This post originally appeared as a guest post over on Chocolate & Cream Cake.

Do you ever watch something or read something, and feel like you really just want to hang out with the characters? I get this a lot. And sometimes I read or watch two different things, and would really love to throw characters from each together in a room and see what happens. But also still hang out with them. Solution? Fictional dinner party! Since today is day made for gathering over food, and I happen to be addicted to crime dramas, I’ve put together a list of characters from the TV crime fighting world who I’d love to invite to a dinner party. My list includes:

• Patrick Jane from The Mentalist
• Dr. Temperance Brennan from Bones
• Abby Sciuto and Tony Dinozzo from NCIS
• Kensi Blye and Marty Deeks from NCIS: LA
• Richard Castle from Castle
• Neal Caffrey and Mozzie from White Collar
• Sherlock Holmes from Elementary
• Jane Rizzoli and Maura Isles from Rizzoli & Isles
• Veronica Mars from Veronica Mars

I imagine it’d be something like this:

Ok, not really. It’d be much more modern and swank (because you won’t catch Neal or Patrick in anything but a suit). But still laid back. I’d love to see Sherlock and Patrick go head to head in their deducing. I imagine them holed up in the corner trading more and more minute observations on the rest of the guests, which I would totally eavesdrop on. I think Dr. Brennan would get along fabulously with Dr. Isles, since they are both all about The Science – that or they’d hate each other. Castle would probably be thrilled at the chance to pick the brains of (semi-reformed) conmen Neal and Mozzie. He’d also probably be fascinated with Abby, in a purely character-research way. Tough women Kensi and Rizzoli would probably get along really well, and Deeks would probably [try to] flirt with both of them.

Dinozzo would probably chat up Veronica, until he found out how much younger she is than him. Then I imagine him trading obscure movie references with Castle, friendly-but-sarcastic banter with Rizzoli, and flirtation with Isles (who I could see reciprocating). Veronica and Abby will probably end up hanging out together, as the relative youngins of the group. Abby would commiserate on the unfortunate events in Veronica’s life, and Veronica would make a mental note for future reference that Abby has mad computer skillz. There’d probably be a hyper-rational, almost indecipherable conversation between Sherlock and Brennan at some point. Patrick and Neal would exchange info on tailors/suit-makers. Patrick would consider adopting a hat. Mozzie and Castle would discuss increasingly crazy conspiracy theories.

Overall, I envision a loud and lively and laugh-filled evening. I don’t even care about what kind of food would be served. Let’s be honest, I’d be too busy watching all of the fascinating by-play to remember to eat anything.

Have you ever wanted to meet a character? Who would you invite to your fictional dinner party? Also: Happy Thanksgiving!

Also, don’t forget you can take 20% off in the shop now through midnight Monday!