Writing Portfolio: Pivotal Moments of Choice/Friendship/Romance/Betrayal

Selection #1: Mannimarco, the Worm King, when rescuing you from prison and questioning.

  • Mannimarco: Are you hurt? Would you like me to kill this foolish mortal?
    • P: I’m fine. Lets get out of here. (Does not change relationship level.)
      • Mannimarco: Of course. Trap door’s just over there.
    • P: I’m fine. I need to look around a bit first before we leave. If he tries to stop me again, kill him. (Does not change relationship level.)
      • Mannimarco: I will. Just say the word.
    • P: What?! No. He’s a friend. This is all a mistake. (Does not change relationship level.)
      • Mannimarco (Not Close): A friend…? He put you in chains. See. This is why I do not have friends.
      • Mannimarco (Friends): You once advised me that I made poor choices in my former friends. I would be amiss not to mention that you seem to have done the same here.
      • Mannimarco (Romance): A friend?! Honestly, my sweetheart, if he’s going to treat you this way, he is better off dead.
    • P: You came back for me?
      • Mannimarco (Friends): That is what friends do for each other, isn’t it? At least, that is the sort of friend you are to me, and thus, what I aspire to be for you.
      • Mannimarco (Romance): I love you. Nothing in the Aurbis could keep me from doing what I can to keep you safe.
      • Mannimarco (Not Close): Well I couldn’t very well let them torture you, could I? You’re… Well. I do not hate you.
    • P: I think I’m in love with you.
      • Mannimarco: What? You’re joking. One somewhat dashing rescue, and you’ve fallen in love with the Worm King? Don’t be a fool. Haven’t you heard the sordid tales of how I would seduce unsuspecting fools into being my experiments? I am a god of death, not of love. I’d hate to be your doom. Especially without a warning.
        • P: Yeah, pretty much. It’s probably stupid, but the heart wants what the heart wants. (Start Romance)
          • Mannimarco: And it wants… Me? I… Never thought I’d see the day when someone said that, meant it, and I didn’t laugh at them for it. Perhaps it’s time I stopped denying my heart as well. As much as I would like to see where this leads, we should probably do so when we’re not in a Thalmor dungeon, surrounded by corpses… Although… Never mind. Get to the trap door, dear.
        • P: Oh, do tell me these stories… (Does not change relationship level.)
          • Mannimarco: Once we’re safe at camp or a tavern, I will gladly share those stories. A Thalmor dungeon isn’t the proper setting. Trap door is over there. Go.
        • P: You can experiment on me any time… (Does not change relationship level.)
          • Mannimarco: Absolutely not. I would never hurt you like that. I… Oh for the love of the Moon. You meant something entirely different by that, didn’t you?
        • P: You wouldn’t have come to rescue someone you thought was a fool. (Start Romance)
          • Mannimarco: I. Well. I’m sure I… Uh. No. You’re completely right. I would not rescue a fool. I… Honestly I don’t think I’d considered rescuing anyone else in my entire life. Huh. I’m… Starting to think you might not be alone in your feelings. But we shouldn’t discuss this in a Thalmor dungeon. Get to the trap door, dear.
        • P: You’re not a god of death. You’re a god of resurrection. Of hope. What is love without hope? (Start Romance.)
          • Mannimarco: Oh… That’s… I’ve never thought about it like that before… Gods. I can’t believe someone like you sees that sort of beauty in someone like me. You’re… Very special. Please, dear, let’s continue this once we’re safely away from this Thalmor prison.
        • P: You don’t have to protect me from yourself anymore. I see who you really are now. (Start Romance)
          • Mannimarco: I dearly hope that’s not a mistake… I don’t want to hurt you. I… Uh. Well. In any case. I can protect you from the Thalmor more effectively if we’re not in their dungeon. Shall we, dear?
    • P: (Hug him.) (Become close if not already.)
      • Mannimarco: AAAH!!! WHAT ARE YOU—Oh… Sigh. (On the verge of tears.) I’m glad you’re all right.
        • P: Man, buddy. Touch-starved, are you? When was the last time you hugged someone?
          • Mannimarco: Ugh. Hm… Time is challenging after so much of it passes… It would have to be… Sometime in the early Second Era?
            • P: That’s… Well over a thousand years ago?!
              • Mannimarco: Yes. I haven’t exactly had many people who got that close. The Five Companions weren’t exactly huggers either. Except Lyris and Sai with each other. Ugh. Disgusting.
            • P: Ha. You’re old as shit.
              • Mannimarco: My mind has had plenty of time to practice all sorts of nasty curses, you know. And this body is brand new. Fresh and soft as a baby’s buttocks.
            • P: What?! That long?! Are you okay?!
              • Mannimarco: Ah. Yes. It has been a while… Sigh. Look. I don’t like to talk about my weaknesses. Use your mind. I’ve spent centuries in Coldharbour. What sort of state do you think that leaves someone in?
            • P: That’s a pretty long time to go without intimacy. I could never.
              • Mannimarco: You asked about hugs, specifically. I never said I hadn’t been intimate with anybody in all that time. Look at my face. You truly think no one was in my bed for hundreds of years?
          • P: Are you going to cry…?
            • Mannimarco: Sniff. What? No! Of course not. I would never. I am a heartless and cruel lich. A god. Gods do not cry.
          • P: (Hug him tighter.)
            • Mannimarco: Bursts into tears. Damn it. I’m so sorry. I don’t know what’s come over me. This is an entirely inappropriate response to… Those Thalmor pricks must have cursed me to… Not a word of this to anyone, Dragonborn.
          • P: I’m lucky to have a friend like you.
            • Mannimarco: A friend?! That’s… How you see me? You poor thing. I’m so sorry. This never ends well for people who think that. Ugh. I knew this whole thing was stupid. I should never have… Sigh.
          • P: You give nice hugs.
            • Mannimarco: Nervous laugh. What? That is most sincerely never a compliment I expected or strived to achieve. Ahem. You also give… Nice hugs.
          • P: I owe you my life.
            • Mannimarco: And I owe you my freedom. It would have been rude to leave you to rot in here.
    • P: I’m a bit shaken up… Thanks for coming after me. (Does not change relationship level.)
      • Mannimarco (Not Close): Uh… Ahem. You’re welcome. Let’s leave—Uh. Is there anything I can do to… Make you not shaken up…?
      • Mannimarco (Close): I wouldn’t dream of leaving you behind. Let’s get you out of here. I’ll do my best to comfort you when we are safe.
    • P: He got in my way. Kill him. (Does not change relationship level.)
      • Mannimarco: Gladly. (Mannimarco rips out Saru’s soul.)

Selection #2: A conversation with Lerelius, an ancient vampire, if you are enemies.

  • Lerelius: Congratulations on your wedding!
    • P: What are you doing here, vampire?
      • Lerelius: What can I say? I enjoy parties. I assume there will be a reception with some wine or mead or some such shortly?
        • P: You are not invited. Leave. Now.
          • Lerelius: Such hostility! I brought a gift and everything.
            • P: You what?
              • Lerelius: Come now, I may be a vampire, but I am not impolite! I brought you a wedding gift. Well. I brought a few possible wedding gifts. We have only had such hostile encounters that I was not sure what to get you.
            • P: What gift? Something awful to kill me, I assume?
              • Lerelius: Goodness, no! What sort of monster do you take me for?
            • P: That’s… Incredibly unexpected. What did you bring? (Removes hostility.)
              • Lerelius: I brought a few options for you to choose from, as I do not yet know you well enough to know what exactly you would appreciate most. Take your pick.
        • P: I’ve had enough of you. (Fight, remain hostile. Lerelius will do his best to kill everyone present.)
          • Lerelius: Poor choice to fight where I know what you’d hate to lose most.