A talk.
A dark cave.
Petals.
Markers.
And now, refinement.
What on Earth was Tiffany going on about?
Max: Refinement?
Tiffany: Hmph.
Max: Well, what about refinement?
Tiffany: Max... when you join a team, you cease to just be you. You become a part of something else. A part of something bigger....
Max: Yeah, yeah, I get it. You told me about that. That thing with the teeth and everybody playing their part and all that.
Tiffany: That's right. But that's not all. There's also hard work and diligence.
Max: Hmm?
Tiffany: (sighs) I'll show you.
She got onto her hand and did a hand stand.
Max: Woah!
To Max, who couldn't manage that, it was pretty impressive.
Max: Not ba.....
But before he could finish, Tiffany got into a single hand stand with little to no difficulty, impressing Max further.
Max: .... aaaaaaaaa.....
And before he could finish, she got into a single finger stand and remained plenty motionless there for several seconds.
Max: ... aaaaaa....d.
He was speechless, and she, seemlessly, flipped back up to her feet.
Max: That was...
Tiffany: "That..." doesn't just happen to anybody. You have to work on yourself, ... hard... if you want to be able to do that.
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Max: No kidding, I don't think I've ever seen someone do that.
Tiffany: This is serious.
Max: Hmm?
Tiffany: The first promise you're going to make... is one to ensure that you will always try to improve your skills over time.
Max: Oh....
It suddenly fully dawned on him what shed meant by "refinement."
Max: You mean... "train.?"
Tiffany: Not just train, but also abstinence.
Max: Huh?
Tiffany: You'll have to keep yourself from excessive indulgence.
Max: Indulgence of what?
Tiffany: Junk food, video games, parties....
With each word that escaped her mouth, Max only became increasingly annoyed...
Max: Hey!
... but she cut him off.
Tiffany: Of course, I don't mean to take you away from living your life. Which is as to why there is some lineancy to be observed.
Max: Huh? What kind of lineancy?
Tiffany: (sighs) Just.... don't overdo it, ok?
Max: Mmmmmm..... Fine!
Tiffany: Good. And now...
Max: Now...
It all clicked within a second.
Max: .... I get to paint the first petal.
Tiffany: Hmph. Right.
Max: Alright!
He excitedly snapped open the first marker and was about to paint again when she immediately showed him a photo on her phone.
Max: What's this?
Tiffany: Just paint one petal, alright?
Max: Sure...
He started to draw on the cave wall before realising that his drawing would be significantly smaller than the others of he didn't do any shading.
And so, he started with an outline while Tiffany quietly watched him.
Max: So... if I make a mistake... do I get to rub it off?
Tiffany: You can, but I'd rather you dont.
Max: Why not?
By this point, Max had drawn an outline.
Tiffany: (sighs) I'd just... nevermind.
At that point, Max snapped the marker shut.
Max: Done!
Tiffany: Huh?
The drawing Max had "finished" was an outline of the petal she'd just shown him.
Tiffany: You're... done?
Max: Uh huh.
She stared at the painting for a moment before continuing.
Tiffany: Just the outline?
Max: You didn't say not to just do that.
He seemed quite proud of himself.
Tiifany: Ugh... fine. Moving on...
She pulled out and tossed him a white marker.
Max: A white... marker?
Tiffany: Uh huh...
To be fair, Max had never seen one. And you, as a reader, have probably never seen one either.
Tiffany: Paint this petal... (sighs) or its outline.... or... whatever.
Max only took a moment to look at it before....
Max: Sure.
Tiffany: And as for the second question, ...
Max: Yeah?
Tiffany: ... it's a question about honour.
Max: Honour, huh?
Tiffany: Yeah...
Max: You mean like that thing where the samurais say... (mimicking deep manly voice) I will fight for the honour of my brother!
His action shocked her only for a moment before she continued...
Tiffany: Sure... but there's a lot more to it than that.
Max: (still mimicking voice) What could be more honourable than fighting for my family's honour?
Tiffany: (sighs) Well... that's not really the point here.
Max: Hmm?