In too deep: A crab tale

[icebearforpresident]

Doing things impulsively is never Ice Bear’s style. History dictates that the best plans are always laid out well in advance to ensure success and victory. But sometimes logic has to be thrown out the window in an instant. For family. For love. For a crab.

The waves pull back and forth, taking light drifts of sand with them into the salty bay. A normally peaceful setting is ruined by the sounds of police sirens and the burning wreckage of a nearby helicopter. Officers are congregating on the sandy dunes of the beach, keeping civilians away, but also preventing the bear trio from escaping.

He says nothing, and to his surprise, Grizz and Panda have no objections either once the police begin reading them their rights. One of the officers frowns at Ice Bear, before leading the bears toward a line of police cars. The police have never been on good terms with Ice Bear; his track record of going to court proves this point. And to further drive the point home, the polar bear finds himself in the back of a police van all by himself.

“Looks like you three will be going to jail for a long time. Interfering with court proceedings, along with helping a charged criminal escape from custody.” Ice Bear is already frowning at the driver’s words, while the car coasts quietly down the pacific highway.

“Ice Bear did the right thing. For Craboo.” He leans back into the bucket seat uncomfortably, his first time actually being in a patrol car. And it was because he helped a crab escape the law. What kind of weird world tries to sue a crab for pinching the ear of a koala? Ice Bear doesn’t understand it, but it doesn’t change the fact that he’s going to jail.

The drive to the booking station feels like an eternity, leaving Ice Bear too much time with his thoughts. Panda and Grizz should be able to get out of this situation easily, but him, not so much. Previous scuffles with the law leave him concerned, mainly at what will happen to his family if he gets put in jail for an undisclosed amount of time. The escape plan doesn’t hit him until he’s already brought inside and put into a questioning cell.

“This is your best chance to talk about what happened, Mr. Ice Bear.” The male officer addresses him politely enough, but he knows what to to do in this situation.

“Ice Bear will invoke the fifth amendment. Ice Bear wants to contact his lawyer.”

“You have a lawyer? Well, by all means, you have the right to speak with them.” He’s almost toying with the bear, as the officer slides Ice his cell phone, unaware of how technologically advance this one piece of hardware is. The Nexus is his trump card.

Ice Bear takes the light blue phone in his hands, skimming through a few numbers, before stopping on one specific ten digit combination. Inter-dimensional calling is worth the absurd price for this reason alone; he’s not sure where this number goes, but hopefully it leads him to the right person.

That person being the Concierge of Crime.

Comments

[romeoinabox]

Red goes through cell phones like they're going out of style, but one seems to have taken up permanent residence in his coat pocket. It's one that's rarely used and that less than a handful of people have the number to reach - his Nexus smartphone that can be reached no matter where he or the caller are. Imagine his surprise, then, when it buzzes when he's in the middle of dinner on his world and Ice Bear's name pops up on the screen. The older gentleman quickly sets aside his utensils, waves Denbe off with a silent hand, and then steps into the next room, closing the door tight behind him.

"My friend," he answers in a subdued, but still jovial tone. "To what do I owe the pleasure of your call this evening?"

[icebearforpresident]

[Let it go on the record that Ice is never a person who likes to burden his friends or family. He's the type of bear who trudges through the best and worst situations, regardless of how difficult they may seem. And sometimes that reckless behavior gets him into trouble, like today.

So, upon hearing Red's cheerful voice, Ice immediately feels overwhelmed with guilt. So much that even his stoic tone of voice quivers with a sense of regret and dread. It probably seems out of the ordinary anyways, since the bear rarely calls anyone, let alone the elusive Raymond Reddington. Something is terribly amiss in the bear's life right now.]

"...Ice Bear apologizes in advance. Ice Bear is in trouble."

[romeoinabox]

Friends turning to him in a time of need is something Red is used to. That it's Ice Bear is a little surprising, but that doesn't settle into his voice when he speaks again. "What kind of trouble? What do you need?"

Leaving the room he'd moved himself into, Red strides past the dining room table and toward the front door of his current residence, Denbe hot on his heels. Red won't stop his attache from following until it's time to head into the Nexus proper, but he'll be keeping more of the details of what's going on and who he's talking to private. It's not that he doesn't trust Denbe - far from it, in fact - but he believes this is one of those moments when it's best that his friend not know all of the details.

[icebearforpresident]

"...Ice Bear is going to jail. Ice Bear has angered the popo." [There's a few people murmuring in the background, most likely police officers of some sort. The law is surprisingly lax in letting Ice Bear even talk on his cell phone, but still wants to put a polar bear behind bars.]

"Ice Bear has no one else to turn to..." [He pauses, taking a moment to calm down.] "Look for the door with the snowflakes on it, east of the shopping district. Ice Bear lives there." [One officer is shooting him a glare, but his attention goes elsewhere, since Ice's conversation clearly isn't about something deadly.]

"Ice Bear can stay on the phone, for just a little while. Ice Bear will give you as much information as Ice Bear can."

[romeoinabox]

"You know you can always call me, my friend," Red assures Ice Bear. Now that they've become close friends (or as close as he allows his friends to be, anyway), Red finds there's very few others he would put in front of the polar bear. And, as with all of the others, he wouldn't offer his help - or his phone number - without the intention of going through with his promise.

"Tell me about what happened, if you can. If it's best to wait until I arrive, then tell me something inane, something... like what you had for breakfast two days ago." It seems best to keep the bear talking as Red makes his way through the portal on his world to the Nexus and then makes his way to the shopping district. He came out a little further down the Plaza than he was hoping, but it's all right. He'll make it to his friend no matter how long it takes.

[icebearforpresident]

"...Thank you, Red."

[He can't see it, but Ice Bear is just staring down at the detention center's table, trying not to lose control of his emotions. Maybe it's the entire situation: seeing Captain Craboo leave, Nom Nom almost tearing his family apart and knowing his brothers are somewhere else in the station being questioned. It's very hard to keep it together in this trying time.]

"Ice Bear was protecting a family member from being arrested, helped him escape the courtroom. Got caught afterwards." [Impeding a court trial is a serious offense, and it was Ice Bear who essentially stirred the pot one too many times. But Red has the right idea: talk about something not so alarming.] "Ice Bear has been practicing cooking French pastries. Ice Bear will make some for you in the future."

[The bear pauses, glancing up at the police officers in the room. Both of them seem to be discussing what to do with Ice's brothers instead of the polar bear in front of them.] "Let Ice Bear know when you need more directions or information."

[romeoinabox]

The older gentleman is glad that Ice Bear is taking his advice and talking about less stressful things. They'll have plenty of time to get into the details once he arrives. "French pastries sound delicious. Anything in particular you've had a fondness for as of late? I myself always enjoy the flakiest of croissants with fresh fruit in the morning."

Although he hasn't reached it yet, Red assumes he'll be able to find a snowflake marked door easily enough. Not many doors marked like that in this area of the Nexus. "Once I'm on the other side, where should I be headed? Can I make it on foot or will I need to call for a ride?"

[icebearforpresident]

[As the conversation goes on, Ice Bear seems to be returning to his usual self, even smiling a little while he talks on the phone.] "Croissants are good. Ice Bear has a recipe for honey glazed ones. Ice Bear has been trying out new flavors for eclairs as well." [Talking about cooking is a good thing, since it's definitely a topic that keeps Ice calm.]

"Police station is located a few blocks away from the cave. Should be able to walk it just fine." [He's not joking about the cave thing, since the door to his world has been tucked away in a shed close to the place he and his brothers call home.] "Ice Bear was hoping to show you San Francisco someday, but not like this."

[romeoinabox]

Red hums his appreciation. "I'd be delighted to try anything you feel up to making. I'll bring the wine to enjoy with them - do you prefer red or white?" Why, yes, the man is good at following any train of thought down the rabbit hole it leads to.

"You'll show me as a free individual soon enough, my friend." Of that he's certain, because he's not about to leave Ice Bear's world without getting his friend out of trouble.

After finally finding the door and stepping through it, Red looks around cautiously. Strange to be let out at a cave, but he's certain there are worse places for a portal to be. "Left or right?" he asks. A beat, and then he adds, "Or would it be best if I let you go and simply asked for directions?"

[icebearforpresident]

"Ice Bear will have to let you decide that one. Ice Bear is not an expert on wines." [To be fair, he isn't, but he'll more than happily cook anything Red wants, especially after this incident. Still, Ice Bear can't help but wonder how he'll get out of this mess without serious repercussions.]

"Take a left. Go two blocks until you see Valencia street. Make a right. Station is there." [He's about to say more, but gets cut off by one of the officers in the background demanding the bear get off the phone. Looks like the conversation is going to get cut short anyways.]

"Ice Bear will be waiting." [The officer actually has to reach over and take the phone from the Bear's paws. There's an audible click before the line goes dead. Welcome to San Francisco, Red.]

[romeoinabox]

The click of the line dying is enough to get Red moving at a rather brisk pace down the streets of San Fransisco to the station Ice Bear spoke of. It's easy enough to find and soon enough he's sweeping inside, nodding to the officers he passes as he walks straight up to the receptionist's desk. Luckily, he can use whatever name he wants in this version of Earth, so he decides it's best to go with his own. It certainly sounds professional enough for an attorney, even if he doesn't have any documentation to back it up. It'll be easy enough to obtain if he gets the chance to head back to the Nexus at some point.

"Hello," he says with a calm, authoritative voice to the receptionist. He sweeps his hat off in a single graceful moment out of respect. "My name is Raymond Reddington, and I'm here to see my client, Ice Bear. Would you be so kind as to lead me to him?"

[icebearforpresident]

[At least San Francisco is nice and cool, in comparison to the extreme heat of Los Angeles. No one seems to blink an eye at Red while he walks down the street, let alone when he steps into the police station.]

[It's painfully obvious that Ice Bear's world has a very lax police force, as many of the officers are standing around, some are even glancing at their cell phones. For a group of people out to arrest animals, they lack a certain serious nature to them. It makes the FBI look extremely good in comparison.]

[At the front desk is a thin woman, glasses peeking over her nose, reading some sort of tabloid magazine. She quickly covers it up with a file when Red approaches.]

"You're here for the polar bear? Wow, that's a surprise." [Her voice clearly indicates her lack of interest in the situation, as she gestures to one of the free officers. He walks over, giving Red a questionable look.]

"Take him to see the bear. Not the panda or the grizzly. The trouble-making one." [She's already glancing down at the desk again, leaving the officer to silently wave for Red to follow him down the halls of the police station, towards the booking rooms.]

[romeoinabox]

Despite his upset at the off-hand comment about his polar bear friend, Red breezes past it to focus on the matter at hand. Once he's lead into the room where Ice Bear is being held, he turns to the assembled officers and gives them a pointed stare.

"I'd like to speak to my client in private, if you don't mind." And if that's not enough to get them to leave, he'll make a small shooing motion in their direction. A sort of 'go on, get' gesture.

As soon as they're alone, Red takes a seat next to Ice Bear. "My friend, how are you? Are you all right? They haven't mistreated you, have they?" The story of what happened, how, and why can wait until after Red is certain the bear's all right.

[icebearforpresident]

[The request to leave the room ultimately upsets the officers, but both are compliant to the request. Since, to be fair, this whole conversation is being recorded for investigation processes. The door shuts quietly behind them, leaving the bear alone with his new found company.]

[Ice Bear actually looks up from the table, and it's painfully clear that he's in a state of distress. It feels good having Red here, even if Ice Bear feels guilt for dragging his friend into this mess.]

"Ice Bear is fine for now. Ice Bear has been getting the aggressive treatment." [Perhaps it's good that the details can wait, since Ice has no idea how Red would react to this tale of crab antics.] "What should we do now?""

[romeoinabox]

Recording devices are a devil to deal with, and it'll be Red's first concern after this to get the bear out of the station before they actually speak on what happened. But that can - and must - wait until after he's certain there's no immediate danger in this situation.

"Aggressive treatment? Have they been hurting you?" Red frowns deeply and throws a glance at the door the officers just vacated the room through, his eyes icy and cold. No one hurts his friends - they'll be certain to remember that when he's done with them.

"The first thing we need to do is get you any medical treatment you may require. After that, we're getting you out of here on bail. We can find you a nice, comfortable spot to stay, and then you can tell me about what happened to land you in here." He pauses for a moment, his lips drawing into a thin line. "Who do I have to speak to get you out of here tonight?"

[icebearforpresident]

[Ice Bear's gaze moves from the camera mounted on the wall, to Red, and then to his paws. Thankfully, he doesn't show any physical injuries, so the police have been generous on that end.]

"Bullying. Making threats about what will happen to Ice Bear." [He shakes his head no.] "Just intimidating. Haven't touched Ice Bear at all." [The idea of going somewhere quiet and less confined is definitely promising, and Ice will be more than happy to take Red up on the offer. But for now, get out of jail asap.]

"Ice Bear guesses that the arresting officer would be a good person to start with. Might be able to talk some sense into him." [The only good part about this is that one of the people who caused this whole problem got arrested as well.]

[romeoinabox]

That's much better than Red had expected, given the phrasing Ice Bear was using, but he's still unhappy as hell about it. No one gets away with hurting his friends. No one.

"I'll get to the bottom of this." He rests a hand on Ice Bear's shoulder for a moment before turning to the door. "Sit tight, I should be back soon."

With a grim look on his face, Red steps back out into the hall to catch the attention of the officers who had been in the room when he arrived. "You there. I need to speak to the arresting officer about getting my client released on bail."

[icebearforpresident]

"...Ice Bear can't thank you enough."

[He's silent as Red walks out of the room, and is immediately replaced by a new officer, who keeps a stern eye on the bear. It doesn't seem like Ice will be interrogated until matters are resolved. The security around one bear seems excessive, to say the least.]

[Of the two officers standing near Ice's cell, only one of them seems to stick around when Red addresses them. It's a thin man, clearly young and new to the force, who happens to be the arresting officer.]

"That would be me." [He doesn't sound demanding or curious, just confused as to why Red is actually here.] "The bear is in serious trouble for obstructing a court hearing. His bail is going to be high."

[romeoinabox]

A subtle smirk settles across Red's lips. "The dollar amount isn't an issue. Tell me what you have on my client and let's get this settled." He won't settle for anything outrageous, but that doesn't mean he'll push very hard for a low number. It's easy enough to talk people into the kind of number her likes anyway.

Besides, the kid who arrested Ice Bear is far too young to know how to deal with someone like Red. It'll be a fun lesson to teach when the young man realizes too late that he's being readily handled by a stranger.

"What's your name, son?" he asks after a very brief pause. "My name is Raymond Reddington." He offers his hand for a gentlemanly shake. "Can we move this conversation to a more appropriate location? I'd hate for any more rumors about this incident, and my client, to be unjustly spread around."

[icebearforpresident]

"Money doesn't talk all the time, Mr. Reddington." [The comment just rolls off the officer's tongue in a non-consending tone, a subtle indication that maybe the police are looking to keep Ice Bear under custody for an undisclosed amount of time. Even though, under normal circumstances, people get bailed out of jail all the time.]

"Officer Barnes." [He just nods in a somewhat polite manner to Red, refusing the handshake on the count that he's trying to looks serious. He almost immediately stiffens up upon noticing his fellow officers watching his every move; the older gentleman's comment plays directly into his nervous nature.] "It would probably be best to discuss this elsewhere. I have a room down the hall that would be less intrusive, if you don't mind the walk."

[Really, he doesn't expect Red to object, as he walks down the hallway, intentionally avoiding eye contact with anyone else is the station. Barnes seems eager to shoo Red into a room far away from anyone else, the unappealing cream walls and tan brown chairs indicate that the room must be used as a place where victims often rest.]

"So, what questions do you have for me, Mr Reddington?"

[romeoinabox]

Being as used to back room deals and meetings as he is, the room they move into doesn't phase Red at all. Nor is he unsettled by the officer's obviously rude behavior. When they arrive in the little room, he calmly sits down in one of the few chairs around the room and motions for Officer Barnes to take the one next to him.

"Several, actually, but we'll start with the easiest first." The smile that pulls across his face is not as friendly as it feels like it should be and the officer is right to feel unsettled if he notices this. "You say my client obstructed a court hearing. I realize this is a serious accusation and that my client's bail will be set high because of it, but may I ask why you seem so intent on keeping him here against the laws of due process?"

Red crosses one leg over the other and rests his hands on his lap as he regards Officer Barnes, that same, unfriendly smile on his face and his hat remaining firmly on his head. The officer isn't going to get any respect from the criminal mastermind sitting in front of him given his poor behavior and if the young man pushes? He's going to find out in the worst way how hard Red is willing to push back.

[icebearforpresident]

[Rude or feigning confidence? It could be either or, given the amount of unnecessary pressure from the other officers in the station. Even when the door shuts behind them, it still feels like sets of eyes are watching from behind the shelter of metal and plaster.]

"He's a reoccurring problem for us here. Unlike his two siblings, the polar bear has gotten in trouble on multiple occasions. It's very clear that he needs to be taken off the streets." [Officer Barnes actually sits down, but not next to Red, rather, he takes the chair and positions himself across from the man.]

[It looks like he has no intent of backing down, however, he doesn't ooze experience or confidence. It's all a show to look good, instead of actually being good at intimidation anyone, let alone Red.]

[romeoinabox]

So, the good officer wants to fight?

Good.

"Trouble is a vague term a man who has no substantial evidence and a lot of dropped cases against someone uses to bully weaker men and women into doing what he wants. That, and a vendetta against someone who has done you no real harm."

Red leans forward slightly, his smile fading away as he does so. "Tell me, Officer Barnes, what did my client do to you that could possibly warrant such behavior? Walk away from a case you were sure you'd win a free bear? Circumvent arrest through legal processes?" His eyes glint mischievously. "Steal your girl?"

He'll start easy on the boy, but it won't last long if the officer keeps up this behavior.

[icebearforpresident]

[Perhaps Officer Barnes has bitten off more than he can chew. A novice mistake that can come back to haunt him horribly, especially once he catches sight of Red's smile facing away.]

"The cases have only been dropped due to the bear gaining sympathy votes from a small law firm. And that's exactly why they don't exist anymore." [He leaves that topic open for interpretation, as an intimidation tactic, no less.]

[He shifts in his seat a little bit, hands resting in his lap, but it's clear the comment about the bear 'stealing his girl' has gotten under his skin. Being a single young adult with no love life outside of work, these type of words really feel like he's been shot in the shoulder.]

[He predictably begins to break.]

"The bear disturbed the proceedings of a case involving a very dangerous crab harming a celebrity star." [And this statement just proves how backwards the law enforcement is on Ice Bear's world.]"He sent half of our police force on a wild chase through the city. Please, enlighten me on why you think he's not a danger to society. Because that's what I have to convince my superiors about."

[romeoinabox]

The intimidation tactic doesn't work on someone like Red, and the rookie officer will find himself wishing he hadn't made the mistake of trying it shortly. With the air of a completely unconcerned man, Red listens to the officer speak and when the young man finishes, he waits just a little too long before he speaks.

"All of these vague details make me wonder: is it really my client who is at fault for this? Or was it your own incompetence that let this happen? If you were so worried about these proceedings, you would have closed them off completely, let no one from the media or the public in at all. You would have had security posted at every entrance to the room and building and had armed guards on your suspect. Seeing as you didn't, that my client allegedly disrupted the proceedings proves only that he was trying to help his friend out of a corrupt system attempting to frame him."

Despite his cutting words, the older gentleman's voice is soft. The cold edge to it leaves the air feeling chill and the way he leans forward as the words flow from him shows that this isn't his first time dealing with an upstart like Officer Barnes.

"Now," Red punctuates the silence he let fall in the room when his monologue was over by sitting up straight and adjusting his jacket, "if you have any evidence of my client committing a violent crime, I would like to hear it. If not, I think it's best you and I settle on bail for the disruption of a court hearing and be done with it before I drag you out in front of your superior officers."

[icebearforpresident]

[Maybe he's already regretting it, because the second Red starts to apply the pressure, Officer Barnes becomes visibly flustered and angry all at once. His hand slams down on the table, mainly out of frustration, since Red is hitting all the right buttons.]

"Listen here...We tried to keep the media out of this, but the stupid koala wanted to make a public display of this whole case! Over a crab! I didn't transfer to California just to deal with a marsupial, a crustacean and three talking bears." [It's clear that he's a on a personal tangent now.] "My superiors are already going nuts about this absurd case, when we should be out there catching real criminals..."

[Oh. He pauses for a second when Red starts to stare at him and attempts to regain his composure. The next few words out of his mouth are greatly better than anything else he's said this entire time.]

"Let's work something out, Mr. Reddington. My superiors need something on the record proving the bear won't act out of line. And to be honest, I'm the fall guy here, not them."

[romeoinabox]

If this weren't such an important crossroads, Red would be outright laughing at the young Officer for his personal tangent. The strangeness of this world doesn't phase - Ice Bear's told him enough about it for that to be a non-issue - but the officer's place in it seems to be so weakly held that it's a wonder he hasn't drifted into the air already. When he finally comes around to the heart of the matter, the older gentleman smiles.

Right where he wants him.

"You'll have my personal guarantee that Ice Bear won't cause any problems while they investigation is ongoing. I'll provide up to a dozen references for myself, if necessary, and pay any bail set. And if that's not enough, and we both know it will be," he leans in a little to add to the point, "I'm certain other vouchers for my client will be enough to satisfy your superiors' needs."

With all of that settled, Red stands and walks around to the officer, extending his hand to shake on the deal. "Do we have an agreement?"

[icebearforpresident]

[The police officer seems to be doing a very good job and digging his own grave, and it's apparent that he wants to get this ordeal resolved as soon as possible. He needs to get the metaphorical monkeys off his back.]

"I'll take your word on it, Mr. Reddington." [He reaches up and shakes Red's hand calmly.] "Bail is set at 2,000 dollars. Think you can manage that? References won't be necessary. I trust you'll keep your client out of trouble while the charge is being resolved."

[romeoinabox]

Red gives the officer's hand a firm shake before pulling it back, a grin pulling across his face. "Is cash all right? Or would you prefer a check."

He's so glad to have gotten his way in this. His friend will soon be released and someone has learned a valuable lesson. Really, it couldn't have gone much better if he'd planned for it.

"No need to worry about my client. He'll be a model citizen until this is over."

[icebearforpresident]

"I hope so."

[The officer stands up, pushing the chair back into place perfectly. He's getting back into a serious mode, trying to hide any sort of weaknesses from his co-workers, in some attempt to save face.]

"Cash is fine. I'll go get the paperwork and the bear." [What else is there to say? Nothing. The officer is going to have to take this defeat without objection, as he holds the door open for Red. Once out in the hall, he points to the direction they came from.]

"Head back to the front desk and pay. They'll let me know once you're done and I'll send the bear your way." [And without so much as a thank you, he walks away, presumably to go get Ice Bear from the interrogation room.]

[romeoinabox]

Try as hard as he might, the officer can't keep Red from striding out of the room with a triumphant smirk on his face. He may try to claim that he had the upper hand in all of this, but if they catch even a momentary glance of the Concierge of Crime, they'll know better.

Without any further ceremony, Red walks through the halls and up to the front desk. He tries to catch the secretary's attention before he starts counting out his cash but if she misses him until he's dropping a pile of 50 dollar bills in her face, that's not really his fault.

"Two thousand dollars in cash to settle Ice Bear's bail," he explains calmly. "Please process my client out."