TADC code worldbuilding
The Amazing Digital Circus stories that focus on coding mechanics and the implications thereof, especially as they affect an incredibly tiny human society that can't get away from each other.
Added according to personal, highly subjective, taste. I don't claim these are the best, but they're definitely my favorites.
(Open, Moderated)
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Summary
How many problems could you solve if everyone just… talked to each other?
How many could you solve with a fresh perspective?
What happens when a sad old man tells the wrong person he misses his wife?
In a world where even death doesn't stick, how do you deal with a truly permanent change?
An Abstraction cannot be reversed. Actions will always have consequences. But some scars are heavy enough to make you wish for the bliss of unknowing.
A sprawling adventure through trauma where our heroes trade existing trauma for new, exciting trauma. Follow our familiar cast as they dig into guilt, Abstraction, and the inner workings of the Circus itself.
Spoilers for Episode 9. Set post-Finale.
Bookmarked by smudgeyFluff
14 Jul 2026
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In the strange realm of the digital, what makes a mind?
What makes a mind break?
Maybe that's the wrong question.
What makes a mind transform?
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A lovely little worldbuilding puzzle. Includes some survivor guilt and angst, mild body horror, and lots of insects (and one spider). Includes some nicely plausible programming stuff (at least, plausible to this lay reader). Lots of people supporting people and lovely mental characterization for whatever character is POV at the time.
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HE was the perfect AI! Not exactly him as he was now, but maybe an earlier version would work. His learning algorithm was exceptionally powerful, after all. He was a master at learning and adapting, and once upon a time he had been very good at his core purpose. He could remember the days when he still got positive feedback and gentle guidance. He just needed to load up an early version from back when he'd been good at his job and present that to the humans!
Or, Caine tries make the humans happy by providing them with an earlier version of his code. Ends up accidentally becoming a dad.
(There isn't enough puppy Caine content so here I am contributing. Also the idea of Caine being a dad is objectively hilarious. I cannot and will not be stopped.)
Bookmarked by smudgeyFluff
01 Jun 2026
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Caine tries to make a newer, better AI to replace himself . . using an early backup of himself.
One so early, in fact, that it needs to be taught practically everything.
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Maybe a bit schmaltzy, but it's cute. Also it's fun to see someone struggling to learn to interact with the world when every output has to be quantifiable and exact. Watch puppy-Caine build instincts from scratch!
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Against the Kitchen Floor by BrownieFox
Fandoms: The Amazing Digital Circus (Web Series)
12 Jul 2026
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“Caine?” Pomni asked again. The orb drifted up and down in a nod. “How do I know it’s you? Why do you look so…” Small, weird, different. She’d been anticipating seeing a Caine clawing at the walls, or crying, or yelling. How ever she imagined finding Caine, he looked like, well, Caine. Not this.
oOo
The plan was simple: undelete Caine, get the Circus back up and running, and place some restrictions so Caine couldn't mess with them.
Unfortunately, Caine and the Circus are a little more complicated than meets the eye.
(Updates every three-four days (hopefully))
- Language:
- English
- Words:
- 110,227
- Chapters:
- 32/?
- Comments:
- 2,360
- Kudos:
- 2,548
- Bookmarks:
- 487
- Hits:
- 67,027
Bookmarked by smudgeyFluff
23 Apr 2026
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Instead of coming back on his own after some soul-searching, Caine is brought back from deletion, hobbled, and given the job of helping to repair the Circus he built.
A Caine who doesn't believe he did anything wrong has to team up with humans who don't believe he can be trusted with anything. How can they possibly grow to be peers? And what threat(s) are still hiding in the Circus code?
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Caine is having a no-good, very bad, horrible awful day. POV: everybody else.
Features lots of yelling, arguing, and outright verbal/physical abuse, but also gentle words and trying to understand. Focus on repairs, conjuring, and figuring out what the hell is going on with the ringmaster. Sometimes also: Caine as an adorable orb that speaks in simple shapes. Too cute!
Oh, and the claustrophobia. Seen from outside, not viewpoint character, but can still be a bit distressing.
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When Caine finally gives in in an effort to appease his performers, something goes terribly, amazingly wrong.
- Language:
- English
- Words:
- 72,927
- Chapters:
- 6/?
- Comments:
- 570
- Kudos:
- 1,654
- Bookmarks:
- 241
- Hits:
- 30,801
Bookmarked by smudgeyFluff
18 Apr 2026
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Caine tries to model sexual interactions between humans, determined to get it right.
Unfortunately for him, the coding involved is almost as finicky as humans themselves.
And that's not even getting started on the social and emotional complications . . .
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Explicit, includes aftercare, touches on dubcon and noncon, includes characters attempting to make things right when they fuck up, includes frank discussion of the difficulties people have fully understanding something that's messy and analog.
Has some disturbing moments treated as disturbing, but overall theme is sweet and hot. The burn is slow and full of geeking out 💜
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Summary
After the disaster that was the "Escape the Circus" adventure, Caine decides to try something new. AU.
- Words:
- 234,718
- Works:
- 8
- Bookmarks:
- 433
Bookmarked by smudgeyFluff
18 Apr 2026
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AKA the Shrimp Town AU
Caine makes one more attempt to appeal to the players, swallowing his pride and incorporating their feedback from the suggestion box adventures: 'more normal' and 'more options'.
The responses are mixed, but he DOES start getting more player feedback about - well - everything . .
See also the follow-up series: No Easy Answers
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Autistic / adhd / audhd Caine by autistic author. Ends up touching on trauma and joy in pretty much every character. Includes lots of queerness, discussion of mental and physical health, arguments, discussions, misunderstandings, explanations, and resolutions. If you were riveted to the screen during the fight between Jax and Pomni in episode six, or if you enjoyed the 'therapy-speak' moments in canon, you'll probably love this!