I don't know if you answered this already, but what do you think of Noelle's line in the weird route "You can't even say no like you used too"?
This is for me the most upsetting line I've ever heard in a video game
I still don't understand what Noelle actually means by that.
I do think the reason why Toby made Noelle say is to emphasis how Noelle is currently viewing Kris as in how she's being very attentive to the fact that Kris unlike her actually managed to change and break free from the stereotypical "Kris" and the dynamic they had with Noelle and by extension rest of the Hometown, hence not being able to say no like they used to.
Wondering if that line is only about the Weird Route though. Like yes Noelle only says that in the weird route but like, Kris is getting manipulated by Carol and is definitely getting cornered by her so is this a weird route exclusive thing or there is more going on? Eh who knows but anyway back the topic.
If Noelle remembers Kris as some who could confidently say to her when she wanted something, wouldn't she notice when Kris is becoming complicate with her?
There is clearly a little emphasis that there is some parts of the weird route wanted so perhaps it's the mere idea that Kris doesn't fully wanted to say no to this crazy plan that made Noelle point out that Kris can't say no like they used to anymore.
They clearly don't want anything to happen to Noelle but at the same time they have already done so much so it's possible that Kris theoretically wanted to go through with this to escape this nightmare, perhaps not actively or even willingly but more so there is a part of them that wanted to be buried with this either because they feel like they deserve it or because they are scared what will happen to them if someone finds out aka possible active suicide attempt or at least running away from this situation so no one would found out what they did.
Basically if Noelle remembers Kris as someone who could confidently say no to her the mere fact that Kris would be hesitant to say no would be enough to make Noelle point out that they are not their old self anymore which would only feed into her perhaps hopeful delusions that Kris did actually managed to change and break away from the stereotypical "Kris" the Hometown remembered (and to some extent pushed on Kris) and that would only make her crazy plan more justifiable to her.
It's honestly fascinating how fixated Noelle is at the idea of Hometown assigning certain roles to certain people really emphasis the environment they grew up in, how painful for her it is to just be "Noelle", to just be the tragic girl going through the motion without much empathy or comfort. Obviously i am not saying Hometown didn't loved Noelle or cared about her but honestly just like how Hometown made Asriel the golden boy and left Kris in the dust Noelle also got pushed into a assigned role that made her life suffocating, she's miserable without Dess like Kris is without Asriel which is why it was so important to see Kris break free from their assigned role, to not be Kris anymore, to be something more.
She wants to do something crazy because she wants to break free from this miserable life so badly, it's honestly so tragic to watch.
Anyway thank you for the ask!