#also I'll take my burger medium thanks

[phoebeprufrock]

Chapter 8: Something Is Rotten In The State Of Denmark

Pairing: F/M, Midge/Lenny (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel) Rating, Chapter(s), WC: Rated M, Chapter 8/22 is 3.7K Tags: #Romance #Medium-speed burn #Mild Hurt/Comfort #Fluff #Humor #Canon-adjacent Warnings: #canon-typical drinking and smoking #mentions of drug use #Palladinos-typical chaos #Susie-typical swearing #self-indulgent descriptions of Europe Chapter summary: Unpleasant traveling occurs, Midge and Lenny have a conversation, and a lot of food is discussed. Previous chapter | Chapter 1

Read on AO3 or see commentary and author notes after the break.

This chapter marks the beginning of the angstier part of the story, Midge and Lenny have a lot of stuff to work through and they haven't really faced any of it yet... But rest assured, it won't veer into particularly more angsty than the show has been so far, and it will still be funny (though that's mostly dependent on my writing, lol). They're off to London next chapter, and it's something a little bit different - but I've had a really great time writing it, so I hope you'll like it too.

Here's a picture of the Nyhavn harbor (where they have gløgg on their first night) in 1958:

And today, so you can see the colorful houses:

The first picture - the only one I could find of the time - is taken a bit further down from where the bars are, so the second one is closer to where they actually are. It's a truly beautiful place, and it's the most photographed place in the city for a reason. I had to put them somewhere nice to compensate for the Rostock-Gedser ferry, which is the absolutely worst place I've ever been in and unfortunately also the most convenient way to go from Germany to Denmark without taking a plane.

Onto my food rant!

Danish(es?): Okay, technically, they do have danish pastries in Denmark, but a) it’s not what they’re called; b) they’re fairly different from what you’d get in the US when you ask for a Danish (why you would even put cream cheese on puff pastry is beyond me…); and most importantly c) clueless Midge is my favorite Midge.

Frikadeller: the burger/meatball they’re eating is called frikadeller. It’s not strictly a street food, though most hot dog vendors also have them, and it’s genuinely delicious and the healthy kind of greasy.

Gløgg: listen, gløgg/mulled wine in general is a very polarizing subject, but I am firmly in the camp that the best one is the Danish one (don’t @ me Germans). The spice blend is exceptional, and getting to eat the boozy nuts and raisins at the bottom is an excellent treat.

Smørrebrød: alright, I’ll just say it: smørrebrød is disgusting. it’s not just that danish bread is gross and frankly, shouldn’t count as bread (it’s a moist patty of grains?! It’s brown and has like, four different consistencies?! THAT'S NOT BREAD), but there’s not a single topping that’s acceptable food. There’s like a weird fried fish thing that’s not too evil, but then all the sauces are either sour or generally gross. 0/10, would not recommend unless you've lost your taste buds.

Roast duck: my Danish friend’s mom made it for me once and it was the absolutely most delicious thing I’ve ever had. I’m talking crunchy skin, layers of nice melt-in-your-mouth fat, and tender, savory meat that goes perfectly with that sweet berry sauce. To this day I have no clue what kind of berry Danes put in their sauce - or rather, I have no idea what they're called. All I know is, they're red and I've never seen them outside of Scandinavia. It’s a shame traditional Danish restaurant in Copenhagen are all ridiculously expensive or bad, because their dinner food is really, really, really good.

Bonus, a pic of the famous Malmö windmill:

I have no idea why it's there, but everyone always goes, "Oh, a windmill!" like it's the most incredible thing they've ever seen. Although it's probably because it's just sitting there in the middle of a city park.

As always, thank you for reading, and I'll see you in London!

[127neos]

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* 04 ✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*

JOHNNY SUH SHORT FIC

"welcome ma'am/sir to joh's coffee what can i get for you both?!"

"oh one iced americano for her and a choco frappuccino for me, venti size, that's all."

"one iced americano and choco frappe coming right up!" sabay abot ng binata sa customer ng isang coaster pager (yung nagvivibrate kapag ikaw na yung iseserve)

masayang pinagmasdan ng binata ang dalawang magkasintahan na tumuloy sa kanyang coffee shop. ilang months palang simula nang magbukas ang dream coffee shop ni johnny ay tila ba naging patok na ito, bukod kase sa masarap ang timpla ng kanyang mga kape ay gwapo rin ang nagseserve nito mismo. hindi napigilang magbalik tanaw ni johnny noong mga panahong dumaan siya sa hirap para lamang makamit niya kung anong meron siya ngayon.

- 5 years ago -

"John, magbreak na tayo hindi ko na kaya ito" sambit ng dalaga.

"no, please Y/N! wag mo gawin sa akin ito! kung pagod ka pwede naman tayong magpahinga muna, sabihan mo lang ako i can give you some space if you want to, just please don't leave me again!" pagmamakaawa ng binata.

"i'm so sorry john, i love you pero masyado nang masakit para sa part ko ito, i need you to let go of me na kase alam ko pati ikaw naapektuhan sa mga nangyayari sa atin."

"that's bullshit! kahit gaano pa ako maapektuhan niyan never kitang susukuan Y/N! alam mo kung baket?! kase mahal na mahal kita and sayo ko lang ipinangako na ikaw yung una at huling babae na mamahalin at papakasalan ko pagdating ng panahon."

"pero mukhang malabo na mangyari yun ngayon, hindi ko kaya na makita kang nagdurusa at nasasaktan nang dahil sa mga kagagawan ko, mahal na mahal kita John pero i can't bear to see you face all of the consequences just because of my stupid mistakes, maybe i'm just too good for you, maybe i'm not the girl that was destined for you and i believe na one day mahahanap mo rin yung babae na talagang itinadhana para sa iyo yung tipo na hindi ka masasaktan dahil sa pagmamahal mo sakanya, i'm sorry i broke my promise na sabay nating itatayo yung dream coffee shop mo, i'm sorry kung wala na ako sa tabi mo kapag nangyari yun"

"paano kung ikaw yung babae na talagang itinadhana sa akin? paano kung ayoko na maghanap pa ng iba dahil nahanap ko na talaga? paano kung sabihin ko sayo na never na ako ulit magmamahal ng iba dahil sayo lang ako natutong magmahal ng ganito?"

"i'm really sorry John, i hope you understand me this decision is for the best of both of us, i love you so much John tuloy mo parin yung pangarap mo even without me by your side because you deserve that, gooodbye." marahang hinalikan ng dalaga ang noo ng binata habang natulo ang mga luha nito sa magkabilang pisngi, sobrang sakit para sakanya ang hiwalayan at palayain ang taong minahal niya sa loob ng tatlong taon ngunit hindi niya matiis na makitang nasasaktan ito sa bawat desisyon na kanyang ginagawa dahil si John mismo ang sumasalo sa lahat ng mga kinahihinatnan ng kanyang mga ginagawa kaya mabuti na lamang na palayain niya na ito.

sa isang iglap ay nawala na ang dalaga sa paningin ng binata. pagkatapos nito makipaghiwalay kay Johnny ay nagpursigi siya na pumuntang ibang bansa at magtrabaho dun bilang isang barista, 2 taon siya nagtrabaho dun hanggang sa nakapag-ipon na siya ng pera na sapat para makapagpatayo siya ng sarili niyang coffee shop na matagal niya ng pangarap. dati ay ipinangako pa sakanya ng dating nobya na sabay silang magaalis ng ribbon para sa opening ng kanyang coffee shop ngunit mag isa na lamang niyang nagawa iyon dahil wala na ang babaeng nagpangako sa kanya nun.

tila ba parang sariwa pa rin ang sakit na naramdaman niya sa tuwing naalala niya ang mga bagay na iyon, ramdam pa rin niya ang sakit na naidulot nito sa kanya. walang araw na hindi inisip ni Johnny ang kalagayan ng dating nobya.

"kumain na kaya siya?!"

"sana nasa mabuting kalagayan siya ngayon at sana masaya siya"

"hindi ko na yata kayang magmahal pa ng iba kung hindi ikaw yun"

"kung papapiliin ako, ikaw parin ang pipiliin ko"

"mahal na mahal kita Y/N walang araw na hindi ka sumagi sa isipan ko, palagi paring nakatatak yung pangalan mo sa isip at puso ko"

Johnny was snapped back to reality nang marinig niya ang pagsasalita ng isang customer.

"uhmm, excuse me yung order po namin?!"

"oh sorry, one iced americano and choco frappe for customer no.77, here's your order ma'am/sir thank you and come again"

"nakakapagod pala mag-take ng mga orders, hayzt!" napagdesisyunan muna ni johnny magpahinga saglit at lumabas para bumili ng kanyang pwedeng meryendahin, ipinagkatiwala niya muna yung shop sa mga tauhan niya roon. nagtungo siya sa jollibee para bumili ng burger at fries pang-meryenda na rin niya. habang na-order ang binata ay napansin niyang may umiiyak na bata sa gilid ng counter. knowing johnny meron siyang soft spot sa mga bata since dati ay gustong gusto niya na talaga magka-anak at maging isang ama.

"hi, what's your name!?"

" a-amber po" patuloy pa rin sa paghikbi ang batang babae sa gilid ng counter.

"hi amber, uhmm,,, why are you crying?!" tanong ng binata sa batang babae.

"my mommy doesn't want to buy me kase the jolly toy na i want eh" sambit ng bata.

"if i buy you the toy ba you won't cry na!?" tanong ng binata.

"yes i promise po" she gestured a "cross my heart" to johnny after saying that.

"ok sige wait kalang dyan ah i will order muna"

"ok po"

"may i take your order sir!?"

"miss isa ngang burger with fries, yung drinks medium lang na iced tea and also samahan mo na rin ng kiddie meal yung may laruan na pang babae sana"

"ok po sir, anong choice of toy nalang po para sa kiddie meal!?"

"amber which toy do you want!?"

"i want the doll one po" tugon ni amber.

"sige, miss I'll get the doll one yung color pink"

"that would be all po ba!?"

"yes, thank you."

after 20 mins dumating na rin ang order ni johnny at ibinigay na nito ang ipinangakong laruan sa batang babae.

"here amber, take this since you promised me na you won't cry na, sige babye amber pakabait ka ah! "

"sige babye po! thank you po!" pagpapasalamat ng batang babae, bakas sa mga mata nito ang saya at galak kitang kita rin ang pagporma ng kurba sa kanyang mga labi kasabay ang paglitaw ng mga maliliit na dimples nito sa magkabilang pisngi dahil nabigyan ito ng kanyang ninanais na laruan.

pagkatapos mag meryenda ni johnny ay agad na rin itong bumalik sa shop. kasalukuyang nasa counter siya isinusuot ang apron hudyat na babalik na siya sa pagtatrabaho. ilang minuto lang ay narinig niya ang isang pamilyar na boses sa may counter, nakatalikod siya dahil may inaasikaso siyang mga orders kaya di niya ito nakita kaagad. pamilyar na pamilyar sakanya ang boses na ito dahil ito ang boses na matagal niya nang hinihintay na marinig muli sa loob ng limang taon na pagkakawalay rito. boses na nagbabalik ng mga sakit ng nakaraan. at sa mga oras an iyon tila kaba na lamang ang kanyang naramdaman.

"can i have one venti caramel macchiato" sambit ng dalaga.

hindi parin siya nagbabago, ayun parin yung lagi niyang inoorder. naalala ko tuwing pumupunta kame sa kanyang paboritong coffee shop ayun ang lagi niyang inoorder kaya nakakabisado ko na rin ito. lagi ko rin siyang dinadalhan nito sa tuwing naiistress siya sa kanyang mga gawain sa school.

hindi alam ni johnny kung haharapin niya ba ito dahil pinangunahan siya ng kanyang kaba pero dahil nasa trabaho siya ay nagipon siya ng madaming lakas ng loob at tapang para humarap sa counter area.

"one venti caramel macchi---" hindi pa tapos magsalita si johnny ay naputol na siya ng dalaga sa kanyang sasabihin.

"uy john! long time no see ah! tagal na simula nung huli tayong nagkita by the way eto na ba yung shop mo?! infairness ang ganda nung place" natulala nalang si john sa sinambit ng babae.

"ah oo eto na nga yun haha, ikaw kamusta ka naman matagal na rin nga simula nung hindi tayo nagkita biruin mo 5 years na haha" halata sa kanyang pagsasalita ang kaba at nerbyos na kanyang nararamdaman sa bawat oras na iyon.

"anong 5 years, hindi lang nga ata 5 years yun eh, huli kong kita sayo nun ay graduating na tayo siguro 1 sem nalang gagraduate na tayo nun dun tayo huling nagkita"

litong lito na si johnny nung mga oras na iyon. hindi ba niya naalala na bago kame grumaduate ay nakipaghiwalay na siya sa akin? hindi ba niya naalala yung bawat masasakit na salita na kanyang binitawan sa akin nung araw na iyon na halos muntik ko nang hindi siputin yung graduation namen noon nang dahil sa kanya. siguro, baka nga. siguro baka kinalimutan niya na ako pagkatapos mangyari ang lahat ng iyon. siguro pati yung mga masasakit na alaala naming dalawa ay ibinaon niya na. siguro nga mabuti nalang kung ganun ang nangyari.

"mommy! look daddy doesn't want to give me the toy oh!" singhal ng isang batang babae na tila ba naging pamilyar rin ang boses nito kay johnny.

"anak mo?!" tanong niya sa babae.

"ah oo si amber"

"ah ganun ba, ang cute cute niya pala, may pinagmanahan haha" pagbibiro mo.

"nako! hindi rin mas naging kamukha nga ng kanyang tatay kesa sa akin"

"sige follow up ko nalang yung order niyo" mariin mong sagot.

"sige sige"

pagkalipas ng 10 minuto naihanda mona ang order nito at ibinigay mo na rin.

"one venti caramel macchiato for customer no. 22"

"uy john salamat talaga ah! next time libre mo naman kame rito haha joke lang sige mauna na kame eto kasing si amber nagaaya na umuwi eh masakit na rin daw ang paa niya kakalakad"

"sige ingat rin kayo!" tipid mong sagot.

nginitian mo na lamang ito at ang kanyang asawa na sa tingin mo ay mabuti namang tao. si amber naman ay bitbit nito dahil pagod na nga rin at mukhang nakatulog na rin sa kamay ng kanyang ama. di mo napigilang makaramdam ng kirot sa puso mo.

kitang kita ng dalawang mata mo ang babaeng pinangakuan mo ng panghabang buhay na ngayo'y kasa-kasama na ang kanyang magiging panghabang buhay pati na rin ang isang supling nila. dapat ay kayong dalawa iyon ngunit sa kasamaang palad ay sa ibang tao na siya nakahanap ng pagmamahal na kaya mo rin namang ibigay sa kanya, yung tipong kaya mo ring suklian ngunit sobrang labo na mangyari nito.

pasado maga-alas dose na nang matapos ang trabaho sa shop kaya nagsara kana rin. tinawagan mo ang matalik mong kaibigan na si yuta para makipagkwentuhan dahil alam mo na sa gantong oras ay hindi parin ito natutulog. niyaya mo siya uminom sa may rooftop niyo.

"grabe pre di ko talaga inakala na may anak na agad si Y/N"

"ako rin naman pre, di ko nga alam gagawin ko kanina sa may shop kung tatakbo ba ako palabas o iiwasan ko siya, pero kase ang weird lang talaga na hindi niya naalala yung nangyari sa amin 5 years ago bago siya umalis papuntang states i mean kung ako rin naman yung siguro makakalimutan ko rin naman yun pero kase iba pare eh, parang ang dami pa niyang nakalimutan hindi lang yung time na yun"

"alam mo pre parang eto na yata ang tamang panahon para malaman mo ito"

"ano? ano ba dapat kong malaman?, yuta pare wag na wag mo ako ginogoyo ah! umayos ka"

"hindi pre makinig ka muna sa sasabihin ko, tungkol toh kay Y/N."

"oh ano yung tungkol sakanya?!" halatang kinakabahan ka na sa mga sasabihin ni yuta pero hindi mo ito ipinahalata.

"si Y/N kase nabalitaan ko sa mga kaibigan niya dati noong nasa states pa daw siya, nainvolved daw siya sa isang aksidente, nabangga yung kotse na minamaneho niya at nagtamo siya ng malalaking sugat sa ulo at mga braso pati na rin sa iba pang parte ng kanyang katawan. na-coma siya for almost 3 months tas noong nakamulat na siya sinuri siya ng doktor at ayun nga nagkaroon siya ng amnesia, ang tangi lamang niyang naalala ay yung pangalan niya at ang pamilya niya wala ng iba. ilang taon rin siyang nakarecover at unti unting nagbalik yung ibang part ng memory niya doon niya rin nakilala yung asawa niya at yun nga nagkaanak sila. pero siguro hindi niya na talaga maalala yung panahon na yun dahil masakit rin siguro yung naidulot nito sa kanya, sabi rin ng doktor na wag niyang pilitin na alalahanin lahat ng mga bagay na nawala sa memorya niya dahil mas lalo pa daw itong makakapag cause ng malaking problema sa utak niya."

hindi makapaniwala si johnny sa lahat ng kanyang narinig, akala niya ay lasing lang si yuta pero halatang seryoso ito sa pagkekwento. kung hindi niya siguro ito niyaya na makipagkwentuhan at makipag-inuman sakanya ay hindi niya malalaman ang lahat ng ito. hindi niya malalaman ang hirap na dinanas ng kanyang dating nobya sa loob ng ilang taon na pagkaka-coma nito at ang pagkakaroon ng amnesia. hindi niya mapigilang sisihin ang kanyang sarili sa lahat ng nangyari na iyon ngunit wala na siyang magagawa pa dahil nangyari na ito. ang tangi na lamang niyang magagawa ay maging masaya para sa dating nobya na noon rin naging dahilan ng kanyang kasiyahan.

[emo-floof-child-writes]

Day 26: Comfort.

Ft. c!Ranboo, c!Philza, and c!Tubbo, c!Quackity mentioned.

Ranboo puts away some of his tools, and sighs. "Why am I not enough to make Tubbo happy? What has Quackity done for him that I haven't?" He asks himself, as he hears his basement latter creak. He turns around, to see Philza climbing down.

"You alright, mate?" He asks, walking up to Ranboo. Part of Ranboo wanted to lie and say he's fine, but that wouldn't work on Philza. He bites his lip. "I don't think I'm enough for Tubbo. I thought I was making him happy, but between the apparent nightmares he's been having and the fact that he only now ‘found his purpose’ working for Quackity, I—"

Philza pats Ranboo's shoulder. "Aw, mate. Does he know how you feel?" Ranboo frowns. "What do you mean?" Philza looks up at Ranboo. "Have you told him that this upset you?"

Ranboo shakes his head. Philza scoffs. "Well then, of course he doesn't know that he's hurt your feelings!"

Philza smiles. "Relationships, platonic, romantic or other, all require communication. If you can't indicate your feelings to the other they won't know what you're feeling." Ranboo sighs. "But how can I tell him, he said we only got married for tax purposes... He doesn't care."

Philza looks at the young Enderman, and pinches the brim of his nose. "Mate, he wouldn't spend most of his time with you, raise a child with you, and defend you in any situation that you might need defending if he didn't care about you. He does love you."

Ranboo looks down at the stone brick floor. "He's had a lot of trauma regarding trusting other people, and it has been a while since he's had anything remotely stable." Ranboo runs a hand through his hair.

"That's all well and good, but what do I do now?" Philza sighs. "You wanna go ask him yourself?" Ranboo looks at Philza, with his eyebrows furrowed and his lips pursed. "Huh?" Philza chuckles. "You said he's working with Quackity, right?" Ranboo nods. "Then let's say hi."

The two of them head down to Las Nevadas, which makes Philza whistle. "Big Q's got quite the establishment here." He remarks, and Ranboo swallows. "It's a place, alright."

Philza wraps his arm around Ranboo, with a smile. "Come on mate, it'll be okay. Show me where Tubbo works." Ranboo points to the Tubburger Joint, and they walk up to it.

"Haha! Tubburger." Philza says, with a grin. He turns to Ranboo, and ushers him inside. They find a booth, and set their accessories down. Then they head up to the front to look for the menu.

Tubbo walks out from the kitchen, looking down at the cash register. "Hello, welcome to Tubburger, may I take your order?" Philza clears his throat. "Can we get two Tubburgers, a medium soft drink, and a strawberry milkshake, please?"

Tubbo looks up, realizing who it was. "Oh, um, heh, Phil! Hi. Uh... Sure." He says, with a shaky breath. He looks over at Ranboo, and relaxes a tad. He punches the order into the machine, and clears his throat. "Ten diamonds please."

Philza reaches into his robes, but Ranboo was faster. "I have two blocks on me, so um, feel free to keep the change." Tubbo rolls his eyes. "We literally have the same bank account, but okay." Ranboo bites his lip. "Oh, right, sorry."

Tubbo gasps. "Oh, that came off a bit mean, didn't it? That was a joke, Boo. I'm not upset." Ranboo's shoulders lose their tension, and he sighs. "Honestly, it's quite a bold statement to think that I'd ever be truly mad at you." He adds, printing out the receipt, and passing it to Philza.

Ranboo sighs. "Go on, mate." Philza whispers. Ranboo avoids looking at the mess of hair where Tubbo's eyes would be if he could see them. "Tubbo, do I— am I not enough for you?" He blurts out, making Tubbo's jaw drop.

"Enough for what, bossman?" Ranboo takes a step closer to the counter. "Enough to make you happy." He says, and Tubbo frowns. "Why would you ever need to ask that? Of course you make me happy! The happiest I've been in ages! What brought this on?"

Ranboo looks back at Philza, who gives him a thumbs up. "You said that Quackity finally gave you purpose... But I thought me and Michael were your purpose."

Tubbo gasps and walks around the counter. He wraps his arms around Ranboo, and scoffs. "That's not what I meant. I'm so sorry it came off that way." He looks up at Ranboo. "I love you and Michael so much. I meant it to mean that I finally had something I could do that would be a constructive distraction."

He rubs his head. "You know, instead of the ‘fireworks’ I was building before." Ranboo nods, understanding that he meant nuclear warheads. "So you don't hate me." Tubbo scoffs. "Never. Not in a million years."

Tubbo hugs Ranboo again, and sighs. "Next time I say something that comes off the wrong way, let me know. I can't mind read... Yet." He says, with a grin. Ranboo swallows, but nods. "I'll try. Opening up isn't really my thing."

Tubbo nods. "I'm aware, bossman. Now, I should probably get back to my job, Quackity would kill me if he knew I was slacking off." He walks back behind the counter. "Especially if he knew I was chatting up one of the employees of his competing burger place."

Ranboo chuckles. "Mm, pretty sure Wilbur would feel the same way regarding you." Tubbo nods, as Philza walks back to their booth. "I'll bring out your food in a sec." Tubbo says, and Ranboo gives him a thumbs up.

He sits back down across from Philza, who smiles. "See? Just a misunderstanding. Told you it wasn't something you should've been worrying about." Ranboo sighs. "Thanks, Phil." Philza shrugs. "Anytime, mate."

Author Note: HAPPY 10TH NATIONAL RANBOO DAY, EVERYBODY! :D

Long boi today. I've had this planned out for ages now, so I got excited and wrote more than I anticipated. But I mean, it makes up for the short ones I've done this past month.

I need more c!Dadza content, so I'm making my own. C: Spoiler for day 28, it's also c!Dadza related, lol. I just want the poor traumatized teenagers to have a good father figure in their lives, okay?!