#like yes Ivan is a victim of circumstance but good lord he doesn't help himself much

[fumblingmusings]

It's such a petty thing, but my favourite somewhat sort of not really underrated character dynamics in Hetalia is Ivan and Arthur, and Ivan and Kiku's... non. relationship.

Like they just absolutely do not like that man.

I just... love... how consistent Arthur and Kiku's discomfort->dislike->virulent hatred of Ivan is. Which sounds mean. But he deserves it. Mostly. Like in terms of characters who kind of sort of suck at social interaction, Ivan, Arthur, and Kiku are certainly up there amongst the top five.

And yet... never once in like 15 years are Arthur and Kiku shown having a conversation with Ivan, which doesn't just go downhill insanely fast. Francis and Yao are more willing to humour him and have some kind of relationship there, and Alfred is... Alfred is the golden retriever man, but... Kiku is just absolutely not interested in being polite to him. Arthur tries sometimes but has such a low tolerance for nonsense that the moment Ivan mentions another country in a vaguely unpleasant manner, Arthur gets absolutely red in the face and snaps.

Hima being consistent in going yeah no England never has and never will like or even feel comfortable around that guy and Japan literally runs away to avoid being friends with him is just... peak characterisation.