i.

[ it really had been far too long since he'd dealt with the cold, but like hell was he going to let it show. perhaps it was just a bit of the stubbornness of his youth showing through.

so, when an acquaintance offers him some tea, he can't help but laugh just a little. ]

I've seen worse.

[ after all, wouldn't that make him an awful Russian if he couldn't handle a "little" cold?

but notably, he doesn't say "no" to the hot drink. ]