit short for the job angel, let me help?"

You step down from the stool and hand him the end of the thick curtain, marine blue with patterns swirled on it like puffs of smoke.

"Always nice havin' tall lads at my disposal."

You joke watching his muscles flex and his hands work as they slide the rings on. You lean your head onto his thigh.

"It's warmer here, don't ya think? Real airy too, lots of room for us."

You nod, you haven't lived in a place so nice in years.

"Better when it's with you two."

Ghost and John became Simon and Johnny then Simon, you and Johnny.

You had dug yourself into a hole you did not deserve, built yourself a place not meant for people like you, filled it with the care and concern that had once been so calculated and planned before it became effortless, natural.

Your home, your safe heaven, your boyfriends; with your old suitcase rotting in a landfill somewhere.

Before you knew it you were restless once again.

<< Next Chapter / Next Chapter >>

[heademptie]

Thinking about Ghoap x Comms!Reader

(This is unedited ramblings at 10pm, this may end up being something, it may not)

(Also don't know if this is an actual job, but it makes sense to me that it would exist. But this is fanfiction so who cares)

Reader works for the military as well but their job is to monitor and transcribe communications during ops. Maybe they tried to be a soldier but got denied for some reason, maybe injury, maybe because they couldn't cope with directly taking lives or loosing them.

And readers been at it for a while, is good at thier job, keeps their head down, keeps what they hear to themself.

Reader is loyal, so they get a bit of leeway with their work. Gets assigned to monitor some of the 141's comms and becomes a detatched form of familiar with the team. They don't know who reader is, that they even exist, that most of their radio chatter is being heard by one person at a desk in a government building so far away.

Typically reader just zones out when working, purposefully trying to forget the confidential things they hear once they leave the building. But the 141 is... entertaining. The way they speak to each other with such familiarity and how they can make jokes without loosing sight of the mission, and how at the drop of the hat they hone in and get serious. They start to look forward to 'Price's paternal exasperation, 'Gaz's quick wit, 'Ghost's dry dad jokes, and 'Soap's cheeky comments. Occasionally they're graced with 'Laswell's easy verbal volleys with each member of the team. (Thinking about including Roach too)

And its obvious to reader, absurdly obvious, that Ghost and Soap are together. The thinly veiled, and the very not thinly veiled, flirting between the two is a giveaway. But what really sends it home is the panic. Reader was the one to transcribe the recoding from Las Almas. Right at the beginning, when Ghosts voice called out to Soap, he was calm in that call. But then Soap didnt answer. And reader heard the concealed panic when Ghost called out again, and they heard the relief when he did.

So reader figures out that they're together. Assumes as much. And takes a bit of joy from it. Takes some joy that people in such a brutal line of work have someone who understands and cares for them.

Maybe circumstances lead to reader needing to be saved. Or maybe they end up on base at the same time the 141 is there. And they run into the team some way. Readers smart, so they keep thier mouth shut about being privvy to their comms. Keeps to well known facts about the 141, the stuff soldiers outside of the team would know through reputation and minimal meetings.

Maybe they go out drinking, or maybe reader ends up bonding with the team some. They're all chilling somewhere together, and someone starts hitting on Soap and reader brushes it off. He's an attractive guy, charming too, its understandable. But Soap doesnt turn them down and reader looks over to Ghost who's watching the interaction too. And reader, without thinking says something about an open relationship. Ghost whips around on them in carefully concealed shock and asks them to repeat. Reader explains slowly, not yet realsing their error.

Its not until later, when Soap has left with the pretty thing who hit on him and Ghost had left quickly after readers comment, when Price is chuckling over his drink after reader has explained what they said, that they learn.

Ghost and Soap are not in fact in an open relationship. They are not even in any kind of relationship, romantic or sexual. And reader is shocked, if not a little disappointed, maybe even hurt. It's their own fault, really, they built up this false relationship between real people in their head only for it to remain in their head.

Later on, reader finds Ghost. Wanting to apologise for, stepping over the line? making the unsolicited comment? they're not entirely sure but they feel they should apologise anyway.

This is kinda where my thoughts end. I do have some I haven't mentioned but I don't know where to put them. Nor do I know exactly where this is going. Just some brain rot I've had.

[lurksunderthebed]

Ghoap Analysis/Meta (2.2)

The Evolution of GhostSoap Redux

More recontextualising of GhostSoap. The other half of mwii (22). Featuring everyone's favourite: "Alone".

Part (2.2/?)

BEWARE SPOILERS MWIII (23)!!!

Please check the alt text.

"Alone" remains the most compelling and vivid mission for anyone looking at Ghostsoap interactions.

It's one of the most important missions because it's the one I consider to contain the building blocks of their relationship. This is their 'getting to know each other' moment as more than just allies/reluctant coworkers.

That said I'll go over the mission from start to finish. Why? Cause why not. I love the mission too much not to give it the detail it deserves.

Alone

Graves: He's put me in command of this operation from here on out. So, y'all need to stand down. It's time to let the pros finish this.

Soap and Ghost glance sideways at each other.

Graves: And why the hell are we talking like this is some kind of a negotiation? It's not. I've got my orders and now you have yours.

Alejandro: And who the fuck do you think you are, cabron? My men are inside!

Graves: I'm afraid not. Your men have been... detained.

Alejandro glares at Graves for a second but then launches himself at him.

Alejandro: Cabron!

Graves and one of his men push Alejandro against a vehicle and restrain him with a zip tie.

Soap: Graves, what the fuck?!

Soap then attacks the Shadow besides him, forcing Graves and the remaining Shadows to open fire on the threat. Ghost elbows a second Shadow behind him in the face and then uses his knife to stab a third Shadow in the neck before throwing that same knife into the fourth Shadow. Alejandro puts his restrained arm around a Shadow's neck.

Alejandro: Get your fucking hands off of me—

Graves knocks out Alejandro in the head with his rifle butt before turning his attention back to Soap. Soap grabs his hostage's sidearm and fires at one of Graves' men, killing him. Graves shoots Soap in the arm, sending him backward to the ground with his dead hostage on top of him.

Soap: Argh!!

Graves moves to his right around the vehicle looking for Ghost. Ghost pops his head out of the vehicle's rear corner and finds Soap on the ground.

Ghost: Go, Johnny!, get out of there! Soap - Go!

Soap pushes the dead guard off of him and launches himself over the concrete barrier sliding down the hill as Graves' men fire on him.

Alright bear with me. This is a long transcript but I included the whole exchange for full context. I've bolded the two things I wanted to talk about.

First being the long glance Ghost and Soap give each other. Again, when I saw this scene I initially thought it strange. It was odd to me that Soap who had been introduced to Ghost for presumably the first time only 7 days ago was able to communicate through glances no less to Ghost so effortlessly.

I thought "wow" maybe there were large amounts of time unseen between missions. Maybe Ghost and Soap got to know each other then? Though the disdain Ghost showed to Soap and the coldness outside of missions till "Alone" seem to disprove it.

Or maybe they just shared such an instant connection this was possible? Stranger things had happen before.

But now that we have "Flashpoint" it's obvious that they've definitely worked together enough. Enough to communicate through searching looks. Not enough to know each properly or more intimately. Or for Ghost to have cared about Soap before the events of "El Sin Nombre". But an effective working relationship.

This is demonstrated here in "Alone" to great effect.

Soap and Ghost don't have to nod, they just see each other's expression. Or rather Soap sees Ghost's "I'm so done with this bs" look again. A look that Soap has triggered many times in their working relationship no less. And a look he recognised during "Cartel Protection" when he motioned for Rudy to stop joking. Soap can read Ghost surprisingly well.

So does this mean they could've had a deeper relationship before the events of mwii (22)?

Perhaps.

But again I say it's unlikely.

Soap's strength of character is so immediate that it not standing out within a staggering 3 years is unbelievable UNLESS Ghost only worked within a limited basis with him.

Remember that it's Ghost seeing Soap volunteer himself to do something recklessly brave that really causes him to change his opinion on Soap and then blurt out a nickname for the sergeant.

An unfamiliar nickname to Soap that shows Ghost's care.

Now why do I say it's unfamiliar?

Lets look at my 2nd point in this transcript.

Ghost: Go, Johnny!, get out of there! Soap - Go!

Ghost yells at Soap to go. Another high stress moment for the LT which makes him use that new nickname of his. But it's not 'Johnny' that really gets Soap to snap out of his shock. It's the name 'Soap' that does.

Now you can argue that this was a high stress moment. Soap could just respond to his military name different when he's running under a lot of adrenaline.

But thats patently untrue.

We can even prove it with the events of "Flashpoint" '19:

Soap: I'll blow your fuckin' brains out, Makarov - you hear me, I swear to god I'll do it.

Price: Soap... Soap! Don't do it!

Soap: Let me finish him!

Makarov: [Laughing]

Price: John, we have him! He's in custody. He's not going anywhere.

Price: Stand down, Sergeant.

Soap grimaces and moves away.

After Makarov taunts Soap and Ghost in the helo, we see the sports stadium blow up anyway despite Soap and Price's best efforts (to Makarov's evil glee).

This enrages Soap and he threatens to kill Makarov. Price stops him but with much pleading. And guess what? It's not the name 'Soap' that breaks through to him. It's Soap's actual name 'John' that does.

It's Price's own personal reference to Soap that changes the sergeant's mind. Cools him down from his righteous fury.

Accordingly, if 'Johnny' was a name that Ghost had used before, I can't see why it wouldn't be the prevailing name that would get Soap to really get moving. Especially since we see Ghost once again use it in high stakes moments.

'Johnny' is Ghost's personal reference to Soap just like how 'John' is Price's. Thus it should be the name given more weight in Soap's mind.

But it isn't.

It's because the name is new.

Again this demonstrates how much Ghost's relationship has changed because of "El Sin Nombre". From barely tolerated coworker to something more. It's a fascinating look.

But enough of that.

Lets get to the fun stuff: gameplay dialogue. Everyone's favourite in this mission.

But before we do, we should be reminded of this statement in part 2.1,

As we find out through "Alone", Ghost is a massive hypocrite. There's much he tells Soap to do but doesn't actually follow himself. As a result there are three things to pay attention to when discerning his motivations: His nicknames, his stares and his actions.

This is important to have at the forefront when we look at Ghost's relationship to Soap. Especially when we take apart the dialogue because it really shows Ghost's 'do as I say and not as I do' mentality.

I've also mostly ignored putting in all the snarky jokes up as that would mean having the entirety of the mission dialogue here. Just know that this mission is the FIRST time that Ghost entertains Soap's jokes and even makes his own jokes back to keep Soap focused on making it out alive. Despite all his efforts, Ghost is finally warming up to Soap and getting hopelessly attached. It only took 7 days.

Gameplay Dialogue

Soap: This is Bravo 7-1, in the blind... How copy...? Ghost, this is 7-1, do you copy?

The radio crackles with static.

Soap: Fuck...Where are you, Ghost?

Soap gets back up on his feet and limps forward a few steps before collapsing forward to the ground.

Ghost: (over radio) Soap- This is Ghost, how copy?

Soap doesn't answer.

Ghost: Johnny...?

Soap touches his wounded arm and sees how bloody it is.

Ghost: Johnny... How copy?

Soap: Solid.

Ghost: Thought we lost you.

Here we see Ghost try to contact Soap normally. Then we see him panic internally, (though it's not obvious in tone), by switching to 'Johnny' when he gets no response from Soap. Another high stress moment for Ghost that he himself sort of acknowledges by saying that he thought they lost Soap. This guy is not fooling anyone in how much he cares.

Interestingly enough Soap never acknowledges the nickname until "Prison Break" and that was to Alejandro. Perhaps Soap knows that Ghost will just clam up if he asks about it from Ghost himself. This is also supported by dialogue.

Soap: Creepin'...

Ghost: What are you seein'?

Soap: A bloodbath.

Ghost: Watch your arse.. You got exactly zero allies down there...

Soap: We're friends, no...?

Ghost: We're teammates... Friendship's not in the field manual, Johnny...

Soap: Neither is mask making...

The moment Soap mentions Ghost as more than teammates/coworkers Ghost downplays it. It's obvious that emotional attachment is something Ghost strives to avoid.

The irony of the spooky man's rebuke is that he immediately defaults to using Soap's nickname right after it. Of course, Soap calls out Ghost on the hypocrisy. Ghost doesn't have a response back. Soap leaves it there, though again, failing to comment on the nickname and how much Ghost seems to like using it.

But why doesn't Soap mention it?

The answer lies in the situation. Soap knows that pushing for more, for an explanation would mean Ghost stonewalling him again. And Soap needs all the friends he can get to survive.

It does beg the question though, did Soap see Ghost as a friend prior to "Kill or Capture"? His casual attitude and fistbump at the start of the cutscene with Ghost tells us, yes probably.

We see throughout the game that Soap is physically affectionate with those he likes.

"Kill or Capture" had Soap fistbumping the marine in the helo before the depart. "El Sin Nombre" and "Dark Waters" had Soap exchanging more fistbumps and a hug to Graves. It's obvious that Soap is a tactile guy.

Hell, we even have "Flashpoint" in '19 to suggest Soap saw Ghost as a friend as well! Shocked? Me too.

There's a bit of dialogue exchanged between Makarov and Soap when he was pushing him to get to the HLZ (landing zone for helo transport).

Price: Visual on the exit. This way.

Soap: Walk!

Soap shoving Makarov forward.

Soap: Time to meet some friends of mine.

Makarov: Where are they?

Soap: Close.

The only ones they meet in the helo is Shepherd and guess who, our boy Ghost. Insert Jazz hands. It's funny Soap thinks of Ghost as a friend when the LT really stonewalls him. We hear probably the most brisk conversation from Ghost to Soap ever when Ghost provides sniper cover to Soap. There is no acknowledgement from Ghost to Soap at all. Not even a casual sergeant or Mactavish.

Now Soap could be referring to 'friends' as a let me show you my very threatening coworker who is infamous for his interrogation skills. Ha ha rot in hell ya bastard. Sort of thing. That's probably what the game meant to imply.

But the idea of Soap having a onesided friendship to Ghost for 3 years (complete with fistbumps and snarky jokes) and Ghost just sort of tolerating it cause he can't avoid the sergeant, is desperately funny.

Considering how much Ghost side eyes and rolls his eyes around the sergeant. I wouldn't at all be surprised that's how it went for them.

Anyhow back to more gameplay dialogue.

Ghost: Advise you move interior if you're not already. It's good cover.

Soap enters the garage and finds a locked door.

Soap: No joy... Door's locked.

Ghost: Look for supplies- things you can make tools with. Welcome to guerrilla warfare...

Again, if Ghost is trying to show how little he cares about Soap he's just failing miserably. Here we see Ghost showing Soap how to deal in a situation that is unfamiliar to him. Ghost desperately wants Soap to live and make it out.

Soap: Broke off a fan blade.

Ghost: Tie off the blade with the rope and pry open a door.

Soap: Sounds like you've done this before...

Ghost: Years of practice...

Another example but this time we see how little Soap knows about Ghost. I feel that if they were closer, Soap would know that Ghost has experience in situations such as these.

But no, this is a teaching moment for Ghost, one where he sees Soap manage to make it out despite the odds against him again (the first time being "El Sin Nombre") and a time for both Soap and Ghost to get to know each other more.

And then we come across this golden nugget. This one is the clearest example of Ghost's complicated relationship with intimacy and trust.

Soap: Oowf...

Ghost: What's the latest?

Soap: Mercs are killing everything in their path.

Ghost: War crimes...

Soap: Makes me want to commit a few war crimes of my own...

Ghost: Tyranny. It won't stand.

Soap: Think we'll get a green light to go after these guys.

Ghost: No more green lights, Johnny. We're on our own.

This last line is critical. But more on that, with the next dialogue that follows after. There are several options but I'll choose the Price dialogue.

Soap: What about Captain Price?

Ghost: Price isn't here, is he...? The old man can't bail us out. Not this time.

There's an option to deny or agree that Price is someone to trust.

Here's if you say you trust Price.

Soap: I trust the Captain - if he knew, he'd be here.

Ghost: Be careful who you trust, Sergeant. People you know can hurt you the most.

Here's if you don't.

Soap: I don't trust anyone- Don't trust anyone right now, even Price.

Ghost: We'll see. Just make sure you can trust yourself. Start there.

Now what does this tell us?

Lets look at the this bit.

Ghost: No more green lights, Johnny. We're on our own.

As I said earlier this line is very important. Consider Ghost and Soap's relationship at the start of "Kill or Capture". Ghost barely tolerates Soap. He mostly does solo missions and if he's team lead, then it's not in a group of people he sees consistently. He's nominally a lone wolf. It's even in the dialogue later, "[Ghost] (is) used to working alone".

But now it's no longer Ghost and 'sergeant I have to tolerate', it's SoapAndGhost against the world. They can't rely on anyone else but each other. Not Price, not Alejandro, not Laswell. Just Soap and just Ghost: they've become a unit.

Ghost could have said to Soap, "You're on your own." He could've left Soap to die; it would've been easier on Ghost if he did realistically. He knows where Alejandro's safe house is, he's not injured, has better skills, weapons, positioning to just leave outright. But he doesn't.

Ghost is there helping him. Ghost misdirects, he outright lies, he is a massive hypocrite. But even here he can't quite lie to himself. He frames it himself as not a "You have to do this to help yourself". It's a "We have to help each other".

Afterwards they talk about trust. I actually find it revealing of Ghost's own complexities about it. Here he contradicts himself.

Let's look at the next three possible exchanges.

Soap: What about Captain Price?

Ghost: Price isn't here, is he...? The old man can't bail us out. Not this time.

When asked about who to rely on, he outright states that Price is someone they can. Just that they can't rely on him now because he isn't there with them. It's implied that Price is someone that Ghost trusts.

Then in the next bit, he says the opposite.

Soap: I trust the Captain - if he knew, he'd be here.

Ghost: Be careful who you trust, Sergeant. People you know can hurt you the most.

When Soap says that he trusts Price, Ghost gives a rebuttal: telling Soap to be careful of who he trusts and that the people close to him could hurt them the most. So he implies to Soap that Price isn't trustworthy.

If Soap says he doesn't trust Price or anyone,

Soap: I don't trust anyone- Don't trust anyone right now, even Price.

Ghost: We'll see. Just make sure you can trust yourself. Start there.

Instantly, Ghost implies that he should trust Price with a 'we'll see' and a please trust yourself (and not get hurt). Unsaid was the 'I don't even trust you, [Ghost]' from Soap that actually might've pained Ghost. Especially since Ghost is going out of his way to help Soap.

So what is it for Ghost?

It's obvious he trusts Price a great deal. Out of everyone in 141, he's the next closest person Ghost is to anyone. Price has seen him without the mask; it's implied they have worked together for years. Price is even allowed to refer to Ghost with his first name, seen later in "Ghost Team" and in Cod Warzone when we first see reboot Ghost.

Why does he have to give round about answers to Soap then?

The answer lies in the fact that Ghost implies to have been betrayed once by someone very close to him. It shows that Ghost's trust is hard earned and exactly why he tries so hard to not get attached to people. The people closest to him have broken his trust and hurt him.

Most importantly underneath it all, it's very clear that he doesn't want Johnny to ever go through that.

Ghost tells him to be careful, how to lie low, to keep calm through banter. He's always checking in to Soap. He's giving weapon tips. He's making silly dad jokes. He cares about Johnny more than just the physical. He worries about his emotional state as well.

They and the rest of the team got betrayed by a trusted ally. One that we see Ghost and Soap have worked with since '19. Its painful.

At this moment it's obvious Ghost sees himself in Soap. Just like him in the past, he sees Soap get betrayed by long term allies—friends even.

But more than that, he sees Soap as someone better than himself. This is even suggested in the next dialogue bit.

Soap: Good advice, L.T. I wanna be like you when I grow up.

Ghost: You wanna be better than me, Johnny...

At this point, the player can choose a few more dialogue options.

1. Soap: I will be. Ghost: Good man.

2. Soap: Got my work cut out then. Ghost: That you do...

3. Soap: Maybe, I already am... Ghost: Now's your chance to prove it.

Now, Ghost doesn't outright state it, but he more or less says he sees the potential of Soap to be someone much better than him. (And wants him to be).

Why do I think Ghost already sees him as the better man?

Because of the events of "El Sin Nombre". That one moment that captures Ghost's gaze, the defining point to Soap in the entire game: Soap walking into the cartels hands.

Again, let me remind you that Soap didn't get volun-told. He volunteered for a task that even Ghost wouldn't do. And it's this moment that forever changes how Ghost sees him.

Ghost is impressed. Ghost admires Soap for it. Soap was the better man that day. He proved it to Ghost then.

So why does Ghost imply there's only potential?

This is why:

Soap: Think I'll live that long?

Ghost: Probably not...

Ghost doesn't think Soap will live through the events of "Alone". He wants to motivate Soap to get through Las Almas and find Ghost despite the odds stacked against him. He desperately wants this man, Johnny, to live. He wants to trust this reckless man. But he doesn't think Soap will live long enough for it to matter. This disbelief that Soap will make it out comes up constantly and at the end of the mission to great effect.

Moving on, pretty early in the mission, we get the first mention of Ghost's name from Soap.

Soap: Did you see the caged dog?

Ghost: Big geezer. If he barks, shoot him and repo quickly- Don't get compromised...

Soap: You are stone cold, Simon.

Ghost: What has two legs and bleeds?

Soap: Don't tell me... Ghost: Half a dog... Soap: I asked you not to tell me.

We see Soap leaning into this new closeness with Ghost by using his name. A name we only see Price use. A name that is the very implication of intimacy to a man that goes out of his way to hide his identity.

Soap is testing boundaries. Now that we know they've known each other for awhile, it's clear that Soap has always wanted them to be closer. The moment Soap gets a chance, he pushes for what prob is the 'holy grail' of closeness to Ghost. If not seeing his bare face, then being on a first name basis is a big one.

And Ghost instantly deflects with a joke to get away from that intimacy. A terrible joke, Ghost knows Soap won't appreciate. Ghost's later jokes were actually sort of funny in a "puntastic" way. This one is just plain shitty.

The best part, is that Soap must understand that Ghost isn't comfortable with him using his name either. Not at this point, for this is the only time we see Soap use 'Simon' the whole game.

We can read the whole bit as Ghost playing into the shock factor of willing to kill a pet and bantering back easy. But a more interesting alternative reading is that Ghost was uncomfortable with the name usage and deflected with a horrible joke. One that indirectly confirms to Soap that Ghost is indeed stone cold.

I like to pick the alternative because this deflection from intimacy, care, worry happens constantly.

It even happens in the next dialogue:

Soap finds a balcony and drops down to the street, collapsing to the ground as he does so. He gets back up and leaves the house.

Ghost: Gimme a sit-rep.

Soap: Outside... Gated alley.

Ghost: Stick to the edges and stay low.

Soap: Copy.

Ghost: You may get a brag rag for this...

Soap: A medal?

Ghost: Chest candy.

At this point, the player can choose from several dialogue options.

1. Soap: That's all rubbish.

2. Soap: Dead Shadows are my medals.

3. Soap: I deserve one.

Ghost: You said you wanted a win. Congratulations, you're a winner...

Soap: Away n' bile yer heid!

Ghost: English, MacTavish...

Soap: Sorry, sir, let me translate... "Go fuck yourself."

Ghost: Much better.

Lets break it down simply. Ghost hears Soap get injured. Ghost instantly asks if he's okay. Soap says he is. Ghost is worried, decides to deflect his worry and distract Soap by enticing him with medal talk. To which then he goads Soap into getting pissed at him to fire up his spirits.

We can see it as another, 'Ghost jokes to make Soap feel better' moment.

But what if we look it the other way around?

He's not only doing this for Soap, he's doing this for himself as well.

This is uncomfortable territory for Ghost. Caring that is. Jokes are made to distract both Ghost and Soap from thinking too hard on Soap's slim chances of survival. Not Ghost's survival. That was never truly a worry. Especially with all of Ghost's skill and prior knowledge.

Again this is shown in the very next bit:

Ghost: Church is on the north side of the city. I've set up a sniper position in the church tower. Find your way there, and you might just make it.

Ghost is already set up at the church. He's well kitted out with a bloody sniper rifle of all things. How he got it when Soap and Ghost ran from their vehicles is a mystery. He's literally metres away from the very vehicle that Soap and Ghost use to get away later. Ghost would be able to easily make it out there. It's even in his wording here. It's not a "we just might make it" it's a "you might just make it".

Contrast to Soap who's injured, weaponless and completely new to solo stealth operations like this. Ghost is worried. He's right to be. Cue all the cute banter and flirting between them.

We come across this as well.

Soap: Ghost, you missing a knife...?

Ghost: Several.

Soap: Think I found one.

Ghost: Some of the dead Shadows are my handiwork...

Soap: You came through here?

Ghost: On my way to the church.

Soap: And you left me?

Ghost: I'm used to working alone.

Soap: So much for no man left behind.

Ghost: Just get yourself to the church. Tryin' to keep you alive and get you here in one piece. One of us needs to survive to tell the tale.

Soap: Taken a shine to me, then?

Ghost: Not in the slightest. Still got a lot of ground to cover.

Soap is hurt about getting left which is more of a given considering they've known each for 3 years already.

We see Ghost's disbelief that Soap will get out of this situation alive. In a strange way, this is also Ghost testing Soap. He wants to trust Soap, something that he more or less stated was hard for him to do. If Soap is that admirable/trustworthy man he saw in "El Sin Nombre" then Soap will do the impossible and survive.

Ghost scrambles to find an excuse for leaving him and plays his hand: that he's indeed taken a shine to Soap by admitting to trying to keep him alive. Soap calls him out and Ghost lies between his teeth about survival. As we established, Ghost could easily leave then wait around. Survival for Ghost is not an issue. In fact, his survival is threatened by staying longer than necessary.

Again, we see him deflect his attachment.

We see this happen multiple times over and in many forms even.

Another being Ghost's insistence to come across as a stone cold killer to Soap constantly. We see it in the horrible dog joke earlier, where Ghost leans into his willingness to kill pets if necessary, and more damnably here:

Soap: Yes... L.T., about to play rough with the Shadows...

Ghost: I like the sound 'o that.

Soap: Fashioned a trip mine...

Ghost: A man after my own heart...

At this point, the player has several dialogue options.

1. Soap: Thought you'd like that. Ghost: You thought right.

2. Soap: You have a heart? Ghost: A cold one...

3. Soap: That's a scary thought. Ghost: You learn fast, Johnny.

If we ignore the flirty banter in the first chunk and focus on the answers, we see that all three answers have an emphasis (some more than others) on how 'emotionless' and cold Ghost is. Ghost tells Soap he's dangerous, that he's a killer who enjoys making men afraid of him. That he has zero emotions—that he doesn't care. Which is so hilariously untrue of Ghost's actions and words towards Soap during this mission that I find it funny he even tried. Ghost cares. That's not in question here.

The bigger question is, does Soap buy Ghost's act?

That question is somewhat answered in the next mission, "Prison Break" but I will leave it for later analysis. (I'll get there I promise!)

Lets get back to more deflections wooh babey!

Cause we got this iconic example of Ghost's attachment and a deflection to talk about:

Ghost: Rain's good. It'll cover your tracks.

Soap: Covers theirs too...

Ghost: Let's worry about you, Johnny.

Soap: So, you do like me?

Ghost: I like you alive...

Soap asks multiple times if Ghost likes him now. He's very persistent. If Soap was attached to him before as a onesided friend, it's changing into something else now. With Ghost helping him, entertaining all his jokes, ACTUALLY matching his snark for the first time in 3 years, Soap can't help but push for more.

This mission is the first time we see Ghost have any sort of personality beyond brusque professionalism and Soap is delighted. If we consider "Kill or Capture" Ghost as default, then the past 3 years had Ghost cutting off any banter or just staying silent. This Ghost that has the most deadpan sense of humour is something new, something Soap wants to see more of.

That's why we see so much of what I can only describe unequivocally as "Very Flirty Behaviour" later.

Re iconic scenes:

Soap: I'm in the coffee shop.

Ghost: Get us a tea.

Soap: Fucking Brits... You're gonna owe me for this.

Ghost: Why?

Soap: We're fixing each other's problems.

Ghost: What's my problem?

Soap: The mask... Take it off...

Ghost: Show my face?

Soap: Yes, sir.

Ghost: Negative.

Soap: Are you ugly?

Ghost: Quite the opposite.

Soap: I doubt that.

And:

Soap: L.T.- I'm at the bar.

Ghost: You like tequila?

Soap: Could use one right about now. 

Ghost: I'd murder for a whiskey. 

Soap: You mean Scotch? 

Ghost: I drink bourbon. 

Soap: Like a good ol' boy... 

Ghost: I love Kentucky. 

Soap: You're out o' your mind, L.T. 

Ghost: That's for sure.

Now what can we say of this? I see it as Soap testing the new boundaries of their relationship. We see this earlier with Soap's usage of 'Simon'. That effort was deflected. Using Ghost's name was too much and we see the LT make a joke that lands intentionally poorly.

But you know what doesn't land poorly? Very very blunt flirting. Soap goes for the throat and asks questions about Ghost he's probably always wondered.

As we see here in this other dialogue possibility:

Soap: L.T.- I'm at the bar.

Ghost: You like tequila?

Soap: No. Tastes like dog piss.

Ghost: I'll take your word for it.

Soap: Got a tactical use for dog piss?

Ghost: Wolf hunting. They follow the scent.

Soap: Do you hunt with the mask on?

Ghost: Naturally. The camo version.

Soap: I'll bet you sleep with that thing?

Ghost: Soundly.

Soap: You're out o' your mind, L.T.

Ghost: That's for sure.

Ghost isn't deflecting by making poor jokes or shutting it down. He's actually continuing the conversation. It's almost a strange sideways game of gay chicken, except the flirting is fine and even extended. It's when Soap gets too close emotionally (as seen in prior dialogue) that Ghost shuts it down.

The rest is fine, enjoyed even. The assortment of terrible "dad" jokes Ghost inflicts on Soap alongside the flirting Ghost does back to Soap shows Ghost's willingness to play along.

Ghost is having fun with Soap.

He's clearly getting a laugh out of how much he can make the sergeant roll his eyes. He's giving a taste of what he had to endure with Soap's constant prodding back to him. They are delineating the new boundaries of their relationship, redefining it and finding a kindred soul—someone who can match each other's snark and banter.

A good question to ask is why this didn't happen earlier in those 3 years? Soap is a cheeky lil shit. Ghost is secretly a snarky bastard. He's probably had all these rejoinders said back to Soap in his mind everytime Soap prodded him. They could match each others bark. Ghost knows this, but he refrained from joking back. Why?

Again, it's because he never saw Soap as anything else but a faceless soldier, one that wouldn't stop talking on comms and was too overly familiar with him. Soap likes to play with fire; testing a man known for being stone cold is something he would absolutely do. It's obvious emotional closeness is something Ghost avoids. Thus, it's something Soap would no doubt bug Ghost with. And the sergeant demonstrates it in "Kill or Capture" with his cheekiness, his unwanted touches, his gall to approach Ghost with more than a healthy respect for his skill.

But now, Ghost realises that Soap truly is more than what he thought for so long. He's even fun to be around. And an even more damning thought lays there in Ghost's mind.

What else was he wrong about too?

And so we get to near the end of the mission:

Soap: Think I found a way through, L.T.

Ghost: Shadows are everywhere. I'll hold 'em off until we RV in front of the church and secure a vehicle for exfil.

Soap: Roger that.

Ghost: Give 'em hell, Johnny- We're almost there.

Note the "we" there. It's stuck in Ghost's mind. They're a unit. Partners against the world.

And then finally:

Ghost: Johnny, stay close. Heads up for a vehicle we can take.

Eventually, Soap and Ghost reach a pickup truck nearby.

Ghost: Soap, pickup truck ahead. Lights on.

Soap: See it!

Ghost: I'll drive, Johnny- take shotgun!

Ghost uses 'we' again. He uses it plenty of times throughout the mission when he forgets himself and halfway steps into seeing them as more than reluctant teammates. But its contrasted with the next bit where he doesn't. And this is another defining moment for Ghost and Soap:

Soap and Ghost enter the truck with Soap in the passenger seat and Ghost behind the wheel.

Ghost: Alright, Johnny- You made it...

Soap: We made it, L.T.

We see the camera pan to Ghost, getting ready to drive. He tells Soap, "You made it..."

Soap proves himself to Ghost. He truly is that better man that Ghost saw a couple days back. Ghost is proven wrong in his quiet supposition that Soap won't make it: Johnny is worthy of his trust, his admiration. It's him alone, that managed to get out by himself.

But its not really.

And a pivotal moment that'll stick in Ghost's memories happens.

The camera pans to show what Ghost sees. And it's a compelling one.

Soap in that soft lighting, telling him that it's not Johnny who made it out alone. It's them both. "We made it, LT."

They're a team. Ghost and Soap aren't alone; they have each other.

If we think about the mission on a whole, we realise the irony of the mission's title. It's named "Alone". And we play as Soap being yes—alone. But he's actually not alone at all.

He has Ghost.

And it's only because of Ghost that Soap managed to survive. The title "Alone" becomes less that and more "Alone [together]".

The last scene really drives it through our head.

The truck comes under fire from the Shadows. Soap fires back with his pistol.

Ghost: Hold fast...!

Ghost puts the truck in reverse and runs over the two Shadows firing on them.

Soap: That's one way o' doin' it!

Soap spots a Shadow to the left of Ghost.

Soap: Get back!

Soap shoots and kills the Shadow.

Ghost: Thanks.

Soap: Drive- I'll cover us!

Here we end it off with Ghost and Soap united. Working as a newly minted team, a unit. Ghost saved Soap's life by sticking back and waiting for him. Soap pays the favour back by saving Ghost from getting shot. They're equals, partners. From here on out it's SoapAndGhost against the world.

For the sake of not making this post even longer and giving a moment for people to digest, I'll split this right here.

I'll put the actual discussion of Soap and Ghost's relationship so far into the next post. In it, I'll answer the question we all had in our minds, "Did something romantic happen between Ghost and Soap after the events of 'alone'?" I'll go over what I mostly avoided here, which is Soap's motivations/characterization. I've mostly focused on Ghost's though this post. Gotta make one on Soap.

Right so on to the alone part (2.3) lol 😂. When I get there.

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Any comments, arguments, concerns, feel free to ask.