[The fluster makes him want to be even more forward, but Mettaton holds himself back so that he's not distracting Papyrus for the moment. When the skeleton visibly and audibly struggles with the collar though, he finally speaks again.]

It's made of some type of metal, so you get points for trying!!

[He says it brightly enough, but he's clearly not pleased. And if he thought he could take it off himself, he'd have done it by now.

Mettaton doesn't hold him to too high a standard since he's not a robot with unnaturally powerful arms. He can wait, especially if they're out in the open like this; it's better to play inconspicuous than look like two escaped slaves, right?]

I never thought I'd be so happy for a chance to get back on that ship, but it's looking better every second that we spend here.

[...If Papyrus thought that the arm touching was intense, just wait. Because Mettaton was taking it up a level.

Actual hugging?! Yeah...he needs one. So he wraps his good arm around Papyrus, gently setting his head ontop of the skeleton's skull. Look, Mettaton's tall enough that even average monsters look short.]