I really don't like the ralsei is asriel theory
Or that ralsei absorbed asriels soul or that Kris is dess or some weird shit like that (no offense)
I think it's extremely lazy and would make the acid tunnel of love thing really fucking weird. (Seriously sooooo many people completely ignore that scene when it comes to theories and I have no idea why, seriously that scene has a lot of characterization for ralsei in it)
I'm pretty sure ralsei is probably a personified version of what Kris wishes they were like, basically kris's ideal self, and is definitely the headband.
so if Kris and ralsei really do end up together (if the acid tunnel of love means anything at least) then it would probably be a bit of a metaphor for Kris and ralsei both coming to terms with who they are. (And if they don't that doesn't discredit this theory at all. It could go either way at this point)
there is evidence that both Kris and ralsei have similar issues when it comes to their own identities.
what really supports this is that both of their problems with identity include the headband in some way. (Kris wore the headband because they didn't fit in and ralsei probably *is* the headband)
And that "whatever happened it it?" Honestly kinda confirms it for me. like it really feels like it's hinting at what ralsei is, it's talking about the headband in a convo literally about kris's struggle with identity and how they feel like they didn't fit in and thought they were gonna grow horns like a goat, meanwhile we got a little pink horned goat that's name is an anagram for Asriel (someone Kris really looks up too and wanted to be like)
Also Kris being nonbinary really fits in with this too. Like of course the kid who has identity issues has gender identity stuff going on aswell (I'm not nonbinary but I miiiiiiight be projecting a tiny bit here tbh)
.......so yes you can probably ship them without worrying about it being weird or creepy or whatever (though I guess that would make Kris dating their old fursona if you think about it lmfao)
ANOTHER REASON WHY IT WOULDN’T MAKE SENSE FOR ASRIEL TO BE RALSEI
the queen has a room specifically for Asriel and yet she constantly fails to recognize and remember who ralsei is, which actually adds on even more to the theme of identity issues with ralsei
I honestly think ralsei is just as confused about himself as we are about him
Also Kris probably got the way they name things from their parents, asriels name is literally just asgore and toriel combined, so it makes sense that Kris would want a name that fits in with that *and* also relates to their brother who they looks up to (this naming thing miiiiiiight be a stretch though tbh)
A lot of people think Kris hates ralsei or something dumb like that but honestly they’re probably just a little put off (hell maybe even jealous. Wouldn’t you be jealous if you saw your ideal self just fucking standing there? You’d probably think “why couldn’t that be me?” That’s a huuuuuge assumption though but I think it’s a neat idea)
