I am quite sure that you do yourself a disservice. In fact just posting this seems to have triggered a glimmer of an idea, and it works with the character's problem. I'm thinking of having him conduct conversations with the carved wood characters from Alice in Wonderland that are placed at various locations in Llandudno, (I have photos of most of these, but not Tweedledee and Tweedledum yet.)

Thank you for your words of encouragement, they are much appreciated.