Syl and Idra

Syl's eyes were caught by something shimmering in his peripheral. Walking down the forest path he had his hands politely placed behind his back as he watched the autumn leaves fall in beautiful fiery colors. Yet the strike of silver stood out, pausing his peaceful stroll and urging him forward to cure his curiosity.

Needless to say as he inched closer his curiosity only grew as he pushed past some shrubs to reveal a small camp with two gentlemen sitting around the fire. Both men's heads had snapped over the moment the leaves rustled and for a long moment all three of them stared at one another with dumbfounded looks upon their faces.

"Idra?"

Instantly the younger man of the pair jumped up, face twisted in disbelief as his eyebrow twitched.

"How dare you address the emperor in such a manner!" He snapped, stepping forward only to be stopped by the well decorated hand of Idra.

"Why wouldn't I?" Syl asked slowly before huffing as he stepped through the brush to stand at their side. "What are you doing dawdling around here? Was it not you who insisted he would go despite me offering to in your stead? Yet here you are in the middle of the woods instead of meeting with his majesty. I understand you are… displeased with the idea but you can't be hiding away here it's most improper for someone of your station."

As Syl scolded them slightly he began to pack up their things, taking down their tent and loading their bags onto their horses.

"Did you fall and hit-" the younger one, Beau, began only to again be cut off by the rising of a hand.

"My lord," Idra began, voice bordering on amused as he leaned back, propped up his elbow, and laid his head upon his hand. "I do have to say I'm quite intrigued by this behavior."

At the title of my lord Syl's brows furrowed, his cleaning up going on hold as he held the ends of his robes up so he could sit on his legs on the ground without dirtying them. 

"My lord? I don't appreciate such teasing," he replied, voice even and calm.

"Teasing? Is that not your title?"

"Of course not, Idra" Syl stated curtly. 

"You are Syl Silverstone, yes?" Idra asked, tone indiscernible as a shadow casted over his face. 

Despite this awfully intimidating expression Syl continued unphased even when he stood to hover over him.

"Of course, who else would I be? Even after all this time you still make it hard to tell if you're jesting or not."

Idra moved away, turning his back to him as emperor and servant (?) had a silent conversation between one another.

"Interesting," Idra mused as he turned the rings on his fingers idly, pacing back and forth.

"That isn't the word I would use," both Syl and Beau said simultaneously which made the young male's nose scrunch up like he ate something sour.

They simply earned a chuckle in response as Idra finally turned back.

"You said we were heading to bleh, then let us go. I'd hate to dawdle after all."

"But, your imperial-" Beau started only for his words to fall with one glance from Idra. 

"Are you… certain we should?" Syl spoke up, voice daring to be laced in worry as he shifted to stand, frozen in place when Idra's fingers gently lifted his chin. Looking back and forth between the older male's eyes the expression he gave the emperor hardly shifted but the minute movement was caught by the grey eyes staring at him intensely.

Idra gave a crooked grin at his gentle words after a long moment. "Yes I am very certain," he mused, voice deepening as his thumb traced along Syl's bottom lip. 

"I think we'd ought not, it's clear you have no desire to go. I'll represent you in your stead. You should return to bleh palace, I shall handle everything."

Idra shook his head as his fingers traced along Syl's jaw all the way up to his hair, stroking through it lightly as his eyes raked over him. As though on command Syl relaxed against those calloused fingers, sighing softly as he cocked a brow.

"But-"

"We will come," Idra said with finality and after letting out another sigh Syl pulled away, it was clear he would not relent.

"Let us go then."

When everything was settled both men went to their horses and as he was looked down upon by the emperor mounted proudly upon his steed he felt his heart flip a bit, only further worsened when a hand was held out to pull him up onto the horse. Even if his face didn't show it Syl's ears burned as he wrapped his arms around Idra's midsection.

Trotting along, clearly in no rush, a comfortable silence settled over the group like a warm blanket and while he enjoyed it the purposefully slow movement made Syl purse his lips slightly, Idra spoke up.

"I am not your Idra," he stated plainly, making the other two both maneuver forward to get a glance at his face, which in Syl's case was nowhere near as easy as the most he could see was the side of the emperor's face.

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"Exactly what I said. I. Am. Not. Your. Idra," he enunciated further, looking over his shoulder to lock eyes with his passenger.

"Must you always joke?" Syl groaned, sucking his teeth in irritation as he moved back to his previous position , crossed his arms, and looked away.

"What makes you believe I'm joking?"

"Am I to believe you're not?"

"Yes," Idra answered with a light laugh.

Rolling his eyes Syl decided to go along with this conversation as it was clear the other was bored, why else would he be saying such ridiculous things?

"Which Idra are you then, pray tell?"

"Another one," Idra answered coyly.

"Forget I asked," Syl muttered with a sigh and to his side he heard Beau barely stifling a laugh.

A right hand reached to grab his arms and wrap them back around Idra's waist earning a cock of the brow from Syl as Idra began again.

"It's clear you and I are rather close in this world."

When he wasn't graced with a response he continued completely unphased by the silence.

"In my world our relationship couldn't be more different. We don't get along in the slightest, the Lord Syl I know is… proud and so very self serious. You two even look opposite to one another, where one dresses only in the finest silk or armor the other wears simple, clean robes with not a hint of the symbol of his house anywhere to be found."

"Is that so?" Syl replied blandly, "how do you know I am not proud and self serious like my supposed counterpart?"

"I would never enjoy being around such a man, thus even if I and your Idra are two separate people technically I know that you are nothing like my Lord Syl. You even brush off the title of 'Lord' which the other flaunts happily."

"I do not 'brush off my title'," Syl insisted, hands balling up Idra's dark doublet subconsciously.

"So then what are you if not a lord?" Idra inquired, chin angled upwards as he looked at Syl from the corner of his eye.

"Syl. I am simply Syl."

Despite how he turned his head away the moment Syl's eyes flashed over to him he swore he saw a warm smile play on his lips at this response.

"Intriguing, utterly intriguing, you leave me more and more curious about you. I'm beginning to see why you are my other self's consort.”