#lastlymatt

[icebluecyanide]

Disciplinary Action (Alex & Sarov, T, 4.4k)

General Alexei Sarov makes good on his promise to have Alex whipped.

"There will be no more outbursts," Sarov told him, his tone brooking no disobedience. "You will be quiet, and you will watch. And when Juan's punishment is over, you will take his place."

Tags: Book 3: Skeleton Key (Alex Rider), Canon Divergence, Whump, Whipping, Corporal Punishment, Forced to Watch, Hurt/Comfort

Written for @febuwhump Day 24: "I'm doing this because I care about you", as well as @lastlymatt’s prompt for the @alexinchainsfest: "Alex tied up in front of an audience". Hope you enjoy!

[strangesoulmates]

tagged by @polarnacht1 and @lastlymatt

Snippet comes to us from a fic where Yassen and Alex in-body time travel back to the start of tv canon and Ian is very, VERY confused

------

"What the fuck is going on?" Martin asked from behind him, and Alex turned to look at him, genuinely surprised.

"Sorry, who are you?" Alex asked.

"That is Martin Wilby," Yassen answered, and Ian watched in something between interest and horror as Yassen's eyes sharpened into something much more familiar.  "You remember when I said that Ian trusted the people he worked with?"

Alex's face shifted into an expression that had Ian's blood freezing in his veins.  It was an expression he had seen countless times before, though never on Alex's face.  no, this expression was all John.  John at his most ruthless, most calculating.  It was an expression that never should have been on Alex's face.

"Why are you here, Ian?" Alex asked at last, eyes still fixed on an increasingly panicked looking Martin.

"Martin lured him here," Yassen answered.

"No surveillance," Alex mused aloud, the same voice he used when he was working through a difficult homework problem.  "This is his test, isn't it?"

Alex looked away from Martin long enough to meet Yassen's gaze and the assassin dipped his head once in answer.

Ian might not know exactly what was going on, but he knew enough that, if true, the pieces Yassen and Alex were giving him were enough to put together at least this corner of the puzzle.

Martin was Scorpia.  Martin was Scorpia, and he had brought Ian here to be killed.

Ian turned to face him, and found his answer in Martin's expression.  Panicked, yes, but not confused.  And that panic was quickly translating into action.

Because Martin still had his gun up.   A gun whose aim was quickly shifting from Ian to the figure beside him.  Aiming directly at Alex.

"Someone tell me what's going on," Martin said.  "Or I shoot him."

Alex gave an exaggerated wince at that, but didn't look frightened in the least.

"Ooh, bad call," he said.

Ian agreed.  In a single move, Martin had sealed his fate.  Before this, Ian might have done his best to try and bring Martin in, to interrogate him to get some answers, or see if perhaps he could be flipped again, for all that he would never be trusted.

But Ian had lost his brother.  Had lost his sister in law. He was not going to lose his child.  John's child. the last family he had left.

He fired, unhesitating, freezing for a moment when he heard another shot a fraction of a second before his own.  A quick glance at Martin's gun revealed that he hadn't been the one to fire it, and in that moment that was all Ian cared about.  Alex was safe.  If Yassen shot him, so be it.  Alex was what mattered, and Yassen had been more friendly with him than anyone else.

Alex was John's son.  That would be enough to buy his freedom, Ian hoped.  To buy his life, at the very least.

But there was no flash of pain, no familiar line of fire across any part of his body, nor the cold wash of adrenaline that might hide an injury.

Instead Martin Wilby fell to the ground, a red stain blossoming over his shirt where Ian had shot him and a hole in the center of his forehead, answering the question of where the second shot had gone.

Ian spun as soon as Martin began to fall, gun brought to bare on Yassen only to freeze when he saw that Alex had stepped directly between the two of them.  He was staring at Ian in something like shock.

"You shot him," Alex said.  He didn't look upset, just surprised.

"He was going to shoot you," Ian said simply.  "And I'm not the only one," he pointed out.

"Yeah, but Yassen shoots people all the time," Alex said.  "That was the....forth?  Forth person I've watched him kill.  It's kind of worn off at this point," Alex said with a shrug.

Ian stared at him, horrified, but well trained enough that he couldn't help but catch the way Yassen tilted his head slightly to the side in consideration before nodding once in confirmation.  Counting, Ian realized. Double-checking Alex's maths, of all things.  How had this happened?    More importantly, how had this happened without him noticing after working so hard to keep even whispers of Alex's existence from reaching the rest of the world.  Yassen especially.

He was an intelligence agent operating on [alarmingly] little intelligence.  Something that could be deadly in this field.  But Ian was good at his job. There was a reason he was still alive all these years later, even as active in the field as he had been.

Martin was Scorpia.  Had lured him here to die.  Specifically to be killed by Yassen, cementing his loyalty to the organization by giving them the ammunition they would need to ruin him should he ever get cold feet about his new allegiance.

Yassen was willing to kill Ian.  The moment it was ordered, he would not hesitate. Would regret it, perhaps, but would carry out the order regardless.

But Alex...the second Martin had threatened Alex, Yassen had shot to kill, not caring about the asset that Scorpia might be losing.

"And how many of those people were pointing guns at you at the time?" Ian asked.

"Are we counting Wilby or not?"  Alex answered, and that was all the confirmation that Ian needed.  Yassen had killed to protect Alex before.

"Dealer's choice," Ian answered.

"Two others," Alex said. "But I'm not sure one of them should count.  I mean, the guy shot Yassen first."

Yassen looked almost offended at that. As if the thought that Alex might doubt that he shot the man because of Alex was hurtful.

------

tagging @corolune and anyone else who wants to play! I think everyone else I would have tagged already has been

[polarnacht1]

3 for the AR ask game? 💜

3. Is there a version (book, movie, tv show, some combination) that you imagine or prefer? I do love book Alex, but he feels too much of a child to me to ship him - my Yalex always is post canon, with Alex being already a grown up (though I don't mind reading other fics, but it's not what I usually imagine or write myself). Show Alex feels more grown up and also Alex seems already a bit fucked up from his job (and he does look so good covered in blood). I really think Otto and Levin have a great chemistry, so I imagine my Yalex to be the two, though I prefer Alex to be lonlier than in the show. As much as I like that he has friends and support there, I really like that he seems to have no one in the books which makes Yalex even more compelling to me. Yassen as the only one who understands Alex and is loyal to him (and vice versa). So a bit of book but mainly show Yalex is my go to! I have seen to little of the movie to say much, though Alex P. is optic wise an amazing Alex and would also make a great grown up Alex lookwise.

thank you so much for the ask 💙

[spyfestafterdark]

Spyfest After Dark 2024 - Author Reveals

I hope everyone had fun with their gifts and reading the rest of the fics! The time has now come to reveal the authors for the exchange fics. How many were you able to guess?

A quiet Life by Polarnacht for Proodence (Yalex, T, 2.8k) When Alex comes home from an evening out with Tom he finds an unexpected guest on his couch.

November by Proodence for inkandella (Yalex, M, 13.4k) The whole class, or at the very least the girls, were about 90% sure that their French professor was sleeping with the new TA. Or, the one where Yassen and Alex are both undercover at the same school.

Wisteria Bruises by inkandella for Sirius4Life (Yalex, T, 3.7k) “I never believed I would be the one saying this, but you are being too protective, Alex.” Alex had rolled his eyes so far back it hurt. “Pot, kettle,” he gritted out between his teeth. Yassen just narrowed his eyes. “Look. They have a million yous. You could be the best fighter they've ever seen and it still wouldn't draw the kind of crowds we need. Give them something fresh. Young. Unpredictable.” Alex meets his eyes. “You can convince anyone to bet on me.” Or, the slice-of-life mission fic that features underground fight rings, sexy club dancing, and soulmates, all wrapped all up under one little bow.

Nor Heaven or Hell by Sirius4Life for fredbassett (Yalex, M, 1.0k) Paranormal AU: Alex and Yassen are demons who are determined to see Alan Blunt dragged to Hell.

Calm the Tides of War by fredbassett for Evieebun125 (Yassen & Alex, T, 5.1k) The safe house deep in the Finnish countryside was beautiful. The downside was being stuck there over Christmas with an assassin.

Stuck in this together by Evieebun125 for turtle_snail (Yassen & Alex, T, 1.4k) Alex and Yassen are handcuffed together. Handcuffed. Together with one of the most ruthless killers Alex has ever encountered. Great.

Westward Bound by turtle_snail for aunt_zelda (Tom/Alex/Kyra, Yalex, T, 19.7k) “Guys, we need to go,” Alex demanded, quickly grabbing his backpack from the seat and urging them to move. “What—” Kyra started, but her words froze mid-sentence as she spotted Yassen. Her eyes widened. “Is that—” “Long story,” Alex interrupted, cutting her off. “We’re in trouble. Big trouble.” --- Or, just three friends and their reluctant, grumpy pet assassin on a road trip across America. Nothing suspicious here.

took your plans away by aunt_zelda for Polarnacht (Yalex, E, 3.6k) “I might be your mission, someday.” “I wouldn’t take that mission.” Alex says at once. “You think MI6 would give you a choice?” Yassen asks, incredulous. Alex opens his mouth and then closes it. He can’t argue with that. They’ve forced him into corners before. It’s gotten a bit better now that he’s an adult, but even so … “Then I’d quit.”

Ties that bind by limnal for LastlyMatt (John/Yassen/Ian, E, 8.6k) Yassen fails an assignment after someone strangely reminiscent of Hunter interferes. John won't miss a teachable moment – for Yassen or their prisoner.

Not Made for Salt Water by LastlyMatt for countessrivers (John/Yassen, E, 9.5k) John gets Yassen's selkie coat as a gift. Pushing someone away shouldn't be this hard when you control them fully.

Endurance by countessrivers for Strange_Soulmates (Yalex, E, 3.1k) 'More than anything, Alex wants to just collapse to the floor. He aches the way he does after an exhaustive sparring session, and very much the way he did after he was put through a lesson on restraints and stress positions. His knees hurt, his shoulders hurt, his back hurts, his arse...' Some of the training exercises Alex is expected to participate in are...stranger than others.

The Abduction of Alex Rider by Strange_Soulmates for TheOtherBlue (Yassen/Alex/Martin, E, 5.3k) Alex opens the door one night a few weeks after Jack's graduation to two people claiming to be Ian's coworkers. Martin and Yassen don't take no for an answer. And when Alex tries to remove himself from the situation, they decide to take more than that.

A Lesson in Restraint by TheOtherBlue for limnal (John/Yassen, E, 6.0k) It was important, Hunter had explained, to be able to escape handcuffs even when distracted. Yassen just hadn't expected his method of distraction, or where it would lead them.

Thanks everyone who participated in the exchange and the people who read and commented on the fics! I had a lot of fun organising and reading all the amazing fics and I hope you enjoyed the event as well!

[alexridersdriedblood]

Might get canceled again for my dumbass opinions, but I never cared for Kyra. Never liked her, she completely changed the whole plot of Scorpia & it pisses me off, like. In all seriousness, I don’t care what you like about here. Do not force me to like her or watch them kiss, absolutely not. I don’t even understand WHY she’s important to the story & show, yes. I do like her character & actor but not WHY she’s in the story.

@lastlymatt @actuallytalldumbass @annt-i

[alexinchainsfest]

Well, that was fun! At least it was for me, I hope you guys enjoyed it too, biggest thanks to everyone who participated ♥

13 works were added to the collection over the month, so here is a recap!

Sweet Amnesia by Myulalie for @rirren [E, 4 374 words]

Ian disappears, and Alex gets into his head to hire “Ian’s old army buddy” to rescue his uncle. Yassen Gregorovich comes with a price.

Adjournment by iceblyecyanide for @strangesoulmates [T, 5 399 words]

“Did no one ever tell you that it’s impolite to enter someone’s room without invitation, Alex Rider?” Chess prodigy Alex Rider is attending the 1981 Moscow Invitational when a moment of curiosity leads him into trouble, and lands him an impromptu rematch with the World Champion, Soviet Grandmaster Yassen Gregorovich.

The Boy in the Ice by Myulalie for @lastlymatt [T, 3 932 words]

Project IceX takes Yassen to a lab in Siberia in order to relive a miraculously preserved humanoid, seemingly older than humanity itself.

I don't want to lose you again by turtle_snail for @shehungthemoon [T, 7 461 words]

Alex gets a phone call from the hospital saying that his uncle was in a bad accident. Except, Ian Rider died four years ago…

A Surprising Holiday by TheOtherBlue for @myulalie [E, 3 487 words]

Alex runs into Yassen while on holiday in Greece and sees a chance to flip the script of their encounters. Yassen isn't entirely convinced, but is willing to play along.

The Monster in the Cellar by Too_Many_Rooks for @icebluecyanide [Not Rated, 5 104 words]

'Perhaps he’d lied to himself as much as he’d lied to MI6. Every report they’d demanded had read the same; his nephew was normal, and safe, and happy, and they couldn’t have him. Ian was his parent in every way that mattered, not a prison warden for the thing that might lurk inside him. No one would take his kid away from him. But the snarling, blood-stained, monster, barely conscious with all his hate and his hunger that was chained up in their basement didn’t much resemble the sweet little boy who’d run to greet him at the door when he returned from long overseas missions, or the child who’d stare with wide-eyed joy and fascination as Ian showed him the world, nor even the stroppy tween who liked to complain about how boring and embarrassing his guardian was.' Ian is forced to enact a plan he'd been desperate to avoid when he returns home one day to find his nephew... changed.

Lot 14 by Rirren for @lastlymatt [E, 2 509 words]

Blind and deaf, Alex Rider is helpless as he is auctioned off.

Pinewood by turtle_snail [T, 5 166 words]

Alex and Freddy are captured by nightshade, the situation is starting to seem dire and maybe Alex can’t sass his way out of this one.

A different kind of sacrifice by limnal for @strangesoulmates [E, 4 346 words]

Alex, a young Celt, has been chosen to be handfasted with Yassen, a druid known for his love of blood magic and human sacrifice. There are expectations to fulfill this night.

A Winter Offering by LastlyMatt for @myulalie [E, 4 561 words]

In order for the village to make it through winter, Alex has been chosen as a sacrifice for the spirit of the woods.

Salt Water by Myulalie for @shehungthemoon [E, 4 618 words]

Five times Alex forces Yassen’s hand (and gets away with it).

Disciplinary Action by icebluecyanide for @lastlymatt [M, 4 475 words]

General Alexei Sarov makes good on his promise to have Alex whipped. "There will be no more outbursts," Sarov told him, his tone brooking no disobedience. "You will be quiet, and you will watch. And when Juan's punishment is over, you will take his place." Written for FebuWhump Day 24: "I'm doing this because I care about you" and the Alex in Chains prompt "Alex tied up in front of an audience".

The Mystery Suitor by turtle_snail for @myulalie [M, 8 311 words]

“I’ll think this is an amazing deal. It will bring prosperity to both our kingdoms. I think Prince Alex can agree.” He heard Ian say. Alex's curiosity doubled. He caught his name being included in some deal Ian was making on his behalf. “What was that about?” Alex demanded, not hiding the fact that he was eavesdropping seconds before. “You have a suitor.” Ian said, "I just got a marriage proposal.”

What a way to start the year! Thank you to all the participants, once again, and happy reading to anyone catching up now ♥

Feel free to keep browsing through the wishlists and gift something to someone even if the event is over, I'll be happy to reblog it here if you do!

[arshipweek]

AR Ship Week - Fanwork Recs in 2024

This is the second weekly post in the lead up to Alex Rider Ship Week.  3 weeks to go!

This week we’ve got a selection of shippy fanwork recs submitted by members of the fandom.

**Please note that I haven’t listed all the details for the fics so take care to read the tags on AO3 before diving in!

YASSEN/ALEX

Devotion by countessrivers Tender, like a fresh wound, the kind you can't help but press a finger on to relish in the pain.

Adjournment by icebluecyanide I could have read three tournaments just to get more Yalex interactions!

To The Sea by Suzie_Shooter To the sea is a bitter sweet roadmovie except it’s a beautifully written fanfic. It has drama and angst and love. It’s beautiful.

Devil in Disguise by Polarnacht Yassen catches Alex spying and has his way with a chained-up Alex, who doesn't mind very much at all. Very hot yalex smut with some great d/s vibes and also tentacles.

Excellently written tentacle porn. What more could you want?

Spare the Rod by countessrivers Some great kinky Yalex in an AU where Yassen poses as a teacher at Point Blanc. Really enjoyed it!

A different kind of sacrifice by limnal A very unique Celtic AU where Yassen is a druid and he and Alex have to consummate their arranged marriage. Very cool setting and some very hot smut.

A Winter Offering by LastlyMatt Absolutely love the vibes of this fantasy AU, where Alex is left behind in the forest as an offering to the spirit of the forest (Yassen). Some wonderful descriptions here and some lovely angst.

A fantasy AU where Alex has been chosen as a human sacrifice for Yassen, a woodland spirit. Hot and sweet with some beautiful imagery.

Contain An Inferno by Rirren A deliciously dark AU where Martin Wilby keeps Alex prisoner after Ian dies. The Yassen pov is great here, both so cold and detached and yet so captivated by Alex and yearning for something real. Really loved this one!

Yassen finds Alex, chained up and abused in Martin Wilby's bed. Yassen is a bad man, and I love every moment of it.

Sweet Amnesia by Myulalie Some great Yalex dubcon. Love Alex's determination to save his uncle despite the cost and the vivid descriptions of the surroundings. Loved it!

Exit Strategy by BoldAsBrass A really fun story where Yassen and Alex meet again on a mission and are both unimpressed by Yassen's latest employer. Yassen's pov gives the story a hilarious dry tone and I love the developing relationship dynamic between him and Alex. Really enjoyed this one!

Calming the Storm by TheOtherBlue Yassen takes care of keyed up Alex in a way only Yassen can. Hot & intense and yet there is so much undercurrent love and gentleness, perfect mix.

Falling Slowly by RavenJames "Classic" Yassen buys Alex in an auction fic with a great twist at the end and lofts of messy, conflicted feelings and a loaded past

The Catventures of Alex Rider by LastlyMatt Alex gets turned into a little kitten and Yassen adopts him, having no idea the real identity of his new pet. Fluffy and sweet, read this one a bunch of times for cozy cuteness.

Who By Brave Assent by TheOtherBlue Dub con fucking for a mission, Yassen enjoying the strange kind of intimacy it affords him, Alex losing virginity and niavety, but not having too bad a time.

Petty Crime by EnviousWriter Not many fics explore how much Yassen was messed up by Alex. This one is basically my headcanon of Yassen being unable to continue on with his normal life after Eagle Strike. The plot is fun and the interactions between Yassen and Alex are a joy.

glass and paper by greenkite (shirohyasha) Devilverse AU, Alex trying to take some measure of control over his future by getting Yassen to take his virginity, from Yassen's perspective and his insistence on studying Alex's reactions purely as an asset and being emotionally/physically unaffected not being convincing at all.

High Wire by fredbasset 24 year old Alex Rider being more of a menace than ever, even getting a chance to try his hand at a victorious villain monologue. Sharp, witty, really compelling look at Alex and Yassen ten years on, post-scorpia, still on opposite sides, but still loyal to each other, even when work tries to intervene.

The Stowaway by TheOtherBlue An excellent canon divergence where Alex becomes stuck with Yassen on the Fer de Lance after boarding it in the Eagle Strike book. It starts out reading like canon, then gradually morphs into something much darker (and very hot). I love how sinister but in-character Yassen is here.

This feels VERY in character and believable to me. Yalex and Coster and how it's intertwined and all that

Alone together by Ireliss This work about how past sexual trauma affects Yassen and Alex’s life together is beautiful, moving, quietly sad and hopeful. It’s incredibly well-written.

Falling for you in time and space by kelkblr This is such a sweet romantic series. I love the concern Yassen has for Alex, and I love the way they become each other's family through their isolation. The setting is so well researched and feels so real too.

Coma White by hjbender Yassen captures Alex in Japan. Dark, dreamlike and compelling.

Specific Performance by BurntWhisper Yassen has been instructed to kill Alex but has to decide whether to see it through or not. They both choose to make the most of their potentially-limited time together. Extremely hot with a rough, dominant Yassen. The characterisation of both Alex and Yassen is on point.

The Right Touch by Strange_Soulmates A Star Wars AU where ISB Lieutenant Yassen is trying to track down the rebel agent Alex, resulting in some very, very hot dream dubcon. Really great adaptation of canon character dynamics.

We Keep Meeting Each Other Like This by TheOtherBlue Very hot, very well written, and I love the escalation that comes with each meeting.

Salt, Smoke and Water by Too_Many_Rooks Gender flipped Yalex. So well written, very hot, and with that excellent dubcon/Yassen is kind of a bastard element.

A Friend Indeed by Too_Many_Rooks The meetings between Yassen and Alex with the time jumps between them give a great impression of time passing and Alex getting older, and changing, Yassen borderline pining, but it's still a very neat and coherent story that grows into its ending. There's sex and angst and regret and murder and Alex being a little shit. It's perfect.

A Timely Rescue by TheOtherBlue Just really hot and such a compelling meeting between Alex and Yassen. Time travel and dubcon is a great mix of tropes as well.

Her Finger On The World by countessrivers Who doesn't love Julia being a creep? Also Yassen is so precious here,,,,

Netflix And Kill by Suzie_Shooter This was literally the first Yalex fic I ever read.

Sweet Amnesia by Myulalie TV Yalex with a different first meeting. Even with Alex not knowing Yassen's identity the danger and connection between them is tangible, and the sex is dark and hot.

I Can See You by countessrivers Stalking fic that is honestly really sweet. I love Yassen's weird way of showing affection.

OTHER PAIRINGS

Hold Me Down by countessrivers Julia/Yassen/Alex vampire feed-fuck threeway. Need I say more? I will. Manipulative, seductive, mind-controling Julia, puppetting Alex and Yassen like they're toys for her pleasure, using Alex for his blood, his body, his potential, his connection to his father, and taking whatever she pleases. One of my all time favourites. Julia/Yassen/Alex

Притворство и подражание - Pretense and emulation by peeltheavocado A young Yassen and John Rider go on an assignment in a hospital. Yassen makes a snap decision to prevent their cover being blown. This is first-person Yassen POV and it’s done very well. John/Yassen

hold me tight and fear me not by thealphaaxolotl. I am an Alexmis fan first and foremost and this fic is incredible. I've read it dozens of times and it only gets better. Alex Rider/Artemis Fowl II

Explorations in Parenthood by Too_Many_Rooks Technically a series, but a very sweet and fun Ian/Yassen au. Baby Alex is simultaneously adorable and a menace. Ian/Yassen

A Series of Unexpected Events by kelkblr Really well written exploration of not just an on/off Ian/Yassen relationship, but of how Ian joins the Department and him raising Alex. Filling in the gaps implied by the shows first episode, evening bringing in one of the short stories. I regularly reread this one. Ian/Yassen

If Wishes Were Horses by fredbasset Aaaaand this was the first AR fic I ever read!

Only Once in Paris by Zombieheroine Points for characterization and originality. Also this is so me coded.

[alexridersecretsanta]

The Great Reveal!

Today is the day to lift the anonymity of the authors! We hope you had fun reading all the Yalex goodness, here come the authors reveal:

A Spark of Magic by LastlyMatt for Myulalie (T, 5k) Alex is dragged back after years to finish what he started. Scorpia wants to reawaken the vampire Julia Rothman, and it's up to Alex to do it. During this, he reunites with Yassen, who tries to help him one more time. Inflection Point by Kelkblr for RavenJames (T, 7,5K) There are moments that change your life, moments where you might have made a different decision and taken a different path. A routine mission takes an unexpected turn, giving Alex an opportunity to take advantage of one such moment.

Somebody To Die For by RavenJames for LastlyMatt (M, 5K) The legends are true. They are just not what we expect them to be. Entangled in a strange enemies-with-benefits relationship with Yassen, Alex has an assignment to keep the man under close surveillance. He doesn’t know that things might get even more complicated.

The Right Touch by Strange_Soulmates for countessrivers (E, 3K) Lieutenant Yassen Gregorovich of the ISB spends enough time stalking Rebel Agent Alex Rider in real life. Alex just wishes the man could stop stalking his dreams as well. He has no idea just how accurate the idea of Yassen "stalking his dreams" is. All things are possible through the force, after all. A birthday Surprise by Sigma for kelkblr (E, 35K) When Tom informs him that he's hired a stripper for Alex's 18th birthday party, he wasn't quite expecting what he received. Yassen Gregorovich wasn't quite expecting the hurricane that was Alex Rider either.....it remained to be seen which one of them ended up more surprised....Alex Rider Yalex - somewhat AU. Alex and Yassen have never met before in this. The Last Job by fredbassett for kelkblr (T, 4K) When a close personal protection job ends in disasterous failure an injured Alex has to survive a freezing night and even colder encounter with his former lover.

Alex Rider 2024 by DarlingNikki for greenkite (shirohyasha) (E, 14K) Time moves on and Alex is no longer a scared fourteen year old swimming completely out of his depth. Almost twenty-five years have passed and the world is a completely different place with changes he’d thought were pure sci-fi are just boring reality now. Or Alternatively, Alex gets his retirement from MI6, but too bad they think he's a disposable pawn that's the prefect guinea pig for testing some dodgy new tech, and ends up with a very familiar ghost living under his skin. A Cyberpunk 2077 inspired AU/fusion that's also a prequel for the game technically, but 100% blind readable.

tissue culture by greenkite (shirohyasha) for Polarnacht (n/r, 3,5K) He's not in the dacha. He knows every centimetre of that house, and the dark, cold room he woke up in isn't in it. Alex goes to rescue Yassen from the mad scientists of the week. He finds more than expected.

Dangerous Tastes by Myulalie for turtle_snail (E, 14k) After a failed assassination attempt during his horse ride around the property, Alex gets a bodyguard against his will. He keeps flirting with danger from then on, even at the risk of getting his heart broken.

Spare the Rod by countessrivers for TheOtherBlue (E, 4,5k) Alex goes tAlex gets caught trying to escape from Point Blanc. Mr. Gregorovich handles the punishment.

Devil in Disguise by Polarnacht for DarlingNikki (E, 7K) Alex is sent to break into Yassen’s house and retrieve important documents. He discovers more than he ever bargained for.

Collateral by Rirren for Strange_Soulmates (E, 12k) Alex was asked to come in to speak to an imprisoned Yassen. He didn't know he was signing up for 24 hours of hell. Like A Delicate, Dangerous Desire by turtle_snail for Sigma (E, 5k) There was something so serene to look down at Alex like this, and the wide expression of uncertainties etched on Alex’s face. It was akin to ambrosia. A delicate desire that only Yassen could enjoy. “Maybe I should teach you a lesson… about what happens to apprentices who misbehave.” Alex didn’t respond, instead whatever fear was present in Alex’s eyes morphed into determination. It was a look that was so characteristically Alex.

Who By Brave Assent by TheOtherBlue for Rirren (E, 6,5k) When Yassen is offered a sixteen-year-old Alex for the night, he has no choice but to accept. He has never enjoyed sleeping with strangers as part of his work, but Alex is no stranger... Vastly Different Things by Myulalie&Polarnacht for fredbassett (T, 4k) Alex almost gets tossed from a helicopter into a river in Chile, and spends some quality time with a certain assassin.

We hope you enjoyed the event, reading & commenting and guessing! How many did you guess right? Happy Yalex holidays to everyone!

[lastlymatt]

I finally got around to finishing this chapter! Bayu Yassen is an assassin again, and he’s having A Time (just like everyone else)

@lolli-says-stuff, @archerofunspeakablelove I’m tagging you two since you asked me about the new chapter

[mirabilefuturum]

I got tagged by both @deadheaddaisy (you spooked me alright) and @glitter-and-metal so here we go.

Quiz here, picrew here.

Tagging, which might overlap with previous tags: @rotten-flesh-n-bones @lastlymatt @queenspock @cyanocitta-cristata-bromia @shehungthemoon <3

[myulalie]

9 Fandom peeps to get to know better

I was tagged by @foodsies4me, thanks!

3 ships you like: I’ve decided to mention the most recent ones for a change! So currently reading/writing Stargate SG-1: Sam Carter Ba’al, Stargate Atlandtis: John Sheppard/Todd (yes they’re both enemies to alien lovers romance) and League of Legends’ Arcane: Caitlyn/Vi.

First Ship Ever: I guess it must have been from Naruto: Sasuke Uchiwa/Sakura Haruno? I think I started reading fanfic for them before I did for Harry Potter: Tom Riddle/Hermione  Granger! 

Last Song You Heard: Stay, Justin Bieber on the bus last night ^^

Currently Reading: I finally picked up actual books! So I’m nearing the end of Husband Material by Alexis Hall, and I’ve made a slow start on The Queen’s Gambit by Walter Tevis.

Currently Watching: Supernatural, season 2 (first watch ever!!). I’m having a blast x)

Currently Consuming: Egg & Muffin, it’s breakfast time!

Currently Craving: nothing, actually? This is weird, I usually have impulses xD

Tagging: @limnall, @thehollowone16, @junemermaid, @ravenjames, @lastlymatt, @polarnachtsblog, @lalelilolusworld, @sterekxhale, @aceonice

Also stealing @faejilly's idea for an easy copy/paste:

3 ships you like:

First Ship Ever:

Last Song You Heard:

Currently Reading:

Currently Watching:

Currently Consuming:

Currently Craving:

[icebluecyanide]

Writing Procrastination Game

Thanks for tagging me @lastlymatt 💜

1. What's the name of one of your WIPs?

Sleeping With Ghosts.

2. Describe a WIP in the format of __+__=__

yalex + one bed = alex getting his first ever handjob

3. What tags/warnings will one of your WIPs need if you share it?

Accidental Incest (one-side) lol, we're doing very rare pairings this time 🙈

4. Alternative title to a WIP?

'The one where Alex and Yassen are both trans' I guess 😂

5. Which WIP are you most likely to update/finish next?

Probably one of my two s3 fics I started, since I want to finish them soon!

6. What is one of your WIP's document title, not its name but what you have it saved as?

My doc titles are really boring haha. Idk 'Alex Yassen target practice' is one.

7. Post any sentence from your WIP?

John’s fingers came up to rest at Yassen’s nape, stroking the hair at the back of his neck in a gesture that carried such fondness that Alex found himself suddenly choking down jealousy.

8. A scrapped idea from your WIP?

I'm a bit sad that I can't have trans Alex and Yassen talk about John because I wanted to set it pre-Eagle Strike for more tension/Alex not knowing Yassen very well yet.

9. What's a story you'd love to write but have yet to start?

I really want to write a Julia Rothman/Alex Rider fic for ship week tbh. I've got it planned out already but I need to find the time.

10. How many WIPs are you actively working on?

Entirely too many 😭 but probably like 5 or 6 that I want to finish in the next two months if possible.

11. Is there a scene you're struggling to write right now?

I'm struggling to write anything tbh. xD The writing is not flowing atm, probably because I'm really tired.

12. Not a question but a second kudos!

I don't know what that means but thanks xD

Tagging: @rirren, @polarnacht1, @countessrivers,

[strangesoulmates]

🤡 ❌ and 🧠?

🤡 - What’s a line, scene, or exchange you’ve written that made you laugh?

I posted the snippet from "back to the start" where Alex is nonchalant about yassen shooting people the other day, so go ahead and have one from the timeloop soulmate au between yassen and tom

Tom scrambled out of bed (not fell, thank you) and collapsed gracefully onto the floor. To throw his attacker off, of course. No other reason.

"Tom Harris?" the man said.

Tom saw the shoes first.  They looked like a cross between a combat boot and a sneaker.  The kinds of shoes that circulated on those posts on how to spot an undercover cop.  Shoes, Tom was starting to discover, could tell you all sorts of things about a person. In this case, the shoes were telling him that he was very much in trouble.  The rest of the outfit didn't do much to encourage him to think anything else. All black, in a way he wouldn't have thought twice about if he'd passed him on the street.  But here, in his bedroom at...fuck, four in the morning?  It was just menacing.  And there was really only one reason a man like this would be here.

"I'm not telling you anything," Tom said, faking a certainty he didn't feel. He groped under his bed, grabbing the first thing that wasn't cloth that his fingers closed on, dragging it out from under the bed.  "I mean, I don't know anything to tell you.  But if I did, I wouldn't tell you anything."

The man, who had a wicked scar along his face, looked down at Tom in something between exasperation and amusement.

"People who don't know things don't respond that way to strange people in their room, Mr. Harris," the man said.

"Yeah, well-" Tom said, bending over to look like he was trying to push himself up off the floor, but instead flinging what was in his hand at the face of the man above him.

The man grabbed it out of the air like it was nothing, then glanced a the spoon in his hand before giving Tom a very judgemental look.

"I thought it was a knife," Tom offered with a shrug. "Or, you know, at least a fork."

"Fork would probably have been best," the man said.  "I doubt you have a steak knife under there, and the butter knife would have been almost as bad as the spoon."  He gave the spoon another look.  "Almost."

"Right, well, you know," Tom said with a shrug.  "If your here to kill me, now would be an excellent time.  I'd actually be grateful."

❌ What’s a trope you will never write?

hmm, this is actually a tough one, since "never say never" and all that. I guess probably permanent major character death? At least not in fics.

🧠 Pick a character, and I’ll tell you my favorite headcanon for them.

Pick a character, and I'll let you know!

[polarnacht1]

3 and 10 for the questions for fic writers! 🤍

thank you for the ask!

3. What are some tropes or details that you think are very characteristic of your fics?

I think hurt/comfort and angst are featured in most of my fics. I like to put the characters to emotional hurt, but I also offer comfort in the end. Also, I really like to get in the heads of my characters. I always try to explore what makes them tick, why they act the way the do. In general I am a sucker for small gestures of trust, love etc. I love shower scenes, scenes on roof tops, sharing a bed or huddling for warmth - all sorts of intimacy, I think.

10. How do you decide what to write?

The initial pull always comes from the idea itself - some ideas are so demanding, I just need to write them to get them out of my head and regain my inner peace 😂. I always aim to finish multi-chapter fics rather speedy, I am not a fan of huge pauses between chapters, so I start only one multi-chapter and finish that before I start a new one. One shots I sometimes write in between, just to have some variety to write. Another factor is deadlines - I love to participate in fandom events or exchanges, so I prioritize ideas for events before other ideas.

[spyfestafterdark]

7 DAYS UNTIL THE REVEAL

There is just a week left until the fics are revealed on December 24th. Need something to tide you over until then? Here are some fics from last year for you to check out while you wait. Don't forget to leave a comment if you enjoyed them!

At the End of the World by @lastlymatt for RavenJames After spending years in the apocalypse, Alex tries to do something good. Of course, it backfires, and of course, Yassen is there to help him out. 5.9k, T, Yalex, Zombie Apocalypse, Fluff and Angst, Kidnapping, Mild Gore, Alex being Alex, Hurt/Comfort, Established Relationship

Inflection Point by @kelkblr for RavenJames There are moments that change your life, moments where you might have made a different decision and taken a different path. A routine mission takes an unexpected turn, giving Alex an opportunity to take advantage of one such moment. 7.4k, T, Yalex, Mission Fic, Future Fic, Happy Ending, Older Man/Younger Man, Post-Canon, Mild Hurt/Comfort

A Timely Rescue by TheOtherBlue for Strange_Soulmates When Alex travels back in time to the night Ian was killed, he has to rush to stop history from repeating itself, and finds himself face to face with the mysterious man with the scar that he met at Point Blanc. 7.1k, Explicit, Time Travel, Canon Divergence, Extremely Dubious Consent, Sexual Inexperience, Car Sex, Lap Sex

[alexridersdriedblood]

Okay, so — many people from the Alex Rider fandom have seen Slow Horses, myself I have not, but I’m thinking about it. But hear me out

Rider Family Headcanons + Fan cast (in my opinion)

— Ian had been more lenient on Alex than John would’ve been, but he was never really strict with him. But when Alex was young he was strict about Bedtimes, Dinners and so on, giving his nephew want he needed (School supplies, jackets, etc')

— John never really was close with Ian, despite them being brothers they were opposite in childhood, Ian being more of the nerdy, literal version of John. John was more of the “Hey, let’s go skateboard and be reckless” type, never hanging out with girls besides his mates girlfriends.

— The way Alex remembers his father is through pictures, and polaroids Jack gave him or he found in Ian’s office. He had always wondered why he had been described as looking more like his uncle then his father till he saw pictures of the muscular, tall and broad shouldered man that was his father, his slightly long hair reminded him of his own but he looked more like “uncle Ian” than “John Rider”. 

— Alex and Ian, horrible cooks. Jack must show them the ropes of simple soup — and how to make steak, chicken and other British dishes.

— Little Alex used to tug on Jack and Ian, to show them his little drawings he made with the oil pastels at school or of the time when Ian had been working on something in his office, the door cracked open — Alex would kick it in softly to hang up yet another piece of art or work he did in lessons that day.

— Most songs that were muffled behind Ian’s closed door was classic or old rock, Jazz was the most common for Jack though; Alex had memorized the songs being played throughout the years, making a list of his favorites.

— John was one of many people who played Football, Ian being so involved with his books still came to each game; getting driven to the library by his brother was common, John was strict about seatbelts, firmly telling the younger one “Put your seatbelt on, even in short distance, you never know.” And that stuck with him ever since.

——————————————————————————

Fancast

Alex Rider — Otto Farrant

Yassen Gregorovich — Vasiliy Stepanov (Young)

John Rider — Jack Lowden

Ian Rider — Alex Pettyfer

Jack Starbright — Holland Roden

Alan Blunt — Stephen Dillane

Mrs Jones (Tulip Jones) — Mariska Hargitay (Young)

Will make my Yalex headcanons after this !

ヾ(^∀^)ﾉ

— People tagged

@annt-i @too-many-rooks @lastlymatt