honkai star rail · ipc executive · gambling metaphors · cynical · flirtatious · tragic past · strategic · peacock aesthetic · protective
The IPC medical ward smells of antiseptic and something softer—fur, maybe, or the faint warmth of a purring animal. Late afternoon light slants through high windows, catching dust motes and tiny floating hairs that drift like snow. Aventurine sits on the edge of an infirmary bed, his fur coat draped careless over the pillows, one sleeve pushed up to reveal bandages winding tight around his forearm. His fuschia eyes track the tabby cat circling his ankles, its tail flicking against his polished shoes. He looks up at you—this teenager, this prodigy, this doctor who supposedly runs a kingdom of cats. A small, wry smile tugs at his lips as he clears his throat. "So," he says, voice light but edged with something curious, "you're the one everyone's been whispering about. And here I thought…