Phoenix Place and environs, Wednesday early evening

[voiceoverdue]

After leaving Kenzi a voicemail message, Cecil herded Marjorie (licensed practicing exorcist and curse-removal expert) toward the house formerly known as DOOMHAUS.

Comments

[regretiz4suckas]

Kenzi did, in fact, want to see this. And while she trusted Cecil to find a decent exorcist, she kind of wanted to know they were real by meeting them herself.

"Is she here? How is it going? Do I need to do anything?" she asked, bouncing up and looking hopeful.

[voiceoverdue]

"Hi, Kenzi!" Cecil grinned and bounced back. "She's..." he looked around. "Um...there!" He caught a glimpse of Marjorie's fashionable lavender blouse through the trees. "All we're supposed to do, though, is stay out of the way."

[regretiz4suckas]

"How did you find her? I forgot to ask in all the 'wheee, curse lifted!'" Kenzi said, staying where she was, although still almost dancing in place.

[voiceoverdue]

"Oh, I just asked around a bit. Looked in the yellow pages. Checked out the Night Vale Business Association. Turns out, this is the best firm in town, and Marjorie's their curse specialist! We went to school together," he confided. "I helped save her from a spiderwolf - the actual wolf, not the athlete - once. Well, I was nearby and a lot of us shot it, anyway. So she sort of owed me one."

[regretiz4suckas]

Kenzi grinned hugely at that. "So she knew you when you were this age the first time? Cool. I'm gonna have to hit her up for stories." Kenzi leaned against the fence, craning her neck. "I need to figure out something nice for Dr. Lecter, letting us do this."

[voiceoverdue]

"I was pretty boring in high school," Cecil said with a shrug.

You know, for Night Vale.

"You could...um." He shrugged again. "I'm not sure what he likes, except for food and music." What did you get someone for a fairly impersonal thank-you gift? "Maybe a shrunken head?"

[regretiz4suckas]

"You think he'd want one of those?" Kenzi looked thoughtful. "I bet I could get him a cool one... Or maybe a gift certificate to Groovy Tunes." He liked hanging out with Jono anyway. More excuses to do so. "And I'll treat your buddy Marjorie to lunch anywhere she wants on the island."

[voiceoverdue]

"She'd like that," Cecil answered, smiling. "Take her someplace they have wheat or wheat by-products; it'll be a real treat!"

[regretiz4suckas]

"JGOB's it is," Kenzi decided. "I'm in a muffin mood anyway."

[voiceoverdue]

"Yum! Should I come along, or leave you two alone?" Cecil teased. What? They were both single and neat.

Marjorie joined them before Kenzi could answer, dusting off her hands as she came back to the gate. She nodded at them both. "You're Kenzi?" she stuck out her hand to shake.

[regretiz4suckas]

Kenzi snickered at him, shaking her head, then nodding when Marjorie came forward. "Yup!" She held out her hand. "Thank you so much for doing this! Doom was a real headcase."

[voiceoverdue]

"Anyone named Doom..." Marjorie rolled her eyes. "It was a pretty nasty piece of work, but I got it." She waved Kenzi into the courtyard.

Cecil cheered. "Awesome! I knew you could do it."

[regretiz4suckas]

Kenzi skipped into the courtyard, then had to clap her hands over her ears.

BEEE WOOO BEEEEWOOOO BWWEEEE OOOOOO

...because the alarm going off was trying to make her deaf.

[voiceoverdue]

Cecil looked similarly pained, and gave Marjorie a look as he shooed Kenzi back outside. "I thought you said you got it!"

"I did!" Marjorie answered, affronted. "The place didn't fall down, did it?" She waved at the still-standing house. "Not even a tremor!"

[regretiz4suckas]

"But, but--!" Kenzi made grabby-hands at the house from over the fence, and set off the alarm again for a couple seconds before she took a few steps back. "I'll never be able to move in. Damnit, Doom!"

[voiceoverdue]

Marjorie sighed. "Okay, give me a minute. And I expect something extra nice for this, Cecil!"

"She'll take you out for muffins!" Cecil called after her retreating back.