Aph Nordics - Tumblr Posts
I'm interested to know how you view Nordics and their relationships with each other: What kind of dynamic do they have? ty!
Sure! I have some thoughts. This family is an antisocial mess filled with sibling rivalry, and I love it. You cannot convince me Norway and Sweden aren't the types of siblings who only share their food when it's cut equally with measuring tape. Norway will get mad if you take his stuff, and Denmark is the sibling who comes to annoy you but claims he's not in your room. Then he puts the lights off before leaving!
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Denmark & Sweden
Denmark, Norway, and Sweden have a brotherly relationship. They may not be biological brothers but have been raised as ones and definitely act like so too. Denmark and Sweden have a rival relationship; they have always had one. But their rivalry is not hostile, at least not anymore. Their different personalities, goals, and perspectives caused them quite a deep rift in the past, but they have never despised each other. They're two brothers, always competing about everything, and it's something they have been taught from a young age. They both want to be the strongest and the best because they both think they know for sure what is right for the family. While Sweden thinks Den is too boisterous and a know-it-all, Denmark doesn't think Sweden has what it takes to keep their family safe in every situation. They both want to take the leadership role and have conflicting ideas. While Denmark was left in charge when they were kids, Sweden grew rebellious of it over time. Denmark didn't take Sweden seriously, taunted him constantly, and judged everything he did, making Sweden bitter. On the other hand, Denmark saw Sweden as unnecessarily stubborn - a younger brother who thought too highly of himself and was too self-centered to care about the family. They have been through a lot together and seen the other's worst side, so they know each other better than anyone else. They have no filter when critiquing the other's actions. They're brothers who test and provoke one another on a regular basis. But even with all the fighting, they have a deep unspoken trust and care for the other; they're just pissed the other doesn't see this! With the modern age and a lot of self-reflection, they have calmed down immensely and have forgiven each other's pasts. But the arguing and wrestling still remain. Nowadays, they talk about their roles as parental figures and share advice and tips with each other, which others find lame.
Sweden & Norway
Sweden and Norway consider the other as a dear brother but also as the sibling you just love to hate. They criticize each other constantly, calling the other names, telling cruel jokes, and complaining about how the other person speaks their language totally wrong. But that's just talk because they would do anything for each other if needed. If the other calls and asks for help, they would instantly come, but not before making a joke on how they need a "real Scandinavian" to help them out. And by the end of the day, they sit down for drinks and chat. They rely on each other heavily and can be considered the closest of the Scandinavians. Denmark and Sweden have fought over Norway countless times, and it's best described as best friend jealousy. They both want their brother entirely on their side, to be their ultimate best friend, while Norway would prefer to be on his own for a change. Because Norway was always so antisocial and behind the rest of the world, Sweden thought he needed to help him do everything. Sweden's constant tendency to get into Norway's business and calling Norway slow annoys him greatly. There's also a shared sentiment of jealousy. While back in the day, Sweden was the wealthy and influential brother that Norway envied, nowadays, it's Norway who has it easy, and Sweden feels jealous. Still, while they like bragging about their successes and superiority, they wouldn't want to humiliate the other. Because what's the fun of competing if you don't have equal chances? If they both want something, they'll have to fight for it. When they were kids, they let Denmark be the boss of the house, while Sweden and Norway went out and brought their share to the table, which they often made into a competition. And you can still see this competitiveness in them today. When Sweden and Norway start debating, they ask for neutral Finland's opinion, who hates having to pick sides. Norway is the person who keeps Den and Swe in check, but when Sweden and Denmark start talking about dad stuff, Norway leaves the conversation quickly. The idea of fatherhood is undesirable to him. The union was an awkward time for both Sweden and Norway, but somehow, they made it work. No matter how much hatred Norway felt towards Sweden for not letting him have his independence, Norway lifted Sweden up after he lost Finland. And that's why they rely so much on each other; They're both stoic and have difficulty processing their emotions, so they know how to comfort the other at their lowest. During the union, they matured and realized it was time to build the family back up together. Because at the end of the day, what else do they have then each other. Only they could possibly understand each other's struggles and growth. The only people who will be with them till the end. Their union ended peacefully, and Norway has been persistent in keeping his own freedom ever since. After convincing Denmark, they built the Nordic family back together as an extensive alliance - getting Iceland and eventually Finland on board too. So while Denmark thinks he's still the big brother of the house, it's actually Norway and Sweden who run the operation.
Denmark & Norway
Denmark and Norway still to this day share an emotional bond that's special to them. They can talk about their worries openly and offer advice to each other. Denmark definitely relies more on Norway and views him very highly, while Norway has an indifferent opinion about him. Denmark finds Norway admirable, someone he wants to keep by his side, but Norway sets up his boundaries clearly. Sometimes this can make Den a bit self-conscious because he doesn't want to bother Norway (so he goes to tease Iceland instead). Denmark knows he didn't treat Norway the best in the past, so he's chill when Norway mocks him; it's kind of deserved. But Denmark still won't let Sweden mock him without bullying him back. Den knows Norway has a tendency to suppress his emotions and get depressed, and it's something he's constantly worried about. He feels a need to always be cheering Norway up and giving him a positive outlook on life. Norway thinks Denmark's way of doing things is odd and stupid. The man is hopeless when faced with "real winter," so Norway has a good laugh when he puts Den on skis. Denmark is just happy to be entertaining. Denmark can sometimes be in his little bubble and unaware of his surroundings. He forgets things and loses his thoughts often, so Norway follows and cleans up after him as he has always done. He knows Denmark isn't bad by nature; he just has an annoying tendency to go head-first without consulting others. In their childhood, Denmark was left in charge of the whole family while he himself was just a kid as well. Den never got a chance to be a vulnerable kid, so Norway knows Denmark has just grown up to take the protective leadership role in all situations.
Sweden & Finland
These two have a long and confusing relationship. Sweden is oblivious to Fin's underlying resentment towards him, while Finland is clueless about Sweden's clear affection towards him. He has a special soft spot for Finland and lets him off the hook very easily, while Fin hates how much more successful Sweden is at everything he does. Sometimes Fin feels lacking behind, stupid, or even immature compared to him and thus shows bitterness. Fin takes any opportunity he can to beat Sweden. And if Finland even once wins something, he will keep reminding Swe about it decades later. Sweden gets annoyed about Norway or Denmark's boasting but lets Finland have these moments because they make him (oddly) happy. Finland likes to be vocal about how much Sweden annoys him, but if Sweden says Norway or even Denmark are closer friends to him than Finland is, he'll get disheartened; he thought he was Sweden's number one guy! They were together for 700+ years, so they naturally gravitate toward each other. Swe feels like Fin has always treated him with kindness and genuine interest, something he lacked back in the day with Denmark and Norway. Losing Finland hit Sweden hard, and it took him a long time to get over it. After this "break up," he had entirely reevaluated his life and decisions up to that point, and he changed into a very different person. For the most part, their relationship was positive, but after Finland's independence, some issues emerged. Eventually, they got over that, and nowadays, they are known as the pair who always share their work and make big decisions together, even when the rest of the Nordics don't agree on them. That's why others might tease them and call them a married couple, which Finland finds ridiculous, but Sweden finds it awkward.
Denmark & Iceland
Iceland has a huge need to get away from Denmark and appear as independent as possible. Denmark has always acted like Iceland's guardian and still has difficulty trusting him with adult responsibilities. Ice thinks Denmark can take his role as a former guardian too seriously and fall back into the overprotectiveness he used to have. To Iceland, Den can appear very pigheaded and forgets Iceland has been independent for a while now and has his own culture and life. Den calls Iceland all the time and makes sure he's okay, which Iceland finds condescending. But, when Iceland needs "dad's help" with something, he's immediately calling Denmark in panic. Denmark can be pretty playful and teases Ice a lot (and bores him with dad jokes), but he's just proud of the kid and sees Ice as a competent adult. Den knows Iceland can be cautious when trying things out of his comfort zone, so he pushes him to new situations for better and worse. The Copenhagen nightlife was more traumatizing than fun for reserved Ice, so now Denmark opts for simple board game nights at local Icelandic pubs with him. Ice gets self-conscious when visiting Denmark, fearing he will somehow embarrass himself with how he speaks or dresses up. In return, Denmark gets very defensive if someone is making Iceland feel uncomfortable (which Iceland sees as another form of overprotectiveness). But as long as Denmark doesn't come to tell him what to do, Iceland doesn't mind him. Growing up, Denmark was always the father figure young Iceland so desperately wanted. So he has to take Den's fatherliness, in both good and bad.
Denmark & Finland
Denmark is someone Finland has known for a long time. At first, Denmark questioned bringing a complete stranger (who didn't even speak the language) to the family but eventually warmed up to the kid, like bringing a lost puppy home. Fin thinks Den is fun and views him as an older brother figure who can cheer up anyone's day. Denmark finds Finland hard to approach and doesn't know what to discuss or do with him; they can be polar opposites in many situations, like summer and winter. It also doesn't help that Denmark thinks Fin can be intimidating sometimes, which Finland doesn't know. But give those two enough beer, and they'll talk and party through the whole night. They're the only members of the family who can let loose on the spot and jump into any activity without hesitation. Finland has recently started teaching Denmark some ice hockey, and he's getting pretty good at it. Finland has a lot of patience and lets Den be annoying to a certain point, but when Fin has had enough, he needs to say so only once, and Denmark doesn't dare to do anything for a month (which Swe and Nor think is a weapon that should be utilized more often).
Sweden & Iceland
While historically they have been pretty distant, Sweden has always worried about the kid and ensured that whatever dispute and fighting happens, it doesn't directly affect little innocent Ice. During union times, Iceland was a bit scared of Sweden, but Sweden managed to get on Ice's good side with various toys he carved for him. I can imagine a little Ice guiding practically blind Sweden around and telling Denmark to stop bullying Swe. Iceland and Sweden have gotten closer during modern times, and Sweden usually takes the mentor role. Whenever Ice has a problem that he will definitely not bring up with Nor or Den, he'll go straight to Sweden. Iceland is always welcome at Swe's place, and Ice can always call for any troubles or issues he might have. Ice never says it out loud, but he does appreciate this. Sweden isn't pushy or obsessive about it but rather a trustworthy adult he can rely on. Sweden actually listens to him and offers some genuine advice as he trusts Iceland's ability to make decisions himself. Swe is always happy to see Ice, makes him his favorite foods, and offers him a room to stay. Ice can become a bit uneasy when with Sweden because he feels Sweden does so much for him and never expects anything back. He'll start working and cleaning around the place to show gratitude, and Sweden tries to stop him. Lately, Sweden has taken time to teach Iceland skills, like cooking, and they're slowly getting somewhere.
Norway & Finland
Norway and Finland get along great. Finland hasn't done anything to annoy Norway and vice versa. They even have a lot of common interests, like sports and music, which they talk about a lot. All kinds of winter activities are their specialty, and they do a lot of teamwork by the northern border. They have a winter cabin over there that they share (with Sweden). Norway is very generous towards Fin and lets him borrow his stuff - something Den and Swe find unfair, as they haven't been given such privileges. Norway thinks Finland is just more trustworthy than those two. Norway is still upset his constitution didn't allow him to give Finland a mountain as a birthday present, but Finland thought it was too much anyway. Nor and Fin have no energy for useless fighting, so Sweden and Denmark's constant bickering gets tiring. They just sit on the side and talk over a cup of coffee. Finland feels secretly a bit jealous of Norway and wishes to be more like him. Growing up, he always viewed him with admiration and wanted to get closer to him. Norway likes listening to Finland's senseless stories and finds his strength and durability against cold amusing; he sees Finland as the badass friend he would bring into a fight.
Finland & Iceland
Finland and Iceland have the most distant relationship out of all the Nordics since they are on opposite sides of the region. Ice finds Fin cool and the only one who doesn't treat him like a baby, which he appreciates. Finland is always lending a hand to Ice when needed. Iceland likes Moomins and asks Fin to bring him a new mug when he visits. On the other hand, Finland admires Icelandic nature and wants to try all the craziest activities (like having a barbeque on lava). Finland can relate to Iceland and bond over the fact that they're both considered strange within the family. They both have a morbid sense of humor, which the others sometimes find a bit concerning. During the union times, Finland was left out of discussions and decision-making, and he had to spend time working or taking care of the youngest members, like Iceland. I imagine Finland was a skilled young horseman and taught Iceland a lot about horses. Nowadays, they go camping occasionally, which is a lot of fun, and they always say they should hang out more often (but they never seem to have time to do so).
Norway & Iceland
Norway has never been good at parenting or taking responsibility for others, so he has a lot of regrets concerning Iceland. He has always known Iceland is his biological brother but has never been able to connect to him. That doesn't mean he doesn't care about the kid; he absolutely does, but Nor just never found a way to claim that big brother status. They're very similar in nature, but that also means they're both bad at communicating and preferring to keep everything in. Iceland can feel insecure with Norway - like he needs to prove himself and his capabilities to get his validation. He's afraid to ask for Norway's help in case he appears weak or Norway would somehow judge him (which he of course wouldn't). Norway's attempt to reclaim their lost bond is sometimes irritating to Iceland, even though he knows it shouldn't. He has lots of disappointing memories when it comes to his brother, which is the reason for his underlying insecurities. He fears Nor will abandon him once again. Norway has always given Iceland the freedom Denmark never knew how to give. He took Iceland on long trips and taught him necessary life skills. Iceland adored Norway growing up, always choosing him over anyone else. He even got jealous if someone else took his brother's attention. When Iceland was nervous or unsure as a child, Norway would tell him fantastical stories and restore hope in him. Norway sees a lot of young himself in Iceland. He wants to make sure Ice has everything he needs and the tools to do better than he did in the past. Norway has difficulty putting his love in words, so he keeps buying Iceland stuff and asking if Ice has always got what he needs, which Iceland insists he has. Norway feels terrible that he wasn't there for Ice when he was still a small child. Instead, he was left alone on a small harsh island. But Norway himself was a teenager. He wouldn't have been much of a parental figure even if he had been with him. He still feels a sense of failure in this and tries to make it up for it nowadays. In order to build their relationship, they go camping and fishing together whenever possible. They tell stories and talk about the past. Iceland is fascinated by his roots, and Norway tries to help to the best of his abilities (but the fading memory isn't helping). They both have regrets and disappointments regarding their shared past, but they will always have that unique family bond no one can take away from them.
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TL;DR: Denmark is the reckless oldest sibling, who has the leadership role purely out of birthright. Sweden is the rebellious middle child who makes everything into a competition. Norway is the free-spirited middle child who can't really take responsibility. Iceland is the youngest and most sensitive one, who is always viewed as the baby. And Finland is the adopted weird sibling, who is usually left out, but he's happy to be part of the family nevertheless.
What kind of relations do the Nordics have outside ecah other? Friends etc.!
Oh, interesting!
Nordic countries are notoriously bad when it comes to making friends. Their culture is very individualistic and independent, and preexisting friend groups are hard to break into, so I don't think they would have that many friends! They're all introverted and quiet, so making meaningful connections doesn't come to them naturally. Some might find them hard to approach, but they're not mean - Just incredibly awkward at social gatherings. They're always the ones to avoid the biggest crowds and leave very early, usually without telling anyone.
Also, the concept of friendship is different in these cultures. Nordic people tend to have a dozen pals or buddies but only a few legit friends they would genuinely open up to. Having as many "friends" as possible is not a goal and might even be considered pretentious. But due to their job, Nordics are very professional and open countries diplomatically, so in work-related settings, they get along with anyone (once they overcome their shyness). It's just that in their personal lives, they likely just prefer each other. They don't seek friendships outside the Nordics, as they feel maintaining friendships with each other is hard as it is!
But with all of that said, these guys don't exist in a bubble, and they do have relations outside of their family
• • • • • • • • • •
Denmark
Denmark has probably the most relations out of all the Nordics due to his job and position. With other introverts, Denmark is very talkative and outgoing, usually taking the leading role, but if he needs to work with other extroverts, he suddenly becomes the quiet one. He has managed to make friends but has difficulty maintaining said relationships. His phone is always filled with unanswered calls and messages. Denmark can come off as rude or even arrogant, but he just has that Nordic straightforwardness. And he avoids small talk with strangers as much as possible; it makes him feel awkward. Generally speaking, he's a known name around the circles. As a former European power, a founding member of NATO, and a long-time member of the EU, Den has been a prominent diplomat in Western circles. But that also means he sides with the people around him in any given situation and follows their lead for his and his family's best interest.
He considers the German duo his friends, especially Prussia, whom he has known for a long time and always had a sense of rivalry with, sometimes friendly, sometimes serious. Germany has a business-first attitude, but even he eases up outside work hours. Because Germany is so young, Denmark sometimes takes an uncle role with him and pretends to be much more mature and wiser than he is. Denmark is often invited to the Germans' gatherings and parties, which he frequently attends, and has gotten a reputation as a bit of a party animal among other Europeans. Denmark is very dependent on Germans, and borderline bothers them at work, proposing ideas during meetings, making jokes, and always trying to sell something to them. But Denmark's an important promoter for all the other Nordics' issues. He still acts as the family's boss, handling matters with the rest of continental Europe. Of course, this means Den is on great terms with France and the Benelux siblings, who he shares long historical connections with. England is also an important ally, but he's still uneasy around Denmark. He can still remember how ruthless Denmark used to be growing up and will most likely never get over his primitive fear of him. While everyone else sees Den as a golden retriever, England isn't letting his guard down.
Denmark is friendly with the Baltics, though he can oftentimes forget or overlook them in a bigger crowd. They have a long history, but their first encounters weren't positive. Not many countries can say that about Denmark anyway; he was quite the troublemaker. However, during modern times, the Baltics don't have anything against Denmark other than him being noisy and pesky sometimes. He has been a significant ally after the Baltic's independence. They get along better than many other nations, as they have known each other for a long time, share Northern European/Baltic Sea culture, and could be considered family friends. As for who he hangs out with outside the Nordics, that would be either the Germans or Benelux siblings. Denmark is considered their jolly but a bit of an annoying Northern neighbor, who is always ready to party.
Finland
Finland is a friendly and helpful person, but he gets overlooked in a crowd. He hates making any fuss about himself and has a hard time joining conversations, so he stands to the side observing quietly. He enjoys being alone in peace so when his socially-demanding job gets tiring, he'll escape to his cabin in the woods and not talk to anyone for a while. Finland has a special position in Europe as one of the links between the West and the East. He has experienced both sides growing up and managed to maintain a positive relationship with the East during the Cold War (which he kind of had to). For being a small country, neutral Finland is surprisingly often put forward as a negotiator and a person brought to solve issues and misunderstandings.
Estonia is obviously Finland's best friend. They hang out together all the time, share everything between them, and Fin might even ditch the Nordics to have a sauna with Estonia or play sports with him. Finland sees Latvia with fondness as well, but he often gets forgotten when Finland and Estonia hang out together, like "little brothers" always do. Finland and Estonia recently learned that Hungary is their long-distance relative, so they're trying to build relations. They have always gotten along weirdly well, and now there's finally an explanation! Finland has a long-time connection with the Germans, who were his essential business partners and someone Finland observed for trends. Prussia even taught him how to fight. They don't have time to hang out outside work but meet for lunch when they can. Most Eastern Europeans were Finland's family for over 100 years, so he has a lot of good memories and connections with them. Though the Easterners don't always return this sentiment - Finland always had it so easy after all. Finland is harmless and not irritating (unlike some other nations), so they might invite him to a party, but they still gossip about him when he's not in the room with them.
Finally, Finland's relationship with Russia is, well, complicated. Russia has always had a more relaxed approach to this particular neighbor and seemed oddly favorable towards him. He feels he can trust Fin and get a genuine discussion out of him since Finland is one of the few who doesn’t seem that scared of him. Finland, due to being so non-confrontational, tends to treat Russia with too much kindness and understanding. Finland believes it's better to have Russia as a friend rather than an enemy, and he tries to keep things that way. Russia has even offered genuine friendship, which Fin has appreciated but always viewed with caution - they might have contradictory ideas of “friendship”. And Finland still has negative memories from the past. He’s bad at holding onto grudges but the feeling is still there. Nevertheless, Finland is always welcome at Russia's place, and Russia would gladly have drinks with him - which Finland agrees to just to keep him happy. He's like an annoying neighbor you just have to be friendly with or things get awkward.
Norway
Norway is a reserved guy who doesn't have many friends outside the Nordics. Most of the time, he hangs out with Sweden, which is maybe a bit embarrassing but they just get along the best. Norway doesn't like parties or big social gatherings - He feels like most people end up invading his personal spaces and making him uncomfortable. And Norway's social battery runs out extremely fast. Norway prefers to keep to himself, yet he has weird charisma that makes people interested in him. He's regarded as a calm, skilled, and rather handsome nation, which fascinates others. Norway used to be tied to his siblings, who would make decisions without properly consulting him - so nowadays, he cherishes his freedom and self-reliance. He has strong principles and cooperates extensively with nations that share his values.
Having a massive coastline, Norway sees the Atlantic as his home and therefore has good relations with fellow Atlantic nations. Norway has a long history of cooperation and friendship with the UK brothers, especially England and Scotland, and they even share cultural heritage from the Viking Age. Even though their relationship didn't start on the best note, they have gotten closer over the years and show solidarity toward each other. Scotland respects and admires Norway greatly and views him as a remarkable friend. During WW2, England was an immense help to Norway and took care of the royal family. Norway is grateful for this, and they share an adorable Christmas tree tradition every year. In modern times, the UK and Norway are significant business partners and have a lot of cultural exchange.
Norway has traveled far and wide and generally, the Commonwealth countries have been friendly to Norway and allied with him on many matters. Alongside the UK, America is another vital trade partner and a long-time ally. America is fascinated with Norway's mysterious heritage and customs, though Norway finds his fan-behavior ridiculous at times. America is loud and extremely outgoing, so their personalities often clash, but Norway still sees good intentions in the younger nation. They don't hang out much but are on friendly terms. Even one weekend near America is enough to drain Norway's energy entirely.
Sweden
Sweden is a quiet and calm person who others can find intimidating. He has difficulty making friends because of his assumed disregard and stern appearance. And it's not like he doesn't want friends; He loves spending time with his family and friends, planning and hosting parties or events. He’s just not that talkative, only saying what's relevant - but people who have known him long enough know how to communicate and read him. His history and appearance certainly don't make him approachable, but Sweden is a caring and compassionate person who roots for the underdog. Sweden has always been rebellious and sticks to his guts. He's not going to let anyone tell him what to think or do. He's not a provoker per se but someone who isn't afraid to point out his opinion on the matter and stick to his neutrality out of solidarity for others, participating in aid and development to the best of his abilities.
While other nations respect Sweden significantly, Poland isn't a massive fan of his, nor has he ever been. They don't dislike each other, but they both have strong personalities and opinions that often clash with one another. Maybe they can be a little sassy too. Sweden isn't a huge fan of England and France either, though he gets better along with England. They're important work partners, so business is handled professionally, but he finds them irritating most of the time. They're also the reason for most of the negative stuff he has gone through in the past. It seems like there wasn't one peaceful day without those two somehow messing it up and dragging everyone else into the mess. Germans have always been an important contact in Europe, just like for the rest of the Nordics. Sweden and Germany are both calm and take their professions seriously, so they get along well, and work is done efficiently. Maybe surprisingly, Sweden and Iraq have a long history of diplomatic relationships and are friendly with one another. Greece and Turkey are a long-time contact as well, all the way from his teenage years.
Sweden views the Baltics with warmth and would welcome them into the family any time. Sweden was a big supporter of the Baltic independence and has ever since shown great support to these states. However, the Baltics find Nordics hard to approach, as they can be intimidating or even appear smug. Nevertheless, Sweden has had a relatively positive relationship with Estonia and Latvia. Estonia and Latvia remember the Swedish rule as "good years," though that isn't saying much considering their history. Sweden was never mean or cruel to them. He was rather generous towards the two and wanted to take good care of them, unlike the other forces in the region. He is a baffling personality to the Baltics - Very friendly but challenging to approach. Young Latvia managed to warm Sweden's heart, probably reviving that fatherly instinct inside of him. Estonia was a bright, ambitious man who reminded Sweden of himself. Sweden always encouraged him, and they're on friendly terms to this day. They just don't really spend time without Finland; they fear it would make him upset.
Iceland
Iceland has spent most of his life alone or with his family, so he doesn't really have long-time friendships outside the Nordics. But he has a strong urge to make friends, preferably with other younger nations, as he's tired of being treated like a baby. He tries his best to reach out to others, but his shyness occasionally hinders that. Due to his distance, Iceland doesn't travel as often as other Nations, and nowadays does most of his meetings online. He is known to have poor organizational skills and be late for meetings quite often. He has a lot of hobbies, and when he gets lost in them, he might forget his phone and miss text messages and calls. But still, Iceland takes his job very seriously and wants to prove his abilities. He's an active listener at meetings and follows the world news constantly. He hates fighting and isn't afraid to stand up against bullies. When he has a lot to say, he'll take the initiative (after trying to get others' attention for half an hour).
Iceland doesn't have enemies, but he feels like he has always been England's target. In his eyes, England is a bully, and he doesn't respect Iceland (or many others, for that matter). England finds Iceland petty and immature, but he won't say it out loud; he has frightening big brothers after all. They have had many little disagreements throughout the ages. Little Iceland was known to be mischievous, and he would often prank England when he was visiting their house. The other Nordics found this hilarious but tried to stop Iceland before he could do any significant damage; they didn't want to embarrass their important ally, after all. The Cod Wars against the Brit were important for Iceland, even if others saw them as unnecessary. The victory offered a well-needed confidence boost and showed others Iceland was more than capable of taking care of himself. But when it comes to other island nations, Iceland has nothing but nice words to say about them. They have all been very friendly and welcoming. Iceland is especially friendly with Ireland! Ireland and he share history, and Ice is fascinated by this. He might sometimes inquire Ireland and ask him questions about the past, which Ireland would gladly answer if he had much to offer. They both have harsh environments and rocky relationships with England, so they get along great on that front too.
Iceland is a small nation that supports other small nations. He was among the first to recognize Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan from the USSR - also Croatia's and Montenegro's independence from Serbia. Significantly, Iceland was also the first Western state to recognize Palestine. His solidarity and recognition have given him a lot of praise among other small nations. They remember this by sending Iceland postcards and flowers occasionally, which Ice gets flustered by - He's just doing what he'd want others to do for him.
America is one of the few countries Iceland has historically interacted with. He was the first to recognize Iceland's independence and considers Iceland an ally he is always ready to support. Iceland isn't sure how it happened. Their relationship just started with young America claiming, "You're my friend now," and Iceland was too confused to say anything to that. I imagine they met when America was still under England's rule. America finds Iceland cool and shares a similar upbringing to him, though Iceland would disagree. Iceland is happy to know he has a strong ally like America, but he's not exactly sure what to think of him. America is an important business partner and someone who supports Iceland no matter what, so Iceland lets him be his friend. But America has a very different status and lifestyle, and he can be oblivious to Iceland's life or problems, so their friendship is rather one-sided.
• • • • • • • • • •
Also, some random ones I could see being a thing:
Finland is a country with a prominent motorsport culture, so I think he and Monaco are on friendly terms and share a hobby
Sweden has a "parent group" with other parent nations, where they share tips, arrange playdates, and give much-needed support. I can imagine him and Australia doing dad dates
Norway sometimes goes on skiing trips with Switzerland, Liechtenstein, and Austria. They are all massive fans of the outdoors and ski-related sports; thus, they get along well. New Zealand is another outdoor fanatic Norway gets along with
Iceland and Latvia consider each other friends. They are the youngest of their respective families and around the same age. They're both superstitious, having strong pagan roots and traditions. But they also overall share similar Northern European culture and history
Canada is another Arctic Nation and is friendly with all the Nordics. Well, he and Denmark pretend to have a rivalry, but it's actually a longtime insider joke. Sweden and Finland are familiar through hockey of course. Though Canada gets embarrassed when his brother constantly mixes up the Nordics' names
And then there is Sápmi, Greenland, Faroe Islands, and Åland too...
There are a lot of relationships so I could only give a quick overlook! However, if there is a specific one you're interested in, maybe I can talk about it a bit more in-depth some other time
Okay, I ended up getting way more headcanons requests than I anticipated, and I cannot thank you guys enough <3 It was a blast and if anyone felt even slightly entertained or seen by those hcs, I couldn't be happier
However, because there are SO many of them, I have decided to combine all of them in this single post to keep things a bit cleaner. Big apologizes to those whose feed was bombasted by my hourly ramblings, hah
Headcanons under the cut! Original template from here
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❣️ - What are their love languages?
Not everyone communicates affection the same way, and everyone has different ways they prefer to receive love. So these things are not solely what the Nordics use to express love, but maybe more so unique ways that they do it
Sweden Sweden shows love through his actions, rather than his words. He goes out of his way to do things for people or give them love through gestures. Because he's so bad with showing his appreciation through words, any sort of verbal acknowledgment or kind words make him soft
Norway Norway definitely expresses love through gift-giving. But not with expensive gifts, he actually puts a lot of thought and care into his presents - sometimes he makes them himself. But he personally prefers receiving love through presence, just spending time together. When he actually feels seen and heard by his partner, he feels loved
Denmark Denmark uses words of affirmation and he values quality time. To him, it's important to show outward the love and care you have. In a way, he can expect clear indicators of love, like specific words, and he might miss some smaller hints
Iceland Iceland does appreciate physical touch, like hugs. Just the presence of the other person is important to him - he has to work with long distances anyway. And receiving any sort of gift or gesture makes him flustered but he really appreciates if someone uses their time and effort toward him
Finland Finland is not the sentimental sort, but he shows his affection and appreciation with acts of service. He might not be physically present or remember to express his feelings from time to time, but you know he cares when he takes the time to listen and help you - and it's probably something he expects back
🌙 - What’s their sleep schedule like?
Denmark Very inflexible. As I said in this post, I headcanon Denmark to suffer from insomnia. Sometimes it can get really bad, so he has to follow strict routines and schedules to help him get some sleep. Overall, Denmark has a lot of routines he has to follow or his life would basically fall apart.
Sweden Pretty normal. Ever since becoming a parent, he has had to follow a regular sleep schedule. Thankfully, Sweden is a morning person and tends to feel the most energetic when he wakes up. But overwork or having to stay up past 11 pm? It's out of the question, he's too old for that sort of thing
Finland Kind of all over the place? During winter he's more sleepy and during summer he can't sleep at all. He can get carried away and stay awake well into the morning hours, was it due to work or watching a late game on tv. Early mornings are the worst and he's grumpy when he wakes up. That's probably why he's always seen with a cup of coffee in his hand. Maybe it balances out his messy sleeping schedule
🎁 - How do they feel about their birthday/birthdays in general?
Finland Finland loves a good celebration and attends his friends' birthdays no matter what! He always remembers them with fun gifts and brings well-needed party spirit and positivity. However, Finland is a bit conflicted when it comes to his own birthday. Everyone else spends their birthdays during the peak of summer; they're happy and colorful celebrations. But Finland's is during the darkest time of the year. It's a very melancholic event. He usually likes spending it alone at home, in candlelight, reflecting the old times
🗣️ - How do they handle public speaking?
Norway Norway always stresses about it, but he just pushes himself to do it and usually, it goes well. Though Norway isn't the best speaker. He sucks at improvisation, and always writes his speeches down, word for word. Otherwise, his speeches would be very short and dull, or he'd lose his thought and start rambling about something unnecessary
🎮 - What’s their favorite game?
Finland Finland finds himself playing mobile games a lot, it's just something easy to do when he's bored. But he's also a massive sports game fan, was it real hockey or NHL on the PlayStation, he's a master at both of them. And, he plays shooting games with Estonia all the time, probably something like COD. He's a great sniper but Estonia is still way better than him
💓 - What are some signs they’ve fallen for someone? How do they show their affection?
Norway Norway is hard to read in that regard. He just doesn't show feelings that strongly anyway and anything meaningful he's thinking about, he keeps to himself. But if he seems to be in his thoughts a lot, and ignores what is going on around him, he's probably thinking about something significant - like a crush. But when he meets the person he has fallen for, he gets extremely flustered. He can't seem to be able to look at them, he starts talking senselessly, he's avoiding touch, and so on. Norway shows affection with little unspoken signs, like making eye contact or smiling. He's not the type to be vocal about his feelings, but his body language just relaxes and he comes out of his shell a bit more. Once he gets comfortable, he'll start teasing and poking someone like a little boy with his first crush
Denmark Oh, Denmark won't stop talking about his crush. You can tell Denmark has feelings for someone when he keeps going on and on about a specific person. Denmark isn't the type to get nervous and can have even too high of confidence when confronting their crush. But somehow it always works, even if he just throws around bad jokes and pick-up lines. He has weird dorky charisma most people find attractive
🤡 - What’s something dumb they’re embarrassed about?
Norway Norway can be a bit slow and miss some social cues at times. Overall he's socially very awkward, even a bit anxious. Afterward, he might overthink the social situation he was in - How he should have shaken someone's hand, why did he have to make that weird comment, etc. When in reality he hasn't done anything wrong or even odd according to the people involved in that situation. He just feels overtly aware of social situations and thus often feels embarrassed about them.
Finland His short height. Oh, how much he hates being the shortest of the Nordics. Though he doesn't struggle with body issues, he still gets constantly uneasy about his "cuteness" - and his height isn't helping the case. It's actually something that really bothers him. He just sometimes finds it hard to fit the narrow definition of masculinity, so he gets very defensive when people point out features of his that wouldn't be considered traditionally manly
Iceland Iceland is embarrassed about his age. Everyone thinks he's very young, so it's always a shocker when he explains he's barely any younger than the rest of the Nordics. He just developed slowly, and it embarrasses him, even though there is nothing they can do about it. People just expect him to be immature and dumb (which he can occasionally be) - but his youthful age usually has caused more negative than positive side effects Also, I think Iceland fears he has a heavy accent but actually, he speaks the clearest out of all the Nordics - probably because he's so conscious about it. Plus he's a bit of a linguistic geek, so he generally has better language skills than the rest
📱 - What social media do they use the most?
Finland Probably Facebook or Instagram. He likes seeing what his family and friends are up to. Though, his profile is just full of pictures of his dog Halti or various shots in nature. He has a bad case of millennial humor and sends stupid dog memes to his friends (which he thought were hilarious)
👪 - What’s their relationship with their parents like?
Finland Finland doesn't have parents as far as he knows, he was raised by his sisters. He also used to know his extended family, before moving with the other Nordics when he was a young teen
🤔 - What’s something they’ll never understand?
Iceland Fighting, like actual physical fighting. He doesn't see the appeal or even the goal of it all. Is it to show strength? Humiliate the other or even wish harm on them? Whatever the case, Iceland doesn't get it and will not engage in it. To him, it's not smart or productive at all Iceland has always been isolated from the rest of the world and even though he's an old nation, he lacks many experiences, such as experience with fighting and warfare. Iceland is very pacifistic, so to him any sort of fighting and grudges seem like a total waste of time. Maybe the issues are sometimes deeper than that but to Iceland, fighting always leads to the other side feeling bitter or hurt
Finland There is probably a lot but the biggest peeve of his is lying. Finland values nothing more than trust and honesty. To him, trust is everything, and once you break someone's trust, it's practically impossible to ever get it back. He is very honest and trustworthy himself, which he also values in others. I'd even go as far as to say that he's a notoriously bad liar - so yeah, he just doesn't get it
🖌️ - Do they have any hobbies?
Sweden Sweden has a small workshop in his house, where he likes to go and work on DIY projects or fix items, so woodworking is one. He's also kind of artistic, known for his glass crafts. He occasionally plays football or ice hockey.
💤 - What do they absolutely need to have to fall asleep?
Iceland Block-out curtains, warm room, no sounds, comfortable pjs and soft cold pillow. I think Iceland is the most demanding when it comes to sleeping. He dislikes sleepovers. But he can get adjusted to anything once long enough time has passed. Though he's definitely taking in all the luxuries of the modern age. Imagine camping trips with this guy..
Sweden A comfortable bed. Sweden is a bit of a princess in that regard, but I mean he's really tall - he just wants a bed that's comfortable to someone his size. And he's an old man, if the bed isn't comfortable he will have killer back pain the next day
Denmark An empty mind. Denmark gets no sleep if he's stressed or worried; he'll end up overthinking stuff through the whole night. During sleepovers, he might keep talking on and on, even if everyone else has already fallen asleep
Finland Just a spot to sleep, anything goes really. Was it bright, dark, loud, or quiet, Finland will sleep no matter what. And when he's asleep, it's almost impossible to wake him up. But if you do wake him up, prepare to deal with the grumpiest man alive
Norway Give him a cool dark room and he'll sleep with no problem. Norway doesn't handle tropical climates at all, even his own local summers might get too "warm" at times. Also something to cuddle! Pets or blankets, but a person goes as well~
🗺️ - What languages do they speak?
Iceland Icelandic, Danish, and English. I am sure he used to be able to speak Old Norse and a bit of French but he has basically forgotten most of it. He can also understand Norwegian and most Swedish but he doesn't really speak those languages
🍳 - How well can they cook?
Sweden Really well! He loves cooking, and he appreciates and values quality food. And though none of the Nordics would ever admit it, he's definitely the best cook of the group - Sweden is always in charge of the culinary side of get-togethers. And he's probably the type of guy to bring his own lunch
Iceland Iceland is a decent cook but not a creative one. He can make you a traditional meal without a problem but learning any new recipe can be time-consuming for him. He has done things this way for centuries, so being constantly introduced to new trends and ideas can be overwhelming to him. But he's very intrigued to learn more about vegan food, he has a few recipes that are his specialty already. Sweden is helping him a lot on that front
🍪 - How well can they bake?
Sweden He's a great baker as well, but I would still call Denmark better than him. And Denmark probably bakes more often too, Sweden might be a bit too busy to do that. Nevertheless, there's nothing negative to be said about his baking skills. And he makes sure there are at least a few types of cookies, buns, or other pastries in the kitchen. It's important to take a break every once in a while and sit down for a cup of coffee, enjoy a cinnamon bun or something along the side
Iceland Not that well. Iceland does enjoy pastries and such, but he doesn't have the patience or energy to make them. It's annoying following complicated recipes, the ingredients are expensive, it takes time and the kitchen is a mess afterward. He just doesn't really get the appeal of the hobby
💘 - What do they find attractive about their partner(s)?
Sweden I don't think Sweden has a specific type so he finds all sorts of people stunning. He finds confidence really attractive - just being comfortable with yourself. And bravery. If someone is brave enough to challenge him, he'll probably develop feelings toward them, he's kind of hopeless in that regard. He might be a big man himself, but he wouldn't mind being saved by a handsome and dependable prince~
Denmark I think Denmark would like edgier personalities, someone to balance out his goofiness. Maybe he's a golden retriever boyfriend with a black cat partner? I don't know, he just fits with many types of people Denmark also has a tendency to get interested in people who show no prior interest in him, and it's almost like a challenge for him to try and charm them. When he finally manages to make them smile, he's basically in love. There is just something warm and inviting about an adorable smile. He wants someone who understands him, laughs at his jokes, but also appreciates a homey and comfy feeling
Iceland To Iceland, it's general kindness. Just being thoughtful and friendly - being outdoorsy and liking animals is a huge plus! He likes people that are more outgoing, positive, and quite confident. A warm personality just wins him over instantly. And he has a thing for darker hair and/or eyes, he finds them charming!
💝 - What gestures do they really appreciate? How do you get on their good side?
Denmark Denmark is an easy person to please nowadays. Most importantly he appreciates the company and spending time together! He's usually the one to take the initiative and invites himself over, but he gets occasionally worried about it - fearing that he's annoying people. Being genuinely interested in his stories and jokes is valuable to Denmark, and the thing he appreciates the most. He feels like he gets ignored a lot and though he doesn't expect praise, it would be nice to hear some recognition from all the work he does. He just fears he's being a burden or overtly annoying, so any sort of interest in his life or unexpected compliment will make him emotional
Sweden Sweden appreciates honesty. He wants to know if he has upset someone, and in return wants to talk things out. Resentments, petty disagreements, and gossips annoy him greatly. To Sweden, the most valuable gesture is to take time to get to know him; when people accept him for who he is and are not afraid of him. Sweden knows when people act based on preassumptions, so it's always a big thing for him when someone genuinely knows and understands him, even going out to defend him. He just wants kindness and respect - he's often the punching bag or the butt of the jokes. He knows it's not serious (and sometimes deserved), but actual kind words are so uncommon for him, that he doesn't know how to respond to them. A personal compliment will always make him blush
Finland Finland is always doing things for people and thinking about others before himself, so when someone makes him the top priority, he gets surprised. Just make him his favorite food, give him a present, or do a task for him and he's eternally grateful. He's not the kind of guy to deal with compliments though, he dismisses them and downplays them constantly - just getting awkward when he's being praised for something. So you have to show your gratitude for him with actions
Iceland Iceland appreciates when people have trust and confidence in him. He feels like his skills are downplayed a lot, but he's actually very responsible and smart. And if Iceland is upset, you just need to give him a few minutes alone to sort his thoughts. Let him have his moment, and he'll return soon enough Of course, if anyone takes the time to go and visit him, it's a huge deal but also something that makes Iceland feel a bit anxious. It feels bad to imagine a person dropped everything just to see him! But if people do it, Iceland will make sure to be a lovely host and welcome them with open arms
💀 - How do they feel about horror movies?
Iceland Iceland likes horror. Well, maybe the "American" style of horror is weird and too dramatic for him, but he loves reading books with scary and eerie vibes - the Icelanders just love dread. And he has rich folklore, which can be very disturbing in nature. He likes reading very absurd and even depressing novels, so a little bit of horror is more than welcome. Horror movies are okay too
🧸 - Do they have any stuffed animals? If so, are they decorative or do they sleep with them?
Sweden Huh, since this asks is coming from you that probably means you expect him to have a dozen Djungelskogs. Sorry but nah. Maybe he has like one but it's for the kids. And no, he doesn't sleep with stuffed animals. Though I think the boys have so many toys that they're practically everywhere around the house. But for being an otherwise practical and neat person, Sweden doesn't mind the chaos that much. Because toys and a bit of mess means the place is lived in by a family <3
💖 - How and how often do they try to impress their partner(s)? How and how often do their partner(s) impress them?
Denmark Denmark tries to get attention from his partner quite often. Any sort of engagement or affection is important to him. He becomes flirty and likes arranging dates, whether was it a movie night at home or a night out on town. He wants to spend quality time with his significant other and arrange surprises - Though he's probably the worst at it. He'll always end up revealing it in advance
Sweden Sweden has a hard time putting his love into words, so he impresses with his actions. He listens to his partner, maybe remembering certain issues they might have, and act upon those. Their partner craves a specific food? Sweden will make it that evening. They lost their favorite shirt? Sweden will get them a new one. Sweden just feels love and other big emotions strongly, so he wants to show his affection and care through the little things in everyday life as often as possible. He would find it embarrassing to make a big spectacle out of his love, but those little actions definitely cheer up his partner
Iceland Iceland wants to spend time with his partner as much as he can. He wants to just hang out and talk, so it's not so much about impressing their partner but showing love and affection in everyday life with little things. He and his partner might have to work with long distances, so Iceland makes sure to text and call them as often as he can. And Iceland isn't afraid to speak openly about his feelings. It might be a bit awkward at first, but he remembers to throw the occasional "I love you" - And when he has something to say, he'll always find the courage to say it
Finland Finland isn't known as a romantic guy, it's definitely something he should work more towards. He's just unaware of it and doesn't even realize to take the romantic initiative. Also, he sees most of his gestures and actions as solely platonic, so some people might get mixed signals from him. What do you mean complimenting someone's body can be taken as a romantic gesture?! But when he's (rarely) in the mood for some romance, he becomes such a smooch. Finland becomes very flirty and intimate. He's very straightforward and transparent - and his partner's reaction is always fun to watch
🧑🍼 - How do they feel about kids?
Sweden He loves his kids. He has basically devoted his personal life to his children and wouldn't mind having more of them if he was blessed with more. He has always wanted to be a dad even if others never really understood it
Finland Finland likes kids and gets along with them great. He's a lot of fun, coming up with fun games and activities but also knows how to be a responsible caretaker, so he would probably make a good parent. Though I don't think he has a massive need to become a father, it's not really something he has given much thought about. Nevertheless, he's an important adult to Sealand and Ladonia - just like the rest of the Nordics are
🐾 - Do they have any pets?
Sweden He used to have dogs growing up, maybe like Jämthunds, but nowadays he's too busy to have time for pets. Which is a shame, because he adores dogs. But when Finland comes over, he spoils hanatamago Halti to the point the dog follows Sweden everywhere
💬 - What are some filler/buffer words they use? (Like, um, etc.)
Sweden Sweden notoriously might answer back with nothing more than a sound - like "Hmm." But when he talks, he might just use så, ju, jaha, and asså. There is a million different context where you can use these filler words, so sometimes they're all you need to have a conversation. Whether he disagrees or agrees, it's just "jaha"
Iceland Iceland tries to speak clearly and formally around others, maybe due to his fear of appearing too weird or alien. He uses "já" (yes/yeah) a lot before phrases to emphasize them - like "já nei" (yeah no). Just like Sweden, Iceland also has his favorite word he throws around constantly "Jæja" which can be used in a variety of ways. Also, when he's frustrated, he puffs out loud
🥰 - What pet names do their partner(s) use for them? How flustered do they get by them?
I'm actually going to turn this question around and tell you what pet names they would use for their partners!
Iceland I don't think Iceland would use pet names that often. They feel so serious and adult-like, he'd have to be 100% comfortable to use them. But he'd probably use Krútt/Krúttið (mitt) as it can be very versatile. Though he prefers to use his partner's name or nickname
Finland Finland likes giving people nicknames. He has funny, weird, and sometimes even inappropriate nicknames he uses for all the people he knows. But for his significant other, he might call them "Rakas" or "Kulta" - but those are quite intimate, and it would take him a long time to get used to using endearment pet names
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Congratulations you have reached the end! Here is a little treat for you <3
okay i promise this is the last hetavision thing i'll post this season and i'm not even supposed to be using my laptop bc it's dying but this image wouldn't leave my head-
so who remembers when norway gave finland a 12 <3 (and yes ik sweden gave finland a 12 too but fin is too mad to remember,, he'll forgive eventually i'm sure!)
love thinking about the nordics & how they communicate <3 u know for a FACT that denmark & sweden only speak their own language to each other out of spite. norway isn't a petty child like the rest of them, so he switches between norwegian, danish & swedish just fine! denmark speaks to him in norwegian to butter him up. iceland uses danish the most, he's a bit insecure about speaking his language in front of the others, even if most of them would understand it. norway speaks icelandic the best, and he uses it whenever he wants to get iceland to do something for him (it works 50% of the time).
sometimes when they get really excited or heated they slip into old norse without anyone realizing, and finland is just kinda there bashing his head against the wall,,, his go-to for communicating with the others is swedish. sweden only got better at finnish recently and he speaks it with the heaviest most awkward accent but it's endearing :) i love this dysfunctional family
I haven't drawn their canon clothes in YEARS bc I'm a canon divergent gal lmao but I love them so much.... gonna have this as a print at upcoming cons, HOPEFULLY including Dokomi this weekend :) table 3H87, come see me if you're there!
Aph nordic fan slander, totally not based.
:)))) im bored so, haha just some random nordic.
What do you plan to have on your youtube channel?
I want to post animations (and shitposts) about my original ideas and AUs from Hetalia (mainly about Nordic countries)
Norway in a dress. Just it, nothing more
Sketch of Norway and Denmark
I just wanted to draw merman Norway
who's the author of your header art? peace and love <3
I'm not entirely sure, but I think it's Sobame Shi O on zerochan
Link to profile
I drew them. I love them so much
MAYBE i will draw them more.... Maybe........,,,,,,,,,,
I made an edit... Or... swedit...?
song lyrics translation:
Without you I can't breath I can't sleep Come back
Some sunor meme
Translation:
– ugly
– i don't like it too