jay is anxious

Jay let out a sigh at the sound of the voice unfamiliar to him. So long as it wasn't Hirumi, he didn't care *who* it was. Their hour of visiting, however, was a little less appropriate, but after the past few days of near isolation and the fact he couldn't fall asleep anyway...Jay would let it slip this time.

Jay was at a loss for words for a few moments as she spoke about the queen and Acronix, though his name was vague in his memories. He knew of the joint marriage between this kingdom and the kingdom of time, but frankly he couldn't care less over it right now. When he sees her face for the first time in that dim lighting, he was surprised that he *wasn't* looking at Hirumi. It wasn't hard to determine that she was the princess--She looked like a younger version of the queen, but the lack of royal attire made her look like any other resident of the kingdom.

***"P-princess?"*** Jay was quick to bow down to her the moment their eyes met. He just wasn't going to get a break from the royal family, now was he?

Jay could only anxiously laugh at the fact she called him a prisoner. Of course she'd think that! He hasn't been introduced to anyone and has been kept down here for more hours in the day than any sane person could endure. ***"Although it does look like it, I'm not actually a prisoner, your highness."*** Jay awkwardly reveals the papers in his hands. ***"I'm the queen's right hand inventor! I just...stay down here, by myself. All the time. Working on stuff that she wants without any question."*** Jay's initial confident boast in his title easily trailed the more he spoke, but realizing that he may as well be speaking to an extra pair of ears for Hirumi herself, Jay slaps a smile back onto his face.

***"But I'm real grateful for it! Without her, I'd be back home just scraping by on cash!"***
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***"Oh...okay, if you're sure, princess."*** Well, it wasn't as formal as 'your highness', and jay felt too...unworthy to be treating her like a commoner or friend. They were on two different tiers, living two very different lives.

And Jay knew he sounded like a liar. It was hard to try and act optimistic in his position, but he felt that he had no choice. He looks to the floor, anxious yet feeling grateful that she wasn't upset with his response. He just silently prayed that she wouldn't share this information with the queen--Asking her to kindly keep her mouth shut wouldn't look to good with her.

It was only when he heard her approach his cell did he move his gaze from the floor back to her, just in time to see her reach a hand out to his face. Jay was shocked to feel the light touch of the princess against his skin. Just how long had he gone without proper human contact? It was strange, especially coming from a stranger, yet he stayed in place; If the princess wanted to examine him, then he'd let her. There was no way he was going to let this job slip through him by disobeying. He closed his eyes for a few moments--She felt very warm, and it was at that moment that Jay realized he was...rather cold in his home.

He couldn't help but flinch slightly when her hand traveled over a sore spot close to his ear. It wasn't exactly painful, but he was surprised at how tender it was. He hadn't looked in a mirror all day, unfortunately--He really had no idea what he looked like at the moment. Probably a fucking mess.

***"It's not a big deal. The queen was examining some work and tossed unwanted junk around, and I got hit...by accident."*** Jay states. While that may be a bit of a stretched lie, Jay felt it was best to keep it that way. ***"I'm okay, really! I didn't even notice it was there till you touched it just now, heh."*** Jay laughs awkwardly, still allowing his head to rest against her hand. Even as he shifts through the papers in his hands he remains still, quite stiff even, and orders the papers to reveal a diagram of some sort to present to her.

***"Well as I said--I'm an inventor. I make stuff for the queen, and this right here is gonna be my greatest invention yet--An android!"*** Jay smiles widely this time, feeling proud of his creation in progress. ***"They'll be capable of their own actions and think their own thoughts. How cool is that!?"***

He just hopes he's actually able to make it happen. He *has* to.
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Jay wasn't sure why he was letting the princess touch his face the way she did--Maybe it was the fact he was severely touch starved? Maybe he just didn't care at this point what happened to him. Nontheless, her touch was gentle and comforting, but as a princess of darkness, Jay was surprised that this was probably how she was raised to be, considering how the queen usually acts.

He takes a mental note on her offer to share with her what the queen may do to him in the upcoming future. His instincts say it may be too dangerous of a thing to do in case the queen reacts negatively, but it's the thought that counts. Jay would remember that.

Jay blinks a few times at the princess' question. The idea of these androids being used for fighting definitely was on his mind when he agreed to work with Hirumi, and outside of his control, there was no telling what she'd do once he was done with them. He had one specific job--Create working androids, and one specifically for the princess. After that, Hirumi would have control over what she did with them. He wasn't sure if the princess' android was meant to be a surprise, but for now...he'll keep quiet. He liked the idea of it being an amazing gift.

Jay ponders a moment before giving her a small, and nervous, smile. ***"That isn't my intention, buuuuut if that's what the queen ends up wanting, who's to say it won't happen?"***
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Jay notices the worried expression on the princess' face, and he immediately stands up from his bowing position, clutching the papers in his hands. He felt bad for instilling such worry in her over his work. He should've expected it--But it just wasn't a reaction he had gotten before, and he despised that he created it.

His expression turns to something of worry and pity at her last words. The more Jay studied her, the more he felt her words were genuine. She didn't seem like a bad person at all, despite growing up under the influence of her mother. Why would she try to betray or manipulate him by acting like someone she isn't? He was already working for her and would do anything she asked of him--He saw no point to it.

For her words to be true, then...It must have been awful. Jay already despised Hirumi with every fiber of his being, but being related to her was a whole other situation. Jay couldn't fathom what his life would be like under a mother of such power and desire to harm others to get what she wants. His mother was nothing *but* kindhearted, and anything else would've torn Jay apart.

He glances over his blueprints once more and makes some mental notes to himself. If he was going to continue going through with this project, he had a right to mend things so that it would protect the greater good from a corrupt ruler, just in case things went south and his own invention was eventually abused.

***"I understand your concerns, princess. My models will be nothing but passive, and if the queen asks for anything more, I'll refuse."*** Jay's voice almost catches in his throat at the last word. He didn't like the idea of disobeying her, but he wasn't ready to indirectly start war with other kingdoms.

Even if his life was at stake for it.

Still, he tries to remove his worried expression and give her a reassuring smile instead. ***"She can't make me do anything I don't want to do."***