I love how your rusame stuff has this sort of...equal dynamics. Like both characters have their unique traits and quirks and individuality, but all the while they're equal. This is sort of a vague question, but if you have time could you elaborate on how you see their relationship as, like, balanced, both contrasts and compliments to each other?
Hmmmmmmmm, as for me, I perceive them as balanced thanks to their history. Like along of their history, both nations always either think the other as their best friend (at imperial Russian era) or as their arch-rival (at Cold War era). They never belittle the other as nation that’s to be underestimated at cold war era, and Russia also treat USA even back when USA still fought for their independence, as fellow nation by still trading with them despite Great Britain’s strong objection. Like inequality such as colonizer/colony ships never happened for this ship. And as for the hetalia characterization, this equality is shown by how Alfred isn’t afraid of Ivan even when he emits dark aura that has been shown to make others fearing him.
As for why they’re contrasting yet complimenting each other…
For contrasting, it’s more to the extrovert side of Alfred and Introvert side of Ivan. Like, Alfred is always full of energy and love to socialize with others, while Ivan, though he also is shown to always trying to befriend others, due to the many rejections he had, he has become more of a introvert who often spends his time alone and a bit shy.
And, despite all that, they are still similar in a sense. idk how best to describe this, but I think it’s because both of them are canonly shown to hide their true feelings sometimes behind their smiles. Like how Ivan is always smiling whenever he tried to befriend anybody, but then he also cried/be sad when he’s alone because he’s been rejected by the same people he’s tried to befriend. And also like Alfred is shown to be obnoxious and can’t read the atmosphere but actually he could, though he choose not to sometimes. Like the comic strip where Alfred said he’s jealous with Matthew even though on the outside he’s being obnoxious as usual.
This is how I think they’re complementing each other. They know how sometimes they have to hide their emotions behind their smile; how they have to act to be a superpower nation outside while inside there’s so much pressure from their boss and everyone to push them to be the best, how they have to hide their loneliness behind their cheerful smile, and even if they often face each other as rivals, they can’t deny that the only person that could understand their position best is their own “rival”.
Like, I could imagine them to release that mask and show their true personality only to each other. They know each other at their best and their worst so they don’t have anything to hide between themselves.
Welp, I guess that’s all my brain could come up with atm, hope it suffices for your question! :D