#amenk

alfred, making the last tiktok of his life: hey guys so I found this weird cat--

“We desire to convey to your Excellency from our hearts our sincere wishes for the health and welfare of your Excellency and the people of the United States. The people of our countries have entered into friendly intercourse with each other, and having both on our side and yours bound themselves mutually to continue these happy relations, we pray that the people of both our lands may live forever without change in peace and happiness.” -- Minister Min Yong Ik to President Arthur, 1883

It wasn’t...always bad. Our first meeting was almost pleasant, actually. Yong Soo and I accompanied the first Korean diplomatic mission to the United States in 1883 to close out the signing of the Treaty of Amity of Commerce (our first with a western nation). Please understand that even at this time I held some suspicion towards America, considering his way of trying to persuade us to open the country was to send armed ships first to Pyongyang and then to Seoul in the years prior... Still, he was pleasant enough, trying his best to pronounce our language and going on about how happy he was to be our “first” as he showed us around Washington.

@aphrarepairweek2021​

Day 6: Traditional Outfit

I’m not fully versed in traditional clothes, and based the pictures off of details I was seeing in general, so if they are inaccurate or something, feel free to let me know.

Headcanon #70

Kimchiburger: America had been on a historical K-drama kick for a bit and decided to ask South Korea how accurate the clothes were for their time periods. South Korea regaled him with various stories of how often he pushed so many social norms by his clothing and hairstyle choices, such as trying to put his hair in styles signifying he was married when he wasn’t or always being on top of the latest fashion trends, no matter how obscure or weird. At one point, America asked him if he still had the old outfits and if he could see them. Luckily, SK managed to find one or two still in good condition that he somehow managed to keep, and did a little fashion show. America loved how unique the clothes looked, since he knew more about kimonos (Japan) and cheongsams (China), and liked how they seemed a nice in-between; not overly complicated, but still regal and each part holding meaning.

Plus, he thought SK looked really handsome and mature. Like, he’s reminded of how SK is actually a lot older than he lets on, and the clothes bring out the intelligence only centuries of living as a nation can provide.

RusNK: When they first saw each other’s traditional clothing, they were shocked at how both of them seem to go the colorful and patterned route.

Like look at these Russian clothes:

Then Korea:

Seeing each other in their respective traditional outfits? NK really liked how simple yet formal Russia looks in his clothes. Like the colors just really suit him and he hardly ever sees him in anything that isn’t huge or extra padded due to the cold. Russia loves how regal looking NK is in his clothes. Like, the patterns and colors, can be both simple yet loud but balance so well, and NK looks so divine according to Russia himself and almost dignified, which was a big reason why he fell for him in the first place. Like, he loved how NK could be so dignified and refined yet approachable at the same time when wearing his traditional clothes.

Commieburger: America had become really curious as to what NK wore way back when, as he seen South Korean clothes. NK didn’t really understand why America was interested in such a thing and merely gave vague details, like he worse mostly plain clothing that still looked presentable and had braided hair. America vaguely remembered that NK had longer hair when they first met, and questioned why he cut it. NK simply put it as “needing to cut ties with the past” and refused to answer more.

America later found a picture in South Korea’s possession of the two Koreas in their traditional attire dating years back. He was shocked at how different NK looked, but more so at how genuinely happy the older twin was. It made him question what NK meant by “needing to cut ties with the past”, and got depressed thinking NK was forcing himself to forget because he may have believed that there was no way to go back to those times.

Later, NK questioned him on his traditional attire, since he was “trying to reciprocate”. America explained that he didn’t really have a traditional dress. Sure, some of the more typical styles were influenced by Europe, but he technically didn’t have a style that was uniquely his own. He explained that it was due to him technically being a nation set up by ideals and beliefs rather than a nationalistic identity like most other nations. His people were so diverse that he really couldn’t say something represented his people without effectively ignoring a part of the population. He admitted that he kind of felt lonely and different from everyone else due to that, since he couldn’t really connect on that level. Like, he sees everyone have these unique, meaningful clothing and he has nothing and feels like a leech when he borrows certain elements or traditions from others.

That’s when NK goes and fetches a measuring tape and starts taking America’s measurements, much to the absolute confusion of America. Few weeks later and America receives a package from NK that contained a custom tailored joseon-oth (called a hanbok in South Korea), and a note. The note basically stated how NK decided to get him a hanbok that represented him and how America should try making a collection of different traditional attire but with elements that represented the American ideals and people. What was unsaid was what truly made America emotional. The joseon-oth was white with a blue jacket, white meaning purity and blue more associated with the moon and the heavens (often more feminine), kind of like a dreamer, with a pattern more closely related to the idea of unity. This, seemingly what NK was trying to get at, was America as an idealist country where the dream was to live in unity despite all differences. This was NK’s way of showing America he can have a traditional attire and it still represent himself.

A while ago an anon pointed out that I’ve been out here shipping this for 10 years so...happy 10 year anniversary to AmeNK as of April 2? I wanted to draw them with their national flowers, so late entry for @aphasiaweek day 10 too, I guess. NK’s national flower is Siebold’s magnolia and for the US it’s the rose.

It’s my guilty pleasure haha. Thanks in advance!

Well, I keep on thinkin' 'bout you, sister golden hair surprise And I just can't live without you, can't you see it in my eyes? I been one poor correspondent, and I been too, too hard to find But it doesn't mean you ain't been on my mind

“I'll extinguish you with my burning soul!”

Basically since I saw Promare I’ve been imagining an AU with NK and America. The personalities match really well and Sang Kyu and Lio have pretty similar hair styles. I could definitely see Sang Kyu as leader of the Burnish with his loyalty for his people and desire to destroy those who wrong him, and Alfred as a himbo firefighter with a burning soul.