Canyon Application

PLAYER INFORMATION

✘ Name: Swirl
✘ Age: 34
✘ Contact: PM or swirlingflight
✘ Character(s) currently in game: n/a
✘ Favorite horror tropes/events: Identity confusion, body swaps, transformation, mind alterations (especially altering key things that change a character's values or perception and exploring the consequences of those changes)
✘ Limits/Triggers: Images of realistic bloody self-harm, especially wrists. Untagged rape/noncon, suicidal thoughts, or depictions of suicide. Unavoidable caretaking of alcoholics.
✘ Invited by: Mel

CHARACTER INFORMATION

✘ Name: Papyrus
✘ Canon: Undertale
✘ Canon Point: Post-death in the genocide run =)

✘ Age: Unspecified in canon, estimated young-to-mid 20s - he's not a kid or teen, implied to be a younger adult. Let's go with 24.
✘ History: The Wiki is here but some of the details seem off. I wrote up a reference here (including the headcanons we're looking to use in the background)
✘ Personality:
[These sections are written as if Papyrus is compelled to ramble, so he keeps slipping and admitting/implying things, but isn't compelled to tell the absolute truth of what he thinks.]

You're assigned a group project. What role do you end up taking?

A group project, huh... Well, with my intelligence, and varied skills, and endless energy...! Naturally, I take on the role of encouraging everyone else. Specifically, by encouraging them to take my example. Working hard! Staying up all night if need be!

You might not think that I'm good at pushing others to work hard, if you've met my lazy brother Sans... But that would be jumping to conclusions of you! Sans is, indeed, very lazy. He hates to do much of anything. And yet! With my hard work, he applied for multiple jobs. He even goes to them, sometimes! It can be hard for some people to take initiative with things like that. They focus on what's not enjoyable, or they assume things will turn out for the worst, and they save their energy in hopes of tomorrow just being better...

But I say, what they need is to feel belief in something! Ideally, belief in themselves! And if they can't believe in themselves, well, it's perfectly fine to have a friend help by doing the believing for them. And that, is the perfect role for Papyrus in a group project. Leading by example in doing some of the work, yes... But, most of all, pushing everyone else to believe that they can do their parts and that it's worth doing their parts.

You have the chance to anonymously send a letter to someone who's wronged you in the past. What does it say?

Hmm... I'm not really a skeleton to dwell on the past. It all blurs together after a while, and thinking about it... It just wastes time I could spend on other, better, newer things. But! If I had to! I guess I'd send a letter to someone who wronged me very recently. My murderer. They're not just my murderer, I guess, since they killed a lot of other people too. Dogs who just wanted attention... Teenagers acting out... But, even if I'm not as dead as I expected, I take my death pretty personally. It's super messed up to walk around killing people! Even if they had awful things happen to them, and they thought it was the only way they could be safe, or something.

If I had longer to talk to them... Which I didn't, since I died talking to them... I would want to tell them, you can attack people without killing people?? That's an option. Sometimes having a conversation isn't enough, and that's what bullets are for. Magic bullets. Great for blowing off some energy, or whatever violent steam you need to blow off... but pull the blow at the end, so nobody dies. If they were just a little less murdery, I would have been happy to do that with them!

...Was it really so hard to believe me? To believe in themselves? I... I would want to ask them that. Even if they can't answer me, I want them to think about it, and maybe decide something different in the future.

Someone you admire very much has just done something you find reprehensible. How do you deal with the situation?

Well... I hope that doesn't happen for real. But sometimes, people make terrible choices. For reasons they think are good, or because they're too scared to do what's right, or because they don't feel capable of it, or... whatever. So! I take the time to remember, they're just a person doing the best they can. Even doing terrible things, is better than giving up and doing nothing, in some ways. Because! With a little guidance! They can do things that aren't reprehensible again.

So I, the great Papyrus, would offer my support. Helpful critiquing of when and where they went wrong, and what they really shouldn't have done! Ideas of better things, that they could have done instead! And, of course, a strong encouragement of what they really should do right now, instead of whatever garbage they were thinking before.

And beyond giving great advice, I stick with them. Unconditionally sticking around, so they don't feel like they've driven everyone away, so they don't feel abandoned... Because, I think, that's one of the worst things, about doing something reprehensible. Feeling like that's all they can ever be, anymore... It's important for them to know they can do better. That they can always choose to do better. And that they won't be alone in doing it! With a little support, and guidance, and not feeling alone, I'm sure they won't repeat whatever terrible choices they made.

If you could achieve all your goals right now, what would your life look like?

Wow. All of them?? All at once, right now???? What an incredible vision! Almost... overwhelming to imagine.

Starting with the essentials... I would be alive! Always alive, without any injuries that even hint at anything lethal that might have happened. And, maybe a little taller, and more muscular. You know, handsome, like I'm already handsome, but even more so.

I wouldn't be in this mystery city, looking for a whole new job to pay rent... But I wouldn't be back in Snowdin either. Instead! Somehow!! I would be on the surface, above the underground I know. Surrounded by friends! Like Undyne, and Flowey, and Sans, and anybody. Loads of people we know, and even more loads of people I don't know we know.

And, of course, I would be a member of the Royal Guard! Formally recognized and everything. Undyne's approval and pride in my accomplishments after all our training... Asgore's officiating in some impressive ceremony for people to cry at... Completely ready for the job, of being somebody that others trust in, to help and protect others... But cooler and better at it than the dogs. Everybody knowing about me, and how great I am, but not relying on me so much that I don't have time to do my own things. No hurt feelings to go around.

But with plenty of chances to fight. For showing off cool moves! Making threatening speeches! Knocking people out! And parting on good terms, all healed up. No big threats to everybody's happiness, either, because nobody has reasons to be murdery... And, uh. Then, I'm sure, finding new goals to work towards! A skeleton's work is never done!!!

Someone tells you all your flaws. What did they tell you, and are they right or wrong?

All of my flaws? That would take... barely any time at all!! Nyeh heh... heh.

...I guess, they might say... that I'm a little weird. Of course, only in the way that all handsome, unforgettable people stand out from a crowd! So maybe they would say I'm self-absorbed. But Papyrus cares about everyone. He doesn't think only about his own (very cool) self! Papyrus!! Generous with gifts and kindness. (Just, not bones.)

Oh, and sometimes people seem confused by the things I do. Left gawking at the masterful intuitive leaps I make... Baffled by my words, foiled by my puzzles, even laughing and moving on with their days... And that's fine! Not a flaw at all! Because, that's by design!!! A very intentionally crafted persona, for reasons. That I work very hard at maintaining. Maybe, some would say, too hard...? But that would be nonsense, trying hard is one of the most important things you can do.

Uhhh... And. One time, when Undyne didn't know I was at her door, and she was ranting to herself, and I couldn't help overhearing... She said, I'm naive? And too trusting? Those don't seem super flawsy... Thinking the best of others is important to being kind... But, then, I did die. I guess, if I thought a little less positively about the human, and a little more about the kind of punch they were packing... I might not have died. So! That's a flaw!!! Having a couple weak vertebrae in my neck. Good thing they're fused solid now!!! My head's not going anywhere, except in the direction of thinking great thoughts.

So, in summary. I am a little too punchable. In the sense that punching can be very lethal, not that people envy my coolness so much that they want to punch me. But maybe that a little, too. Who could blame them! I'm sure with enough time envying me, they'll emulate my coolness and kindness alike.

✘ Type: Mechanical
✘ Powers:
Power 1: ELECTROMAGNETIC RECEIVER, Papyrus now perceives a much wider range of radiation, between noticing when x-rays or microwaves are in use, hearing bits of radio chatter and phone calls, and even hearing stars. (The sun does not have anything useful to say, just a distant wailing, but it's better than creepy echo flower whispers.) Limitation, it's easier to function in the city and densely populated areas with man-made things than in places with fewer signals bouncing around, since the multitude becomes a white noise he can more easily tune out, while the sparser signals draw his attention in distracting ways.

Power 2: INTERCHANGEABLE PARTS, his bones largely become metal and circuitry, machine parts that can be redesigned, improved, or replaced - if he can get the parts for it. Limitation, there's handwavey software involved in making them work, leaving him at risk for viruses that lock up, shut down, or otherwise take control of different body parts.

Power 3: LINK WITH TECHNOLOGY, the ability to plug into devices and use them with his mind rather than the screen/keyboard/etc, as well as downloading files. Limitation, storing data on himself takes the same memory used for his feelings - the more digital stuff he takes in, the less processing power left for having emotions. His emotions can be rebooted by overwhelming him with emotions, whether through something traumatic/wonderful happening or an outside force (such as a Spiritual) inducing emotions - and resets like these may corrupt or delete the saved data.

✘ Inventory:
- Cell phone (hammerspace inaccessible),
- "Battle body" costume, as in his usual sprite costume
- C00L DuDE outfit worn underneath, as would've been revealed in the hangout if he wasn't murdered,
- Various beauty products: Bone Cologne, marinara sauce, MTT-Brand Bishie Cream, MTT-Brand Anime Powder, MTT-Brand Cute Juice, MTT-Brand Attraction Slime, MTT-Brand Beauty Yogurt

✘ Samples:
- meme thread: Sans and Papyrus in another day of their semi-dysfunctional skeleton household
- TDM thread: Nightmare transformation with Kavinsky

Geno run history w/ headcanons

Worldbuilding: where/when is Undertale?

Undertale takes place in an Earth-like world, similar enough to ours for jukeboxes and televisions and anime and cars... but one where humans and monsters coexisted in the distant past. In that past, during the age of spears and swords, they went to war - reportedly due to human fear of what monsters might do if they absorbed human souls. The war ended with very few surviving monsters, and human mages trapping them behind a barrier in the caves under Mount Ebott.

The first human to venture into the caves was a child who fell (intentionally) in 201X, only to be rescued by the monsters' prince. Raised by the king and queen for a time, their adoption ushered in hopes of new peace between monsters and humans. When the human died in an unfortunate chain of events, the prince was killed by other humans, the king renewed his vow of war, the people took hope, and the queen fled the kingdom for disgust with them cheering the killing of people like her adopted child.

An unspecified number of years pass between those deaths and the start of the game, but it's long enough that only the oldest of monsters remember the queen anymore. Undyne, captain of the royal guard, was half-raised by King Asgore, but she never met the queen. A comment by Sans implies it's been a century, setting our headcanon date for the game at 211X. The monsters of the underground know little to nothing about human history, and monster technology is roughly modern to 202X standards, thanks to the mix of scavenged human garbage and magical enhancements they work with.


Skeleton backstories and headcanons

Papyrus and Sans have conspicuously unspecified personal histories. The rest of the main characters have anecdotes about their pasts, with friends or relatives who tell stories about them. The brothers don't. Sans seems to have been in science at some point, theoretical things like space and quantum physics and reports about the branching of timelines. Papyrus demonstrates an eclectic mix of practical engineering and artistic skills, now put to use for improving the Snowdin forest experience with art and puzzles. Neither offers any stories about gaining these skills, or mentions where they lived before moving to Snowdin a few years before the game's start.

Among other unexplained things in Undertale is an easter egg character referred to as Dr. W. D. Gaster, the previous royal scientist who "fell into his creation" and "shattered across time and space." On a meta level, he seems to be a joke about game construction, how a character can be unwritten from a story but the game play on. But among the hidden content is a secret lab entry in Wingdings font, and a black and white sprite that could be a melted skeleton. The theory goes, the font-named scientist was the skeleton brothers' father, and that he experimented with something that retconned himself from general memory - or time itself. A forgotten scientist dad gives a source for their more scientific and technological leanings, plus context to their otherwise mysterious unhappiness: Sans thinks it's useless to do anything, since time resets his actions without his remembering it - a lesson Flowey has confirmed - while Papyrus worries about being forgettable, and struggles for popularity or ways to feel he matters to people.

Whatever their origins, we know this about canon: a few years before the events of the game, Papyrus and Sans settled into the small town of Snowdin. They divvied up the housework and bills (Papyrus did the housework, Sans provided funds to pay rent through mysterious means), got jobs as sentries, and generally entertained the town with their banter and bothering. Papyrus strove to join the royal guard in hopes of gaining friends, pestering the head of the guard into personal training when she didn't accept him on the spot. He established himself online, semi-befriending other important people (like the current royal scientist, Alphys)... and met a talking flower.

This was Flowey, the flower with the memories (but not the compassion) of the dead prince and the ability to reset time to a given starting point. Traumatized by death and grief and his transformation, Flowey had been looping time - first in attempts to befriend everyone and help them with their problems, then various ways of hurting and playing with them. In this last timeloop of Flowey's, he mostly only spoke with Papyrus, sharing secrets, predictions, and advice... and pushing the skeleton towards making decisions he might not have made on his own. It's unclear how much Papyrus actually knows about Flowey's plans, and how much the flower manipulated him with lies, but it's clear Papyrus thinks of the flower as someone who has his back. This doesn't work out for him in this timeline, when the latest fallen human becomes the one with the time powers.


Game events

In our chosen timeline, the human that falls turns out to be a relentless killer - one who doesn't just kill everyone in their way, but actively hunts around for anyone they can murder. Seeing this approach, Flowey treats the human as a friend once they go to leave the ruins, and helpfully shuts down some of the puzzles to further simplify their path. He doesn't bother to get in touch with Papyrus again, but the skeletons are near the Ruins door in time to intercept the human anyway.

Sans and Papyrus go about bantering and monologuing at the human along the way through the Snowdin forest, even as the human continues killing along the way, accumulating dust on their decreasingly pink gloves. Papyrus complains with each ruined puzzle, a mix of frustration with their rudeness and almost lampshaded appeals to his brother for help. At his final puzzle, Papyrus baits the human with the idea of friendship, bragging about the great time he'll have with Undyne since they couldn't be bothered to enjoy the experience. He then rushes forward, pushing the residents of Snowdin to finish their evacuation.

(After all, when the people of Snowdin need word to get to someone official, they talk to a skeleton who'll talk to a fish - Papyrus or Sans talks to Undyne. Having weighed up the human early on, Sans has multiple opportunities to shortcut into town and warn the residents to pack up and get moving.)

Papyrus doesn't evacuate with the rest of the town. He waits at the edge of Snowdin and Waterfall for the human to confront him in the snow drift, where he has a speech ready. With a mix of scolding and encouragement, he tells the human that they can stop fighting, that he'll accept their friendship with open arms, and that he offers a hug. (If spared, he admits to being nervous, and can even admit he'd been prepared to blast them. In some versions of the game, he visibly braces for an attack, dropping his ATK and raising his DEF to try to take their first blow.)

Unfortunately for him, the human hits far harder than he anticipated - his body quickly crumbles under him. He takes the chance of his last words to reiterate his encouragement that they can do better - a final attempt to persuade them against killing anyone else - before his skull dissolves as well.