"Hey, hey I’ve been—managin’ so far. It ain’t too bad." A falter in his voice; totally unconvincing, even to himself. Only a day in and it's been annoying and inconvenient, but he really could deal with it for the next little while if he had to.
Though that finger point thrown his way and the mention of not taking no for an answer had a certain light threat to it that the multiplier didn't particularly feel like testing the waters with, especially because she really wasn’t wrong at all and was just trying to help. He let out a huff and nodded in agreement, somewhat reluctantly.
"Fine, fine, I’ll go with. Only ‘cause I know ya ain’t gonn’ take no for an answer like ya said... n’ I also somehow also can’t say no ta ya too, which I’m kinda ‘nnoyed at m’self with." This last sentence was more grumbled out than the rest of his statement, paired with an eyeroll to himself.
His demeanor shifted when she talked about him not taking on contract jobs anymore, to not continue on with the path he’s been on for two-thirds of his life, and instead get into something different or more upstanding as she put it. He just looks at her with brows furrowed in the middle of his forehead.
"Loaded question." Simply stated after initially staying silent for a few seconds, though with some hesitation. Not really a topic he wanted to discuss, but at this point in their friendship, she deserved some sort of answer on this part of his background. Billy let out a breath through his nose, shifting uncomfortably from one foot to the other.
"Ally, I’ve been on this side a’ things for over twenty years, since I was, like, ten. Some rough patches here n' there, yeah, but most a’ it's been good n’ fun. Then ‘course stuff like this happens n’ it sucks but it’s just part a’ it, y’know? It's just... it's all I really know, so—" Billy says these last words more quietly, as if to just himself. "But I'm still enjoyin' m'self! Ain't like I ain't." He spoke as if trying to convince himself again; reality was, things have gotten more hazy and uncertain regarding this, especially lately, but he didn't know how to begin to even admit that.
"Wouldn't really know what ta do if I wasn't doin' this, honestly."