Canon Ships Post

MASON & CHAMELEON

all things to everyone

I love how well these two work together! They're such a mix of professional and casual, and Chameleon is so open about Phineas's genius, that I feel like they were working together for a while before we see them in canon, too. If Chameleon, Mason, and Beck were all working together for a year or two before "Persona," I can imagine Chameleon was working with both of them separately on and off again for at least a few years before that. Chameleon is just Chameleon to Phineas (and to everyone, to be fair), and I love how Chameleon refers to everyone by surname -- and the idea that it doesn't necessarily imply emotional distance.

MASON & BECK

they'll say you could do anything, they'll say that i was clever

These two I also imagine were working together for a bit before the events of "Persona"; specifically, I imagine Chameleon introduced them for a job a year or two pre-canon, after they'd both already been working for Chameleon for a few years separately, and they all ended up working together really well and so just... kept doing so. And that these two clicked pretty early on. Certainly by the time we meet them in canon they seem to be a unit, both working for Chameleon and then both hired by the Master Planner, though of course the Tinkerer does some solo work on the side. He might sell his inventions to others around the city as a contract worker, but Tinkerer certainly makes a large variety of incredibly advanced tech for Mysterio and doesn't seem about to stop any time soon. Despite the occasional disagreement, they really seem to be there for each other, maybe more than for anyone else. I also imagine they've both picked up Chameleon's habit of referring to each other almost always by surname, though, despite their closeness... except recently they do like referring to one another as Tinkerer and Mysterio, particularly in costume/when acting as such.

MASON & BECK & CHAMELEON

why don't you stay with me and be my sidekick?

I mean... See above. I won't even lie, these three are the big reason I have a hard time seeing Phineas as monogamous. I imagine that Mason was working with Chameleon for at least three or four years before the events of the series, and that a year or two before "Persona" Chameleon introduced Mason and Beck for the purposes as a job and they've worked together a lot since. They all do their own separate things but they never pass up a chance to work together, pretty much. By this point they seem to be very familiar with one another, how they work, and what they can accomplish, and don't always even need to communicate out loud to be on the same page.

PHINEAS & OTTO

i got real big plans for you and me

These two clicked real fast! Phineas is canonically a member of Otto's inner circle, the people Otto trusts the absolute most -- a group that only includes himself, Adrian (who's been friends with Otto for years), and Electro (who's vocally, extremely loyal and practically hero-worships Doc Ock). Out of all of them, Phineas was actually the very first to know that Otto Octavius was the Master Planner; he was willing to go out into the field for Otto (admittedly only as the getaway driver, which should have been relatively safe!), and Otto referred to him as one of "my boys." The Tinkerer does work for Tombstone; he would do work for the Manfredi family, Roderick Kingsley, or Miles Warren; he would probably even do work for the Green Goblin; but imo he has a loyalty to Otto that he doesn't for any of them, that he maybe only has for Chameleon and Beck. They are, of course, on a first name basis, but during official supervillain business they tend to refer to one another by nom de guerre (Tinkerer; Octopus or Doctor or Master Planner, depending).

TINK & ELECTRO

i'll be right beside you

I like these two! I like how they work together a bit in "Shear Strength," and I don't think Phineas would blame Electro for leaving him behind after their getaway van crashed; Electro's powers get kinda haywire during panic-y situations and he was probably hard to even get to with the van flipped on its side like that. I like to imagine that Electro calls him "Tink" (like "Doc" and "Vulch"!); I also like to imagine that Phineas is trying to figure out some way to help Electro with those electricity powers, at least to minimize the amount they fuck with brain chemistry. I just think these two could be really sweet and supportive, as friends or otherwise!

PHINEAS & ADRIAN

me and you've got some things we need to see to

Not as much to say about these two, but according to Otto they worked together to assemble the stolen technology in "Shear Strength," and I feel like that's a pretty big deal! It was a big, important project and they seem to work together well at least. I can imagine them getting along and clicking based on shared scientific and technological interest. They could work together on future projects! Plus, they're both older, and Phineas is more experienced with being a criminal but Adrian is more experienced with being a supervillain and a lot more capable in battle besides. Adrian also seems to be enjoying life more after becoming the Vulture, and I imagine Phineas basically went through that same thing when he became a career criminal, so they have that in common too! I can imagine them being on a first name basis.

MASON & MENKEN

i have no regrets, no regrets

And this is my ship where one half of the ship has like ~6 minutes of screen time! This is admittedly based entirely on my own read of Menken, but let's be real: He was intensely, unquestioningly loyal to Norman Osborn not only as his P.A. but also when Osborn started getting him involved in illegal shit and was completely blasé the whole time. Sure, Osborn betrayed him; I can still imagine him staying involved in criminal activity, whether he admits to being drawn to it or not. I think that Phineas would absolutely recognize that draw to excitement, that Menken finds the risk more enjoyable than just the everyday normal elements of his job, even if Menken might not admit to being drawn to risk-taking. I could easily see Phineas calling him out on enjoying these things and then encouraging him in getting involved if he feels like it. And, hey, if Menken wanted to be a supervillain himself, Phineas makes skill enhancement suits and supervillain costumes on commission... These two could have a really interesting relationship is what I'm saying.

TINKERER & TOMBSTONE

you've got a bad reputation in my neighborhood

Whoo boy, these two may well be a disaster. In the meantime, though, they could have some fun. This ship is the only one on this page (so far) that I can't see romantic feelings ever coming into play. They're on good terms; they have a good, even friendly, business relationship and even some real respect for one another, but I feel that it's a slightly wary dance. Tombstone sees the Sinister Six as a nuisance at best, and Tinkerer is aware that he would have them all killed in a "nothing personal, it's just business" way without blinking; he'd like to think that Tombstone might try to spare him, seeing as he's more of an auxiliary member and Tombstone legitimately values his genius and his work, but he's not totally willing to bank on that and also is attached to at least some of the Six. So, in a "nothing personal, just business" way of his own, I imagine he's put failsafes into everything he's made for Tombstone and the Enforcers so that he can shut them down remotely. Just in case. I also imagine he suspects that Tombstone's already guessed he'd do something like that, or that at least it wouldn't come as a shock to him. Tombstone is attractive as hell and Phineas gets a rush from danger and adrenaline and likes when people appreciate his work, so they could certainly have something fun and hot and casual for a while. Best not to worry too much about when and how it will end. FWB only your "friend" is a dangerous mob boss acquaintance, no big deal.

CODE BY TESSISAMESS