[To denote physical fitness and wellness. They are "okay," in the general sense. In the sense that they are not immediately injured and that they are not at any risk of dying in the near future. They are, of course, at the risk of dying eventually, because that poison still corrupts their lungs and there is no peaceful way to contradict that. They are "okay," in the general sense, because they can still stand and walk and breathe and fight and think with reasonable clarity and not spend too much time doubled over coughing. They are "okay," in the general sense, because even if their muscles are atrophied and their skin blistered with blood sores and their constitution is so low that several short blows would be enough to completely immobilize them, they can still dash and swing their blade, even if every motion hurts because every motion has always hurt, for longer now than they can remember it not hurting.]
[They are "okay." They would venture.]
yes
[They are not okay.]
[This should not be happening, and yet - it is. It is, in fact, happening, and there is no avoiding it, no steering clear of it, no disregarding it.]
[Except to look at them, directly, and issue it bluntly:]
no subject
[To denote physical fitness and wellness. They are "okay," in the general sense. In the sense that they are not immediately injured and that they are not at any risk of dying in the near future. They are, of course, at the risk of dying eventually, because that poison still corrupts their lungs and there is no peaceful way to contradict that. They are "okay," in the general sense, because they can still stand and walk and breathe and fight and think with reasonable clarity and not spend too much time doubled over coughing. They are "okay," in the general sense, because even if their muscles are atrophied and their skin blistered with blood sores and their constitution is so low that several short blows would be enough to completely immobilize them, they can still dash and swing their blade, even if every motion hurts because every motion has always hurt, for longer now than they can remember it not hurting.]
[They are "okay." They would venture.]
yes
[They are not okay.]
[This should not be happening, and yet - it is. It is, in fact, happening, and there is no avoiding it, no steering clear of it, no disregarding it.]
[Except to look at them, directly, and issue it bluntly:]
are you real