Ivan traveled with Ludwig after the conference had ended. He did not argue or fight as German soldiers or Germany himself ordered him about. He saw little benefit instigating them. It would not change the results of the war and would likely only make his temporary time under Germany unpleasant. Speaking of which, Ivan was rather curious what Ludwig had in mind for his stay. Under Mongolia he spent the majority of it in women’s clothing, tending to the nation himself. It ranged from foot massages to food to activities Ivan wished to forget. He inwardly cringed at the thought, but he suspected Germany had other plans instore for him. You learn much about a person when you spend three years fighting them on the front line. Ivan had already felt the German’s worse. He knew no matter what occurred, it could not be worse than what he had already experience, and for that reason, Ivan was surprisingly not afraid.
His violet eyes occasionally glanced at the stern blond as they traveled. He looked far too serious for his age and inexperienced with the power and influence he now held. Such power was usually fleeting because a child can only pretend to walk in their mother’s heel until they trip over themselves. His lips tilted upward with humor at imaging Ludwig in heels, but he kept the thought to himself.
As they reached a building, his brow perked when they stopped. It appeared to be a type of military or prison of sort. It seemed he would not be working in Germany’s home. He saw some benefit in the decision. He lacked the skills in cleaning and doubted he could be much help when Estonia, Lithuania, and Latvia would already be staying with Germany’s home as well. They were much better. Ivan would not have enjoyed cleaning, cooking, or any other requested activity from Germany, so he felt thankful not to be forced to do so. Nonetheless, he was a tad disappointed. Even though he had lost, his family and friends would currently be under the German’s rule as well. He would have enjoyed the company, but Ivan was no stranger to loneliness. He would survive.
If anything, it was rather humorous. “I have made quite an impression on you, da?” he asked with the smile that had never left his features. “I feel honored to be granted special living arrangements,” he chuckled.
Ever since the end of the war, Germany has not let Russia wander far from his sight. Not that he's felt the need to keep his eyes on the man 24/7, as he has many men that he trusts. The main part of keeping an eye on Russia is to not try to stop him if he tries to misbehave, but to instead get Germany there as quickly as possible. Because, even defeated, Germany judges the Russian's strength to still be quite profound. So, just as he's keeping a strong military force stationed in the former Soviet stronghold so that the populace doesn't have the opportunity to rise up again, he's not sparing any trust for the Russian. At least, not at this point in time.
But he's not particularly bothered by the fact that Russia seems to be unbothered by his captivity or by their destination, when it becomes clear. After all, the point here is not to frighten or intimidate him. Germany wouldn't be frightened or intimidated himself, if the situation was reversed. He's certain that he would be angry, however, which isn't an emotion that he's seen from the Russian either. Then again, the point isn't to make him angry either.
No, the point is to simply put the Russian somewhere where he will be secure so that Germany doesn't feel the need to watch him so closely. Not that he'll be far away - now that the war is over and all the pomp and circumstance of that has been concluded he should be remaining in Berlin for awhile. Which will be nice for him - the past few years have been extremely busy and he'd actually enjoy being able to do something more tedious and sedentary, at least for awhile, like sorting out all the messes that the war caused that need to be cleaned up. And hopefully things will be better in hand with Russia before the next time he travels - he doesn't want to either have to take the man with him or cross his fingers and hope that something doesn't happen while he's gone.
The prison they are headed into isn't an ordinary prison - in fact, near the beginning of the war it had been built as a bunker. But it had been converted into a prison a couple of years ago, when Germany had become confident that it wouldn't be needed for protection. What he needed it more for was nations he considered to be too... volatile to serve in his home. He's very particular about his home, after all, and he's not fond of being worried about his things being ruined by disgruntled protectorates. Fortunately, when given the choice between being locked in a cell and being required to show good behavior while serving in his house, most countries (eventually) decide that they'd rather do the latter.
Of course, Russia isn't most countries. And he's perfectly right that he's getting special living arrangements - other countries have been housed here (and a few are currently here, though he's not about to let Russia see which ones and where they are housed) - but most he isn't so quick to send right to the prison without giving them a chance. That's something he's more often done to Soviets than anyone else, actually. But Russia's family are one thing, but the man himself is another.
And he might be surprised by the response that the gets from the German. "Ja, you have made quite the impression. Your people surprised me vith their dedication and tenacity. And they have not abandoned you still - you must be very proud of them," he states, little to no emotion in his voice as he speaks. The cell that he had prepared for the Russian is quite a fair distance in, as the sheer number of gates, doors, and guards that will be between the man and any hope of freedom is a part of the security system.
Even though Germany had not yet seen it, Ivan was angry. His anger compared to a slow boiling pot that had been boiling under a fire for over three years. Occasionally, it would spill over the edges, but Ivan knew the ways to calm it before it exploded. He would feed his anger with memories of the past or plans of future. Memories of Nazi prisoners dying from starvation, diseases, and hypothermia usually settled the anger. He remembered a particularly freezing evening. He had built a large fire for his men, leaving the German scum tied up in the woods. He ate his belly full that night and went to the edge of camp just as he heard the wolves. He saw the wolves. He could have easily saved the prisoners tied to the trees. Instead he grabbed the left over boiling hot stew and dragged it out to the woods. He threw the hot stew onto the prisoners and then moved away as the wolves came in for their dinner. Their screams left Ivan in a rather giddy mood as he went to bed that evening.
So yes, one could say Ivan was angry, and that would likely not change until Ivan had Germany underneath his boot begging for mercy.
Ivan folded his hands behind his back as he followed Germany to the building. His answer left him somewhat confused. He was not surprised that Germany had not recognized the strength of his enemy. A young nation with his arrogance likely never saw pass his own tunnel vision. It was the last statement that left him confused. “Why would I be proud? It is expected in Russia. You are not proud when worker does his job. It was his job,” he answered simply. Loyalty, endurance, and dedication would be the cornerstone of his people. None of his people received a pat on a head for good behavior. They did so because it was done. He suspected Germany would attempt to break his people of such attributes, but it would be a lost cause. You cannot change the Russian mentality no more than you can change the location of the mountains.
He followed through the gates as he entered, his violet eyes glancing at each aspect as they move through the building. He did not plan to escape because it would serve little purpose, but Ivan always liked to be prepared. "Is there a time limit to your hospitality? One year? Two? A decade?" he asked curiously though not expecting an answer.
Whether or not Russia's feelings about being captured have been visible, Germany has been operating under the assumption that they exist. Someone would have to be pretty insane to fight him that hard for that long only to turn into an innocent little lamb at the moment of defeat. Of course, if you believe some of the rumors, Russia is insane. But if that's the case, even if he's genuinely feeling no upset about the way that the war ended, that mood may shift in an instant. And either way, the Russian cannot be trusted. He shouldn't even be given a chance. Not yet, anyways.
Hearing the reply to his words, he frowns slightly and his eyes narrow a little as well. But he seems to shrug that off quickly. "Ah, communism... such a foolish, failed system! Treating the people like they are equal - a noble idea! Except they are not equal - some are more intelligent, and some are more moral. Some can and vill achieve more than the others... if they are encouraged. But hov encouraged vill those fev be if they are not revarded for their success? Vhy achieve more than the others if there is no revard? And even those vho do not have the same potential become motivated to try anyvays because they see the revards and vant them too," he says, but then he stops himself - he could elaborate upon the failings of communism for hours, but there is no point in doing so here and now.
"But I am vasting my breath telling that to you, aren't I? You are just as stubborn as your people," he adds, knowing that he won't be convincing the Russian of anything. Not right now. Later, perhaps. Much later, most assuredly.
The German prison is fairly standard, as far as prisons go - though of course this one comes equipped with all the most modern amenities. Which is mostly a matter of surveilance equipment and other electrical systems. Nothing too complicated, of course, as the field of electronics is still developing. But the level of automation available with modern technology makes it much easier to keep an eye on the prisoners and with fewer personnel.
But that is not what he expects to keep the Russian inside the prison - at least not over the longer term. In the short term the prison will likely prove to be a challenge to escape, while over the longer term each an every one of Russia's people who lose their hope in him will weaken his strength. Soon he will no longer have the strength of a nation, and will no longer be a real threat. But, of course, the German's plans for him are actually even more ambitious than even that... The question asked causes almost all emotion to disappear from his face. "That depends on you, and hov quickly ve see the results of Generalplan Ost," he answers somewhat cryptically, figuring that the man will have no idea what he's talking about. But that's just as well, as the less Russia knows about what is to become of him, the less he's likely to put up a fight about it.
And given how much Germany cares about his own people, he almost feels sorry for the Russian and what his Boss and other leaders have in store for the other nation's people. But only almost - after all, it seems to be working well for him, and even though what they're planning on doing to Russia is far more drastic perhaps that's needed. Everyone knows that the Russian is insane, after all. And if anything will fix that, this will. After all, as it turns out it's rather simple to change the Russian mentality - you simply have to change who the Russians are.
