#also worth noting how much less in tune to Adam’s manipulation of social/power hierarchies Blue is compared to Gansey’s when you’d think

[karouvas]

There’s something about Adam defending Gansey to Blue while also kind of defending him from himself, but also he’s probably glad to have Blue there partly because she’s like him enough to share some of his criticisms of Gansey and Ronan but because she’s less encumbered by performance she’ll just say these things and he gets to kind of play the opposite role while taking satisfaction that someone is saying them if that makes sense. Kind of goes along with him relishing Ronan’s shock when he invited her, yes he wants to go on a date with her regardless but like I said he could choose to do something else with her, but as someone hyper aware of power dynamics he wants her here to sort of be a barrier that keeps him from giving into being ‘one of Gansey’s things’ (him tightening his grip on her hand when Gansey’s looking is so. interesting) while also making himself seem more similar to / equal to them by comparison to her. There are posts I’ve seen mostly in older fandom that took Blue to task for kind of using Adam as an in to the group while also a barrier between her and Gansey / the fate she’s resisting and they aren’t incorrect that it’s unfair of her but I never find the sentiment of ‘pwoor Adam being used by Blue’ sympathetic because like, they’re pretty equal in that regard consistently. For reasons that make perfect sense for two inexperienced teens with a lot of baggage in their first relationship + … unconventional complications lol.