"Yeah, you little motherfuckers are being like ... the whatchamacallits, sigils for all what is the bitchtits about our House," Gamzee informs the snake. "So you always gotta remember you are extra special and shit, 'cause of that, and 'cause you are like this motherfuckin' snake-badger hybrid! The snake shit, that'll be coming natural, but you can learn the badgering from your other da who has been keeping you warm and safe and shit. He's pretty much the best motherfuckin' badger there ever could be."

His heart lurches a little when Tavros puts his arm around the older boy, and then he smiles, tipping his face to kiss the top of the Hufflepuff's head.