there’s a span of time after martin whitly is returned from solitary confinement ( significant enough for ainsley to have forgotten and remembered the news ) where radio silence falls over their communication, as it had for most of ainsley’s life. this time, it’s by her own volition-- the pang of loneliness from jin’s absence ( from the absence of someone there who cares for her ) is only overshadowed by the growling, angry betrayal she feels from her father.
she thought malcom was just trying to scare her off when he told her the prisoner had arranged the entire scenario. she thought he was buying into his own, paranoid delusions; blaming their father for ALL of their problems. but then it was confirmed over and over, going off the word of the asshole that attacked jin in the first place. sure, it’s easy to believe dr martin whitly was behind such a horrible, underhanded scheme, given his history. but wouldn’t his fellow inmates know that? a criminal genius, maybe, but also a very easy scapegoat.
maybe she’s just trying too hard to believe in something that isn’t there.
nonetheless, eventually, she finds herself planted before him. she refuses to sit-- emotions too high and nerves too wired-- and instead fixes him with arms crossed over her chest and an icy stare that jessica might even give a nod of approval towards.Â
“did you know?” it seems like a stupid question. she wants the truth, but the best way to get that isn’t always to state it blatantly. even stating she wants to know leaves her at a disadvantage-- if she doesn’t have anything he wants, then there’s no reason for him to give her what she’s after. she’s betting it all that she DOES have one thing he wants: a daughter’s love. family.
“dad.” a break in the stony expression. subtle. a press of her lips together into a thin line. a shift in her perfect posture. eyebrows drawing together in the barest hint of puppy dog eyes. for a moment, a smile teases at the corner of her lips and then vanishes. his little girl. still vulnerable to the cruelties of the world. still needing to be PROTECTED. comforted.Â
“you knew i’d want him to go out there. you might have even known exactly what would happen when he did.” manipulative, but not hurtful. “you knew i was bringing a cameraman-- did you know i was bringing my BOYFRIEND?”
