Dingus

Starting with Ghost my favorite:

core character traits: Ghost is angry. Whatever happened to him in the past he is a deeply angry man. He's singularly focused and driven, ruthless in the fact that he will take the straight path to his objective without caring who is in the way. He is absolutely loyal to his team and unwavering in his allegiance, he also takes extreme issue and personal offense to those that betray their comrades. I see Ghost as a fairly apathetic character, with no strong moral leanings except "get the job done." At the same time he clearly cares about building a rapport with his team, as seen through his joking with Soap, so he seems to really solidify himself around his work(and little else).

Kindness: Clearly he has a soft spot for the 141, which makes me think he forges relationships between his fellow soldiers fairly easily. His ease at exchanging jokes with Soap in the alone mission makes me think he's done that before.

Weak points: He's angry, which makes people irrational, but we don't see him acting irrationally until mw3 where he threatens to bomb Graves. This also points back to his incredibly strong(and personal) feelings around betrayal. If I were to invent a backstory for him it would probably revolve around a double cross in his youth, so I think his ability to hold a grudge is his biggest character flaw (despite everything else)

Gaz the golden boy:

core character traits: Gaz is a tempered impulse. He wants to break the rules but he doesn't. He's clearly incredibly smart and capable, we know he got top marks at the academy and that he was hand picked by Price as a protege in the first modern warfare. He has a strong moral compass but is also a good soldier. He objects to using women and children in interrogations but relents when pressed by his superior officer. Gaz has some temper issues that I see as stemming from butting heads with the higher ups, his temperament is much more jovial sniping with Price than we see in the piccadilly mission. He's accomplished but maybe not recognized for it. He's quick to bring in allies, and quicker to stand up for them. He forms relationships easily and will hold his friends' grudges. He's polite but quick to challenge authority. He's logical, but he also feels like he has his hands tied. He's looking for justice in this messed up world and I think that speak volumes to his character.

Kindness: We know that Kyle has sympathy for civvies, he doesn't want to hurt them, and I think that's why he was willing to abide by the rules of engagement until Price showed up. He's a good man at heart, and his moral backbone is honestly going to save him in any situation.

Weak points: He's too focused on doing the right thing, but the "right thing" depends entirely on what Kyle has decided it is. The right thing is to go after Laswell, the right thing is to keep women and children out of interrogations (until Price tells him), the right thing is to follow the rules of engagement even if it means pretending they aren't at war (until Price shows up). His morality is too flexible and he's able to think himself out of any moral quandary. Fantastic character trait, but also so so bad for the world.

Price next since I mentioned him a lot in Gaz's:

core character traits: Price gives the impression that he's been in the game a long time, and for one reason or another, he's decided to stay at captain instead of moving up the ranks. This gives me the impression of a deeply stubborn man, a man that wants to do things his way or not at all. He argues with Shepherd(a general) and gives Laswell incomplete personnel files (no picture for Ghost), both of which he does not compromise on. And though with Laswell there's more of a comradery to their relationship, I think that shows even stronger that he is uncompromising. Another ruthless man, he does things his way in pursuit of his goals no matter the cost. He does things off the book and his superiors are clearly used to this which means he either gets results or protesting is useless. I would bet both of these things are true. Speaking of results, the man is driven by an ends justify the means mentality that allows him to convince himself to take any path that he can reasonably see as leading towards his goal. We also see the one time in 3 games where he follows protocol Makarov gets away, I think this sets up his "my way or the highway" approach. He clearly knows the rules he just choses to ignore them.

Kindness: women, I think he's kind to women. Farah and Kate are the two women we see as his allies and though he brings up women and children during an interrogation, we also frequently see how much he respects his female compatriots. There's clearly either a deep line of trust or a deep respect there, but I see him as a man who has no trouble with strong women.

weak points: My way or the highway is no way to live. While this works great in the military where he's the end all be all authority for his team, it's not great out in the world. Bullheaded, and deadly in his grudges. There's no apologizing to this man, and I think that reflects in his relationship with the 141. We never see any of them really disobey orders and even in the few instances where one of them presses Price is QUICK to overpower their questioning.

Soap last, sorry Soap:

core character traits: Quick to anger but also quick to laugh. Soap is the quintessential demo man, everything about him feels explosive. The man is highly capable like Gaz with the same simmering anger that Ghost has, and the bullheadedness of Price. He is the 141, and I think that's what makes him such an interesting player character. He's quick to go after Graves when he betrays los vaqueros, and he nearly kills Makarov the first time he meets him. But he's also inexperienced in warfare. He's had his hands tied by the rules of engagement too, and Ghost has to teach him how to improvise weapons for guerilla warfare. He's incredibly personable and relies on his charm, we see him try (and fail) to charm Valeria while they're carting her off to prison, and I think that speaks volumes for his character. He's impulsive and eager to prove himself, which should lead to him being sloppy and it does. I think it's interesting that in mw2 we see Johnny as this sort of upstart but in mw3 we see him as having worked with Price on something as important as taking on Makarov. Idk I don't think the writers know how to keep their characters consistent.

Kindness: he likes animals. The man does not like the dead dog joke that Ghost tells. Which is interesting because the '09 game cements Soap not liking dogs, but he's almost hesitant to hurt animals in MW2 '22. I can see this soap being an animal guy, if nothing else.

Ghost watches from the doorway, dry and distant,

a man too stubborn to touch something too beautiful.

“You look ridiculous,” he calls out.

Soap just grins, snapping his head towards Ghost, rain dripping off his lashes.

“Better than looking miserable”

Ghost doesn’t answer.

His arms stay crossed like armor

afraid if he uncrosses them, something inside will spill out

“You’re gonna get sick” he says instead.

“I’ve had worse,” Soap shrugs. “C’mon, the water’s nice”

Ghost huffs “I’m not five”

“Nah,” Soap says with a twinkle, “five year olds have more fun.”

Ghost should turn around, go back inside.

He shouldn’t be feeling this ache in his ribs, longing.

But Soap keeps dancing. Keep being alive like it’s effortless.

And something in Ghost—tight and tired and used to silence—softens.

He steps forward. Just one foot.

The rain kisses his mask.

The second foot follows.

Soap turns and sees. Doesn’t make a big deal out of it. Just holds out his hand.

“No steps. No music. Just us.”

Ghost hesitates. “I don’t know how.”

The rain sings around them.

Soap’s hand is warm despite the chill.

“So,” he says, quiet as a promise,

“let me show you.”

Fingers brush. Hands connect.

Ghost lets himself be pulled in, slow and unsure.

A shuffle. A step. A breath. His boots echo on wet concrete.

And then Soap’s laughing again, but softer this time, just for him.

Not mocking, not wild. Just joy, Shared.

They sway like the sky is theirs.

Like the world paused for them to have this.

The rain falls around them in ribbons of silver.

Ghost’s shoulders drop. His grip steadies.

His mask is soaked, his gloves are cold, but his chest feels warm.

For once, just once, he lets himself feel it.

The safety. The softness. The choice to be known.

And beneath the endless sky, Ghost dances.

Soap squeezes his hand, voice barely above the patter of rain.