And so another drabble has been written.

Got the idea from the episode "Need to Know" when Peter was giving the names of the people who said the quotes that Mozzie recited. Figured they wouldn't be above a little competition.

._._._._._.

Quotes

"A cynic is a man who knows the price of everything but the value of nothing."

"Oscar Wilde."

"Not bad, Suit. Now let's see what you got."

"An idealist is a person who helps other people to be prosperous."

"What is this? Preschool? Henry Ford. Don't waste my time with such novice words."

"Just get on with it."

"Art is not a treasure in the past or an importation from another land, but part of the present life of all living and creating peoples."

"Franklin D. Roosevelt."

"Very good."

"Thanks."

"Don't get cocky now. You're turn."

"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty."

"Winston Churchill. Is that really the best you can do?"

"Watch it."

"I'm real scared. But I'll take your empty threat as consent to continue. Art is a lie that makes us realize truth."

"Pablo Picasso. Are you going easy on me?"

"Oh, look at the Suit all high and mighty on his horse. Fine then, let's see you do better."

"I'd rather be hated for who I am, than loved for who I am not."

"Kurt Cobain. Despite what you think, I listen to good music too, you know."

"Really. And here I though you only listened to songs backwards to hear the satanic messages."

"You may scoff, but just you wait. When the time comes, I'll be the one who knows the secret code to survive."

"Sure. Did you change the topic because you forfeit?"

"You'd like that, wouldn't you Suit. Sorry to disappoint. Emancipate yourself from mental slavery, none but ourselves can free our mind."

"Bob Marley."

Neal opened the door to his room and froze at the sight of the two men sitting on his furniture, staring at one another with stubborn determination. He really shouldn't have been surprised. It wasn't like he really believed that he would actually be able to sit in the quiet of his room with a hot cup of coffee and enjoy the rare opportunity to think without interruption. No, his life was never that simple.

"Hey, Peter. When you'd get here?" Neal asked lightly as he came into his room and closed the door. The agent sitting across from their mutual friend didn't even glance at the ex-con.

"About half an hour ago," Peter replied tersely, still glaring at the round bald man sitting before him. "You weren't here. So I waited."

"Mozzie keeping you entertained then?" Neal asked, flashing a surprised smirked at his friend. It wasn't like Mozzie to willingly be alone in the same room with an FBI agent. Mozzie usually endeavored to avoid Peter and everyone else associated with the law. But the bald man paid Neal no attention now as he continued to stare unblinkingly at Peter.

"What's going on?" Neal asked cautiously, slightly dismayed that he had received no greeting from either of his friends. Not even a sidelong glance or a wave of acknowledgement. He leaned languidly against a table so that he could address both men.

"Just a little contest we started up," Mozzie answered. "To vilify a great man is the readiest way in which a little man can himself attain greatness."

"About what?" Neal asked, thoroughly confused now as he shifted his gaze from Mozzie to Peter in hopes that one of the men would actually look at him and give a solid answer.

"To see who knows the most quotes," Peter replied impassively without meeting Neal's eye. "Edgar Allen Poe." A triumphant smirk tugged at Peter's lips.

"You haven't won yet, Suit," Mozzie taunted with a sniff.

"A quote contest," Neal said aloud thoughtfully and with slight incredibility. "You're quizzing each other on quotes?"

"Obviously," Mozzie replied with exasperation as if explain all this to Neal was putting a strain on himself.

Neal thought a moment more before he offered his friends a coy smile; eyes sparkling mischievously. "All right. Here's one. At night they come without being fetched, and by day they are lost without being stolen. What are they?"

At last, Mozzie and Peter broke contact and finally turned their heads to look at Neal. The younger man beamed at both men expectantly.

"It's a quote contest," Peter said, stressing the word for emphasis. "If you want to play the game you have to follow the rules."

"Ooo, never been good with following rules," Neal replied with mock-chagrin. He offered the agent a somewhat patronizing smile and straightened. "Well," he said with a shrug of his shoulders, "It's a good thing you have a rule then. Since you don't know the answer and all. The rule is a nice cover up." He winked at Peter with extra exaggeration.

"I'll be at the office if you want to know the answer," Neal said as he spun gracefully on his heel and headed for the door. At least there he could get a cup of coffee in peace and sit at his appointed desk without being disturbed. He didn't give a backwards glance but he knew that his friends were both watching him. He hid his own smile as he left the room, closing the door quietly behind him.

Peter and Mozzie sat in silent contemplation for a moment. Then:

"It has to be dew."

"Dew? What a juvenile answer. You really should think before speaking, Suit. It's a riddle. Riddles are never so easy."

"Well then, what do you think it is?"

"Obviously it's rats."

"Rats?"

"Or bugs. Light makes them scatter, you know."

._._.

Peter sat back with a sigh and rubbed his eyes tiredly. He checked his watch and was both appalled and dismayed at the amount of time he and Mozzie had spent trying to figure out Neal's riddle.

"All right," he said with a sigh of defeat. "Who's going to be the bigger man and ask Neal for the answer?"

._._.

Neal had waited patiently for several hours and, sure enough, the man he was expecting showed up before him, fidgeting sheepishly where he stood.

"Well, Peter, fancy seeing you here." He was unable to mask his deviant grin and the gesture made the agent fidget with even more uncomfortable embarrassment. "How can I help you?"

._._._._._.

**AND NOW FOR OUR OWN COMPETITION**

As for Neal's riddle, you can write your answer in a review. If you're right, I'll personally congratulate you (as personal as an email can be) and post your name at the beginning of the next drabble in this compilation with praise for getting the right answer.

For those of you who don't know, I'll also post the answer at the beginning of the next drabble too.

RULES: Don't go cheating by looking up the answer on the internet. Put some thought into it and don't be afraid to be wrong.

Again, the riddle is: At night they come without being fetched, and by day they are lost without being stolen. What are they?

All right people, let's see what you can do!

Hobey-Ho