Ruben, better known as Rusty is a recurring character in Zoophobia as well as the main antagonist in the short "Bad Luck Jack". He is a dog who is always making trouble, annoying others for no reason.
Appearance[]
Rusty is an anthropomorphic Border Collie-Labrador Retriever mix with floppy ears and a red collar. However, in "Bad Luck Jack", he wears a red letterman jacket with white sleeves, the right elbow is patched whilst the left is torn.
Personality[]
Rusty is belligerent yet thin-skinned. He takes pleasure in mocking others, but getting insulted in turn can frustrate and make him feel humiliated to the point he leaves his victim altogether. He is not that bright, especially when compared with others, but he does have moments of deep thought[1] and usually makes up for things with his street smarts[2]. His insensitive and abrasive nature is only amplified by bigoted nicknames he likes to give others, like "queer"[3] for Addison or “piñata boy” for Zill. Though is largely due to his own issues accepting his sexuality, amongst many of his insecurities which he choose to reflect onto others, or to mock the aspects of other students that he finds in himself. Despite everything though, he's fiercely loyal to those he cares for, and is determined even in the toughest of times.
Relationships[]
His Parents[]
Rusty's father had abandoned him shortly after he was born, having left him at a foster home where he'd grow up alongside Camilla and befriend her.
The status of his mother much more what had happened to her however, is unknown.
Zill[]
Due to Zill being of an unknown species new to even Safe Haven, Rusty takes every opportunity to mock him for his appearance and giving him the mocking nickname of "Piñata Boy". Rusty often pushes Zill's boundaries and taunts the latter's aversion to solving things with violence.
Jack[]
Jack is one of Rusty's main victims. Because of Jack's constant bad luck, Rusty sees Jack as a freak and takes sadistic pleasure in reminding the jackal of all the ways he gets injured. He also likes to give Jack various degrading nicknames, like "Pussy", "Loser" or "Bad Luck Jack". Jack continued taking the abuse for some time, at least until he finally gathered enough courage to tell Rusty off by pointing out his inability to befriend others, which prompted the bully to storm away in embarrassment.
Autumn[]
As one of the few that was always there for him, alongside Camilla, Rusty has a deep respect and appreciation for Autumn. Having helped him understand his emotions as a pup, he's come to oddly feel him. As in emotionally, though it's done little to stop him from backtalking Autumn and targeting him for bullying. All the same, deep down, whether he'd want to admit it or not he is attracted to him romantically which Autumn is ignorant to.
However, Rusty can still find Autumn irritating in how he tends to interrupt Rusty's bullying whenever they meet at school. Furthermore, Autumn is one of the few that refuse to acknowledge Rusty's nickname and insist on calling him by his real name, "Ruben", a behavior that Rusty particularly upsetting. Their in-school relationship carries tension, arguments, teasing, etc.
The twins Max and Max are Rusty's sidekicks, hanging around with him for most of the day. Though, they do share a species with Rusty's best friend, Christine.
Christine is Rusty's best friend. This is shown in how they hang out in some artworks made by VivziePop.
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- Although never explicitly stated, it has been implied by Vivziepop through various artworks and QnAs, that Rusty may be bisexual or possibly even gay himself. This is strongest when it comes to Autumn, who he has feelings for yet tries his damnedest not to admit or recognize them, preferring to instead keep it a secret.
- Rusty originally was to be dating a female dog named Dixie (unrelated to the werewolf of the same name), but this was later scrapped in favor of his 'ambiguous' bisexuality.
- Rusty can fit his entire fist into his mouth.
- Rusty can hold his breath for around forty seconds. [2]
- Rusty smells of wet dog and gasoline. [2]
