Well, I think you nailed it. Probably the best supporting dialogue for that point is one of the phone calls where Papyrus says something like “Ugh! Grillby’s! It’s too greasy and gross!”, Undyne says “Yeah! Grillby’s! I love that kind of food!”, and Papyrus says “Uh… I mean, Grillby’s is great!”
Later on there’s another exchange like it, about anime. Pap: “Isn’t anime for little kids?” Undyne: “NO WAY IT’S GREAT.” Pap: “…wait, do YOU like anime? UHHH MAYBE I LIKE IT TOO.;;”
He picks up a different opinion just to agree with Undyne, and that’s a big clue that he just wants to fit in with others and be liked. He admires Mettaton unconditionally for being handsome and popular, not necessarily for his good character (and we know from experience that he’s kind of an ass :V).
So I think while he’s confident and talks a big game, like, it’s not the same way Undyne does. Undyne is 100% unapologetic about the person she is, and the bits we get about her childhood make me inclined to think she’d be that way whether she was a good person or not, whether anyone agreed with her or not. Part of me wonders if Papyrus actually picked up some of his boastful tendencies from being around HER.
It’s… actually kind of lucky Undyne has as good a heart as she does, because she could be a REALLY bad influence over Pap, I think. She’s really careful to encourage him to think for himself and feel okay with his own opinions, even if they’re not the same as hers. It’s implied that they’re relatively newer friends, so I think the longer Pap is around her, the more he’ll learn to be okay with himself and figure himself out. He’s just not totally there yet.
Papyrus probably makes Undyne behave a little more responsibly than she has in the past too, haha. They’re so good for each other. Aw man, I just, *runs hands down face* they’re perfect friends and I love them.
I think a lot of Papyrus’ gentler nature probably comes from his insecurities though. Like, he knows what it feels like to be lonely and to want to be LIKED, so he can picture other people feeling the same way. He thinks just having one friend would solve anyone’s problems, since that would just about solve all of his.
Undyne doesn’t give a crap about being liked, so doesn’t give a crap if other people want to be liked. It’s a more genuine confidence, but ends with spears to the face instead of hugs, and with less human friends.
I don’t know if I agree fully with the last part though, about him wanting to prove himself to be more than the “loser” people think he is. I’m not sure his motivations are about proving himself to anyone. The royal guard position is just something he sees other people praise, like Mettaton’s popularity, so he mimics it. He thinks that once he gets the title, everyone’s opinions of him will just change instantly and they’ll talk about him like they talk about Undyne.
I think he’s just aching to have someone say that he’s done the correct thing and will totally mold himself into someone he’s not in order to get that validation. If he were proving himself, I think that would mean he’d have already accepted himself, but is trying to make others see it.
So it’s a small blessing that he’s got Undyne telling him he’s doing the right thing by being exactly who he is.
See, when I say I want more strong platonic relationships in fiction, THIS is what I’m talking about.
honestly just really like undertale 