There were many expected results of his pronouncements. Most likely was simply ignoring him, as he held neither power nor authority in this place; a fact that rankled deeply. Next of course was violence, another example to be made for the flock of what insubordination brought. Aubre jumping between them and trying to deescalate was a third, much to his displeasure. What he had not expected, however, was for her fist to collide with his face. Or, at least, the mask covering it. Normally she would never have managed to make contact; you didn't become the heir to a major crime family by being unable to defend yourself. This time, however, he was completely and utterly caught off guard. Never had he expected his peace loving wife to punch him, let alone straight in the face....yet, somehow, he found that he wasn't surprised. Likewise he was hardly angry, more proud, and were they not in some Kafkaesque bullshit scenario at the moment he likely would have immediately drug her to bed. Alas.

"Scusami.", came the response to her orders. Surprisingly, though unseen beyond the gauche mask covering his face, he grinned. "Più forte mammina." He chuckled softly, even as the first drops of blood began to fall onto his chest. With the mask firmly latched to his face there was nothing he could do about his now bleeding nose save let it go, the crimson vitae running down his face and chin before reaching the edge of its confinement and dripping onto ivory pectorals.

His mood soon soured again as the assemblage began to laugh. That too was an expected outcome, yet it nonetheless set his hackles on edge, irritation flowing through his body. Dearly would he love to have one of them within arms reach, so that he may pound them into the wall so thoroughly the only option would be to panel over their loathsome bodies. Yet, unfortunately, that was not an option. Not merely because they were not within reach, but because of the inevitability of reprisal. The moment he got his hands around one of their throats the ape would retaliate, and that would likely be the end of it. He needed to ignore them so he could maintain his watch over Aubre, for her safety was of paramount importance.

The punishments that came were expected, particularly for those who received him, though he did note the disparity. It seemed that the punishment met the crime, active hostility being meat with overwhelming aggression, whereas passive insubordination was merely met with derision. That was fine enough for him, and he thanked the fools for providing said information. He did not blink or turn as they were pummeled relentlessly, instead he merely stepped through the bars and turned his wife, pulling her face once more into his chest.

Unlike before, he held her there. Held her there was the would be thieves were given their mock hanging, adding more data to his mental banks. To him it only made sense, particularly given the ward. One truly was stupid to believe they could rob a psychic. As the screen flashed up, his grip tightened and his eyes narrowed. He was familiar with the site before him, the incident had been widely publicized afterall. But, surely this could not be their intended purpose? In but a few moments it became sickeningly clear that it was not. Now his arms became inescapable, no matter how hard she tried he would not allow his tender hearted love to bear witness to this play. His own clip curled in derision, disgust written plain on his face. Despite his family business, Leon had never cared for torture. It was a dirty, brutish business practiced by those without the wit or creativity to achieve their goals in a more civilized manner. The fact that it was all for show only improved the situation slightly, for those fools/ all seemingly believed it true. It seemed to him from the view on the, well, the closest approximation was monitors, that the 'Dummy Ward' was light a few members.

And then, at the end, simple logic puzzle. His disgust crew thricefold, and his indignation twice more. He released Aubre at last, knowing full well her actions, and simply sighed. He cast a regretful look down at her. "Go ahead." Leon himself? He merely seated himself and watched. The grand speeches, blind trust, and blatant self interest were as expected as they were worthless. Had he been aware of John Sullivan and his own logical conclusion it would have ended there. Sadly, however, the transmissions from the other wards were cut off, and so he felt compelled to be the only voice of reason, even as his pride drove him to the opposite. "Your location is apt. Despite what all of you seem to think, this test has nothing to do with the actual votes or the results therein. This determines the future, as I highly doubt these incompetents have the ability to devise something more competent for future rounds. The adversaries are known. When next you all play their little game, you will know that they either saw fit to ensure either the collective interest or their own. They will know the same. That selection will be tainted by this, as the next will by it. You are not choosing their present, you are choosing your future." And with that, he fell silent. His eyes lazily trailing across the ward, focusing on nothing in particular. There was nothing else to say, and he would not play this fool's game. Even if it led to Aubre's ire. Which it most certainly would. More chores, he supposed.

On that note, it was not long before a sigh emerged from his lips, curling them into a frown. Despite his disdain for all of this, and the sheer *humiliation* of this *idiocy*, he could not leave his wife unattended. Muttering a colorful assortment of foreign words under his breath he steped back to the mochi and pinched off a small piece of one. The frown only deepened as the chain encircling his neck morphed with the outer bars, curling into a sneer of disgust as he strode across the chamber and knelt next to her. "Let me." Deft fingers, trained by the best pickpocket he knew, skillfully plucked out the little gems one by one, placing them in an ever growing pile in Aubre's cupped hands. He silently swore to himself that none of these cretins would be leaving here alive.

⚰︎ divider made by milky!

*Dummy Ward
*Leon is quite proud of his wife
*Likewise he's irritated at everyone else
*Shields Aubre from everything going on
*Advises the rest of the ward that they should bear the future in mind
*Refuses to participate and therefore defaults to Foresake

☉

PRISMATIC PENITENTIARY

UGLY WARD

TWO WARDS TO PICK FROM. neither grab his attention and his choice revolves around the prisoner’s dilemma. John Sullivan and @navy’s words try to strike a balance between reason and sympathy, but both are ultimately wrong. for their suspicion relies on the sacrifice of their fellow prisoners. colleague who had, by all means, done nothing wrong.

“whichever ward commits to FORSAKING,” is fernando’s vote. a conditional statement, which may not skewer the choice, or hold any weight, but is the correct solution from his elementary deduction.

the best strategy in this case must be NICE but also RETALIATORY when provoked. and better yet, one that doesn’t put him at direct odd against the very people he’s tethered to.

[attr="class","spiralpee"]
Elisabeth Fiorelli

- vote for whichever ward votes FORSAKE

They'd be strung up like ragdolls, their bodies dangling like chimes in a spring breeze. The sight of it gave rise to a bit of bile in Laurence's throat. This was exactly what they'd gotten, their deeds gone punished and with full consequence. He refused to be an example...

When they finally came back down, the sight of their loyal partners crushed before them, the primate Pokémon had been quick to dole out the rolling punishment on them all, a vote of two questions. Trust or Forsake. The rules were enough to have Laurence damn near what to release what had already risen from earlier...A prisoner started first, his claims and worries enough to get the doctor's brain going. He was right, judging from the room there had simply been a bunch of random people he'd never met, the only exception being Howard and the new man, named Alba. For all he knew, she could have been in the ward below them or above. Either would be a nightmare, Sophia trapped in such a hellish place. 

Alba's look after his speech had almost gotten a rise from the doctor. 

"And you're going to take a chance on saying they aren't? I don't know about you, but I have family, the last thing I am going is vote Forsake when I have no idea where they are, and if you vote to forsake, I can't guarantee that whatever happens will be the greatest ending for you either. Punishment is still a punishment after all...Who's to say that there isn't something in store for breaking the workers of another ward? And what if they also vote for Forsake? Then we're both on the chopping block."

His voice had come out more venomous than he liked, the distaste in the man's self-preservation almost tight as the chain that wrapped around his neck. 

"I'm going for Trust. Dammit, I'll put faith that you are not all going to risk the chance of both being safe. If your family had been in a winning ward, then they're safe. If they've been in the other ward, they're also safe if you go for Trust. Don't be an idiot."

Alba Evovae

---

* Laurence slowly dislikes Alba
* Laurence votes Trust
* Laurence doesn't want to die. 
* Yikes, someone's ursaluna.