So I saw a post where it said “it was hard for the person to think of Flowey and Asriel as the same person” and (respect to this person if they find this) that is like… the biggest problem with the Undertale community towards Asriel/Flowey fans. They immediately latch onto the softer side of Asriel and ignore the 90% of the game leading up to that point. While yes, Asriel before he turns back to Flowey asks you to forgive him and forget the painful things he does, I feel like the community as a whole takes it another step further and just does not put the two and two together. Those parts not only shape his mind, his wishes and the endless grief for his former life, but it shapes the ENTIRETY OF THIS STORY.
A soft character can do really horrible things. A soft character can be broken in such a way that is incomprehensible and turn into someone completely different. Trauma can do that to you.
Like, let’s not forget he had the ability to reset time but he had to continue living a life without the person that meant the most to him, Chara. He had no arms, no legs, no recognizable body, no soul (where he can’t feel for his own parents anymore). This was all done AGAINST HIS WILL.
The whole ARC of this game is being friends and being persistent on pacifism regardless of the circumstances. The biggest enemy is a flower that goes out of its way to show malice and show how brutal the world could be because when HE showed kindness, he was KILLED for it and he think you’re weak for falling for such a childish mentality. WHEN IN REALITY, even after EVERYTHING HE DOES TO YOU, YOU STILL WANT TO SHOW HIM AND THE FALLEN HUMAN LOVE AND COMPASSION BECAUSE THEY DIDN’T GET THAT BEFORE.
And that’s not only what makes Undertale’s writing so beautiful, but it highlights one of the most complex and incredible character transformations in a game that I’ve seen in a long fucking time.
And everyone went “haha skeleton man, let’s hug the goat but I don’t trust that flower!” And I just
