[ It is, in fact, far more productive to press on. Wash is infuriatingly self-aware of the fact, he wants to correct him but correcting him would give him more. A sharp inhale, but he does seem calmer, now, more in place, though definitely annoyed, and it's all at himself. ]

Of course it fucking hurts to lose people. [ And by god Wash has lost so very many people. It was his job to pick up after them, for a while. ] But I'm not trying to make myself useful to them. I'll do everything I can to help them, but I'll be glad for people to realize they don't actually need me.

[ That they'd be better off without him, even. Self-hatred, remember. ]

People have better things to worry about than me. You have better things to work towards than helping me.