“Cooper can be pretty fierce when he gets angry. To me, that's one of his sexiest traits. It's not just about being able to tear the house down; it's about being willing to do it in a heartbeat to protect the people who genuinely need your help.”

“So, um, where's your broomstick?" he countered, his face turning pink from his effort at not laughing."Broomsticks are *sooo* 1695," I replied, rolling my eye. "Modern witches use vibrators and drop acid just like everyone else.""What?" He frowned, looking confused."Yeah, *flying on broomsticks* equals a big-ass euphemism for pagan women getting their freak on with broom handles greased up with morning glory butter," I said. "Sometimes strychnine. Not a good idea, but hey, back in the day they used to think a wolf's testicle wrapped in a greasy rag was a good barrier contraceptive. So, yeah, no broomsticks for me. But thanks *ever* so much for asking about my sex life when we've only just met.”

“You have any idea what time it is?" I asked."I'm afraid not," he replied."Oh well. I'll take a wild guess and set the time to eight PM, and set the alarm to go off at around midnight. And then, potions, with a quick break to go dump my anathema again! And then, we're off to see the Warlock, and hopefully Lion will get his courage and Tin Man will get his heart and I will get my Cooper.”

“I was a vegetarian of sorts," he replied, "but the difference between animal and vegetable isn't as clearly defined on my home world as it is here.""How do you mean?" I asked."Our plants can get out of the soil and move to a new location if they don't like where they're growing. Some of them are sentient. I tried not to eat those sorts of plants" he replied."Oh. Well, I'm sure they found that very thoughtful of you," I replied.”

“That's what everyone thinks--they think being a cop is about punishing people for doing wrong. But that's not true. You know it isn't. It's about believing in people, believing in the good. In the will of people to do what's right despite their own instincts.”

“You did express a disinterest in involving *nice* people in our current difficulties,” Pal reminded me. True enough, I thought back. Hallelujah, it’s raining jerks.”

“I know I'm immature in some ways, but inside me there's a cranky old lady yelling at the damn kids to get off her lawn. She's been there awhile. I've decided to call her Mabel.”