What, you think I'm not going to have my workout time just because I'm sick? I think not, my friend! Physical activity, with moderation, keeps the aches and pains away!
I will tone it down, though, and pay attention to my current limits. You don't need to worry, I just don't want to get even stiffer and achier than I have to be. -- Anon Guest
Kosh had picked up more than he was told to at the markets. This wasn't some gewgaw or gimcrack that a fortunate merchant had foisted on the Hellkin Martialist. No, it was the local bug. A simple disease so common as to have multitudes dismiss it.
Some called it the local lurgi, others referred to it as this season's sniffles. What it was was everywhere, and Kosh had come down with it.
He wore a cloth mask over his face as he went about his daily routine. Since this routine also included eye-watering calisthenics, his fellow adventurers became concerned.
"You are allowed to slow down and rest," suggested Kim Ravatz, who Kosh called Segen. "Plenty of fluids. Plenty of--" she almost said 'sleep'. "--self-care time."
Sniff. "I am not a lazy Teufel," Kosh croaked. "I will rest at my appointed time." And, in order to drink his usual light cider, threaded a paper straw under his mask. "I will eat what I usually eat. I will do what I usually do." He had to stop for a barrage of nasty-sounding coughs. "And I will do what I can to not be a pestilential Teufel either."
Soola "Sapphire" Aarkonmount gave Kim a knowing look. It said, We are going to have to tie him down and make him accept help, aren't we? Which was a lot to pack into a raised eyebrow and a tired glare.
"You should at least slow down your exercises," persisted Kim. "It can't be doing you any good to throw yourself around like that."
"Physical activity... ow... keeps the aches and pains away, ja?"
"Nein," insisted Soola. "You're going upstairs and resting even if I have to carry you to your room."
Cough cough cough cough cough cough... "I'm fine. We need to keep--" KA-choo! "the tavern running. Gigs are drying up..."
"Because of the lurgi!"
"I'm not a slothful..." Kosh faceplanted onto the table, "All right... I might be a little weak..."
"I got the nose, you take the toes," said Kim. "And we both mind his tail."
"Men," sighed Kim with a roll of her eyes. "They're either big mummers or false dragons whenever they get sick."
"Sapphire... y'r so warm," mumbled Kosh.
[Photo by Carlos Felipe Ramírez Mesa on Unsplash]
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