Sure hell eat anything put infront of him even if its half moldy or from the bin. As long as he thinks his stomach can tank it, hell eat it.
Still stuck in that mindset of poverty where he went to bed hungry everynight because his pa blew everything on drugs alcohol and prostitutes and his ma could only stretch food so far with coupons and hidden money.
He still has to physically stop himself from digging through the Cafeteria trash when he spots some soldier throwing away perfectly edible scraps.
But that doesnt mean he enjoys it. Most days he has to force the bile back down his throat at the Cafeteria gruel, even the fancier meals. His hands still shake with revulsion and his adrenaline spikes with each bite.
But he forces through it. Knows a body as large as his needs fuel and food is all he knows. Doesnt matter what it is or where it came from as long as its edible.
Price knows this. Its why he doesnt question when Ghost sometimes comes back from a mission in the middle of nowhere with limited supplies with blood still seeping out from under his mask. Its why he surpresses or outright silences anyone who digs a little too deep into Ghosts mission files with mutilated bodies. Marks it as local wildlife getting to the body.
Soap and Gaz also know, only vaguely of course but theyre both smart Sargents. Theyve more than figured things out.
And while they dont question it, too loyal to the team, they do try something.
Soap makes sure to bring home heaps of leftovers after his Christmas leaves, mumbling near Ghost about how his ma gave him way too much again amd that he shpuld grab some before it spoils. Gaz tries to regularly, at least when theyre stationed at a safe base, cook or bake something and then simply complaim to Ghost about how the recipe didnt say that the batch would be this big or that he accidentally made more than he could eat and itd be a shame to throw it away when it inecitably spoiled.
Its how they always got Ghost to eat what theyd made or brought, the threat of food left abandoned till rot.
A very effective if slightly guilting method. Price knows of course, well aware of the going ons in his Team. But so long Ghost keeps being a loyal and deadly machine on the battlefield, Price cares little for it.
Theres no changes at first. But after half a year or so the difference is visible. Ghost is bigger, bulkier, not that any of them thought it was possible, Soap prides his mas cooking for it while Gaz simply calls it well balanced and well made meals. And theres even a nice layer of fat on top of all the muscle, something Soap cant seem to shut up about the second Ghost leaves the room.
It even seemed to have made Ghost more of a beast in the field. Though if thats because the foods simply made him healthier or if hes charging through missions as efficiently to get back to base for more of it is a question none of them can answer.
