The King Of Hearts

Benjamin Dover-Cao
The King Of Hearts
Real name	Benjamin 'Benji' Dover-Cao
Aliases	The King Of Hearts, KahootKing
Pronouns	he/him
Age	42
Alignment	Villain
Occupation	Casino Owner
Born	4th October 2038
Status	Alive
City	Apopka Lights
Height	6'1"
Mark information
Mark	Heart Of The Cards
Level	Unknown
OOC information
Player	negativejekyll

Benjamin 'Benji' Dover-Cao (previously Benjamin Dover) is an Apopkan kingpin and co-owner of the Star's Heights Casino in Apopka Lights, along with his husband Jianhong Cao. He is the current second-in-command of The World's Deck, an Apopkan crime syndicate, as The King Of Hearts.

Career

Early Career

Very little is known about Dover-Cao's early life or career. His earliest public appearance is as a small-scale gambling streamer, KahootKing, gambling in Apopkan casinos and online games. This streaming career was brought to an abrupt stop without warning, a few years before Dover-Cao's appearances at the Star's Heights Casino began. He has since confirmed that he and KahootKing are the same person, referring to it as 'a side hustle from his teen years'.

The Star's Heights Casino

In 2063, Dover-Cao became part of The World's Deck as a manager and co-owner of the Star's Heights Casino, after his marriage into the Cao family. He primarily handles the casino aspects of the business, maintaining the many floors of the casino and selecting the games and croupiers to be played. The casino has only grown in popularity since the change in ownership, owed in part to Dover-Cao's additions of new games and floor renovations, as well as the introduction of The Star Climb.

Personal Life

Dover-Cao married Jianhong Cao in 2061, and have been partners in life and crime since, becoming the heads of The World's Deck in 2063 at the abdication of Xiang Cao. The two have a son, Jun Dover-Cao, who is a known Apopkan ARG developer and geocacher. The three of them, and their extended family, are reported to have a close relationship. He has also talked about his own family, his parents and an older brother, though they've never been reported as seen in Apopka.

Dover-Cao has talked frequently with casino patrons about his superstitious nature, namely his beliefs in luck. He reports that his personal lucky number is four, and his lucky card is the king of hearts, which he utilises as a pseudonym.

Abilities and Gear

Dover-Cao has confirmed he is Marked and that his mark is called 'Heart Of The Cards'. There is currently little information on Dover-Cao's Mark, and he has given conflicting information on what it does and how it works, with only one consistent theme; he claims that his Mark does little more than make him very lucky.

Trivia

Notable Relationships
Arthur Quinn	The most It's Complicated feeling Benji has ever had about anyone. Arthur, to Benji, is like some horrible funhouse reflection of his life - his past experiences, his position as a father, his desires in the current day... it's all awfully muddled in his head. He enjoys the kid's company, sure, and respects his outlook to an extent, but Arthur makes it awfully hard. It'd be a lot easier to tolerate if Arthur wasn't such a little shit to him, though Benji still finds those acts of defiance oddly familiar - was he really like that as a young hoodlum..? Last time they spoke, it ended with them both shouting and cussing at each other, and Benji's still pretty miffed that he had the gall to try and steal his wedding ring.
Lady Blanche	Oh boy. Benji thinks Blanche is a lowlife thieving cheat willing to play incredibly dirty to win - someone after his own heart, if she wasn't gearing it at him. Still, he can't help but respect her tenacity, and the fact she's willing to be somewhat-upfront on her feelings when confronted. He's trying to keep their relationship civil, for now at least - after all, there are a few things he wants from her. He doesn't trust her, but he's sure she wouldn't want him to. Poker faces all the way down.
Theseus	Benjamin Dover-Cao is afraid of exactly three people. Theseus is securely one of them. After a previous altercation which almost killed him, breaking his leg, and then refusing to help heal his leg, it's safe to say the two aren't on good terms. Benji feels very good about getting one over on her, and while he's still concerned she may go after his family... his spite makes him consider investing in some new billboards, just for her.
Bleeding Heart	The healer who saved his weekend plans with his son. Anything Bleeding Heart needs, Benji is happy to provide - with very few questions asked. Anything to thank him for granting him a day with his son.
Star Dust	Orchestrated his phone call with his son, and pulled a few strings to ensure he got healed, with the admittedly-fair point that his husband would freak out. He owes her one - anyone who does right by his family does right by him. Anything Communications might need from him, he's ready to help.
Bone Doctor	His friend! Bone Doctor's a fellow father (and dad joke maker), he offered his house and time up for poker night, he helped in making an example of Arthur... Benji thinks the guy's great! If Bone Doctor ever needs something, and Benji can help, he will.
Ripley Pond	Helped him move in, was at the meeting Blanche put together, generally pleasant interactions - the guy seems great! He... still feels a little guilty over the ol' furniture fiasco, but he's not letting it bog him down. He's done what he can now, at least. Now, the bigger question - does Ripley know he's a criminal..? Benji's still unsure.
REMIX	After REMIX's attempted robbery of the Star's Heights Casino, and the subsequent hospital visit the World's Deck caused them, REMIX and Benji aren't exactly on the best of terms. Benji hasn't spoken to them yet, but is aware they're at Perihelion.
The Merchant	Benji likes talking with The Merchant, and finds their knowledge of The Land incredibly interesting. Benji is currently a client of hers, for an anniversary project for his husband, and the two have also worked together on missions and during Poker Night! Truly swell. Potentially a good candidate if the Heights ever decide to switch card manufacturers...
Vincent Noble	He went in for a check-up early in his time here, and then was back with a broken leg. He thinks Noble's patient, but... probably a bit annoyed that his treatment was mandated via his husband. Whoops...
The Toymaker	Now this is a guy with style! Benji resonates on a deep, dedicated-to-the-gimmick level with Jack, and deeply appreciates the work done on his cool slot machine gun. He has a few croupiers on standby to help the guy out when he asks. Also, he helped on poker night! Thanks, man!
Professor Corpse Flower	Helped out with security on poker night, though... seems a bit much for Benji's tastes. Interesting Mark, though...
Oscar Chaturanga V	Hey. Hey, Oscar. Why is the person who tried to assassinate him here? Next time he sees Oscar they're having words.
Laddergirl	Saved him when he broke his leg! Cheers, Laddergirl! He's not got many more thoughts on her.
Skylar Beaumont	Benji doesn't recognise the name Skylar Beaumont. Solomonym, though... one of his son's friends, he thinks..?
Lady Blanche, Agent 69, Kyouko Okada, The Merchant, Ripley Pond, Sightline, Sisyphus, Yúzé Astor	The attendees of Blanche's meeting. Benji doesn't feel great about missing the beginning and end, but he found the meeting very productive - and some contacts in other citystates can't hurt. He hopes he didn't come across badly.
Agent 69, General Hiss, Laddergirl, The Merchant, Arthur Quinn, Chance	Benji's teammates on the Snakes and Ladders mission. He considers the mission a success, and considers most, if not all, of his teammates to be surprisingly tolerable.
Ripley Pond, Jules Knightley, Sisyphus, and Midas	Benji's housemates on base. He's trying to avoid letting on to Ripley and Jules that he's a criminal. He shares a room with Sisyphus, and he wishes these people would avoid getting into feuds and smashing the door off every week. Let a man sleep!!