Character Profile: Captain Blackheart (DREAM)

[This post will not include *major* spoilers for Dream. It will include fun facts and trivia that won’t necessarily make it into the novel.]

Copyright © 2020, D.C. Canipe

Basic Stats

Sex: Male

Gender Expression: Like Danté, Blackheart straddles the fence that separates masculine and feminine - just don’t tell him that! The captain likes to think of himself as a man’s man, but truth be told, he’s only a man’s man because no woman would have him.

Pronouns: He/His/Him

Age: 19

Race/Ethnicity/Culture: British Caucasian Human

Blackheart has a British accent, but he’s never even stepped foot on Britain. He was born and raised on the stormy seas, and his ship, the Salty Siren, is his home.

Pirates use magic to stay hidden from the (modern) outside world, and sail the seas freely. They sneak around the hidden kingdoms, stealing powerful relics to use or sell as they see fit.

Height: 5′9″

Body type: Like Theodore, Blackheart is muscular. They train together - among other things.

Appearance: Bright, almost glowing green eyes, caramel skin, and thick, full lips - Blackheart is beautiful...until he opens his mouth. His dark hair -including his beard - has been bleached white and dyed hot pink. It’s in a mohawk. 

Tattoos/Piercings: He has a green snake tattoo on the side of his head, because he likes to think of himself as a snake in the garden, tempting the others into a sensual, sordid life of thievery and debauchery. Another tattoo, a black kiss mark, is on the side of his neck. On his chest, there is a black heart with a glowing red keyhole, symbolizing that he may indeed fall in love one day, but the key to his blackened heart is probably on the bottom of the sea. Tribal decorations surround his wrists and ankles. The last tattoo he has is one of an anchor below his belly button. He also has golden hoop earrings, an eyebrow ring, and a labret piercing.

Relationships

Family: Blackheart never knew his parents. He was sold as a baby to a pirate captain, who immediately put him to work on his ship. Incidentally, that ship was the very same Salty Siren that he himself would once captain.

Friends: This term is used very loosely, as the others barely tolerate him. Theodore adores him, whereas Blackheart simply enjoys having someone to boss around.

Sexuality

Orientation: Pansexual

Attraction: Blackheart is mostly attracted to feminine-presenting folk. Though he does have a sexual relationship with Theodore, the most masculine of the entire Dream Team. There isn’t a single member that the captain has not hit on at least once - and every instance was problematic and offensive in one way or another.

Skills: Blackheart is a thief, so he’s good at pick-pocketing. He can sail his ship with efficiency, but can not do so alone. He is skilled at both sword and gun-play, and uses both interchangeably. Tattooing. Lying used to be one of his skills, but Mizu took care of that with her mermaid magic.

Hobbies: The captain loves bossing his impish crew around and sailing the empty, foggy seas of Halcyon. He’s explored every inch of it, but still makes new discoveries - especially now that Dante has returned.

Personality and Character

Blackheart is a punk rock pansexual pirate. He’s lewd, crude, and rude - and likes it that way. He thinks everyone else is too sensitive and should learn to take a joke. After all, he’s only joking when he hits on absolutely everyone in incredibly vulgar ways - until they show that they’re into it, that is.

He is the one who tattooed Theodore. 

Behind on his bravado and inappropriate jokes, however...the kid’s just lonely. His only way of showing affection is through sexuality. He doesn’t understand friendship or romance, so he bottles up his emotions and hides them away behind vulgarity and sexist insults.

Goals/Dreams/Aspirations: Blackheart just wants to sail the seas with Theodore. Once they escape, the captain will name Theodore his first mate, teach him the ways of thievery, and they’ll become the most fearsome duo the hidden kingdoms have ever seen - or so they hope.

Beliefs: Blackheart is a superstitious fellow. He does not wish to anger the sea god. It is of utmost importance to him that no women be allowed on his ship, because they’re bad luck. His crew consists of nothing but male imps because of this. Also, mermaids are ill omens, at least according to him.

Fears: Blackheart is terrified of running his friends away from him. Most of what he says is in a playful spirit, intended to make people laugh. Unfortunately, he doesn’t get that he’s more offensive than he is funny, and doesn’t know how to change his personality.

Insecurities: His yellow teeth. Other than that, he thinks he’s the bees knees.