"Scott 'Gord' Ryan" <froop@tsn.cc> wrote in 
news:Xns93DB9AAB55DD1frooptsncc@203.220.22.200:
 
> Personally I think it's more of a Father/Daughter relationship. Up until 
> that point Gendo is really the only person to care and/or show an 
> interest in her well being.
> 
> There might be some form of attraction or crush but as Ayanami doesn't 
> really understand her emotions well I don't think she would know exactly 
> what it was.

    Thank goodness, a sane poster. After reading the other thread (between 
Amani, Prince Vegeta, and Drinian), I was afraid that nobody WANTED to look 
at this issue in a manner approaching sanity. The idea that it's more of a 
Father/Daughter relationship seems to fit. Rei looks up to Gendou, as he is 
definitely the only one (until Shinji shows up) that seems to care about 
her life at all. Like I said in an earlier addition to this topic, however, 
I think seen in the larger context, it's just his way of looking after his 
investment - if that's what keeps his little 'Engine of the Apocalypse' 
going, then that's what he does. He does the same thing with Ritsuko, only 
with her he uses sex.
        But to light on something Mr. Vegeta talked about: Rei might very 
well be more forthright about such a request - if she a) felt that way 
about *anyone*, for which there is no evidence in the series, and b) 
managed to understand the nature of what she was feeling. I have a feeling 
that she'd have trouble understanding something like that, and considering 
the near-reverence with which she holds Gendou, he wouldn't be the person 
she'd want to talk to - she might, I say *might*, go to someone like 
Shinji; he's about her age, not nearly as likely to deal with it badly as 
Asuka would (if she would listen at all), and he would be more 
understanding than Genou, whose response might very well be to have her 
replaced - can't have his 'doll' felling anything outside of his scenario, 
after all.
        Anyway; thank you, Mr. Ryan, for such an intelligent addition to this 
topic. It was much appreciated.

        - THM