"I trust your word, sensei," he said flippantly, giving the other man a slight bow. Oh, this was fun.
When his very out of place moment of philosophy wasn't simply swept under the rug and ignored, Max cringed slightly. This wasn't the time to be deep. It was a simple meeting, nothing more, and he hadn't wanted to ruin it. Brian was supposed to be the philosophical one, Mr. Dark and Brooding Melancholy. Max was bright, colorful, and vapid. He didn't need insight mucking up his good time.
He laughed nervously, scratching at the back of his neck. "Yeah, I've got my own books on tape and everything," he said casually. There, awkward averted. "Commuting women just love to listen to my voice as they sit in slit-your-wrists traffic."