A Royal Guard and His Ward

[theknightandthepr1nce]

Hello, I've been introduced to the glowing magical object by Avery; he said this is called a "social media". He said it would allow me to reach the rest of the world after our visit to the city market.

He says I should introduce myself

I'm Derek Hutchins, the current crowned prince of the Empire of Quelen, I am pleased to make your acquaintance.

Hi! This is Avery! I'm here to check in so that he doesn't get too overwhelmed! I'm pleased to be meeting y'all!

I didn't write the fic this blog is based on, but don't worry I asked for permission! Nothing I write is canon.

Hi, this is the mod speaking, I'm an adult. So NSFW asks are allowed, but I will mark them as mature!

I also am doing an au or the au, the preening hasn't happened yet in this one, but they have been to the market. Derek does have the pin for Avery. Derek also deeply trusts Avery, even if Avery hasn't realized that this is the case.

I have them added on Discord(or well, I can msg them on it.)

Send asks lol

[theknightandthepr1nce]

Avery, is mining netherite familiar to you?

No????? Why would it be???

[theknightandthepr1nce]

Ah young love. :))

Drawings plz (totally not that same person)

I'll hound my artist friend when they're not at work lol

[theknightandthepr1nce]

Sooo. Alternate realities do exist. And you're living in one. Would you like to know what happened in the original universe?

...I get a horrible feeling about this, but sure, tell me.

[theknightandthepr1nce]

Hey Avery! What's in your inventory right now?

Until next time, friend!

I am SO confused

[theknightandthepr1nce]

https://36questionsinlove.com/

These questions :)

Oooooooooookay then, this might take a while!

I don't mind. The more time I get to spend with you, the better

If you could invite anyone in the world to dinner, who would it be?

I could, and probably would get away with anyone I ask, as I am royalty. But, Avery, no hesitation.

Derek!

2. Would you like to be famous? In what way?

No, but if I were to be, I'd rather it be for something good I did.

I am, and I do not wish to be.

3. Before making a telephone call, do you ever rehearse what you are going to say? Why?

We do not have "telephone calls," but I do mentally rehearse what I'm going to say if I have an important talk I need to have with someone.

I don't! Go with the flow! Adaptability is key! God you're adorable

4. What would constitute a “perfect” day for you?

Mmmmm... Most days I have with Derek are perfect to me! It would only be more perfect if I got to wake next to him in the mornings and actually be more affectionate with him

Any day with Avery A day at the market, or a day where I can be under the sun and not have the constant weight of expectation of what I should be weighing on me.

5. When did you last sing to yourself? To someone else?

I... do not sing. I hum. Last I hummed to someone was yesterday evening. Last I hummed to myself was this morning while going through some of the reports

Oh! Easy, the last time I sang to myself was in the shower last night, and to someone else, yesterday afternoon! It was a lullaby; you really needed the rest Derek...

6. If you were able to live to the age of 90 and retain either the mind or body of a 30 year old for the last 60 years of your life, which would you want?

Mind! We slimes don't deteriorate physically! But the mind does, though as a half-slime, I'm less susceptible to this deterioration

Body. Dementia does not run in my bloodline, and us avians have brains that do not deteriorate with age; in fact, the mind gets sharper with age. the body... it deteriorates, far worse than that of a human or slime

7. Do you have a secret hunch about how you will die?

Related to the last question, I see... I will likely die due to the fragility of my bones, or I will be poisoned(Or some other assassination attempt). Whichever comes first.

I can only really go out if my core is crushed or my mind stops being able to hold my body together. If the way I go out is a crushed core, it will mean I died protecting someone(Though I could probably crush my core myself)

8. Name three things you and your partner appear to have in common.

Partner???

We're not partners, we're friends. I thought these were so that we could get to know each other better

God, I wish we were

9. For what in your life do you feel most grateful?

Avery.

That was fast-- But probably the fact that I had a chance to meet and be close to someone as wonderful as Derek. That and the friendships I've gotten to have here.

10. If you could change anything about the way you were raised, what would it be?

There's very little I'd change! Though I would've liked to be in a more slime-friendly community in my younger years...

I would change the point at which I had to start training to be a prince, as I doubt I could change the fact that I became a prince. I was robbed of my childhood early.

11. Take four minutes and tell your partner your life story in as much detail as possible.

I have done so previously and would prefer not to spill those details here.

He's already heard everything I have to say about it!

12. If you could wake up tomorrow having gained any one quality or ability, what would it be?

Personally? I just want my face blindness gone lol

The ability to shapeshift. I want to be able to be seen as someone other than the future king

13. If a crystal ball could tell you the truth about yourself, your life, the future or anything else, what would you want to know?

I'd like to know what about me makes people dislike me so easily. Though I know why I don't like me, I want to know why others don't like me

I wouldn't want to know the future... I wouldn't really need to ask about what others see me as, as I'm pretty damn good at reading people... So I guess the truth about myself.

14. Is there something that you’ve dreamed of doing for a long time? Why haven’t you done it?

I've always dreamed of settling down with someone, for all my energy and everything, I really just want someone who I could start a life or potentially even a family with. Though I certainly have a preference for who it's with

Avery, the second part, why?

Haven't found the right person! Haven't found the right time is more accurate

I actually want the same as Avery; I want to settle down with someone I truly love and who truly loves me. The reason I haven't is that I haven't found someone I feel that way for, nor someone I believe feels that way for me.

15. What is the greatest accomplishment of your life?

I don't know, actually.

Landing my job as his guard!

16. What do you value most in a friendship?

Respect! Like recognizing and respecting someone and their boundaries!

Loyalty

And it shows, Derek, you would go to the ends of the earth for me, and I for you

17. What is your most treasured memory?

My mother holding me and running he fingers through my hair and over my wings.

My dad teaching me to garden

18. What is your most terrible memory?

The time I got lost in a swamp during a camping trip. I was five and really scared.

...The time I broke my arm. Specifically, the second time it happened. Not the day I broke it, but in the week after, when I experienced my first nesting period. I was scared and alone; I wanted my mom. But I was NESTING for the first time, which means I was no longer her nestling, and that it was inappropriate for her to comfort me.

19. If you knew that in one year you would die suddenly, would you change anything about the way you are now living? Why?

I would probably run away and actually integrate into the kingdom to enjoy my last year alive(See if I could bring Avery with me, though that feels selfish)

Get over myself and confess to Derek Exactly what I've been doing, continue being close with Derek, except I'd try to visit home a few times to see my parents

20. What does friendship mean to you?

A safe place to be myself with someone who loves me

Everything.

21. What roles do love and affection play in your life?

They are rationed in my life; I do not get them much, but they are treasured moments to me.

SJSJsJSJSJ Derek, you did not get hugged enough as a child, I'm going to make up for that. But I got and get them both freely and happily give them both freely

22. Alternate sharing something you consider a positive characteristic of your partner. Share a total of five items.

Not partners, but I love everything about this man! Where should I start... His curiosity, his mischievousness, his resilience, his humility, his loyalty, and he's really caring!

His adaptability, his honesty (even when it is inconvenient to be honest), his empathy, his kindness, and his patience. I could keep going, but I will embarrass myself

23. How close and warm is your family? Do you feel your childhood was happier than most other people’s?

Not very close. I am close with my mom, but distant with my father. My childhood was sad, according to Avery.

My family is really tight-knit and close! My childhood was a really happy one!

24. How do you feel about your relationship with your mother?

I don't have a mother! Just two dads! :D

I am fairly close to my mom.

25. Make three true “we” statements each. For instance, “We are both in this room feeling ... ”

We are in a very humid room, we have been answering these questions for a fair amount more than an hour and a half, and we haven't had dinner yet. Avery's hungry

We are close friends god I want to be more, we are both overheating, and we are leaving this god-awful hot room!

26. Complete this sentence: “I wish I had someone with whom I could share ... ”

I wish I had someone with whom I could share inside jokes

I wish I had someone with whom I could share everything.

27. If you were going to become a close friend with your partner, please share what would be important for him or her to know.

We're close friends though????

We're going to skip this one.

28. Tell your partner what you like about them; be very honest this time, saying things that you might not say to someone you’ve just met.

Again. we're not partners. And we will be skipping this one as we are in front of an audience(That being this "Social media" and the people on it)

29. Share with your partner an embarrassing moment in your life.

When I was younger I confidently called the twin of one of my friends the wrong name and continued a conversation we'd been having about if Alternate Timelines exist

...I confidently walked into the glass door on the opposite side of the castle. I was twelve

30. When did you last cry in front of another person? By yourself?

The last time I cried in front of someone was when I was a kid and it was infront of my mom. The last time I cried was out of frustration in my room after learning I was going to be assigned a guard. I actually like him; I'm keeping him :)

I happy-cried last week in front of Derek

31. Tell your partner something that you like about them already.

I like how expressive he gets with his social wings!

I like his honesty and playfulness

32. What, if anything, is too serious to be joked about?

Abuse of any sort.

I agree, abuse in general

33. If you were to die this evening with no opportunity to communicate with anyone, what would you most regret not having told someone? Why haven’t you told them yet?

I am not answering this one! But I'll say why! Because If I tell them and they do not feel the same I have essentially fucked up one more safe space for them!

I am also not answering, and my reason for why is because I do not want to lose them.

34. Your house, containing everything you own, catches fire. After saving your loved ones and pets, you have time to safely make a final dash to save any one item. What would it be? Why?

My "House" is a castle. There is very little I cherish enough to run back in for.

My baby blanket, because my grandmother made it for me before she passed

35. Of all the people in your family, whose death would you find most disturbing? Why?

...My baby brother's. He's literally 2.

It depends, my mother's but also my father's. My father's passing would disturb me more if not by natural means; my mother's death would just generally disturb me.

36. Share a personal problem and ask your partner’s advice on how he or she might handle it. Also, ask your partner to reflect back to you how you seem to be feeling about the problem you have chosen.

The only one I want advice for is something I can't ask him for advice on, sorry Avery

Same lol

[theknightandthepr1nce]

So I saw you've escaped le catboy asks which I must bring back because chaos is good for the soul as me mum always said!

Catboys please! Or maybe dare I say A CAT THEMED ROYAL BALL

He has returned to attempting to melt into the wall

Become one with Mother Russia, but it's Derek and the damn wall

[theknightandthepr1nce]

Derek, do you have infinite knowledge? If not then I have something amazing to tell you.

I do not, and would prefer it to stay that way

[theknightandthepr1nce]

Does Hastur ring a bell to any of you too?

...Yes. That is a demon who has been sealed away in the northern regions, as no one at the time of its sealing, nor at any time recently has had the power needed to unseal and kill it.

He is also said to be able to see 1000 years into the future

[theknightandthepr1nce]

Tux's a good gal, used ta trade and deal with'er back in the days

She once bought a whole duffle bag of treats from me, with payment of three minutes of chin scratches.

...I am so very confused

[theknightandthepr1nce]

does der like his wings petted? :3

I don't knowwww I don't have permission to touch

I don't think I can ask him without making him uncomfortable :(

[theknightandthepr1nce]

Give them the knowledge of what happened in the original SFAWTDE/DAWTDE...........

One of YOU can torture them with that, but I won't lol

[slim3kn1ght]

So, my derek poofing up(Like a scared cat), and his little ear-wings/social-wings(Dirk told me they're social wings) are pressing back. Something is upsetting him, and probably scaring him too. I don't know what. He's also falling further into self-neglect; some areas of his wings are matting and there's an oily shine.

You have a kinda avian Derek, so I'm hoping you may be able to help?

Avery, by the way

-@theknightandthepr1nce

hi other me!! My Der doesn’t have ear wings but he has regular wings and he was also neglecting himself.

He was refusing to take care of himself and didn’t allow me to help. Turned out he was stressed and scared of the change. I’d suggest confronting him gently about it as to not scare him off (I feel like I’m talking about some wild animal, sorry der:(). I heard he’s putting himself in danger a lot. My Derek does that too but on a much smaller scale though, compared to yours.

I hope it’ll help

[theknightandthepr1nce]

Mine has had them his whole life, so he care for them as best he can(Dirk said avians are a communal species and rely on those close to them to do preening on some areas of the wings)(Derek's very isolated, but usually they don't look this bad, so I know something is stressing him)

Most of my knowledge comes from Dirk and the few books I could find on avians in the archive... I can try talking to him, but he has a tendency to shut down, and I'm afraid I'll screw it up somehow and that he'll shut down

[slim3kn1ght]

oh :( I don’t know much about wings, sorry. I know how to preen them only thanks to Sparky anon.

But maybe try to make him open up slowly, more subtly? I don’t know:((

[theknightandthepr1nce]

I have another Avian I can ask about it, who probably knows what the hell he's talking about because he's an APOTHECARY! But I won't know until I try and I can't try if he doesn't feel comfortable enough with me to ask...

I'll try my best :(

[slim3kn1ght]

I wish you two the best :((

[theknightandthepr1nce]

I wish you and your Derek the best as well

I'm off to try and comfort him further(He's actually letting me hug him, which... is an improvement)

[theknightandthepr1nce]

Derek.

I'm giving you another suitcase full of cat treats.

But I'm not sure if I can keep her?

[theknightandthepr1nce]

You two should do the 36 questions! They’re a very fun activity for uh- friends, just friends, totally platonic friends. Just a thought!

...Which ones? I'm willing to give it a try

Sure! Why are you being weird about it, though?

[smilkyways]

I believe the anon (me in disguise, shh don’t tell) is referring to the 36 questions to fall in love!

Have fun~!

[theknightandthepr1nce]

Cackling, I'm gonna send this link to myself as an ask for them to answer

[theknightandthepr1nce]

You two should do the 36 questions! They’re a very fun activity for uh- friends, just friends, totally platonic friends. Just a thought!

...Which ones? I'm willing to give it a try

Sure! Why are you being weird about it, though?

[theknightandthepr1nce]

To Avery Hello!!! I would like to offer you something I like to call Butter Chicken Noodles!! ^v^ It is noodles with butter chicken sauce, chicken, and however much sour cream you would like! Included also is fresh baked naan, and a glass of chocolate milk :3 Please do tell me how you like it, and if you do not I have various other foods to give you to try! >v<

Thank you!! I'm sure I'll like it! I'm not much of a picky eater, haha