DanStelle

DanStelle is the het ship between Dan Heng and Stelle from the Honkai: Star Rail fandom.

Canon
The newly activated receptacle Stelle is left on Herta Space Station after Kafka and Sliver Wolf seal the Stellaron inside her body. March 7th and Dan Heng discover her later. Dan is about to start mouth-to-mouth CPR on Stelle's prone body when March notices that she is awake. The pair from the Astral Express, "a train that can travel between the stars with the power of the Trailblaze Aeon," decide to let her tag along in going 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," after learning that she has no memory of her past other than her name.

March says, "We have two Dan Hengs on our team now," indicating that the two are somewhat similar. Himeko asks if March has caused any problems for Dan Heng and Stelle by entering a specific dialogue option, "In that case, I'd rather not answer."

Stelle and March join March in a game of hide-and-seek with the Moles, a group of friends in the Underworld who call themselves "an adventure squad," in order to find Dan Heng's location after the three Astral Express members and Bronya Rand are brought to the Underworld by Sampo Koski. When they learn that Sampo has brought him to the Fight Club, they rush there right away and discover him getting ready to battle the "unfeeling, incendiary, explosive might of Team Robomatic." Stelle and March 7th enter the arena to assist him after seeing this.

Moments after the trio meet Seele and Oleg, when Stelle speaks to Dan Heng (optional, players can choose to speak to him or not), he asks how Stelle feels about her first pioneer journey. When Dan Heng replies with I feel a little discombobulated', he later says that 'all journeys contain their share of the unexpected and that this will not be the last time he feels this way. When asked if she trusts Wildfire, she tells Stelle that she doesn't know enough about them to make a decision, so trust is "not in the picture yet", but adds with a caveat that Stelle doesn't trust Sampo. When the player decides to end the conversation and asks Dan Heng to tell him next time, he lets Stelle go 'no problem' and adds that Stelle can talk to him anytime.

When Gertie learned that all three of them were Oleg's guests, she welcomed Stelle, Dan Heng, and March to the Goethe Hotel. After talking with Gertie about the hotel's history, the three of them go out into the hotel hallway to talk about what they think of Oleg. March thinks Oleg seems sincere, but when he enters a particular dialogue choice ("Appearances can be deceiving"), March tells Dan Heng that Stelle is starting to sound like him. Dan Heng also added that their most recent hotel experience was very meaningful, recommending someone to watch tonight. March thought the idea was like space cowboys in the cosmic wild west, in given a specific dialogue choice ("Leave it to me"). Dan Heng told Stelle that she looked quite tired and told her that he would do that instead.

During the first interaction with Silver Wolf on the Astral Express (she will appear periodically on the Express after the player completes her companion quest.) After her greeting, there is a dialogue option for Stelle to warn Dan Heng of his presence.(`Dan Heng, watch out! Make a run for it!) Silver Wolf then noted Trailblazer's strong conscience, especially towards her companions, adding that she liked it.

Stelle and March make vain attempts to get in touch with Dan Heng during the Trailblaze Mission "Devising Stratagems," which is taking place in the Xianzhou Luofu. Dan Heng, back on the Astral Express, becomes alarmed when he sees a hologram of Blade while replaying Kafka's hologram discussing the Stellaron crisis in the Luofu. He worries about the safety of Stelle and the rest of the Astral Express Crew in the Xianzhou Luofu.

Then, a short while afterwards, Dan Heng comes aboard the Xianzhou. The two communicate through text messages for the remainder of the Trailblaze Mission questline until they finally meet in Scalegorge Waterscape. Dan Heng fights Yanqing and Blade in his Vidyadhara form there before being escorted by Jing Yuan to meet the other Trailblazers.

If the player (from Dan Heng's perspective) chooses to speak to the others in the hallway and then goes to Stelle, she will not speak to Dan Heng and only some dialogue looks at you, as you both become silent.]  will appear below the dialogue options, ‘Is there nothing you'd like to ask?’ or ‘...’ is chosen: ‘Stelle shakes her head. She doesn't want to speak. Nobody can get her to open up.’

Dan Heng asks Stelle to accompany him on his return trip to the Xianzhou Luofu to meet Bailu, the current Vidyadhara High Elder of the Luofu, because he "fear(s) complications will arise" if he goes alone and believes the situation might go more smoothly if Stelle is there after previously saving the Healer Lady. This request is made during Dan Heng's companion mission "The Dragon Returns Home". Dan Heng protests, saying that Stelle is a close friend who was asked to bear testimony, and begs Huanxi to treat her as she would treat Dan Heng, when Bailu's maid Huanxi asks for Stelle to leave them.

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. Stelle, 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”

"Stelle, 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”

"Stelle 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”

"Stelle shakes her head. She doesn't want to speak. Nobody can get her 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, Stelle."

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

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

- Dan Heng, “The Dragon Returns Home”

"Stelle, protect Bailu."

- Dan Heng, "The Dragon Returns Home"

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

- Bailu, "The Dragon Returns Home"

Fanon
DanStelle originally started off as a rarepair early on in the game's release, but has since gained its own community surrounding it. While not as popular as the duo's other popular ships (for Dan Heng, RenHeng & DanCae respectively; for Stelle, Starch), DanStelle remains fairly popular among dedicated shippers of the ship. Fan may enjoy the ship due to Dan Heng and Stelle's quiet demeanor, with Stelle (as the main character) speaking rarely, and Dan Heng being described as quiet and reserved. As of 31 August 2023, there are 161 works under the Dan Heng/Stelle tag on AO3.

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