Driving around my town trying to find one single burger just one burger or a hot dog but Unfortunately everythings just rubble and twisted scaffolding upstretched and rotting and theres shit on fire and a big black ass sky
hi! in this post, I'm going to follow the Chapter 3 Forgotten Man quest-line, making the case throughout that Kris wants to do it, and already knows a lot about it.
in Deltarune, we never see Kris speak in dialogue. but it's heavily implied that they are saying stuff, and often we can fill in what they're saying. for example:
Well, what have we here! You managed to find another Shadow Crystal...
[Kris must have said they got it from a salesman who found it an old machine.]
Oh, is that so? That salesman had found the crystal in the old machine...?
using this technique throughout Chapter 3 reveals that Kris actively wants to go nowhere.
Chapter 3
when talking to the Pippins in the Green Room after Board 1, Kris asks where the Rudinns are.
Hey! Kris, you and Asriel took me home from school, remember?
[Kris asks about the Rudinns.]
The Rudinns? Pretty sure you lost them somewhere. ... And I mean REALLY lost.
[Kris tries to talk more.]
You wanna talk more? Shh! Let's do it in the dressing room.
Kris seems to really want to find the Rudinn's they lost. and presumably this means, in some capacity, Kris remembers the 7 Flying Aces exist.
the Pippins in the red carpet area of the Green Room gives Kris hints towards finding the Flying Aces.
[after Board 1.]
Hey Kris, remember the Flying Aces? [Kris says they don't remember.] ... Well, me neither...
[after Board 2.]
By the way, seen a ticket anywhere? [Kris tries to get them to elaborate.] Nothing... just a hunch.
while Kris remembers that there are Rudinns in the house, they apparently don't remember that they're the Flying Aces specifically.
and Kris also seems mostly unaware of the TripTicket.
this Shuttah helps guide us through the Egg's quest-line. they tell us the history of the world, and Kris wants to know more about the hermit in particular.
There once was the great wilderness here! Yes...
But, the world became the theater, and us, children of Tenna's contract.
Those that did not sign the paper, set off for the far land and were forgotten.
Now... only the legend old hermit still knows the way to the place.
[Kris asks who the hermit is.]
... Kris? Do you do not know him so much?
Kris gives us three options when talking to the Zapper in this room.
Now, honesty, that'll take you somewhere.
Where you headed?
Where I came from
Here
Nowhere
and when we choose "Nowhere"...
You's was already heading that way, weren't ya, Kris?
the fact that Nowhere is a choice at all means, to some extent, Kris wants to go Nowhere.
and Kris so clearly is trying to go Nowhere, already on the path to end up Nowhere, that the Zapper can just recognise this.
when talking to Chapter 3's Bibliox, we can fill in Kris's lines really easily.
[Kris asks where they are.]
Mumble, Mumble... where could this be...?
[Kris asks if they're "Nowhere".]
Nowhere? Mumble... No, no... This is somewhere...
Mumble, this old tome admires your... inquisitiveness.
Mumble... You're very interested in going nowhere, aren't you?
[Kris confirms they want to go Nowhere.]
Mumble... well, I have a ticket there. Yes, I have a ticket there...
Mumble, mumble... A ticket to nowhere...
Mumble, mumble... But, the ticket is somewhere...
[Kris asks if someone left it here.]
Mumble, mumble... Yes, it was left here. It was left here by...
Mumble, oh, I don't seem to remember...
Mumble... mumble... You are alone, are you?
[Kris confirms that they're alone.]
Good, it's not a good idea to go nowhere with somebody else...
Mumble, mumble... alone is better...
I only have one ticket after all... Where is it...
Mumble, mumble... That's right, it's in the wardrobe.
[Kris says it isn't in the wardrobe.]
Mumble... That's odd... I thought it was in the wardrobe...
Mumble, mumble... Mumble, mumble...
[Kris says they can't find the ticket.]
Mumble, mumble... What? You can't find the ticket?
Odd, quite odd... Considering...
You've been holding it from the moment you stepped in the room.
and if we've already completed the Sword Route:
Mumble... no more characters... all gone...
[Kris says they want to find the characters.]
What? You want to find them?
[Kris confirms this.]
No, no, they already went nowhere...
... the ticket... it's under the ball machine...
without Kris's help where, it wouldn't be possible to reach the Egg. it's only because Kris asks how to get Nowhere that we find the ticket.
Kris doesn't know what Nowhere looks like; they have to ask the Bibliox if they're Nowhere or not. and they don't understand the ticket enough to know they've been holding it.
Kris's lack-of-understanding of the ticket is particularly emphasised when we leave.
Kris, what's that TICKET? [Kris doesn't explain sufficiently.] Nevermind, hurry or Mr. Tenna's gonna get mad.
returning to the Shuttah, Kris talks about their encounter with the Bibliox.
[Kris says they met the Bibliox.]
Kris! What, you met such an old hermit.
[Kris confirms this, and asks if the Shuttah believes them.]
... Ooh la la. No. I don't believe anything, without the picture.
Except for the astrology.
Because of course... I am the star.
by this point, we can reach Mancountry. where, seemingly, Kris is suddenly a lot more quiet again; when talking to the 7 Flying Aces, there aren't many places where we can fill in Kris's speech.
OH, KRIS, WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE.
DID YOU COME HERE TO PLAY WITH US?
[Kris says they don't want to play.]
KRIS NEVER WANTS TO PLAY... BOO HOO.
...
KRIS, YOU LOOK RATHER BIG...
HAVE YOU BEEN WORKING OUT?
[to me, I think it's actually implied here that Kris doesn't say anything at all.]
I GUESS YOU GREW UP.
[Kris confirms that they grew up.]
WELL, STOP THAT.
talking to the Forgotten Man, Kris is completely silent outside of our choices- but, they also provide a like, surplus of places where we can make decisions, even where it isn't necessary.
THERE'S NO SHAME IN AN EGG.
YES / NO
YOU ARE VERY OPINIONATED.
I LIKE YOU!
returning, one more time, to the Shuttah, Kris apparently talks a lot.
Kris! You suddenly look much more adult.
What is it? Did you make the journey?
[Kris, presumably, talks a lot here if they're asked to "slow down".]
Well, slow down! Let me get the picture of your youth!
Kris! Our Kris...
is it possible that Kris genuinely is "enjoying the youthful days"? like, this is what they wanted, right? they've helped us get to Mancountry, they've asked so many people how to go Nowhere...
I think we can draw a couple of conclusions now.
Kris knows about Nowhere.
Kris doesn't know about the ticket.
Kris knows there are Rudinns, somewhere, in TV World.
but Kris doesn't remember that they're the 7 Flying Aces.
Kris can't really talk to the Forgotten Man, but is conversational with everyone else.
Kris, potentially, genuinely enjoyed the quest-line.
Chapter 4
in Chapter 4, Kris mostly doesn't seem to have the same motivation of going Nowhere.
when talking to Gerson, there's an option to say we want to go Nowhere- which Gerson mostly doesn't understand.
[Normal Route]
Nowhere, eh?
I'm sure you'll get there eventually...
So what's the rush?
[Weird Route]
Nowhere...
Your words just now, 's got a peculiar ring to 'em.
I can tell... you're havin' some relationship trouble, ain't ya.
I've seen it all, y'know. At your age...
If things go cold, you might think your whole world's endin'.
But y'know, things go on. You'll grow up...
Just keep livin'. Everything will be all right, sooner or later...
Gerson doesn't understand the idea of going "nowhere" in the same, literal way that the Darkners in TV World did- he can't help Kris get there.
but the idea that Kris is already on the path to go Nowhere, that they're "already heading that way" is raised again.
Kris talks to the 7th Flying Ace and the other Art Club member in Chapter 4's Egg Room.
KRIS, THERE YOU ARE. THE PATIENTS ARE WAITING FOR YOU.
[Kris mentions that the Rudinn is small, maybe?]
YES, I KNOW I'M QUITE SMALL FOR A SECRETARY.
BUT, KNOCKOFFS DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT TO COMPLAIN...
WELL? HOW DID THE SESSION GO?
THEY SAY ART IS THERAPEUTIC.
... WHICH ONE OF YOU WAS THE PATIENT, ANYWAY?
[Kris presumably responds... in some way.]
WELL, YOU GOT PAID, DIDN'T YOU?
it's really difficult to tell what Kris is saying here. they, and the Rudinn, seem to have a very loose sense of what's actually going on.
Kris is pretty conversational again when talking to the other person in Art Club, though.
Oh...! I'm sorry. I was so into drawing I didn't notice you!
Are you here for Art Club?
[Kris says they are.]
Right, this is where we draw pictures, and don't kill each other!
[Kris asks them what they're drawing.]
... What am I drawing? Oh, don't look. I'm not finished yet...
[Kris asks them how they got there.]
How did I get here? Hmm...
I can't say I remember.
... I was in such a rush, I didn't look where I was going at all!
Kris really genuinely does want to understand their situation, I think. they want to know what's going on, they ask questions...
but in Chapter 4's Egg room, Kris seems to have a loosened hold of reality. they don't seem like... fully lucid. they don't know what their role is, so they just continually play a part. are they a therapist or a patient? they don't know, but they act like both.
without Kris going to draw, we wouldn't have got the Egg here- we're, like in Chapter 3, reliant on them.
I think a lot of the fandom has been focused on the idea that we're like, forcing Kris to relive their trauma or something. but, weirdly, they also seem to be an active participant in this.
What they don't tell you about ending a long-term relationship is all the ways things look off. It's weird to not have them pinned in my messages, it's weird to no longer have to make time in my schedule for them, it's weird to not say good night to them.
Nintendo casually dropping one of the most heart-breaking storylines in a Zelda game and then just not doing anything with it and resetting things back to status quo
At the local hamburger shop and they said yelled out “order 167!” And three middle school age kids yelled in perfect unison “ 6 7!” Life is sometimes so beautiful
Stratt: It is pride month, Dr. Grace. You know what that means.
Grace: What? You want us to breed gay astrophage?
Stratt:No. Don't be ridiculous, astrophage reproduce asexually. I only meant it is a good time to acknowledge those on the project who exist under the queer umbrella, including yourself because of your aroace identity.
Grace: My what?
areudirty
janainaart
jbbartram-illu
origamiaround
dededos
2087
