When Emet first starts laughing, it's not clear if Dirk's just solved everything (again) or if he's about to find out just how much damage a blunted blade can do his neck.

"Damn," Dirk deadpans, faking only a little disappointment for it.

"Well, if you're sure."

His subsequent glance towards Hythlodaeus comes with a slight turn of his head just to make it more externally evident, at which point he shrugs helplessly.

Which would have been fine, really. Dirk would have filed this incident away as one more reason to rip himself to fucking shreds at night, when he needs a little something extra. But then Emet says something more, and--uh.

What?

What the fuck does that mean. Vilekin?

Obviously Dirk can guess what Emet's referring to based on context, but he's literally never heard either of them use that term before. God. Fuck.

Hythlodaeus can't see it, but Dirk's stare... were it only possible for him to push Hythlodaeus through the narrative in this moment.

Say they're fine. Please just say they're fine. Say they're fucking fine. C'mon. Say it.