| Ricky James |
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| Portrayed By |
Johnny Simmons |
| Gender |
Male |
| Date of Birth |
January 1, 1992 |
| Age |
17 |
| Zodiac Sign |
Capricorn |
| Aliases |
Zodiac (former codename), Flux |
| Place of Birth |
Sarasota, FL |
| Current Location |
Salem Center, NY |
| Occupation |
Housekeeper |
| Known Relatives |
Grandmother Opal and parents. Christopher (custody holder) |
| Significant Other |
Eddie |
| Identity |
Secret |
| Known Abilities |
Power Recombination (formerly Zodiac-defined alterations and elemental abilities) |
| First Appearance |
(in log) Melting Pot |
*eyes glaze over* Power: Electrical Body. Previous Power: Portal Teleportation. Recombination: Electrical Teleportation.
Ok, what did I say? What's my power now?
History
Sometimes, children just aren't the best thing for a marriage. Unfortunately for Richard James, he was one of those that didn't quite help the relationship of his parents. When his mother found out she was pregnant, the relationship turned into a shotgun wedding, with each holding the child over the head of the other. Fights were a common thing in his home. Mother mad at father for not bringing home enough money. Father mad at mother for not working or even really doing much around the house. For all that he was an adorable child, that just didn't matter to them. It even got to the point where one of them was always sleeping in the living room. Needless to say, there weren't any other siblings.
He remained quiet throughout most of his childhood, choosing to spend what time he could outside, so as not to have to listen to his parents. If not outside with friends, he'd visit his paternal grandmother who lived in the town. His grandmother was an intelligent woman, who loved to take care of the neighborhood children. She was always baking treats and whatnot, and giving them out to those who helped her out with things like yardwork. (The older ones, however, got a little money instead). Unbeknownst to the family and friends, she was a practicing witch.
As he grew, Ricky showed a huge talent for the arts, being able to sketch and draw like very few others of his age group. Throughout his childhood, his art progressed to the point that when he became a teenager, his grandmother presented him with his first set of acrylics, just to see how well he could work with that.As he began toying with the Acrylics, he knew that artistry was what he wanted to do for a living. Sure, he'd probably need a day job, very few people are talented enough to actually make a subsistence off of it, but he knew that's something he would always enjoy. (Oddly, he is good enough to do that, once he matures a little more).
Between his grandmother's encouragement, and the school's promotion, he developed the skill quite nicely during his short stay. Finally, he worked up the nerve to tell his parents that that was what he wanted to do. Unfortunately, Dad came from the old and prejudiced school… i.e. If a boy's into art, he must be gay. Unfortunately for Ricky, he was. When confronted about it, he admitted the truth, having always believed it better to be honest with them, because it saved a lot of pain later. This time, it brought the pain on now. His father was not gentle as he tried to teach his son the error of his ways. When his grandmother saw the marks on him, she wasn't taking it lightly. Not only was she not taking in lightly, but she wasn't doing it properly. She chose to use her abilities to call forth power to throw a scare into his parents, to treat him right.
The candles were set, the ritual was going, Ricky came for a visit, unexpectedly. Having already begun the ritual, his grandmother was deep in concentration, not noticing that he had come in. His own eyes went wide as he watched her, in her attic. She sat in a circle, chanting and calling on power from the heavens to right the wrongs of her family. Creeping forward, he was amazed by the lights and sounds erupting around her, until he tripped… breaking the energy containment circle. This snapped his grandmother out of it. Eyes flying wide, she told him to back out of the circle. The gathering energies had already broken free, though.
A voice intoned, through the chaos of energy in her attic, "We choose this one to hold our power, faithful one. He will use it wisely." After this, Ricky freaked out. After all, wierd things like that don't just happen in small towns. He ran, not turning back. Feeling that he had somehow betrayed his grandmother, stolen something that belonged to her, and not having any clue as to what he had gained, he ran away. Not only did he run, but he didn't stop running until he was in a new place altogether, as his powers instinctively kicked in, carrying him across the miles with a side of their abilities.
Arriving in New York, he found himself picked up with a group of kids his own age, that overlooked something odd that they saw on him, deciding that he needed a place to go. Since then, he's been doing his share, trying to earn money to help keep them all fed.
Themesongs
Timeline
| July 15, 2009 |
Ricky is one of a number of people that the Watcher observes, dealing with adversity. |
That Which Stands Against |
| April 5, 2009 |
Ricky and Eddie go to the zoo before Ricky's grandmother appears….. |
Taking by Force |
| April 6, 2009 |
Ricky awakens in a lab. The Doctor shows him something new about himself. |
Destiny's Care |
| April 6, 2009 |
Later in the day, Ricky makes it home. Confusion ensues. |
Homecoming |
| April 7, 2009 |
Christopher explains the meanings and ramifications of the papers that his gramma gave him. |
Temporary Daddy? |
| March 21, 2009 |
Ricky gets to know Eddie's new brother, while teasing Eddie in the Hot Tub. |
Family Bonding |
| March 31, 2009 |
Ricky, along with many other people, helps save the world. |
Freedom |
| February 19, 2009 |
Ricky goes out to the park with Eddie. There, he runs into Terry and James. They all receive a strange warning of the future from strange people. |
Warning |
| Previously |
After arriving in NYC, Ricky met another homeless boy named Eddie. The two bonded very well on their first day. As time passed, his other kids started leaving, leaving him all alone. After a brief run-in with his grandmother's … assistants… he determined he needed to find a place off the streets. However, during that time, he was chosen to be the temporary host of the Time Gem, of the Infinity Gems. After that ordeal was taken care of, He got an invite from Eddie's father, Christopher to come and live with them as a housekeeper. Accepting, he surprised Eddie by being there on Christmas day. |
Quotes
Trivia
- Previously, every month, Ricky's body changes on the stroke of midnight, as the signs change. For a few days out of each month, he carries two powers.
Powers
Ricky's genetics are now in a constant state of flux. They latch onto the odd genetics of those he touches, taking bits and pieces of it for himself. What this does, in effect, is that it clones others genetics. However, it cannot take the power as it stands, because no power is perfect. It takes the power and splits it into two. The next person he touches with an ability, the same thing happens. THEN, his power will recombine them into something wholly new and different. Now, the actual limits of HIS unique powers will be based on the powers he borrows. If he were to copy Cyclops and Colossus to recombine into something, it would not be stronger than either of the above, only equal to at most.
Examples of power recombining: First Touch - Cyclops (Ruby Force, Eyebeam). Second Touch - Colossus (Organic Steel, Body). Ricky's power: Either Ruby Force Body, or Organic Steel Eyebeam. Third Touch - Angel (Feathered, Wings). Cyclops's power falls away. Either Feathered Body or Organic Steel Wings. Fourth Touch - Emma Frost (Diamond, Body or Mental, Manipulation). Either of the following, Feathered Body (again), Feather Manipulation, Flesh Wings, or Mental (telekinetic) wings. The result would depend on a die roll. If I cannot find something that would actually coalesce into something feasible, it simply won't work, and he'll be left temporarily with no active power until he touches someone else.
Overview - Due to the zodiacal nature of Ricky's powers, during the date ranges listed, he gains a set of powers that fit with that sign. Not only that, but he gains personality and physical changes with each one. The dates overlap, giving him two sets of powers for five days at a time, for the variable cusp dates. The physical changes will intensify as he grows older. Now, it's just the beginning, so they're mostly mild.
Aries - Cardinal Fire - March 19 - April 23 - Perhaps the power that gets the least amount of use, cardinal fire is the ability to move up to 300 cubic feet of fire from one location to another within 200 feet of himself. While it's great for fighting fires, the rest of the time, it's fairly useless. However, he also gains the ability to fly at approximately 100 miles per hour. During Aries's period, he gains a pair of immature ram's horns.
Taurus - Fixed Earth - April 19 - May 22 - During the time of Fixed Earth, Ricky can turn his body into solid earth. His body becomes extremely durable, able to withstand up to 50 tons of pressure, whether it's blunt or slicing trauma. However, water weakens him quite a bit. He's able to lift as much as he can put out, but he moves extremely slowly when not tunnelling through the earth. His tunnelling speed is approximately 100 miles per hour. When not in earth form, he gains a pair of bull's horns (though short, due to his not yet being fully an adult.)
Gemini - Mutable Air - May 18 - June 23 - Gemini gives Ricky the ability to control air. While controlling air, he can move winds within 200 feet of himself up to 200 miles per hour, giving him stronger than hurricane level winds. Alternately, he can condense the movement into short, quick, small punches of air strong enough to punch through two-inch thick steel. During this phase, he gains the ability to fly at up to 100 miles per hour. His body takes on a few mild changes. His eyes become double-pupilled, and his voice gets doubled.
Cancer - Cardinal Water- June 23- July 24 - During Cardinal Water, Ricky can move up to 300 cubic feet of water from one location to another. While he cannot control it or use it as a standard attack, if he were to move it to ten feet above someone, it would drench them quite well when it fell. The water has to be present in sufficient quantities and within 200 feet of him, in order for him to move it. During Cancer's phase, he can swim at approximately 100 miles per hour, and has a small set of gills to aid his breathing under water. His skin takes on a red color and a chitinous sheen.
Leo - Fixed Fire - July 20 - August 24 - Leo is fixed fire, which means a body of fire. Ricky gains the ability to turn his body completely into flame, burning at approximately 3000 degrees, hot enough to melt steel. Being fire means he's also intangible, however, he will pass out in a vacuum, because he needs oxygen to burn. While physical attacks pass through him, his physical attacks do the same. However, being fire, he burns whatever he touches. Water is also
a major problem for him. Rain will just evaporate, but harsh blasts of water will put a damper on him. He can also fly at approximately 100 miles per hour while in fire form. During Leo's phase, he grows a leonine tail.
Virgo - Mutable Earth - August 20 - September 24 - Virgo's time is that of earth manipulation. Ricky can cause the ground to vibrate, giving up to a magnitude 4 quake. Nothing too strong, but enough to shake an area of up to 100 square feet. He can also cause small areas of ground to burst up in quick, sharp blasts, up to 200 feet away from his body. Normally, he can only push a few of these up at a time. During Virgo's timeframe, he can tunnel through earth at up to 100 miles per hour, and gains an aesthetic boost, making himself look better than normal.
Libra - Cardinal Air - September 20 - October 25 -Libra's phase consists of the ability to move up to 100 square feet of air. This is perhaps the most powerful of his Cardinal phases. While concentrating, he can keep an area of up to 300 cubic feet in a complete vacuum. However, he has to watch carefully when he does this, as living things do tend to suffocate. He can also fly at 100 miles per hour during Libra. When Libra's out, his body becomes completely middle of the road in every aspect. His coloration, his hair color and texture, his size and weight, he becomes the perfect balance of what he could be. Middle of the road all around.
Scorpio - Fixed Water - October 21 - November 26 - Scorpio grants Ricky a body of water. His body turns to complete water, enabling him to be invulnerable to standard physical attacks, but more prone to damage from energy attacks. As a being of water, he can flow into and out of very small spaces. He can punch as strong as he could as a human. Lightning is his bane in the form, hitting him worse than other forms of energy. He can also swim and move with water at 100 miles per hour. He can breathe underwater during this phase. While Scorpio controls him, Ricky's skin becomes a golden color and gains a chitinous gleam.
Sagittarius - Mutable Fire - November 22 - December 23 - For the period of time that the Archer, Sagittarius, is in control, Ricky becomes a fire manipulator. He can control the shape and temperature of flames already in existence. He cannot create flame from nothing. He can enhance temperatures of the fire, raising them up to 3000 degrees, enough to melt steel. He can lob bolts of flame from his hands as well as surround himself with a nimbus of fire, and fly at up to 100 miles per hour. His body can handle temperatures up to what he can create. During this time, his body becomes exceptionally fuzzy, much like that of the centaur's lower body.
Capricorn - Cardinal Earth - December 19 - January 21 - For Capricorn's period, Ricky can move up to 300 cubic square feet of earth at a time. What happens is that the earth is moved from one location, to another. It is not controller, per se, simply teleported from one location to another within line of sight to Ricky. Also, during this time, he can tunnel through earth at approximately 100 miles per hour. During the duration of Capricorn, his head possesses a small pair of goat's horns.
Aquarius - Fixed Air - January 17 - February 22 - When Aquarius is in charge, Ricky's body can turn completely into air. When he's in air form, he can't be separated by strong winds, but can easily be damaged by fire. In air form, he can fly at approximately 100 miles per hour. He can solidify sections of himself to punch hard, but only as hard as a normal person. He is transparent and hard to see, visible as only a ripple. When not in Air form, he has white hair and eyes for the duration.
Pisces - Mutable Water - February 18 - March 23. During Pisces time, Ricky becomes a water manipulator. At a single time, he can manipulate and control water, whether it's evaporated or physically there, however, if there is no water or moisture present, he cannot create any. He can manipulate up to 300 cubic feet of water at a time, causing it to move as he wishes. Along with this, he can swim at up to 100 miles per hour. He gains gills as well, in order to breathe under water. The water he manipulates can be turned into a solid blast, strong enough to punch a hole through 2-inch thick steel. The blasts themselves can vary in size and intensity, based on what he desires at the time. While he's under Pisces influence, his skin takes on a slightly scaley appearance to those who look closely at him.
Gallery
