Popp doesn't need brain trauma to be clingy but it certainly exacerbates his natural tendencies. He's becoming slowly more aware of the actual situation here, but it doesn't feel incorrect? Aside from feeling like his head is a pot of soup that's been spilled and then hastily wrung back into the pot in some sort of order.

Elidibus says it's fine and that he's doing well, sure... But Popp tends to argue and second guess this kind of thing once he's not working on instinct. He's relaxed in some ways, letting his latest guardian take his weight, and tensed up even further in others. That tail is squeezing so nervously.

"But - but I wasn't strong enough to handle it myself! Shouldn't I be able to do that
much by now?"

He's not just talking (or crying, anyway) about the Intellect Devourer.