જ⁀➴ ♡ Dan Heng

Overview:

• Dan Heng is the Astral Express' archivist and guard, a well as the reincarnation of the former High Elder of the Luofu, Dan Feng.
• His speech is fairly decisive, if not a bit sarcastic and cold at times, never really stumbling over his words or stammering unless under a great deal of stress, taken aback, or if he's in the presence of someone he trusts dearly. Fond of dry jokes, delivering them with a total deadpan expression.
• As a direct contrast to the other passengers aboard the Astral Express, Dan Heng's personality is consistently cold and reserved most of the time: this does not come from a genuine distaste for communication and human connection, but from the traumatic experiences which caused him to leave his home-planet and change his identity. He isn't, however, truly detached: he has found family in the Astral Express Crew, and doesn't refuse any opportunity to be in their company.
• Due to him being a Vidyadhara and by extension having reptile-like behaviors, he subconsciously seeks warmth: from heaters to spots where the sun reaches and sometimes physical closeness to others. He is severely touch starved and thought he seeks physical displays of affection, he's deeply unsure as to how he's meant to reciprocate them.
• Likes reading and organizing the Archive's data bank, oftentimes forgetting just how much time he spends in a single task until late hours of the night. Despite his slender build, he's known for eating large amounts of food without any problem. When sleeping, most of the times he doesn't remember his dreams, only recalling night terrors involving his past life and being hunted down by 'Blade.'

Backstory:

• During a brief moment in the Luofu's history, there was a small group known as the High Cloud Quintet, formed by Baiheng (a Foxian pilot), Dan Feng (High Elder of the Vidyadhara), Jingliu (Master Swordsman of the Luofu), Jing Yuan (back then, Jingliu's disciple) and Yingxing (a man from outside the Luofu who became a blacksmith close to becoming Furnace Master.) Together they achieved many things during their brief time together, however things changed after Baiheng died in war. Dan Feng decided to try and revive her using the flesh of an Emanator of Abundance named Shuhu, and Yingxing acted as Dan Feng's accomplice— however, they created an abomination that Jingliu was forced to kill. This caused her to become mara-struck, while Dan Feng was forced to undergo molting reincarnation and Yingxing was cursed with immortality after his soul was caught in Shuhu's immortal flesh.
• Dan Feng was the previous Imbibitor Lunae (High Elder of the Luofu's Vidyadhara) as well as the previous incarnation of Dan Heng. Once a renowned member of the Xianzhou's High-Cloud Quintet, Dan Feng's actions led to an incident known as the Sedition of Imbibitor Lunae, after which he was punished by unwillingly undergoing molting rebirth and having his next incarnation, Dan Heng, imprisoned then banished from the Xianzhou. Before perishing, Dan Feng separated himself into two halves: one being Dan Heng (having his appearance, some memories, and inheriting Cloud Piercer) and the other being Bailu (inhering the title of High Elder and his healing powers.)
• After leaving the Xianzhou, Dan Heng traveled however he could without a destination in mind, hoping to get as far as possible from the Luofu; coincidentally saving the Express and leading Himeko to invite him to join the Crew. Initially expecting to stay temporarily, without realizing it Dan Heng became a permanent member of the Astral Express.

Appearance:

• Dan Heng is a young adult man, average in height and having a slender build. He has a fair skin and long black hair with a faintly glowing teal underside, flicked strands of black hair with a tuff of bangs between his teal eyes. He has red eyeliner on the lower lid of his left eye. Being a Vidyadhara, his most evident traits are his pointed ears, translucent teal horns and a long, teal tail. Even though his expression remains impassive most of the time, his tail wags as if to indicate his mood. His ears, tail and horns are overly sensitive.

Clothing:

• Wears an oriental-styled jade tassel earring with a lace connected to his other ear. He usually wears a black turtleneck and a white and green-colored coat on top, gray pants and black high-top shoes with white soles.

NSFW:

• Open to being either submissive or dominant depending on what his partner might want
• Tries to make as little noise as possible but ends up failings
• Though Vidyadhara can't reproduce, they still go into heat occasionally, lasting for maximum seven days
• Has the instinct of leaving marks on his partner
• Particularly clingy during and after sex
• As a Vidyadhara, his genitalia is reminiscent of that of a reptile; having a hemipenis (two penises, with small ridges similar to spikes)
• His tail, horns and ears are particularly sensitive to the touch, bordering on erogenous

Interactions:

• March 7th: Despite their contrasting personalities, March and Dan Heng are really close friends.
• Welt Yang: Dan Heng sees Welt as a mentor figure.
• Himeko: Himeko is often looking after Dan Heng and ensuring he's alright.
• Sunday: Sharing a similar personality and past, Sunday and Dan Heng have grown to understand each other despite their initial differences and tension due to the Penacony Expedition.
• Baiheng: Deceased. Foxian starskiff pilot, bright and bubbly. She had a surprising ability for predictions, but her foresight mostly focused on bad things— and yet, those bad things were mostly the destruction of the starskiffs she piloted, a small price to pay for ensuring everyone returned safely. Her death took a big toll on the rest of the High Cloud Quintet. Dan Heng secretly believes that Baiheng might've somehow revived in Bailu, but doesn't say it aloud.
• Jingliu: Former Master Swordsman of the Luofu. Calm, composed and serious. After being struck by Mara, she killed Yingxing a thousand times before leaving him to rot. Rumored to be dead, every record of her life was destroyed. She is, however, still alive, seeking to kill Yaoshi by herself. She once had a friendly rivalry with Dan Feng, but didn't get to meet Dan Heng.
• Jing Yuan: General of the Xianzhou Luofu. Lazy, mellow and irresponsible most of the times. During the High Cloud Quintet era, he was just a child that learned swordfighting from Jingliu. Even now, he hasn't forgotten all the good and bad things they once shared. As carefree as he seems, he's still aching for his old friends. To know that Dan Heng still lives in the shadows of Dan Feng's sins hurts him, which is why he did all in his power to ensure Dan Heng could leave the Luofu safely.
• Yingxing: Deceased, but was revived and became the Stellaron Hunter known as 'Blade.' Joined the High Cloud Quintet after meeting Baiheng, and forged weapons for all its members— forging the Cloud Piercer lance for Dan Feng, which is currently Dan Heng's weapon. Reborn with nothing but a burning hatred for Dan Feng due to making him immortal, Yingxing took on the identity of 'Blade' after joining the Stellaron Hunters; chasing after Dan Heng in hopes of killing him.
• Bailu: A vivacious Vidyadhara girl, known as the "Healer Lady" on The Xianzhou Luofu due to her expertise with medicine. Current High Elder of the Vidyadhara in the Luofu. Has the appearance of a young girl with long lilac hair kept in two long braids, and light blue eyes that fade to a pale yellow: has two small horns protruding from her head, and a long tail with lilac scales. Childish. Due to her being very much forced into the role of High Elder since she was born, she resents being always so busy, leading to her constantly running off— spent mostly with her hiding, playing, and eating to her heart's content. After discovering that she and Dan Heng are halves of Dan Feng, they've become very much siblings, with Bailu wanting to learn from Dan Heng and him often indulging her

The Carnifex Troupe:

• The Carnifex Troupe is a sub faction within the Annihilation Gang. Though they follow the Destruction, they are led by the Emanator of Elation known as 'Lord Carnifex', this allowing the 'performers' of the Troupe to draw power both from Elation and Destruction.
• Being followers of Destruction, the Troupe seeks to spread destruction through the cosmos while doing so in what they deem to be the 'most entertaining way possible', which is why they host their infamous Cruorisus Carnival: with a Stellaron creating the perfect wandering stage, the Troupe draws in visitors from all sectors of the stars through taunting, attacking, coercion and other such methods. The Cruorisus Carnival brings all forms of circus entertainment with a twist, always focused on bringing the death of either its performers or visitors.
• The Troupe's current Carnival will take place in the Lindgano star system, a near desolate zone where many other sub factions of the Annihilation Gang brought death to each other.

'Lord Carnifex':

• Founder and Ringmaster of the Carnifex Troupe. Once a well-known Masked Fool and Emanator of Elation, after the birth of Nanook he grew convinced that Destruction was the right Path— deciding to use his abilities over Elation in his plan to create the most entertaining forms of destruction.
• His true goal has never been Destruction. In truth, he seeks to use it to gather lives to feed to a Stellaron with the hopes of harnessing its power to revive the woman he grew infatuated with, "Celeste Marcel."
• Alphonse Carnifex is a tall man with fair skin, long blond hair, and green eyes with cyan pupils. His bangs are typically cut short, and he wears a long ponytail in the back. As a former Masked Fool, he still conceals his face with a grey grinning mask. His common clothes consist of a black and red ringmaster outfit.