"Accepting the consultancy probably helped." He's pretty sure it's helped Ryder as well, at least once it became clear that Shepard wasn't interested in any backseat commanding. The Pathfinder has enough room to breathe, and someone to fall back on if she needs it.

So far, she hasn't really seemed to need it. Kaidan's sort of proud of her, in that 'watching a recruit turn into an officer' kind of way.

Hi laughter at her last comment is really more of a hum. "Hey, it's no joke. We both know you'd be a great pirate."