#rick ryder

Happy Valentine’s Day!

[Shepards] [GIF Set From Last Year]

My Ryders kissing their respective love interests.

And then there’s Rose Ryder enjoying the single life.

Thank you for the ask, @obvidalous 😊

1 - What is/are your OC's nicknames and how did it come about?

Kira - She doesn't have a nickname. Though there was that one and only time Luke called her 'Ra Ra' for no reason other than shits and giggles (and he was also tipsy). She put a stop to it right away by threatening to show his then-girlfriend pictures of him as a baby.

Luke - He doesn't have a nickname. Some think his name is short for Lucas, but his birth certificate says otherwise.

Aleera - Her brother Rick called her 'Leera' when they were kids.  This was because he had a little trouble pronouncing it when they were still learning to talk. It was a nickname that kind of stuck for a while until Aleera got sick of it by middle school. However, Rick is the only one in her life who is allowed to still call her that.

Rick - Rick's full name is Richard. Being called Rick was just a nickname everyone called him by his entire life since it was easier than just saying his full name (unless he was in trouble).

Rose - Rose's full name is Rosabelle, and she hates it with a passion.  Since age seven, she demanded to be called 'Rose' and nothing else. She likes to think that people have forgotten her real name by now.

Erron - He doesn't have a nickname, but one person during his time in the Alliance tried to call him 'A-Aron' (even 150+ years later after the original joke emerged) before they found out the name wasn't spelled the same.

4 - What is a noticeable physical attribute of your OC?

Kira - Her blue eyes, and her full lips.

Luke - His light blue eyes, and his dimples whenever he smiles.

Aleera - Her purple eyes, and wild black hair.

Rick - His height. Rick stands at six foot three inches.

Rose - Her natural red hair, something she loves and is proud of.

Erron - His blue-green eyes and dark blond hair, which is always trimmed and combed neatly.

33 - What subjects interested your OC?

Kira - Since she was young, Kira was always interested in military history. It helped give her insight on what life was like as a soldier, and perhaps what she could expect in our own career despite how 'results may vary.'

Luke - Anything related to adventures. Mostly, he reads about them, but he truly loves experiencing them in general.  He also likes anything tech-related.

Aleera - Science! Especially geography and ecology.  One of the things she looked forward to when she joined the Andromeda initiative was study the various ecologies throughout Heleus.

Rick - He's had a heavy interest in archaeology since he was very young.

Rose - For a long time, Rose was curious about mixology. In-between her military career and the Andromeda Initiative, she was very lucky to be able to find a job in a bar thanks to the owner who gave her a chance despite her family reputation. Here, Rose was able to get some mixology experience and, before the AI became an option for her, decided to make a career out of it.

Erron - As an adult, he became interested in 20th century movie history, especially silent films.  When he left for Andromeda, Erron brought a small box of OSDs with him filled with various movies that either he saw, or never seen before.  His favorite silent film is, 'The Man Who Laughs.'

42 - What makes your OC happy?

Kira - Trying new things.

Luke - Great adventures, and making other people happy.

Aleera - Winter weather.

Rick - Going on an archaeological dig, even if he doesn't find anything.

Rose - Having a good drink at the end of a hard day.

Thank you for the ask @rpgwarrior4824

27 - How far would you go to achieve a dream or ideal? Does it matter who suffers? Does it matter if you suffer?

Kira - “I suppose I'm already living the dream – lead others in a mission to help others.  It was what I wanted to do in the military, and now I get to do that as a Pathfinder.  I already suffer for it, but I consider it worth it if it means I saved the most lives I could.  The only one I plan to make suffer to achieve my goals are the Archon and the kett.”

Luke - “I don't think people should suffer just because you selfishly want to achieve your dreams – well, unless they're assholes like the Archon and his minions, but that's a different story.  Now, me suffering is a possibility depending on what I want to achieve.  It sucks, but, well... I guess it's a good thing that's something my Dad taught me to expect in life.  I just want to go on adventures and make life better for people.  It's as simple as it gets.”

Aleera - “I suppose I've managed to achieve my dreams more than once; discovering prothean artifacts, helping with scientific discoveries, studying the ecology in Andromeda... the only thing I ask for is that there are no consequences to my work, that includes the suffering of others.  I try not to suffer to the best of my ability, but that's not always possible.  In that case, I take every safety precaution necessary.”

Rick - “I really doubt traveling the galaxy and looking for awesome artifacts would harm anyone, at least I would hope not.  I do have one rule when it comes to archeology – do not take things found in a grave.  It's not because I'm afraid of some kind of curse... okay, maybe a little... but it just feels disrespectful to the dead. Anyway, suffering is expected.  The physical exertion alone is exhausting at times.”

Rose - “I've always wanted to open up my own bar.  Pretty sure the only ones who would suffer is those who try to stop me – like the Archon.  I shouldn't have to suffer for it, but I suppose it might happen.  I guess I'll deal as long as the end goal is make my bar exist for everyone to enjoy.”

Erron - “I spent so long putting off my own dreams due to the expectation of others.  At this point, I'm just trying to figure what place I have in this life.  I know for sure that whatever I plan to do, I won't make people suffer for it because I know what that's like.  I guess depending on what my goal is, I'll decide then if it's worth my own suffering.”

---

28 - How long would you wait for the one you love? A year? Fifteen years? Forever? Could you honestly be loyal to an unfulfilled love?

Kira - “He and I are already waiting for each other.  It's easy to guess how long we're willing to wait for each other, but to be truthful, I guess we're currently putting that to the test.  I'm grateful that what we have now is fulfilling.  I don't think I can be in an unfulfilled relationship otherwise.”

Luke - “Well, to answer your last question, no, I need a fulfilling relationship to be happy.  I don't expect things to be perfect, but for a relationship to be successful, you have to least meet your partner halfway and be willing to compromise.  I really found something special with my current girlfriend, and I'd like to think I'd be willing to wait for her for as long as it takes.”

Aleera - -laughs- “I practically waited 600+ years to find my first love!  He's just so... wonderful, and I’ll definitely wait for him for as long as it takes if it comes to that.  I'm lucky to have him in my life, so the wait would be worth it.  And no, I could never live with having an unfulfilled love.”

Rick - “I never really thought of this... now that I think about it, it suddenly feels like a complicated question, and something I ought to discuss with my current girlfriend.  She's not the type who likes to sit down for too long, and, well... okay, I'm sorry, I can't really answer this question right now, not until I talk to her...”

Rose - “Assuming that whoever I fall in love with is worth waiting for... maybe a couple of years.  I wouldn't want them to wait around for me, especially if they find someone else.  An unfulfilled love sounds so... depressing.”

Erron - “Why be in a relationship if its not fulfilling?  And I did have the experience of waiting, though ironically she was in my life nearly everyday for the last couple of years before we left for Andromeda.  At the very least, I know I'd be willing to wait a while for her if it came to it.”

---

33 - If you could wipe certain memories from your head, would you? Why would you? What memories?

Kira - “If there was away to wipe away the memories of seeing what the kett had done to the salarians, I would do it in a heartbeat.  That's all I'll say.  I don't want to talk about it anymore...”

Luke - “Watching my Mom die.  Her terminal disease was, well... it killed her slowly, and it was painful to watch her deteriorate over time.  I wish she hadn't had to suffer like that...”

Aleera - “There are so many days where I wish I could erase the memories of being bullied throughout school.  I'd still be pretty shy around people, but I wouldn't be as anxious as I am now.  Things are better now, but I wouldn't wish this experience on my worst enemy.”

Rick - “I'm grateful to say that my sister and I talked about this, so I don't dwell on it as much as I used to.  But the resentment I felt when I was stuck guarding a mass relay while my sister got to live out my childhood dreams was, well... not so good.  Up until then, we got along great.  Even though we've talked it out, I still feel awful for feeling any resentment at all.”

Rose - “If I was able to erase all the crap I dealt with concerning my Dad, he'd actually be an okay father.  To be honest, I had my reservations when our relationship got a little better right before we left for Andromeda. It would've been nice if he treated me and my brother like his actual kids and not future soldiers...”

Erron – “The death of my friend from the academy, Matthis.  I knew he had a rough childhood, but... I didn't realize how bad he was taking it, not until it was too late.  His death taught me a very hard lesson I sometimes wish I never learned; that no matter how much you want to help, some people just don't want to take the offer...”

---

34 - What path appeals to you more? An exciting dream that leaves you possibly penniless and alone or a drab existence where you have steady success.

Kira - “Honestly, I think I'm already living the latter life.  I have dreams and desires that I hope to one day seek out, but until then, others are depending on me to remain where I am now.  At least once I seek out my dreams and desires, I won't be alone.”

Luke - “As long as I'm not homeless, I think I can deal with the former.  I can't imagine a life without excitement and adventure.  Oh, wait, you said I have to be alone if I choose that path?  Dammit...” ಥ_ಥ

Aleera - “Gee, that's a tough one.  I suppose if the drab existence had to do with a scientific path, I'll deal with for a little while until I get too bored and want to move on to something more exciting.  Better than taking the opposite path, I suppose.  I can deal with loneliness for a long while.”

Rick - “Money's not a big deal to me, so definitely the former.  I like the idea of traveling and getting creative with few resources.  Though after a while, I'm sure the loneliness will suck.”

Rose - “Ugh, these types of questions are stupid.  If I had to choose, I might as well just get on a ship and go to another galaxy.  And no, I'm not going to indulge anyone with an answer.” ಠ_ಠ

Thank you for the tag @starsandskies

I’ll tag @alyssalenko @vorchagirl @rpgwarrior4824 @ripley95things and anyone who sees this.  Also, feel free to re-tag me. :)

I’ve done this already for the following;

Kira Ryder & Adam Shepard Luke Ryder & Marc Shepard Aleera Ryder & Amy Shepard

---

― your muse’s name:

Zena Lauren Shepard

― two headcanons you have for your muse:

She speaks three languages; Greek, French (both spoken in her home - her mother is from Greece and her father is from France), and English (learned from school).  Since joining the Alliance, she speaks mostly English, but will speak Greek or French whenever the opportunity rises.

Zena discovered that she had biotics during the attack on Mindoir (and it was why she survived in the first place).  The Alliance learned about this and offered to send her to Arcturus to train her and help with getting used to them.  Initially, she accepted because she was grateful for their help and would eventually enlist, but later figured out that she was a scared teenager who just lost her whole family (including watching her little brother die in front of her eyes) and didn’t know what else to do.  She wasn’t alone, however, as a few of her friends who survived the attack went on to Arcturus with her for their respective talents (including one friend, Lani Reed, who trained to be a pilot and eventually went on to join the Andromeda Initiative).

― three things that your muse likes doing in their free time:

Indulging in silly extranet videos, building model ships, and playing the piano (though she hasn’t touched the instrument in a very long time).

― seven people your muse loves/likes:

Kaidan, her parents, her brother, Garrus, Zaeed, Anderson, and Ashley.

Honorable Mentions: The remaining Normandy crew.

― a phobia your muse has:

Being alone.

― your muse’s name:

Richard ‘Rick’ Harlow Ryder

― two headcanons you have for your muse:

As an aspiring archeologist, one of the things Rick looked forward to in Andromeda was discovering artifacts.  When Avela asked him to find old angaran artifacts while out exploring Heleus, Rick was thrilled to accept the job.  It would end up being one of his favorite things about being a Pathfinder.

Of all my Shepard and Ryders, Rick is the tallest, standing at 6′3′‘ (or 190.5 cm).

― three things that your muse likes doing in their free time:

Anything to do with archeology, kayaking, and playing the guitar.

― seven people your muse loves/likes:

Peebee, his sister Aleera, Jaal, Reyes, Gil, and Avela.

Honorable Mentions: The remaining Tempest crew.

― a phobia your muse has:

I was tagged by @naromoreau Thank you.

I’ll tag @natsora and @sad--ghost--kid no obligation of course :)

Rules: Bold whatever your MC is afraid of.

I’ve done this already with the following;

Adam Shepard & Kira Ryder Marc Shepard & Luke Ryder Amy Shepard & Aleera Ryder

—

Zena Shepard

the dark ~ fire ~ open water ~ deep water ~ being alone ~ crowded spaces ~ confined spaces ~ change ~ failure ~ war ~ loss of control ~ powerlessness~ prison ~ blood ~ drowning ~ suffocation ~ public speaking ~ natural animals ~ the supernatural ~ heights ~ death ~ dying ~ intimacy ~ rejection ~ abandonment ~ loss ~ the unknown ~ the future ~ not being good enough ~ scary stories ~ speaking to new people ~ poverty ~ loud noises ~ being touched ~ forgetting ~ being forgotten ~ hospitals

Rick Ryder

Event hosted by @alyssalenko @vorchagirl and @starsandskies

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“The Towering Pathfinder”

Prompt - All the Kisses - Height Difference

“You know, Rick,” Peebee started to say as she looked up at her human boyfriend with a grin on her face.  “You're like... really, really tall.”

Pathfinder Rick Ryder gazed down at his asari girlfriend just as she rested her chin over her sternum, still staring up at him.  “You noticed that only now?”

“Well, duh, of course I've noticed!” Peebee called out.  “Everybody's noticed!  You're, like, taller than everyone on the Tempest!”

“Except Vetra and Jaal,” Rick reminded her.  “And if you count Drack's hump.”

“Oh!  Riiight!  You know, I swore you and Jaal were about the same height.”

“He's only a little bit taller, actually.  My hair gives off an illusion that makes me look, well... taller.”

“Probably.  So tell me, how tall are you exactly?”

Rick seemed to think over this for a moment, more out of his own amusement.  “Last I checked, I was about... six foot three.”

“Is being this tall more than the human standard?”

“Oooh yeah,” Rick replied with a small laugh.  “The average male human height is about five foot nine last I checked.  By the way, Peebee, why are you suddenly interested in my height?”

Peebee seemed to think over this as she pursed her lips and placed her hands on her hips.  “Weeellll,” she started to replied.  “Do you know how annoying it is to try to kiss you from down here?”

Rick couldn't help but chuckle.  “From the way you pull on the back of my neck every time?  Yeah, I could only imagine.”

“You know what it's like for a shortie like me to try to reach up to you everyday?  Woe is me!”

“You're not that short, Peebee.”

She snorted at that.  “HA!  That's a funny joke!  Face it, buster, my five foot three to your six foot three makes me look like... eh... what do you call that little tiny statue again?  The one with the pointy hat that’s somehow still fashionable to decorate human homes?”

Rick realized what she meant.  “A gnome?”

“That’s right!  I look like a gnome compared to you!  And for the record I'm NOT gonna wear heels for these moments!  I hate heels and -”

Before she could finish, Rick suddenly bent down and scooped her in his arms, pulling up her until they were face to face at his height.  Peebee instinctively wrapped her legs around his waist and her arms went around his shoulders for support.  His own hands moved to hold her from the back of her thighs.

“Is that better?” Rick asked, his voice low and husky.

Peebee grinned.  “That's exactly what I was hoping you'd do.”

“...You tricked me into this, didn't you?”

“Yup!”

Before Rick could answer, Peebee leaned in close to press her lips to his.  They kissed for a few moments before she pulled away reluctantly.  If it weren't for the fact that the Tempest was going to land on Aya shorty, she would've taken him right then and there on the bed they shared in his quarters.

“You know,” Peebee started, her voice low.  “We could use our biotics the next time you lift me up like this.”

Rick smiled at her.  “What's the fun in that?”