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At the crossroads, don't turn left.
And for all the knowledge Derek has, that truly was the easiest way to sum up the advice he has to lend. The most direct. He didn't expect a singular decision in a sandbox game would alter his life forever, but for now there was only forward. Atleast, only his screen to look to.
For as horrifying a glimpse at everything is, at knowing the world as it is, will be, and was, knowledge leaves an odd feeling of melancholy. He shifts his arm, grasping the mouse in his hand tighter. He supposes labeling something as odd isn't really right anymore, but at this point it's just idiotic semantics.
While his mind was inevitably going to evaporate under the weight of knowledge that was in all terms true- but oh so wrong, he had time in the now. Little time, he understood deep in his being. But time nonetheless. What do people with all the knowledge in the world think about? Well, Derek knew of course. The only thing he could ponder, simply because it never happened. The What ifs in life. Specifically...
He wondered what his life would be if Avery was in it before. Happy, for that he was sure. In this timeline he would find this world, and hopefully be spared of life's secrets. The things that whispered to him in every crevice of his mind.
He foolishly imagined what getting coffee with him would be like. A pretty little picture in his mind. They'd wait in line and chat, Avery getting some sort of caramel vanilla latte, possibly try some other flavor depending on the day. Derek thinks he'd order some sort of pastry for himself. And maybe... He'd share with Avery too?
He would fumble with his wallet as Derek watched. Any coins he got as change would end up in the tip jar and he'd be smiling at the cashier, never making eye contact. In that nervous way you do at times, as is human.
"Easier that way," he'd turn towards him and hum. Shifting on his feet with a small "y'know?" At the end. That is, if Avery would care enough to mention a detail like that.
It's a little hard to entertain himself even with all the info he has. These silly little scenarios put a small smile on his face though, and he'll take all the happiness he can find in a mind that knows the flavor of it all.
Avery is the type of person to apologize for a tiny spill picked up with a napkin too quickly for his reaction. He'd wave his hands and apologize for not cleaning it up too, even if it would take Derek all of two seconds to tidy the mess. And really, you couldn't even call it that accurately. He'd smile at Avery getting the chocolate of the croissant on his face, and he'd smile back.
Derek thinks that in another life they'd talk for hours on end. He wonders if Avery would get tired of talking for too long like he normally does, or if Derek would be an exception to it all. Would Avery feel comfortable enough to rant to him about all the tiny things in life? About how that tree had really pretty leaves, or how this one person sat besides him even if he didn't feel like talking to them. Avery would care, he's absolutely certain. He's the type to get curious about someone, then too attached after actually meeting them. He doubts himself for a second, that he'd even be interesting enough to wonder about at all.
If there was one thing he's known in all of this imagining, is that he would enjoy Avery's presence. He enjoys the thought of him enough to indulge himself in the possibilities of them, even if the world itself had no more for him to think about.
In a world with no crossroads, he thinks that he'd find the most happiness with Avery. And while yes, he could explain why that'd be true, what does it matter? It simply just is, even if it's just his imagination.