Is there a way to avoid Brynjolf giving you that inane quest which leads you to joining the TG?

As it stands now, every time I go to Riften, I have to literally dance around the marketplace to avoid talking to him. I can manage to visit every vendor in the city except Mondesi and Brand-Shei, which brings him right into my face.

(I don't want to get stuck with yet another useless miscellaneous quest in my journal that I have no intention of fulfilling. There's too many of them as it is, and I wish Bugseda would give us a "delete quest" button.)

I thought about just making him hostile by attacking him, but then he'd be all over me like a bee on sugar-water every time I enter the area, plus he's essential and can't be eliminated. (No, I'm not on the PC - Xbox user here.)

Any suggestions, or am I stuck continuing my solo dance?

Just take the quest, and ignore it. He will not drag you in convo anymore.

Pretty sure you hit b and cancel it soon as he starts talking to you. That's what I usually do.

I just don't cut thru the market, I go past the pawned prawn to the blacksmith or mistkeep. Its kinda funny watchin him goin in circles till I get far enough away for him to say ef it, I'm goin back to my stall.

You can't avoid him lass.
Not with that pocket full of gold you're carrying.

Chill bro, never been asked to do something that you didn't do before? Informed choice is an amazing human concept, you should try it

I just cancel the conversation while he's speaking. He'll say something along the lines of "I can take a hint lad/lass. If you reconsider, come speak with me."

If i dont want to initiate the quest, then just hit tab & leave the conversation.

Don't you get stuck doing it to proceed in the MQ??

You don't, you can avoid Brynjolf and get to Esbern with a little urban exploration.

I don't think so. Can't you just talk to someone else in the Ragged Flagon?

You can talk to Keevara in the Bee and Barb to get the same lead to Esbern.

Touché

Thanks to those who provided helpful answers. Much obliged. *tips helm*