it was a bad romance. [open]

[crypt]

XERXES ARDESHIRE
The morning chill seeped through his black fur, permeating through his thick coat despite the warm fingers of sunlight that stretched towards him. But Xerxes could hardly care, he was so vividly focused on the obstacle before him. He had prepared it in a way that would be difficult for him, but in a moderate way. It was morning after all and this was just a stretching exercise. Flexing his back feet, he crouched to the ground and visualized his charge. First, he'd leap over the fallen log and then slip beneath the brambled thorn bush, struggling through the sandy pit below it. Afterwards, well Xerxes could not concentrate. Not only was he hungry, but pumped on adrenaline. But he had to concentrate, so the Silver Fox rabbit closed his eyes and inhaled. Focus...focus...focus.

ooc: first bunny post!

[Sagi-sa]

Shadow nodded approval. Before him was one of the best soldier his eyes had ever lain eyes on. "See, Sagi," he whispered to the young rabbit next to him, "see how he's so focused on his target, unable to be distracted by his surrounding area...that is what you need to be." Though he wasn't really scolding her, Sagi knew it had to with the previous mission she was on. Almost at the end of her mission, she allowed herself to be distracted; causing the mission to end terribly. "Of course, sir," she nodded as she watched the black rabbit train before her.

[crypt]

XERXES ARDESHIRE
The sound of others speaking did however distract him, he hadn’t expected someone to be so far out to disturb him but Xerxes made no indication that he acknowledged them. They were there, likely watching him and so he might as well give them a show. Opening his dark eyes, the massive rabbit saw them perched atop the hill where the end of his obstacle abruptly stopped at. So he flicked his ears back and crept forward, angling himself so that when he pushed with his haunches. The force would bring him into the air, devouring any short distance between him and the log.

Suddenly, he launched himself forward and with ground-eating strides arrived before the jump, which once the Silver Fox rabbit propelled himself over was finished with. Landing with a muted thud, he felt no need to glance back and instead began to bend his elbows so that his belly fur brushed against the ground. Eyes narrowed in keen concentration, before he forced himself beneath the wire-like bush. His paws were slipping on the sand, but Xerxes decisively gripped the ground by digging in to reach the bottom of the pit. The traction was enough to push him through.

He was so focused that he paid no attention to the searing pain on his back, his thick fur penetrated by the thorns to a point where it had scorn his fur with opening scratches. Little droplets of blood bubbled atop the lines of his stretching flesh, but the cold would help it clot. Xerxes had no time to ponder on such trivial issues such as bleeding. Darting around a variety of poles, he maneuvered himself around them before kicking a wire that set rocks plundering down towards him. He raced with outstretched paws, clinging to large boulders and then leaping off of them at the precise moment he needed to save himself.

It was quick, each movement lithe and nimble as if he were a cat despite his massive size. But he was mostly fur if anything. Xerxes found the ending, right beside the two rabbits sitting serenely on the hilltop. Pounding upwards, his jaws parted as he gasped for air but despite that, he never lost his footing. Skidding to a stop before them, his back end rose into the air before plodding onto the ground with a deft thud. Head rose and his expression straightened, jaws clenched and eyes solemn. ”Sir!” And bowed his head at his superior.

ooc: xD

[Sagi-sa]

((o.0...so much detail...i applaud you)) Shadow's grin widened at the display before him. Sagi stared in awe. 'Amazing,' she thought to herself, 'such control and power behind each action...if only I were able to train that hard.' When the rab stopped before them, Sagi was tempted to move lest he collided into them. Shadow held is place. When Xerxes halted before them, he only nodded his head. Patting the rab on the shoulder. "At ease," he smiled, "marvelous, simply marvelous. I expected nothing less." Sagi was still there, eyes wide in awe. A blush adorned her face, thankfully the fur made it unable to show, the rab before her wasn't bad looking.

[crypt]

XERXES ARDESHIRE
Although he remained stoic, almost cold to the praise of the other. His ego inside swelled, being commended for what naturally came to the defensive and warrior bred rabbit brought warmth to his steely interior. However despite the authority of the male, the female rabbit drew curiosity to the beast but he resisted looking at her. Instead, he twitched his nose and recognized her as one among the ranks. But Xerxes rarely ever noticed them, so it was luck that he even remembered that the female was among them. Nevertheless, he lack of speech especially when in the presence of females who were usually quite chatty, he deducted that she was impressed with him. Who wouldn't be?

The ebony soldier resisted flinching back from the touch, recoiling from any physical contact was instinct to him. Xerxes simply didn't like being touched, lest he was allowed to reprimand it with a fierce blow. Nevertheless, he tolerated it because Shadow was his superior. "At ease, marvelous, simply marvelous. I expected nothing less." Xerxes flexed his shoulders and never ceased the tension in his body, he remained uptight despite the commander's release to relax. Nodding his head, he chirped "Thank you, sir." Erecting himself so that he stood, poised and ready for order. Xerxes decided that he should take the initiative to introductions and asked, glancing over at the female. "Who is she, sir?" His gaze turned to her for a brief moment, cold and decisive with judgement searing onto her. His mind was all about strategy, battle and calculations. Xerxes had little time for feelings, he had abandoned them long ago.

ooc: thankies! but you should see me when I'm museful!

[Sagi-sa]

Shadow noted his discomfort and decided to exploit it another day. There was a reason he took Usagi to see Xerxes training today, and not just to scold her actions.
"Of course, of course," he chuckled, "how could I forget."
He stepped aside and pushed Sagi in front of him with his saber, a grin on his face.
"Usagi Tomo, newly joining our ranks," Shadow explained, "she is already the the head of our spying department as well as the top poison expert. With her roots from the Advanced City, we are now able to have the most tech savy weaponry."
The blush on Sagi's face deepened at hearing Shadow compliment her in such a way, if only she hadn't screwed up her previous mission.
"She does have an issue with focusing, however," he sighed, "and that is the reason I am here. Due to her inablility to remain undistracted to her enviorment, or the male population in that enviorment, she was able to sucessfully conduct her latest mission. I want you to help her on this little problem, and just witnessing your performance I see no problem. Any objections?"
Sagi's ears drooped slightly, it wasn't her fault she as easily distracted by male lapins...they were hot to the max.

[crypt]

XERXES ARDESHIRE
His dark gaze averted back to Shadow, listening to the well-tempered rabbit as he spoke. "Of course, of course, how could I forget." Xerxes wasn't entirely fond of the rabbit's attitude, he seemed too trusting and too relaxed but there was little the soldier could do about it. At least Shadow left him alone and did not tamper with his schedule as others had tried but never succeeded with. It was a pity that they fell so easily in battle but lucky, how quickly power changed paws. The authority suddenly shoved the female forward, introducing her as if she had an inability to speak. He raised an eyebrow in forced interest. "Usagi Tomo, newly joining our ranks, she is already the the head of our spying department as well as the top poison expert. With her roots from the Advanced City, we are now able to have the most tech savvy weaponry." He glanced her down and analyzed. She was new, but that didn't explain why the female had risen so quickly among the ranks. If he were far crueler then Xerxes already was, he would have made a comment and question on whether or not she slept her way into promotion. Females were fickle things, with their emotions and needs, desires and wants. It was annoying so Xerxes had little to do with them.

Poison? Well, he himself preferred more physical contact then this unseen warfare. He regarded them as a sort of cowardly department, relying on stealth rather then brunt force. Nevertheless, he supposed they could do with some hidden aid. A surprise to the enemies would be quite entertaining to watch. Xerxes nodded his head, trying to seem intrigued although he desperately wanted to go back to training without an audience to watch. Frankly, the black brute did not know what they wanted with him. But he kept silent about it. Glancing over at the female, he noticed that she was quite pleased to hear him praise her but embarrassed about it as well. If it were he, as it had been. Xerxes would have taken it with a straight face, being humble was a stupid expression to have. "She does have an issue with focusing, however, and that is the reason I am here. Due to her inability to remain un-distracted to her environment, or the male population in that environment, she was able to successfully conduct her latest mission. I want you to help her on this little problem, and just witnessing your performance I see no problem. Any objections?" So here was the issue then, but what the hell did it have to do with him?

So she happened to be quite dis tractable, it was no surprise to the soldier. Most females were, they were always looking. He had no clue what they were doing on the battle field, they shouldn't have been there in the first place. But Xerxes kept his tongue and facial expression tight, almost monotone as he waited for Shadow to finish. The female had failed, so now he ... Shadow wanted him to help her? How? Why? He clenched his teeth before asked, his voice restrained and curt. "Sir, what am I supposed to do with her? If anything, I am a distraction in itself as are the obstacles and training I go through. I don't see why I am needed, isn't she capable of training herself. If she came so highly recommended that she rose so quickly in rank?" There was a tenseness in his tone, but Xerxes could help but feel that this girl would be quite a burden on him.

ooc: xD he's a downer.

[Sagi-sa]

((he is)) Sagi gritted her teeth as she narrowed her eyes into venomous glare.
"Listen here, bucko," she growled, "just because you were just high and mighty with you little dance there doesn't mean you can underestimate me."
She took a step forward and jabbed a finger into his chest.
"I may have some issues regarding my attention span, but it doesn't mean I go drooling after a random piece of ass," she hissed, "so get over yourself, and over that planet you call an ego."
"Usagi, stand down," Shadow ordered.
"I will not sir," Sagi said, "this prick needs to understand that just because he can conduct those fancy moves, doesn't mean that can act like he has a chopstick stuck up his ass...nor can he look down on any other people."
"Well, that's too bad," Shadow sighed, "unfortunately you are to train under him in order to train your focus."
"I'm sorry sir but I don't think I'll be able to even train under this ass," Sagi growled.
"Usagi, you are to train under Xerxes, and Xerxes, you are to hone her focusing skills," Shadow had enough of the bickering, "that is an order. Do you understand."

[sushikun]

((Enter the n00b role-player: Iris!))
"Ha! Pwned." Cinder the cat said as he was watching crouched on the tree. As much as everyone knew the tabby probably used to be a familiar to a wizard before getting lost in the forest and deciding to stay with the rabbits instead of the cat tribe. After a few months most had gotten used to him, partly because as a cat he had valuable information on humans and partly because deep down they thought he was a bit weird and wasn't much of a threat.
He knew if he followed Sagis and Shadow around something interesting would happen.
Well, actually something interesting always happened when he followed Sagi around. Mostly they were pointy, Sagi was a pretty wrathful rabbit. Well now that wrath was focused on a new pompous rabbit who reminded him a bit of wizards.

[crypt]

XERXES ARDESHIRE
ooc: whah?! double teaming on my poor fellow, are ye? well then!

The ebony rabbit felt inclined to complain, he did not like disobeying orders but this appeared a conspiracy to keep him from advancing. Was he that intimidating to those who stood in council over the military troops? He was irked, but his face remained fiercely stoic. The female however seemed to want to speak, grinding her teeth and trying to scare him off with a glare. But he had had enemies far worse then her. "Listen here, bucko," She had a tasteless tone, neither respectful of his status nor did it seem very educated. Xerxes had a firm belief that perhaps she was far more useful bedded then in battle, how else would a female find her way leading anything? He grunted in faint response, as if Xerxes was only listening part ways which in reality he was. His dark eyes were focused on Shadow, demanding why he be punished for all the good he had done. Only his ears were an indication that he noticed the female at all.

Nevertheless, she continued to yammer on. "just because you were just high and mighty with you little dance there doesn't mean you can underestimate me." His expression lightened, it was quite amusing for her to try and force him to stop belittling her. There was little that restricted Xerxes and she was not among them. He gave a snort, a chuckle of a snort as if to taunt her tries of changing him. Suddenly she stepped forward and touched him, stirring contempt in him. Stepping aside, away from her touch as if it were dirty, he glanced down and seethed. "I may have some issues regarding my attention span, but it doesn't mean I go drooling after a random piece of ass, so get over yourself, and over that planet you call an ego." He rolled his eyes, ego came with accomplishment and Xerxes had done plenty to achieve what he had. Turning his face away, he made sure only to look at her sideways as if displaying how little she meant to him that the female didn't even deserve to have him look her in the face as an adult would.

The female was hardly a soldier, not even obeying when Shadow ordered. "Usagi, stand down," of which it responded. "I will not sir, this prick needs to understand that just because he can conduct those fancy moves, doesn't mean that can act like he has a chopstick stuck up his ass...nor can he look down on any other people." At this, Xerxes could not help but laugh and roll his eyes. She hardly understood but this was a male dominated world that she simply did not belong in. Nor would the soldier tolerate any more of her nonsense. Pausing only to allow Shadow to speak, "Well, that's too bad, unfortunately you are to train under him in order to train your focus." He clipped his teeth together to announce that he was going to speak, but she so rudely interrupted him. "I'm sorry sir but I don't think I'll be able to even train under this ass," Of which Shadow responded, "Usagi, you are to train under Xerxes, and Xerxes, you are to hone her focusing skills, that is an order. Do you understand."

The rabbit stood a little taller, now that he was being addressed and barked, "Yes sir." Hesitating, he glared at her from the corner of his eyes and asked, "However although you permit her temper tantrums, I shall not. While you may allow the girl to speak back, I shall reprimand her sharply if she does so to me. I will belittle her, I will cut her down because she behaves like a child, thus she is one. I will discipline her and punish her, there is no reward here but pride for your nation. I've earned my pride, I've deserved mine while she should have nothing but shame for that lashing tongue of hers. I will train her, but it shall not be easy. Take another moment of contemplation, sir because if you believe she should be trained by me there may not be anything left of her when I am finished." Xerxes ignored her for the simple reason that she did not deserve his attention, but there was something on his mind he did wish to say to her. But he kept it quiet, holding his tongue after deciding he had spoken enough.

If she were to act beneath him, Xerxes would be strict. His way was militant and tight, his team when they existed did not disobey him nor did they even falter in marching. They executed everything to absolute perfection and precision, and they were all male. Now, Xerxes was not against females he was merely against them in the military. They had not done anything to deserve this, their place was in the home. This was far too dangerous work for them. Thus, he was going to make sure that if she were to train beneath him. Xerxes would treat her like he would treat a weak male. Harshly, cruelly. His intentions were to draw blood and pain, because only then would weakness leave her. But he highly doubted, she would even last so long. Females were far too emotional for the trying things that Xerxes did.

"Ha! Pwned." He clipped his teeth together in annoyance, yet another disturbance? Xerxes knew that the cat was familiar with some of them, but the rabbit himself did not like the fellow so much nor did he know him. He had seen the cat a few times, but not many. There was no real point in the feline, what he knew the rabbits could easily find out themselves. So its existence was useless. Its time was wasted among the rabbits, or so Xerxes believed. Glancing at the fool, his dark eyebrows raised and he asked Shadow. "Sir, there is an unnecessary presence among us. Shall I dispose of it?" He was unafraid but not just that, Xerxes was eager to get out the pent up anger he had for the female by tearing apart this stupid cat.

[sushikun]

Cinder froze in his tree, as a cat he naturally had a few extra seconds to run away. To be truthful he really felt bad for this guy, though it didn't occur to him to feel bad for Sagi.
But it was Traditional for familiar cats to be snarky at someone who had that much skill and pride. That and call him names. So he stayed put and started to wash, which was cat for 'Yeah whatever'.