this is where it started for me.

[Private to Santadmiral. Backdated and sent from his communicator while he was off gallivanting around wherever the hell he ran off to.]

You know what I want. And I know that the nature of the deal ensures that I won't get it until I help someone to graduation. So all I'm asking for is an inmate who isn't a giant pain in the ass.

For Claire, a pair of green Ugg boots, and some good hot chocolate for us to share and remind us of when we first met. Godiva, maybe.

For David - and I can't believe I'm asking for anything for him - his cat, Megadeth. And all the necessary trappings, litterbox, etc. Maybe if he has something to take care of, something that's dependent on him, he might start to grow some responsibility. And on the off-chance he ends up as a rat again, the cat can eat him. So there's that.

And...I know he's not there anymore. But hell, I might as well try. If you could give Costigan a present, wherever he is...he was a good guy. I don't know where inmates go when they fail, if they go anywhere...but a Red Sox cap for him would be nice.

Hell. If you can bring Marie back to me, getting something to Costigan shouldn't be a problem. At least he's been on the Barge before.

Wonder who's on the network this time...

[Even though this Paris is different - this Paris has changed - it's still Paris to him, and he hates that the Admiral's forced him to be here. He could do without the memories this place dredged up, the ones since his awakening on the fishing boat off Marseilles. Even the ones before then, the dim ones that were half-present, still hurt.

He half-considers visiting his old apartment, visiting what used to be Treadstone's Parisian base of operations, but dismisses the thought. No. He has no need to.

So he walks, keeping his eyes peeled as he inspects the city, and letting the crisp October air clear his head.

He tries not to dwell on the dog-eared paperbacks in his room, the ones that almost make sense but don't quite. He tries not to dwell on the arbitrary capriciousness of the Admiral and the loss of one of his only friends.

And he tries very hard not to dwell on why in the hell he got stuck with another goddamn kidnapping, body-snatching Animorph for an inmate.]

Unpaired again, thank God.

[Warden Filter]
Does anyone know anything about an author named Robert Ludlum?

[Private to Will Parry]
David probably doesn't want me talking to you, but there are some things you need to know about him that wouldn't be in his file.

[Warden Filter.]

I'd like to address the concerns raised by Tim Drake in his most recent post. Namely, that I used torture on David as punishment for when he kidnapped and impersonated me for a week. I didn't.

David was not harmed or mistreated, and that can be corroborated by both another warden and another inmate. I was teaching him a lesson about the misuse of his powers; he's been unethical with them in the past. The only way to get through to him was to use a punishment that would stick. I saw no viable alternative, and if one had been available I would have used it.

And I was angry. I'm no saint, but saintliness is not in the job description.

The punishment was harsh; so was what he did. I underestimated how much it would affect him, but I will not apologize for doing my job.

Lynch me for that if you want.

[OOC: Co-written with Milbury. Thanks for being awesome! There is also a scoschy bit of time fuckery in here because real talk, nobody can be held hostage on the Barge for two weeks without being found. The ship ain't that big, not like it's Tora Bora or anything.]

[The screen flicks on, and the face of Jason Bourne appears - though anyone would be forgiven for not recognizing him at first, due to the haggard look and the beard that he’s sporting. He’s a right mess, with a healing split lip and bruises all over every place the camera can see, and quite a few more besides.

He speaks, and his voice sounds hoarse and rusty from disuse.] “As of the morning of June 5th, I have not been myself. I was kidnapped and impersonated by my inmate, and held captive in another inmate’s quarters.” [He glances off-camera.] “Come here, David.”

	[Sullenly, reluctantly, David walks into view. While not as disheveled as his warden, David’s seen better days himself - his normally straight hair is matted to his head and the shirt he’s wearing is torn at the collar. He’s also got his hands clasped together behind his head - clearly he’s not here of his own volition. He doesn’t look at the camera. His attention is focused entirely on his warden, and the look he’s eyeing Bourne with is a dangerous one - bitter and resentful. He says nothing.]
	“Show them.” [Bourne’s voice is flat and level. His left hand is nearly out of frame, and there’s a gun in it, and it’s pointed directly at his inmate.] “Now.”
	[Gritting his teeth and looking away from the camera, David begins to change. Slowly he begins growing, both in height and mass, his lean teenager’s body bulking up into the body of a man fifteen years or so older. It’s a bit like watching aging flash-forwarded, except that David isn’t just growing older. His entire facial structure is changing as he grows - his ear-length blond hair shortens and darkens, while his eyes go from dark brown to steely blue.
	When the transformation’s complete, no trace of David can be see in the man he’s become. Now Jason Bourne appears to be holding his twin double at gunpoint.]
	[Anyone watching Bourne rather than David would see the anger and hate in his eyes as he watches the transformation. There are two of him now - one whole, perfect, and fake; the other beaten, broken, and the genuine article.] “Demorph,” [he says, and there’s such bitter loathing in his voice it’s surprising he hasn’t pulled the trigger out of spite.
	Looking back at his warden with undisguised hatred, David does as he’s told. Jason Bourne’s form recedes back the way it came, exposing David’s secret for the entire Barge to see.] “Happy now?” [David asks, and while his sullen bitterness can’t match the utter loathing his warden expressed in that one-word command, his own voice is quivering with anger. His hands are clenched behind his head, and it’s quite clear he would enjoy nothing more than seeing the man he just became torn apart, perhaps by rabid lions.]
	[Bourne doesn’t respond to his inmate’s question, but the answer is obviously ‘No’. Though he refuses to take his eyes off of his inmate, it’s clear that he’s addressing the camera:] “I apologize for anything he’s done while using my form since then. This will not happen again. He will be receiving a punishment that fits his crime.”

[He reaches over with his right hand to turn off the feed, the gun still trained on David, and now it’s clear why he’s using his opposite hand to hold a gun on his inmate. His right thumb is still broken and hasn’t yet been treated, hanging down grotesquely. It can be seen for just a moment before the feed switches off.]

[Private to the Admiral, just after Rathammer commences:]
Please revoke David's morphing ability entirely. When I see fit to restore his powers, keep him from being able to acquire or morph any Barge denizen.

...well, that was entirely stupid.

[Private to David.]
Looks like I'm your new warden. Enjoy the Admiral's sense of humor.

[Private to Slade.]
Sorry.

[Private to Costigan.]
Hey - do you have a minute?

[Private to Claire.]
Has he been bothering you?

[Private to Claire]
Are you okay?

[Private to the Admiral]
Bring him back.