[ wash has reached a level of stability, but that doesn't really mean he's been cured of anything. just that he's found ways to manage, to more or less be okay with where he's at. he's not a great person. better, but not great. he's done things that are terrible and would probably still do more, in the right circumstances. he's still more than a little fucked up, or maybe extremely fucked up, in more ways than one, and he doesn't really have the most healthy ways of dealing with it. what he's learned, mostly, is self-awareness, understanding where his problems are and how he's dealing with them, whether it's good or not. and he is very aware that he very often utterly loathes himself.

he might be able to hear some of that in her. but it's not for him to prod at, not unless she decides to push at it herself. he watches as she takes another swig, quiet. ]

I've done some pretty fucked up shit, too, you know.

[ no idea if she'd have ever learned about any of that from his other self. ]

I don't know if I'm not that person anymore. It's a little hard to find closure over something if you did if you can't -- own it.

[ a half-shrug, leaning back. ]

That's just me, though. We actually are different people. Maybe I'd think differently if I did a bit more universe-hopping, like you did.