Footsteps echoed off the pink marble walls as everyone walked across the polished white floor. From floor to ceiling were the tall windows covered with translucent lavender curtains speckled with gold glitter.
Anthony watches himself in the mirrors. Following Julia to the black piano in the far corner. All gather round the black bench that Julia now sat upon. Seeing the other adults nod to her, she uses the time to breathe slow and steady. Hovering fingers over black and white keys, she begins to play a song.
The sound of slow piano music reverberated off the walls. Completely silencing Julia's small audience to wait and hear her voice.
"Moon, a hole of light. Through the big top tent up high. Here before and after me. Shining down on me."
Melodies floated around the room like a cool evening mist. Five people (and one animal) stood quietly listening with Veruca swaying from side to side and humming along with the music.
Wonka stood closest to her. His hands resting atop the swirled orb of his cane. Feeling completely calm and relaxed by Julia's angelic voice. Regardless of Anthony and Vivian shooting him daggers with their eyes.
When the song ended, Julia was politely applauded. Even by Wonka, who normally would be wildly clapping like an energetic toddler who'd just seen a magic trick.
Coming closer to her, Anthony laid his hand on Julia's back. "That was beautiful. She's always sung with the voice of an angel."
"You already told him that." Veruca sassed, her distaste for repetition shining thru her like silver stars in the night sky.
Vivian snapped her head in the girl's direction. Rebuking her with a scowl formed into her aged features.
What mattered most to Julia in this moment, was what Wonka had thought of her performance. Heart fluttering like fairy wings, she breathed out her joyous relief at receiving his praise.
"You certainly do have a beautiful voice, Julia. One of my dearest friends can sing like you. A lot of people don't like her because she has Nazi flags in almost every room of her house."
Echoes faded into silence. With a close-lipped smile, Wonka cluelessly stares back at everyone else in the room. Including the furry creature on Veruca's shoulder.
Julia gasps. Her fingertips flying up to cover her mouth. "Oh, no."
Squirrel squeaked, and Veruca looked at Wonka with blue eyes full of horror.
Light splattering sounds bounced between the pink marble walls. A warm, wet feeling flowing down Wonka's face shortly before it. Amethyst eyes fall in front of his feet to see the crimson splashes on the white floor.
Putting his fingers to his face, he felt the liquid still flowing out of his nose. Red fluid running down his hand, falling on his clothes, and landing on the floor at a rapid speed. Alarming and disgusting everyone in the room.
While Julia hurries to retrieve any necessary items to help him, Veruca pointed down to the red splatters. "Daddy! He's bleeding on my ballet floor!"
While Wonka held his red cloth to his face, he timidly looks around at his uneasy spectators. "Oh I do apologize. Unfortunately this is something that happens to me from time to time. Nothing to be too terribly worried about." He tries a reassuring laugh, but it just comes out as a weak little "Ha."
"How repulsive." Vivian huffed.
Although Anthony thought he appeared to be nonchalant, Wonka could still see his eyes smirking at his misfortune.
His subtle smirk was gone the moment Julia put her hands on Wonka's bloody face. Using white cloths to assist in slowing the bleeding.
Angina held onto Rupert's arm. Trying to keep her dizzy eyes off the red mess that Julia was stepping in.
Carefully guiding Wonka over towards the piano, the woman in the purple dress slowly sits him down on the bench.
Ten minutes of waiting later, the bleeding finally stopped. Squirrel had tried to be helpful by going to lick up some of the blood, but Veruca had shouted at it to stop doing something so gross.
"There... All better." Julia strokes the tips of his wavy brown hair.
"I don't want you to do that again." Veruca said. Hearing it's owner say this, Squirrel looked at her like she was crazy.
Rupert tries to reason with her. "It isn't his fault, sweetheart. It's not possible to hold blood inside of the body like that."
"Anthony," The well dressed man perks up at hearing Julia's voice speak his name. "It's been lovely having you over tonight." Her arms reach around his body to pull him into an embrace. Anthony holds her as close as she could get. Letting go only after she did.
"I'll see you again soon?"
Anthony smiles at her. "Of course, Julia." He leaned forward and kissed her forehead.
Vivian smirked at the pair. Crossing her arms in satisfaction.
Saying his goodbyes, He shook Rupert's hand and hugged Angina. Vivian also received a hug, and when he went to hug little Veruca, she let her arms limply dangle at her sides. Her face blank and uncaring. Just as she usually did whenever people hugged her.
When Anthony went to leave, Rupert followed behind. As he, along with an oompa loompa waiting inside the factory just beyond the forest, were tasked with escorting him out of the building. Anthony didn't leave the room without shooting Wonka one last glare of hatred.
• • •
Wonka spent the last couple hours of the night in the family's living room. The TV was on, while Veruca sat on the soft carpet trying to teach Squirrel some new tricks. Rupert and Angina were having their evening tea in the sun room. (Or rather, the moon room at this time.)
Wonka sat on the couch with Julia close beside him. Too close for Vivian's liking.
The old woman stared up at the giant painting of her mother. Her kind, crystal blue eyes seemed to stare right back.
Julia noticed the look of resentment Vivian always had towards the painting. She didn't understand it. The painted eyes of Great-Grandmother Julianna always looked so kind. So loving. Why is it that Great Aunt Vivian was the opposite? Shouldn't a loving mother raise a loving child? Grandpa Henry wasn't a cruel or unpleasant person as far as she knew. Then again, sometimes people are just born that way.
Before going off to bed, Vivian simply just says "Goodnight." Then leaves the room.
Not long after Veruca and Squirrel left for bed, Julia had become quite tired herself. Her head laid on Wonka's shoulder while they watched the TV.
They watched a cartoon that showed a vampire playing a red bass guitar in the shape of a double-sided axe. She was singing to try and get a magic door to open with the sound of music.
Julia struggled to keep her eyes open with the vampire singing her to sleep. Almost drifting into a dream, her eyes shot open when the vampire yelled at someone to stop staring at her.
Lifting her head off of Wonka's shoulder, she stretched out her tired arms. "I think I should go to bed."
"Can't we wait until this episode is over?"
Julia chuckles. "You can stay out here if you want. But I can't stay awake." She moves to sit on the edge of the cream-coloured couch. Her head hanging down while she seemingly waited for something. Soft chocolate waves hiding her face from Wonka's view. Turning to look at the man next to her, her eyes were red with need for sleep. She moves in close to him. Mind too tired to be able to think clearly, and plants a three-second kiss on his cheek. "Goodnight, Mr. Wonka." She stands, going off to bed.
Gone and out of sight, Wonka could still feel the warmth of her soft lips against his face. Wide-eyed in utter shock, Wonka made a small wheezing sound before he realized that he was barely even breathing. Laying his gloved hand over his chest, he could feel his heart racing. Was it excitement? Fear? Too much sugar? Maybe it was...
He's just in shock. Yeah. That's it. Shock. He's just surprised is all. What else would it be?
At the end of the episode, Wonka turns off the TV and picks up his cane. He begins to stroll out of the room, but then he stops. Pausing to consider seeing if Julia was still awake.
'Why? Why do I care if she might be awake? What do I even want with her?' Wonka shakes his head.
Proceeding to leave the Salt house, his cane does a little hop in his hand. Out the door and under the moonlight, Wonka walks thru the forest and into the factory. Soon to be in the comfort of his own private suite.