#utdr valentines

[tensionpoints]

Looking at r/Deltarune to see what theories ppl have come up with based on That One Valentine and it’s soooooooo funny to me that every single post about it is the same. Actual quotes from the subreddit:

“How do we know this is gaster”

“Why else would it mention the letter being impossible to understand at the start”

“It doesn’t have the signature stilted tone gaster’s always had”

“It doesn’t read like gaster in English at all”

“I feel like the beginning narration, the all caps, and the style of writing clearly point to gaster”

“We have no real reason to think he’d talk this way… ever”

It’s back and forth with these general opinions, especially of ‘oh that’s not how he talks’ and I’m just sitting here like

1. When you are a scientist, you do not necessarily talk the same in academic contexts as you do in casual contexts. For the most part, I speak COMPLETELY differently from my papers I’ve written for school compared to when I’m flirting with my partner.

2.

[shedpuns]

I NEED TO HUG HER SO MUCH

[darkcandy-starfait]

So about the "Gaster" Valentine...

My first thought was that the speaking style is just too informal to be him, so i then jumped to thinking it was Tenna (or the next secret boss?)

And then Chara because I'm predictable and I think it would be funny if Chara was just fucking impersonating him for shits and giggles

However I've been reading other people's thoughts about it, and like, Gaster talking more informally in a silly valentines note to us, is a fascinating concept is it not? Like, it's not like he talks in his survey program voice all the time right?

I like the idea of him being a little goofy, a little more relaxed when he can be. Also the fact that the person in the letter asks "How is Delta Rune?" is VERY INTERESTING curious, like. I feel like only he would know to ask that. The only other person I could think of to ask that is. The Knight??

I dunno, there's something about this letter being from Gaster that's fun, that makes him more endearing, and maybe gives us a deeper look into his character if it really is him sending this letter. I honestly now lean more towards it being Gaster, just in a different context that isn't him giving us a survey.

After all, it wouldn't be the first time a utdr character changes up their speech patterns for dramatic effect.

[punkinpied]

balentimes….mtt…

[l0s3r95]

I'M FREAKING OUTTTUTUTUTUT

[existencebringsonlypain]

These are the valentines I got from tony fox!

holy shit you got the doobie letter

[neblosinha]

These were the cards I got!!! Is it Alphys' the middle one? Let's trade!

[brushstrokesapocalyptic]

i don't have anything to say about this that isn't funnier than the concept of sending out random valentines booster packs to everyone in the newsletter. what a selection!

[thesoupiestfan]

I don't think this is Gaster.

Some people are upset with the idea of the criptic Valentine being somewhat silly; that gaster might not be as dark and mysterious of a character as we thought.

Well... I'm not too worried. Because I'm pretty sure it's December Holiday; "Dess"

Considering how it reads, and the idea that the writer wants to help someone, (possibly Noel,) maybe even themselves, is an interesting thing for Gaster to say.

Not only this, but also that the writer starts off my saying Happy New Year! Of course they might mean the Lunar New Year, but as I think about Noel's Valentine saying Happy Holidays, it reads more like the end of December kinda New Year.

So Don't Sweat it!

Your Tumblr Sexyman is likely just as deep and mysterious as you would hope. 😝💜

[anxious-squid]

the valentines cards i got in the fanletters

i like them they're silly

[water-mellie-seeds]

Ok I've compiled 41 valentines in the doc..... but there's 'around 50' .... should i (cringe) check reddit......

[tensionpoints]

Anyway, let’s ask questions & make note of things!

(It's a strange letter. It's more or less completely illegible…)

“Strange letter” there’s various ways to interpret this— is it strange for a vday card? Or strange for other reasons? It’s very long, for certain. and it disappears! Why else could this be ‘strange?’

“Completely illegible” is this bad handwriting, or is this wingdings? Or a secret 3rd thing?

(But, if you squint your eyes, and, you squint your heart… For some reason, you feel you could understand it)

“Squinting your eyes and heart” is a very strange sentiment, and I feel it’s too easily brushed over. Heart, obviously could refer to the SOUL, but what gets me the most about this is the grammatical structure of the sentence.

1. “But,” starting a sentence with a coordinating conjunction is, for the most part, frowned upon. Why separarte this from the first sentence, starting another?

2. “But, if you squint your eyes, and, you squint your heart… For some reason, you feel you could understand it” let’s start by sorting this into clauses.

“But, [if you squint your eyes], and, [you squint your heart…] For some reason, [you feel] [you could understand it]”

Time for some questions! Why put a comma after “and?” I could be misremembering, but a comma AFTER “and” is very awkward-sounding.

Also. It’s inconsistent? Why write it as “But, if you squint your eyes, and, you squint your heart…“ when it would be more consistent to have “But, if you squint your eyes, and if you squint your heart…” or “But, if you squint your eyes and (your) heart…” why repeat the verb? how many “you”s is the sender talking about?

3. Squinting your eyes is common to try to read illegible text, as you focus more on the finer details. What could squinting a HEART do? what would squinting a heart be LIKE.?

All in all for this section, the narration feels different to me than the usual narration in UTDR, but I can’t quite place why.

WELL,

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

OR, WAS IT THE OLD YEAR.

1. First impression I’m getting here is “does this person experience time linearly?”

2. Second thing I’m noticing: a question ending with a period rather than a question mark.

3. Thirdly, the sender seems, at best, unaware, or, at worse, confused.

WELL,

IN ANY CASE, HOW IS DELTA RUNE?

1. Why are you asking US, sender?

2. What is MEANT by “delta rune?” the game? The symbol? What are we talking about?

AS YOU ARE WAITING

PATIENTLY, THE TIME IS GOING AROUND.

THERE WAS EVEN A RUMOR OF "VALENTINE'S DAY".

HOW ABSURD.

EVERY DAY IS A DAY OF LOVE,

IF ONLY YOU BELIEVE IT SO.

DO YOU BELIEVE IT SO?

…

1. What are we waiting for? The next release, or something else?

2. “The time is going around” feels like it’s worded this way deliberately. What does this mean?

3. “There was even a rumor of “valentine’s day” is this world building? There are lightners AND darkners with valentines. Why does this idea sound foreign to the sender to the point that the day is a “rumor?” Where are you from, sender?

4. “How absurd. Every day is a day of love, if only you believe it so. Do you believe it so?” What do we mean by “love?”

SO, THE PURPOSE OF THE MESSAGE.

I WANT TO HELP!

YES, THERE WAS SOMEONE I WANTED TO HELP

…

1. Given the last section, this creates an interesting vibe imo? This is a letter of “I want to contribute” and not “be mine 💘” which makes this feel even MORE out of place. Are you supposed to be here???

I SEEM TO HAVE FORGOTTEN WHO..

YES, IT'S QUITE IRONIC, BUT I SEEM TO HAVE FORGOTTEN.

WAS IT MYSELF? NO.

WELL, PERHAPS.

1. What, exactly, makes this ironic? In general for deltarune, or is there something about you that makes this something very odd?

2. “Was it myself? No. Well, perhaps.” What is a self, sender? How could it be that “no” and “perhaps” are both answers that are viable?

REGARDLESS, WHEN I SEE THEM, I'M CERTAIN I WILL KNOW IT STRAIGHT AWAY.

I NEVER FORGET SOMEONE I DON'T REMEMBER.

WILL YOU HELP ME?

…

…

1. “I’m certain I will know” will this be true for us as well? Are you a new character, or are you a character we’ve seen before?

2. “I never forget someone I don’t remember” also feels VERY deliberately worded. Something about this line is important, I think.

3. What do you need help with? I thought you were helping someone else?

4. The two lines of “…” next to each other strike me as odd. What does this mean?

YOU ARE VERY ODD, RESPONDING OUT LOUD TO A LETTER.

BUT, YOU SEEM RELIABLE.

I WILL BE COUNTING ON YOU.

1. This gives more of an in-game vibe than the rest of the letter, acting as though we have turned this into a dialogue.

2. What makes us reliable?

3. Counting on us for WHAT?

4. I feel like there’s some kind of joke lying in wait here over “letter” juxtaposed with “counting”

NOW, PUT ON YOUR COAT AND WASH YOUR FACE!

OR, PUT ON YOUR FACE AND WASH YOUR COAT.

NOT NECESSARILY IN THAT ORDER.

OR, IN ANY ORDER AT ALL.

1. This general section really has me curious as to who the sender is. After all, this is a very strange manner of speaking here. Love the silliness. Very unsure of what this means on a larger scale.

2. Why are we being told to do this?

GOOD BY!

1. I’ve seen SOOOOOO many people mention the spelling here. Curious if it means anything, or if it genuinely is just a mistake.

(There was a sound like something walking away

And, the letter was gone.)

1. Again, the narration seems odd with the grammar here?

2. This is SO funny when we consider this letter was replaced with a blank. Toby why did you do this it’s hilarious.

3. I wonder if inanimate object (letter) with legs and the cup Toby asked us to look at are connected.

Verdict: probably Not gaster, but Deffo suspicious. Cant count anything out yet imo.

[thegaminglazer]

uploading my mail list valentines for the sake of documentation

[shedpuns]

wait. before we start calling him Vaster. I have an idea. Valentines Day Gaster. VD Gaster. Kantonian Gaster is still called WD Gaster.

[thecakeisaeye]

these are the utdr valentines I got ‼️

[meanpersonaart]

That's how I imagine him writing us the Valentine's Day card, so silly goofy