"Mmph."
Rosalind, who hadn't gone to bed before 3 for two months and wasn't about to start now, looked up from her work.
"Oh good. You're awake."
Robert, who was fully conscious for the first time since he had crossed over three days prior, stood in the doorway of Rosalind's office. Well, stood is a strong word. It implies stability. Robert appeared to be keeping himself upright through sheer force of will and probably, Rosalind suspected, heavy medication. He was wearing expensive silk clothing that didn't fit and his ginger hair looked like it was trying to escape.
"You are, ah . . . cognizant, Robert?"
He nodded slowly.
"Unfortunately so. Those side effects, quite poignant."
"Yes, I have a theory actually, relating to the effects of transdimensional travel on human perception. I tried to ask you about it with you two days ago but you halfway through you started bleeding and the nurse had to-"
"I know. I was there."
"Of course, of course," Rosalind said, excited despite of herself. Their firstreal face-to-face conversation in the same dimension. It was a scientific landmark.
"The hemorrhaging has stopped, I see. Do you think your mind has adjusted to this reality?"
He leaned against the door frame and looked around the room.
"Possibly. I woke up a while ago and when I didn't fall unconscious or start bleeding, or both, after a significant amount of time, I wandered around until I found you. Is this your house?"
She nodded.
"Nice, isn't it? There's a lot you can say about Comstock, but he certainly pays well. Now, first thing, Robert. We have the unique opportunity of being able to compare realities, which I suggest we do quickly before your symptoms catch up to you. May we begin with your life, starting from the very beginning?"
"Later, Rosalind. Right now, I am starving."
"That's not surprising. The nurse said you couldn't keep any food down."
"Oh, believe me, I know."
"Well, you're going to have to wait until morning. The cook arrives at 7, and the clock's just nearing two."
He blinked sleepily and reached back to scratch his head.
"You have a cook? Good lord. Also, having just barely survived transdimensional travel, I believe I'm entitled to breakfast whenever I bloody feel like it. And then and only then will we discuss dimensional inequalities." He crossed his arms with the finality of a man who has been bleeding for three days straight and is acutely aware of it.
Rosalind felt a flash of annoyance, which passed when she realized that she would have acted the same way. She sighed and stood up.
"If you're going to be so fractious about it," she said as she exited the room.