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So torrential excessive hyperfixation floodgates after so many months for new speculative shenanigans. 
Interestingly, at the start while wasted, she pulled a similar liar wording as she did in the tower scene, though this time, he wasn't exactly in a position to disprove if she initiated kissing him first. She doesn't realize she broke her own script/game lol. 
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That video was hard to watch. It's so sad to see that when these two tragic characters finally have a seemingly mutually happy intimate moment together, their relationship deteriorates further still immediatley afterwards.
It's clear that Ashley was upset by the loss of control over the situation, or at least not feeling like she was in control. It was very interesting to see how Ashley being drunk affected her. She almost became... ...like a somewhat normal person. This makes me wonder if she does indeed actually have a degree of natural lust within her, which she otherwise ruthlessly suppresses. Since it was her first time getting drunk, she wouldn't have known how the achohol would affect her. Or maybe it's just her possesiveness getting the best of her.
Either way, she obviously hated not being the one in control; Being an equal partner with Andrew is not enough for her. Andrew has shown superhuman levels of patience with her, trying to make their relationship work. Yet she'll never come to terms with the idea that she doesn't need to control Andrew for him to stay with her (at least in this branch of the Decay route). She's far too insecure and mentally damaged to change her mindset in that regard.
I'm beginning to wonder if the Deadest of Dead Ends ending is actually a 'happier' ending for Andrew and Ashley than Shots and Such. At least in that ending they were able to make a game out of their last moments together.
I'm excited for the future chapters. I'm sure it'll be fascinating to see where the other branches of the story of these two will lead to.
I'm not an AI >:v I just write like my job
No offense, but your post reads like AI. The reason why I'm not accusing you of being a bot is because I can't fathom what a bot would be doing in a place like this. Also, I didn't know that bots could use coffin emotes.
Just thought you should be aware of that.
I was very contemplative about it
On one hand, Ashley has always made her desires and wants very clear, the problem is usually that she's unbelievably sんit at navigating emotional conversation obstacle courses, something that Andrew is comparatively (even disturbingly) amazing at
So in this case her being lustful for Andrew would have been pretty evident if she DID indeed feel that way, hell, Burial does establish? that she thought it'd get to that point eventually, but after sobering, acts as if she didn't want Andrew's Andy afterwards (Read 2nd Hand)
On the other hand, well, one of the effects of drunkenness has always (possibly) been revealing the true nature of someone; perhaps with how childish Ashley is at heart, she'd be embarassed about it afterwards, but then again, during the story and Burial, she makes it clear how she really doesn't see incienso in any more of an awful light than murder, something she's completely OK with, but as I said with the first point (Read 1st Hand)
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Ditto! I'm surprised it was called a 'small' progress report, given it had more screenshots than a usual Devlog, plus a whole video! Way to start December with a wrecking ball lol. I do wish they were a little more frequent than 6 months, I was getting anxious TwT
Speaking of anxious, the second I saw the video open with Shots & Such's apartment, and Ashley curious of the odd flavored alcohol, I knew exactly what heartwrenching text string was getting elaborated. Ashley's crashout after just broke my heart.
I think you're very right, that Ashley feeling she lost control is what freaked her out badly. As an irl friend put it, it must've been so disorienting to her sense of self after realizing what happened. It's one thing to feel powerless (which would explain why she's still trying to test her luck to be a cannibal, given her explanation in Episode 2 was it made her feel powerful), but to lose control and do something she has VERY complicated feelings that she can't properly unpack or articulate for Andrew to understand, just had her lash out and desperately try to assert she's still the same person, nothing's changed, it didn't taint some part of her (based on a very harmful view of what makes one a ♥♥♥♥♥). No wonder she refused alcohol afterwards.
Deadest of Dead Ends might've been the 'happier' ending for Andrew, as he's admitted to thinking about ending things for a long time (and is able to go through with it, seen in Andrew Wins at Tag). What held him back was needing to make sure something else was taking care of Ashley, believing the Entity was able. Ashley ends up expressing hesitation, but Andrew doesn't have to say much for her to join him. She wanted to see him smile, for him not to hate her, and already considered Andrew's death to be her own if he was going to peace out. Andrew smiles on the way down because he considers it to mean Ashley truly cared about him. RIP Ashley just clinging and bracing with her eyes closed. It depressingly ends up being the 'happier' fate for cutting short what would've been Shots & Such ending. Oof.
I straight up can't wait for this branch of Decay, I have a feeling it'll be my favorite. Andrew's introspection scenes were fantastic, I hope he can help Ashley through her problems too! I just want them to be ok (>;~;)>
I thought the reason Andrew was laughing as he fell to hid death, was because of the overwhelming feeling of catharsis he must have felt, knowing that he finally doesn't have to deal with all of the baggage and guilt he's been carrying for most of his life. Perhaps it's that in addition to what you said about Ashley caring about him. In the Decay route, it doesn't seem to me that Ashley cares about Andrew. She refuses to grow out of the persona of Leyley. She continues to do whatever she wants, disregarding the consequences of her actions. She remains selfish. To me it seems more like a kind of business relationship arrangement at best. Maybe it's not quite as bad as that, but I think it's close.
I'm wondering if a middle-ground between Deadest of Dead Ends and Shots and Such could exist. Andrew and Ashley agree to spend one last day together (I'm planning to explore this idea in my own fan-fiction ending). They could try (I stress the word try) to unpack some of the baggage they have with each other, and consider getting intimate again, but this time both being willing. Andrew could say that he wants to show Ashley what it means to be loved, and that he thinks she'd be interested in sex because he'd be giving her his full attention, in a way he hasn't done before. In return, Andrew promises to spend their remaining time alive together. If the player interacts with the bed in the 'Splat' ending, Ashley does seem interested in doing it again with Andrew, but he dismisses the idea when she reminds him of their first time. However, even under these circumstances, it may not be enough to overcome their inability to open up to each other. If Andrew made it clear to Ashley that he wanted to die with her, but would first give her the chance to try sex again, I wonder what she'd think. I assume she'd be curious, and if they did do it, think 'It was nice to have done it', or perhaps she'd be indifferent/neutral to it, not especially liking or disliking it. Without alcohol, she wouldn't have a reason to have a meltdown afterwards. She's never enjoy it as much as Andrew, because I believe she has a warped or only surface-level understanding of sex, or of love for that matter.
What do you think?
It can be both, it’s an end to the suffering and stress and endless bullshittery that’s never getting better, but also seeing Ashley choose to do something he considered to be her truly caring about him, twisted as that wish was (plus it was a ‘romantic’ gesture for the poetry nerd). He admitted the last time he was happy was when Ashley joked about them racing off the balcony together, and it’s no coincidence she offered that when she thought he hated her, then went through with it despite hesitation. It was heartwrenching seeing her want his approval and laughter again to that fatal an extent. But also to see how long Andrew’s been considering it, when he thought to himself shortly before he wished he’d never been born.
Andrew’s also been rather fixated on sharing a fate with Ashley. During Andrew Wins at Tag ending, he expressed regret that they couldn’t jump off the balcony together anymore, only to go on to end things the same way he did Ashley, with the cleaver (despite jesting she would’ve nagged him for not going out a more ‘manly’ way). Prior in the same scene, he tells Ashley to shoot herself right after if she were to shoot him dead lol. Even in the original Decay premonition, if Ashley opts not to shoot, it’s implied her follows her shortly after ('then I'll see you in a bit'), presumably also with his cleaver.
I can’t speak much on fanfiction what-ifs, but DoDE/S&S is the ending where neither of their baggage is addressed, and both of their worst traits win. S&S is their ugliest possible outcome when their unresolved issues continue to decay them both into worse misery.
For your scenario though, I’d try to follow up on the dialogue for checking Carl’s bed one last time. Something Andrew wants to voice but doesn’t, is confronting Ashley’s definition of a ♥♥♥♥♥, which is practically the exact opposite of its actual definition (“I didn’t do it to get off anyway. I’m not some ♥♥♥♥♥.” […] “You question wouldn’t the sex being transactional make her the very definition of a ♥♥♥♥♥, but decide not to ask.”) (ignoring the narrator’s explanation afterwards why that won’t be happening here haha! It’s happening over in the other Decay branch with Lord Unknown). That same dialogue also started with Andrew self-conscious enough to clarify it wasn’t his best, with Ashley joking about one last ‘mishap’ before DoDE, so resolve that however you like lol, even if it’s ultimately a no, or it still wasn’t what he was hoping. Ashley said the last time she was happy was when they were fooling around on Renee’s couch, so maybe Andrew could redo that for her, before they redo what Andrew said was the last time he was happy with her joking about them racing off the balcony. Seems fair they get to do both on a last day extension.