(I went on about this way longer than I meant to :'D )
This is what really sold me that Toby meant for them to be read as a healthy couple, the fact that the house is better tended to after Sans visits. Typically signs of neglect, like an empty fridge, mess left around etc,-- especially from otherwise caring and careful people-- are indicative of declining mental health or other struggle. Even if Sans doesn't end up Toriel's romantic partner, at the very least they're good friends to eachother and by proxy would be good to have around Kris.
What CH 5 also highlights is the disparity between Asgore and Sans' approach to affection.
Asgore, while not necessarily disingenuine, tries to brute force someone into being happy or likjng them through niceties and pandering.
Sans on the other hand, while friendly, doesn't go out of their way to appeal to Kris, doesn't make a show of being nice, doesn't try to dictate a specific outcome to everything but even then you still see the love and care and while Kris and Susie say they hate Sans, it's more or less that they're annoyed by his shenanigans and pranks, but- like, Susie spends the whole time getting closer to Ralsei almost entirely through picking on him and him occasionally annoying her with his played-up UwU affection.
It reminds me of Catty and Bratty's developing relationship where it's basically spelled out that what you say and how you actually make someone feel are two different things. And its a lesson Asgore doesn't learn until he's subject to it himself.
Like, Toriel is definitely not just sailing comfortably after the divorce, she's just really good at masking her stress. As a kid who grew up with a (basically) single mom whom had several other responsibilities (working, school, finances, medical, and legal issues that cropped up-- especially if one of us three kids got in trouble) I was a lot more sympathetic toward her than a lot of folks. She has a lot on her shoulders, and yet still shows love and adoration for her kids and students. She doesn't take anything out on Kris, doesn't blame them for anything, and doesn't even pretend nothing's changed and even then, she looks out for Kris when they don't have any friends and becomes more relaxed knowing that Kris has other people who care about and look out for them too. She's still a loving mother despite it all - but there were folks hellbent on dragging her for making any mistakes. I remember what little I did see of UT discorse involving people blaming Toriel for leaving Asgore at all or for having another love interest AT ALL, like she was cheating or unfaithful for finding interest in more than one man in her lifetime.
I really didn't care that much about Soriel before. It was just a thing that was happening. Ok. And even when there was just Undertale, Soriel mostly just seemed like ppl shipping the "Strongest coolest character" with the "Cute Boobungus Wifu Milf" -- meanwhike in-game it mostly happens through a single mention from either character, its mostly just implied that this goofy Skelebro and Toriel are kinda into eachother but still don't really know eachother;
now it's like-- they actually have a relationship now and it's sweet and chill and fun and healthy and I love it and its amazing.
stormborns
baratheonpilled
titsay
