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••Present••

"*ah, that's so..?" Tick mumbled quizzically, his gaze retracted from Laurii's, as he and her were now sitting in the snow at this point, as Laurii was recalling her story. Tick had his back side resting against the sturdy and spiraled bark of a tree whilst Laurii merely sat up in a straight position and posture with her knees bent in the snow. "Yes.." She nodded. "But that was a while ago... However,.. It's hard to forget.." She was visibly bothered by even the mere thought of the events that happened on that day, or at least to begin with, and Tick could easily see that.

"*well... hey, let's think about somethin' else. how's it goin' with him now?" He asked, wanting to get her mind off the things that put a toll on her conscious for a moment. She glanced at him and a soft, rather gentle smile formed on her lips. "Father now.. He is rather kind...rather kind and considerate... He cares about me... And he cares about big brother too." She explained, as she was recalling more vividly the better memories she had of him.

"*huh?" Tick gave her a confused glance as his head tilted slightly, pondering on her response. "*your..older brother? so horror went the extra mile and adopted 2 of ya's?" He asked, spinning his hand around in a circular motion to insinuate some kind of succession through a time lapse.

"Yes." She confirmed. "However, big brother did not come by until a little while later. Until he did, I had father and uncle only." She twiddled with her fingers a slight bit, as her attention was drawn away from him, and affixed to the ground of ice cold snow.

She wiggled her feet in it, her boots becoming sheathed with it's icy crystals.

She exhaled softly before sparing him a slight glance.

"*oh, uncle? papyrus, i'm guessin'." He quickly averted his eyes in midst of speech, letting out a chuckle. He couldn't help but find it slightly humorous at the thought of Papyrus, or even an alternate version of himself being a father or an uncle. It was a strange thought.

Laurii tilted her head slightly, her tail swaying in the cold, winter air.

"*hey, kiddo, y'know, i just had a great idea." He bursted out, suddenly, clasping his bony fingers together with a sudden air of finality.

"*how'za bout' you and I go and grab a bite to eat, huh? after all, you're probably a bit hungry after... y'know, everything. and uhh, I wouldn't want'cha to starve.. so... what'dya say?" He stood up, extending a hand out to her, as he graced her with an affable but toothy grin. It was hard to tell if he were being genuine, or planned to trick her again, considering his general attempt at affability was tampered with his mischievous grin.

Laurii's expression contorted into some bind of confusion. She blinked twice before silently and hesitantly reaching her hand up to his, then paused mid way.

She had become more suspicious now that she stood by to take in the otherwise sudden invitation with better consideration. Tick easily noted her hesitance, and let out a short, empathetic sigh. "*c'mon, i ain't gonna attack you with tickles again. y'know not now, anyway. i'm bein' sincere. honest, it's my treat."

He gave his hand a slight shake as if to persist his attempt to persuade her. "*besides, ya know... i'm not much for assumin' but... your dad isn't gonna be very happy if ya come home on an empty stomach, yea? he surely wants ya full and happy. so, what d'ya say, kiddo?"

And, after a brief moment of consideration, she placed her dainty little hand into his. It gave her a brief flashback to the first time she placed her hand in Horror's hand: Cold but secure.

She still hadn't forgotten that feeling of unbridled safety she obtained from that mere simple action.

Tick's affable expression diminished into a sort of concerned scowl as he stared down at this small and fragile hand resting against his palm. It was so anaemic and tiny. He knew that wasn't normal.. And just staring at it, he was worried it would literally shatter into pieces if he held it too tightly.

Well, he didn't want to think of that, and just carefully wrapped all digits around her hand, adding in a short, relieved sigh as he didn't break her hand in the process. "*alright, up and at em'." Now, with this, he went ahead and carefully pulled her off the ground of snow, as some of it slid off her dress and rested back in the white below with the rest of it. "*there we go." He turned his attention towards the pathway ahead of them and gave her a gentle nudge as he started walking down the path, still with her hand very loosely in his possession.

Without much hesitation, she followed along, taking a moment to look around the area. Right, this was hardly any different from the other universe, except perhaps for a less ominous feeling in the woods they walked through.

Perhaps 20 minutes passed without either of them making a single sound, as the only noise that occupied the well...somewhat uncomfortable silence was the sounds of their feet crunching through the snow.. But that on it's own was not enough. Tick was getting a bit antsy with the silence and desperately wanted to say something to break it, but he couldn't really think of any kind of topic starters.

He slowly glanced down at Laurii from the corner of his sockets and noticed only that she kept her attention focused mostly down towards the snow below her feet.

With both eyes narrowed slightly in thought, his orbs of light slowly glanced back forwards as they came to rest at the enormously long bridge that connected one side of the path to the other. It looked to be in a sturdy position, with wood that didn't look to be all that old and the tight rope lines still held firm.

Tick then proceeded to take a step on the bridge, but as soon as he did, he felt a slight tug of resistance behind him.

In confusion, he turned to face Laurii, taking in the sudden apprehension she displayed.

"*hey.. what's the matter, kiddo? not a fan of bridges?" He teased in a playful manner with a slight grin. Laurii would only stare up at him with pleading eyes, as if begging him not to make her walk over the bridge. He didn't understand what was frightening her at first,... Until he took a moment to gaze straight down. Right below the cross bridge was a very long drop off into the snow below. Unfortunately, a drop like that could cause severe injury or death.. And it was only then that he actually put two and two together.

"*ah. it's the height, isn't it?"

Laurii gave him a small nod in response, glancing down at the ground as if she was in a way embarrassed to admit that.

However, Tick just gave her a bright smile, releasing her hand carefully. "*hey, it's alright, kiddo. i have an idea." He announced a bit matter-a-factly, then knelt down infront of her. For a mere moment she was a bit apprehensive as she didn't understand what he was doing, though her apprehension was wisped away as he suddenly scooped her up in his arms in one swift motion.

She was positioned to where she was looking directly behind him, practically clinging to him, although it was kind of comforting with her chin resting on the warm fluff of his hood. It was familiar and had the affect of calming her nerves. He draped an arm around her backside securely, as the other was resting underneath her, keeping her securely in his grip. He didn't want to risk her falling, after all.

"*there. see now you don't have to worry about walking over the bridge yourself."

He said, giving her a slight smile, before beginning to walk back towards the bridge in question.

Laurii twisted around slightly and gave the bridge a slight glance, but as soon as she saw the long drop off coming into view, she quickly shut her eyes and turned back, hiding her face into the warm fluff of Tick's jacket. It only caught him off guard as he suddenly felt her body was shaking excessively as they were leisurely passing over the bridge.

As the bridge made a slight sway, exhaling a brief creaking sound, Laurii's grip tightened around Tick, as she wrapped her shaky tail around his torso, and let out a small whimper of what he can only assume was fear or concern. However, in response, he only tightened his grip slightly more on her in a way of giving her a better sense of security.

Soon enough, they passed the bridge, as Tick came to rest just inches away from it, both feet resting in the snow. "*alright kiddo, ya can look now. we're over the bridge." He said, giving her back a small tap to get her attention.

Laurii remained motionless for the first few seconds... And then slowly leaned up from the fluff and glanced around a little.

She smiled softly, relieved to be off the bridge but... She didn't want to move. She suddenly dunked her head back down, nestling into the warm fluff once more.

Tick gave a slightly confused look as he glanced in her direction. "*huh? ya alright up there?" He asked, a bit concerned. He expected she would just crawl on down so they could continue their little walk, considering at this point, they were almost to Snowdin. However, she did not budge.

"Warm...fluffy.. Sleepy..." She muttered into the fluff, both eyes softly fluttered to a close.

"*..." He let out a small sigh before patting her back in a friendly manner.

"*alright, kiddo, stay up there if you want. i'll tell ya when we get to grillby's." He announced. He didn't necessarily mind it all that much anyway. She wasn't heavy really at all for him, so carrying her around like this wasn't bad at all.

However, as he walked on, he couldn't help but feel some kind of pity for this girl.. He didn't believe she was mistreated, but her overall thin, anaemic body weight and color gave him concern.

But based on how she spoke about Horror, Tick didn't think he was the cause of her physical state and appearance..

He still wondered...

Description
••Present••

"*ah, that's so..?" Tick mumbled quizzically, his gaze retracted from Laurii's, as he and her were now sitting in the snow at this point, as Laurii was recalling her story. Tick had his back side resting against the sturdy and spiraled bark of a tree whilst Laurii merely sat up in a straight position and posture with her knees bent in the snow. "Yes.." She nodded. "But that was a while ago... However,.. It's hard to forget.." She was visibly bothered by even the mere thought of the events that happened on that day, or at least to begin with, and Tick could easily see that.

"*well... hey, let's think about somethin' else. how's it goin' with him now?" He asked, wanting to get her mind off the things that put a toll on her conscious for a moment. She glanced at him and a soft, rather gentle smile formed on her lips. "Father now.. He is rather kind...rather kind and considerate... He cares about me... And he cares about big brother too." She explained, as she was recalling more vividly the better memories she had of him.

"*huh?" Tick gave her a confused glance as his head tilted slightly, pondering on her response. "*your..older brother? so horror went the extra mile and adopted 2 of ya's?" He asked, spinning his hand around in a circular motion to insinuate some kind of succession through a time lapse.

"Yes." She confirmed. "However, big brother did not come by until a little while later. Until he did, I had father and uncle only." She twiddled with her fingers a slight bit, as her attention was drawn away from him, and affixed to the ground of ice cold snow.

She wiggled her feet in it, her boots becoming sheathed with it's icy crystals.

She exhaled softly before sparing him a slight glance.

"*oh, uncle? papyrus, i'm guessin'." He quickly averted his eyes in midst of speech, letting out a chuckle. He couldn't help but find it slightly humorous at the thought of Papyrus, or even an alternate version of himself being a father or an uncle. It was a strange thought.

Laurii tilted her head slightly, her tail swaying in the cold, winter air.

"*hey, kiddo, y'know, i just had a great idea." He bursted out, suddenly, clasping his bony fingers together with a sudden air of finality.

"*how'za bout' you and I go and grab a bite to eat, huh? after all, you're probably a bit hungry after... y'know, everything. and uhh, I wouldn't want'cha to starve.. so... what'dya say?" He stood up, extending a hand out to her, as he graced her with an affable but toothy grin. It was hard to tell if he were being genuine, or planned to trick her again, considering his general attempt at affability was tampered with his mischievous grin.

Laurii's expression contorted into some bind of confusion. She blinked twice before silently and hesitantly reaching her hand up to his, then paused mid way.

She had become more suspicious now that she stood by to take in the otherwise sudden invitation with better consideration. Tick easily noted her hesitance, and let out a short, empathetic sigh. "*c'mon, i ain't gonna attack you with tickles again. y'know not now, anyway. i'm bein' sincere. honest, it's my treat."

He gave his hand a slight shake as if to persist his attempt to persuade her. "*besides, ya know... i'm not much for assumin' but... your dad isn't gonna be very happy if ya come home on an empty stomach, yea? he surely wants ya full and happy. so, what d'ya say, kiddo?"

And, after a brief moment of consideration, she placed her dainty little hand into his. It gave her a brief flashback to the first time she placed her hand in Horror's hand: Cold but secure.

She still hadn't forgotten that feeling of unbridled safety she obtained from that mere simple action.

Tick's affable expression diminished into a sort of concerned scowl as he stared down at this small and fragile hand resting against his palm. It was so anaemic and tiny. He knew that wasn't normal.. And just staring at it, he was worried it would literally shatter into pieces if he held it too tightly.

Well, he didn't want to think of that, and just carefully wrapped all digits around her hand, adding in a short, relieved sigh as he didn't break her hand in the process. "*alright, up and at em'." Now, with this, he went ahead and carefully pulled her off the ground of snow, as some of it slid off her dress and rested back in the white below with the rest of it. "*there we go." He turned his attention towards the pathway ahead of them and gave her a gentle nudge as he started walking down the path, still with her hand very loosely in his possession.

Without much hesitation, she followed along, taking a moment to look around the area. Right, this was hardly any different from the other universe, except perhaps for a less ominous feeling in the woods they walked through.

Perhaps 20 minutes passed without either of them making a single sound, as the only noise that occupied the well...somewhat uncomfortable silence was the sounds of their feet crunching through the snow.. But that on it's own was not enough. Tick was getting a bit antsy with the silence and desperately wanted to say something to break it, but he couldn't really think of any kind of topic starters.

He slowly glanced down at Laurii from the corner of his sockets and noticed only that she kept her attention focused mostly down towards the snow below her feet.

With both eyes narrowed slightly in thought, his orbs of light slowly glanced back forwards as they came to rest at the enormously long bridge that connected one side of the path to the other. It looked to be in a sturdy position, with wood that didn't look to be all that old and the tight rope lines still held firm.

Tick then proceeded to take a step on the bridge, but as soon as he did, he felt a slight tug of resistance behind him.

In confusion, he turned to face Laurii, taking in the sudden apprehension she displayed.

"*hey.. what's the matter, kiddo? not a fan of bridges?" He teased in a playful manner with a slight grin. Laurii would only stare up at him with pleading eyes, as if begging him not to make her walk over the bridge. He didn't understand what was frightening her at first,... Until he took a moment to gaze straight down. Right below the cross bridge was a very long drop off into the snow below. Unfortunately, a drop like that could cause severe injury or death.. And it was only then that he actually put two and two together.

"*ah. it's the height, isn't it?"

Laurii gave him a small nod in response, glancing down at the ground as if she was in a way embarrassed to admit that.

However, Tick just gave her a bright smile, releasing her hand carefully. "*hey, it's alright, kiddo. i have an idea." He announced a bit matter-a-factly, then knelt down infront of her. For a mere moment she was a bit apprehensive as she didn't understand what he was doing, though her apprehension was wisped away as he suddenly scooped her up in his arms in one swift motion.

She was positioned to where she was looking directly behind him, practically clinging to him, although it was kind of comforting with her chin resting on the warm fluff of his hood. It was familiar and had the affect of calming her nerves. He draped an arm around her backside securely, as the other was resting underneath her, keeping her securely in his grip. He didn't want to risk her falling, after all.

"*there. see now you don't have to worry about walking over the bridge yourself."

He said, giving her a slight smile, before beginning to walk back towards the bridge in question.

Laurii twisted around slightly and gave the bridge a slight glance, but as soon as she saw the long drop off coming into view, she quickly shut her eyes and turned back, hiding her face into the warm fluff of Tick's jacket. It only caught him off guard as he suddenly felt her body was shaking excessively as they were leisurely passing over the bridge.

As the bridge made a slight sway, exhaling a brief creaking sound, Laurii's grip tightened around Tick, as she wrapped her shaky tail around his torso, and let out a small whimper of what he can only assume was fear or concern. However, in response, he only tightened his grip slightly more on her in a way of giving her a better sense of security.

Soon enough, they passed the bridge, as Tick came to rest just inches away from it, both feet resting in the snow. "*alright kiddo, ya can look now. we're over the bridge." He said, giving her back a small tap to get her attention.

Laurii remained motionless for the first few seconds... And then slowly leaned up from the fluff and glanced around a little.

She smiled softly, relieved to be off the bridge but... She didn't want to move. She suddenly dunked her head back down, nestling into the warm fluff once more.

Tick gave a slightly confused look as he glanced in her direction. "*huh? ya alright up there?" He asked, a bit concerned. He expected she would just crawl on down so they could continue their little walk, considering at this point, they were almost to Snowdin. However, she did not budge.

"Warm...fluffy.. Sleepy..." She muttered into the fluff, both eyes softly fluttered to a close.

"*..." He let out a small sigh before patting her back in a friendly manner.

"*alright, kiddo, stay up there if you want. i'll tell ya when we get to grillby's." He announced. He didn't necessarily mind it all that much anyway. She wasn't heavy really at all for him, so carrying her around like this wasn't bad at all.

However, as he walked on, he couldn't help but feel some kind of pity for this girl.. He didn't believe she was mistreated, but her overall thin, anaemic body weight and color gave him concern.

But based on how she spoke about Horror, Tick didn't think he was the cause of her physical state and appearance..

He still wondered...