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BootHeng is the slash ship between Dan Heng and Boothill from the Honkai: Star Rail fandom.
Canon[]
Trailblazer Missions[]
In Our Time[]
The Great Train Robbery[]
Against the backdrop of a male broadcaster announcing the countdown to the Charmony Festival, in The Great Train Robbery, Boothill holds Dan Heng and Pom-Pom seemingly captive by training his pistol on them. While Pom-Pom frantically tries to reason with Boothill, Boothill apologizes to them and states that the reason for his being there is that he didn’t see any other alternative to infiltrating Penacony with the hope of confronting Acheron. Dan Heng coolly warns him that since Boothill knows what he’s doing, that he should be aware of the risks. Bluffing, Boothill joshes him by wondering why Dan Heng is so hostile and that he only pulled out his pistol as a way of saying hello, then introduces himself as Boothill of the Galaxy Rangers after Dan Heng demands to know who he is. Boothill wheedles and says that Dan Heng looks as though he’s seen a ghost at the mention of his faction, but understands as they’ve been elusive for so long. Dan Heng informs him that the righteous heroes of the Hunt would never stoop so low as to hijack the Express, but Boothill declares that it’s not a hijacking despite holding Dan Heng and Pom-Pom at gunpoint. Dan Heng goes on to say that the Galaxy Rangers’ status is a largely negative one, but Boothill scoffs at the rumors of them being decimated by Dr. Primitive or them “screwing around on swings.”
Boothill concedes that while they may have a hard time believing him, he similarly doubts that they’re really Nameless. Although Boothill rambles about how he needs help but might regret it if they’re frauds like Acheron. He sputters when Dan Heng wanders off, but wordlessly presents the Jade Abacus of Allying Oath, an item that Boothill recognizes the tremendous importance of. Dan Heng informs him that it was personally gifted to the Astral Express by Jing Yuan affirming them as Nameless and allies of the Alliance. Boothill marvels at the sight of it, observing how a single squeeze could summon an entire legion of Cloud Knights. Conceding that he doesn’t have anything similar to verify his status as a Galaxy Ranger, Boothill gives Dan Heng and Pom-Pom a pass to ask him anything they’d like. The first question Dan Heng asks is for Boothill to describe what kind of organization the Galaxy Rangers are. Though Boothill does just that, Dan Heng doesn’t trust his answer and warns Boothill of that fact. Then, Dan Heng asks why he seeks to trouble the Astral Express. Boothill then explains that it’s because he can’t enter Penacony as he didn’t receive an invite and wanted to ask if he could pose as a Nameless because of how they’re well-known as guests of the Family. Dan Heng then asks who the imposter is and Boothill then tells him of Acheron, an Emanator of Nihility that shouldn’t exist. Dan Heng expresses similar disbelief, and Boothill empathizes with him, going to say that it’s for this reason that his companions are in danger, and it is ultimately the catalyst for Boothill and Dan Heng banding together and finally entering Penacony.
Bullet & Brain[]
In the next leg of the Trailblaze Mission they appear in, Bullet & Brain, is played from Boothill’s POV where he’s set to wait for Dan Heng in the Reverie’s lobby in reality. Boothill takes it upon himself to learn what he can by speaking to several people, both guests and staff and determines that no one is aware of the doomed state of the Dreamscape. Before this, Dan Heng and Boothill tried to come into contact with the other Express members by speaking with a hotel receptionist. While making introductions, Dan Heng was able to affirm his identity and clear up why he hadn’t booked his stay with the others earlier. At the same time, Boothill humorously flubbed a story of him being a new Nameless who joined recently, taking on the misnomer of “Pom-Pom”, much to Dan Heng’s amusing consternation. After the clerk left to try and contact Sunday, Boothill and Dan Heng reunited and discovered she hadn’t come back yet. They otherwise exchange observations and come to a similar conclusion that no one, in reality, knows of the doomed state of the Dreamscape. Noting the potentially vulnerable state, Dan Heng reasons they should return to the Express. Boothill instead suggests that they shouldn’t, but should wait in the lobby; Boothill reasons that, as surprise factors, they should stay. Dan Heng counters that it could be a trap. Boothill then goes on to say that he made a deal with Black Swan to contact him in reality if they can’t enter the Dreamscape and head to the bar to check.
Dan Heng sternly tells him that if he has more backup plans in the future, to tell him. Boothill apologizes and wryly explains that it’s one of his quirks and a consequence of having many unreliable friends and that he can’t reveal them all. They then concoct a plan to try and get into the VIP lounge, Boothill relying on his “street smarts” for the task. For the next leg, they approach a hotel manager named Dennis and Boothill explains their problem. When Boothill starts to become confrontational, Dan Heng sputters and demands to know if starting a fight is Boothill’s idea of “street smarts”. Boothill obstinately tells him that it’s called “standing up for your rights”, flustering the manager. The manager brokers a deal to arrange seating in the VIP lounge while they try to contact Sunday, and Boothill gloatingly chuckles at his idea’s success. Embarrassed, Dan Heng asks that Boothill doesn’t call himself a Nameless the next time he does that. Once in the VIP lounge, both men head to the bar and Boothill asks if his order of Asdana’s White Oak is in. As it wasn’t, Boothill then suggests that they settle down and drink in the meantime. Boothill orders a Hinnom Valley 40 Years while Dan Heng simply takes a recommendation, Glass Village. The bartender commends Boothill’s lavish tastes. When both men receive their drinks and indulge, Boothill loudly praises his drink’s inclusion of dynamite barbecue with rocket fuel as the finest malt juice in the cosmos while Dan Heng, incredulous but disgusted, wonders aloud if that’s really something humans can enjoy. Jokingly, Boothill says that Dan Heng really doesn’t know anything at all to the bartender.
Boothill elects that they give Black Swan another half-system hour, and the two decide to take stock of their present situation. As they discuss it, Boothill mentions a quote that goes along the lines of: “The Reighnbow sect lets the Lux Arrow do all the beating…” Exasperatedly, Dan Heng corrects him with, “Talking. Do all the talking.” They then speculate more about Acheron and how she isn’t a lunatic despite impersonating a Galaxy Ranger, and the unusual circumstances behind the various factions being invited. They go on a deeply philosophical tangent on human nature and free will when the Astral Express’ lack of an Aeon is brought up. Boothill questions what Dan Heng went through to give him such insight, and reaffirms the need to ascertain Acheron’s true intentions. Boothill goes on to say that he has one last backup in case Black Swan doesn’t show up, and assures Dan Heng that it’s the last one he has, and Dan Heng comments how he has a lot of cards up his sleeve and Boothill wryly comments how going back to his old career would make things a lot easier. Boothill proceeds to brazenly propose the idea of holding important-looking people hostage to coerce their way into the Dreamscape, or to steal their identities. But, Dan Heng immediately dismisses the idea and states that they’ll return to the Express instead. Scandalized, Boothill challenges Dan Heng to draw his weapon and make a big scene but is interrupted timely by the bartender who says that the Asdana’s White Oak is finally in. Dan Heng hums how Boothill’s Memokeeper friend had finally arrived, and Boothill sheepishly apologizes about how his memory isn’t the best, noting that the liquor came with a note.
Upon returning to the Astral Express, Pom-Pom informs that two unexpected guests looking for Boothill also arrived. Boothill exclaims that they arrived just in time, to which Black Swan interrupts and reveals herself. They initiate a conversation and Boothill demands that Black Swan spills everything she knows. Black Swan then segues into saying how Acheron would be best suited to revealing her own story, and the Emanator reveals herself as the mystery second guest. Acheron explains how she managed to escape with Black Swan’s assistance, though Boothill becomes hostile and threatens to shoot Acheron. Attempting to diffuse the situation, Acheron assures Dan Heng that his companions are safe and that they still need his help. Acheron informs Boothill that she wanted to find a Galaxy Ranger specifically because she has a relic that belongs to them that was originally owned by Tiernan, a former Nameless who’d worked with the Galaxy Rangers against Lord Ravager Zulo and had become an ally of them.
Everything That Rises Must Converge[]
During Everything That Rises Must Converge, Black Swan, Acheron, Dan Heng, and Boothill are shown aboard the Express. Black Swan regales Dan Heng with the tale of a planet called Byari Skamandros under the influence of the Harmony, and its fate of how all of its inhabitants after a fantastic festival became part of the Family. Dan Heng then voices his thoughts about this planet, and how it connects to Acheron. Black Swan continues with how two Aeons lost their lives during the Swarm Disaster, such as Ena the Order that was devoured by Xipe, the Harmony, which leads to Dan Heng correctly deducing the Family’s ambition to resurrect Ena, much in the same way he correctly deduced that the invitations sent to the various factions were sent by an imposter. Acheron urges the need for the Express to attempt a warp jump as there is something she urgently needs to confirm, an action that Boothill shames as cowardly. Dan Heng then announces he has another plan aside from a warp jump that Boothill intuits as him using the Jade Abacus of Allying Oath, though he cautions Dan Heng against using it so spuriously. Still, Dan Heng tells him that his companions are worth the risk.
The Sun Also Rises[]
During The Sun Also Rises leg of the quest, within Ena’s dream, the player encounters Boothill and Dan Heng at the bar within the VIP lounge. Dan Heng greets the Trailblazer by asking how they feel, and Boothill exclaims that they must be the Stellaron Dan Heng told him about. Black Swan manifests and introduces Boothill to them and goes on to say how they collaborated after their paths converged and Sunday’s shocking machinations were unearthed. Boothill then deflects the praise, saying that it’s the Galaxy Ranger principle to “correct every injustice one sees,” as he assumes they say on the Xianzhou, and asks Dan Heng for confirmation. Humorously, Dan Heng states that he’s correct, more or less. March demands to know who they were chasing and why, and Boothill asks, poised to answer, but abruptly forgets. He then asks if Dan Heng if he remembers, but Dan Heng admits that he can’t after Boothill expresses frustration over that fact. Boothill dismisses it as unimportant as no one else seems to remember, and the Nameless decide to depart for the lobby. If the player sticks around to ask Boothill, he wistfully states that the reunion isn’t for him and to go on ahead without him. Later, aboard the Express in this same dream, Pom-Pom states how Black Swan and Boothill submitted requests to join the Express for some time, for their own personal reasons.
In the last leg of the mission, And On the Eighth Day, the Trailblazer manages to awaken themselves from the false dream and return to reality, reconvening with Black Swan, Acheron, and Robin. Shortly after, Dan Heng and Boothill find them as well, Dan Heng is determined to do something and Boothill enthusiastically chimes in agreement. It’s found out that they managed to awaken thanks to Black Swan, they determine that the only way to shake off the dream is to awaken those with strong wills that would cause discord in Ena’s dream. When Dan Heng notes that it would take a tremendous amount of people awakening for it to work, Acheron mentions that if they brought in outsiders within the dream, it would shake it to its core. When Dan Heng somberly states how the Jade Abacus of Allying Oath might be the only solution, Boothill immediately negates it with an idea of his own, not wanting Dan Heng to waste such a precious gift. Boothill then proposes that they should instead utilize the Galaxy Rangers and Dan Heng wonders how Boothill can gather so many. Boothill plans to use the relic that Acheron returned to him, a beacon bullet that once belonged to Tiernan, useless to everyone except a Galaxy Ranger. It was a burial artifact meant to pay homage to a hero who served the Galaxy Rangers with honor. When everyone’s roles are delegated, Boothill mobilizes them and grants them cheer for the final push to victory. When they all scatter, Dan Heng walks away with Boothill, Robin with Black Swan, while Acheron and the Trailblazer linger behind.
In the culminating scenes, Dan Heng readies himself to resume the battle with the Astral Express Crew while Boothill climbs a high metal spire and shoots the burial artifact, and summons countless Galaxy Rangers that help Acheron destroy Ena’s Dream.
Trailblaze Continuances[]
Banana Outrage: Battles Without Ninja and Humanity[]
When the Astral Express Trio disembark from the Astral Express to check in at the Reverie Hotel after being invited as guest students at Paperfold University, they go to the check-in counter to check-in with Alley. When Alley states that there were rooms for the six of them, Dan Heng suspiciously wonders who the sixth person is and Alley explains that it was Pom-Pom. Given how Boothill was the one who used Pom-Pom’s identity as the conductor to cover his tracks during the Trailblaze Mission when he teamed up with Dan Heng, Dan Heng can instantly realize the hallmarks of his means of being incognito.
When March demands to know if he knows something they don’t, Dan Heng explains that it was Boothill checking-in under Pom-Pom’s name. He goes on to tell her that Boothill is the only person he could think of who would do that. However, because of the trust he places in Boothill, he assures her and the Trailblazer that he doesn’t think Boothill will do anything detrimental to the Express. Because Boothill checked in three days ago that they can ask more about it in the Dream.
Later, when the trio confronts Rappa after she’d been tailing them, she goes on to mention the “Silvergun Shura”, specifically mentioning how Dan Heng is familiar with him, implying that Boothill had spoken with Rappa about Dan Heng previously. Dan Heng confirms that it’s Boothill through Rappa’s eccentric worldview, and deduces that she’s also a Galaxy Ranger like him. Although Dan Heng becomes confused by Rappa, he also cautions against causing too much of a commotion, saying he should get in touch with Boothill, wondering where the Ranger is.
When Dan Heng finally gets in touch with Boothill, their conversation is as follows:
Dan Heng: Are you in Penacony now?Boothill: Found my note at the front desk?Boothill: ?Dan Heng: I ran into someone calling herself a Galaxy Ranger, so I wanted to check her identity with youBoothill: Dagnabbit! Finally got the signal back. This place is a total dump; You guys met Rappa already?
After the mostly failed transmission, Dan Heng mentions how they still can’t get in touch with Boothill and suggests they attend classes instead.
In an optional dialogue with March during a segment when she teams up with him, she says “Aww, there's nothing to be afraid of! He just looks a little scary, but Dan Heng says he's more bark than bite.”
Later, when Rappa, Dan Heng, and the Trailblazer manage to disrupt the Moment of Slumbernana and literally fall into the dance rave that he and Robin conceived of to disrupt the memetic virus. Boothill enthusiastically exclaims that they’re creating more a ruckus than they are. When they all have the villain, Profnana, cornered does Dan Heng ask Boothill what they should do with him. Boothill suggests torture of an order the IPC exacted on him. Then, they decide to mete out Profnana’s fate, eventually bringing a much-needed resolution.
Miscellany[]
Keeping Up With Star Rail[]
In Boothill's Keeping Up With Star Rail video[1], it's revealed that Dan Heng was the featured guest of Owlbert, coming as a surprise to many. A noticeable trend in the Keeping Up videos is that the guest featured usually has a close relationship with the person featured, such as Bronya in Seele's, Black Swan in Acheron's, Dr. Ratio in Aventurine's, and so on. As this is also the first time Dan Heng has been a guest, many saw it to mean that Dan Heng is close to Boothill.
The episode has many humorous moments, such as Owlbert mentioning how it doubles as a training course for IPC security personnel, though Dan Heng, confused, thought it was a seminar on "100 friendly ways to communicate with Boothill." Owlbert also warns against challenging Boothill to a one-on-one fight and Dan Heng sighs, exasperatedly commenting, "So, it still comes down to a fight, doesn't it?" He also defends Boothill by saying, "While he prefers solving problems through one-on-one duels, he isn't one to kill needlessly. I believe the first rule in dealing with him is to provide a reason for him not to shoot you." When Owlbert goes on to mention that one shouldn't bring sidekicks into fights against Boothill, Dan Heng sagely muses, "Bravery is tested against the strong, not the weak. Likewise, Boothill has no interest in fighting those who are weak." He also says how Boothill uses a "less is more approach." Skeptically, Dan Heng questions Owlbert's advice to avoid one-on-one duels, as wouldn't it be unavoidable? When they advance into a simulated battle, Dan Heng exasperatedly says how this 'Employee of the Year' forgot the other point. Dan Heng also states how "Condemnation has no effect on [Boothill]." When Boothill utilizes his Ultimate during this battle, Dan Heng dramatically states: "If the enemy doesn't have a weakness, create one." Humorously, at the end of the demonstration, it's discovered that Boothill has broken into the studio, with Dan Heng embarrassed for Owlbert in how the host provoked Boothill. When Owlbert tries to cover his tracks, Dan Heng comments, "Um... I don't think he was trying to be nice."
Covers[]
To celebrate Boothill's release on 5/29, Nicholas Leung and Andrew Russell, Dan Heng and Boothill's ENG VA's, respectively, released a spoofy cover of the popular MLM country song, Good Lookin'[2]. Prior, especially since Boothill's drip marketing, it had been a gag attributed to Boothill on social media. Though the song was much tamer than the original, many saw it as ship fodder as it highlighted the goofy friendship that Boothill and Dan Heng formed over the course of them working closely together during the Trailblaze Missions.
Later on, Andrew Russell released a gag cover called Samudrartha: The Boothill Version[3]. In it, Andrew covers Samudrartha, the song attributed to Dan Heng as a theme song, but with hilariously embellished lyrics that again focus on Dan Heng and Boothill's friendship.
Visitor Dialogue[]
In one of Boothill's visitor dialogues, he makes mention of Dan Heng once and again in a subsequent interaction[4]: Maybe Dan Heng knows about paranormal stuff. Should we get him to check it out?
Quotes[]
- “I've always had a thing for those Xianzhou folks. This guy's a good one, and like me, he ain't much for talkin', preferring to express himself with his weapon. We're bound to hit it off!”
- — Boothill's voiceline about Dan Heng.
- “Fudge me sideways — you're finally here, brother!”
- — Boothill's voiceline when aded to the same team as Dan Heng.
Fanon[]
BootHeng first caught wind in fandom when rumors began to circulate on platforms like TikTok that Boothill would be holding Dan Heng hostage on the Astral Express and fans began imagining humorous scenarios of what might occur if it happened as many weren’t sure if the leaks were reliable or not. During and after the 2.2 Trailblaze Missions, it became exceedingly clear that many fans enjoyed the natural chemistry the two had, especially with their stark dichotomies as a humorous pair wherein Dan Heng reacts to Boothill’s headstrong recklessness with exasperation and embarrassment to how they could deeply philosophize about matters of humanity and their factions, to synergizing extremely well as they worked together throughout the story.
While many were caught off guard by how natural their chemistry was, many more welcomed their relationship as an amusing but natural friendship to imagining how they could also transition into a romantic one. Notably, BootHeng shares similar tropes as AyaItto in how it has a Red Oni, Blue Oni dynamic to sharing the gag of one person not knowing the other person’s true identity (in how Boothill doesn’t know Dan Heng’s identity as the former High Elder of the Luofu’s Vidyadhara or his criminal past). Because of the ship’s newness, most fanworks center around contrasting their personalities.
Currently, there’s only a handful of fanworks and it’s rivaled primarily by RenHeng and JingHeng on Dan Heng’s end and Argenthill on Boothill’s.
Trivia[]
- In the Chinese fandom, Bootheng is called "Sharkheng" or 鲨恆 after Boothill's sharp, shark-like teeth[5].
- In the Japanese version of Boothill's Added to Team voiceline for Dan Heng, he exclaims "ホーリーベイビー！会いたかったぜ！" which can be translated to "Holy baby! I missed you!"
- Boothill and Dan Heng share Chinese VAs with Zhongli and Childe[6], respectively. Together, Zhongli and Childe comprise ZhongChi, the Genshin fandom's most popular MLM ship.
- The term that Boothill refers to Dan Heng as in Chinese is Xiongdi, a colloquialism similar to 'bro' used among close, especially male, friends.[7]
Fandom[]
- FAN FICTION
- Boothill/Dan Heng tag on AO3
Gallery[]
- Main article: BootHeng/Gallery
[]
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJbazDte5oo
- ↑ https://x.com/fencernick/status/1795787546225410186?s=46&t=SNmCdGErhtI4uTuxlkh5XA
- ↑ https://x.com/imandrewrussell/status/1800396152808063474?s=46&t=SNmCdGErhtI4uTuxlkh5XA
- ↑ https://honkai-star-rail.fandom.com/wiki/Boothill/Dialogue
- ↑ https://x.com/cwaninng/status/1789974144622170372?s=46&t=SNmCdGErhtI4uTuxlkh5XA
- ↑ https://x.com/rachii_chan/status/1800910094718390391?s=46&t=SNmCdGErhtI4uTuxlkh5XA
- ↑ https://www.tumblr.com/feroluce/753371382979657728/so-this-is-all-courtesy-of-my-partner-in-crime