Boden's Mate
| Fanfiction | |
|---|---|
| Title: | Boden's Mate |
| Author(s): | kaydeefalls |
| Date(s): | July 4th 2011 |
| Length: | 79,426 words |
| Genre(s): | fusion fanfiction (slash) |
| Fandom(s): | X-Men: First Class, Inception |
| Relationship(s): | |
| External Links: | Boden's Mate (AO3) Boden's Mate (LJ) |
Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
Boden's Mate is a Charles Xavier/Erik Lehnsherr story by kaydeefalls. It is the first part in the "Chessmen" series; the sequel is called Queen's Gambit.
Summary: Shaw has information that we need, and we need him alive to extract it," Moira says, and there it is: the job is on the table. Extraction.
The story is a fusion of X-Men: First Class and Inception, set in an alternate universe in which Erik works as an extractor with Alex as his point man. They are assembling a team to break into the mind of one of the most dangerous people - Sebastian Shaw. A man Erik still has a score to settle with. The question for Alex and the team is if Erik's desire for vengeance will jeopardise the whole operation - or is the shade who haunts his dreams going to achieve that.
The story was first posted on July 4, 2011 as part of the 1class_kink-prompt post (round four) on LJ and later on AO3 (September 24, 2011), too.
Status: complete / Chapters: 7 / Rating: "Teen And Up Audience"
Definition
Boden's Mate: a checkmating pattern in chess characterized by bishops on two criss-crossing diagonals, with possible flight squares for the king being occupied by friendly pieces.[1]
Recs and Reviews
It is now 3 am, I should have been in bed hours ago, but I simply couldn't let this story ago. It has to be my favourite XMFC fic ever. You've made the transition from mutant to dreamsharing go over flawlessly. The way you've incorporated hints of canon, the way you've kept them all so real, the seriousness and depth of your story are unsurpassed. I can't quite get over how much I love this, and I can't find the words to express it, but just... this is so good and I just wanted to thank you for writing this.[2]
Everything about this fic is BRILLIANT. It takes place in the Inception universe but with XMFC characters. Definitely not a rehash of the Inception plot; loosely follows an XMFC plot-map. The worldbuilding is amazing, the characters are unfailingly interesting and well-developed, and true to themselves but also true to their new setting. The structure is pleasantly complex. The love story between Charles and Erik is one of the most beautiful, heartbreaking and heartwarming that I’ve ever encountered.[3]
The thing that I really love about the “heists and capers” genre is the competence porn that comes along with it. Even better, this is a delicious fusion of the X-Men characters with the world of Inception. As always with kaydeefalls the dialogue is crisp and the action and plotting impeccable, and this is the perfect story to enjoy those fine qualities.[4]
Boden’s Mate, by kaydeefalls, and its sequel, Queen’s Gambit, is done well. The cast of X-Men: First Class are fused into the world of Inception, and it’s amazing how well it works. A lot of Charles/Erik stories, in particular, manage to forget about the rest of the cast, but these are true ensemble pieces, where all of the main characters get to be important, even the dead ones.[5]
i found this fic right before i was gonna sleep, 11pm, and bingeread it til 2am, no breaks. THAT’S HOW GOOD IT IS. multiple POVs used efortlessly in a way that genuinely moves the plot forward and gives the story a really good depth. plot that actually keeps you on the edge for suspense. angst. DRAMA. this isnt just a good fic, it’s a good piece of fiction. period. GOD.[6]
This might be my favorite type of fic: novel-length and tightly plotted, with small but v sharp emotional interludes laced throughout. It’s a rare XMFC non-powered AU that does interesting things to evoke the canonical powers and all the characterization tied up in them, and it’s a true ensemble piece, something I really love in this fandom in particular. The sequel is also fantastic, and even more heisty. :-) [7]
References
- ^ Wikipedia Boden's Mate
- ^ Gabsy ao3-comment, posted 25 September 2011
- ^ TurtleTotem tumbler-review, posted 10 January 2012
- ^ "May 2, 2020 Tumblr post". Archived from the original on 2023-03-22.
- ^ "Fic rec: "Boden's Mate" and "Queen's Gambit"". Archived from the original on 2023-03-22.
- ^ "CHERIK". Archived from the original on 2023-03-22.
- ^ "The Rec Center #191". Archived from the original on 2024-07-22.