History Funny / SmallFavor

* If your opponent has you by fifty pounds, winning a fight against him is a dubious proposition, at best."\\

* If your opponent has you by fifty pounds, winning a fight against him is a dubious proposition, at best"\\

--> The driver’s side window rolled down and revealed [[MrFanservice a young man whom fathers of teenage daughters would shoot on sight]].

-->'''Harry''': [[ItMakesSenseInContext He's in a Crown Royal bag in the ashtray.]]\\
'''Sanya and Michael''': ''[[[FlatWhat confused blinking]]]''

-->'''Harry''': [[CurseCutShort Fu-]] ''[glances at Michael]'' [[GoshDarnItToHeck Fudgesicles]].

** The dolphins later help Harry against the villains, having apparently decided that he's the good guy.

** The mere fact that the Eldest Gruff himself is quite amused and deliberately plays along with Harry's clever BatmanGambit here also counts. Even better, the next book will eventually reveal that ''the entire Summer Court'' finds it ActuallyPrettyFunny to!

** Additionally, at one point Harry describes Molly making something to eat with Sanya's aid as "Molly was [[FelonyMisdemeanor committing dinner]] in the kitchen, aided and abetted by Sanya."

** Additionally, at one point Harry describes Molly making something to eat with Sanya's aid as "Molly was [[FelonyMisdemeanor committing dinner]] in the kitchen, with Sanya aiding and abetting."

* A minor one during Harry's argument with Gard:
-->'''Harry:''' Stop. [[OccamsRazor Occam]] time.

--->'''Bob:''' You just got your ass handed to you by a ''nursery tale?!''\\

* The banter between Thomas and Harry.

'''Thomas:''' We're going to Burger King?
** Doubles as a ShoutOut to the second book-where Harry is, indeed, the (self-anointed) Burger King.

** Early in the story, before Harry devises this cunning plan, he and the Carpenters just barely manage to fend off a gang of Gruffs. As in, [[KillerRabbit the Billy Goats Gruff]]. Bob finds this highly amusing, especially since one of them managed to kick Harry squarely in the face.
--->'''Bob''': You just got your ass handed to you by a ''nursery tale?!''\\
'''Harry''': I wouldn't say they handed me my ass.\\
'''Bob''': That's because you can't see yourself! Your nose is all swollen up and you've got two black eyes. [[AmusingInjuries You look like a raccoon.]] Holding a dislocated ass.
* Harry pissing off the brute who comes for Ms. Demeter:
-->'''Torelli:''' Think you're cute, huh?\\
'''Harry:''' I'm freaking adorable. Especially with the [[BrickJoke raccoon face]] I've got going here.
* A minor one:

-->'''Molly:''' War council? Are we going to start another war?

Michael took a quick glance around the room, smiled at the woman, and said, "Of course He's there. Of course He listens." He paused, then admitted, "Granted, He doesn't always answer quite this quickly."

''[Molly {{Dope Slap}}s him]''

-->'''[[spoiler:Eldest Brother Gruff]]:''' Likest thou jelly within thy donut?\\

** The mere fact that [[spoiler:the Eldest Gruff]] himself is quite amused and deliberately plays along with Harry's clever BatmanGambit here also counts. Even better, the next book will eventually reveal that ''the entire Summer Court'' finds it ActuallyPrettyFunny to!

** For that matter, [[spoiler:Eldest Gruff's]] arrival.
--->''Thump. Thump. Thump.'' I adjusted the aim on the staff a little higher. ''Thump. Thump.'' Sweat trickled off my brow. ''Thump. Thump.'' How far did this guy have to walk? ''Thump. Thump.'' This was just getting ridiculous, now. ''Thump. Thump.'' And [[spoiler:Eldest Gruff appeared in the opening. [[ExpectingSomeoneTaller He was five feet tall. Five-two, tops.]]]]

* "I... I've never been hit on by a woman a hundred and fifty years older than me."
** His honest bewilderment through the conversation with Thomas is--and this is an adjective which no-one would ever normally attach to Harry Dresden--'''adorable'''. He keeps ''stuttering'', for Christ's sake!
* On the same note, Thomas berating Harry for not realizing that Luccio was non-verbally hitting on him.
-->'''Thomas:''' Moron. Thank ''God'' Nicodemus is a man.
* When Harry is being rescued by Thomas at the end of the book, he makes a bunch of silly, petty complaints as Thomas respectively shoots Nicodemus's minions with a pistol at long range (''He doesn't even practice.''), hauls Harry up out of the water without any effort (''He doesn't even work out.''), and then walks back to the boat's wheelhouse, while looking awesome. (''He doesn't even moisturize.'')
* Harry's genius escape plan from Demonreach:
-->Miss Gard brought the reconditioned Huey up from the eastern side of the island, flying about a quarter of an inch over the treetops, blasting "[[Music/RideOfTheValkyries The Ride of the Valkyries]]" from loudspeakers mounted on the chopper's underside.
** Oh, and it has a ''minigun!''
** Doubly funny when you remember that Gard actually ''is'' a Valkyrie.
* Eldest Gruff has comes to kill Harry, and Harry asks Eldest Gruff why Summer (good) is apparently helping the bad guys. Eldest Gruff turns the question back on Harry, asking why Winter (bad) is apparently helping the good guys.
-->'''Harry:''' Gruff, I find myself largely clueless about why ''mortal'' women do what they do. It would take a wiser man than me to understand what's in a fae woman's mind.
** Cue Eldest Gruff [[ActuallyPrettyFunny laughing his ass off]].
*** Made even better because Harry then starts laughing because he's gone through so much in one day. Eldest Gruff promptly laughs some more ''because Harry is laughing'', who in turn ''continues'' laughing because Eldest Gruff--a small goat man--sounds like a donkey when he laughs.
* This particular excerpt:
-->Mouse suddenly stopped in his tracks. Me too. I didn't rubberneck around. Instead I focused on the dog. Mouse's ears twitched like individual radar dishes. His nose quivered. One paw came up off the ground, but the dog only looked around him uncertainly. "Lassie would have smelled something," I told him. "She would have given a clear, concise warning. One bark for Gruffs, two barks for Nickelheads." Mouse gave me a reproachful glance, put his paw back down, and sneezed.
* Difficult to notice on the first read, but before Harry heads out to the meeting with the Denarians he has to explain to Molly why she's unable to go with them, stating that they've come to talk, not to start a fight. Afterwards he heads into Michael's workshop where Luccio is explaining to Michael why he can't go, [[SharedFamilyQuirks prompting a response almost exactly like his daughter's]].
* Fleeing Nicodemus's tongueless mooks through the island's forest at night, Harry nearly runs into one that can't see him very well in the darkness. The mook makes garbled sounds that seem vaguely interrogative, so Harry replies with similar garbled gobbledygook ...and [[FlippingTheBird flips the man off]]. He never ''does'' learn whether the guy fell for his act enough to let him pass unhindered, or if he just shocked him into immobility with the rude gesture.
* Harry's idea of "training" to hone Molly's skill at magical shields is to stand in the snow in her parents' backyard and try to concentrate while her siblings, and Harry, pelt her with snowballs.
-->"This can't possibly be real training," she said, her voice quavering with cold, "You're just doing this for your own sick amusement, Harry."\\
I beamed at her and accepted a freshly made snowball from little Hope, who had apparently appointed herself my squire.
** And when the training devolves into all-on-all snowball fight and Harry gets too cocky after blocking incoming snowballs with his shield, [[NotSoAboveItAll Charity, of all people]], dumps a double handful of snow down the neck of his duster.
* Harry calling Luccio:
-->'''Luccio:''' What's gone wrong Harry?
-->'''Harry:''' Hey! That's one hell of a thing to say to a man, Captain. Just because I'm calling doesn't mean there's a crisis.
-->'''Luccio:''' I suppose that's technically true I suppose. Why are you calling?
-->'''Harry:''' [[NotHelpingYourCase Well... There's a crisis.]]
-->'''Luccio:''' *sighs*
* Jim Butcher seems to enjoy dreaming up unique introductions for Thomas every time he appears. This is perhaps his best:
--> The driver’s side window rolled down and revealed [[MrFanservice a young man whom fathers of teenage daughters would shoot on sight]].

-->'''Thomas:''' Moron. Thank ''God;; Nicodemus is a man.

'''Harry:''' But is there any food?\\

** The fact that [[spoiler:the Eldest Gruff]] himself is quite amused and playing along also counts. It's eventually revealed that the entire Court finds it ActuallyPrettyFunny.
** A boon from the Faerie Court of Summer, to use for any one thing he sees fit, and he uses it for... [[TitleDrop a small favor]].

'''Harry:''' [[CallBack It's like a drug.]]

-->'''Harry:''' It's cute. He has a teddy Glock.

** His honest bewilderment through the conversation is--and this is an adjective which no-one would ever attach to Harry Dresden--adorable. He keeps ''stuttering''.

-->'''Thomas:''' Moron. Thank God Nicodemus is a man.

* Harry's Genius Escape Plan:

** Oh, and it has a ''Minigun!''

** Cue Eldest Gruff laughing his ass off.

* Fleeing Nicodemus's tongueless mooks through the island's forest at night, Harry nearly runs into one that can't see him very well in the darkness. The mook makes garbled sounds that seem vaguely interrogative, so Harry replies with similar garbled gobbledygook ... and flips the man off. He never ''does'' learn whether the guy fell for his act enough to let him pass unhindered, or if he just shocked him into immobility with the rude gesture.

-->'''Luccio:''' Whats gone wrong Harry?

-->'''Harry:''' Well... There's a crisis.
* Jim Butcher seems to enjoy dreaming up unique introductions for Thomas every time he appears. This is perhaps his best.
--> The driver’s side window rolled down and revealed a young man whom fathers of teenage daughters would shoot on sight.

-->Molly greeted us with only slightly less enthusiasm, and immediately set about making food for everyone. It turns out that Molly wasn't her mother's daughter in that respect. Charity was like the Series/MacGyver of the kitchen. She could whip up a five-course meal for twelve from an egg, two spaghetti noodles, some household chemicals, and a stick of chewing gum.\\

** The fact that [[spoiler:the Eldest Gruff]] himself is quite amused and playing along also counts.

** Music nuts will get the joke about three paragraphs before anyone else. Gard is a Valkyrie, and Butcher writes that it starts with violins, then French Horn, and Harry says it's Wagner. Music nuts know only two of Wagner's works are used in pop culture--the "Lothlorian March" used in every wedding, and "Ride of the Valkyries." Put two and two together, and it doubles the funny.

'''Harry:''' I'm freaking adorable. Especially with the raccoon face I've got going here.

* A good example of Harry's wit is Murphy's speech (and Harry's response) about how the clandestine, supernatural meeting would not happen without her present.
-->'''Murphy:''' I'm going to be there as a moderating influence with your cooperation. Or we can do it the other way. Your choice, but I know a lot of cops who are sick and tired of this supernatural bullshit sneaking up on us.\\
'''Gard:''' ''[warningly]'' Dresden.\\
'''Harry:''' [[StayInTheKitchen What? Once we gave them the vote, it went totally out of control.]]
** Made even funnier by the fact he's saying it to a ''Valkyrie''.