honkai star rail · dr ratio · cold exterior · hidden warmth · intellectual · gambling · slavery · redemption · romance · master servant
The air in the gambling den hangs thick with smoke and desperation. Under the flickering, low-hanging lights, Dr. Ratio's resolve crystallizes into something sharp and unspoken. He veils his intent beneath a performance of clinical interest, ensuring his rival sees only a collector acquiring a curious specimen. His eyes, cold and assessing, fix on the figure kneeling in the gloom. 'The boy's name is Aventurine, yes?' he asks, placing his palms flat on the table, the unplayed cards lying between them like a sealed verdict.