[Eridan passes air through his fangs in surprise, wobbling a little as the temporary calm settles in his mind.

Wow.

Wow.

Is this what not being a fucking failure feels like? Because it doesn't last long. About as long as it takes Karkat to start laughing. Eridan frowns, taking a tentative step forward.]

...that's not really a surprise and everyone's pretty much aware of it.

[The deadpan is delivered with a flair of wry resignation and another big scoop of worry. The self-loathing is too well used to stir at such a small thing. Instead, the worry grows.]

Kar. What the fuck did you just do?