archtia-codex

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Pepe the King Prawn meme (Fic Writer/Reader Edition)

I posted this on Reddit, but what's the harm in cross-posting it here anyway–

I'm pretty sure we've all seen this meme.

You see this image nowadays, you know the stories are going to be wild. So let's share any equally horrifying and hilarious stories that you might have.

Here's mine:

It was the late 2010s, and I was a wee broke college student, living in a dorm that was one monkey invasion away from becoming Planet of the Apes. Every semester, we had room inspections to make sure we weren’t hoarding hazardous items like hairdryers or rice cookers or started any underground gardening operations under our beds. Standard dorm stuff. The catch? You had to be present for the inspection, like some kind of misbehaving kid in detention.

On the inspection day, our floor had been assigned to one of the male wardens. Cool. No pressure. And because my life back then was a whole ass Vine compilation, one of my council members of an ex-roommate (God bless her suck-up heart) invited him to a chit-chat. He decided to take a seat in our study area. Right next to my ancient-looking laptop, which at that moment was a time bomb of embarrassment.

Here’s the thing: before the inspection, I was multitasking on two very important projects:

An essay for a class that I was trying to finish before the deadline next week.

My magnum opus, my Prince of Tennis OC profiles. (Look, Wi-Fi was basically self-sponsored, privacy knowledge was non-existent back then, and Google Docs was a myth. Word was my only choice.)

Now, I figured the warden would just pretend to care what my ex-roommate was yapping about, glance at a few surfaces, and call it a day. I was proven wrong.

This man casually used the mouse to tap my laptop’s screensaver away and starts reading my files OUT LOUD.

First up: my essay. Not great, but survivable. He makes a comment about my sentence structure, and I’m like, ��Haha, yeah, it’s a first draft.” Crisis averted, or so I thought. But THEN he minimizes the essay and lands on my Prince of Tennis OC profiles.

For those unfamiliar, Prince of Tennis is an anime where tennis players perform moves so ridiculous they make Fast & Furious stunts look like a documentary. My OCs? Oh, they were next level. I think one of them had a move that involved running at the speed of light, and I wish I was kidding.

This grown man (to give you a picture of how he looks like: egg-head and dad-belly) started laughing. Not like a polite chuckle, but full-on, tears-in-his-eyes laughter. I was also worried that he might broke my chair along his hollering. Through gasps, he manages to say, “You still write childish anime stuff like this?”

Sir? You’re wheezing over someone having fun writing about anime tennis?? Is that not somehow the example of childish, too???

He eventually left, after what I can only describe as the most humbling ten minutes of my college career. I spent the rest of the semester avoiding him and his class like they were the Black Plague, especially since his wife was also one of my lecturers for that semester. You just know that story made it to their dinner table. (I never got to find out, tho)

Moral of the story? Password-lock your laptop. And maybe don’t write fanfiction in a dorm room.

TL;DR: A dorm warden discovered my Prince of Tennis OC profiles, laughed so hard he cried, and I learned a valuable lesson about personal file privacy.

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'done is better than none' is such a good mantra 😭

I think my AO3 curse is that I always feel unsatisfied with my rewrites 😭

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Due to the AO3 bot mayhem rn (it's going from scam to hate to straight up creepy), I'm putting this out that I would rather be caught writing fanfiction than to be caught sending a mean anonymous comment to fandoms I don't even read/know exist, so if anyone who got an anon with my pseud on it, it's not me.

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Thinking of writing random OC thoughts, starting with Ayumu:

Not only has she been thrown over a fence by Nozomi during middle school (they were trying to retrieve the tennis ball on the other side), she has also bit someone because she got a bit too competitive during P.E class. Akaya called her Chimumu and almost got bit too.

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I think my AO3 curse is that I always feel unsatisfied with my rewrites 😭

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OH, SWEET CHEESE AND CRACKERS, I'M GOING NUTS OVER THIS!!!

WORDS CAN NEVER DO JUSTICE ON HOW MUCH I ABSOLUTELY ADORE/LOVE THIS!!!! 💖💕❤️💞💘 hymouse captured their personalities so well, and the way the girls are drawn (and their expressions!!) is absolute /chef's kiss/!! 😭💕 (and there's quotes from the fic chapters too!! 💖💕💞)

FOR ANYONE READING THIS REBLOG, YOU CAN CHECK OUT MY FIC HERE!!

I just recently rewrote the first five chapters & still working on the sixth at the moment!

For those wondering... (left to right, top to bottom):

Black hair, hime-cut: Ibara Rinne

Black hair with purple streaks: Otonashi Nozomi

Cherry brown hair: Ginoza Mikoto

Silver hair: Ayase Keiko

Orange hair: Wada Ayumu

Blonde: Kagurazaka Eri

The lovely ladies from Match Point: Rikkai-Dai by @archtia-codex . Everyone go check the fic out!

Is it sacrilege to say I miss the days pre-dinosaur extinction? Yeah?

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atp i'll just give different verses for certain ocs

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i love when im talking to someone and they say "wow you have a lot of ocs" brother you have no idea

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mutuals can always dm me but be warned i talk like your coworker who is trying too hard to get to know you and my response times are akin to the response times you might get if we were communicating by letter

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is it possible for you to give us mini profiles of your Rikkai OCs in the fic? any visuals, probably?

Sure! I don't have visuals tho (fanarts are welcomed! I'm too br0ke for c0/mm rn-)

Name: Kagurazaka Eri Year: 2-B Physical Appearance: Platinum blonde hair (tied up in a crown braid), turquoise eyes. Things to Note: Captain, no-nonsense mindset, strict and intimidating but has occasional soft spots. Has a one-sided rivalry with Keiko.

Name: Ginoza Mikoto Year: 2-A Physical Appearance: Cherry brown hair with blunt bangs (Below shoulder/above waist length), dark red eyes, wears oval glasses. Things to Note: Vice-captain, part of the Disciplinary committee, a person of few words, more intimidating than Eri. Has (or rather, had) a complicated relationship with Yukimura in the past.

Name: Kise Yui Year: 2-C Physical Appearance: Dark chocolate brown hair with golden blonde ombre (Shoulder length, wavy, ties it in a low ponytail pulled over her shoulders), amber eyes Things to Note: Rikkai's Girls' Team's manager (co-manages with her twin Yukio), the headmaster's granddaughter (nepo-baby). Optimistic and a bit of a doormat but isn't an airhead as much as she presented herself as one.

Name: Otonashi Nozomi Year: 2-F (Held back a year) Physical Appearance: Black hair with purple streaks (bob-cut, wavy), purple eyes, wears a surgical black mask (even when playing tennis), tallest among the girls. Things to Note: Everyone at Rikkai knows and fears her (except for some teachers), despite her friendliness. Has a strong sense of justice, survivor's guilt of some sort and a past that she doesn't like talking about.

Name: Ayase Keiko Year: 2-C Physical Appearance: Silver hair (shoulder length wolfcut), hazel eyes. Has a beauty mark on the left side of her chin. Things to Note: Former Hyotei student & tennis team captain, transferred to Rikkai. Doesn't really see Eri as a rival as much as the other girl does. Is the cousin of a certain someone. Laidback, observant and calculative.

Name: Ibara Rinne Year: 1-A Physical Appearance: Black hair (hime-cut, waist-length, straight), gray eyes. Things to Note: A valedictorian who transferred from Hyotei to Rikkai. (Overly) Cautious, says very little words but compensates with her actions, a softie (really has no bad bones in her, no matter how bad someone treats her).

Name: Nozawa Yuuna Year: 1-D Physical Appearance: Light blonde hair with pink ombre, dark pink eyes. Things to Note: A Hyotei student who transferred to Rikkai. Mean and rude in every way possible, materialistic and full of pride. Rinne is her constant target for 'fun'.

Name: Inamura Kanae Year: 1-A Physical Appearance: Dirty blonde hair with blue ombre (tied up in low pigtails), icy blue eyes, wears oval glasses. Things to Note: Yuuna's lackey/'friend'. Another person who considered herself as Rinne's rival. Doesn't say a lot but knows a lot, sensitive (takes a lot of things personally) and sharp-tongued.

Name: Wada Ayumu Year: 1-D Physical Appearance: Orange hair (above shoulder length, tied up in twin braids with different hair bobbles every day), violet eyes. Things to Note: Akaya's childhood friend, neighbour and classmate since kindergarten (Their moms are friends). Loud, childish and has a lot of guts for someone that's the shortest among the girls.

Name: Sakuragi Hana Year: 1-D Physical Appearance: Soft pink hair (wavy, waist-length, wears a white bow hair clip), sky blue eyes. Things to Note: The transfer student from South Korea, half-Korean half-Japanese (her father is Japanese). Shy, acts a little awkward and is trying her best to fit in.

Name: Fueki Ichika Year: 1-D (Held back a year) Physical Appearance: Rust-coloured hair (below shoulder-length, tied up in a simple bun), dark forest green eyes Things to Note: Tamagawa’s ex-girlfriend, former gymnast ace. Distant, kinda gloomy and always keeps to herself/deep in thoughts.

Name: Ootani Shiori Age: 27 Physical Appearance: Chestnut brown hair (pixie cut), light brown eyes. Things to Note: 1-A's homeroom and History teacher. Rikkai alumni. Witty, snarky, intimidating and takes no nonsense. Teachers and students alike call her 'The Iron Lady'.

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I love being a writer, I really do, but when the plot I’m writing gets complex, my brain hurts and I want to crash tf out

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Hi, Tia! I'm one of your RikkaiOC fic's readers & I got a couple of ques to ask: 1. Who are your top teams in TeniPuri? & 2. Which OC(s) of yours is/are your fave(s) to write?

Hiii~

My top teams rank: Rikkai (Ofc!), Hyotei, U-17 High Schoolers, Shitenhouji & Seigaku.

Fav OC(s) to write: I would say atm Otonashi Nozomi & Wada Ayumu. One is just unhinged with a dash of "wtf she has going on" & one is just Pure Gremlin energy. That and because I based them on a close friend.

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press f in the chat for akaya, bro is going through it.

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the look of love ೀ

how to describe a loving gaze

⇸ eyes darting all over your face, trying to figure out which part of you they want to set their eyes on the most (it's impossible)

⇸ gazing at you like you're miles away only when you're a few feet away, standing with another person. their stare is hard, intense, but also melting and blank.

⇸ a featherlight touch to your arm with their eyes softly peering up at you. they can't believe that you're allowing them to touch you like this—so innocent, so softly.

⇸ late nights where its just the two of you in a car. they turn over to look at you but immediately turn. for the safety of the both of you, they can't stare at you any longer

⇸ when you're teasing them, they have to bite down extra hard to not release that smile from their lips. their eyes are squinted more tightly than usual. still, they're glued onto you.

⇸ meeting their eyes from across the room, and the two of you have the exact same thought. you turn away first to hold back your laughter, but their eyes are pinned onto you.

⇸ a softened gaze in a random moment. there's no reason for them to be looking at you like that—with slightly hooded eyes and parted lips—except for the fact that they just love seeing you

⇸ you're twirling around in your new outfit, showing the 360 angle. their pupils look like they're completely taking over the iris of their eye. suddenly, breathing becomes a lot more faster than they remember.

⇸ tears run like thrashing rivers on your face, dripping onto your pants and soaking the sleeves of your shirt. but they don't care. even when wiping your tears, they still can't get over how you look absolutely angelic like this.

⇸ eyeing you in the middle of the night, feeling incredibly lucky that they are the only one who can look at you in this state. a smile dawns upon their face as they trace the shape of your jaw, press their fingers in your cheekbones, and kiss you on the cheek.

⇸ a make-out session that seems like it will never stop until they pull away, and the reason being, "i needed to look at you like this," with swollen lips and a red flush.

⇸ laughter dying down into silence. looking at each other and bursting into laughter again.

⇸ being completely bare in front of each other after a long night. shameless admiration where their eyes move up and down your face and body. there's a mix of lust and adoration in their eyes.

⇸ watching you storm off, and all they can do is stand there, focused on your fleeting figure. their face is contorted—not in an angry way—but a look of concern flashes across their features. did they just lose the one they loved the most?

⇸ getting food with the other person and realizing that this is all it takes for you to be content. this is what happiness feels like, you think.

⇸ a gripping hug that makes you feel so seen. that one second during the embrace where you two both look at each other, and time stands still. you want to frame the expression on the other person's face.

⇸ seeing you, and a beaming smile immediately breaks out of their face.

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When your Character...

Gets into: A Fight ⚜ ...Another Fight ⚜ ...Yet Another Fight

Hates Someone ⚜ Kisses Someone ⚜ Falls in Love

Calls Someone they Love ⚜ Dies / Cheats Death ⚜ Drowns

is...

A Child ⚜ Interacting with a Baby/Child ⚜ A Genius ⚜ A Lawyer

Beautiful ⚜ Dangerous ⚜ Drunk ⚜ Injured ⚜ Shy

needs...

A Magical Item ⚜ An Aphrodisiac ⚜ A Fictional Poison

To be Killed Off ⚜ To Become Likable ⚜ To Clean a Wound

To Find the Right Word, but Can't ⚜ To Say No ⚜ A Drink

loves...

Astronomy ⚜ Baking ⚜ Cooking ⚜ Cocktails ⚜ Food ⚜ Oils

Dancing ⚜ Fashion ⚜ Gems ⚜ Mythology ⚜ Numbers

Roses ⚜ Sweets ⚜ To Fight ⚜ Wine ⚜ Wine-Tasting ⚜ Yoga

has/experiences...

Allergies ⚜ Amnesia ⚜ Bereavement ⚜ Bites & Stings ⚜ Bruises

Caffeine ⚜ CO Poisoning ⚜ Color Blindness ⚜ Food Poisoning

Injuries ⚜ Jet Lag ⚜ Mutism ⚜ Pain ⚜ Poisoning

More Pain & Violence ⚜ Viruses ⚜ Wounds

[these are just quick references. more research may be needed to write your story...]

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body language descriptions please?

(eg: she cocked her head)

thank you 💗💗💗

Body Language Descriptions

-> feel free to edit and adjust pronouns as you see fit.

Anxiety/Nervousness

She fidgeted with the hem of her shirt, her fingers tugging nervously at the fabric as she struggled to find the right words.

They bit their lower lip.

He looked away, unable to meet her gaze, a clear indication of his guilt.

She absentmindedly rubbed her neck.

He chewed his nails, a nervous habit that he couldn't seem to quit.

They rubbed their hands together nervously.

He tightened his jaw.

She felt beads of sweat forming on her brow, betraying her calm facade as her heart raced.

Frustration/Impatience

Their fists clenched at their sides.

He tapped his fingers rhythmically against the table, a clear sign of impatience as he waited for her to finish.

He rolled his eyes, the gesture full of exasperation as he dismissed her words.

She let out a heavy sigh, the sound heavy with resignation as she faced the inevitable.

He threw his hands up in defeat.

Curiosity

He leaned forward in his chair, eager to hear more, his eyes sparkling with curiosity.

She raised an eyebrow, her expression skeptical as she questioned his intentions.

She tilted her head slightly.

He watched intently, his eyes wide with wonder as he took in every detail of her story.

Confidence/Assertiveness

He stood tall with his shoulders back, projecting confidence even in the face of uncertainty.

They sat on the edge of their seat.

She gestured wildly, her hands moving animatedly as she tried to express her excitement.

He stood with his hands on his hips, exuding an air of authority and control over the situation.

They held their chin up high, projecting self-assurance even in the face of adversity.

Defensiveness/Resignation

He crossed his arms over his chest, a defensive posture that spoke volumes about his discomfort.

He braced himself against the wall, a protective stance.

She folded her hands in her lap, a sign of restraint as she fought the urge to speak.

They shrank back slightly, their shoulders hunching as if trying to make themselves smaller in the face of criticism.

He held his breath momentarily, steeling himself for the inevitable conflict he sensed was coming.

She covered her face with her hands, overwhelmed by the situation as she tried to block out the world.

Thoughtfulness/Concentration

She furrowed her brow in concentration, her mind clearly racing as she tried to solve the problem at hand.

She nodded slowly, processing the information, her expression thoughtful and contemplative.

He stared blankly into space, lost in thought as he processed what had just been revealed.

He drummed his fingers on the table, the rhythmic sound a sign of his deep contemplation.

She tapped her foot lightly, her mind racing.

Eagerness/Excitement

He paced back and forth, his restless energy manifesting in the constant movement as he considered his options.

She bent forward, her elbows resting on her knees, a sign of intimacy and engagement in the conversation.

She swayed slightly from side to side, a subconscious display of her nervous energy as she waited for the verdict.

He bounced on his toes, his excitement palpable.

She jumped up and down, a spontaneous display of her joy that couldn’t be contained.

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100 Dialogue Tags You Can Use Instead of “Said”

For the writers struggling to rid themselves of the classic ‘said’. Some are repeated in different categories since they fit multiple ones (but those are counted once so it adds up to 100 new words). 

1. Neutral Tags 

Straightforward and unobtrusive dialogue tags: 

Added, Replied, Stated, Remarked, Responded, Observed, Acknowledged, Commented, Noted, Voiced, Expressed, Shared, Answered, Mentioned, Declared.

2. Questioning Tags 

Curious, interrogative dialogue tags:

Asked, Queried, Wondered, Probed, Inquired, Requested, Pondered, Demanded, Challenged, Interjected, Investigated, Countered, Snapped, Pleaded, Insisted.

3. Emotive Tags 

Emotional dialogue tags:

Exclaimed, Shouted, Sobbed, Whispered, Cried, Hissed, Gasped, Laughed, Screamed, Stammered, Wailed, Murmured, Snarled, Choked, Barked.

4. Descriptive Tags 

Insightful, tonal dialogue tags: 

Muttered, Mumbled, Yelled, Uttered, Roared, Bellowed, Drawled, Spoke, Shrieked, Boomed, Snapped, Groaned, Rasped, Purred, Croaked.

5. Action-Oriented Tags 

Movement-based dialogue tags: 

Announced, Admitted, Interrupted, Joked, Suggested, Offered, Explained, Repeated, Advised, Warned, Agreed, Confirmed, Ordered, Reassured, Stated.

6. Conflict Tags 

Argumentative, defiant dialogue tags:

Argued, Snapped, Retorted, Rebuked, Disputed, Objected, Contested, Barked, Protested, Countered, Growled, Scoffed, Sneered, Challenged, Huffed.

7. Agreement Tags 

Understanding, compliant dialogue tags: 

Agreed, Assented, Nodded, Confirmed, Replied, Conceded, Acknowledged, Accepted, Affirmed, Yielded, Supported, Echoed, Consented, Promised, Concurred.

8. Disagreement Tags 

Resistant, defiant dialogue tags: 

Denied, Disagreed, Refused, Argued, Contradicted, Insisted, Protested, Objected, Rejected, Declined, Countered, Challenged, Snubbed, Dismissed, Rebuked.

9. Confused Tags 

Hesitant, uncertain dialogue tags:

Stammered, Hesitated, Fumbled, Babbled, Mumbled, Faltered, Stumbled, Wondered, Pondered, Stuttered, Blurted, Doubted, Confessed, Vacillated.

10. Surprise Tags

Shock-inducing dialogue tags:

Gasped, Stunned, Exclaimed, Blurted, Wondered, Staggered, Marvelled, Breathed, Recoiled, Jumped, Yelped, Shrieked, Stammered.

Looking For More Writing Tips And Tricks? 

Check out the rest of Quillology with Haya; a blog dedicated to writing and publishing tips for authors!

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