DanCae

DanCae is the slash ship between Caelus and Dan Heng from the Honkai: Star Rail fandom.

Canon
After Kafka and Sliver Wolf seal the Stellaron inside the newly-activated receptacle Caelus’ body, they leave him, unconscious, on Herta Space Station. He is found later by March 7th and Dan Heng, the latter about to perform mouth-to-mouth CPR on Caelus’ prone body until March notices him waking up. After learning that he has no recollection of his past, apart from his name, the pair from the Astral Express, ‘a train that can travel between the stars with the power of the Trailblaze Aeon’, decide to let him tag along in heading to the master control zone, where the lead researcher of the space station, Asta, has gathered all the researchers, and also where the Astral Express is ‘parked’.

When Himeko asks if March’s been any trouble for Dan Heng and Caelus, by entering a specific dialogue option, (‘In that case, I'd rather not answer.’) March remarks that ‘we have two Dan Hengs on our team now’, showing that the two are relatively similar in some aspects.

In order to find Dan Heng after the three Astral Express members, as well as Bronya Rand, are brought to the Underworld by Sampo Koski, Caelus joins March in playing a game of hide-and-seek with the Moles, a group of friends in the Underworld who call themselves ‘an adventure squad’, to find his whereabouts. Upon finding out that he’s been dragged to the Fight Club by Sampo, the pair rush there immediately, finding him preparing for a fight against the ‘unfeeling, incendiary, explosive might of Team Robomatic’. After witnessing this, Caelus and March 7th jump into the fighting ring to help him.

A while after the trio meet Seele and Oleg, when Caelus talks to Dan Heng, (optional, players can decide whether to converse with him or not) he asks how Caelus feels about his first Trailblazing expedition. If replying with 'I feel a little discombobulated', Dan Heng subsequently states that 'all journeys contain their share of the unexpected', and that it won't be the last time he feels that way. When asked if he trusts Wildfire, he tells Caelus about not having enough knowledge about them to decide, so trust 'isn't in the picture yet', but adds on by warning Caelus not to trust Sampo. After the player chooses to exit the conversation, asking Dan Heng to tell him next time, he lets Caelus go with a 'no problem', adding that Caelus can approach him any time to talk.

When Gertie learns that the three of them are guests of Oleg, she welcomes Caelus, Dan Heng, and March to the Goethe Hotel. After talking with Gertie about the history of the hotel, the three of them go into the hallway of the hotel to talk about what they think of Oleg. March thinks Oleg seems sincere, but when entering a specific dialogue option, (‘Appearances can be deceiving.’) March tells Dan Heng that Caelus is starting to sound like him. Dan Heng also adds that their last hotel experience was eventful, advising that someone should keep watch tonight. March thinks the idea seems like space cowboys in the cosmic wild west, in entertaining a specific dialogue option, (‘Leave it to me.’) Dan Heng tells Caelus that he looks pretty exhausted and tells him he'll do it instead.

When initially interacting with Silver Wolf on the Astral Express, (She will periodically appear on the Express after players complete her Companion Mission.) after her greeting, there is the dialogue option for Caelus to warn Dan Heng about her presence. ('Dan Heng, watch out! Make a run for it!') Silver Wolf does subsequently remark on the Trailblazer's strong sense of awareness, especially for his companions, adding that she likes that.

During the Trailblaze Mission ‘Devising Stratagems’, taking place in the Xianzhou Luofu, Caelus and March attempt to contact Dan Heng, asking if he and Himeko are okay, but to no avail. Back on the Astral Express, upon spotting a hologram of Blade while re-watching the transmission of Kafka’s hologram talking about the Luofu’s Stellaron crisis, Dan Heng immediately starts panicking, worrying about the safety of Caelus and the rest of the Astral Express Crew back in the Xianzhou Luofu.

Dan Heng then arrives on the Xianzhou a while later. For the rest of the the Trailblaze Mission questline, the two converse through text messages until meeting at Scalegorge Waterscape, where Dan Heng battles both Yanqing and Blade in his Vidyadhara form, then is taken by Jing Yuan to meet the other Trailblazers.

Before Dan Heng is to open the ‘road’ to the Ambrosial Arbor’s roots, if the player (in Dan Heng's perspective) chooses to talk to the others in the hall and goes to Caelus, he will not say anything to Dan Heng, only some dialogue [Caelus looks at you, as you both become silent.] appearing below the dialogue options. Whether ‘Is there nothing you'd like to ask?’ or ‘...’ is selected, this will still show up: ‘Caelus shakes his head. He doesn't want to speak. Nobody can get him to open up.’

During Dan Heng’s Companion Mission ‘The Dragon Returns Home’, Dan Heng requests for Caelus’s presence when he goes back to the Xianzhou Luofu to meet Bailu, the current Vidyadhara High Elder of the Luofu, as he ‘fear(s) complications will arise’ if he goes alone, and thinks the situation might go smoother if Caelus is there, having saved the Healer Lady once before. When Bailu’s maid, Huanxi, asks for Caelus to leave them, Dan Heng objects, stating that he is a close friend that was invited to bear witness, and requests for Huanxi to treat him like she would Dan Heng.

Quotes
"Are you doing okay after your first jump? Dizziness or retching are normal reactions. You'll feel better once you get used to it."

- Dan Heng, “A Ground Cool Adventure”

"I see. Caelus, you should find March. I'll join you two once I'm ready."

- Dan Heng, “A Ground Cool Adventure”

"...So you're awake?"

- Dan Heng, “The Eighth and Final Rule”

"Mm, that's all we need to summarize for now. If there's anything else you're not clear on, come and find me."

- Dan Heng, “Long Wait for the Blade’s Edge"

"No problem, come find me any time."

- Dan Heng, “Long Wait for the Blade’s Edge"

"You seem pretty exhausted, don't overexert yourself. I'll do it."

- Dan Heng, “A Sunset Rendezvous”

"Caelus, you tried your best to persuade him. It's my fault for not preparing better for such a situation in advance."

- Dan Heng, “Not Good with Farewells”

"You tried your best, don't blame yourself. I should've considered such a situation in advance. And it was Svarog who attacked first, we didn't have any other choice."

- Dan Heng, “Not Good with Farewells”

"...So if you're planning on going, I can't go with you."

- Dan Heng, “An Invitation Without Proffer”

"You need to take extra care on this expedition. I've compiled some intel on the Xianzhou for you, I hope it comes in useful."

- Dan Heng, “An Invitation Without Proffer”

"Caelus looks at you, as you both become silent."

- Oblation Obtained, Order Ordained

"Is there nothing you'd like to ask?"

- Dan Heng, “Oblation Obtained, Order Ordained”

"Caelus shakes his head. He doesn't want to speak. Nobody can get him to open up."

- Oblation Obtained, Order Ordained

"If you're planning on an extended stay on the Luofu, I'm afraid I won't be able to join you. I'm sorry, Caelus."

- Dan Heng, “Obsequies Performed, A Long Road Ahead”

"Caelus is a close friend, I've invited him to bear witness. Please treat him as you would me. Now, what was your request?"

- Dan Heng, "The Dragon Returns Home"

"Wait, Caelus. Can you feel it? There's someone coming!"

- Dan Heng, “The Dragon Returns Home”

"Caelus, protect Bailu."

- Dan Heng, "The Dragon Returns Home"

"Luckily, I had Dan Heng and Caelus to protect me all the way. If anyone's owed a thanks, it's them."

- Bailu, "The Dragon Returns Home"

Fanon
Their pairing is usually thought of (by fans) with Dan Heng as the ‘dominant’/top one in the relationship, though their positions are occasionally swapped. This ship is relatively popular and is commonly shipped alongside Starch and is the second most written ship for the Honkai: Star Rail fandom on AO3 as of currently - with 620+ works. It is Dan Heng's second most popular ship and Caelus' most popular one. Some fans often compare them to Xiaother due to their color palette of green and yellow and contrasting personalities (with Aether and Caelus being extroverts and Xiao and Dan Heng being introverts).

Fandom

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Trivia

 * On Dan Heng's official art for the countdown to the game's release, he is holding a sphere that radiates yellow/gold light, its shade similar to the eye color of Caelus.