"You know that shit will kill you. Actually, I don't know that; I don't know a damn thing about it, but that's what people are supposed to say, right?"

He tilted his head and spread his hands apart, like the example he was about to give was a physical thing he can hold.

"I'm sure you've heard it." His voice turned half-mocking. "'...shit will kill you...ruin your life...something about self-respect...yadda yadda yadda.'"