[ He's quiet for a moment. There's definitely surprise in the way he looks at Chloe as they walk, though. Especially when she says we won't let it happen again, and Billy isn't so sure of that. Even if Chloe seems to fit what Hickey told him well enough, that the people here won't mind it, Billy isn't so sure about the rest of town until he's got proof of it. Sure, it would be nice if the town would band together against anyone who would judge them, but.. he doesn't dare hope for it.

Even just Chloe implying that she'd stand up for them is already a lot. It doesn't even matter that she's a woman. Billy has seen how fierce she is, and something about the idea that she'd back him up feels..

.. weirdly reassuring, really. He isn't used to it. ]

Thank you. [ Though his voice is soft as always, there's something a little more in it. Some of that surprise, perhaps coupled with genuine gratitude. ] I.. managed to mitigate things back home before it could get that far, thankfully.

[ He doesn't want her to get the idea that he actually was lashed over it. Sure, Hickey was, but it was totally unrelated and mostly because he was an idiot who didn't listen to Billy!!

But he knows how close they got to it. He knows. It's a terrifying thought, and Billy would do anything to avoid that fate, just like he had done anything for it last time. ]

But I do fear that the others still bear those ideas from our time in mind. I have to admit that thought.. troubles me. [ Please, Billy. Don't try to downplay it when you've been shaking like a leaf in front of Chloe before, dude.. You can say terrifies me, it's fine!! It's the truth!! ] So it means a lot that you would be willing to support us, miss Frazer.

[ ...

Yeah, apparently first name basis is still hard for a Victorian era guy who's only used to doing that with his boyfriend-husband. Sorry. ]