History Funny / GhostStory

** As he's considering this, he realizes that his demesne can resemble anything he can imagine, with whatever he wants. However, he concludes that, in the end, it would either look exactly like his old apartment or a Burger King, and stops thinking about it.
* Harry describes Charity as "The being I wish least to anger" Keep in mind up to this point in the series Harry has tangled and snarked with Faerie Queens, {{Fallen Angel}}s and creatures beyond human comprehension and he '''still''' puts Charity above them all.

--->My verbal incantations have actually gotten ''more'' sophisticated and worldly over the years, not less.\\

* It’s a ''major'' case of MoodWhiplash, but during Harry's otherwise terrifying encounter with He Who Walks Behind, he gets a good joke off, serving as the first chronological hint of [[SadClown his use of humor to ward off his fears]]. Made even funnier by how it ''completely'' [[FailedAttemptAtDrama takes the wind out of the Outsider's sails]] - It's pretty clear that, even for a terrifying and ancient EldritchAbomination more powerful than mere human ken that was shaping Harry into its UnwittingPawn, they certainly [[DidntSeeThatComing didn't see]] ''[[DidntSeeThatComing that]]'' [[DidntSeeThatComing coming]]:

** Finally, there's how Harry manages to actually escape the convenience store: Realizing that He Who Walks Behind is ''literally'' [[LogicalWeakness always behind him]], he spins himself around dervish-style so that the Outsider can't attack him at any one point... and he does this all while spewing Pee-wee Herman's cartoony laugh. Made even funnier in how a present-day Harry muses that, in retrospect, his own maniacal impression of Pee-wee Herman laughter was probably the creepiest thing to hit his ears that fateful night.

* Harry notes that he's probably not the first person to lead an army of ghosts into battle. And he's ''definitely'' not the first to lead reinforcements through a Way. But he's ''dead certain'' ([[RimShot badum-dum]]) he's the first person to lead an army of ghosts into battle through a Way, and having them start the assault by yelling, "BOO!"

* Harry describes Charity as "The being he wish least to anger" Keep in mind up to this point in the series Harry has tangled and snarked with Faerie Queens, {{Fallen Angel}}s and creatures beyond human comprehension and he '''still''' puts Charity above them all.

* It is a ''major'' case of MoodWhiplash, but during Harry's otherwise terrifying encounter with He Who Walks Behind, he gets a good joke off, serving as the first chronological hint of [[SadClown his use of humor to ward off his fears]]. Made even funnier by how it ''completely'' [[FailedAttemptAtDrama takes the wind out of the Outsider's sails]] - It's pretty clear that, even for a terrifying and ancient EldritchAbomination more powerful than mere human ken that was shaping Harry into its UnwittingPawn, they certainly [[DidntSeeThatComing didn't see]] ''[[DidntSeeThatComing that]]'' [[DidntSeeThatComing coming]]:

* [[invoked]] While it's also [[TearJerker rather heartbreaking]] in how it shows just how much of a torch Molly is still holding for Harry, the following exchange between them in the [=iHOP=] is also amusing:

* When Molly looks upon Harry with her Sight, she is shocked and asks how she can know it's him. The surefire, undeniable proof that he really is Harry Dresden?

* The Blue Beetle being referred to as "[[Film/TheLoveBug Herbie's]] trailer park cousin."

* Harry describes Charity as "The being he wish least to anger" Keep in mind up to this point in the series Harry has tangled and snarked with fairy queens, fallen angels and creatures beyond human comprehension and he STILL puts Charity above them all.
* [[invoked]] Before it becomes [[NightmareFuel utterly horrifying]] with the arrival of [[NightmareFuelStationAttendant He Who Walks Behind]], there's a young sixteen-year-old Harry's [[FailedAttemptAtDrama attempt to stick up a convenience store]]. He ties his sweaty T-shirt around his head like a makeshift balaclava, rips the patches off his letter jacket so the cops won't be able to identify him ([[ComicallyMissingThePoint apparently missing how a letter jacket with torn-off patches]] is ''plenty'' identifiable), and sticking his right hand in a paper bag he fished out of the trash so he can use evocations to make it look like he's got a concealed gun. Needless to say, he does ''not'' cut the most intimidating figure when he marches into the gas station, and he only starts to succeed at all because [[TheStoner Stan the clerk]] [[AlcoholInducedStupidity is utterly stoned out of his gourd]].

** There's also how Harry manages to escape the convenience store: Realizing that He Who Walks Behind is ''literally'' [[LogicalWeakness always behind him]], he spins himself around dervish-style so that the Outsider can't attack him at any one point... and he does this all while spewing Pee-wee Herman's cartoony laugh. Made even funnier in how Harry muses that, in retrospect, his own maniacal impression of Pee-wee Herman laughter was probably the creepiest thing to hit his ears that fateful night.

-->"In point of fact," Lea said, "you've been doin little else."\\

"[[ManipulativeBastard Oh, you bitch]]." I sighed. "You just love doing that to me."
* The conversation Harry has with Evil Bob about having a "relationship". Just...so very Harry. The best part? Mouthing off to bad guys is so second nature for him, he actually uses the time to realize that he has ''not'' become a monster and whip up an escape plan.

* Uriel is an archangel. It's implied that with a bare amount of effort, he could lay waste not just to the Earth, but the entire galaxy. Harry calles him Uri, which he strenuously objects to, as his name more or less means "Light of God", with the "el" specifically being the reference to God, an implication he [[FallenAngel understandably dislikes]]. Harry resolves to call him "Mr. Sunshine" instead, which Uriel considers an acceptable alternative.
* The way Murphy's dad ends an awkward conversation with Uriel. Clearly, Clan Murphy is one where the apple does '''not''' fall too far from the tree.

* The following exchange:

* It is a ''major'' case of MoodWhiplash, but during Harry's otherwise terrifying encounter with [[NightmareFuelStationAttendant He Who Walks Behind]], he gets a good joke off, serving as the first chronological hint of [[SadClown his use of humor to ward off his fears]]. Made even funnier by how it ''completely'' takes the wind out of the Outsider's sails - It's pretty clear that, even for a terrifying and ancient EldritchAbomination more powerful than mere human ken, they certainly [[DidntSeeThatComing didn't see]] ''[[DidntSeeThatComing that]]'' [[DidntSeeThatComing coming]]:
-->"Pathetic," said He Who Walks Behind, the creature from another world hunting me with an inhuman lack of mercy. His voice was growing nearer with every word. "Whimpering, mewling thing. ''Useless."''\\

He Who Walks Behind stopped in his tracks. There was [[{{Beat}} a flickering heartbeat of uncertainty in that inevitable presence]], and the creature said with audible bafflement, ''"[[FlatWhat ...What?]]"''

* Molly's [[spoiler: Franchise/StarTrek "defense system"]]--and Harry keeps referring to them as [[spoiler: "Science Molly," "Scottish Molly," "Communications Molly"...]]
** And she remembered to add a [[spoiler: RedShirt Molly]] to die at the first sign of trouble.
*** Even better, when [[spoiler:Spock-Molly]] goes for [[spoiler:Molly's mental SelfDestructMechanism]] and [[spoiler:Kirk-Molly]] tries to stop her, Harry remarks that the classic ''Trek'' [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHAOkDamRzU fight music]] started playing. And later the [[spoiler:familiar red alert klaxon]] is described as sounding like [[spoiler:a teenage girl was vocally imitating it]].
* Also, Harry's reaction upon seeing [[spoiler: Molly's Star Trek "defense system]]. He comments that people are either [[spoiler: Star Trek fans or Star Wars fans]]. [[spoiler: Molly]] tells him basically that that unspoken rule among nerds no longer applies. Harry is playfully dismayed. This event is subverted when even [[spoiler:[[OurAngelsAreDifferent Uriel]]]] tells Harry that he prefers [[spoiler: Star Wars]].

** Which only becomes even more HilariousInHindsight when we learn who's been teaching Molly while Harry was away.
** Later during the same scene:

* When Molly is fighting the Fomor servitors, she makes heavy use of illusion magic, including false walls of flame, which they eventually see through. Then Harry [[spoiler: joins with Molly]], and creates a similar wall of fire. The result is pure BlackComedy.

* The moment where we all realize that Bob now has, thanks to Butters, [[spoiler: full access to the Internet.]] ''Tremble,'' ye mortals.
-->'''Bob''': ''[almost giddy]'' It's like [[spoiler:[[TheInternetIsForPorn ninety-percent porn]]]]!
* Butters awaking to find himself receiving CPR from two lovely werewolf ladies who had to change to human without any clothing available.
-->Wow, subtract the horrible pain in my chest, this migraine, and all the mold and mildew, and I'm living the dream. [[NonSequiturThud <thud>]]
** Made even more HilariousInHindsight in ''Cold Days'' when you learn that [[spoiler: he started dating one of them.]]
* Uriel is an archangel. It's implied that with a bare amount of effort, he could lay waste not just to the Earth, but the entire galaxy. Harry calles him Uri, which he strenuously objects to, as his name more or less means "Light of God", with the "el" specifically being the reference to God, an implication he [[FallenAngel understandably dislikes]]. Harry resolves to call him Mr. Sunshine instead, which Uriel considers an acceptable alternative.
* Harry notes that he's probably not the first person to lead an army of ghosts into battle. And he's ''definitely'' not the first to lead reinforcements through a Way. But he's ''dead certain'' he's the first person to lead an army of ghosts into battle through a Way, and having them start the assault by yelling, "BOO!"
* The way Murphy's dad ends an awkward conversation with Uriel. And then he hung up. On speakerphone. On a freaking archangel. Clearly that apple didn't land too far from the tree.
** Plus the reason Uriel is upset is because he was brought into deception by proxy. Murhpy's dad said that three of Harrys friends would die if he didn't help, implying the information was from Uriel. [[spoiler: He had no actual advanced knowledge of this and totally just made it up to motivate Harry. Although as he points out, he probably wasn't totally wrong either. Mortals tend to die sooner or later, and Harry being around certainly increases his friends odds of survival.]]
* The Blue Beetle being referred to as "[[Film/TheLoveBug Herbie's]] trailer park cousin."

-->'''Molly:''' So. You've finally been inside me. [[SmokingHotSex I feel like I should be offering you a cigarette]].\\

* Butters lays in a really quiet dig when Harry and Murphy ''refuse'' to ask Marcone for help. For bonus points, he says it while they're in their Marcone-built and -staffed headquarters.
-->"No going to Marcone for help. Because that would be... unprecedented."
* Murphy discussing Molly's gambit to try and keep Chicago safe, specifically her nickname, "The Rag(ged) Lady":
-->'''Murphy''': If you're going to create a persona you have to think of these things. Do you know how many extra PMS jokes are flying out there now?\\
'''Molly''': ''(looking serious)'' I think that just makes it even scarier?\\
'''Murphy''': Yeah I guess it might.\\
'''Harry''': Scares me.
* The conversation with Evil Bob about having a "relationship". Just...so very Harry. The best part? Mouthing off to bad guys is so second nature for him, he actually uses the time to realize that he has ''not'' become a monster and whip up an escape plan.
** Even better: it takes Evil Bob about a minute or so to realize Harry is mocking him.
* Harry's callback to Agatha Hagglethorn's Victorian-era Chicago demesne in the Nevernever back in ''Grave Peril'':

* Harry considers having a demesne and asking Bob for suggestions. Then he realises that asking Bob would lead to suggestions like constructs in French Maid costumes 'and would only get more depraved from there'.

* It is big MoodWhiplash, but during Harry's encounter with [[spoiler:He Who Walks Behind]], he gets a good joke off, the first chronological hint of his use of humor to ward off his fears:
-->[[spoiler:'''He Who Walks Behind:''']] Pathetic. Whimpering, mewling thing. Useless.\\
'''Harry Dresden:''' ''(in a damned passable [[Series/ThePeeWeeHermanShow Pee-wee Herman]] impersonation)'' I know you are, but what am I?\\
[[spoiler:'''He Who Walks Behind:''']] [[FlatWhat What?]]
* “What was I wearing the first time we met?" "Clothes?" :)
* Butters tells one of Marcone's people he'll start training for combat after he gets a functional lightsaber. [[spoiler:HilariousInHindsight - Wait two books. He gets one. And immediately starts combat training with Michael and Charity.]]
* Death doesn't seem to have slowed down Carmichael's wit much.
-->'''Dresden:''' C-c-c-c...
-->'''Carmichael:''' Say it with me. ''Carmichael.''
-->'''Dresden:''' But you're...you know, dead.
-->'''Carmichael:''' Whoa, buddy. We got us a real, gen-yoo-wine detective with us now. We got us the awesome wizardly intellect of mister man himself.