#thitcs headcannon

[thecourtfinchster]

ok so headcannon that phoenixes are sort of shape-shifters. they have evolved to appear human over dozens and dozens of generations. their natural way of being is to burn, but they've learned that the best way to seek connection and companionship is to adopt a human looking body. Arthur Parnassus doesn't know this. no one taught him how to be a phoenix in a boy's body.

in the book, he said he couldn't control the fire when he was younger. it took him a lot of time and grueling effort to quel his flames and keep them tampered down. so to continue the headcannon, Arthur's skin is constantly crawling. the horrible, consuming itchiness has plagued him ever since he was a teenager. it's still there in his forties, but most of the time, it's like white noise to him. of course some days are better than others. there are days when he can barely move without feeling thousands of needle-legged insects scuttle over him, raking his nerves with pain. he needs so badly to burn, but he has to think of the children. it's always about the children. so he swallows it down like he does with everything else and pushes forward. after all, it could be worse, he tells himself.

[sometimeswritingsometimesdying]

hcs about music and the island dads and their kids bc i am currently experiencing brainrot

x. linus used to play guitar as a kid. he wasn’t great at it, but he liked it, and he’d steal away half an hour a week to play around with the old, beaten up one they had in their public high school. he learnt all his favorite songs on it, mostly by ear, but never had the ability to practice at home. he mentions it to arthur at some point, and they magically find one back in the attic. 

x. arthur loves piano. he has the fingers for it, of course, and there’s nothing like a good jazz piano tune to pair with a philosophy book, but he also loves the expressiveness that some pianists put into their performances. when he was a young man, 20s-30s i’d say, and he didn’t live on the island yet, i like to hc he snuck into a few performances or practices for some great modern composers. 

x. lucy sees linus trying to tune the guitar and decides instantly he Must Learn How To Play alongside him. they buy a beginner’s guitar player book and start learning chords and songs together. lucy, turns out, has a great singing voice to pair with it. 

x. at some point, sal brings up the idea that maybe he could have lucy put one of his poems to music. lucy is absolutely honored, obviously. linus and arthur are in the background crying because omg their children have grown and healed so much

x. phee definitely learns how to make nature dance around her. she takes up doing it when she’s upset, and never really stops. zoe joins in sometimes, and the swaying of the branches, buzzing of bees, and soft sea breeze bring happiness all around the island.

x. talia would be amazing on drums. that’s all. she could wack them as good as she wacks people.

x. chauncey and theodore, albeit not incredibly gifted with musical instruments due to the lack of opposable thumbs, are the BEST hypemen whenever lucy wants to present a song during a lesson. cheerleading? they got u. posters, banners, and badly made t shirts? DONE. lucy isnt even making his own music, but its the thought that counts.

(yes the t shirts would just say hey yeah! music! in squiggly handwriting, instead of hell yeah, because arthur vetoed it)

x. linus and arthur actually learn how to dance instead of just swaying together; waltzing late at night in arthur’s study or the library, soft, stumbly back and forth dances in the kitchen while cooking breakfast, linus dipping arthur on the porch as the sun sets because he just felt like it and kissing the shit out of him. and, of course, the bad renditions of those dances by the children making fun of them.

x. no one expects it, but sal’s teenagehood turns out to be a big rock music phase. he never showcases it on the outside but his room slowly gets decorated with posters and cds of his favorite artists and bands. lucy and linus are over the moon about getting to add a third to their music shop escapades. sal mostly likes the music because he relates to the anger/hurt/ect of the lyrics, and it’s great to drown out any other noise in case it gets too much for him.

[luciinthesky-w-diamonds]

hi everyone join the THITCS discord server, kindly made by the wonderful @islanddads

u can share headcannons and/or fanart/fanfic or just freak out over the novel with us

https://discord.gg/jhnGUSsuYG

[thecourtfinchster]

there are less than two weeks until somewhere beyond the sea!!!!!!!!!!

today I am thinking about the implications of Linus learning how to knit. thinking about the joy Arthur would have after receiving a very lumpy pair of colorful socks as a gift (such a touching notion compared to Charles thinking Arthur's socks are stupid/too silly). thinking about a bashful Linus gushing over the imperfections, but that first pair becoming Arthur's favorite.

Linus knitting sweaters and vests for the children, getting better and better at patterns and sizing as their collections grow. special sweaters for christmas or birthdays!! a parade of pomeranians for Sal. yellow flowers for Phee. root vegetables for Thalia. etc. Theodore stealing stitch markers and adding them to his hoard, along with miscellaneous yarn scraps.

Arthur getting Linus a beautiful array of knitting needles, including ergonomic grips when Linus' hands start cramping. Zoe whittling a set of wooden needles as a gift. maybe eventually Linus picks up crochet as well.

thinking about Linus slowly becoming comfortable with knitting clothes for himself, and feeling good in them. that man belongs in an adorable homemade sweater vest, covered in symbols corresponding with each member of his family. it just feels so right that he should pick up knitting, he's such a perfect character for it.

[thecourtfinchster]

the polished version of my hazardous phoenix diy top surgery sketch!! (og version and closeups below cut)

I love putting my comfort characters through the fucking wringer :) and also transing them :D Arthur Parnassus my beloved

also!!!! almost a week until Somewhere Beyond the Sea comes out!!!!!!

I do really like how raw the sketch is, but I’m also a sucker for bright colors. can’t stop thinking about tortured 20s Arthur.

[thecourtfinchster]

to flavor this further, I'm going to push my Trans Arthur agenda.

teenage Arthur experiencing dysphoria, not only as an epic elemental bird stuffed into a suit of skin, but specifically the skin suit of a young girl. everything feels so wrong all the time, on top of undergoing the several excruciating regenerations that puberty probably requires for a phoenix. the flesh and the flame.

I think Arthur knew he was a boy from a very young age, but the orphanage master would never hear a word of it. at the DICOMY school, he's able to get a uniform with pants, and it's a start. the fabric feels awful against his skin, everything itches and pinches and tears and smolders. but it's the first time, since making friends with Helen at the ice cream shop, that Arthur is recognized for who he knows he is.

I have more ideas about what phoenix-style top surgery would entail, but that gets its own post. and maybe a sketch when I have time

ok so headcannon that phoenixes are sort of shape-shifters. they have evolved to appear human over dozens and dozens of generations. their natural way of being is to burn, but they've learned that the best way to seek connection and companionship is to adopt a human looking body. Arthur Parnassus doesn't know this. no one taught him how to be a phoenix in a boy's body.

in the book, he said he couldn't control the fire when he was younger. it took him a lot of time and grueling effort to quel his flames and keep them tampered down. so to continue the headcannon, Arthur's skin is constantly crawling. the horrible, consuming itchiness has plagued him ever since he was a teenager. it's still there in his forties, but most of the time, it's like white noise to him. of course some days are better than others. there are days when he can barely move without feeling thousands of needle-legged insects scuttle over him, raking his nerves with pain. he needs so badly to burn, but he has to think of the children. it's always about the children. so he swallows it down like he does with everything else and pushes forward. after all, it could be worse, he tells himself.