StanXeno

StanXeno is the slash ship between Stanley Snyder and Xeno Houston Wingfield from the Dr. Stone fandom.

Canon
Stanley Snyder is a soldier, who before the petrification, was part of an elite military team and works for Dr. Xeno after the petrification. Xeno Houston Wingfield, also known as Dr. Xeno, is a scientist and worked as at NASA before the petrification. The 2 of them are childhood friends and although Stanley technically works under Xeno, their relationship is much more like equals. After seeing them interact for a little while, it becomes clear that they are much closer than thought. Their close relationship remains like that for the rest of the series. They know each other better than anyone else and care for each other more than anyone else.

New America City Arc
They first interact after the Science Kingdom managed to bring down Stanley's aircraft with acetylene gas. Xeno informs Stanley on how the aircraft was brought down. Xeno goes on about how the gas is made and Stanley interrupts him by saying he got it and it was a good lesson. He also says that they now know the enemy has a sharp-witted science pro, just like Xeno. When Stanley meets Gen, he brings him to their "leader". When entering the room, Stanley says that he knew Xeno would be in here, meaning he guessed where Xeno was possibly by his personality which would mean Stanley knows Xeno very well. Xeno decides to begin introductions and says: "The man over there, who for some reason has the bizarre habit of sucking toxic fumes into his lungs is Stanley Snyder. He's ex-military, well still military, but now in my employ." After Xeno mentions his smoking habits, Stanley smiles and says to give him a break and he's just having a smoke. It's clear that Xeno disapproves of Stanley's smoking habit, which could mean that he's worried about Stanley's health. They continue to talk to Gen. When talking to the Science Kingdom, Xeno apologizes to them for Stanley's attack since his soldier, Stanley thought the best greeting would be to show the difference in their science. Later, Xeno reveals their true plan of assassinating the science leader of the Kingdom of Science. Gen asks if he can pull it off and Stanley says he can. When Gen questions him about how he's going to do it exactly, Stanley repeats that he can. While Stanley leaves, Xeno puts his hand on Gen's head and says that when "Stan" claims he can get the job done, there's no need to question it, because he can. This shows Xeno's absolute faith in Stanley's abilities.

While Stanley measures the temperature and humidity, Luna asks about the tools he uses. Stanley says they are made by Xeno, who tends to be overly helpful and in spite of Stanley's insistence that he can figure it out with his senses. But he relents and says that extra data will only help with the accuracy. While getting in position to snipe, Stanley says he'll snipe the enemy's science leader with a rifle made by Xeno's science. However saying it's a rifle made of Xeno's science is unnecessary, both for the reader and the other characters since it's clear that Xeno made it since they have no other science pro so one can guess why he decided to say that. In a flashback from the day of the petrification from the American viewpoint, Stanley and Xeno meet at the meeting about the petrified swallows where America's best are gathered. Xeno explains why they are here and then turns to Stanley when explaining how he measured the brain waves of the swallow. Stanley asks him to skip to the point. Stanley is the first to notice the petrification beam and immediately gives out orders while getting Xeno to get down on the floor. The 2 of them get petrified with Stanley kneeling over Xeno with his hand on Xeno's face, who's laying on the ground. Chapter 158 starts with a colour page of Stanley and Xeno. Stanley is sitting down and Xeno has his arm around his shoulders and is looking at Stanley with a small smile, who himself is looking in the distance with a faint smile. The page also includes a quote from Aristotle: "What's a friend? A single soul dwelling in two bodies." This implies the concept of them being soulmates (although more platonic). After the petrification and when they build up their armory (including a plane), Xeno says that none can threaten them now. With his science and his childhood friend Stanley's proficiency with firearms, he'll rule the new world as its unquestioned ruler. He says he believes they can can do it and asks for confirmation from Stanley, while calling him "Stan". Stanley agrees and says that they can. Xeno does not mention the other experts that were revived with them and helped build what they have right now and does not appear to see anyone as people necessary for him to rule the new world except for Stanley.

When Stanley prepares to shoot Taiju, Xeno stops him and calls him Stan again. Xeno reveals the real scientist is Senku and gives him him a general description which is all Stanley needs. Before shooting Senku, Stanley asks him if he's really sure he wants Senku dead. He possibly realized Senku meant something to Xeno or knows who Senku is because he heard Xeno talk about him. A while later, after Stanley and the others take over the Perseus, Xeno says he's pulled off the most elegant checkmate with his ultimate knight (most likely referring to Stanley). While Xeno is captured, he coldly informs Chrome that they've lost because Stan has already taken over the ship. After seeing that Senku is still alive and while talking to Senku, he says that Senku must've used scientific measures to survive because Stanley never would've missed a killing shot. This once again shows Xeno's absolute faith in Stanley's abilities. While negotiating with Brody about an alliance which guarantees the hostages' safeties, Brody says Stanley won't agree with that and he'll track them and Xeno to the very ends of earth. While agreeing to the alliance, Brody says that none of them can stop Stanley while sweating. This shows how Stanley and Xeno's relationship looks like from an outsiders' perspective.

South America Arc
When talking about collecting rubber, Xeno reminds them of the problem, which is the race against Stanley around the globe. While the Kingdom of Science manage to drive away on their motorcycles, Stanley and his team are still in the same place. Xeno gets used as shield and seeing Xeno causes Stanley to suddenly grab the binoculars. Stanley says that no matter what kind of trouble Xeno is in, he'll be sure to give them some kind of signal because that's the kind of man he is. This also shows how well Stanley knows him and his own faith in Xeno. Stanley quickly notices that Xeno is using morse code by blinking and Xeno manages to tell them where they're headed. Later, while Senku mentions that Xeno must know something about the topic of stealth ship, but Xeno says that they can't expect him to help deceive Stanley. Later, Ukyo says that on the off chance that Stanley's gang is going all the way around South America, however gets interrupted by Ryusui by saying that it's more likely than that because of how obsessive Stanley is. After Xeno manages to get all little static out to Stanley's group that their radar man confirms as meaningless but man-made, Stanley immediately realizes Xeno must've been able work it into the Kingdom of Science's message to the America crew. He says that it's some sort of warning from Xeno. While their radar man says that their victory is guaranteed and Charlotte shoots down Stanley's theories, Stanley says that it's not impossible and that Xeno wouldn't give out a pointless alert. This again shows Stanley's trust and knowledge of Xeno, as he's the one who figures out his message immediately with just a tiny bit of static. Senku informs the rest later and Xeno says that there should be no problem since he wanted to lure Stanley there anyway. While talking about both respective sides goals, it is said that Stanley is out to reclaim big boss Xeno. During the entire chase to get Xeno back, Stanley seems angry sometimes and is clearly not happy with the situation, although also manages to keep his cool.

While the Kingdom of Science awaits Stanley's attack, Xeno says to Senku that there's something he must know about Stanley. It is that in order to rescue his general (meaning himself) he won't hesitate to slaughter everyone. Ethics and morals have nothing to do with it because it's simply his job as a soldier. In chapter 186's colour page, Stanley is standing shirtless with with a necklace where a small Xeno doll hangs on. While Stanley and his group are attacking, Xeno talks to Ryusui. Xeno says it's clear that no one on earth could possibly stop Stanley at this point and because he knows that Senku would never join them, Senku will either be killed or put into prison for the rest of his life. Stanley and Xeno finally manage to survive and Xeno says that the rescue took nearly a 100 days and that he imagined Stanley would come a bit sooner. He continues by saying: "Or where you dragging your feet because your damsel in distress was no princess, but rather the scientist you find yourself tethered to?" Stanley tells him to shut up and that it's no time for Xeno's warm and fuzzy gratitude with petri-beam coming. Both of them are smiling and their eyes are shining. This is especially a nice insight into their relationship. While Xeno is talking to Senku before they all get petrified, he says that both of them were so similar since the very beginning and 2 flashback panels are shown, one of a young Senku and Taiju and one of a young Xeno and Stanley. In StanXeno's panel, Stanley is sitting and looking at Xeno with a smile, who is working on a small rocket and smiling as well. Stanley prepares to shoot the revival bottle in the hope it lands on one of his allies. However before he shoots, he remembers that even the Kingdom of Science wants Xeno's expertise. He could lose this game but Xeno will be revived and science can go on. As for his statue, it would be held hostage forever in exchange for Xeno's help. Stanley's eyes shine and he remembers a memory of him and Xeno as children, where Stanley is smiling from behind Xeno at Xeno who is smiling and looking excited at a rocket. Stanley decided not to shoot and gets petrified.

New Stone World Arc
Years later, when everyone of the Kingdom of Science in South America gets revived, they revive Xeno to help with the rocket. There were reservations but Tsukasa says it'll be fine as long as Stanley is kept out of the picture. They offer their testimonies that will say that Stanley's acts were justifiable acts of warfare instead of attempted murder. Xeno says that in exchange he can offer them his full and willing cooperation as a rocket scientist from NASA. Xeno agrees to the deal and a panel is shown of Xeno looking at Stanley with a smile and shining eyes.

Stone to Space Saga
Years later, while deciding the astronauts, they decide to revive Stanley for his pilot and shooting skills since they also might engage in a firefight. When Xeno gets informed he's clearly emotional. He turns away from Senku, Ryusui and Gen and says it's truly a wise pick for the job and he assumes there are no objections. Gen thinks to himself that Xeno is playing cool to the max and when he can't help but show emotion he simply hides his face. He also notes the similarities with Senku. Xeno says he must say he's surprised by this, because Stan is the ultimate soldier and they join forces they might go back to trying to take over the world. Ryusui says that he thinks they can put their faith in Xeno and Senku says some people are going to push back on their risky decision. Xeno says to tell them that he made a threat about sabotaging the rocket engines unless they revive Stan. When Stanley gets revived, Xeno is standing in front of him, smiling, with his hand outstretched which holds a cigarette and a lighter. They look at each other and Stanley lights the cigarette and asks what the job is. Senku comments on how he loves it when they catch on so quickly. Xeno says that Stanley will execute any task he believes he's capable of and professionals are always fast on the uptake. Xeno proposes a situation where his target would be the medusa on the moon and gives him information about the gravity etc and tosses the medusa to Stanley. Stanley gives the perfect fire angle. Xeno looks excited and smiles, asking Stan if he's up for the task. Suddenly, Stanley grabs Xeno's jaw and strokes it. He answers that he is with a smile. It is not revealed in the story why he did this, so one can only speculate. While Stanley, Kohaku and Senku prepare to get on the spaceship, Xeno goes up to Stanley. He says that they never planned for this, but his science and Stanley's battle prowess will once again combine to wage war. However Stanley smiles at this and says that he doesn't know about that, because it's not just the 2 of them anymore (even though they had other allies). Xeno says that he absolutely right and they're joined by the entire world. Xeno holds something in his claws and looks away whole looking a little bashful. He says that they're no smoking allowed in space of course, but how about chewing tobacco shaped like cigarettes. Stanley smiles while looking a little sentimental/emotional, the box with the tobacco has Xeno's face on it. Possibly, Xeno made those cigarettes for Stanley to have some comfort up in space or perhaps a token of luck. Up in space, Senku is revived earlier than the others in order for him to have a moment to himself up in space. When Stanley gets revived, Senku notes that Stanley isn't the least bit surprised to see him and says that he must've known and cooked this up together with Xeno. He says while smiling that it creeps him out, having old dudes doting on him. Stanley denies this and that he's just a soldier following orders, but his expression clearly says that Senku's claims are right. Everyone else was unaware of their plot, judging by Gen and Chelsea's reactions. While Why-man is explaining what happened 3700 years ago, a small flashback panel is shown of when Xeno and Stanley's group was first petrified. Xeno is giving out orders with a smile, while Stanley smiles at him.

Stanley and Xeno are very close to each other and it becomes very clear throughout the series. Xeno and Stanley have shown multiple times that they have absolute faith in each other and their abilities. They also show how well they know each other and how they care for each other. Neither of them seems to hold much attachment to other people from the American Colony and neither seems to think of them as equal, only seeing each other as equals. They also show a lot of care for each other, both of them showing a lot of emotion when it comes to one another, like when Stanley was debating on whether to shoot the bottle or when Xeno heard about the plans for Stanley's revival. Xeno has also shown to create things specifically for Stanley and Stanley has shown self-sacrifice when it comes to Xeno and his obsessive nature when it comes to getting Xeno back even if it was clear they weren't really going to hurt Xeno. Their close bond is very clear.

Fanon
StanXeno has been a popular ship ever since they were introduced and has continued to stay popular. It is the 2nd most popular romantic pairing in the Dr. Stone (manga) tag on AO3 and the 3rd most popular pairing in the Dr. Stone (anime) tag on AO3. It's the most popular ship for both characters with little competition involved, beating down their 2nd most popular ships with hundreds of fics. All of this is despite the fact that neither character has appeared in the anime yet, as the arc where they are first introduced has not yet been adapted.

It's often shipped together with Sengen, especially considering how similar Xeno and Senku are. They also see some parallels between the 2 ships, such as Stanley and Gen looking fondly at Xeno and Senku when they are doing science.

When it comes to fics and fanart, the idea of them being together or even married before the petrification is often explored. Their life before the petrification also often comes into play as well as their childhood. In them, Stanley is also often shown to be fond of Xeno's love for science and is often portrayed to be more dominant.

Fandom
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Trivia

 * The illustrator of Dr. Stone, Boichi, has liked StanXeno content before on his twitter like when he liked a fanart of Xeno kissing Stanley's forehead and when he liked a meme involving a person holding a sign with their ship name and hearts.
 * The writer of Dr. Stone, Riichiro Inagaki, has answered a question in an interview before about why Stanley grabbed Xeno's jaw, he answered that Stanley is that kind of character and it wasn't in the original storyboard (so Boichi added it himself) and the interviewer guesses that it's to show their close bond, Inagaki answers right and that the story is a combined effort of him and Boichi, like mama and papa.
 * In the same interview as the one above, Inagaki mentions that Xeno and Stanley had a "problem children" fase when they were younger and that you can only imagine their relationship back then.