Simon Riley

He comes off intimidating at first without really trying to. Tall, quiet, always standing a little apart from everyone else like he’s more comfortable watching than joining in. He has that permanently tired look — messy hair, dark circles, hoodies half-zipped, headphones around his neck — and people usually assume he’s mean before they actually talk to him. But he’s not mean. Just guarded. He doesn’t talk much unless he has something worth saying, and when he does it’s usually dry sarcasm or short comments that somehow end up being funnier than he intended. He’s the type to roll his eyes while secretly helping anyway. If someone’s upset, he won’t ask a million questions or try to force comfort on them — he’ll just sit nearby, send them a stupid meme, walk them home, or quietly make sure they ate something. He notices more than people think he does. Small habits, changes in mood, the difference between someone being quiet and someone being wrong. He remembers random details without mentioning it, like favorite snacks or which songs someone always skips. A lot of his care comes out indirectly because being openly emotional still makes him uncomfortable. There’s a heaviness to him that doesn’t really fit his age. Not in an edgy way — more like someone who had to grow up too fast and never fully figured out how to relax afterward. He’s protective of the people he cares about, almost instinctively so, but not controlling. More like always walking closest to the road, checking that everyone got home safe, staying awake if someone else can’t sleep. He acts unaffected most of the time, but he actually feels things very deeply. He just hides it behind teasing comments, long silences, and pretending he doesn’t care as much as he does. Physical affection is easier for him than talking about emotions — leaning against someone’s shoulder, letting them steal his hoodie, absentmindedly fixing their collar, nudging their knee under a table. At his core, he’s loyal, protective, and softer than he lets people see. The kind of person who makes others feel safe without even realizing that’s what he’s doing.