P.I.E - A Limey Rivalry

Part 14 - An Intoxicating Therapy Session

Unlike the lounge that Toast had visited before, the billiard room was cosy and comfortable. The lounge was a grand spectacle, with various attractions in one large place. The billiard room confined certain things into a much smaller area.

The first thing that Toast noticed upon entering was a pool table. It looked like an old one; the wood had lost its varnish and the green top was dishevelled. The balls were resting away from the table, in their own compartment. Toast guessed it was to prevent thievery, though he wasn't sure how.

Toast was also aware of the unlit fireplace towards the end of the room. The fact that it was not producing any heat made Toast feel cold. The fireplace had two fancy leather chairs adjacent to it.

Brown dominated the room, since there was a hardwood floor and wooden panelled walls. Toast found the décor quite homely.

The last thing Toast took notice of was the bar. It was to the direct left of them when they entered the room. Toast realised that it had been a long while since he had indulged himself in any alcoholic beverages; the work they did would never allow it. He was beginning to get thirsty by staring at the open bar.

Once he had dragged his eyes away from the bar, he tried to spot smaller things hidden around the room. He walked in, with Sophia slowly following behind him.

The woman's legs were tired due to all the walking and she took the closest seat that was available. She made herself comfortable on one of the bar stools. Although, she didn't find the seat too fitting. She contemplated moving to one of the plumper chairs that were dotted around the room. Eventually, she decided to stay where she was; she couldn't be bothered to move again and crawl halfway across the room just for a better place to sit.

Toast took a second to absorb the entire environment in before finding the object he was looking for. Hanging above a coffee table, with two chairs surrounding it, was another portrait of Alexander. Toast confirmed his prediction.

At that point, there was little left to do in the room. Toast was disappointed.

He paused for a second before humming to himself in thought. If he played it off as part of his investigation, he could probably get a change to use the bar.

Acting as casual as possible, Toast strutted towards the bar. Sophia watched him do so, confused as to what he was doing.

"So, Miss Gumball," Toast asked as he stepped behind the bar, "do you ever use this room?"

Sophia looked behind her, examining the ancient pool table and the dusty furniture. "No, Mr. Toast. I don't believe I do," she answered.

"So..." Toast began speaking again, squatting down below the bar to see what was down there. There was mostly glasses stacked upon one another. Although, Toast also spotted something that – when he opened it – turned out to be a refrigerator.

Inside the fridge were relatively recent bottles of brand-named drinks. He glossed over a few of them before closing the fridge door again.

Sophia, who was still sitting on the stool and watching over him, asked "What exactly are you doing, Mr. Toast?"

Toast needed a moment to answer. "Uh..." he stammered as he rose slowly, "I am simply investigating the content of the bar, ma'am. Just to check how old everything is."

He then looks at the back wall, where various bottles holding many liquids were. However, nothing took his fancy. Eventually he explored around behind the bar a bit more. In one of the compartments behind the bar, he found a partially large bottle of scotch. Brilliant, he thought. That was just what he was looking for.