What is Ralsei Smoking? The Truth Behind the Viral Meme
The internet loves a good meme, and one that has sparked considerable curiosity and debate within the Deltarune fandom is the image of Ralsei smoking a “fat blunt”. It’s a visual that’s both humorous and, frankly, rather out of character for the sweet, innocent prince of the Dark World. So, what’s the real story behind this widely circulated image?
The short answer is: Ralsei is not actually depicted smoking in Deltarune. The meme is entirely a fan-created image, a trace-over of a much older meme featuring Mario smoking weed. The image leverages Ralsei’s simple, often static poses in early animations, and replaces the held item with a large, cartoonish blunt. This explains why the animations of Ralsei in the meme often appear stiff and only change color. The viral image isn’t a depiction of canon material, but rather a playful (and often misinterpreted) piece of fan art. The blunt just changes colors, that’s it.
This meme has created some confusion, with many genuinely curious as to why this character, so known for his kindness and innocence, would engage in such a pastime. It is important to understand that this image is not canonical and merely another example of how online communities reimagine and reinterpret beloved characters. The spread of this meme reveals much about the interplay of humor, internet culture, and fan interpretations of beloved video game characters.
Understanding Ralsei and the Meme Context
To understand why this meme is particularly amusing (or shocking, depending on your perspective), one needs a bit of context about Ralsei himself. He is a key character in Deltarune, a game created by Toby Fox, the mastermind behind Undertale. Ralsei is the Prince of Darkness, attempting to fulfill a prophecy in the Dark World. He’s generally depicted as a kind, helpful, and often naive character.
The original “Mario smoking weed” meme, is almost a decade old, and set a precedent for this type of character transformation. The juxtaposition of a traditionally “good” character like Mario, and now Ralsei, engaged in a mischievous act is the very foundation of this meme’s humour. It capitalizes on the inherent absurdity of the image and the dissonance with the character’s established traits.
The popularity of the Ralsei smoking meme illustrates the powerful influence of internet culture on gaming communities. Fans take characters and storylines they love and transform them into new, often humorous creations, adding to their lore and life within online fandoms.
FAQs: Delving Deeper into Ralsei and the Meme
1. What kind of animal is Ralsei?
Ralsei is a Darkner that visually resembles a white goat. When he removes his hat, he appears quite similar to Asriel Dreemurr from Undertale, who is also a goat-like creature. This resemblance is no coincidence as Ralsei’s name is an anagram of Asriel.
2. Is Ralsei a boy or a girl?
Ralsei is a male character. Despite some fan speculation to the contrary, the game refers to Ralsei using male pronouns.
3. How old is Ralsei?
Ralsei’s exact age is not explicitly stated in the game. Some fans speculate that he’s either 13 or 14 years old, but his real age is currently unknown.
4. Is Ralsei actually Asriel from Deltarune?
No, Ralsei is not Asriel. While they share a resemblance and Ralsei’s name is an anagram of Asriel, they are distinct characters. It would also be illogical, considering that Asriel is Kris’s brother, making such a relationship with Ralsei a bit controversial given that Ralsei has a crush on Kris.
5. Is Ralsei a Toriel?
Ralsei is not a Toriel. Although he resembles a goat-like monster and Toriel is also a goat monster, he is a Darkner. This means that he belongs to a different race than the Light World monsters. There could be Darkner versions of other Light World characters, but they would still be different entities.
6. Is Ralsei a “boi”?
Yes, Ralsei is a male character, or “boi”. While some have mistakenly referred to Asriel as a female in the past, Ralsei is consistently referred to with male pronouns. This confusion with Asriel’s gender and Ralsei’s relation may be why there is more confusion around Ralsei’s gender identity.
7. Does Ralsei have claws?
Yes, Ralsei has claws that he can use as weapons. He is able to throw his claws at enemies like knives, which are described as “Mesmerflare claws” that are both sharp and hard. This ability is limited to three uses and is best used at short or medium range.
8. How tall is the Ralsei plush?
The Ralsei plush, designed by Saber Murphy and prototyped by Eyes5, is approximately 12 inches tall when seated and includes a removable scarf, hat, and glasses.
9. What is Ralsei’s full name?
Ralsei’s full name is currently unknown. The game only refers to him as Ralsei. Fans have theorized other names, particularly in relation to Asriel, but there is no evidence of this.
10. Why does Ralsei appear black at first?
Ralsei is initially seen in a dark blue cloak that obscures his face, making him appear dark. However, when he removes his hat, he reveals that he has white fur. The darkness is merely the result of his hat and cloak obscuring his features.
11. Why is Ralsei depicted smoking a fat blunt in the meme?
As previously discussed, the image of Ralsei smoking a blunt is purely fan-created. It’s based on the static nature of his animations and the pre-existing “Mario smoking weed” meme. It’s not a canon depiction and is done for comedic effect.
12. Who is Ralsei’s crush?
It is heavily implied that Ralsei has a crush on Kris. This element of the storyline is considered by some to be a bit of a “free pass” for the creator, given how unusual of a pairing it may be for some.
13. Does Ralsei have a gun?
While not part of his standard repertoire in the main game, there are fan-created depictions of Ralsei using various guns, including a sniper rifle, pistols, and assault rifles. These are purely fan-made, Ralsei does not wield any guns in the canon of the game.
14. What is Ralsei’s default weapon?
Ralsei’s default weapon is the Red Scarf. It doesn’t provide any AT boost but is unique to Ralsei. It is similar to the Dainty Scarf, which boosts magic.
15. What other characters are often featured in memes with Ralsei?
Ralsei is often featured in memes with other Deltarune characters such as Kris, Susie, and Jevil, showcasing the relationships and dynamics within the game. Jevil is frequently shown with Ralsei in memes as these characters form a duality of opposites in the game itself.