After Udo and Kai had been left alone, an indescribable awkwardness seemed to linger in the room. He had thought of leaving as well. It was very late after all, and he was feeling tired from the combination of excitement and that pressure he had felt when Kai had his hand on his shoulders. Not only that but apparently he was going to need his strength and that was all the more reason he should get some rest.<br/><br/>He was close to turning and leaving, but then Kai began to speak to him. There was no escaping this man, was there? He was persistent. Very persistent indeed. And now he was going to be working with him…<br/><br/>“Patriotism is very much needed at this time,” Udo has had said, wasting no time responding to Kai’s question, “I believe that the path I walk is the one destined for me, and that I do not need any sort of help carrying out my duties as a citizen.” He truly was a patriotic man and was in fact very proud of his patriotism; there was a look in his eye that reflected his pride, and he stood a bit straighter. He has considered himself a patriot since he was a boy and it was something that would never be forced out of him. It was always nice to be praised for such a thing, and he reveled in every moment of it.<br/><br/>That smile had vanished completely when the demon had finally revealed himself. Kai was right to say he was a Christian man, and that he believed in angels, demons, and the like. But being prepared for them to be real? Now that was something that even he would admit had taken him slightly off guard. He let the demon have his monologue, watching him curiously. While he did so he could feel that temptation to achieve power become stronger but thankfully it was not insuppressible. But the feeling on his shoulders, that was something he did not have control over. It was enough to make him feel weak and it seemed the more he resisted, the more it threatened to bring him to his knees, he felt like he couldn’t move.<br/><br/>It was almost a relief when that woman had come in, and Kai’s attention was on her briefly. The pressure was lifted somewhat, but not by much. It was starting to give him a headache now which only made things worse.<br/><br/>But then, something assuaged the headache. It was faint, but he swore he could have felt someone trying to reach him, for these words echoed in his mind:<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour."</span><br/><br/>Udo exhaled softly when the demon faced him again. “If you are finished,” he said softly, as if the interruption had not happened. Something about that voice (more than likely the side of him that still clings to his Christian beliefs, though he wasn’t fully aware) had not only lifted the weight off his shoulders significantly but also gave him a newfound strength. “I believe you were trying to coax me to accept your offer. I’ve said it once, and I shall say it again, I have no interest.” He didn’t know who or what was watching over him, but they were right. Nothing good came out of a deal with a demon, and Udo knew, as he had mentioned, he sure as hell did not need anyone’s help.<br/><br/>“But,” he continued, “I’m not ungrateful that you’ve extended this offer to me. In fact, I am intrigued.” A slight pause, and he smiled to suppress the weight coming back onto his shoulders, telling him to give in. “However, once again, it is as I said, I have no interest. I have all the power I need.”<br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold"> No interest. He was not... Interested... Kai's insides were burning with rage. Such relentless fury that it could easily take this hotel down and turn it into a wasteland! He was furious. The very ground beneath his feet turned black, and like a cobweb, strands of darkness begun to spread through the ground. Shutting his eyes tightly, he inhaled the cold air, filling the room. <br/><br/>"I did not suspect that you were such an unambitious person, Udo Drechsler. It saddens me, to see a great spirit like yourself clinging to the shadow of greatness. You'd make for a far better Führer... I lived on this Earth for millennia, and I can see that Hitler will not be successful. A war will come, and he will lose it. You say you want the best for Germany... And would it not be the best for it to take the rule yourself? I'm not someone that will force you, or try to goad you into a contract by lies. I'm only telling you the truth. Trust your elders, Herr Drechsler." <br/><br/>His smile became sweet for a moment, even innocent in a way - but it was a mask, as much of a mask as it just could be. He didn't know whether what he said would come true, but he had little faith in Adolf Hitler, sensing that he'd act foolishly in the oncoming conflict. <br/><br/>"You could be the next Führer. And I'd make sure that you would be victorious." The smile became dark. Very dark. Kai's crimson eyes were only bottomless wells that one could drown in so, so easily... </span><br/><br/>For the first time since this conversation began, Udo’s demeanor changed slightly. It was hard to tell whether he was angry or simply annoyed but he definitely appeared uncomfortable.<br/><br/>“Me? The next Führer?” He inquired with a hint of amusement in his voice as he dared to move a few steps from the spot where he had been standing. When he finally stopped walking, his back was kept toward Kai. He let the thought sink in a moment, letting out a soft breath while he thought, and then finally continued, “It’s touching that you have my best interests at heart, it truly is.” He paused again, shaking his head, “I’m afraid, with or without the power you are offering me, I’m not fit to be a leader; the thought is actually quite ridiculous. In that regard, you aren’t wrong about me lacking ambition.”<br/><br/>He loved his country very much, but he was no leader. In fact one of the reasons he envied Hitler, the one truly destined to rule, was because of his leadership qualities. Carrying out his duties as he was now far more comfortable for him; he preferred to do everything he could in that way, instead of being the one everyone looked up to, even though there was a small part of him that might enjoy doing more for the country he so loved. There wasn’t anything he wanted to change about it.<br/><br/>Udo turned on his heel to face Kai again, “Even if I did have the desire to rule Germany, why would I lower myself and become some demon’s toy?” He more meant it in a curious way, wondering why he had taken interest him. Why was he going through this just to tell him all of this? His curiosity was building. But, on the other hand, he was also speaking the truth.<br/><br/>Why should he accept this offer? Why would he want this power?<br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold">Raising a brow curiously, Kai's expression of surprise was followed by a short chuckle and a shake of his head. "A toy? Do you truly consider me that much of a fiend, that I'd only want you for entertainment? Oh, no." He gazed down, the fierceness of his eyes disappearing underneath his lashes for a moment. "For entertainment in the roles of toys are ones like her." He stepped forth towards the bed, taking up Annika's hand, and slipping one gloved palm underneath her head. Toys. They were toys, they were little tin soldiers, they were chesspieces...<br/><br/>He picked her body up with ease, and putting one of her slender arms on his shoulder, he grabbed the other one, and begun dancing, with nearly otherworldly grace despite the fact that he was dragging an unconscious girl around a suite in something that would have been waltz, would it just be a bit more... Insane. <br/><br/>"You are no toy in my thoughts. I marvel at you, Herr Drechsler. A man so proud, with such an adamant will... I want to see what will become of that will, that determination, that dedication to your goal! Humans... I love humans, despite the fact that I am what I am. After all, are we not only fallen angels? Even if a flame becomes dark, it still burns. I love humans, Herr Drechsler. There is nothing more interesting than a human - the course of action you take, the words you say, the steps you make, the emotions you feel. I yearn to know it all, I yearn to watch it and I yearn to witness it." He twisted on his heel with elegance, lifting Annika's feet off the ground to turn her body around, and let her bend in his arms. "I'm simply curious... Humans are so entertaining." The wicked smile on his lips, which curved their corners upwards, was just that, crazy and wicked, when he turned his face to the side, no longer letting Udo stare at his back while he danced with the unconscious girl.<br/><br/>"Humans will never stop surprising me. They will never stop entertaining me. I just want more of that." </span><br/><br/>“I’m flattered,” Udo replied half-heartedly with a small grin. “Little old me capturing the interest of a demon… that is truly something fascinating. Perhaps I’m better at what I do than I’d thought.” The latter was more of a thought spoken out loud, but he did mean it. Was it that simple? Has what he does for his country really captured the interest of a demon, and this demon really did have his best interests at heart, only wishing to see him succeed, and not use him as a toy?<br/><br/>The idea seemed… well… he wasn’t sure about it.<br/><br/>Udo shifted his weight slightly and relaxed his shoulders, watching as Kai danced with the unconscious woman.  There was something humorous about it, he had to admit. It was exactly the kind of sick, twisted humor that he enjoyed. He couldn’t say he has ever danced with a corpse, but he has, more than once, dragged a corpse through the street just to set an example. Nevertheless, as entertaining and humorous as it was, Udo couldn’t help but wonder if he was just like that woman in a sense. After all, were toys not for entertainment?<br/><br/>The grin on Udo’s face faded and he sighed heavily. “You say I’m no toy, yet you still seek entertainment…” He began, “I have but one goal, one dream, and that is to serve the Reich and be amongst many, guided by the Führer, who will lead Germany into the future. You have already voiced your skepticism toward the Führer so I don’t understand. Is it truly my patriotism that catches your eye, or is there something else I’m missing?”<br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold">“I am bored, my dear darling." Kai spoke softly, lifting Annika up into the air and bringing her back down, very nearly closing his eyes. The shadow garb, falling over his smooth suit, swished around in harmony with the veil of black hair, descending onto his back. "After a few thousands of years, everything seems so unenterprising, bland, so empty and hollow. Needn't I, too, something to fill my days with?" With a deep sigh, he gave a look that could be easily interpreted as sadness to Udo, though, if one could read in his thoughts, there would be no such emotion. Kai's mind was blank, there was only darkness. A mask of humanity was only an excellent help with this entertainment, with fitting into the society... He didn't feel sadness. A sympathy-lacking sociopath as himself, a heretic, a maniac, could not feel sadness for others, or even himself.<br/><br/>"You are a strong man, Herr Drechsler. You have willpower and determination - otherwise, you would surely never be as devoted to your goal as you are. That sparked up my interest... Your patriotism is just a side product of that virtuous flame that burns within your soul." he clicked his fingers, for a moment lifting his hand off Anika's back, but quickly returning it back, to swirl around the room in a beautiful, yet eerie waltz some more. <br/><br/>"Most humans are weak. They lack will and opinions of their own - just like this girl, who so foolishly believed every word I spoke." Because it sounded pretty to her ears, she believed his banter. "And she would do the very same with any other man that would come with authority and even a little speck of charm. Humans that would jump off a cliff for a leader without even thinking about the purpose of their actions are of no interest to me. You have showed me that you are different the very moment we met." <br/>Yet, he still didn't reveal the secrets off his accursed handshake, a touch that should be avoided at all costs if one wished to retain their sanity. <br/><br/>That was his last option. That cursed touch. But now, upon discovering the stance of this man, he'd keep that last option to himself, if nothing else would work. </span><br/><br/>Interesting, Udo thought.<br/><br/>“You are right about that, I’m not as foolish as that poor woman.” Udo said with a soft chuckle. “I will say, I suppose an advocate would need to have an exceptionally persuasive tongue and a demeanor to match, otherwise he’d not be competent for his job,” he said. “Impressive. Truly impressive.” Despite the nature of what was said, every word spoken was meaningful with no hints of dishonesty. Credit must be given where it’s due, after all. Kai truly was an interesting man and he had a feeling he was going to have a lot of time to get to know him. If so, then, admittedly, he was almost looking forward to it.<br/><br/>A frown tugged at the corner of his mouth as his hand slipped into his pocket and pulled out his pocket watch.  He looked down at it briefly, then looked at Kai one last time, “If you’ll excuse me, I’m rather tired from today’s excitement, some sleep is in order,” he said. “I suppose we’ll see each other in the morning, we can continue this conversation then. Have a nice night, Herr Jaeger.”<br/><br/>As soon as he stepped out into the hallway, Udo shivered slightly. The first thing he did once he reached the room he was staying in for the night was head over toward bathroom sink and splash some water on his face. There was still something nagging him in the back of his mind. He knew what it was, of course, it had everything to do with Kai’s offer, and whatever the hell he had just become a part of, there was no denying it at this point. If he had stayed in there a second more then he might have actually given into the temptation.<br/><br/>His thoughts drifted back to the conversation moments ago. He paced the room a bit, letting everything sink in. Power was a very, very tempting thing, and a lot of what the demon had said was true, he probably needed something more if he was going to go through with this. Or did he? Ah, well, that was just something he would deal with in the morning. He needed his rest. Whatever decisions he made, either way, he knew would be for the good of Germany.