Is Wit Playing Jasnah?

[Raven Wilder]

It seems a little convenient, doesn't it? That Wit (a.k.a. Hoid) just happens to develop a romantic relationship with one of the most powerful people (both politically and magically) in all of Roshar.

I can't help wondering if Wit has been playing the part of the besotted lover, and gotten Jasnah to develop romantic feelings for him, because it lets him more easily gain her trust and influence her actions during the coming crisis. Especially when you recall that Hoid is an Allomancer, so who knows if some surreptitious Soothing or Rioting has affected Jasnah's feelings for him.

[Rushu42 she/her]

Man, I hope not. I wasn't hugely excited by the relationship, but it's clear that Jasnah does feel for him. At the moment, Cephandrius is a fairly sympathetic character, if still a mysterious one. If your theory turned out to be true, I would lose pretty much all respect for him. After all the ways that he's helped our main characters, I don't think that Sanderson would villainize him like that.

[Karger he/him]

I don't like their relationship but I definitely would not approve of such behavior by Hoid. 

[Seloun]

Jasnah seems to have a healthy amount of skepticism about their relationship:

Quote

She found the way he spoke fascinating. After all this time—and all her worries—here was one who was her intellectual equal. Perhaps her superior. She didn’t trust him, of course. But that was part of what intrigued her.

...

Wit unfolded a paper from his pocket, still kneeling beside her. He seemed to genuinely like her, and she found his companionship invigorating. Full of questions, delights, and surprises. She could provide the intimacy he desired, though she knew he found her lack of excitement on that axis odd, perhaps unsatisfying. That was not a new experience for her; she’d always found it curious how others put their physical urges ahead of the more powerful emotions of bonding, relating, and engaging.

The chance to scheme, to connect with a being like Wit—that was exciting. She was curious how the relationship would develop, and that invigorated her. After so many failures, this was something new and interesting.

She cupped his face with her hand. She wished she could, deep down, truly trust him. He was something she, and this world, had never before known. That was electrifying. It was also so extremely dangerous.

...

She met his eyes—the eyes of something that wasn’t a man. A thing that was eternal as a spren. Or, if he was to be believed, something even older.

“I feel,” she said, “like I should be terrified by that statement.”

“That’s why I’m so fond of you,” he said. “You are poised, you are smart, and you are always ready with a ploy; but when each of those things fails you, Jasnah, you are—above all else—paranoid.”

Sanderson, Brandon. Rhythm of War (The Stormlight Archive) . Tom Doherty Associates. Kindle Edition. 

Jasnah finds Wit interesting. This isn't really surprising, since he is interesting, and considering Jasnah's vocation as a historian, he's perhaps the most interesting person alive to her. 

Quote

Wit smiled. “I am but a man, Dalinar, so much as I wish it were not true at times. I am no Radiant. And while I am your friend, please understand that our goals do not completely align. You must not trust yourself with me. If I have to watch this world crumble and burn to get what I need, I will do so. With tears, yes, but I would let it happen.”

Sanderson, Brandon. Words of Radiance (Stormlight Archive, The) (p. 798). Tom Doherty Associates. Kindle Edition. 

So Wit undoubtedly has an agenda, but it doesn't preclude a real fondness of Jasnah. 

The main reason I think there is some genuine attraction there is because I think Wit could have gotten what he wanted from Jasnah without a romantic relationship. Indeed, I think if anything that hurts his cause (my reading is that she would have preferred if their relationship was purely intellectual, based on the above passage). She seems to pretty clearly understand the dangers involved here, and while it doesn't mean she might not make a mistake because of their relationship (e.g. due to Wit representing a valuable source) it seems pretty unlikely that it would be due to emotional attachment to Wit personally.

The way she describes their relationship makes me think that this is inherently temporary. It's interesting to her because it's something she doesn't know anything about, but once the mystery is gone, I don't know how much it would interest her. It's like a book that held the answers to the secrets of the universe - obviously something worth getting excited about, but once you've read it and understood it, does the artistry (versus the mere information content) merit a re-read? That said, given how old Wit is, 'temporary' might still be quite some time (it's a really long book).

[StanLemon]

I don't think he is. Jasnah is someone who he can form a connection with, even if for a *relatively* short time. For him it might be a passing fancy but I don't think it means he's playing her.

[Nymeros]

Nah, apparently he's doing his best to make sweet love to Jasnah which she......doesn't really care for.