Well then, Rich, you may call me Steve.
This is going to take a lot of getting used to, but okay, Steve it is then. How's it going?
Show & Tell
I'd rather be in outer space 🛸
hello vonnie
Sweet Seals For You, Always

⁂

pixel skylines
Cosmic Funnies
i don't do bad sauce passes

#extradirty
RMH
Alisa U Zemlji Chuda

JVL
almost home

blake kathryn
ojovivo
cherry valley forever
noise dept.
$LAYYYTER
"I'm Dorothy Gale from Kansas"
TVSTRANGERTHINGS
seen from France
seen from United States

seen from Switzerland

seen from China
seen from Netherlands
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from United States

seen from Türkiye
seen from United States
seen from United States

seen from United States
seen from United States

seen from Japan
seen from Japan
seen from Syria

seen from Germany

seen from United States
seen from Malaysia

seen from United States
@worldmindplease
Well then, Rich, you may call me Steve.
This is going to take a lot of getting used to, but okay, Steve it is then. How's it going?
[ The feel of his hands around hers was unexpected; warm and almost comforting despite the fact that it was almost ethereal. She stared at them held together for a long while— she’d almost forgot what it looked like, his pale fingers against her green skin. Even before she lost him and Peter both, it’d been so long since they’d been close.
And that much was on her. She ruined everything with him. Betrayed his trust, pushed him away— there was also some assassination attempts there that she wasn’t particularly fond of.
And so all she could think was when this freshness of reunion would fade, when he’d go back to despising her again as before. ]
You aren’t— you are no longer lost, Richard-Human. You are here. Where you are meant to be.
[ She realized the weight of what she’d said, how it had come out, and immediately pulled her hands back from him. She tried to find some place to put them, finally crossing her arms over her chest. ]
I mean…alive. You should go find the Corps. I’m certain they would be more than pleased to have you back in their ranks.
[ Her eyes fell to the floor of the space between them. In all honesty that was the last thing she wanted; the Nova Corps had always been a deep stake between them. Galactic Law versus…well her lifestyle was very much not in line with their rule book. ]
[His eyes widened as he took in the meaning of her words; then her hands were gone from his. Almost immediately, he felt the distance between them widen to where they were before, well, before he had died. He could have sworn that they had been standing much closer.
Richard let his own hands drop. He didn't know what to feel, his feelings for her and his principles and their history dividing him into conflicting factions. He had moved on after their separation; accepted the fact that he couldn't reconcile his feelings with everything the Corps stood for.]
I, uh, I've been trying. [He rubbed the back of his head.] They don't seem to be anywhere. They must have scattered after the Cancerverse closed in on itself and--wait, that must have severed the Nova Force connection from them. [That must be why Worldmind couldn't locate them. He shook his head.] It's my fault. If I hadn't-- [He squeezed his eyes shut. No, he didn't regret following Peter's lead. He never did, and he never would.]
I'm sorry, I--you must have a lot on your plate right now. The last thing you need is a messed up Nova Centurion to complicate your life.
I know you did! Which is why its so das’t hard to believe you’re actually standing here without thinking tha—
[ She stopped herself short, shaking her head. Ever since she made the choice to defy him, her ‘father’ had gone out of his way to disparage her. She knew something like this— well, it was most certainly up his preferred ally of deceit and malice.
She looked back at him, the pain of losing him in the first place sat plainly on her face and she made no effort to disguise it. She crossed over to him, placing a hand gently on his chest. Hesitant, almost, afraid it might pass through him like he was in fact a ghost. But it laid flat, and she let go of the breath she’d been holding before pulling her hand back to her own side. ]
You don’t need to prove anything, Richard-Human. It’s simply that— I have not done anything in my life that would warrant the universe being kind enough to bring you back to me…
[ Her voice was quiet, still doubtful he was real, though now from the closeness she was far more willing to believe he was. ]
[It hadn't felt real to him as well--his own death. He hadn't stopped to think what other people might have reacted to his death. To him, all that mattered was that Thanos was stopped and the safety of the galaxy was secured. Everything else was irrelevant.
Until now.
He saw the pain in her eyes. Did she grieve for him, despite the fact that they weren't together anymore? He let her place her palms on him--yes, this was happening. She was real, so was he. This wasn't a dream. This wasn't one of those dreams he'd had when he was floating in limbo--that dark period between his death and his return to the world of the living.]
Who knows? The universe has strange ideas about what we deserve and what we don't. [He glanced down on her hands and slowly, hesitantly, took them in his. They were warm, solid.
Real.]
I don't know what to do, Gam. [His voice was feeble, confused. Richard Rider was seldom feeble and confused.] I'm back, but I'm lost, I--I feel like I'm still adrift.
I know who you are, mister Rider.
No need for the formalities, sir--Captain, sir. Just call me Rich.
Your wisecracks got you into more trouble than they got you out of, but you always seemed to have a weighted opinion on that matter.
[ She watched him for a few silent moments, taking in the familiar form of his strong arms; pushing back the thought of what it’d be like to be held in them again. Her eyes finally fell away but she didn’t turn from him. ]
You didn’t give me a chance to be happy when you already start joking about this. You were gone, Richard. How am I supposed to know you’re even…you?
[ She shot him back a look, harder this time, her self doubt getting the better of her. ]
How do I know you’re not one of my father’s tricks?
Well, okay, you have a point there. But I can't say that I didn't try.
[Even though he wasn't looking directly at her, he could feel the weight of her gaze on him. He had loved her once, and although he thought that love had cooled, it was still there inside him: regret, and yes, concern--he still cared about her, damn it. He would have given anything to be with her.
Would he still have?]
That was kind of the point of a joke. [She was right, but how else was he supposed to deal with this?] I'm--what do you mean? Of course I'm me. [He gaped at her.] What does this have anything to do with Thanos? I died because of him.
Do you want me to prove myself? Bring it on then. I can take everything you've got.
You were never good with jokes, do not start now.
What— how are you here?
For your information, my wisecracks have saved my ass more times than I can count.
I don't know, honest. Neither does Worldmind. Apparently I was dead for some time, then I woke up just outside the Andromeda Galaxy. That's all I know.
I thought you'd be happy to see me.
valuingstrength
Wow, I--Captain America. Hi. Nova Centurion Richard Rider here.
worldmindplease
Richard-human?!
Whoa, calm down, Gam. You look like you've seen a ghost.
"Yes… and no. I am not his acting Herald at this time, but I would not hesitate to return if he so desires."
"Good. Glad you've been taking career advice from sensible people this time around."
[ She sighed through nose, lips pursed before glancing back at Groot briefly ]
I-… [ She looks down, ashamed ] He came to me asking questions that I could not answer. I told him that, if anyone would know, it would be Thanos.
[He stared open-mouthedly at her.]
I don't need Worldmind to tell me that that is the worst idea I've ever heard. [He sighed, running a hand through his hair. But maybe she had a reason for pointing him in that direction. Besides, Peter wasn't the kind of person who would willingly seek Thanos out, even if he was looking for answers. It had to be something big.] What kind of questions were those?
[ Mantis couldn’t help the small smile creeping on her face at Richard’s antics. She was a nosey mentat; but only when she was locked onto someone’s brain…
When Richard arrived in the meeting room, it was only Mantis and Groot; the others had gone off the the bar in an effort to let the scholars work out a plan ]
Richard, it is good to see you again. Please; have a seat.
[He glanced around the room, giving a wave of acknowledgment to Groot before taking the seat across Mantis.]
I'm sure Pete will be pleased to know just how much loyalty he inspires. Now fill me in. What happened? It's not like him to go running off to Thanos, I mean, come on, it's Thanos. After everything we did to put him away?
We are congregating in the meeting room level of Knowhere. Drax is also missing, and we have any hope to defeating Thanos once again, we will need to find him first.
Drax can take care of himself, can't he?
I'm kidding. I'm on my way. Worldmind, open a pinhole stargate and merge it into the Continuum Cortex. Gently, this time.
<<Very funny, Richard.>>
[He felt the familiar pull and twist of gravimetric force as he flew into the stargate, followed by the violent bang that hurtled him into the calming whoosh of the Continuum Cortex, but he was moving at too high speed to enjoy the pleasantness of Cortex travel, causing him to land on the arrival pad on his butt.]
Remind me to get a passport bracelet. [He got to his feet and rubbed his sore ass, ignoring the stares and hushed giggles that he was getting from the Adepts.]
<<I find that extremely offensive, Nova Centurion.>>
Yeah, yeah, whatever. [He made his way to the meeting room, removing his helmet as he entered.] Did I make good time?
Richard, hello. I was wondering if you are free this week. We need your help to get Peter back.
He went looking for Thanos a week ago and has not returned.
[He halted abruptly mid-flight.]
He did what?
And they call me reckless. Give me your coordinates, I'll be there as soon as I can.
[ Video conference: contacting The Worldmind. Contact request; Richard Rider aka Nova Prime ]
Richard; this is Mantis. Do you copy?
<<Richard, you are being hailed.>>
Huh? By whom?
<<The Celestial Madonna.>>
The who?
<<One of your acquaintances, Mantis.>>
Why didn't you say so, Worldmind? Patch her through.
[A split second later--]
Hey, Mantis, what's up?
dick rider~~~~~~