Romance options speculation (Official Thread)

So what would their relationship be like? After thinking about it I realized femshep never had an LI that was abrasive with her at first. The guys so far have been easy to talk to and win over, I think we need to change that . So instead of you two getting along right away, you two seem to be at odds with each other from the start (at least on the surface anyway ). Remember Shepard and the turian councilor? Your interactions with this Pathfinder are similar, he is simply frustrating and Ryder can't figure out what his problem is. This Pathfinder respected Alec but he doesn't know you well and he makes it clear that he can't trust your judgment just yet. He even accuses Alec of nepotism when the position is passed down to Ryder.  This makes him the most critical among the other Pathfinders during your early meetings. I imagine he would be slightly sarcastic but would have this undeniable authority about him, exasperating Ryder when he spoke to her;



He always has a clever retort and gets the upper-hand in their conversations. Ryder can't stand him, even more so when he's right . The ability to lead isn't something that can just be passed down so easily so as the story progresses she tries to prove that she was chosen for her ability not just because Alec was her father. After a few story missions Ryder finds her stride, she establishes colonies, helps out the other species and proves she's just as skilled and capable as the other Pathfinders.

There is a point in the story where Ryder talks to our LI expecting an improvement in his attitude towards her, especially after all the good work she has done. She's noticed progress in the past few conversations. Even started to get know him a little bit. But just when she thought she was getting somewhere with him he starts to act strangely impersonal and distant. Not his usual obnoxious self. She thinks it's because he still doesn't respect her so you have the option during this conversation to finally let him have it, it's spectacular! Everyone around you in the Pathfinder HQ stops what they're doing just to listen to this epic rant. For once he has no smart-ass reply, no snarky comment , he's speechless. A first. After a moment of awkward silence all he says is;

"Ryder can I speak to you in private"

To anyone else overhearing this exchange it sounds like she's in trouble. They go into an empty office, she prepares herself for another argument but she's astounded when she's instead met with a an apology. He admits that he was being hard on her at first because he didn't know what she was capable of. But despite this he wanted her to succeed, if he was tough on her he figured she'd try harder just prove him wrong. He knows now she was meant to be the human Pathfinder even if Alec wasn't her father. He doesn't say it but Ryder suddenly realizes that he was secretly helping her from behind the scenes as well. Perhaps there was an earlier mission where she was given restricted information anonymously but didn't know where the lead came from until now.

"If what you're saying is true , if you've been helping me, if you respect me. Then why, WHY are you still acting like an as*hole!"



He lets it slip that the respect he has for Ryder has turned into attraction, very intense attraction . Something he can't allow himself to feel in his position. Acting on these feelings would be fraternization and even if he didn't they are, at the very least, inappropriate . Ryder constantly trying to get more personal with him didn't exactly help either and only made these feelings harder to avoid. So he figured he needed to be colder with her her instead;

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He admits he can't stand it anymore and then suddenly all the built up tension between them just explodes  .  I'm talking stuff getting knocked over , intense making-out, they ruin  that office .



The relationship they decide to have is a secretive one, they continue to meet each other in private to blow off steam while keeping up appearances at the HQ.   Eventually they can't keep their relationship separated from their work, Ryder has to make tough decisions that may affect the other species including the Pathfinder she's sleeping with and falling in love with. I can also see other characters finding out about it and using the relationship to discredit Ryder in some way. Lots of potential for drama there! Didn't mean for this to be so long but once I started to type I couldn't stop