Life at the DMS
Series Metadata
Listing Series
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Deep Lake Dreamer by cosmicpoet
Fandoms: Searching For A World That Doesn't Exist - Wifies (Web Series)
15 May 2026
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Summary
In the middle of the night, Avery is hauled into a van. He stops fighting back the moment he's asked if he wants to see Derek Hutchins again. He's the only person who can pull Derek out of the nightmare he's trapped in - and the DMS need him to do so at any cost.
"Whilst he’s being fitted with a heartrate monitor and various electrodes, Avery reaches his hand up and briefly gives Derek’s arm a squeeze.
Hold on, he thinks. Just a bit longer. I’m coming for you."
Series
- Part 1 of Life at the DMS
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how avery got a free apartment from the DMS by cosmicpoet
Fandoms: Searching For A World That Doesn't Exist - Wifies (Web Series)
16 May 2026
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Summary
Or - Derek has to adjust to how life is going to be from now on.
The book feels strangely warm and freshly bound. The leather moves underneath his fingers like it has not yet forgotten how to be skin. It bears no title, author, or cover image.
“All you have to do is read the first few pages,” Constance explains. “And then you can see Avery.”
Series
- Part 2 of Life at the DMS
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commensality by cosmicpoet
Fandoms: Searching For A World That Doesn't Exist - Wifies (Web Series)
17 May 2026
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Summary
Avery brings Derek dinner.
Closing his eyes, Avery makes a wish and combines the wet and dry ingredients. With each stir, as the mixture thickens, he wishes for Derek to get better. He imagines the allspice and cinnamon like winter-scented steam rising from a hot bath to draw the stiff ache from his muscles; the cumin warming his bones; the turmeric clearing the pressure out of his sinuses and lifting the weighted haze from his mind. Avery adds a dash of honey and thinks of sweetness, of taking Derek outside in the sunshine somehow, wrapping him in a blanket and turning his face to the wind and sky. It is the closest thing to magic that exists in a world of science and gods. He cooks as an act of devotion, willing Derek back to health by the spoonful.
Series
- Part 3 of Life at the DMS
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Heaven is a Place (Where Nothing Ever Happens) by cosmicpoet
Fandoms: Searching For A World That Doesn't Exist - Wifies (Web Series)
21 May 2026
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Summary
The moment he is separated from Constance’s direct line of sight, he leans forward and allows Avery to take all his weight. It doesn’t matter that this apartment is probably bugged to hell and back, it’s close enough to privacy for him to tentatively invite vulnerability in. He buries his face in the cotton t-shirt warmth as his knees give way and Avery’s hands around his back keep him standing. He feels himself dropping down further, but instead of falling again, he is lifted off the ground and held against Avery’s chest.
“You’re home,” Avery says. “I’ve got you.”
Or - Derek and Avery's first night together.
Series
- Part 4 of Life at the DMS
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a nightmare, a name, and a turn of the tide by cosmicpoet
Fandoms: Searching For A World That Doesn't Exist - Wifies (Web Series)
23 May 2026
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Summary
In which Derek has a dream and receives a bargaining chip.
Brave Knight, You have no choice. I will not allow You to debase Yourself. You are Mine to command and I command dignity from You. Your position is not hopeless, can You not see?
Derek would be more comfortable if he sounded slightly wrong, or even just a little bit unsettling, but Hastur sounds like he genuinely cares. It terrifies him to think that Hastur’s impeccable mimicry may have come from a study of Derek’s own vocal cords.
Series
- Part 5 of Life at the DMS
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how avery got a free PS5 from the DMS by cosmicpoet
Fandoms: Searching For A World That Doesn't Exist - Wifies (Web Series)
25 May 2026
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Summary
Avery gets a PS5 and Hastur finally gets to play Guitar Hero.
"Derek’s mind goes blank for a second as he forgets the way people tend to hold guitars. He doesn’t know if the fretboard goes in the left or right hand.
Left hand. Right hand on the body. Strum the up-down pull-switch in time with the notes and press the coloured buttons to match what’s shown on screen. This is child’s play, Knight."
Series
- Part 6 of Life at the DMS
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Snake Plants Can Live Small Without Sunlight by cosmicpoet
Fandoms: Searching For A World That Doesn't Exist - Wifies (Web Series)
26 May 2026
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Summary
Avery takes Derek on a date.
The shirt that Constance sent over is a perfect fit – it’s linen, with a loose stand collar opened just down to the top of Derek’s chest. Avery’s eyes stay here for a moment and he feels his face flush. He quickly looks down as he walks over to Derek and rolls up the sleeves of his shirt, exposing his forearms.
“Now it’s perfect,” he says. “You look beautiful.”
Derek raises his hands to hold Avery’s face. “Hastur tried to ruin the surprise this morning by showing me what you’d look like, but I didn’t care. I kept the picture in my mind all day. Looking at you never gets any less pleasant. I could do it forever.”
Series
- Part 7 of Life at the DMS
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Hello, World by cosmicpoet
Fandoms: Searching For A World That Doesn't Exist - Wifies (Web Series)
30 May 2026
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Summary
Avery and Derek finally make it outside for a date, during which they find themselves discussing the topic of New Year's Eve for the first time.
Derek now turns to Avery. “Except you. When I’m around you, it’s different. You’re my focus point. The great overwhelming–” he gestures out with his hands “–everything hits you like you’re the point of intersection where the whole universe overlaps. You’re a single image. You’re an immutable fact. You provoke no debate or uncertainty. You’re like gravity. If I didn’t have you here I’d fall off the world.”
He brings his hand to Avery’s cheek, looking him directly in the eyes. His gaze is so soft and the night is so perfectly dark that Avery must have fallen into some beautiful void, where nothing exists but the certainty of Derek and how much Avery loves him. He feels his face melt like butter as admiration and adoration intermingle. Derek is the best thing this universe has ever created. Avery doesn’t need infinite knowledge to know that.
Series
- Part 8 of Life at the DMS
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wanting, and other crimes by cosmicpoet
Fandoms: Searching For A World That Doesn't Exist - Wifies (Web Series)
02 Jun 2026
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Summary
After preventing Avery from attempting to save his life by becoming Hastur's vessel, Derek cannot untangle himself from the violent web of self-hatred. Nor can he blame the thoughts in his mind wholly on Hastur.
Derek doesn’t want to be here or anywhere. He wants to not exist, and if he cannot do so, then he wants to be in so much pain that he finds some clarity in justifying his pathetic life. He wants Avery to be so angry at him that he leaves him behind forever and insists upon forging a life worth living for himself, where Derek is neither a memory nor a bad feeling. He wants to be alone until he dies.
Instead, Avery takes his silence as an invitation to lie next to him.
Series
- Part 9 of Life at the DMS
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supplementals by cosmicpoet
Fandoms: Searching For A World That Doesn't Exist - Wifies (Web Series)
02 Jun 2026
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Summary
Any art I make for the Life at the DMS AU will go in here :)
Series
- Part 10 of Life at the DMS