Editing Ashley Stillons II (section)

===Relationships===
Ashley is a member of the [[Chatroom group]], by her own admission she is staying with the group until they failed, so she could learn how to deal with hero teams. Sveta qualified this statement saying that 'failure' in this case meant a catastrophic unrecoverable failure as opposed to organizational stumbling. Likely because of this the group were surprised when she expressed sympathy toward [[Rain]]'s plight.<ref>of5: Mostly.  Obviously not when I’m here.  Hard to strike a balance.  It’s not good times.<br/><br/>Mangled_Wings: My sympathies.<br/><br/>Heart_Shaped_Pupil: !<br/><br/>of5: I… really appreciate that, a.<br/><br/>Heart_Shaped_Pupil: !!<br/><br/>'''Curious_Cephalopod:''' please, K.  Let it be. - [[Glow-worm P.6]]</ref> Despite her attitude and other challenges she has formed connections with various group members.

They consider her to be different from the previous [[Damsel of Distress|Ashley]]<ref name="II2.7">“Yes.  And gradually trying to get her used to the idea of cooperating with the good guys, making sure she was staying reasonably healthy.  They reached out regularly, letting her know there were better options.  Except that Ashley was a different Ashley.” - [https://www.parahumans.net/2017/12/30/flare-2-7/ Excerpt] from [[Flare 2.7]]</ref> even if Ashley herself does not.<ref name="II3.3 e4" /> She tends to like small exclusive groups of people, with all others being potential enemies.<ref>Distorted perspectives aside, [...] Ashley was a staunch defender of her favored few, with thorny words for anyone who stood against those few.  - [https://www.parahumans.net/2018/08/25 Excerpt] from [[Gleaming 9.2]]</ref>
====[[Sveta]]====
Had lunch with Sveta and Weld and [[Director Armstrong]] that opened Ashley's eyes to problems faced by [[Case 53]]s.<ref>[[Shadow 5.6]]</ref> Respects Sveta even if she finds her annoying sometimes.{{Cite}}
====[[Rain]]====
She sometimes listens to Rain, who is one of the more socially adroit members.<ref name="II3.3 e678">“This was an idiotic game, and I.  Don’t.  Play.  Games.”<br/><br/>“Count down from ten,” Rain said.<br/><br/>Ashley whirled on him.  I left the ground, flying closer, stopping when things didn’t escalate further.<br/><br/>“Count down from ten,” Rain said.  “That’s what Mrs. Yamada says, isn’t it?  When you’re wound up.”<br/><br/>“It’s fine when ''she'' says it.”<br/><br/>“It should be fine when any of us say it,” Rain said.  “Count.”<br/><br/>Ashley tensed.  I could see it in her shoulders and the way the tendons stood out in her hands.<br/><br/>Everyone was silent.<br/><br/>I waited.  Ten seconds passed.  Then the fifteenth, then the twentieth.<br/><br/>“Feel better?” Sveta ventured.<br/><br/>Ashley turned, staring Sveta down.  “No.”<br/><br/>“Count down from a hundred,” Rain said.<br/><br/>“I’m not going to-”<br/><br/>“Count,” Rain said, his voice soft.  “Please.  You’ve said before, when you get like this, there’s a part of you that’s saying you don’t want to act this way, and you can’t listen to it.  So listen to the numbers first, then listen to that part of you.” - [https://www.parahumans.net/2018/01/13/glare-3-3/ Excerpt] from [[Glare 3.3]]</ref> She was able to tell that he had changed to a more martial attitude then before.<ref>[[Shade 4.7]]</ref>

Was glad that he is in the prison with her.<ref>[[Beacon 8.3]]</ref>
====[[Kenzie]]====
Kenzie was able to connect with Ashley where others could not. Such as when the the former villain had an episode following a group training exercise.<ref>[[Glare 3.3]]</ref> Ashley was fond of Kenzie in turn, and defended Kenzie and her progress to one of the Tinker's former teammates [[Houndstooth]]. Calling his assessment of her friends situation inhumane.<ref name="4.4 e5">“Frankly, I’d really lock down the school thing.  See if you can have her rotate classes or do something non-classroom.  Discourage friendships with classmates, because that’s not going to go well.  If she starts showing true ''romantic'' interest in anyone, shut it down hard.  I wouldn’t advise her being on your team, frankly.”<br/><br/>“That’s extreme,” I said.<br/><br/>“It’s dehumanizing and disgusting,” Ashley said.  “Until she’s better, no human contact or relationships.  Nobody can get close to her, nobody can show kindness, nobody can help her or accept help from her?  Just a breath or two away from you saying you don’t ever think she’ll be ''normal''.  You’re disgusting.”<br/><br/>She was starting to walk away, toward the path that had led us up the hill.<br/><br/>“Ashley,” I said.  “I get what you’re saying, but we did agree to hear him out as a favor.”<br/><br/>“You hear him out then,” she said.  “Tell me what you think I need to hear when you tell the others.  But I’m not going to stay here and listen to this degenerate imbecile reduce her to a problem that can be solved like that.  She’s ''human''.” - [https://www.parahumans.net/2018/02/08/shade-4-4/ Excerpt] from [[Shade 4.4]]</ref> After Rain revealed his background Ashley comforted the young tinker as she processed the information.<ref>[[Shade 4.7]]</ref> Ashley worried how participating in the [[Mathers Compound Assault]] affected Kenzie.<ref name="II6.6">When I get in trouble for blasting Beast of Burden, make sure she has someone.  You or someone else.”<br/><br/>I nodded.  “Her parents?”<br/><br/>“Go to that dinner at her house or ask the others if you want an answer to that question.”<br/><br/>I tilted my head a little, trying to see more of her face.  “Usually I can count on you for straight answers.”<br/><br/>“Not about this.  She’d be upset with me and things are hard enough.  She’s upset with me and I’m upset with her. - [https://www.parahumans.net/2018/05/01/pitch-6-6/ Excerpt] from [[Pitch 6.6]]</ref> She is willing to protect Kenzie's privacy.
====[[Victoria]]====
Ashley told Victoria the she considered them to be pretty similar people.<ref name="II3.5e2">“Right.  Good to hear,” I said.<br/><br/>“We’re similar, I think,” she said.<br/><br/>I paused.  I’d been taking a second to think about how I would gracefully exit.  Now I was left to process what she’d said, and figure out how to gracefully answer that.<br/><br/>“Should I take that as a compliment?” I asked.<br/><br/>“Take it however you like.  Them?  They’ve experienced hurt.  They’ve known horror.  Maybe not so much for Kenzie, but she experienced enough hurt that it balances out.” - [https://www.parahumans.net/2018/01/20/glare-3-5/ Excerpt] from [[Glare 3.5]]</ref><!--HOW!.
“She’s not hard to figure out or anything,” I said, quiet enough that only Sveta would hear me.  “At one point she said we were pretty similar people.” - [https://www.parahumans.net/2018/02/17/shade-4-6/ Excerpt] from [[Shade 4.6]]</ref>
--><ref name="Eclipse7">[[Eclipse x.7]]</ref>

Victoria was able to teach Ashley how to be a bit more of a hero.<ref name="4.4 e3">I showed the others the picture and caption.  I got an okay from both, and sent it.<br/><br/>I held the phone where everyone could see it.  With the first excited response, half of Ashley’s tension seemed to dissipate.  With the second and third, she smiled. - [https://www.parahumans.net/2018/02/08/shade-4-4/ Excerpt] from [[Shade 4.4]]</ref> Ashley trusted Victoria enough to suggest she look after the Apartment.<ref>[[Torch 7.3]]</ref>

====[[Damsel of Distress III|"Sister"]]====
Ashley saw Damsel as an interesting reflection on her own choices.<ref>[[Eclipse x.8]]</ref> Was comfortable with the amount they were differentiating.

Truly appreciated her sister,<ref> “My roommate is fine.  Exceptionally beautiful and graceful,” Ashley said.  “Good genes, I think.  Clever.  Quick to learn.  Witty, even.”<br/><br/>“That joke is wearing thin,” Sveta said.<br/><br/>“I’m not joking,” Ashley replied. - [https://www.parahumans.net/2018/07/10 Excerpt] from [[Beacon 8.4]]</ref> how much of this was reflected narcissism is another question. They took easily to "bantering" with each other in their own private manner.<ref>“Did you worry, when I had my claws so close?  Did you fear me?”  It was the [[Damsel of Distress III|other Ashley]], talking to our Ashley.<br/><br/>“I trust you as far as I trust myself.”<br/><br/>“So corny,” Chris said.  “I can imagine them just doing that nonstop for the next two years, and acting like it’s still cute or funny.” - [https://www.parahumans.net/2018/07/14 Excerpt] from [[Beacon 8.3]]</ref>

Their relationship did become somewhat strained when they were released from prison. Swansong was willing to forgive Damsel even when she attacked her.<ref>[[Interlude 12.x]]</ref>