#kralsei

On a thematic level, i mean/why i think it makes so much sense for the character development of Ralsei and the greater themes of Deltarune.

So first we need to understand the greater context.

At the start of the game/untilnowbutwe'resupposedtodisagree, Ralsei believes themself to be a Darkner fully in service of Lightners. They believe, that whilst they hope it doesn't turn true, that the prophecy is likely inevitable, and that who they are and what they do is defined by it. They fully understand much of what happens through the story to an extent which others don't, but rarely share it. (In a similar manner, Kris also knows a lot about the overall situation, but does not share it.)

This develops, and Ralsei confides in Kris about the realisation of their self-Hood. They are developing their own desires. Their own dislikes, and isn't it nice that Ralsei is Ralsei.

Additionally, at many points Kris has to deal with the expectations put upon them, and actions they would rather not take, through the SOUL, through the success of Asriel, obviously additionally the overall Prophecy (but that's not unique), and the promise upheld to the phone person (likely the Knight gang).

Through their unique individual knowledges, both are able to talk to another about things they otherwise couldn't to anyone else. Kris opens to Ralsei's feelings and Ralsei is much more forgiving to their circumstances. Additionally, Ralsei is the only one who is fully aware of Kris's SOUL situation, and in parallel to the Weird Route, where Noelle "likes" (stability of this uncertain) the new Kris, Ralsei explicitly likes the Real Kris.

So why the romantic end?

Romantic connections are not inherently superior to romantic ones. Especially in fiction, where i feel it needs to serve a specific purpose. So I'll start.

What is friendship to Ralsei?

Early on, Ralsei, has their extremely overaccomdating behaviour set to the expectation that they should be Friends with the heroes of the prophecy. Obviously, Ralsei's Friendships Bad is not the message i expect from Toby Fox, but resolving this through the angle of being the Right Type of friend just does not feel satisfying.

So this issue needs a resolution in the text. And Chapter 5 has provided one.

This scene sets in stone a few ideas for me, so I'll go through them.

1: Kralsei as Ralsei's Desire. In the Room scene, Ralsei discusses the development of desires as the new extension of their personhood. I do not feel it is a stretch that what is stated in the Hot Spring was amongst these desires. Romance as the route to acknowledgement of realisation of Ralsei, and therefore the realisation of the Darkners thematically. This could then be used to then restablish the existing additional friendships in a new light, Ralsei is allowed to have their own desires.

2: as the defiance of the prophecy. If a happy ending exists "somehow." I would not describe a desire that exists within the bounds of a prophecised, at this point true, future, as existing "somehow." It'd be quite likely! Additionally this hints at Ralsei Lightnerhood, but i can't think of a tiein for this except through maybe a metaphor for...

T4T Kralsei. Admittedly, this potentially being explored explicitly is quite recent, but both Ralsei and Kris are some manner of trans, and this would recontextualise some earlier dialogues of Kris's defence of Ralseis differences to Asriel. This is kinda the lens through which that last Asgore dialogue makes much sense: