One day I'm going to write a goddamn dissertation on the complexities of my headcanons for Toriel and her relationships.

BECAUSE I KNOW I SHIP HER WITH EVERYONE BUT THERE'S JUST. 

EMOTIONS.

FOR TORIEL.

FOR TEEN TORIEL WHO WAS BETROTHED AT BIRTH AND GENUINELY LOVES ASGORE.

FOR YOUNG ADULT TORIEL WHO HAD A FONDNESS FOR THE SKELETON WHO WORKED EXCEPTIONALLY HARD TO SPEAK.

FOR TORIEL WHO'S NEVER MET ANYONE HER AGE THAT'S ON HER INTELLECTUAL LEVEL BEFORE. WHO'S NEVER ENCOUNTERED A SITUATION WHERE SHE LOVES SOMEONE EQUALLY AS WELL AS SHE LOVES ASGORE AND DOESN'T KNOW HOW TO DEAL WITH THAT.

FOR MOM TORIEL WHO SEES WHAT A WONDERFUL FATHER ASGORE IS. FOR MOM TORIEL WHO WATCHES HER HUSBAND TAKE IN A SMALL HUMAN BECAUSE THEIR SON ASKS FOR IT. FOR MOM TORIEL WHO SEES HIM RAISE THE CHILD AS IF THEY WERE HIS OWN.

FOR OLDER TORIEL WHO'S BEEN SO HURT. FOR OLDER TORIEL WHO CAN'T TRUST THOSE SHE LOVED. FOR OLDER TORIEL WHO NEEDS TO SEAL HERSELF AWAY TO DEAL WITH THE PAIN.

AND, OF COURSE, FOR TORIEL, WHO BEGINS TO LAUGH WHEN SHE HEARS TERRIBLE KNOCK-KNOCK JOKES AT HER DOOR. FOR TORIEL WHO FOUND SOMEONE WHO HURTS LIKE SHE DOES, WHO IS EASY TO TALK TO AND EXPECTS NOTHING FROM HER, WHO PROMISES SOMETHING HE DOESN'T WANT TO BECAUSE HE LIKES HER, EVEN IF HE THINKS SHE'S A SENTIENT DOOR.

THESE ARE THE TORIEL EMOTIONS I THINK ABOUT LITERALLY ALL THE TIME.