Renji listened to the sudden wall of words and sorted it out as best he could. It was a crappy way to live. But everyone also had their own version of that story. Valyn had. Artemis had. Renji had his own version, because life sucked when you were a street kid all grown up and trying to play with the nobles who thought you were scum.

But that was kind of the thing. It was part of being a man that you just had to give things your best shot and hope it turned out.

"That sucks," he finally said. "You've got a choice you've never had before in a situation that's not like what you're used to dealing with, and that always sucks. But you also got to realize, when you're playing it by ear like this, it's also your chance to decide who you're going to be. Because it's all you now. No one's gonna fucking tell you what to do."