There are two options before him, as far as he can tell. Well, three, but attempting to kill her and escape is out of the question for a number of reasons.
The first option is: continue to play dumb. Potential advantages are that he might be able to convince her, at least temporarily, which would allow him time to escape if this is actually a ploy to get him to admit his guilt to justify more dire consequences. It will not, however, reset the status quo: even if he manages to three-quarters convince her that he's the fool he pretends to be, she'll still maintain that last one-quarter sense of suspicion out of principle if nothing else. He will always be watched henceforth - maybe not actively, but enough to hinder his activities. So this is the good choice only if he thinks she's after a justification for doing away with him. Which - that depends on the recklessness and maliciousness of the Inquisition, he supposes. To eliminate a spy from a semi-allied power isn't necessarily in their best interests, but they also might be desperate for some sense of victory after the disaster of Ghislain.
Option two: admit to it. Potential advantages here are - well. There are plenty of them. First and foremost, he might be able to tap into her resources, if they're more formally allied. Might be able to up his efficacy. On the other hand, he'll lose a great deal of his independence. Any missions he undertakes will be examined; the pure advancement of Ferelden's interests will be considerably more difficult. But also -
But also, after Ghislain, does he even believe in the pure advancement of Ferelden's interests? Is there much point to advancing Ferelden's borders into Orlais if they're all going to be writhing and dying of Darkspawn taint in six months? The orders from home told him to not make his presence known and simply influence things when he spotted an opportunity to help Ferelden. Well - back home, they haven't had an opportunity to see just how much of a threat to Ferelden Corypheus is.
So he'll use his judgment. The Spymaster will be ever so pleased. He loves it when Byerly uses his judgment. Loves it.
So: decision made. By sits back. His expression shifts subtly but powerfully. The foolish, puzzled smile shifts into one harder and dryer. The vagueness in his eyes that suggests a morning tipple - that sharpens. Everything that was arranged and fabricated to suggest this man is a fool is abandoned; what is left behind is an expression that is focused, that is skeptical but not suspicious.
"And pray tell, my turtledove," he says, "how will that work? Working for the Inquisition in earnest? Bearing in mind that earnestness is quite antithetical to my usual mode of operation."
no subject
There are two options before him, as far as he can tell. Well, three, but attempting to kill her and escape is out of the question for a number of reasons.
The first option is: continue to play dumb. Potential advantages are that he might be able to convince her, at least temporarily, which would allow him time to escape if this is actually a ploy to get him to admit his guilt to justify more dire consequences. It will not, however, reset the status quo: even if he manages to three-quarters convince her that he's the fool he pretends to be, she'll still maintain that last one-quarter sense of suspicion out of principle if nothing else. He will always be watched henceforth - maybe not actively, but enough to hinder his activities. So this is the good choice only if he thinks she's after a justification for doing away with him. Which - that depends on the recklessness and maliciousness of the Inquisition, he supposes. To eliminate a spy from a semi-allied power isn't necessarily in their best interests, but they also might be desperate for some sense of victory after the disaster of Ghislain.
Option two: admit to it. Potential advantages here are - well. There are plenty of them. First and foremost, he might be able to tap into her resources, if they're more formally allied. Might be able to up his efficacy. On the other hand, he'll lose a great deal of his independence. Any missions he undertakes will be examined; the pure advancement of Ferelden's interests will be considerably more difficult. But also -
But also, after Ghislain, does he even believe in the pure advancement of Ferelden's interests? Is there much point to advancing Ferelden's borders into Orlais if they're all going to be writhing and dying of Darkspawn taint in six months? The orders from home told him to not make his presence known and simply influence things when he spotted an opportunity to help Ferelden. Well - back home, they haven't had an opportunity to see just how much of a threat to Ferelden Corypheus is.
So he'll use his judgment. The Spymaster will be ever so pleased. He loves it when Byerly uses his judgment. Loves it.
So: decision made. By sits back. His expression shifts subtly but powerfully. The foolish, puzzled smile shifts into one harder and dryer. The vagueness in his eyes that suggests a morning tipple - that sharpens. Everything that was arranged and fabricated to suggest this man is a fool is abandoned; what is left behind is an expression that is focused, that is skeptical but not suspicious.
"And pray tell, my turtledove," he says, "how will that work? Working for the Inquisition in earnest? Bearing in mind that earnestness is quite antithetical to my usual mode of operation."