Rueben Westwood

Canon Name: Rueben Westwood
Canon Age at Time of Death: 17
Date of Birth: November 8, 1948
Date of Death: April 9, 1965
Gender: Male

Falsified Date of Birth: November 8, 1995
Falisified Age: 16
Falsified Date of Admission: January 7, 2012
Require Housing Assignment?: -
Require Staff Position?: -

Appearance: Rueben's pants might be a little high-waisted for 2012, and he might seem to have a strange penchant for button down shirts, but other than that he looks fairly normal. His hair is of a medium length and brown colored, as are his eyes. He has a smile that could be described as mischievious, playful, or even devious -- depends on who you're asking. He has been described as extremely attractive by members of both sexes, partly because of his natural appealing attributes and partly because he exudes a sort of charisma that people find irresistable.

Personality: Rueben's personality is what one would call seductive. Not necessarily always in a sexual way, although that's often the case, but more in the vein of inviting and alluring. He's like a venus fly trap -- he catches people by being friendly and complimentary, but then reveals the inner crazy. Rueben wants attention, and you can give it to him. Anyone can. His emotions are notoriously shallow and theatrical, and each day is a new performance. There must be a real person inside the thick veneer of exaggeration, but it's unlikely that you'll ever see it; he keeps it well hidden. There is a certain kind of strange charisma which draws people to the boy; he seems well-put together at first, a flawless character put into a terrible situation. But once you've spent more than a day with him, the realization that his entire person is an act and the act is flawed at that sets in. His greed for approval betrays him, and his inability to bond emotionally with other people is distressing and confusing for most.

Merits and Flaws: Rueben could charm red off a rose. He seems to know just what to say to get a girl into bed or get an angry adult to let him off the hook, just this once. There isn't a situation that he's found himself in that he couldn't talk his way out of, except for two: being sent away, and dying. Other than that, he's got a silver tongue unparalleled in the halls of Highgrove. His major flaw, aside from the obvious ones, is his inability to recognise the fact that he died almost five decades ago. He remembers nothing about that day, and continues on as if everything is exactly the way he left in in 1965. Obviously, things have changed quite a bit since then, so you can imagine his confusion. It hinders him in almsot every aspect of his un-life.

Current Activities at Highgrove: Rueben does what the rest of the residents do -- he sleeps in the dorms, eats with everyone else, and attends therapy and classes. Why would he do anything else? He can be frequently found in the stables, or, more frequently, outside the stables, because the horses don't like him for some reason. Rueben is still everyone's first choice for a good old fashion romp in the hay -- being dead has had no effect on his desire for the attention of everyone around him and the way he gets that attention.

History: Rueben was born in London to Cynthia Westwood, a prostitute and a heroin addict. For the first six years of his life, he was stashed daily in the laundry room of their miniscule flat while she entertained her customers, occupying himself with a few coloring books and his own imagination. Eventually, someone new moved in beside them and became sick of having strange men coming and going at odd hours; they called the authorities. Cynthia was arrested for possession of illegal drugs and swiftly labelled an unfit mother. Rueben was placed with his aunt and uncle, who hadn't even been aware of his existance up until that point.

Alistair and Carol Grey were on the brink of divorce, and thought that a child might bring them closer together. In short, it didn't. They grew further and further apart, and their arguments became increasingly violent. Rueben was, more often than not, ignored and left to his own devices. When he was eleven, the couple divorced, and in the dividing of their estate, he was left to Carol. They moved across the city, rending Rueben away from his school and his friends. Carol Grey's relationship with her nephew became less and less appropriate, until, when he was thirteen, she raped him; this continued throughout his teen years. The boy now knew what he had to do to gain the approval he so desired, and mirrored his aunt's behavior. He began to peform sexual acts with his classmates, and, according to popular belief, the home economics teacher. This came with a fair amount of partying -- everybody did drugs in the sixties, though, right? Maybe not, because Carol, wondering where her sweet-natured plaything of yesteryear had gone, sent him to the middle of nowhere to be 'rehabilitated'.

The day Rueben died was a day like any other. He was taking a girl to the stables, a nice, quiet girl with some sort of anxiety thing who probably didn't like him very much, and he planned to do what he always did. Have sex with her to make her like him, another vain attempt at closeness to another person, to anyone. What he didn't know was that another, not-so-nice girl was following, and when he began to undress the nicer one, she pounced. Screaming and flailing and pointing fingers. As it turned out, the nice quiet girl wasn't as quiet as he'd thought she was, because she screamed and flailed back. Despite his efforts to separate the two, their cat fight gave the horses quite a fright. He didn't know at what point the horses got loose -- maybe someone hadn't latched the pens properly, or maybe some idiot had been playing a practical joke -- but the heaving, scared equine cloud that descended on him was no practical joke. The staff found two crying, seething girls, one of whom had been kicked in the gut by a horse, a stable full of scared horses, and one dead boy, pounded to a pulp by the churning hooves.

Rueben did not reappear right away. When he did start to flicker back, a few years later, maybe, he showed up inconsistantly. Sitting in the back of a classroom and confusing the teacher, watching television with the rest of the residents and somehow disappearing by the end of the show, sharing a late-night conversation with a newbie who could never seem to find the guy he'd been talking to afterward. His appearances became longer and longer over the years, and harder and harder to ignore. By the time he'd started to have casul sex with the residents again, it was time to do something. Rueben Westwood was officially reinstated at Highgrove, complete with the proper paperwork and signatures. Not that he'd ever left in the first place...


Have you ever been diagnosed with a psychiatric illness? If yes, have you ever been hospitalised due to your psychiatric illness(es)?:

The therapist they made me see said that I've got Histrionic Personality Disorder, but between you and I, I don't think that's even a real thing. Everyone likes it when people like them. It's what people are all about. I've never been to the hospital for it; I don't know what they would do for me there, anyway.

What circumstances have led to your referral to Highgrove Home for Children?:

My Aunt Carol thinks that I've got a problem. She doesn't like the way I spend my weekends...but whose parents do, you know? She doesn't like that I'm into drugs, and she thinks I get around too much with girls.

What was your childhood like? Where did you grow up? How do you feel your childhood has influenced your current circumstances?:

I grew up in London. I only lived with my mom until I was six; our flat was really small, and I spent most of my time penned in the laundry room by one of those baby gates. I moved in with my aunt and uncle after that, and that was a lot better. They argued all the time, but at least I had my own room.

How are your relationships with your family members? Do you have any siblings?:

It's just me and Carol now. My mum is probably dead -- ask me if I care. She was more interested in drugs than she was in me, to be honest. Uncle Alistair has run off somewhere, probably. He was always talking about living on the beach. My family and I have never gotten on much, except for Carol and me. She's a good aunt.

How is school? Do you achieve good grades? Do you participate in any after-school activities?:

My grades are good enough to pass the courses, but I'm not that into them. I'm not in athletics or anything. I prefer other, less legal pastimes, usually.

How are your social relationships? Do you have any friends? Do you have any romantic interests?:

I have a few friends; we get together on weekends sometimes when they're not busy and have a bit of fun. I have a lot more romantic interests though. Girls just have a thing for me, and I've got a thing for them. It's harmless fun, really. Tell me what's so wrong about that.

Have you ever knowingly committed a crime? Do you have a criminal record? If yes, what were your sentences?:

Never had a record. I've never gotten caught doing anything wrong by anyone of proper authority.

What are your hopes and aspirations for the future, and how do you feel you will best achieve them?:

I don't really know. I guess I never really thought about what I'd like to do when I get older. What I'm mainly hoping right now is not to have to spend my senior year in your lovely institution, though. I don't think I'm insane enough to merit this punishment.


For which position are you applying at Highgrove Home for Children?:

(Answer Here)

Why do you feel you would be the best candidate for this position?:

(Answer Here)

Do you possess the necessary qualifications and experience to hold this position? If yes, please explain:

(Answer Here)

Have you ever knowingly committed a crime? Do you have a criminal record? If yes, please explain:

(Answer Here)

How do you prefer to relax during stressful situations?:

(Answer Here)

If you could describe yourself in only five words, which words would you choose?:

(Answer Here)

If you were given an order by a superior, to which you felt morally opposed, what would you do?:

(Answer Here)

What do you hope to achieve by working at the Highgrove Home for Children?:

(Answer Here)


Player Nickname: Spring
Player Chatbox Name: Springrollz
Playby: Ben Barnes

Full Name: Rueben Westwood
Age: 16
Date of Birth: 11/08/95
Gender: Male
Diagnoses: Histrionic Personality Disorder
Date of Admission: 01/07/2012

Dormitory Number: 3
Bunk Number: 02 Top
Assigned Chores Group: Kitchen Chores
Assigned Therapist: Dr. Maxwell Rose

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Resident Name: Ruben Westwood
Reporting Staff Name: Dr. N. Zvarich
Behavioural Observation: Residents in restricted area (the Old Ward)
Measures Taken: Because there was nothing untoward happening, both residents were escorted back to the main floor and reminded the attic and all areas of the third floor are strictly off limits. No further disciplinary actions were required.

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