"Understand this. We will provide you with answers, not all of which you will be able to understand, or due to your current state, remember."

"Nonetheless,  we ask that you at least try and...."

"... and he's back. We lost you there for a moment."

"His focus is starting to fade, it won't be long before he succumbs to sleep."

"You are quite right. Let us hasten then."

"This first piece of information, even though it is the most pertinent, it may also prove to be the most confusing."
"So please restrain yourself until we finish..."
"... up! You must make an effort to stay awake, if you fall asleep, we will not be able to maintain contact due to your inebriation."
"And your state of consciousness affects us directly, because we are part of you."
"No, we are not imaginary... well yes , we are, but only partially."
"We are as real as you need us to be."
"And since you had no real need for our advice until recently, we remained dormant..."
"... waiting and watching. That was all we could do. We could not interfere with your life or decisions. You kept denying us."
"You must understand, that although we are part of you, and are only concerned for your well-being..."
"... we each portray one, or several aspects of your personality. But never the same ones."
"So even though we were not needed, we still could have helped."
"That is a half-truth. It is true that we have always been present, but we only came into being very recently."
"Thus, only now can we directly interact with you."
"But as this situation has its obvious advantages..."
"... some drawbacks are also to be expected."
"You see, when we are made manifest, we become vulnerable and therefore you as well."
"Capture, control and even erasure from existence, these are but a few of the events to which we are now vulnerable from outside forces."
"Which is why you must practice control over your mind and body."
"And both of them are currently exhausted."
"Yes... it seems we miscalculated, he looses consciousness as we speak."
"Very well, our dialog ends for now..."
"... let us hope he recalls what he was told."
"Quite."

I was mesmerized, partially due to my altered state.

"I was afraid of this..."

"Yes. It seems we have spooked the poor fellow."

"At least we have his undivided attention, shall we make the most of it?"

"You're quite right. But we must leave the current premises."

"Indeed. It seems our dear lady friend is also aware of our presence."

And for the first time since I had entered the room, her focus wasn't on me. She was alternating between the black and white figures. 

Her eyes had changed, no longer seductive almonds, they were now big, hungry, and if I didn't know better, feral, like one would see in the wild, on a panther about to pounce its prey.

I found myself shivering from this realisation.

"Surprise surprise... our friend has finally glimpsed his companion's true nature."

"Perhaps he will now listen to us."

My hand released the glass, which was two sips away from being empty.

"Well done! Now excuse yourself from the table and leave this place."

I got up and made up some excuse about feeling sick. Which was a half-truth anyway.

"This is going to be more complicated than we thought."

"Quite. He seems to be a bit intoxicated."

"I would say a lot, but at least it's an effective shield against that woman's tricks."

"It seems he didn't even notice her attempts, or should I say pleas, to make him stay."

"On the other hand, he can barely notice the ground in front of him."

"And yet he managed to open the carriage door and enter the bathroom."

"WOULD YOU BOTH JUST SHUT UP??"

Silence.

"About time you addressed us directly."

"We now you are feeling queasy. Just remember to breathe and focus on a fixed point."

"And there is no need to shout, we can hear you just fine. In fact you don't need to talk at all... but we shall leave that for later."

The faucet proved to be a good focusing point, and I could feel my stomach starting to settle, very slowly.

"Good. Keep at it."

"You are too kind to him. He drank of his own accord."

"Yes, but he did not know what it was he was drinking."

"All the more reason not to be nice to him. If his mind was his own, he would have been able to resist that woman's charms. But no, he was too busy feeling sorry for himself since this trip started."

"And with good reason! The poor thing has been through a lot, with no one to support him."

"Rubbish! All he had was support. Every ear was a sympathetic one."

"Not true... no one truly understood him, or managed to give valid advice."

"That's a little presumptuous of your part..."

"Perhaps... but it is also true. We should have appeared to him sooner. Maybe all this could have been avoided."

"You know as well as I do that this could not be avoided. He was meant to be here, at this place and time."

"Indeed... but we digress. Our time is short, and he needs to know."

"Know what? What on earth have you two been talking about?"

Opening my mouth had been a big mistake where my stomach took the opportunity to show its discomfort.

"Patience is a virtue, and you shall see yours rewarded in time."

"There is however, somethings you must be made aware of..."

"... the sooner the better. So shall we begin?"

"And there he goes... losing himself once again."

"I'm starting to ponder if he really deserves our help."

I had heard both of those voices before, but thought them part of my imagination, my dreams...

"My word, is he starting to realise our existence?"

"I am unsure. His reasoning is not his best. The alcohol dilutes his thoughts."

"Indeed. But still... as of now he is aware of us, and not through sleep. A considerable step forward."

"Quite right. Let us hope he knows when to stop..."

"... before this new found knowledge is forgotten."

As casually as I could, I started scanning my surroundings. Searching for those who would not be silent. And as my eyes wandered, so did my hand.

"You see? Our sound advice falls on deaf ears. Discarded like yesterday's news."

"Come now. Given his current company, I think he's owed the benefit of the doubt."

"Perhaps... but even so, he should at very least cease drinking. We can only advise him, it is his choice to listen, only his will provides action."

My mind was unable to focus, and for a moment, I truly pondered whether I was truly awake.

"I don't believe it! He's more stubborn than I had thought possible."

"Perhaps a more direct approach will provide better results."

"And is that wise? I do not believe he is ready to withstand that level of interaction."

"I am in agreement with you... but I do not believe we have another choice."

My head was buzzing, but I was only aware of this because both voices had now ceased. Yet the sudden  silence proved not beneficial. Thought, sound and now my eyesight began to loose its sharpness.

Where once was only my female companion, now stood two figures. One black on my right and one white, sitting to my left. And those were the only traits I could manage.

The woman remained as clear as ever, head wrapped in smoke, barely concealing her face, seductive as ever.

However, that which worked in her favour, was the main... no, the only characteristic of the other two figures. Black, and white smoke. Each one providing a human outline.

Increasingly confused, I once again questioned my sanity.

Eyesight landed on my hands, and hands grasped the glass, searching for liquid comfort.

"Peachy... just Peachy!!!"

"Even now he doesn't listen to us."

I looked up, and exactly where the figures' head were supposed to be, I could now see, what seemed to be a pair of eyes. Black on white figure, and a white set on the black one.

"Yes we are the ones talking to you. Now let go of that glass and start paying attention."