Mal-Wash.

The kitchen is oh-so-very empty.

This is why Mal feels comfortable enough saying this out loud as he pours tea with an unsteady hand.

"Why is it that me sayin' I can't say 'never again' is getting automatically translated as 'We Will Do This Again'? Ain't like I'm not gonna try to avoid it 'fore goin' anywhere near that again, Wash..."

Several lumps of sugar into the teacup.

"'Tween the hallucinations you had no clue I was havin' and the Alliance just beggin' for a chance to catch hold of all of us, I did what I had to."

"...And I'm sorry."

Mal moves with his teacup toward one of his favorite chairs in the kitchen. "Now all I got to do is figure out how to say that in front o' you."

Mal-Kaylee, pre-Mal-Wash.

Mal is sitting on the walkway grating that connects the two main stairwells at the front end of the cargo bay, legs dangling, an empty cup to one's side.

He looks...occupied, so don't spook him.