Mabelreid's got the answers to eating live octopi...read on for more! Usual disclaimers.
"Why are we stopping here?"
"Because this is the best Japanese restaurant in the DC area."
Rossi pulled up to the building that looked like a Shinto Temple. The outside was painted bright red. A huge golden dragon guarded the entrance. The writing in Japanese and English proclaimed the establishment to be "The Golden Dragon."
Penelope was rendered speechless by the red and gold décor. It was enough to quench her thirst for bright colors for at least a couple of months.
"Welcome, David Rossi," She turned to see an Asian man dressed in a tuxedo bow to Rossi.
"It's good to see you my friend."
"The honor is mine. Who is your beautiful companion?"
Garcia felt her face get hot under the white face makeup she was wearing. Her red and gold kimono and the red and black chopsticks holding up her red streaked blond hair made her feel out of place. The obi, which was tied in the back, felt tight and uncomfortable.
"This is Penelope Garcia."
"It is an honor to meet a friend of the David Rossi."
"Um… thank you." She bowed to the shorter man who was looking at her costume with an amused smile. "I - well, ah - we sort of have this scavenger hunt going on and I had to dress up like a Geisha. I hope I haven't offended you."
"Oh no Miss Penelope… The Geisha are most respected among my people. They are beautiful and talented. They study many things, like art and music. Their main function is to entertain. They also have learned to make casual conversation, dance, and serving tea. It is sad that the Geisha traditions are declining in my home country."
"It is too bad." David agreed with him.
"What may I do for you, my friend?"
"As part of our scavenger hunt, we are charged with eating live octopi."
"Ah yes, I have just the thing for you."
---
"I am not sure about this"
"Willy, this is Dave's idea. You can trust him by now."
"I hope you are right."
"I'm right… Are you ever going to loosen up?"
"I do not need to 'loosen up'."
"Were you this much fun when you were alive?"
"No, I vas more fun."
Jorge threw back his head and laughed. "I can't believe you made a joke."
Wilhelm drew himself up to his full height. "I do not make jokes."
"Okay… Don't blow a gasket."
"May ve get back to vatching our charges?"
---
Garcia followed Rossi and his friend, who she now knew as Chikao Kobayashi, to a room at the back of the large restaurant. Their host opened sliding doors made of paper with Japanese characters painted on them with black ink. They sat on the floor at a low table and their host bowed out of the room.
"What's going on?"
"Don't worry Penelope!"
For once, she had nothing to say. She could only look around and see the decorations on the walls that mirrored the red and gold theme through out the restaurant. The cushions they sat on were red and black with embroidered dragons that seemed to be fighting, or dancing, she couldn't decide which it was.
The little Japanese man came back after several minutes. He was accompanied by another Japanese man in a tall white hat. This man was introduced as their personal chef. Kobayashi stayed to make sure the octopi were correctly wrapped. He watched with delight as both Penelope and Rossi swallowed the small octopi with no problem.
"See, nothing to it."
"I'm always happy when I do something stupid and it doesn't kill me."
Kobayashi laughed. "I am very happy you have accomplished your task. Now, do you wish to sample anything from the menu?"
---
--I can't believe you won the contest, Chase.--
"--I can't believe I agreed to do this!--"
--I told you it would be fine.--
"--That ten thousand dollars is going to charity.--"
"Come on, Chase. Live a little. Buy yourself something nice."
--I agree with Morgan.--"
They were back in street clothes. Morgan had lost out on the Mace Windu look-alike contest, much to his chagrin. Getting into the costume had been embarrassing at first, but then he'd got into the spirit of things.
"--You two just want me to spend some money on you.--"
"I resent that!"
--Look out, a couple of love sick nerds are following us.--
"What did he say?"
Chase ignored Morgan for the two young men that were approaching them from the left. They were short, thin and acne-scarred. They both had messy black hair with glasses and pocket protectors.
"Don't even think about it, boys!"
The two of them veered off to the closest booth and began going through comic books as though their lives depended on it.
"How do you do that?"
"--It's a gift!--"
Kyle high-fived his boss while Morgan glared at both of them. "Very funny!"
"--Let's get out of here!--"
"No, I need to buy a present for Reid first."
----
"Oh… did I miss it?" Stanley dashed back into the viewing room with another plate full of nachos and a beer in his hands.
"You eat more then any angel I've ever met. Where do you put it all?"
"It helps to be immortal."
"I'm immortal and I have to watch what I eat!"
Stanley swallowed convulsively at Anya's glare. "Um…" He turned desperately to Connie. "Is there a right answer to this question?"
"No!"
"So, what happened?"
"We're not done with this discussion," Anya growled. "But no, you didn't miss anything. Chase had to scare off a couple of overeager Star Wars geeks, but that was it."
Stanly wanted to take exception to the "Star Wars geek," remark, but he didn't dare. Instead he moved back to his place on the huge white couch.
"She terrifies me." He admitted after a very long and awkward silence.
The others nodded in agreement. "Yeah, I wonder if she'll be made a guardian angel after she dies. She'd rock at it." Anya said.
Stanley nearly choked on a nacho at this pronouncement. "Um… can we just get back to watching?"
"It's almost over Stan… Now we get to gather everyone together and compare notes."
Great… I hope Dr. Reid is still in one piece!
---
Hotch dropped Oliver and Reid off at their respective homes. Both the younger men had been sleeping for the last two hours of the drive. He hated to wake them as they both resembled Jack, with their faces smoothed out from adult cares.
He put Jack down in the bedroom he kept for his little boy. The small boy rolled over once and said sleepily. "Home, Daddy?"
"Yeah, we're home."
"Love Daddy."
"I love you too."
Hotch ran a hand through his little boy's hair. The silkiness was a reminder of happier times with his family. Now the New Year was upon them with all its promise of better times.
I will spend more time with you... I promise!
---
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"He's a good man."
"He's surprisingly funny. I wasn't expecting that."
"We've all learned new things Reginald."
"Yes, that we have."
"I must admit that I'm not looking forward to the end of this swap."
"I've been worried about Emily, but I have to say that I've developed a fondness for Dr. Reid."
"As have I for Oliver. I think we should get together at least once a month and catch up on everyone after this."
"I agree honey… Now let's get going. It's almost time to compare notes."