It’s nothing you can see, with Mal. Not like the medals Zoë keeps tucked among her scanties, or that crinkled picture Kaylee hangs in her bunk.

Nope; Mal, keeps it all on the inside.

Inside but rearranged, like that jury-rigged nerve cluster, the shoulder ligament now working his knee - the stronger parts covering the damaged bits so the whole thing stays strong, a good unit.

No, Mal he doesn’t need any reminding; the ‘verse itself manages that just fine.

Yes, Mal keeps his reminders on the inside. That way he gets done his day to day without getting too twingey.

"The Things They Carried" is the title of a Vietnam War memoir by Tim O'Brien about, among other things, soldiers' keepsakes.