Look to the Future? [Kari] (Ended!)

[Lucca]

Colin made a small, worried avian sound in the back of his throat, blue eyes wide and looking over his friend. He moved a wing, as if intending to rest it on the mouse's arm in a comforting gesture, before abruptly thinking better of it and awkwardly adjusting the covers on the bed instead. Physical contact of any sort was just...so unnatural and uncomfortable for the Cardinal. He frowned down at his friend.

"You were examining some sort of object in the kitchen, and then it let loose a horrible curse on you, and now, your arm looks to be covered in a thick sheet of ice," he said in a rush, blushing slightly when he realized it had probably been a rhetorical question. "Er, sorry," he muttered, eyes dropping their gaze. "Forthright, you know." He was referring to one of the words scrawled across his feathers. Clearing his throat, he looked up again, startled and taken aback by the apology he was now being offered.

"Ichigo, friend, it's...it's okay! It's not your fault at all. I'm dreadfully sorry to have something so terrible interrupt, but really, don't blame yourself. I could always come back another day, once you have all this sorted out, or..." A sudden pain in his stomach reminded him that they'd never gotten a chance to eat before the weird accident. "Or if you want some company and a sympathetic ear while the doctors figure this out, I'm sure we could make arrangements to have our lunch delivered here?" His wings twitched idly, waiting for confirmation.

[Kari Muffin]

Ah. So it wasn't some horrible nightmare. Well that was slightly disappointing. "It's fine. Honesty is best." Ichigo said with a half shrug. His shoulder was killing him even though he was laying down. Dear Suits, how was he even supposed to do his job?

There was the sound of tapping coming from his arm. He glanced over to stare at the doctor, who seemed to be trying to crack the ice with a mallet. The Corvie stopped when he realized her couldn't make a dent and proceeded to pull a lighter out of his pocket. "Maybe... you should stay, Colin. Just in case...." he couldn't quite finish his sentence. He was tempted to yell at the doctor but he wasn't quite sure he wanted to risk it.

Quite suddenly someone cheerful burst through the door, carrying two trays for the mouse and the cardinal. "Here you go! Josie wanted me to give these to you spe.....cial." He set down the tray for the cardinal at one of the tables, unsure of what to do with the one for the mouse. "That's a nasty lookin' arm Mr. Ichigo."

The mouse gave him a rather annoyed look. The man gave a rather bashful smile before setting the food in front of the mouse and exiting. How many rumors was he going to spread?

[Lucca]

Colin nodded, unable to say much else on the subject, still slightly embarrassed by his little outburst. He eyed the doctor in some small alarm. If this was a curse, it wasn't just normal ice, and considering how the mouse's arm looked underneath it...the doctor should probably be more careful. He twitched nervously at the lighter, wondering if he should say something...and shooting Ichigo a sympathetic look.

"Yeah, I believe I will." He was glad the mouse didn't complete his thought, sure that whatever the ending to it was, it would have made his stomach churn. Noticing a chair in the corner, he got up to push it over next to the mouse's bed. If he was going to be here a while, which given the desperate actions of the doctor he would be, he might as well be somewhat comfortable. No sooner had he sat down than someone burst in the door. "Oh, give Josie our gratitude then, and..." Colin began, but broke off when the servant blurted out something that was, in the cardinal's mind, completely inappropriate. He gave the Card's back an indignant look.

"All the tact of a bowling ball," he muttered to Ichigo, feathers ruffling slightly. The servants in a Court should really have much better manners. Some Queens had taken off heads for less, after all, and one careless remark in the presence of someone important was more than some poor servant could afford.

[Kari Muffin]

Ichigo refrained from sighing as he shook his head. "Yes, he's not really the most socially skilled member we have on staff. That's probably why they keep him in the kitchen most of the time."

The mouse used his good hand to pick up his sandwich. He gave it a slightly disappointed look when a bit of the lettuce spilled out. If he had use of both hands this would have been easier. He should have known better than to pick up something shiny. "I suppose we shouldn't let good food get cold."

In the meantime the doctor continued to poke and prod, a seriously look on his face the entire time as he attempted to figure out the situation. Magic. That was the only explanation. And it would seem nothing normal would break the ice. He casually interrupted in a moment of silence, "Mr. Ichigo. If at all possible I would like to keep you for overnight observation. Just from all the tools I broke, this ice seems like fire magic would be the only way to thaw it. But I can't imagine you'd want that since your real arm seems to be useless now."

The mouse glanced from Colin to the doctor, he swallowed the last bit of his sandwich before speaking. "I would actually like to go to my room if it's not too much trouble."

[Lucca]

Colin huffed slightly. "Completely understandable," he started in an affronted tone of voice, and would have gone on had he not realized just how...unhelpful him railing on the servant would be, especially while said misguided individual was not actually present. With a sigh, the cardinal visibly calmed, sparing a somewhat anxious smile for the mouse.

"Indeed..." Colin glanced with mild curiosity at the soup and half sandwich on his tray. He remembered asking for whatever the cook reccommended, though it seemed like it had been a long time ago with all the excitement in between. Lowering his head, he took up the spoon and sipped at the soup. Huh, it was pretty good. But the expression on his face fell as he saw Ichigo's frustration with his sudden lack of two paws.

What the bird needed was a distraction. Pleasant conversation over things unrelated to ice or magic curses was Colin's best bet. "At least the food is good. I mean, it would have to be, since these same chefs cook for The Queen herself, but with the lack of staff I hear is still a problem..." Okay so maybe it wasn't the most uplifting of subjects, but hopefully it would get Ichigo's mind off of...things.

He was almost done with his meal as well by the time the doctor spoke up, and he turned towards the man, frowning. Quickly, he glanced toward the mouse to see how he would take the rather distressing news. "That sounds reasonable," he agreed to Ichigo's request. After all, why did the doctor want to keep him overnight if he already admitted the arm was useless? Though...

"Ichigo, I really appreciate you showing me the palace...and if you'd like to be alone and rest right now, I understand," he said earnestly, looking at his friend. After all, he could always see a little more on his own, or just come back on a better day.

[Kari Muffin]

The mouse sighed. He should be a better host. He should have offered something that would make up for him being completely useless. It was an awful feeling, one he hadn't felt since the day his father told him to make a name for himself. That bitter feeling of self disapproval always left an awful taste in his mouth.

He struggled to sit up. It took a bit of effort but he was finally propped up on his front legs so he could look at Colin properly. He didn't want to seem pitiful and helpless.

"That is completely up to you, Colin. I can't imagine I'm good company at the moment, which I apologize for. I can get another guard to show you around the palace if you would like." Ichigo couldn't imagine himself clunking down the hallway. And he still had to get to his room... and there were stairs. Argh. And how the heck was he supposed to get down from this table?

[Lucca]

It was...painful to watch his friend, who before had been so agile, struggle to sit up. But he knew he needed to let the mouse do it on his own. After all, as much as he hated to admit it, this was likely a permanent change for Ichigo, and he needed to get used to having it. Colin fidgeted a bit, standing up but unsure what exactly to do. He wanted to support his friend without making him feel like an invalid. It was going to be a tough line to walk but...he straighted up a bit.

"Please don't think this is your fault at all," he began, a fierce look in his eyes that warned the mouse not to argue. "And you're...a good friend. But you've been through a lot today." He stopped, considering. "How about this...I'll walk with you to your room," helping out if you need it, though he didn't add that part aloud, "And then...well." He looked a little sheepish. "I dunno, maybe the Court could put me up for the night? If it's not too much trouble, of course..." He glanced around at the others in the room, gaze downcast slightly in humility. He didn't mind wandering a bit on his own...certainly that would lift his spirits more than having to fly home early. And that way, Ichigo would know where to find him if he needed a friend.

[Kari Muffin]

Ichigo gave a small sigh. He wasn't going to argue. Not with that face. He knew it really was his fault though. If he hadn't picked up that ring.... none of this would have happened. The one time he just had to be curious....

The mouse gave a small chuckle and nodded. "That's fine. I suppose. And you can just sleep in my room. I don't feel like sleeping on my bed with my arm like this." He gave a small shrug. There was no point in lying about it.

Now there was the task of getting down from this table. He sent the doctor a glare to prevent him from helping. With that the mouse carefully hopped down. The ice hit with a resounding thunk, the rest of his limbs hitting the ground softly. He was a bit jarred but shrugged it off. He had to focus on walking.

Clunk.

His tail curled at the sound of the ice on the marble with one step.

Clunk.

This was going to be annoying.

"All right... lets go. This is going to take a while."

[Lucca]

Colin just nodded, not sure what to really say to that...at least Ichigo was coming to terms with it. Though he felt bad taking the mouse's bed, and a bit awkward, but maybe he just wouldn't sleep much. It wouldn't be the first time something kept him up, even if the next morning would be rough. "Thank you, I appreciate it," he finally said with a small smile.

Colin backed up a bit to give the mouse some space coming down off the bed, and tried not to wince at the noise of the ice hitting marble. How that would echo in the quiet stone corridors of the Court. Heh, maybe Ichigo could use it as an intimidation tactic...when the servants heard him coming, they'd know to behave! He allowed himself a moment of amusement before schooling his expression carefully. This situation required delicacy.

"I have nowhere else to be," he offered a light attempt at humor, before falling into step beside the mouse, not letting the unhurried pace bother him. He nodded to the doctors politely as they left, knowing they had done their best...there wasn't a whole lot you could do about a magic curse with straight up medical science. As they walked along the corridor, Colin noticed himself unconsciously walking less quietly, claws tapping out a rhythm on the floor alongside the dull thunking of Ichigo's new arm.

[Kari Muffin]

"Thank you," Ichigo said quietly before they were on their way. He felt rather miserable as he clunked down the hallway. Several people were staring at him, others looked horrified at his new state of being.

This was miserable. How was he going to be able to do anything now? He had to relearn how to hold his weapon properly. He had to learn how to walk properly. And how was he supposed to fall in love and have a family now?

And his shoulder hurt. He grumbled as he stared at the stairs that they had to go down to get to his room. At least it was only one flight. Biting his lip he looked over to Colin. It wasn't like the man could actually help him, and if he fell down the stairs... he didn't want to crush the bird or anything.

He took a deep breath and one step down. The ice tapping on the stair resonated through the entire hallway. "You might... want to fly down before me."