#fenphod

happy valentines day. i have another idea

I've made brief mentions to my rarest pair (Fenphod) before but I want to compile my reasoning into a singular post and by the end of it I am convinced that I can make YOU 🫵 into a Fenphod shipper. Or a Fenphod neutral at least.

Obligatory disclaimer that I'm not telling anyone what to ship or not ship, I think basically all ships have their appeal and I can support several conflicting interpretations of characters.

Initial Connection

A large part of both Fenchurch and Zaphod's stories is their trauma, which is actually very similar when you get down to it. The main thing they both struggle with is missing memories. Fenchurch had the key to peace on earth in her head for a moment, and it was taken from her. This loss sent her to mental hospitals, it devastated her, all she wants is to get it back. Zaphod was part of a massive conspiracy, lobotomized himself, and couldn't remember why.

Fenchurch connects with Arthur because of their similar traumas, it's the main basis of their relationship. I think she could bond with Zaphod in a very similar way. You might be asking yourself now though,

Why not Arthur?

While Fenchurch and Arthur have that initial connection, I think they ultimately have different wants. As soon as Fenchurch learns that leaving the planet is a possibility, she immediately wants to do that. Arthur reluctantly helps her, hoping that she'll say she doesn't really want to go at first. Arthur still tries to return to earth after Fenchurch disappears, and he eventually settles on an earth like planet. Arthur spends most of his life missing the earth, but I don't think that Fenchurch ever wanted to return to earth. It was a place that had almost nothing but misery for her.

Zaphod is mentioned to have calmed down considerably by Fish, but he still has an adventurous mindset, and is fully an alien. Arthur was the first person Fenchurch met who was as strange as she was, but as he puts it, he is more differed from than differing. In the long term, I feel that Zaphod's lifestyle is more compatible with Fenchurch's actual long term desires.

Why not Trillian?

For the record, I like Zaphod and Trillian's relationship. I consider myself a multishipper and I usually see them as being in a permanent on again off again relationship. That said, I feel a lot of people by this point are thinking to themselves that this is all well and good, but isn't this basically just Trillian/Zaphod with a fresh coat of paint? And I'm going to explain what I think Fenchurch can offer Zaphod that Trillian can't.

Trillian is an impulsive character. While I think she does love Zaphod, her attraction to him I believe largely comes from what he represents, a way off earth and a break from monotony. Similar to Fenchurch and Arthur. This contributed to their first canon breakup, and I believe it contributed to their second off-screen breakup in Mostly Harmless.

While I already stated that Fenchurch would be attracted to Zaphod's adventurous lifestyle, I think it would be much easier for her to view him as more than primarily a source of adventure, because they have that initial connection. In this way, I believe that Fenchurch could offer Zaphod a more stable relationship.

Further Reasoning

To conclude everything I just said, I just think their personalities balance each other out.

They are the only main characters left after Mostly Harmless, if you subscribe to the idea that everyone actually dies.

Fenchurch has an interest in music, being a cello player but also owning "a stereo set with speakers which would have impressed the guys who put up Stonehenge." Zaphod has a glam rock style. I think they could start a band together.

Fenchurch's house is messy and chaotic, with many things that don't fit. Similar to the Heart of Gold after the improbability drive is activated.

It would make Arthur's head explode which is really funny to me

Conclusion