Go ahead, wreck your life

most of the discussion i see about what freedom means in deltarune relates it back to gender and gender expression, which is obviously a very important part of dr, but i think there are other layers to it that aren't really being explored because it's less relatable to much of the audience.

imo the thing with ralsei is that their arc is way too focused on identity to be about their presentation but not their gender. toby knows how to write gender non-conforming people, susie is literally right there, and at no point is her identity as a girl put into question; she never questions being "the girl", her identity as a girl isn't questioned by her or others despite her refusal to wear ribbons and her subsequent choice to wear them in a distinctly butch way, etc. if ralsei just aimed to be a boy who sometimes presents femininely... they already do. being a prince shouldn't be a problem then. like I genuinely do not understand how people can still question whether ralsei is trans when flowery calls them "princess" in that one scene; it should not even cross toby's mind to include this if ralsei's arc wasn't linked to their actual gender identity rather than just their presentation. there is an emphasis on people and things wanting or trying to be what they aren't or shouldn't be in this entire chapter. it's already a theme with kris wanting to be a monster, but it's undeniably linked to ralsei as well (hint: ralsei is so fucking involved in this chapter it's almost like. like they're affected by the themes? by god)

the thing about The Krusielle Situation is that as much as there is "blame" to assign it falls squarely on kris' shoulders. susie as much as says outright "i only know how to tell if i have romantic feelings if someone else clearly indicates they have them for me first" in that one floradinn battle (and kris visibly flinches about it). she'd be receptive to signals from kris, but they're just... not giving them, or when they do it's shit like just kind of staring at her that she doesnt know what to deal w. similarly noelle Wants to be close to kris again but when they keep Not Communicating she doesnt know how to start/thinks that maybe only she wants that. so ofc when they can actually talk to and romantically involve themself with each other they do! it isnt on them to read kris' mind!