Dolphin

https://archiveofourown.org/users/MadDolphin fanfic writer!! mostly digital circus & witch hat atelier rn (big believer in transfem Jax) https://maddolphin.straw.page

[maddolphin777]

Fanfic Masterlist

Since I've apparently started posting here and am a fanfic writer first and foremost, I thought I'd make a post listing every fic I've posted on ao3 and update it as more come. It'll start with my current WIPs (posted or not), followed by complete fics sorted chronologically from most recent to oldest.

Work count per fandom list:

Genshin Impact - 21

The Amazing Digital Circus - 4

Baldur's Gate 3 - 1

Demon Slayer - 1

Ace Attorney - 1

WIPs

Blood Orange - Baldur's Gate 3, multichapter, incomplete

Characters: Astarion, Gale, Karlach, Shadowheart (the others are there but for less time)

Living is harder than it has any right to be. Cured of his vampirism on Gale's whim, Astarion begins the long and difficult process of adjusting to his newly mortal body. Unfortunately, his “siblings” don’t take easily to his transformation.

Note: I'm not done working on this but I plan to finish it eventually. It's super slow and self-indulgent, sorta a writing style experiment.

Complete Fics

There Will Always Be Time - The Amazing Digital Circus, 7,200 words, oneshot

Characters: Jax, another version of Jax, Pomni (features the others)

In the aftermath of episode 8, Jax doesn't know what to do with himself but let his downward spiral continue. The Circus cast barely have time to process before another member joins—and this one seems oddly familiar, but nobody can tell exactly who she is. Or: Shortly after the Circus descends into darkness, Jax meets another version of himself, only this one’s a woman.

Note: Kinda weird but I like it ultimately.

Exit Stage Left - The Amazing Digital Circus, 23,994 words, 5 chapters

Characters: Jax, Pomni, Zooble, Ragatha, Gangle (minimal but present Kinger)

They’ve escaped the Amazing Digital Circus and returned to the real world. Everything should be going back to normal. The problem: Jax doesn’t remember his name. ** It turns out Jax has no interest in existing in the real world. Who would've thought?

Note: Big suicide warning on this one.

Fast and Loose - Genshin, 2,985 words, oneshot

Characters: Kaeya, Childe

When Kaeya hears a Fatui Harbinger is coming to Mondstadt, he doesn't anticipate his boyfriend is the one on the job. To make matters worse, Ajax doesn't seem to care much who finds out about their relationship. Written for Never-Ending Performance (the Chaeya fanzine)

Note: This one was written a while before I posted it since it was part of a zine. I also almost never write ship. That being said, I don't hate it.

The Amazing Digital Halloween Party - The Amazing Digital Circus, 5,038 words, oneshot

Characters: Jax, Gangle, Zooble (everyone else featured but not focused on)

Today's adventure: a Halloween party. Nobody really knows what time of year it is, but Halloween has to happen eventually, right? Jax mingles with the others, trying to get through yet another underbaked adventure, and eventually realizes that her transition changed her more than she ever meant it to.

Note: I don't love it, but it exists.

Try Again! - The Amazing Digital Circus, 10,272 words, oneshot

Characters: Jax, Pomni (everyone else featured but not focused on)

Jax is a silly purple rabbit who lives in the Amazing Digital Circus. Nothing else matters. *** Caine's latest adventure idea: the Exit!

Note: Basically a post-episode 6 Jax character study written before episode 7's release. Jax is also transfem in this one, which is integrated into the story rather than being the focus.

No Cause for Celebration - Genshin, 2,939 words, oneshot (for the Mond Trio Zine)

Characters: Kaeya, Diluc, Jean

For once, Diluc doesn't spend his birthday alone.

Note: I technically wrote this fic back in early 2024, but it only went up in 2025 because of zine stuff. Not super happy with it but it's short and sweet.

Have Your Love and Eat Him Too - Genshin, 8,210 words, oneshot (gift for @chkn-kit)

Characters: Kaeya, Childe, Diluc, Adelinde

Kaeya’s introduction of Ajax to his family goes just fine—until it doesn’t. They were supposed to get married.

Note: This one could be read as crack, or just horror. Just be sure to mind the tags (and title). It's also my only established relationship fic, since I'm not normally big on ships.

Vanishing Act - Genshin, 108,152 words, 25 chapters

Characters: Kaeya, Diluc, Jean, others

Years after hitting his lowest point, Kaeya is finally okay with being alive. Unfortunately, it seems fate has other plans. *** An attempted murder forces Diluc to confront the fact that he still doesn’t know everything about his brother.

Note: This is my most recent longfic. The lore is pretty outdated by now, as is typical with Genshin, but I do think the idea was pretty fun. Lots of subverting fate nonsense, and this was my immediate reaction to the combination of Kaeya's hangout and Furina's whole thing.

Invitation - Genshin, 4,700 words, oneshot

Characters: Kaeya, Klee, Diluc, Adelinde

An unexpected letter brings Kaeya and Klee to Dawn Winery on one otherwise normal winter’s day. Kaeya soon learns that his brother’s intentions aren’t always what they seem. Written for Ragbros Week 2024 Day 5 - Nostalgia/Family

Note: This one's pretty short and sweet, just a quick fic I wrote for Ragbros Week.

Torn Open, Laid Bare - Genshin, 1,752 words, oneshot

Characters: Kaeya, Adelinde

Teyvat would not mourn a fallen monster.

Note: This one was pretty self-indulgent, and while I don't necessarily agree with this interpretation of Kaeya's mentality as a kid anymore, I did have fun writing it at the time. It's basically just him freaking out.

City of the Grave - Genshin, 42,931 words, 11 chapters

Characters: Kaeya

After Diluc follows some suspicious intel to Sumeru’s desert, his investigation into the Fatui’s inner workings is soon brought to a forcible halt. Kaeya—accompanied by a spirited pyro Seelie that reminds him perhaps a bit too much of the past—sets out on a journey to bring his brother home.

Note: I'm fairly proud of this one still, save for a few aspects of its depiction of Sumeru's politics that I would change in hindsight. It's mostly Kaeya following a Seelie through the Sumeru Desert for 42k words.

Crown of the Forsaken series - Genshin, 219,927 words total, 5 fics (2 multichapters, 3 oneshots)

Characters: Kaeya, Diluc, Jean, Rosaria, Albedo, others

Kaeya, previously the prince of Khaenri'ah, has more power than he even remembers.

Note: This is obviously super outdated considering it began in 2022 and is pretty lore heavy, but I am proud of it despite having improved so much since then. The first fic in the series is the first multichapter I ever actually finished & kept online without deleting.

The first fic centers around Kaeya disappearing into his distant memories and reliving the fall of Khaenri'ah while everyone tries to locate and rescue him (it ends up being a pretty world-shattering affair). The sequel to that is a sort of psychological horror fic centering around Kaeya's father watching him through his eye, trying to gain info on Mondstadt, and Kaeya goes very sharply downhill mentally. There are three oneshots that fit into gaps around these two fics.

The Overnight Guest - Demon Slayer, 32,886 words, 6 chapters

Characters: Tomioka Giyuu, Uzui Tengen, Makio, Hinatsuru, Suma, others

Giyuu never would have expected that he would become friends with Uzui Tengen, but life has a way of taking him by surprise. - Five times Giyuu didn't exactly mean to spend the night at Tengen's house and one time it was completely on purpose.

Note: This fic was like, so painfully self-indulgent that I almost didn't post it. But I did, and it somehow became my most popular fic? No regrets, I guess.

Window to the Past - Genshin, 7,712 words, oneshot

Characters: Diluc, Klee, Kaeya

At night, Diluc notices a light coming from the treehouse near Dawn Winery. While he investigates, he reflects on the history surrounding the treehouse - and when he arrives, he realizes that it may not have been some criminal's newfound hideout as he had initially assumed. Or: The treehouse in the small patch of forest behind Dawn Winery hasn't been touched in years, which makes it a wonderful place to reminisce. And, in Klee's case, a wonderful place to hang out with Kaeya. Written for Ragbros week 2023 day 2 - treehouse!

Note: This is another short and sweet Ragbros Week fic, and my only Diluc-centric fic.

Turnabout Cellphone - Ace Attorney, 17,209 words, 3 chapters

Characters: Phoenix, Miles, Maya

Following Engarde's trial, Phoenix finds himself in a phone call with Miles Edgeworth. One thing leads to another, and this might be the best chance he has at salvaging what is left of their old friendship. Or: Phoenix and Miles get better, written through a series of phone calls and conversations. And maybe, at the very end, some ice cream.

Note: Another pre-relationship fic, this time between Phoenix and Miles. A lot lighter on the plot than most of my fics, and pretty old, but I like it.

Home, Once Again - Genshin, 5,097 words, oneshot

Characters: Kaeya, Jean, Barbara, Frederica, Lisa

Kaeya is invited to a holiday meal at Jean's childhood home and he witnesses bonds begin to heal as he thinks of his own youth. Or: Jean doesn't know how to talk to her own family anymore, but things can change.

Note: Pretty old fic. I'm proud of how the social dynamics came out, but not so fond of the characterization of Jean's family anymore. Also my main Jean-centric fic, although I have another.

Fireside Reflections - Genshin, 3,983 words, oneshot

Characters: Kaeya, Diluc

(Ragbros week 2022 day 3- crystalflies/wine) Sometimes, Kaeya visits the Dawn Winery to collect crystalflies. Nobody has ever caught him, until today.

Note: My first Ragbros Week fic! Kaeya-centric, introspective, short.

Sehnsucht - Genshin, 7080 words, oneshot

Characters: Kaeya, Diluc, Adelinde

After sustaining an injury far from the city, Kaeya ends up at Dawn Winery. Nostalgia is bittersweet.

Note: I should write more oneshots like this. Heavy on the introspection and angst, as usual, but it's actually efficient and short unlike the fics I spend most of my time writing. As-is, I wrote this one in 2022.

The River - Genshin, 6,451 words, oneshot

Characters: Jean, Kaeya, Diluc, Barbara

Jean thinks about what family means to her as she reminisces about her visits to the river near Dawn Winery when she was young.

Note: I like this one in a sort of retrospective sense, although my writing skills were much worse at the time I wrote it.

Two Birds - Genshin, 5,461 words, oneshot

Characters: Adelinde, Kaeya, Diluc, Crepus

Adelinde was, perhaps, the best person to ask when it came to Kaeya and Diluc’s childhood. Or: Adelinde’s perspective on the Ragnvindr household throughout the years.

Note: I love the concept for this one. There's a lot I would do differently if I wrote it today, but I won't be deleting it anytime soon.

The Captain and the Sister - Genshin, 4,663 words, oneshot

Characters: Rosaria, Kaeya

Rosaria is suspicious of Kaeya and decides to do something about it. Alternatively, how Rosaria makes an unlikely friend.

Note: This is the first Genshin fic I ever posted (but far from the first fic I ever wrote, lol). It's a fairly simple reflection on an idea for how Kaeya and Rosaria may have become friends.

Anonymous Fics

I'm not necessarily hiding my anonymous fics, but I am less proud of them, so they'll get this little space at the end instead of being listed in chronological order with the rest.

Quota: 901 - Genshin & Lethal Company (crossover), 10,806 words, 3 chapters

Characters: Kaeya, Jean, Diluc

For twenty-one days, Kaeya, Jean, and Diluc have been stuck. There's no escape from the endless cycle of scouring desolate moons for what little scrap they can find and turning it in to the Company. They can only hope in vain that they will find a way out before the profit quota becomes too steep for them to keep up with. They can't risk slipping up. After all, none of them know what lies on the other end of failure. -- Kaeya, Jean, and Diluc somehow find themselves in the universe of Lethal Company and must do whatever it takes to survive.

Note: This is probably some of my worst work from 2024 and I was entirely uninspired writing it, but I did finish it, so there's that!

Kaeya and his Journey to Self-Acceptance - Genshin, 20,200 words, 10 chapters

Characters: Kaeya, Jean, Diluc, others

Kaeya wakes up shorter than usual one morning... and the events that follow. (Or: Kaeya turns into a hilichurl)

Note: The reason this is anonymous is mostly that it was an attempt at a crackfic (based partially on concepts that arose in the comments of Crown of the Forsaken) but it somehow ended up making several people cry real tears of sadness. There's something embarrassing about that. 2022 me failed spectacularly at being funny, it seems.

[drowninnoodles]

And the award for most relatable depressed character goes to-

Anyway I love Jax

[maddolphin777]

I keep wanting to write or draw but then im just so tired and I don't do anything. Lol

[narrative-bunny1864]

I don't like the seats or how she's placed on the image but i still think she's cute and i drew her at the cinema before the last act and finished her up after so here you go

[angiedust]

(TADC: the last act fanart)

AAAAH okay wow yeah as i mentioned i was there for the og transfem jax theories and im just so pleasantly shocked so i had to do a quick doodle of them all at zooble’s bar

[killhitleragain]

conversations i think about a lot

[maddolphin777]

Transfem Jax believers - did you like the finale?

Yes

Mixed feelings - mostly positive

Mixed feelings - mostly negative

No

Not a transfem Jax believer

Haven't watched it yet

Voting ended onJun 6

specifically asking about transfem jax believers because i think that reading of jax might influence a lot of what people take away from the finale & potential points of satisfaction and dissatisfaction

[maddolphin777]

tadc spoilers-ish

it's been healing to see a lot more people on reddit of all places start to agree with transfem jax, but some of the counterarguments i've seen are still driving me insane lol. like i'm sorry, jax's story doesn't make nearly as much sense if you read her as a gay man or simply a man who likes feminine clothing. did they even listen to jax's explanation of coming out to her mom

[ali-theshipper]

My Extensive Thoughts Regarding TADC Episode 9 (Spoilers Ahead)

I saw The Last Act in theaters. After some of the things I heard floating around about the final episode from the leaks a while back, I didn’t have high expectations. I’m happy to say, after seeing the full episode myself in English, that I liked it more than I thought I would. There are a lot of things about the final episode that I genuinely enjoyed, and I am glad I got to see it in theaters. The audience I was watching it with was also really well behaved and respectful the whole time, which I was SO thankful for cause that’s low key kinda rare nowadays lol.

Some of my positives are:

Animation and voice acting was ON POINT

Abstragedy is actually low-key canon fuck yeah. The people in the theater I was in HOLLARED at THAT scene lol.

The whole mindscape stuff was really cool with all the other Jaxs and the different animation and writing styles.

Loved that the show didn’t hold back on discussing how shitty it is to have upsetting intrusive thoughts. They're not often discussed in mainstream media due to stigmatization. Shame the fandom wasn’t normal about these scenes, but I’m honestly not surprised.

Pomni’s moments with Kinger, Ragatha, and Jax were really touching.

I ADORED seeing Kaufmo, Ribbit, and Jax. The way it was framed largely from Jax’s POV was a neat choice.

I knew Jax had parental issues!!

While I don’t think we NEEDED to know everyone’s IRL doings and what they looked like outside of the circus, it was still pretty neat to see. Glad to see Jax thriving after all the shit she went through IRL.

While I don’t like how Jax’s abstraction was handled from a narrative standpoint (something I’ll go much more in depth about a sec), the scene where they all make the fort for her and take care of her was really touching. Though I do wish we also got a scene where they gave her a proper funeral, like with Kaufmo.

Also THANK GOD they didn’t use an actual leash, I got genuinely concerned when I heard that going around a while ago cause people were making it sound like the group was using an animal leash on her… which would’ve had weird implications. Thankfully, it was just Zooble's arms being linked together.

Funnybunny hug and “Isn’t She Lovely” montage DESTROYED ME, I’m not okay.

The mural for the abstracted players was cute.

GIRL DAD KINGER YALL

Alt credits were fun.

I’m not big on Caine’s sudden return and change of heart (also something I’ll talk more about), but his scene with the moon was cute. 

Oh most importantly, Transfem Jax is canon LET’S GOOOOOOOO!!!! Most of the fandom won’t understand it cause media analysis is dead, but we won chat!! She’s real!! Can't wait for all the new fan works that will pop up about her.

So yeah, there were a lot of aspects about the finale I really enjoyed. THAT BEING SAID, there are a couple of critiques I have with the finale, mainly to do with the conclusion to Jax’s character, how it conflicts with what was set up prior, and how she was treated by the larger narrative. Please note that this is just my perspective and you are allowed to have your own, so please do not take my words as gospel.

As I stated in my messy ramble a while back, I was NEVER a fan of Jax’s character arc ending with her abstracting, due to it feeling like an easy and obvious way for her character to conclude. Seeing it for myself, the way it happened in the episode felt very odd; it just cuts to her running around the main floor abstracted, really early in the episode. I also find it really weird that in episode 8, Zooble and Pomni made it very clear that they weren’t gonna let Jax wander off and abstract… only for that to be exactly what happens.

Like, in the montage where all the characters are helping patch up the circus, we never see any of them attempt to include Jax or check in on her, despite her obviously NOT being okay. Jax nearly confides in Pomni before backing out, but none of the other characters think to check in on their friend (I know I’m being generous with that term in this scenario) who they all know is at risk of potentially harming herself. Obviously they do NOT need to be Jax’s therapists or anything even remotely like that, but it feels weird how they previously made a big deal of “we’re not gonna stand by and let you hurt yourself” only for the story to not follow through or explore that. Idk that really annoyed me while I was watching.

I think the whole Jax Mindscape hijinxes and flashbacks about her relationship with Ribbit and Kaufmo were genuinely really cool and well done (her almost killing her mom felt odd, but it’s not as dumb as the hit and run theory), and the lamp scene with Pomni was fantastic too. I just wish that the conclusion after all of that wasn’t, oh well it’s too late for Jax to ever change as a person or find meaning in the circus.

I’m also really not a fan of the whole “killing off the traumatized suicidal character who struggles to find a reason to keep going” trope that has been popping up in recent media, but that’s a much more complicated discussion for another day that requires way more thought and analysis. 

I understand what the story is trying to say, I REALLY do, don't get me wrong. Not being open with yourself or others will only harm you in the end. It’s better to embrace vulnerability, even if it’s hard. Those are both lessons I wholeheartedly agree with and are important for people to learn, but I think they still could have gotten that message across while still letting Jax live in the end. We as the audience have already seen how Jax pushing others away and not being honest with herself has harmed her and her relationships in the finale and previous episodes. We even had a moment in ep 7 where she almost abstracted after trying to bury her problems. I think letting Jax survive abstraction, find meaning in the circus, learn to open up and confront her problems, and showing her life IMPROVE because of that would’ve worked and dare I say, even strengthen that message of the importance of vulnerability.

In fact, the final montage and and the end credits showing the group starting to enjoy their time at the circus would be the PERFECT opportunity to put that. Show Jax picking up her piano playing again, being able to talk about Ribbit and Kaufmo without falling apart, HAVE HER THROW A TEA PARTY IN HER BEDROOM WITH THE REST OF THE CAST PRESENT!!!! Idk I feel like there was a ton of potential that was left unexplored.

Maybe instead of cutting to a fully abstracted Jax hanging around the circus, Pomni or one of the others finds Jax in the midst of abstracting. The mindscape stuff could be used as a last-ditch effort to reach her and save her life when trying to wake her up doesn’t do anything. You can keep the mindscape and flashback segments pretty much the same, just make it so the final resolution isn’t her dying. It also would make the moment that parallels the scene from ep 2 where the cast grabs Pomni’s hand to not let her fall (which symbolized how the support of others will allow her to navigate this scary situation she’s in), only with Pomni grabbing Jax’s hand this time to not let her fall, even stronger.

Another thing that bothered me, I don’t like that Jax, whose story absolutely could have resulted in a redemption arc based on her growth during episode 8, isn’t given a chance to become a better person and properly take accountability for how she treated everyone, while Caine was, even though his whole character was about how he couldn’t change or understand humans and the tragedy surrounding that due to his existence as a stagnant AI.

DISCLAIMER!! I love Caine as a character. I’m not as attached to him as I am with the others (and maybe that’s part of the reason for my perspective idk), but I enjoy his character. However, I’m gonna be honest… I don’t think he needed to make a return. I'm not saying it was an inherently impossible route to go with, I’m sure it could have worked with the right setup, but the whole final ten-fifteen minutes just felt kinda odd for me and left me raising an eyebrow. He just kind of… comes back without much prior setup or buildup from earlier in the episode. Maybe when the episode releases on YouTube, and I can rewatch certain scenes, it’ll make more sense, but for now idk.

The moment where Caine apologizes to the cast and works to better himself for their sake is really a moment that I think should have belonged to Jax, who felt more built up as a character throughout the series as opposed to Caine and it would’ve felt at least a bit more earned coming from her. It feels like a really odd choice that they chose to do this with Caine, but not Jax. Idk, maybe it’s just me, this might end up becoming an unpopular opinion as more people watch and discuss the episode.

Overall, while I am happy the episode was a lot better than many were initially making it out to be, there are some things I personally think could have gone differently and used some reworking, but hey, that’s what fanfiction and AUs are for! And just to add, I’m glad Goose got to end the show on her terms, even if I don’t agree with every plot or writing choice made. That is something not a lot of showrunners get nowadays and I think it’s important to at least acknowledge and celebrate. I’m planning on making my own little AU where Jax survives abstraction and properly heals and grows, so I’ll have that to keep me content, as well as other fanworks that will most definitely pop up as more people tune in.

I really hope I was able to get my points and criticism across in a constructive, healthy manner, as I do not want to blindly complain about the show out of spite. Trust me, I saw some WILD takes when the leaks came out that made the episode sound a lot more messed up than it was and I do NOT wanna perpetuate that kind of behavior. 

Any criticisms I do and will make of TADC are out of genuine love for the show and characters, and because I care about media analysis in general. Again, everything I have discussed here is just my own opinion and perspective, and you are allowed to have your own. Feel free to leave your thoughts, both positive and negative, on the finale in the comments!

[maddolphin777]

tadc spoilers

reporting back to my brother since he's traveling and can't watch the finale

[maddolphin777]

Anyone else suddenly very sad and listless now that their purpose in life for the past while has concluded (and yes tadc is that srs) because tadc ending has really fucked my mood over holy shit. I was hoping I'd have a desire to create but I'm just really sad and miserable instead. I even liked the episode for the most part

[maddolphin777]

out of curiosity

Did you get to watch the finale in theaters already?

yes

no, but I will soon

no, and I'm waiting for the YouTube release

Voting ended onJun 6

[maddolphin777]

tadc spoilers

so would anyone read a fic where post-abstraction jax's consciousness starts merging with leeroy's irl? don't mind the logistics of this it isn't going to make scientific sense. and then as she becomes one person she starts to see riley (who she obviously is somewhat familiar with because of the bar) in a different light & has some weird conversations with alternate-universe-zooble who isn't the same person but also isn't not the same person. maybe? and then maybe riley starts getting their circus memories as well... i just kinda want to write something vaguely in this direction

would anyone read that...

[maddolphin777]

tadc spoilers

i'm probably not going to share my actual in depth opinions on the episode mostly because i don't think that really matters & i still love jax a lot either way so who gaf. i'm feeling super vindicated about her being trans as someone who's been a hardcore transfem jax believer since around a year ago, and i loved basically the entire sequence that took place in her mind. tadc isn't a perfect show & i can make peace with that & still love it and jax so very much. i'm super satisfied with her backstory (with her parents, ribbit, and kaufmo) and will be chewing on these thoughts for a while. i'm definitely still gonna write that jax and zooble fic.

[maddolphin777]

tadc spoilers

so I'm one of the people who got Zooble's name wrong but gave it to another character (Jax). LMFAO. I guess I need to come up with another name for post transition irl Jax 🤔 maybe a more creative one since that was kind of purposely generic. Or maybe the two of them could share the name Riley. That would be funny

[maddolphin777]

all your fics make me wanna sob like a baby at some point oh my god

im flattered beyond belief but also the idea someone is out there who reads the majority of my fics despite my fandom hopping is rly funny to me

[maddolphin777]

(this is spoiler free, just talking generally about my experience watching the finale and also the episode 8 part of the showing)

Watched the tadc finale and just as the credits started the video cut out and only the music kept playing and everyone groaned 😭😭 didn't get to see the post credits scene or the QR code but someone let everyone scan one they found online.

someone in the audience also cheered "Yuri!!!!" when that episode 8 moment happened where gangle said "you've made a difference in my life"

also I recognized a decently big tadc TikToker there? I didn't say anything to him but I just confirmed with his videos, yeah it's him. Pretty cool

honestly great experience in general, my take on the episode aside