There's an old saying: That a man doesn't know who he is until he's taken a punch.

That's what his best friend would say. Boxer, natch. Well. Ex-boxer. But the Truth? It's not about being punched. It's about sparking something deep inside. A survival instinct. How many people today ever truly come close to dying? A car runs a red light? Natural disaster? It's a clean world. Sanitized.

"Bro, how are you on Glitter?"

Something wet and red under him mewled.

One Armed Bandits. That's what they were called. By the Seers. By the Mad. By the refugees slash resistance slash Awakened. The Aussie had a handful of stories about how he'd lost his. Everyone knew how Cut had lost his. Clipping a wing. A magician who can't wave a wand. Here's your Celestial Fire. All the jokes They had made before burning it off after they'd caught him.

Before The Aussie had rescued him.

Everyone in the movies gets their shit cut off. Fast. Clean. Nothing like the hours it takes for flesh to smolder, and fat to sizzle. Muscle to blacken and flake off until there was nothing but brownish-yellow marrow bubbling like tree sap out of bone that had cracked open from the heat and pressure of liquid boiling within.

Hurts. True story, yo.

"Coals are ready, mate."

Six of one, half dozen of the other. If they didn't need this guy for Glitter, there was more to eat.

"Fuck, man, shut up." They always screamed when you cut. Can't gag 'em, or crush their larynx. Might suffocate. Start spoiling. "Shut. Up."

Hey. It's not easy to cut off a steak with only one hand.

His bestie had turned him on to it. Some dirty Arrow secret. Maybe it had been necessity at first. When you're starving, you'll eat anything -- and however amazingly full of protein insects and grubs are? They're nothing like a steak. Maybe now it wasn't always strictly necessary? But the Aussie did it for some hoo-doo consuming his enemies bullshit. But that's cool. That's what best friends are for. To understand your bullshit. Him?

The Truth?

Here's the thing. The War was a crucible. Some people found out who they were. Got punched, found out they could punch back. Or not. Some people...

Well, some people just found out what they really enjoyed.

Be careful what you put a spark to.

Stay on the streets of this town
And they'll be carving you up alright
They say you gotta stay hungry
Hey baby I'm just about starving tonight