Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

『ˢʰᵉ ᵗᵃˡᵏˢ ᵏⁱⁿᵈᵃ ˡᵃᶻʸ
ᵃⁿᵈ ᵖᵉᵒᵖˡᵉ ˢᵃʸ ˢʰᵉ'ˢ ᶜʳᵃᶻʸ
ᵃⁿᵈ ʰᵉʳ ˡⁱᶠᵉ'ˢ ᵃ ᵐʸˢᵗᵉʳʸ
ᵒʰ, ᵇᵘᵗ ˡᵒᵛᵉ ᵍʳᵒʷˢ ʷʰᵉʳᵉ ᵐʸ ʳᵒˢᵉᵐᵃʳʸ ᵍᵒᵉˢ ᵃⁿᵈ ⁿᵒᵇᵒᵈʸ ᵏⁿᵒʷˢ ˡⁱᵏᵉ ᵐᵉ』

A few years ago, leaving in the middle of the night would have been one of the last things Y/n would have ever wanted to do, especially to her husband, Willy Wonka. Knowing each other since they were 18, when it seemed like their lives were falling apart, they found comfort with each other. Something Willy had only once found with his mother, and Y/n with nobody.

Willy was fast to fall. At 19, he asked Y/n to be his girlfriend, and took careful steps to court her following everything he's seen or heard about. Y/n was unsure about giving him a chance, because she wasn't sure if he knew he wanted to be with her, or was simply lonely. Seeing how eager and persistent he was, it was difficult to turn him down. A chance did end up being given, and it was something the female would never regret.

So here she was, as the h/c haired lady whistled a tune as she hung onto the main mast of the ship. I definitely wasn't the best idea to leave without saying goodbye and leaving a note knowing her was illiterate and still trying to learn, but if she wanted her plan to go right, this chance can't be wasted.

Y/n had only Willy's coat and her own cane she's had since she was 12 years old, along with some special things needed to make money. For the first time in a while Y/n was feeling hopeful. She was about to make her husband's dream come true.

The cold air nipped at Y/n's skin as she stared past the fog at the grand city right before her eyes as the ship docked. Y/n grabbed a rope and descended to the deck before heading to the engine room, where a man helped her slip on her coat and another tossed her suitcase over. Bidding goodbye the woman stepped out onto the deck where a bucket of water was thrown on her boots.

A blond lady gave Y/n a bashful smile when she realized what happened. "Sorry cook!"

Y/n twirled her around before hopping onto a crate being pulled up by the crane. As she passed by the captain he tossed her a small bag full of coins. "Good luck Y/n!"

She quickly thanked him and jumped onto a passing truck as the crane went by, waving goodbye to the crew members she had spent a good amount of time with as she was guided into the city.

She gripped a light pole and spun down it walking further into the snow filled town as a man offered her a restaurant map. She shrugged and gave him a sovereign for it, taking it and taking a brief look through it.

Hearing the sound of scrubbing, Y/n moves the paper out of her view and sees a little curly haired boy holding a hand for a sovereign after shining her right boot. Y/n gave him a tense smile and dropped one in his palm, walking away from him after spotting a fruit stand.

The lady running the stall flashed her a sweet smile as Y/n picked up a pumpkin, examining it. A loud ring rang out and startled the h/c haired woman, making her drop the fruit on the ground, watching as it smashed.

"That's three sovereigns, mate." The dark haired lady held out a hand.

"Three?" Y/n handed them over.

She shrugged unapologetically. "You break my pumpkin, you pay for it."

Y/n rolled her eyes, recounting her coins. "five, six, seven..." She watched as that same boy from earlier finished shining her boots before looking up with an open hand again. The adult pursed her lips before giving him another one.

She barely made it 6 feet away before the boy quickly trailed after her. "Brush your coat ma'am?"

"No thanks."

"Perfume?"

"No, leave me alone!" Y/n jogged away from the kid into the Galeries Gourmet. She marveled at the marble walls and mosaic floor, gazing at the other chocolate shops.

Willy had told her the same stories his mother had told him, and loved the look in his wife's eyes as they lit up with amazement, just like his own did when he was a boy.

Y/n saw a vacant shop with the words 'to rent' on a small sign. She could see it now, the store they had talked about. The name 'Wonka' would be lit up with beautiful swoops, the windows would showcase all the amazing candy creations Willy and her had invented.

An officer noticed her dazed out look and walked up to her, tapping her shoulder, bringing her out of her trance. When she looked at him he pointed to the sign from earlier. 'No daydreaming - Penalty §3.'

Y/n let out a low sigh and gave him the payment, picking up her suitcase and trudging away.

She wandered around until nightfall, trying to find a place that would be cheap enough for her to stay in just for the night. She hopped off the last step of a set of stairs and continued moving, only stopping when she heard the cry of a baby. Turning around, a lady not much older than herself holding said baby slowly walked up to her, trying to keep her child calm.

"Could you spare a sovereign for a place to sleep, love?"

Y/n gave the mother a soft smile and held out the last 3 coins. "Take as much as you need."

The woman grabbed 2 before thanking her, shuffling off.

Y/n fiddled with the last one before flicking it in the air. Catching it, she dropped it in her pocket, but quickly looked down when she realized it had fell through a hole in the clothing and dropped into a drain. Y/n clenched her jaw in annoyance. Her husband hadn't informed her of the stitching needing to be redone.

The female dropped her stuff on a bench and sat down with a heavy sigh.

Chapter Text

『ʸᵒᵘ ᵈᵒⁿ'ᵗ ʰᵃᵛᵉ ᵗᵒ ᵇᵉ ˡⁱᵏᵉ ᵉᵛᵉʳʸᵇᵒᵈʸ ᵉˡˢᵉ
ʸᵒᵘ ᵈᵒⁿ'ᵗ ʰᵃᵛᵉ ᵗᵒ ᶠⁱᵗ ⁱⁿᵗᵒ ᵗʰᵉ ⁿᵒʳᵐ』

Y/n lit a candle as she looked through the restaurant map for no reason. The day hadn't gone as she had hoped. If this was what she was going to face before opening the store then maybe she should have actually told Willy about her plan.

Y/n brushed the thought away as quickly as it had come. No, this was a surprise for her husband, she can't let one single day of setbacks prevent her from completing anything.

Y/n tensed as the sound of growling filled her ears. Looking up, she noticed a bull mastiff stalking in her direction with a snarl on his face. He snapped the fabric of Y/n's pants between his jaws and pulled.

"Knock it off mutt." She tried nudging him off but it didn't work.

"Stop."

The dog back off.

"Sit."

The animal complied to the voice, letting out a whine.

A man stepped out of the shadows, looking tall and rundown as he grinned at the female. "Sorry about Tiddles. He seems to have an unusual interest in your legs."

Y/n nodded uncertainly. "Yeah, I wonder why."

The male laughed. "Maybe your pants were from a mailman, Tiddles would spend all day pursuing postal workers if he could." He glanced down at the dog. "Wouldn't you boy?"

Tiddles barked in agreement.

The man glanced at the candle sitting on top of the suitcase. "You're not planning on sleeping there, are you kid?"

Y/n shrugged it off. "It's no big deal, just for tonight. Everything will be sorted out tomorrow."

"By this time tomorrow you'll be frozen solid."

Y/n rolled her eyes. "Please, that's ridiculous." She tried leaning forward but got stuck. Throwing her weight she stumbled onto her feet and knocked over her suitcase, the candle falling and going out. She grunted and shrugged off her coat, brushing the ice off, and grabbing the fallen items. "Well, I'm not exactly in a position to pay for a room right now."

"Aww, I'm sorry to hear that." The brute faced her once again. "But as luck would have it I know someone who might be able to help you out."

Y/n perked up. "Seriously?"

❆

"Here we are Mrs. Wonka, home."

The man, who introduced himself as Bleacher, led Y/n into a poorer side of the town and over a brick bridge. Tiddles had ran ahead and began scratching on the door of a tall building. A woman's voice could be heard inside tell the dog off.

"If that's you Bleacher, you'd better have my gin."

Bleacher leant down to a slot on the door, grinning. "I have something better than gin Mrs. Scrubitt." The slot slid open and eyes stared at the rugged man. "A guest." He moved away to reveal Y/n standing there boredly.

The woman's eyes widened and creased in a smile. "Oh! Why didn't you say?" She snorted and closed the slot, unlocking the doors and opening them, letting the two in. "Come on in ma'am. Welcome to Scrubitt and Bleacher's Guest House and Laundry, make yourself a home. Warm your cockles by the fire."

Y/n stepped in, letting the warmth envelope her as she looked at laundry sitting on the top shelves behind the counter with a few comfortable looking chairs set in place.

"Gin?"

Y/n sat her suitcase down with her cane leaning against one of the chairs. "Uh-"

"Noodle!"

A skinny, dark skinned girl looking pretty young came into Y/n's view. "Yes Mrs. Scrubitt?"

"Put that book down and get our guest a glass of gin. Poor lady's frozen half to death."

Noodle complied as Y/n crouched by the fire, staring at the flames. "Thank you Mrs. Scrubitt, you and your husband are kind."

Mrs. Scubitt's almost looked appalled. "Husband!? Him?" She guffawed and turned to the man. "You'd love that wouldn't you?"

Y/n glanced back to look at Bleacher who had a weird look on his face. "No."

The little girl set a tray with gin on the counter.

"No I'm holding out for someone far superior to that idle peasant." She nudged her head in the man's direction as she picked up her small glass.

As Noodle walked in her direction, Y/n stood up, slightly stumbling as pain shot through her knee from crouching. She placed her hand on top of the mantel to keep her balance. Ignoring the girl's worried eyes, she grabbed the glass off the tray, clearing her throat. "Thanks kid."

"Chin chin."

The two women down the liquor at the same time. Noodle watched in surprise as Y/n hadn't coughed, choked, or spit out the liquid, simply wincing as the burn ran down her throat. Y/n set the empty glass back on the tray as Noodle left.

"So what is it I can do for you? Room is it?"

"Yes, but..." Y/n reluctantly faced Bleacher who was sitting on one of the chairs.

"Mrs. Wonka is temporarily embarrassed."

Mrs. Scrubitt looked at the young adult in mock astonishment. "Oh no, you don't say."

"Just for right now, I can guarantee it'll change soon."

"Oh yeah?" The blond woman raised an eyebrow. Noodle peeked out from behind a corner

"I'm something of a magician, inventor, and chocolate maker. My husband and I have spent the past seven years travelling the world perfecting our craft, and first thing tomorrow at the Galeries Gourmet, I plan to unveil our most astonishing creation yet. I present to you..." Y/n reached into the inside of her coat and pulled something out.

"A teapot?" Mrs. Scrubitt stared unimpressed.

"N-no, this is just for tea." Y/n set the yellow pot down and reached back in pulling out carrots this time. "No...One second..." She shrugged the plum coat off and rummaged through all the pockets as Noodle giggled from her spot.

"Don't you worry Ms. Wonka-"

"Mrs." Y/n quickly corrected.

"...Mrs. Wonka, I can see you're a woman of great ingenuity and we've got just the thing for you: the Entrepreneurial Package."

Noodle silently gasped and ran off.

"The room's one sovereign a night but you don't have to pay until six tomorrow. That give you long enough to earn a few pennies?"

Y/n quickly shoved her belongings back in the coat and nodded. "More than enough, thank you."

Mrs. Scrubbit turned and grabbed a thin book off the shelf. "Oh it's the least I could do for a stranger in need." She plopped it on the counter and flipped it open. "Now, sign here and we're all done." She handed the guest a pen.

Y/n leaned down to look at the paper but paused, noticing Noodle staring at her through a small hatch.

"Read the small print." She whispered.

Y/n squinted her eyes in confusion. Mrs. Scrubitt followed her gaze and frowned when she saw Noodle.

Storming over to the hatch she slammed it shut. "Thank you Noodle that'll do!" She faced Y/n with a smile.

"What'd she say?"

"Who's than then?"

"The girl."

"What girl?"

"That girl, Noodle. She said something but I didn't make it out."

Scrubitt waved her hands. "Oh, you don't wanna listen to Noodle, Mrs. Wonka. She's damaged."

"Damaged?" Y/n raised an eyebrow.

"Orphan syndrome." The blond woman clarified.

"Orphan syndrome?"

"Orphan syndrome." Bleacher reiterated.

"Orphan syndrome." Y/n repeated it to herself.

"She was put down the laundry chute when she was a bab. I took her in out of the goodness of my heart and I've done my best, Mrs. Wonka, honest I have, but she's been left with a suspicious nature. She sees conspiracy everywhere."

"Right..." Y/n gave her a weird look before reading the small section of the terms and conditions. It was just telling her to pay up at a certain time and to not be disturbing, etc. Y/n uncapped the pen and signed her first and last name.

"Welcome to Scrubitt!" The lady chirped as she dinged the bell on the counter. Mrs. Scrubitt leads Y/n up a main staircase into her room. "Here you are Mrs. Wonka, the entrepreneurial suite. There's your four-poster, and your sink plus soap and there's a little mint on your poster." Y/n thanked her once more before the lady left to let her get settled in.

Chapter Text

『ᵐʸ ᵇᵃᵇʸ, ʰᵉʳᵉ ᵒⁿ ᵉᵃʳᵗʰ
ˢʰᵒʷᵉᵈ ᵐᵉ ʷʰᵃᵗ ᵐʸ ʰᵉᵃʳᵗ ʷᵃˢ ʷᵒʳᵗʰ』

The next morning as dawn broke out, Y/n got herself ready and felt in a much better mood than yesterday. This was the day things were going to be turned around, and progress was going to be made.

She made sure she was one of the first people at the Galeries Gourmet and waited for exactly 10 o'clock am as the doormen opened the gates. She moved past affluent shoppers to stand in front of the vacant store from the day before, setting her stuff down and looking down at her wedding ring. "For you and your mama, Will." She whispered.

Y/n stood her cane upright and stepped on the case. She pulled the top of the cane to make it taller as a little arm sprung out and a tiny blue flag with a golden 'W' uncurled.

"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OF THE GALERIES GOURMET!"

The crowd of passersby turned their attention to the female.

"My name is Y/n Wonka, and I have come to show you a marvellous morsel, an incredible edible, an unbeatable eatable the likes of which this world has never seen, so quieten up and listen down, there's so much time and so little to do." She paused, grinning wildly. "Wait a minute. Scratch that. Reverse it.”  She revealed a tiny colored egg. "I present to you the Hoverchoc."

"In a jungle near Mumbai,
There’s a little hover-fly,
Whose wings go at a thousand flaps a sec
And that’s no lie!
These microscopic fleas
Like chocolate more than leaves,
And when asked nicely lay precisely
One little egg in each of these!"

She watched as the crowd moved closer to her as she pulled out a jar filled with Hoverchocs from her bag.

"When it hatches from its shell,
It gives a happy yell!
How thrilling to be living in
A chocolate hotel!
It beats its wings with glee,
And then as you will see,
The chocolate will levitate
And float most gracefully..."

She pulled the lid off and held it up as the eggs floated into the air as the crowd gasped. She handed the empty jar off to a little girl.

"Well there's chocolate,
And there's chocolate!"

Y/n grabbed her cane and twirled it in the air, the chocolates following with ease.

"Only mine can make your eyes
Pop out their socke-lets!
Put your hand into your pocke-let!
Get yourself some Wonka chocolate!
Come now I insist,"

The little girl handed the jar back to Y/n as the eggs zoomed back inside.

"You've never had chocolate like this!
No, you've never had chocolate like this!"

She put the lid back on as the crowd burst into applause. She smiled at the flock of people as the cheers died down. "Who wants to try one?"

People started raising their hands before someone interrupted.

"I will!" It was a dark skinned man wearing a navy blue suit walked through the crowd.

It was Slugworth, Y/n recognized him from the newspaper clipping Willy had shown her multiple times, admiring the man, as well as the other 2 making their way past people. Fickelgruber was a tall, spindly, man who Y/n thought looked like a snob. And finally Prodnose, who was short, round and dim, and clearly wearing a toupée as Y/n pointed out to her husband.

Slugworth held a hand out. Y/n gave him a handshake and glanced at their hands when she realized he was squeezing it. Y/n gave him a sick smile and squeezed harder, watching as he struggled to hide his wince. "An honor." She spoke dryly.

Slugworth yanked his hand way, keeping his composure. "Now come along, let's try one of these so-called 'Hoverchocs.'"

Y/n unscrewed the lid and let the 3 men each take one, popping it in their mouths.

"Ooh! It's not just chocolate, is it? There's... marshmallow." Slugworth was struggling to hide a smile.

"Harvested from the mallow-marshes of Peru." She finished.

Fickelgruber continued. "And caramel. But it's... " He struggled to find the words.

"Salted. With the bittersweet tears of a Russian clown." She turned her attention to Prodnose, ready to finish his thoughts.

"And is that... Surely not! Cherry?"

"Cherry-picked by the pick of the cherry-pickers from the Imperial Gardens in Japan." Y/n beamed. "And where I married my husband."

The crowd murmured at the thoughts as some 'awwed' about Y/n's last sentence.

The 3 men shared a glance. "Well, Ms Wonka-"

"Mrs." Y/n corrected Slugworth.

He tensed his jaw. "Mrs. Wonka, I've been in this business a very long time, and I can safely say, that of all the chocolate I've ever tasted, this is without doubt, the absolute one hundred percent worst."

"YES! There we- wait what did you just say?" Y/n quickly spun around to glare at the man.

"We three are the fiercest of rivals but we agree on one thing. A good chocolate should be simple, plain, uncomplicated." Slugworth stepped closer, the others following.

"Whereas this, with all its bells and whistles, well, it's just..." Fickelgruber waved his hands around.

"Weird." Prodnose finished.

Y/n leaned towards them all. "You know you really shouldn't mumble, 'cause I can't hear a word you're saying." She stepped back and spoke louder so the onlookers could hear. "If you hated the chocolate, you're not gonna like what happens next." She shrugged unapologetically.

Everyone watched as Slugworth started levitating in the air.

"What's happening? What's going on!?"

"That's the hoverfly!" Fickelgruber and Prodnose began floating up too. "It's broken out of its cocoon and is flapping its wings like billy-o!"

The crowd chattered in excitement at what was presented before them as Prodnose's toupée fell off as he turned upside down.

"You mean a fly's doing this?!" Prodnose asked as he reached for the hair piece being handed back to him.

"Yup, I wouldn't worry though. It's completely unharmful. In about twenty minutes, it'll get tired and exit through your rear."

"You what?!"

"She means we're going to fart them out of our boddies!"

"Yes I know what she means!"

"You're off your rocker, Wonka!" Slugworth shouted down at the woman.

"Thank you!" She grinned maniacally at the man who felt a shudder go through him. That look told him she wouldn't care too much if he died from this height.

"Who in their right mind would want a chocolate that makes you fly?!" He continued.

"Let's find out! Who wants one!?" She sang, letting them out as people dropped sovereigns in and fluttering into the air.

A duchess floats past with her dog on a lead, an elderly nun is doing somersaults, everyone is just having the time of their lives as Y/n watched. Y/n spins around before spotting at Noodle, giving her an exaggerated wink as the girl giggled and waved back.

"Alright, folks! Nothing to see here! Just a small group of people defying the laws of gravity. Hook 'em, boys." The chief of police announced as the officers following began dragging people on sticks.

The officer from yesterday walks up to Y/n. "I'm afraid we've had some complaints about you miss."

"Complaints?" She scoffed.

"That you've been disrupting the trade of other businesses. I'm regrettably obliged to move you on and confiscate your earnings."

The chief walks by and snatches the jar from Y/n, who glares at him. "What the hell!?"

"Don't worry, it's going to a good cause. Sick kids or something." He stalked off, dragging the nun behind him.

Y/n stared at the officer, who looked a tiny bit apologetic. "Sorry, miss. Rules is rules."

The woman's shoulders slumped, upset. "Can I at least have a sovereign? I need to pay for my room."

The officer looked around before giving her one. "Here."

"Thanks." She watched as the male walked off.

❆

Y/n trudged back to Mrs. Scrubitt's, more upset than she had been previously. She wanted to do something nice for her husband for once because he was always doing stuff for her and everything goes to shit. How was she supposed to travel back home and tell Willy about how big of a mistake she made. She single-handedly ruined his dream.

Walking inside the laundry house, Scrubitt looked at her. "Evening Mrs. Wonka. How'd it go?"

"Not good."

"Oh shame. Well I'm afraid we do have to settle up now." She stood behind the counter.

"Right, here you are." She slid the sovereign across the wood.

Scrubitt made a face. "A sovereign for the room, but you have incurred a few extras during the course of your residency with us."

"Excuse me?" Y/n furrowed her brows.

The lady grinned. "Yes, you have." She opened the thin book. "There was that glass of gin you had when you arrived. And if I remember rightly, you warmed your cockles by the fire."

Bleacher walked in and bolted the door. "She did indeed, Mrs. Scrubitt."

"Cockle-warming is extra, see?"

Bleacher bolted the other door as well. "Used the stairs to get to his room and all."

"Oh, Then you've got your stair charge, and that's per step, I'm afraid, up and down. Now tell me, Mrs. Wonka, did you happen to use the mini-bar?"

"There's a mini bar?"

"Mini-bar of soap." Y/n jumped as Bleacher came up behind her.

"By the sink." Scrubitt told her.

"Well, yeah but-"

"Ooh hoo!" Bleacher chortled.

"See, even Bleacher knows you never touch the mini-bar and he was raised in a ditch."

The brute's smile dropped.

"Add in your mattress hire, linen lease, pillow penalty and you're looking at... ten thousand sovereigns."

Y/n slammed her hands on the counter. "Are you serious!?"

"All in the small print, deary."

"I read the small print it was never there!"

Scrubitt pulled the bottom of the contract and yards of paper with more words etched on unfolded.

Y/n felt her heart stop. "I can't afford that."

"Then we have a problem, Mrs. Wonka." Bleacher began advancing on the female.

"You’ll need to work it off in the Wash House. At a sovereign a day!"

"But that's ten thousand days-"

"Twenty seven years..."

"Four months..." Bleacher began pushing the girl backwards and wouldn't budge no matter how hard she pushed back.

"And sixteen days!"

Bleacher gave Y/n one more push as her knees hit the back of a laundry chute and she fell back, tipping over. She grunted as she slid down the dirty tube and landed in a soft pile of laundry. She threw the sheets off and stared at the man looking at her.

Chapter Text

『ᵉᵛᵉʳʸᵗʰⁱⁿᵍ'ˢ ᵖᵉʳᶠᵉᶜᵗ ʰᵉʳᵉ, ᵃⁿᵈ ᵗʰᵉ ˢᵘⁿ ⁱˢ ˢʰⁱⁿⁱⁿᵍ
ᵉᵛᵉʳʸᵗʰⁱⁿᵍ'ˢ ᵖᵉʳᶠᵉᶜᵗ ʰᵉʳᵉ, ᵗʰᵉʳᵉ'ˢ ⁿᵒᵇᵒᵈʸ ᶜʳʸⁱⁿᵍ』

"Ah! You must be Mrs. Wonka."

She gave the man a once over. "Who are you?"

He stood. "Abacus Crunch, Chartered Accountant. At least, I was. Now I er..."

A dark skinned woman walks over to Y/n. "He runs the place. And you'd best do as he says or you'll answer to me. Piper Benz, plumber by trade." She gave Y/n a hand getting out of the basket.

"This is Miss Lottie Bell." Said woman gave an awkward smile and a small wave.

"She don't talk much." Piper shrugged.

"I'm Larry Chucklesworth." His bow tie spun in circles. "Comedian."

Abacus made a face.

"They got you all too?"

"I'm afraid so. Each of us found ourselves in need of a cheap place to stay and neglected to read the small print." The older man walked over.

Piper stared off into space. "One moment of stupidity followed by endless regret."

"Sounds like my third marriage!" Larry laughed. His smile fell at the silence. "I'm sorry, I do that a lot."

"He does."

"A lot."

"I've only been married once and it didn't work out." The curly haired male mumbled.

Y/n ignored him and frantically looked around. "There's gotta be a way out of here."

"You don't think we've tried? There's bars on the windows, the dog's on the door..."

"And even if you could get out, that contract is watertight."

"If you're not here at roll call, Mrs Scrubitt'll call the police, they'll bring you right back and she'll charge you a thousand for the inconvenience." Piper mocked Scrubiit.

Tiddles barked and Y/n quickly moved away from him.

"Alright everyone, back to work." Abacus ordered. "Come with me, Mrs. Wonka, I'll show you the ropes." He led her to a section with two huge copper vats. "You’re in here. On suds."

"First you pick up the apparel Then you stick it in a barrel Scrub Scrub!"

Y/n took the stick handed to her and began mixing the clothes and liquid.

"Then you take it to the mangle
And you turn the giant handle
Scrub Scrub!
Then it's hung up really high
Until it's nearly dry
Scrub Scrub!
But when we sing this song
The day don't seem so long Scrub Scrub!
It's still long though"

Day had quickly turned to night with all the work keeping the adults busy.

"Gotta press out all the creases
From the dresses and chemises
Rub Rub!
Gotta fold 'em like they told us
Or they'll scold us and withhold our
Grub Grub!"

Bleacher blew a whistle signaling the end of the day and let's the group out into the other building.

"We all signed the dotted line
So we've gotta do our time
Scrub Scrub!"

Bleacher and Scrubitt relished in the miserable faces of the adults.

"And if you don't agree,
See Clause 5 Section 7a
Paragraph 22 Part d which says..."

"Scrub Scrub!"

Y/n followed Piper and Lottie to the women's side of the rooms as everyone went into their rooms and shut the doors. She stepped inside her own room and looked around. It was in incredibly worse condition than the room from the night before. It was cramped, the light continuously flickered and water dripped from the ceiling into buckets set around. She stepped by them, being careful to not knock them over and looked outside as the snow fell.

Knocks sounded on the door frame. "Room service."

Y/n turned and faced Noodle, who carried a bucket of something unknown, setting down.

"I told you to read the small print."

"I have mild hearing loss, so I can't exactly hear whispers, and still have trouble reading lips."

"I see. At least you've got a bed."

Y/n shuffled over to it and dropped her weight on it, the legs giving out and slamming on the ground. "Wha..."

"You had a bed. Desk. And wash basin slash toilet."

Y/n made a face. "Ugh."

"Water comes in two temperatures. 'Cold' and 'Colder'." She filled a cup with water. "How much do you owe them?"

"Ten thousand."

"Count yourself lucky. I owe thirty."

Y/n gaped at her incredulously. "How do you owe them money? They said they found you in a laundry chute."

Noodle nodded. "Oh they did. Took me in out of the goodness of their hearts and charged me for the privilege." She dumped the cup of water in the bucket.

"I can't believe that." The adult shook her head.

Noodle shrugged and picked up the bucket, dropping a scoop of something in a bowl.. "The greedy beat the needy everytime Mrs. Wonka. Guess it’s just the way of the world." She began walking out the door.

"Come on, kid, that's just your orphan syndrome talking." Y/n teased.

Noodle appeared right back. "My what?"

"Orphan syndrome." She reiterated. "And we're not gonna be eating whatever that stuff is." She gestured to the bowl. "Hand me my cane."

Noodle complied and watched as Y/n used it to stand up, wincing as she did. "Do you have knee problems?"

Y/n nodded. "Had them since I was 12, that's why I got the cane." She moved over to the desk, pulling the case on.

"What are you doing?"

Y/n grinned, looking back at the girl. "I'm making chocolate obviously. How do you like it? Dark? White? Nutty? Absolutely insane?" She tilted her head down to her shoulder.

Noodle struggled. "I don't know, I've never had any."

Y/n stared at her like she was the crazy one between the two. "You...never...you never had chocolate?" The words came out breathlessly.

"No."

"Are you serious!? You've never had chocolate!?"

"Still no."

The adult sighed and opened the case, showcasing off every little ingredient that was stored inside. "Fortunately I have a selection of the world's finest ingredients right here in my travel factory."

Noodle walked closer in amazement, looking at everything. "Woah!"

Y/n cleaned her hands. "Alright, now I'm thinking Silver Linings! Made of condensed thunder clouds and liquid sunlight. My husband says it helps you see that faint ray of hope beyond the shadow of despair. Seems fitting."

Watching her add the ingredients, Noodle couldn't help herself. "Did you always want to make chocolate?"

"Oh no, that was my husband, Willy. It's always been his dream, him and his mama. I never figured out what I wanted to do, it was just me because I didn't have anyone. Until I met Will, and he told me about his dream, and soon I became apart of that dream. I want to bring Will here right before we open the shop, so his dream is fulfilled and he can learn the secret his mama promised to tell him."

Noodle gave her a sad smile, watching as Y/n pulled a lever on the makeshift factory as it dinged, the thundercloud and lightning sweet sliding out.

"Try it."

Noodle tentatively took a bite, smiling as the unique sweetness invaded her mouth, making a tiny smile come to her face. It didn't seem to last long as she frowned, setting it on the table. "I wish you hadn't of done that."

Y/n grew worried. "Why? Is it too bitter?"

"No, I like it, it's just...now each day I don't have chocolate, it'll be a little harder."

"Then how would you like to have all the chocolate you can eat every day for the rest of your life?"

"A lifetime supply?"

Y/n nodded.

Noodle looked at her suspiciously. "What would I have to do?"

"Not much, just get me out of here." Y/n shrugged like it was no big deal.

"Are you crazy!?" Noodle quickly stood up.

Y/n shushed her. " It's easy! I'll get someone to cover my shift and you can smuggle me out in your laundry cart-"

"But I-"

"just for a few hours, kid. Nobody would know I was gone."

"What's the point of that?" The girl asked her with sass.

"To sell chocolate, obviously. We'll split the profits and pay off Mrs. Scrubitt in no time. Then I can pay for Will to come join us."

Noodle sighed. "It's a nice idea Y/n..."

"It's a great idea, I came up with." The woman moved to the window once more.

"But it's never gonna work."

Y/n ignored her. "Eat your chocolate."

Noodle did, not giving up on dissuading her. "You don't understand. Mrs Scrubitt's like a hawk. She keeps her beady eye on everything that comes in and out of the Wash House. Except... huh."

Y/n faced the kid. "What?'

Noodle shook her head. "No, it's nothing."

"Oh." Y/n turned her attention back to the window with a smile growing on her face.

"Huh!"

"Double huh!" She spun around, getting closer to Noodle. "That's an idea, courtesy of the silver linings!

Noodle gave her a look before relenting. "Okay. So the one time she dropped her guard was when this aristocrat came into the laundry. He was only asking for directions but she was all over him like a rash. It was disgusting." She shuddered.

"I can imagine, but that's our ticket. We just need to find an aristocrat and slip out while she's distracted." Y/n grabbed her own piece of chocolate and chewed on it, mulling it over.

"Yeah, but where are we going to find an aristocrat?"

Y/n shrugged. "Huh."

"Huh?"

"Huh!"

"A double huh!" Noodle grinned.

Y/n turned back to her. "Do have something to write with?"

"Uh-huh."

Y/n smiled. "I got an idea."

Chapter Text

『ⁱ ᶠᵉˡᵗ ⁱᵗ ⁱⁿ ᵐʸ ᶜʰᵉˢᵗ ᵃˢ ˢʰᵉ ˡᵒᵒᵏᵉᵈ ᵃᵗ ᵐᵉ
ᴵ ᵏⁿᵉʷ ʷᵉ ʷᵉʳᵉ ᵇᵒᵘⁿᵈ ᵗᵒ ᵇᵉ ᵗᵒᵍᵉᵗʰᵉʳ』

The next morning Bleacher did roll call. "Bell. Benz. Chucklesworth. Crunch. Wonka."

Y/n walked past the brute but paused when she heard Scrubitt shout down at them.

"Bleacher! Toilet's blocked again!"

Bleacher looked up and rolled his eyes.

Y/n sighed in fake adoration. "Oh just listen to that. Reminds me of the love between me and my dear husband." She continued walking before Bleacher stopped her.

"What's that?"

"What? You can't tell me you don't see it." Y/n tilted her head.

"What?"

"She's madly in love with you."

Bleacher scoffed. "Mrs. Scrubitt?"

"Why wouldn't she be? Look at you: a fine figure of a man. You just need to tidy yourself up a bit, get some new clothes, have a bath."

"A bath?" He acted like the word was foreign to him.

Y/n nodded, leaning closer to whisper. "You've never heard the saying?"

Bleacher copied her actions. "Saying?"

"She'll be thankful for an ankle, and pleased to see your knees, but if you want to make her sigh, show her some thigh."

Bleacher grinned maniacally before the atmosphere was broken by Scrubiit. "Bleacher! It's overflowing now!" He shoved Y/n into the Wash House.

ᯓ★

"First you pick up the apparel
And you put it in the barrel
Scrub Scrub!"

Y/n listened to the singing as she walked around the rooms, grabbing objects she needed, ignoring the stares of the other on her.

"Then you take it to the mangle
Making sure you don’t get strangled
Scrub Scrub!"

Y/n grabbed a ladder that Lottie was standing on and walked off. "Tiddles, here you go buddy!" The dog jumped up from his spot and ran after the scrap of fabric from Y/n's pants. She shut the door behind her as Tiddles ran in.

"Something must be going wrong
Cos we never change our song
Scrub Scrub!"

After a bit Y/n called everybody to her where she pushed away the coverings of her work, revealing a machine being powered by Tiddles. "Ladies and Gentlemen, may I present a brand new contraption of my own creation, an innovation in laundrification."

"Scrub scrub!" The four watched, confused.

"Now let me ask you something. How does Tiddles want to spend his time? Running after mailmen!" Tiddles barked. "And what do I have to do all day?"

"Scrub scrub!" They started smiling.

"Yes! Well with Wonka's Wild and Wonderful Wishy Washy Wonka-Walker -- please don't make me say it again --he gets to run while we can have fun."

"Scrub scrub!" Everyone followed one of the baskets that slid past them.

Y/n walked by them and got inside the dumbwaiter. "I'll be back soon. For now Tiddles has agreed to-"

"Scrub scrub!"

She flipped the switch and was lifted upwards, fixing a laundry bag over herself and threw her body into the laundry basket when she got to the top as Noodle wheeled her out.

ᯓ★

When they got over the bridge Noodle stopped pulling the cart and opened the bag, peering in. "All clear."

Y/n shuffled around as she got out of the cloth and then out of the cart. "Good job Noodle." She ruffled the adolescent's hair.

"I can't believe it worked."

Y/n nodded. "I made a good amount of chocolate for us to start out with today." She reached inside her coat pocket and pulled out a jar. "It's..." the woman trailed off as she realized there was nothing inside. "Shit." She huffed under her breath, hoping the adolescent didn't hear.

Noodle looked between the jar and Y/n's face. "What's going on Y/n? Where are the chocolates?"

"Look kid, there's a reasonable explanation for this, but I don't know if you'll accept it...an orange man with green hair, about this tall," She spaced her hands apart. "He always shows up during the night when me and Will are sleeping and takes the chocolate. It's been happening for 3 or 4 years now."

"Really?" Noodle nodded along with fake interest.

"And when I catch him..."

Noodle rolled her eyes. "Y/n! Your right, I don't accept that!"

The h/c haired female shrugged. "Knew it. Well what other reason could there be?"

"That you and your husband go to sleep, dream about green men-"

"Orange." She corrected.

"-and while you're dreaming, stuff your face with chocolate!"

Y/n looked off into the distance in thought. "That actually sounds reasonable." She shook her head. "For Willy, not me."

Noodle shook her head and spun around. "Why did I ever think this would work?" She stomped off. "Stupid silver linings."

"Hey!" Y/n's head snapped to the girl. "Don't insult the chocolate!"

The teen marched towards the adult. "If Ms. Scrubbit had spotted us, I'd be in the coop right now!"

Y/n frowned, starting to feel the guilt creep inside her. "Look, I'm sorry, okay? I can make more chocolate..." She bit the inside of her cheek, thinking. "But I need more milk."

Noodle looked around, eyes settling on a doorstep with milk bottles. "That's not a problem." She held up a full milk bottle. "Milk?"

The woman's eyes widened and she snatched it from the short girl, putting it back. "While I would normally not mind stealing this, A) my husband will somehow find out, and B) it's a special kind of milk: Giraffe Milk."

Noodle sighed. She didn't believe Y/n's husband would actually find out about the stealing but decided not to argue. "Ok, fine. As a matter of fact, there's one at the zoo."

Y/n grinned, swerving around and began heading in a random direction.

"But A) the zoo's not that way..." Noodle caught Y/n's arm as she walked by. "...and B) they're not just gonna let you just walk in there and milk it."

"That, my dear girl, is why we're very lucky the little orange man didn't find this." Y/n showcased the top of her cane, pressing the top of it. The two females watched as it opened and revealed a tiny present box.

Noodle looked up at Y/n. "What are we gonna do with that?"

"I'm glad you asked..."