#me whenever I think of the opening of Ch93: I'll take pages that are immortalized in my mind for $800‚ Alex

[fullscoreshenanigans]

Just curious but were there any other reasons besides them being 11, and Ray finding Emma's everything exhausting that caused him to be more teasing with her? (Aka him calling her and idiot, bonking her and what not in ss1)

At most I can see is that- much like Norman Ray also admired Emma. But unlike Norman, Ray who knew the truth, could only see Emma as this naive kid who he needs to protect. He might have been freaked out by her sunshiny personality lol. And maybe started to see her as dependable/ his equal after she saved him and they all escaped.

Explicitly stated reasons, no, but Emma is a very physically affectionate person, so in addition to this:

(Chapter 93)

I chalk it up to being a reciprocal thing, in a similar way to how Norman only shows his impish, calculating side to Ray at Grace Field. Each dynamic of the trio has their own rapport they've established.

(Love the little smile he gives them in "Touch off" mirroring the one he gives her in chapter 14)

Also going to cite this post by @lightningflash55 that I appreciate:

God, I love how when Emma’s a bit slower to pick up on something that Ray wants her to get he doesn’t crack jokes or get frustrated but instead calmly rephrases himself in a way she can understand?  Like he’ll tease her over silly things but when it comes to the important stuff he’s not the same, he’s really patient and gentle about it  --- #Ray is SOOOO good at gently prompting her to understand something or when trying to push her to follow her ideals #they just work so well as a team il their dynamic a lot #Ray for all the times he’s edgy and dramatic or easily gives up has EVEN MORE redeemable qualities #he’s such a good boy he truly is #and Emma’s also not dumb at all she just has a different way of thinking #so il that he recognizes this ugh just THESE KIDS

Ray always respected and valued Emma as an equal. Even if he found her naivety frustrating for how he saw it as actively working against her chances of survival beyond the wall

(Chapter 4)

she and Norman were both there to comfort him in any way they could, even when they couldn't understand what was upsetting their friend so badly and he couldn't articulate to them what was wrong.

(Chapter 181.1)

(2020 Exhibition Interview)

Ray believes if they can just get Emma to let go of this fantasy of taking everyone with her on the escape, she and Norman can make it in the outside world. He knows how capable they both are in their different methods of approaching things, has seen how well they complement and balance each other out. Norman will keep Emma grounded in the realm of possibility and temper her hopes, while Emma will push him to think beyond limitations and save him from completely succumbing to cynicism.

It's why he's so pissed and riddled with worry when Norman acknowledges his plan is more sound but actively chooses to follow Emma's anyway.

(S1 Episode 2)

After Grace Field and having her and Norman shift his entire world view, humbled isn't quite the right word since he was never haughty about this, but he was willing to trust Emma's methods more now that he knew hoping "for a future that is like a dream" wouldn't be another blow to his heart and that striving for an ideal was genuinely viable.