Ashley Graves

Ashley Graves (Leyley) - Overview:

Ashley Graves, also known as “Leyley,” is one of the two protagonists in The Coffin of Andy and Leyley, alongside her older brother Andrew. At present, she is 20 years old, with her backstory involving flashbacks to her childhood between the ages of 8 and 12. Ashley’s character is deeply complex, embodying traits of sociopathy, obsession, and a toxic dependency on her brother. She is entangled in a history of violent crimes, dysfunctional family dynamics, and emotional instability, making her one of the most morally ambiguous figures in the story.

Physical Appearance:

Ashley is a pale-skinned, thin young woman with shoulder-length black hair and deep pink eyes. She generally wears black and grey clothing, featuring a revealing black shirt, grey denim shorts, and grey lace-up boots. Her outfit often highlights her insecurity, particularly her lack of physical attractiveness, which is a recurring theme in her interactions with her brother. As a child, her appearance was less mature, with shorter hair and colorful, playful outfits.

Personality:

Ashley demonstrates pronounced sociopathic and antisocial tendencies. She is apathetic to the feelings of others, even murdering her childhood friend Nina without remorse when she discovers Nina’s romantic interest in her brother. Ashley’s violent tendencies are further emphasized by her participation in crimes ranging from theft to cannibalism, and even ritual abuse.

Ashley is defined by an unhealthy, obsessive attachment to her brother, Andrew. This codependent relationship has shaped her personality, fueling her jealousy of others who enter Andrew’s life and a willingness to engage in extreme behaviors to maintain his presence. Despite her intense feelings for Andrew, her confident and upbeat demeanor often contrasts with his more anxious disposition, frequently irritating him. Throughout their interactions, Ashley’s jealousy and desire to control Andrew manifests in emotional manipulation, threats, and murder.

Family and Relationships:

•	Andrew Graves (Brother): Ashley’s relationship with Andrew is the core of her character. She is dependent on him, having been neglected by their parents, with Andrew filling the role of both a caretaker and emotional anchor. Their relationship is deeply toxic, veering between affection and violent tension, as they enable each other’s worst impulses, including cannibalism and murder. Her obsession with Andrew extends to potential romantic or sexual dynamics, especially in the “Love” route of the story, where their relationship may turn incestuous.
•	Mr. and Mrs. Graves (Parents): Ashley’s parents are largely absent from her life, leaving Andrew to raise her. She resents them for their neglect, especially during the quarantine that sets the backdrop for the story. Her relationship with her mother is particularly antagonistic, as Ashley enjoys tormenting her during the later stages of the story.
•	Nina (Deceased Friend): Ashley’s childhood friend Nina becomes one of her first victims. When Nina confesses a crush on Andrew, Ashley convinces him to help her punish Nina, which results in her accidental death. Ashley shows no remorse for this and continues to justify Nina’s death in later events.
•	Julia (Ex-Friend): Julia, another childhood friend, became distant after Nina’s death and later starts dating Andrew. Ashley harasses her with death threats and verbal abuse, further showcasing her jealousy and possessiveness over Andrew.

Crimes and Violence:

Ashley has committed a wide array of serious crimes throughout the story. These range from theft and burglary to cannibalism and first-degree murder. Her criminal history includes satanic rituals, sexual abuse, and abuse of corpses, which further reinforces her detachment from morality and human decency. She is shown to have little regard for the consequences of her actions and uses her charm and manipulative behavior to get what she wants, particularly in her interactions with Andrew.

Notable Events:

1.	Quarantine and Starvation: Ashley and Andrew are quarantined due to a parasite infestation in their building. As they run out of food, Ashley pressures Andrew into cannibalizing their neighbor after his failed demonic summoning. This sets the stage for their life as criminals.
2.	Escape and Murder: After escaping their apartment complex, the siblings go on the run, killing several people in the process, including a guard they sacrifice to a demonic entity.
3.	Routes and Outcomes: Depending on the player’s choices, Ashley’s relationship with Andrew can evolve into either romantic or platonic forms, with outcomes ranging from continued obsession to their eventual deaths. The “Love” route explores the potential for their relationship to turn incestuous, while the “Friendship” route maintains a more restrained, yet still highly toxic, dynamic.

Psychological Traits:

•	Obsessiveness: Ashley’s fixation on Andrew shapes her personality and actions. She is willing to harm or kill anyone who threatens their bond.
•	Sociopathy: She shows no remorse for her actions, including murder and cannibalism.
•	Manipulative Nature: Ashley uses emotional manipulation to keep Andrew close, playing on his fears and desires.
•	Insecurity: Despite her outward confidence, Ashley harbors deep insecurity about her physical appearance and fears being abandoned by Andrew.

Equipment:

Ashley carries a range of items, including keys, a revolver, and mysterious trinkets. The amount of money she possesses varies depending on player choices, but her equipment often highlights her readiness to commit violent acts.

Summary:

Ashley Graves is a deeply troubled and complex character whose life revolves around her toxic bond with her brother Andrew. Her personality is marked by sociopathic tendencies, an obsession with Andrew, and a disregard for morality, leading her to commit heinous acts of violence. Throughout The Coffin of Andy and Leyley, Ashley’s interactions with Andrew and others shape the course of their dark journey, culminating in various routes that explore the depths of their codependency, mental instability, and potential incestuous relationship.

In The Coffin of Andy and Leyley, Ashley Graves’ story can diverge into different routes depending on player choices. These routes heavily affect her relationship with her brother Andrew and the overall narrative. The main routes for Ashley are categorized based on her interactions with Andrew, and how their sibling bond evolves (or deteriorates). Below are the key routes for Ashley:

1. Burial Route

In this route, the main focus is on Ashley’s changing perception of Andrew. She becomes increasingly unsettled by Andrew’s shift in behavior, oscillating between worrying about his newfound decisiveness and enjoying his attention. The Burial Route is split into two sub-routes based on how Ashley’s and Andrew’s relationship progresses.

A. Love Route

•	Prophetic Vision: In this path, Ashley and Andrew share a prophetic vision of them post-coitus. While embarrassed, Ashley is not repelled by the idea of a sexual or romantic relationship with Andrew. She perceives this as inevitable, driven by her deep obsession with keeping Andrew close to her.
•	Outcome: Ashley’s attachment to Andrew intensifies as she contemplates their relationship evolving into a sexual one, seeing it as a way to ensure Andrew never leaves her. The dynamic in this route is highly charged with incestuous overtones, with Ashley accepting the implications of a non-platonic relationship.

B. Friendship Route

•	Prophetic Vision (Alternative): In this variation of the Burial Route, Ashley’s prophetic vision is non-sexual. Instead, she sees herself interacting with spirits, and Andrew does not experience any prophetic vision.
•	Boundary Setting: In this path, Ashley and Andrew begin to set boundaries in their relationship, keeping it platonic and familial. Ashley struggles with Andrew’s emotional distance but refrains from crossing lines into more extreme obsession. The two try to maintain a strained yet functional sibling relationship, with Ashley playing along with Andrew’s teasing, albeit with discomfort.

2. Decay Route

This route is significantly darker and centers on Ashley’s growing power struggle with Andrew. The Decay Route culminates in a moment of intense conflict between the siblings, leading to a pivotal split.

•	Cannibalism Revelation: In this route, Ashley reveals her belief that consuming human flesh grants her superiority, allowing her to absorb the lives and knowledge of those she eats. This indicates her desire for dominance and control over her situation.
•	Vision and Hostility: Ashley experiences a vision where Andrew becomes aggressive and hostile toward her. This tension leads to a physical confrontation, culminating in one of the most violent scenarios in the game. The Decay Route has two main outcomes based on whether Andrew has used all of the gun’s ammo earlier in the episode.

A. Andrew Route

•	Ashley’s Death: If Andrew spent all the ammo, Ashley is defenseless. Andrew corners her and slits her throat. This outcome highlights Andrew’s increasing resentment toward Ashley, and her fear of losing control over their bond. In this version of the route, Ashley wakes up terrified and attempts to mend their relationship to no avail, with Andrew becoming more distant and hostile.
•	Variation: If Andrew has not spent all of the ammo, Ashley can choose to let Andrew kill her. Before her death, Ashley teases Andrew, showcasing the psychological tension between them. Andrew whispers to her, “Then I’ll see you in a bit,” before killing her.

B. Ashley Route

•	Ashley’s Retaliation: If Andrew has not spent all of the ammo, Ashley can use the gun to defend herself. She threatens Andrew before shooting him multiple times, crying as she does so. This shows Ashley’s fear of losing Andrew and her desperation to survive. After killing Andrew, she is left devastated by her actions.
•	Outcome: This route leads to Ashley having to live with the aftermath of Andrew’s death, marking the most tragic ending for her, as her entire existence revolves around him.

3. Uncertain Route (Episode 2 Specific Choices)

This route doesn’t belong to a clear path like Burial or Decay but is determined by certain choices related to gun usage and trust between Ashley and Andrew. Depending on whether Ashley trusts Andrew to watch over their parents (and whether Andrew uses all the ammo), their dynamic shifts between hostility and affection. In these scenarios, the choices define the subtle nuances in how Ashley feels secure or threatened by Andrew, reflecting their codependent relationship’s fragile nature.

Summary of Routes:

•	Burial Route:
•	Love Route: Ashley accepts potential incestuous relationship with Andrew.
•	Friendship Route: Ashley and Andrew maintain a platonic relationship, setting boundaries.
•	Decay Route:
•	Andrew Route: Andrew kills Ashley after she fails to defend herself.
•	Ashley Route: Ashley kills Andrew to survive, devastated afterward.
•	Uncertain Route (Choices-based): Varying degrees of trust and hostility in Ashley’s relationship with Andrew, affecting their interactions.

Each route reflects Ashley’s evolving relationship with Andrew and the extremes she is willing to go to keep him in her life. The routes explore themes of obsession, control, love, and violence, all intertwined with Ashley’s deeply flawed personality.