HWS Cuba Smells Like Cinnamon. He Looks Like What You'd Imagine Mother Earth To Be If She Was A Man.

I’ll come clean… my rusame and america playlists are all a ruse….. to get you to listen to more native music…. it’s been my plan this WHOLE time!!

Your art is awesome 💖💖 why do you like rusame?

thank you so much omgomg! 🥺 as for that question-- to keep it short and sweet cause my post would be 100K words long w/ mla citation, the simplified reasons are:

their shared diplomatic history before the 1900s

their juxtapositions that complement each other so nicely

equal-footing being they're prominent nations

cojen pero bien duro y apasionado JAJAJAJA

I feel like in the rusame club, rus' best attributes are thrown to the wayside. as an AMERICAN [EAGLE SCREECH] rusame enjoyer,,, I am here to set the record straight. here are the many hc's I've got on Al's admirations of Ivan:

he is so well-read. russian lit is truly a genre of its own, and Ivan got his writing talents from it. he could write a poem about dirt and make someone cry. while he is a reserved and intimidating person face-to-face, he can write everything he feels and sees so stunningly and concisely. I hc that during the height of their initial alliance (1850s-1900s) he would write Al letters about his day, how much he enjoyed seeing him last, about what he liked about him, and about how much he cares for him (he kept them all).

he will spend weeks, months, making something for the people he loves because it's fun to him, especially because he includes the little details. that one time in 1887 when they walked along the Sochi shore and found a rock that resembled Alfred's eyes (that he later lost)? well he looked all over Sochi beach and found another one just like it and made Al a ring with it. why? just because!

his appearance. man, if Alfred wasn't so prideful, he'd tell Ivan straightforwardly just how attractive he is and how attracted he is to him (he absolutely talks his ear off abt it when he's shtfaced lol). he is tall, broad, ethereally pallid- his skin is calloused and scarred in such a lovely way. he sees it as his skin being struck by lightning. his hair is light and soft in a way unachievable even by the best hair care. just looking at the man gives him frisson (and deep within his mind he feels others see it too, the jealous baby).

his hands

his nose. it's such a beautiful inheritance passed down from his first peoples to him, and Ivan wears it well. it makes him look all the more regal, and as an ndn man, Alfred sees large noses as a symbol of power. also, what doja cat said-

he's a damn-good dancer. waltz, paso doble, troika, but soviet tango guys- seriously, soviet tango.

elizabeth taylor eyes

he is a goddamn chef. pirozhkis, stroganoff, shchi- SCRUMPTIOUS. "hey, we're having a potluck and braginsky didn't bring anything again-" IT'S CAUSE AJ STASHED IVAN'S TRAY IN HIS CAR AGAIN

his sweaters (he's stolen approximately 122 sweaters from him and counting- ivan now hides his clothes when he visits)

• grand canyon, az

hallelujah, I finally visited the gorgeous, gorgeous grand canyon on the south rim and it is... phenomenal. me and a stranger teared up and it was a real human moment.

my opinion on a native alfred f. jones

To continue the conversation from the last message I received, I do want to address why I choose to depict America as native. To preempt, my perspective should not be taken as speaking for other natives, as we all have our own respective opinions.

It should go without saying but the United States as a governed superpower is a country that has purposefully failed and harmed black and indigenous people both on the mainland and abroad. The history of this country is cruel, brutal, and inhumane, and it should seldom be forgotten.

When it comes to America, the character, I do not see him as being involved in the crimes done unto these communities. I do believe it's because I truly love this character and I cannot imagine him doing these things to his own people-- but I can see why that would be a very infantile opinion to have on my part. Hetalia is inherently a political concept; personifications that represent governed states, therefore making their identities directly align with their national policies.

This is my personal headcanon but I always saw America, like Canada, and other Hetalia characters, as a manifestation of the land their state stands on, rather than being the direct personification of the imperial/colonial entity. This was one of the reasons I began depicting Alfred Jones as native and drew him that way (while keeping the more recognizable elements of his design)-- the main reason why I made him native is because as a native, I cannot see the imperialist nation being indigenous but I can absolutely see the land itself being indigenous: because it is.

However, after hearing other natives speak on this, I recognize that this is very much a cope of mine... In Hetalia, the personifications are very much shown to be involved in pivotal parts of history and it is implied that they get along with their overseers (most of whom were a bunch of racist old fcks). If a native personification existed, they wouldn't be okay with this.

I treat his identity similarly to my own because he has become my favorite character and I am not above inserting my identity troubles into my fictional faves. I am a reconnecting native (Nahuatl, Wixarika) who often feels so without identity that drawing a native AJ heals me. But that does not change that AJ, as a personification of the United States, represents everything that has traumatized native folks.

I do want to let other natives know where I stand in this conversation because I do not want my choices to be perceived as a vanity project to place indigenous faces wherever I please-- it comes from a true love for indigenous identity, my identity, and a great love for Alfred Jones.

From now on, I do think I may just make my own indigenous ocs in the future. it's the best way to ensure I never mix ndn identity with oppressive governmental states.

full disclosure, her beaded earring design was fully inspired by this design:

please check out yessidiy’s work, both natives and non-natives are free to purchase her jewelry!

so beautiful, my indian girl you’re one of a kind, you’ll always be mine you’re so fine [aaaamelia] red rock woman, you make my rockin’ world go ‘round

you got me crying at the carne asada, homie…. whoever this is…. thank you so so much

pinkflipphonez posts the best , most well thought out head canons & the way they draw Alfred just wrecks me

♥♡∞:｡.｡ 　Positivity for @pinkflipphonez ｡･::･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆

our favorite golden retriever boy's bday is soon AND powwow season is just around the corner so here's some indigenous headcanons I've got for alfred f. jones!

he is actively attempting to learn every single native language within his region, but fluently speaks osage, dine bizaad, hopi, mvskoke, and algonquian massachusett and ojibwa

he is the embodiment of sunshine. he can make everyone laugh, and that includes babies. that being said, he has been the reason for at least 100+ babies' first laughs and has proudly thrown parties for each of their families as per the navajo tradition

him (and matt) fully volunteer to drum and sing at powwows, especially at small town ones. they will roadtrip across canada and the us during the summer and absolutely bring the party to the 49. they also do it to overindulge in piccadilly and indian tacos

he is not a religious person but he does acquiesce in spiritual traditions he has picked up from native elders. the major one he uses is smudging. alike the kid from 'sixth sense', he sees dead people-- or ghosts to be exact lol. and he hates them! which is why he will often smudge and pray early in the morning, once a week, to cleanse any spirits from his house

smokes are always in his possession. while he does smoke on occasion, he mostly carries them with him for exchanges. for example, if he encounters a cool mineral on the roadside, instead of just taking it, he will leave tobacco behind as a show of appreciation

he feeds the rez dogs exponentially (even when everyone at every rez keeps telling him not to fuckin do that, you shitass)

put him on your rob list because he owns so many beaded jewelry and turquoise, it may just pay off your student loans and then some

his mutton sandwiches and navajo burgers will make you fall in love with him, no joke

• pueblo acoma, nm

on our way to albuquerque, we were able to tour the beautiful sky city in the mesa! acoma natives have lived in the mesa for over 2000 years. I'm still so amazed by that.

the world is a better place with trans women in it. trans women are valuable and important members of our communities. trans women deserve safety and protection and love.