#Maybe being a mollusk would help me. Maybe learning about mollusks will help me. Did you know that there's a fish in the ocean right now?

[usarinnpa]

Had to trudge through the Izmi main tag for a moment (I couldn't remember where the numbers were in kai's url i keep thinking it's mo3-ru) and briefly experiencd the mental strain that Kai Moeru goes throiugh every day. Woew

[purrincess-chat]

A Merman’s Heart CH5 (Final)

It’s here! The ending of MeriChat May! I hope you all have enjoyed this story, and if you’re sad that it’s over, have no fear! This work is part of a long series of little stories that are building up to one big story where Mer!Chat and Marinette will return! Thank you all so much for reading and enjoy this last installment: 

Read on AO3

Chapter 5

Warm sunlight trickled in through her window the next morning, and Marinette blinked open her eyes with a groan, shifting to sit up. Running a hand through her hair, she glanced at the bathroom door then kicked off her blankets to stand up. She wondered what her merman would like for breakfast.

“Chat? Are you hungry? Do you want-” She stopped short in the doorway, the empty tub cold and still, and Marinette felt her heart sink a little.

Oh yeah.

She’d almost forgotten that she let him go last night. He was probably long gone, off to hunt mollusks and search sunken ships. She pressed a hand over her heart, feeling it pound under her flesh, and remembered his promise. Even if she never saw him again, she could still hold onto his memory, and she hoped he’d do the same for her. After all, he didn’t have a reason to come back, and if he did, it could be dangerous. Not everyone in the village was like her. They’d kill him in a heartbeat.

Things were better this way. She knew he wouldn’t be around forever, but somehow his absence weighed on her as she went about her day. The sky seemed a little darker, her home a little less lively. It was silly of her to have feelings for a merman, but she couldn’t help what was in her heart. In just one short week, she’d fallen for Chat Noir, and now she missed him sorely. Did he miss her too? She wondered. Was it possible that he loved her too, or were her feelings just one-sided? The longer she thought about it, the more her heart ached, and she was eerily quiet at work which didn’t go unnoticed by Caline.

“Are you sure you’re alright, Marinette? You’ve been acting odd lately.” Her eyebrows furrowed worriedly at the end of the day as they gathered their hats from the rack, and she placed a hand over Marinette’s forehead.

“I’m fine, really,” Marinette said, swatting her hand away gently. “It’s just that I…was seeing someone, and now they had to go back home.”

“Fall in love with a traveler from out of the country? I’ve been there,” Caline said with a sympathetic wince, patting her shoulder. “You’ll get through it in a few days. Say, why don’t you come out for drinks with us tonight? My treat. Please say yes! We’re off tomorrow, so even if you get a hangover, you can just sleep it off.”

“That sounds…nice,” Marinette said with a small smile, and Caline perked up excitedly.

“Don’t you worry about a thing.” She said, wrapping an arm around her shoulder and steering her up the street. “We’ll help you forget all about him.”

Marinette highly doubted it, but it had been a while since she’d been out with her friends and, frankly, she could really use a drink. Maybe it would take the edge off of her self-pity and allow her to sleep that night which is something she hadn’t done much of the night before. Besides, it wouldn’t kill her to see her friends and ward of some suspicion since she’d been avoiding them for over a week.

“Marinette!” Their girl friends cheered as they entered, and she bit back an awkward smile as Rose enveloped her into a tight hug.

“Where have you been?” She asked, squeezing her shoulders.

“Oh, uh, just busy…” Marinette said guiltily, patting Rose’s back until she let go.

“Get this, girls, Marinette had a secret boyfriend she was keeping from us all this time,” Caline announced, and Marinette felt her spine stiffen as everyone erupted into inquisitive chatter.

“I knew it!”

“What’s his name?”

“Do I know him? Is he one of those royal guardsmen that likes to patrol through here? Cause I have a cousin in the royal guard, and-”

“No, he wasn’t a royal guardsman,” She cut Aurore off, holding up defensive hands. “And you guys wouldn’t know him. Besides he’s���gone now, so it doesn’t even matter.”

“Marinette…” Rose’s face fell, and Caline drummed her fingers on the table with pursed lips.

“Enough sadness. First round’s on me,” Caline said, squishing Marinette’s cheeks between her hands before signaling the bartender.

Marinette squared her shoulders as the barmaid sauntered over and set the tray of drinks down. Aurore pushed a mug toward her with a pointed look, and Marinette took a healthy gulp, prompting cheers from her entourage. It had been a while since she had a good beer, but she decided to pace herself in case she started to drunkenly spill details about her secret merman. Getting shitfaced didn’t really bode well for keeping secrets.

“Hey, M.” Caline nudged her with her elbow. “We should call the bard over to play you a song. He’s kind of funny, but maybe you could fall in love with him.”

“Nah, I’m not really into musicians,” Marinette said, setting her mug down, and Caline shrugged in a gesture of ‘oh well, your loss.’

“Well, I’m starving. Does anyone else want food?” Aurore asked, slapping a hand on the table, and the others nodded in agreement.

Somehow the world around her seemed different now, and Marinette wasn’t sure whether to blame Chat Noir or the alcohol. Maybe a little of both, but the real world seemed so out of place in her life now. Real people seemed so foreign, and even her friends seemed like strangers to her. She used to love nights like this, drinking and drunkenly singing their favorite songs at the top of their lungs, but her heart wasn’t in it anymore. Perhaps she was still just feeling down on herself, and things would get better with time, but in just one short week, her whole perspective of life had changed.

Discovering that merpeople exist. Discovering that mermen are, in fact, very handsome and soft and gentle and temperate and excessively fond of stew though amusingly disgusted by vegetables. Just as fearful of humans as humans are of them. Everything she’d ever heard about the merpeople was a lie, and maybe learning the truth about them made her a little disgruntled with humans for their overly harsh prejudices that prevented her from being with the one she loved. Or perhaps she was just drunk and sad, but either way the jolly atmosphere in the bar just seemed to be shrouded in a glamour that hid something much uglier underneath.

“Are you sure you can make it home yourself?” Rose asked at the end of the night, cocking a brow, and Marinette rolled her eyes.

“I’m fine. Barely even tipsy,” She insisted, and her friends exchanged reluctant looks before nodding.

“See you later then, M,” Aurore said, and Marinette waved over her shoulder as she set out down the street.

Her mind felt a little fuzzy but not bad enough to impair her mobility. A night out had been a nice distraction for a little while, but now that she was alone again her mind wandered straight back to her merman. As she approached the beach, a gentle breeze brushed her cheek, and she felt her heart lurch in her chest. It had been some time since she’d walked along the shore, and part of her missed feeling the tide rush in around her ankles. It wasn’t too late yet, and no one ever really came to the beach at night except her. She supposed the overly-superstitious villagers were convenient in that regard.

The ocean was tides were low and calm that night seemingly just as down as Marinette felt. Drinks sounded nice at the time, but now that she’d had a few, she just felt worse. Her eyes scanned over the bay, hoping to see that mop of blond hair poking out, but the waters were dark and quiet, no sign of her merman anywhere. It was just as well. If someone spotted him, it would be the end of both of them, but a girl could still hope, right? Besides, it wasn’t like he owed it to her to visit. Sure, she’d saved his life, but she’d given him his freedom unconditionally. If she had to guess, he probably put his tail to their shore with no intention of ever returning, and she couldn’t blame him. One person who saved your life wasn’t worth the thousands of others willing to kill you at a moment’s notice.

With a sigh, she took one last glance out over the horizon before heading up the hill to her house. She just wanted to crawl into bed and sleep forever, but as she flopped down onto her mattress, her mind refused to be silenced. Memories from the past week replayed over and over, Chat’s smiling face when she walked into the room, his skeptical glare as he poked at his vegetables, the sloppy way he gobbled down her stew… She longed to have all of that just one more time.

She stared at her ceiling for several hours, shifting restlessly in her bed before finally sitting up. The room felt too small and stuffy, so she kicked off her blankets and moved to open the window, breathing in the fresh air as it filtered in. She leaned against it with a sigh, closing her eyes and resting her chin on her arms until a faint melody registered in her ears that cause her to shoot upright.

Not even bothering to put on shoes or a coat, she raced out the front door and down to the base of the cliff, following the call into a secluded rocky alcove where her merman sat with a hand pressed over his heart, a smile curling on his lips when she appeared. Their eyes locked as he continued his serenade until she crawled over the rocks and into his arms. He leaned his head against hers with a breathy laugh as she clung to him tightly and buried her face in his neck. It took her a few moments, but when realization dawned on her, she pushed away with a scolding pout.

“What the hell are you doing here?” She hissed, glancing around nervously. “What if someone heard you?”

“Well, it seems that only the person I was calling for came to see me, so I think it’s safe,” He said with a shrug, that playful smirk on his lips. “And it seems like someone missed me.”

Her cheeks flushed as she shifted out of his lap to sit beside him on the rocks, crossing her arms over her chest and averting her gaze stubbornly. He chuckled in amusement, brushing her cheek with the back of his hand tenderly and leaning into her ear.

“I missed you too, Marinette,” He whispered, causing goose bumps to spread across her skin, and she shivered a little. “It’s why I came back. I couldn’t bring myself to part with you, and I was hoping to see you one last time.”

She shifted a little, biting back a smile and clasping her hands together in her lap shyly. “I admit that I am happy to see you…But it’s dangerous for you to sing so loudly! What if someone else came instead?”

“I dunno.” He shrugged, rubbing the back of his neck. “I wasn’t thinking about that. I was only thinking about you.”

Marinette pursed her lips with a sigh before lifting his arm and placing it around her shoulders as she leaned against his chest. They stayed that way for several minutes, watching the tide rush in and out, spraying her legs with droplets as it hit the rocks. Chat nuzzled against her hair, holding her close and breathing her in contently while she listened to his heartbeat. It was funny to her how relaxed they’d become with each other considering how tense things were a week ago. Chat made her feel safe and warm, and she hoped that he felt the same about her.

“I’m not ready to let go,” He said after a while, grip tightening a little. “I just want to stay like this forever.”

“I’d like that too, but the people here are too prejudiced. It’s dangerous for you to stay,” She said, cupping his cheek and pressing her forehead to his.

“I don’t care.” He shook his head, breath kissing her cheeks as he spoke. “I want to see you, Marinette. I want to see you every day forever.”

Marinette bit her lip and let out a sigh through her nose, gently running her thumb along the back of his neck as she weighed the meaning of those words.

Chat Noir wanted to see her. She could see him every day if she wanted, and he’d come to her. But was it safe? What would become of them if they got caught? The last thing she wanted was to put Chat in danger or see him get hurt, but when she looked into his eyes to refuse him, they were so bright and hopeful. The affection in his eyes was undeniable, and Marinette felt her heart stir.

Was it wrong to love a merman? Her heart didn’t seem to think so, and in her mind she didn’t really care. This made her happy, so for the time being, just for a little while, she wanted to be a little selfish. The world could grant her that, right?

“Okay,” She said softly, and Chat’s face brightened. “But we have to be careful. If someone were to see us-”

“I know.” He cut her off gently, nuzzling her cheek with his nose. “Meet me here every night, Marinette. I’ll wait for you.”

“I suppose you’d like me to bring you dinner,” She teased, and Chat pulled away to see the playful glint in her eyes, biting his lip.

“I can find my own food in the ocean, but if you were so inclined…” He pursed his lips guiltily, and Marinette chuckled in amusement.

“I guess it’s true what they say about wild animals,” She said. “If you feed them they’ll just keep coming back for more.”

“Is that all I am to you?” He huffed dramatically. “An animal? Does an animal do this?”

Her giggles echoed against the rocks as he pulled her into his arms and maneuvered his fingers up her sides, tickling her sensitive flesh. She pleaded for him to stop, and after a moment he relented, holding her close in his lap and caressing her cheek.

“You’re my human pet,” He said, bopping her nose with his finger.

“Considering I’m the one who feeds you, I think you’re my pet, Chat Noir,” She said with a giggle.

“I can bring you food,” He offered, pulling her up into a hug and nuzzling against her cheek. “I can bring you gold and silver, rubies and diamonds. There’s a ton of them just sitting at the bottom of the ocean. I can bring you anything you want.”

“What I want…” She hummed, pressing her lips into a line. “Is just you.”

Chat let out a short laugh, grip tightening around her. “I can give you that.”

“Then that’s all I want. Just Chat, holding me like this, eating my cooking, making me laugh. This is enough for me,” She murmured in his ear, feeling his pulse quicken in his chest.

“Then I shall return to you every day, Marinette. Every night right here just after dark, I will wait for you,” He said, closing his eyes contently, and she did the same, breathing in the scent of the sea from his skin.

Every day. Chat Noir by her side every day. She could get used to that.

After some time, the horizon glowed with a red hue, the beginning of sunrise, and Chat reluctantly hopped back into the water, resting his chin in her lap and looking up at her through hooded eyelids.

“So, I’ll see you tomorrow?” He asked hopefully, and she ran a hand through his hair with a gentle smile.

“Yes. I’ll be here tomorrow and the next day and the next day after that,” She said, and his face brightened cheerfully.

“Then I shall come and see you every day. Every day, forever.”

[neversaw-youcoming]

The Mysterious Death of Mildred Button

“I just do not understand why you wanted to come to this sort of distasteful spectacle, Charles.” Emma Darwin sighed.

“Now darling, you are always asking me to get out of my study and spend more time with you and the children. It’s supposed to be a fun day out for us.” Charles Darwin looked at his wife eagerly. “And this way I do not have to get on another boat to the colonies to study these exotics savages like I did in my youth on the Beagle.”

Excitement glistened in Darwin’s eyes as he walked up a dusty path to a large striped tent ahead, with the words Behold, Human Freaks! painted in large letters on the sign hung above. “Some of my colleagues have mentioned there is this girl here that is covered in hair like an ape! They say she is the missing link that will turn my next book into an even bigger breakthrough than On the Origin of Species! Oh, I do hope they are correct.”

Emma held her tongue when she saw how excited her husband was. She hated his work and how it drew a big wedge between him and God, but what was she to do she had no control over him? The nights she had spent aching and praying for his soul seemed countless. It took a while but she had come to terms with the fact that he was not going to stop his research, for it was a hunger inside to learn that drove him.[1] She had come to accept his work with animal species, but hearing that he was trying to broaden his theory to people made her scared and wistful for the time when mollusks and barnacles were all he talked about.

“Run along children, and do not touch anyone!” she called ahead, squeezing her husband’s hand a bit tighter as he paid and they ducked under the flap into a dark space lit up by torches on the walls of the tent. The Darwin’s stood together by the back of the tent as their vision adjusted to the dim lights. The murmur of the crowd grew louder as the curtain on stage shook.

A man in a top hat and a dirty brown suit waltzed onto stage, “Ladies and Gentleman!” the booming voice echoed around them.

“Here we go!” Charles said pulling out an old notebook and pencil from his coat pocket. He flipped through pages and pages of notes scratched into the paper for his next book, The Descent of Man. He settled on a blank page when the crowd hushed.

“What you are now about to see is proof of the remarkability of man!” the announcer bellowed. “My name is Tom Norman and I’m here to show you the one and only Mr. Joseph Merrick, the Elephant Man!”[2] The curtain dropped and the crowd gasped at the sight of the deformed man on stage.

“Good heavens!” Mrs. Darwin exclaimed, hiding her face in her husband’s chest, the wool fabric tickling her face.

“How fascinating!” Mr. Darwin said, stepping forward through the crowd to get a better view.

“Oh you are mad as hops!” Emma called after him, but is drowned out by the murmuring spreading through the crowd from the sight of the man on stage in front of them. Merrick stood in his refined Sunday’s best, breathing loudly like a dog panting in the sun. A couple of women ran towards the exit at the sight of him, and a mother was shushing her crying child.

“Now do not be afraid me friends!” Mr. Norman exclaimed. “Do not to despise or condemn this man on account of his unusual appearance. Remember,” he asserted, “we do not make ourselves, and were you to cut or prick Joseph … he would bleed, and that bleed or blood would be red, the same as yours or mine.”[3] An air of awe swept over the crowd as Merrick gave them a bow. “I want you to look into your hearts and see that this man is the most remarkable human being ever to draw the breath of life! For he is not a monster but a master work of nature!” [4]

Charles scribbled a description of Merrick into his notebook, “enormous and misshapened head. From the brow there projected a huge bony mass like a loaf, while from the back of the head hung a bag of spongy, fungous-looking skin…”[5] Mr. Norman continued to work the crowd in the background, telling them how Merrick was a working man from right there in England, and earned his living just like the rest of us.[6]

The Darwin’s walked hand in hand together, looking at the other freaks on display, waiting for the next one on the main stage. The torches flickered on the wall. “How about that? Do you think it was some sort of accident?” Emma asked Charles.

“Actually ma’am, I was born this way.”

“Oh my! I am sorry I did not think you could hear me.” Mrs. Darwin said, startled to be interacting with the man that appeared to have no arms or legs at all. Sat on a trunk, he wore a garment that resembled a sock along his whole body.

“Happens all the time don’t worry about it,” the man said in a gruff voice, “the name’s Prince Randian but I’m known here as The Snake Man. Want to see me roll a cigarette?”[7] He grabs a small glass jar of tobacco with his mouth from the side of his trunk and used his shoulder to hold the paper in place as he sprinkled the tobacco inside.

“My good sir, where do you come from?” Charles asked.

Prince Radian managed to get the cigarette into his mouth and light it. “British Guinea.”[8] Darwin scribbled in his journal.

“Now, may I have your undivided attention as I present the missing link in our evolution, all the way from Laos, Krao!”[9] Norman bellowed once again on stage.

“Oh I must see this!” Charles said, grabbing his wife’s hand and weaving his way through the crowd. “What a fascinating find!” he sighed, observing the girl on stage covered completely in thick dark hair. The show had dressed her up in a blue dress fitting of a girl her age, something Mrs. Darwin would have made their daughter Annie wear.

“Krao here is an eight year old girl, and a perfect specimen of the step between man and monkey!”[10] Mrs. Darwin was appalled at the claim this dirty freak show owner was making, who seemed to be a big fan of her husband. “Who here has read On the Origin of Species?” Norman asked the crowd. Charles eyes lit up with glee as he turned to his wife when a light cheer ran through the audience, not letting the several sounds of displeasure get to him. “Well, I am sure Mr. Darwin would agree that this girl here with her primitive, hairy body, fits his theory to a tee.”

“What a remarkable creature!” Darwin turns to his wife as the stage show continues. “This is exactly what I needed to finish my evidence collection on my next book. It is the key to my theory.”

“You know how I feel about this, Charles.” Emma sighed.

“I am sorry, my dear, but no honorable man shall accuse me of concealing my views once I finish this book.”[11] He says triumphantly. “My views have often been grossly misrepresented, bitterly opposed and ridiculed.” [12]

“Maybe you should write a clarification of what you believe next, if you are so concerned about your legacy here on earth.” Emma rolled her eyes at her husband.

“You are angry with me?”

“The habit in scientific pursuits of believing nothing till it is proved, influence your mind too much. The situation that has befallen that girl is likely to be above our comprehension. The existence of God cannot be proved in the same way as all your studies.”[13]

“Darling, I cannot deny my own mind. When I am dead, know that many times, I have kissed and cried over this,[14] but I cannot avoid the belief that man must come under the same law.”[15] He put his arm around Emma just as a crash echoed from the stage.

           Gasps ran through the audience with the realization that the Bearded Lady, who had just walked on stage, collapsed. Her pink dress was strewn across the floor and Tom Norman was knelt next to her, lightly slapping the sides of her face to try and revive her. He stood up, “Alright now, stay calm everyone. Some find the Lady Isabella!” he shouted over the commotion. The Bearded Lady came to, and was handed a glass of water by Krao.

           Suddenly, a woman in a purple and orange oriental gown and turban burst through the flap of the tent.[16] Distressed and hands covered in blood she yells out “Mildred Button is dead!”

Chaos erupted in the crowd, which Norman started to usher out of the tent. “Sorry folks, due to unknown circumstances the rest of the shows are canceled for today!”

Two men in suits approach Norman, “Excuse me, we were here for the show but we are detectives with local law enforcement and are here to help with this apparent murder of one of your performers is it?”[17]

“Yes, yes,” said Norman, still in shock. He grabbed one of the detectives by the arm and said, “she was our only dwarf in the show. Look, I have as little information as you do we are going to have to talk to the Lady Isabella.” Tom Norman began to steer the detectives towards the Lady Isabella while Emma Darwin gathers her kids to leave. Charles started to follow behind them when the detective with a mustache stopped him.

“I am sorry, sir, but do you happen to be Charles Darwin? I recognize you from the paper,” the detective remarks.

“Oh yes, lovely to meet you. I will be getting out of your way.” Darwin tried to duck past the man.

“Actually sir, I was wondering if you would stick around for the investigation? My friend here Arthur Weaver is a consulting detective for the force whose a scientist and we have found that the more scientists we have at an investigation the faster we can solve it.”[18]

Darwin hesitates for a moment, “alright then, but I must get back to my family soon.” The detective holds out his hand to Charles “The name is John, John Fisher. It’s an honor to meet you, sir.”

The two walk over to Norman and Isabella who was animatedly talking to Detective Weaver. “She claims she went into the female freak’s tent to talk to Ms. Button about the show they were doing together tonight and found her bleeding heavily from between her legs,” Detective Weaver says to his partner.

“She was dead when I found her! There was no way she was pregnant or nothing! She never even had her first menarche the doctors think she was too small,” Lady Isabella explained to the detectives.

“Lady Isabella is basically the manager of the female freaks here, knows all their medical information and keeps them all fresh and healthy for the shows,” Norman said.

“Actually I feel her spirit here with us!” Lady Isabella exclaimed.

“Huh?” said Darwin.

“She is also out in house medium. Sell out shows every week,” Norman said proudly.

“A medium, say,” Fisher inquires, “why don’t you just talk to Mildred’s spirit and she can tell ya why she is dead.”

“Yes! We must hold a séance!” The two detectives nod in agreement as Darwin tried to figure out he became a part of the side show act.

All but one torch was blown out and the five of them sat around a table with Lady Isabella at the head of it. “I ask you to all join hands and open yourself to the realm beyond,” the Lady Isabella said. Charles Darwin could not believe the scene he had gotten himself into but decided to play along and close his eyes.

“I call to you Mildred Button. Come to us and illuminate what brought you to such an untimely end.” The Lady Isabella started to take larger and larger breaths and it seemed that everyone else had stopped breathing. This single torch on the wall flickered fast. “Yes, my girl! Speak through me!”

           A shiver seemed to pass through Lady Isabella as the table started to shake. Suddenly the table stopped and the Lady Isabella’s eyes snapped open. Her whole demeanor changed from commanding to scared.[19] “There was this doctor…” Darwin’s eyes snapped open at the voice. It had come from the Lady Isabella’s mouth but it was not her own. This voice was timid and of a higher pitch, not unlike a little girl or dwarf women he assumed. Goose bumps spread up his arms, he tried to tell himself it was the body’s natural reaction to the unknown and he was not actually afraid there was a spirit talking through the women beside him.  

           “There was this doctor who said he was going to cure me,” the voice continued. “He had come to check on all of the women, but he spent extra time on me because I was feeling down about work and had these coughing fits recently. I heard the mention of hysteria. I am not crazy!” [20]the voice seemed distressed.

           “Who was the doctor, what happened?” Detective Weaver asked.

           “I do not remember much, but it was very painful and when I woke up I no longer felt like a women.” A tear rolled down Lady Isabella’s face. “A week of pain went by that just got worse, and today I could not even walk. The incisions he made down there in me were swollen, and then there was a tearing, and the blood would not stop coming. I tried to call for help but everyone was at the show.”

           “Do you know who the Doctor was, Mildred Button? We cannot solve your murder unless you tell us who treated you here,” Fisher exclaimed.

           The Lady Isabella had tears streaming down her face. The voice came through with the sound of pure anger. “It was Dr. Baker Brown,” it hissed.

The Lady Isabella’s head collapsed onto the table. She looked up, appearing to be out of her trance. “God Almighty in heaven, rest her soul. That was the man who saw the Bearded Woman! I heard her go on and on about some cure, I thought she was talking nonsense!” Lady Isabella explained, voice back to normal.

The detectives looked back and forth at each other. “Are you thinking what I am thinking?” Detective Fisher asks his partner.

“That is the man we had been getting multiple reports about!” Detective Weaver shouted, slamming his palms on the table and getting up. “We can use Mildred Button’s death to finally end that Ratbag! This will make our careers!” He slapped his buddy on the arm.

The detectives shook the hands of Norman and Lady Isabella. “We will try to pin him for murder, but if that does not stick we will at least be able to get him for destruction of property for your freak show because you lost an act,” Detective Fisher said. “We must get going but we will update you guys when we can.” The two detectives ducked out of the tent together.

“I best be going,” Darwin said. “I am glad you will be getting justice for your friend Mildred, a man as dastardly as that deserves to be off the street for good. You cannot force evolution by removing part of a being.” He shook hands with Norman.

Charles Darwin turned to Lady Isabella. “I do not know what you just did there ma’am, but my wife is always telling me that there are things on this Earth that are truly beyond our comprehension and I think you might be the first proof I have found of that.” She smiled at him as he walked out of the tent to tell his wife and kids a new fantastic story to match those from his youth.  

[1] Charles Darwin, The Autobiography of Charles Darwin, 1958, 197.

[2] Nadja Durbach, “Monstrosity, Masculinity, and Medicine: Re-Examining the Elephant Man,” Cultural and Social History, 2012, 201.

[3] Durbach, “Monstrosity, Masculinity, and Medicine,” 201.

[4] Ibid, 201.

[5] Ibid, 194.

[6] Ibid, 202.

[7] “Prince Randian: Biography,” International Movie Database, 2017.

[8] Ibid.

[9] Nadja Durbach, “The Missing Link and the Hairy Belle: Krao and the Victorian Discourses of Evolution, Imperialism and Primitive Sexuality,” Victorian Freaks, 2008, 1.

[10] Ibid, 1.

[11] Darwin, The Autobiography of Charles Darwin, 107.

[12] Ibid, 103.

[13] Ibid, 198.

[14] Ibid, 199.

[15] Ibid, 107.

[16] Arthur Conan Doyle, The Sign of Four, 2001.

[17] Ibid.

[18] Conan Doyle, The Sign of Four.

[19] Alex Owen, “The Darkened Room: Women, Power, and Spiritualism in Late Victorian England,” The New Cultural Studies Series, 1990.

[20] Isaac Baker Brown, “On the Curability of Certain Forms of Insanity, Catalepsy, and Hysteria in Females,” 1866.  

[ignis-scientia-estrogen-brigade]

At the risk of disheartening some of my followers, I opted to strike while the iron of my inspiration was hot and turn out the next chapter of my ongoing Blind!Ignis fic, rather than tackle the current contents of my inbox. I will absolutely resume writing headcanons in short order (and I haven’t forgotten about your request, @violet94!), so I hope it won’t be too much of a disappointment to ISEB fans if I continue following my muse for just a little while longer because honestly I just want to get to the naughty bits as fast as possible mama is thirsty for some smut.

As always, you can follow the link above or click below for the full text; SFW (for now, heh).

As it turns out, the strategist was slightly off in his original estimates; in actuality, Ophelia must have stood at five and a half feet or taller, which he discovered entirely by accident the time he went to reach for a sack of flour he kept stored in the highest cabinet of Mr. Tostwell’s kitchen, only to learn she had already retrieved it for him without even needing the help of a step stool.  

She also had dark features, evidently—“Boring brown eyes, same color as my hair,” she had confessed at one point, after he’d inquired about it in an effort to spark polite conversation while they rolled out a unit of pastry dough together—although it made next to no difference to him, considering he couldn’t make heads or tails out of what he was looking at to begin with.

She’d been working at the grill for a little over a month now, and had proven herself adept in both culinary skill and matters of hospitality; her father’s secret Baklava recipe alone had made a sizable impact on the establishment’s revenue—the fresh honey harvested from a hive of Killer Bees swarming just south of the city and baked directly into the crust had been quite the hit with the locals—but it was her ability to effortlessly charm the frowns off even the crankiest of customers that had made Mr. Tostwell’s newest hire such a valuable asset.

“Does your wife know you don’t wear your wedding ring while you’re at work?”

The strategist glances up from the mollusks he is shucking and widens his unparalyzed eye. “I beg your pardon?”

He can almost hear the sound of her lips peeling back into a wry grin from the other side of the preparation table. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to presume—husband, perhaps?”

She had turned the same charm she normally reserved for cantankerous patrons on him more than once since being hired; the reserved woman he’d interviewed had given way to a much more vibrant character now that she was truly in her element, dropping cheeky quips around him while her arms were buried to the elbows in pastry dough and making herself readily available whenever he needed her help. And while she’d offered to accompany him on his walks home on days when their schedules happened to coincide—“We’re both headed in the same direction,” was her reasoning, since she apparently lived not two blocks from his apartment complex—he hadn’t been sure whether her inquisitiveness was merely a facet of her affable personality, or a reconnaissance mission into his personal life.

But there was no mistaking her intentions now—one didn’t generally probe into the absence of marital tokens without expecting to elicit a certain response—and Ignis wasn’t particularly interested in encouraging flirtatious behavior. “I’m not married,” he says dryly.

“Really?” The audible squish squish of dough being kneaded squelches against the countertop. “I must admit, I find that rather surprising.”

The hairs on the back of the his neck tingle in mild annoyance, but he ignores them and returns his attention to the bowl of half-shucked mollusks in front of him. “Why do you say that?”

“Oh, I don’t know.” Squish squish. “Something about perpetuating the species after an apocalypse comes to mind.” Squish squish. “We can’t very well expect to survive as a civilization with a flock of unmarried bachelors running around.”

“The flaw in your argument is neglecting to account for the female’s contribution to the equation. I’d go so far as to say it’s more crucial for women to secure robust partners, not men.”

“Rather self-important, aren’t we?”

He establishes his grip over a slick mollusk and shrugs. “Hardly. It’s all about ratio—a single man can father over a hundred offspring, circumstances permitting. The same can’t be said for the reverse.”

The squelching of Ophelia’s pastry dough reaches nearly a fever pitch. “Is that how you proposition most women? No wonder you aren’t married.”

But the feigned acrimony in her voice is cut off by the curse he mutters when the wet shellfish he is attempting to pry open escapes his fingertips and clatters onto the floor. “Drat.”

Several employees under Ignis’ supervision had been quick to overcompensate for his fallibilities in the past—eager to convey their empathy toward the blind strategist and stepping annoyingly on his toes in the process—but Ophelia had shown enough mindfulness not to get in his way thus far; in fact, she’d scarcely made any indication of acknowledging his ocular impairment, except only to ask what order he preferred to arrange his paring cutlery when she went to unload the dishwasher for the first time.

“It’s near your left foot,” she says simply.

The strategist drops to his knees and gropes at the floor, his pinky finger finally finding slimy purchase against the wayward arthropod. Before he can toss it into the garbage bin he knows is five paces to his right, however, he hears the sound of her footsteps circling around the preparation table and stopping beside him.

"I wouldn’t normally deign to do your work for you,” she whispers, reaching for his hand and withdrawing the soiled creature from his grasp, “but your favorite customer has just arrived. I can sense his surliness from a mile away.”

The strategist might’ve enjoyed the long-forgotten sensation of a woman’s gentle touch, had Ophelia’s implication not soured the moment. “Surely he’d prefer to be entertained by your charm, rather than stare at my grisly visage. You have the better way with people.”

“Perhaps, but there’s something wholly amusing about watching you squirm.”

His features crumple into a scowl, but he adjusts his visor before grudgingly stepping off down the path he had memorized that led to the grill’s outside seating area.

She isn’t wrong in her observations, exactly; although he couldn’t see worth a damn, it was impossible for the strategist to miss the usual miasma of crotchetiness that seemed to follow Cid Sophiar everywhere like a localized starscourge infection. Eighty years old and more stubborn than a feral Garulessa, Ignis continued to be perplexed as to why the former mechanic had chosen to remain in Lestallum after the daemons had been purged from Lucis, rather than returning to his beloved garage where he could rant at passing tourists from his customary spot in his favorite lawn chair.

“Evening, Cid,” he says, as he halts beside the cloud of wretchedness personified sitting at the table situated nearest the bazaar. “What brings you out on this warm summer night?”

“Same thing that gets me off my ass every night,” the old man replies. “I have a hankering for some shellfish, and you’re the only fella in this town who knows how to clean ‘em out properly. Nothing worse than having to pick sand out of my dentures.”

“I’m not sure I would recommend the Cleigne Darkshells this evening. They proved to be rather squirrelly back in the kitchen, so I’d watch out when taking a bite—lest they try and bite back.”

“I think I can handle a few measly clams by myself. Though Cindy probably wouldn’t mind it too much if they took a piece of my tongue with them, if it meant keeping my mouth shut for a change.”

The strategist hesitates for a brief moment, debating the wisdom of opening up a can of worms by furthering the conversation. “How is Cindy, by the way? It’s been a while since I’ve made the trip out to Leide, and I haven’t heard from her in some time.”

The chair before him squeaks under Cid’s weight, and he can almost envision the white haired mechanic slumping in his seat. “She’s all right, I guess. No doubt getting a little lonely by herself out there in the desert, although your boy Prompto always seems to find an excuse to drop by now and again.”

“Have you given any more though about returning to Hammerhead? Surely she could use the extra set of hands.”

“She don’t need my help. I’m about as worthless as a dead Gaiatoad, at this point. And just as ugly, too.”

His heart aches for the old man, who had once been so instrumental in the destiny of the Crownsguard and the king they served; the strategist had never forgotten the words of encouragement Cid Sophiar had bestowed upon them before their fateful boat ride to Altissia all those years ago—“Those ain’t your bodyguards, they’re you’re brothers” still rang clear as a bell in his mind—nor did he forget what it was like to feel utterly useless to the people around him.

“Come now, Cid,” he says quietly. “I imagine the garage is quite a bit duller without your colorful quips to brighten everyone’s day.”

To his credit, the former mechanic chuckles. “Maybe so. At any rate, I could ask you the same thing—thought you’d be itchin’ to race back to Insomnia the minute dawn broke over Longwythe’s Peak.”

A shiver runs up Ignis’ spine, and his eyebrows furrow behind his frosted visor. “I rather like having an undamaged roof over my head, as it so happens.”

“Crown City ain’t going to rebuilt itself, you know. Who better to lead the charge than one of the last men who lived there?”

Lestallum had remained largely unscathed during the long night, while the other regions of Lucis had commenced reconstruction fairly quickly due to the exodus of refugees eager to return to their former homes. Insomnia, on the other hand, had seen little repair since the rapture; with so few natives left alive after the city’s fall, the strategist estimated it would be several years yet before the province of his youth reached hospitable living conditions again.

“I think I’ll let Gladio and Iris survey the landscape in my stead,” he says, masking his displeasure with a small grin. “Wouldn’t want to risk stubbing my toe on a piece of rubble.”

“I don’t recall hearing anything about sprained ankles after you boys made it back from the Citadel. Or is there something here in Lestallum that’s tying you down?”

He can practically feel the old man’s red and rheumy eyes peering dubiously at him; Ignis’ reticence toward leaving Cleigne had less to do with wanting to remain close to his new life, and everything to do with preferring to stay away from his old one.

Because, to the strategist, Insomnia represented more than just a city of broken dreams; the miles of cracked pavement and collapsed infrastructure he had tread upon with his own two feet were tangible reminders of the people who had died there, and of the suffering that befell those who were unlucky enough to survive. Ignis himself had nearly succumbed to despair, buried under a mountain of grief when his best friend had fulfilled the Astral’s prophecy and perished alongside the starscourge, and the notion of returning home only to relive his nightmares day in and day out was almost as suffocating as the weight of the skull pendant he still wore pressing hard against his throat.

“I’ll consider my options,” he lies, and pivots back toward the direction of the kitchen. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I think I hear the sound of boiling mollusks begging for mercy. Care for an appetizer while you wait?”

[mauricegonzaled-blog]

Marine Heads Suppliers Discuss How to Good Maintenance Prevents Engine Overheating

Your Marine Heads Manufacturers Give Pointers on Preventing Engine Overheating

Raritan Engineering yourmarine headsprofessionals would like to share with you these topics we thought would be of interest to you this week regarding how good maintenanceprevents boat engines from overheating.

Your marine heads specialists share how one of the problems with boats is they live in water that is shared by things like seaweed, algae, mollusks, scum, and sometimes floating trash all of which can easily find a way into the raw-water intake port.

Kelp and other types of seaweed can easily clog your intakes and cause engine overheating.

Dire Diagnosis

I decided to let the engine cool for several minutes while we drifted. That gave me time to assess the possibilities perhaps the water-pump impeller had failed, or a bit of plastic sheet (maybe a discarded floating sandwich baggie) had been sucked up against the cooling-water inlet, or it might be the raw-water strainer was clogged, or one of the cooling-system hoses had come loose.

Impeller pumps are prone to failure and a good thing to check first. Carry a spare.

Knowing that water-pump impellers are prone to eventual failure, I started there. It took only a few minutes to open the pump, and to my dismay, the impeller looked perfect. As long as I had the pump open, I went ahead and swapped in a fresh impeller, closed things up and started the engine.

Aha! A telltale bit of kelp was poking out of the inlet. I pulled what I could of the slippery seaweed out of the hole but knew there was still more inside. I needed another strategy to fix the problem.

In the Clear

Back topside, I zeroed in on the raw-water strainer once again. Simply looking at it, without opening it, had deceived me into thinking it was OK. It was not. I shut the one of theseacocksto prevent the ocean from rushing in when I opened the strainer housing, then unscrewed the canister. It was full of slime, algae and bits of sea grass.

Now I was puzzled. I clearly had a free-flowing route for raw water to get to the pump and the impeller was turning properly, but no water was being pushed through the system. That's when I got on the phone and called for some tech advice. The answer I got was so simple, it was almost absurd. Did you lubricate the impeller? the tech adviser asked. With what? I responded. Try dish soap, hereplied.

Use dish soap as an impeller lubricant if you need to replace it in the field. The soap eases impeller installation.

Your Marine Heads Experts Continue Talking About the Importance of Proper Maintenance

Browse through our selection of marine headshere are at Raritan Engineering, where we always take care of your marine sanitation supply needs.

One of the problems with boats is they live in water that is shared by things like seaweed, algae, mollusks, scum, and sometimes floating trash all of which can easily find a way into the raw-water intake port. So how do you keep that from happening? The solution is twofold routine maintenance and constant situational awareness. Fail here and engine death is not far behind.

Despite the difficulties, or more correctly, perhaps because of them, this boat trip was one of the most valuable we have ever taken. The fact is we rarely learn anything of value when everything is going well. Unfortunately, most of our learning seems to require that we're tested by challenges, like mechanical breakdowns, to be overcome.

How I Cleaned My Screen: Before

1.When I started to pull the screen out of the raw-water filter housing, I could immediately see the problem. The screen was clogged with slimy yuck that had accumulated over time.

2.Not only was the screen clogged, but also there was something ominous floating around in the bottom of the housing.

3.I poured out the contents and found bits of sea grass that had been sucked in through the raw-water through-hull. It doesn't take long for a clog like this to overheat an engine.

4.A toothbrush from the toolbox is the perfect instrument to use for cleaning the stainless-steel screen, and also for scrubbing out the housing. No, I didn't use Becky's toothbrush. That's my story, and I'm sticking to it.

Standing Effective Watch

When it comes to the situational awareness part of this story, it all boils down to standing watch effectively. Standing watch isn't only about looking out for other vessels and being careful not to run aground, although those are important.

Female Cops Inches from Engine after Boat Capsizes. That's When Stranger Grabs Her Arm

The wakeof Hurricane Harvey was crippling for Texas. Police officers, firefighters, and rescue divers restlessly searched flooded roadways helping anyone and everyone stranded by the storm.

Additionally, civilians played an importantpart in several rescue efforts. Josh Hohenstein, an Army veteran living in Houston, gathered on a boat withlocals Tuesday, Aug. 29 to film the aftermath of Harvey.

During his recording, Hohenstein captured apontoon boat as it flipped over into 15 mile-per-hour rushing water. The vessel, carrying six police officers, suddenly became tangled with a tree before capsizing.

A Facebook post written by Hohenstein said his team rushed over to pull the first responders to safety. The current from nearby Lake Houston was so strong that it was a challenge rescuing one female officer.

The vet credited the successful rescue to driver, Jonathon Crawford. If it wasn't for his boating skills, the cop would have been inches away from going under the boat's engines.

Hohenstein said he used all his might to save the cop. I barely caught her by one arm and used everything I had to get her on board, he wrote.

He continued: The world doesn't judge a man on what he does for himself, but rather what he does for others. Facebook friends agreed with his message, one even calling his team Hurricane Harvey Heroes!

Wondering where the comments are? We encourage you to use the share buttons below and start the conversation on your own!

So don't forget these great tips regarding how to avoid engine overheating. 1)Impeller pumps are prone to failure and a good thing to check first. Carry a spare; 2)Use dish soap as an impeller lubricant if you need to replace it in the field; and 3) always have good tools with you.

Buy a marine headhere at Raritan Engineering. We are your #1 expert in marine sanitation supplies.

viaPrevent Engine Overheating With Proper Maintenance

viaFemale Cops Inches from Engine after Boat Capsizes. That's When Stranger Grabs Her Arm

[ourartzoneblog-blog]

Marine Heads Suppliers Discuss How to Good Maintenance Prevents Engine Overheating

Your Marine Heads Manufacturers Give Pointers on Preventing Engine Overheating

Raritan Engineering yourmarine headsprofessionals would like to share with you these topics we thought would be of interest to you this week regarding how good maintenanceprevents boat engines from overheating.

Your marine heads specialists share how one of the problems with boats is they live in water that is shared by things like seaweed, algae, mollusks, scum, and sometimes floating trash all of which can easily find a way into the raw-water intake port.

Kelp and other types of seaweed can easily clog your intakes and cause engine overheating.

Dire Diagnosis

I decided to let the engine cool for several minutes while we drifted. That gave me time to assess the possibilities perhaps the water-pump impeller had failed, or a bit of plastic sheet (maybe a discarded floating sandwich baggie) had been sucked up against the cooling-water inlet, or it might be the raw-water strainer was clogged, or one of the cooling-system hoses had come loose.

Impeller pumps are prone to failure and a good thing to check first. Carry a spare.

Knowing that water-pump impellers are prone to eventual failure, I started there. It took only a few minutes to open the pump, and to my dismay, the impeller looked perfect. As long as I had the pump open, I went ahead and swapped in a fresh impeller, closed things up and started the engine.

Aha! A telltale bit of kelp was poking out of the inlet. I pulled what I could of the slippery seaweed out of the hole but knew there was still more inside. I needed another strategy to fix the problem.

In the Clear

Back topside, I zeroed in on the raw-water strainer once again. Simply looking at it, without opening it, had deceived me into thinking it was OK. It was not. I shut the one of theseacocksto prevent the ocean from rushing in when I opened the strainer housing, then unscrewed the canister. It was full of slime, algae and bits of sea grass.

Now I was puzzled. I clearly had a free-flowing route for raw water to get to the pump and the impeller was turning properly, but no water was being pushed through the system. That's when I got on the phone and called for some tech advice. The answer I got was so simple, it was almost absurd. Did you lubricate the impeller? the tech adviser asked. With what? I responded. Try dish soap, hereplied.

Use dish soap as an impeller lubricant if you need to replace it in the field. The soap eases impeller installation.

Your Marine Heads Experts Continue Talking About the Importance of Proper Maintenance

Browse through our selection of marine headshere are at Raritan Engineering, where we always take care of your marine sanitation supply needs.

One of the problems with boats is they live in water that is shared by things like seaweed, algae, mollusks, scum, and sometimes floating trash all of which can easily find a way into the raw-water intake port. So how do you keep that from happening? The solution is twofold routine maintenance and constant situational awareness. Fail here and engine death is not far behind.

Despite the difficulties, or more correctly, perhaps because of them, this boat trip was one of the most valuable we have ever taken. The fact is we rarely learn anything of value when everything is going well. Unfortunately, most of our learning seems to require that we're tested by challenges, like mechanical breakdowns, to be overcome.

How I Cleaned My Screen: Before

1.When I started to pull the screen out of the raw-water filter housing, I could immediately see the problem. The screen was clogged with slimy yuck that had accumulated over time.

2.Not only was the screen clogged, but also there was something ominous floating around in the bottom of the housing.

3.I poured out the contents and found bits of sea grass that had been sucked in through the raw-water through-hull. It doesn't take long for a clog like this to overheat an engine.

4.A toothbrush from the toolbox is the perfect instrument to use for cleaning the stainless-steel screen, and also for scrubbing out the housing. No, I didn't use Becky's toothbrush. That's my story, and I'm sticking to it.

Standing Effective Watch

When it comes to the situational awareness part of this story, it all boils down to standing watch effectively. Standing watch isn't only about looking out for other vessels and being careful not to run aground, although those are important.

Female Cops Inches from Engine after Boat Capsizes. That's When Stranger Grabs Her Arm

The wakeof Hurricane Harvey was crippling for Texas. Police officers, firefighters, and rescue divers restlessly searched flooded roadways helping anyone and everyone stranded by the storm.

Additionally, civilians played an importantpart in several rescue efforts. Josh Hohenstein, an Army veteran living in Houston, gathered on a boat withlocals Tuesday, Aug. 29 to film the aftermath of Harvey.

During his recording, Hohenstein captured apontoon boat as it flipped over into 15 mile-per-hour rushing water. The vessel, carrying six police officers, suddenly became tangled with a tree before capsizing.

A Facebook post written by Hohenstein said his team rushed over to pull the first responders to safety. The current from nearby Lake Houston was so strong that it was a challenge rescuing one female officer.

The vet credited the successful rescue to driver, Jonathon Crawford. If it wasn't for his boating skills, the cop would have been inches away from going under the boat's engines.

Hohenstein said he used all his might to save the cop. I barely caught her by one arm and used everything I had to get her on board, he wrote.

He continued: The world doesn't judge a man on what he does for himself, but rather what he does for others. Facebook friends agreed with his message, one even calling his team Hurricane Harvey Heroes!

Wondering where the comments are? We encourage you to use the share buttons below and start the conversation on your own!

So don't forget these great tips regarding how to avoid engine overheating. 1)Impeller pumps are prone to failure and a good thing to check first. Carry a spare; 2)Use dish soap as an impeller lubricant if you need to replace it in the field; and 3) always have good tools with you.

Buy a marine headhere at Raritan Engineering. We are your #1 expert in marine sanitation supplies.

viaPrevent Engine Overheating With Proper Maintenance

viaFemale Cops Inches from Engine after Boat Capsizes. That's When Stranger Grabs Her Arm

[marineparts1-blog]

Marine Heads Suppliers Discuss How to Good Maintenance Prevents Engine Overheating

Your Marine Heads Manufacturers Give Pointers on Preventing Engine Overheating

Raritan Engineering yourmarine headsprofessionals would like to share with you these topics we thought would be of interest to you this week regarding how good maintenanceprevents boat engines from overheating.

Your marine heads specialists share how one of the problems with boats is they live in water that is shared by things like seaweed, algae, mollusks, scum, and sometimes floating trash all of which can easily find a way into the raw-water intake port.

Kelp and other types of seaweed can easily clog your intakes and cause engine overheating.

Dire Diagnosis

I decided to let the engine cool for several minutes while we drifted. That gave me time to assess the possibilities perhaps the water-pump impeller had failed, or a bit of plastic sheet (maybe a discarded floating sandwich baggie) had been sucked up against the cooling-water inlet, or it might be the raw-water strainer was clogged, or one of the cooling-system hoses had come loose.

Impeller pumps are prone to failure and a good thing to check first. Carry a spare.

Knowing that water-pump impellers are prone to eventual failure, I started there. It took only a few minutes to open the pump, and to my dismay, the impeller looked perfect. As long as I had the pump open, I went ahead and swapped in a fresh impeller, closed things up and started the engine.

Aha! A telltale bit of kelp was poking out of the inlet. I pulled what I could of the slippery seaweed out of the hole but knew there was still more inside. I needed another strategy to fix the problem.

In the Clear

Back topside, I zeroed in on the raw-water strainer once again. Simply looking at it, without opening it, had deceived me into thinking it was OK. It was not. I shut the one of theseacocksto prevent the ocean from rushing in when I opened the strainer housing, then unscrewed the canister. It was full of slime, algae and bits of sea grass.

Now I was puzzled. I clearly had a free-flowing route for raw water to get to the pump and the impeller was turning properly, but no water was being pushed through the system. That's when I got on the phone and called for some tech advice. The answer I got was so simple, it was almost absurd. Did you lubricate the impeller? the tech adviser asked. With what? I responded. Try dish soap, hereplied.

Use dish soap as an impeller lubricant if you need to replace it in the field. The soap eases impeller installation.

Your Marine Heads Experts Continue Talking About the Importance of Proper Maintenance

Browse through our selection of marine headshere are at Raritan Engineering, where we always take care of your marine sanitation supply needs.

One of the problems with boats is they live in water that is shared by things like seaweed, algae, mollusks, scum, and sometimes floating trash all of which can easily find a way into the raw-water intake port. So how do you keep that from happening? The solution is twofold routine maintenance and constant situational awareness. Fail here and engine death is not far behind.

Despite the difficulties, or more correctly, perhaps because of them, this boat trip was one of the most valuable we have ever taken. The fact is we rarely learn anything of value when everything is going well. Unfortunately, most of our learning seems to require that we're tested by challenges, like mechanical breakdowns, to be overcome.

How I Cleaned My Screen: Before

1.When I started to pull the screen out of the raw-water filter housing, I could immediately see the problem. The screen was clogged with slimy yuck that had accumulated over time.

2.Not only was the screen clogged, but also there was something ominous floating around in the bottom of the housing.

3.I poured out the contents and found bits of sea grass that had been sucked in through the raw-water through-hull. It doesn't take long for a clog like this to overheat an engine.

4.A toothbrush from the toolbox is the perfect instrument to use for cleaning the stainless-steel screen, and also for scrubbing out the housing. No, I didn't use Becky's toothbrush. That's my story, and I'm sticking to it.

Standing Effective Watch

When it comes to the situational awareness part of this story, it all boils down to standing watch effectively. Standing watch isn't only about looking out for other vessels and being careful not to run aground, although those are important.

Female Cops Inches from Engine after Boat Capsizes. That's When Stranger Grabs Her Arm

The wakeof Hurricane Harvey was crippling for Texas. Police officers, firefighters, and rescue divers restlessly searched flooded roadways helping anyone and everyone stranded by the storm.

Additionally, civilians played an importantpart in several rescue efforts. Josh Hohenstein, an Army veteran living in Houston, gathered on a boat withlocals Tuesday, Aug. 29 to film the aftermath of Harvey.

During his recording, Hohenstein captured apontoon boat as it flipped over into 15 mile-per-hour rushing water. The vessel, carrying six police officers, suddenly became tangled with a tree before capsizing.

A Facebook post written by Hohenstein said his team rushed over to pull the first responders to safety. The current from nearby Lake Houston was so strong that it was a challenge rescuing one female officer.

The vet credited the successful rescue to driver, Jonathon Crawford. If it wasn't for his boating skills, the cop would have been inches away from going under the boat's engines.

Hohenstein said he used all his might to save the cop. I barely caught her by one arm and used everything I had to get her on board, he wrote.

He continued: The world doesn't judge a man on what he does for himself, but rather what he does for others. Facebook friends agreed with his message, one even calling his team Hurricane Harvey Heroes!

Wondering where the comments are? We encourage you to use the share buttons below and start the conversation on your own!

So don't forget these great tips regarding how to avoid engine overheating. 1)Impeller pumps are prone to failure and a good thing to check first. Carry a spare; 2)Use dish soap as an impeller lubricant if you need to replace it in the field; and 3) always have good tools with you.

Buy a marine headhere at Raritan Engineering. We are your #1 expert in marine sanitation supplies.

viaPrevent Engine Overheating With Proper Maintenance

viaFemale Cops Inches from Engine after Boat Capsizes. That's When Stranger Grabs Her Arm

[rolandonorrisx5-blog]

Marine Heads Suppliers Discuss How to Good Maintenance Prevents Engine Overheating

Your Marine Heads Manufacturers Give Pointers on Preventing Engine Overheating

Raritan Engineering yourmarine headsprofessionals would like to share with you these topics we thought would be of interest to you this week regarding how good maintenanceprevents boat engines from overheating.

Your marine heads specialists share how one of the problems with boats is they live in water that is shared by things like seaweed, algae, mollusks, scum, and sometimes floating trash all of which can easily find a way into the raw-water intake port.

Kelp and other types of seaweed can easily clog your intakes and cause engine overheating.

Dire Diagnosis

I decided to let the engine cool for several minutes while we drifted. That gave me time to assess the possibilities perhaps the water-pump impeller had failed, or a bit of plastic sheet (maybe a discarded floating sandwich baggie) had been sucked up against the cooling-water inlet, or it might be the raw-water strainer was clogged, or one of the cooling-system hoses had come loose.

Impeller pumps are prone to failure and a good thing to check first. Carry a spare.

Knowing that water-pump impellers are prone to eventual failure, I started there. It took only a few minutes to open the pump, and to my dismay, the impeller looked perfect. As long as I had the pump open, I went ahead and swapped in a fresh impeller, closed things up and started the engine.

Aha! A telltale bit of kelp was poking out of the inlet. I pulled what I could of the slippery seaweed out of the hole but knew there was still more inside. I needed another strategy to fix the problem.

In the Clear

Back topside, I zeroed in on the raw-water strainer once again. Simply looking at it, without opening it, had deceived me into thinking it was OK. It was not. I shut the one of theseacocksto prevent the ocean from rushing in when I opened the strainer housing, then unscrewed the canister. It was full of slime, algae and bits of sea grass.

Now I was puzzled. I clearly had a free-flowing route for raw water to get to the pump and the impeller was turning properly, but no water was being pushed through the system. That's when I got on the phone and called for some tech advice. The answer I got was so simple, it was almost absurd. Did you lubricate the impeller? the tech adviser asked. With what? I responded. Try dish soap, hereplied.

Use dish soap as an impeller lubricant if you need to replace it in the field. The soap eases impeller installation.

Your Marine Heads Experts Continue Talking About the Importance of Proper Maintenance

Browse through our selection of marine headshere are at Raritan Engineering, where we always take care of your marine sanitation supply needs.

One of the problems with boats is they live in water that is shared by things like seaweed, algae, mollusks, scum, and sometimes floating trash all of which can easily find a way into the raw-water intake port. So how do you keep that from happening? The solution is twofold routine maintenance and constant situational awareness. Fail here and engine death is not far behind.

Despite the difficulties, or more correctly, perhaps because of them, this boat trip was one of the most valuable we have ever taken. The fact is we rarely learn anything of value when everything is going well. Unfortunately, most of our learning seems to require that we're tested by challenges, like mechanical breakdowns, to be overcome.

How I Cleaned My Screen: Before

1.When I started to pull the screen out of the raw-water filter housing, I could immediately see the problem. The screen was clogged with slimy yuck that had accumulated over time.

2.Not only was the screen clogged, but also there was something ominous floating around in the bottom of the housing.

3.I poured out the contents and found bits of sea grass that had been sucked in through the raw-water through-hull. It doesn't take long for a clog like this to overheat an engine.

4.A toothbrush from the toolbox is the perfect instrument to use for cleaning the stainless-steel screen, and also for scrubbing out the housing. No, I didn't use Becky's toothbrush. That's my story, and I'm sticking to it.

Standing Effective Watch

When it comes to the situational awareness part of this story, it all boils down to standing watch effectively. Standing watch isn't only about looking out for other vessels and being careful not to run aground, although those are important.

Female Cops Inches from Engine after Boat Capsizes. That's When Stranger Grabs Her Arm

The wakeof Hurricane Harvey was crippling for Texas. Police officers, firefighters, and rescue divers restlessly searched flooded roadways helping anyone and everyone stranded by the storm.

Additionally, civilians played an importantpart in several rescue efforts. Josh Hohenstein, an Army veteran living in Houston, gathered on a boat withlocals Tuesday, Aug. 29 to film the aftermath of Harvey.

During his recording, Hohenstein captured apontoon boat as it flipped over into 15 mile-per-hour rushing water. The vessel, carrying six police officers, suddenly became tangled with a tree before capsizing.

A Facebook post written by Hohenstein said his team rushed over to pull the first responders to safety. The current from nearby Lake Houston was so strong that it was a challenge rescuing one female officer.

The vet credited the successful rescue to driver, Jonathon Crawford. If it wasn't for his boating skills, the cop would have been inches away from going under the boat's engines.

Hohenstein said he used all his might to save the cop. I barely caught her by one arm and used everything I had to get her on board, he wrote.

He continued: The world doesn't judge a man on what he does for himself, but rather what he does for others. Facebook friends agreed with his message, one even calling his team Hurricane Harvey Heroes!

Wondering where the comments are? We encourage you to use the share buttons below and start the conversation on your own!

So don't forget these great tips regarding how to avoid engine overheating. 1)Impeller pumps are prone to failure and a good thing to check first. Carry a spare; 2)Use dish soap as an impeller lubricant if you need to replace it in the field; and 3) always have good tools with you.

Buy a marine headhere at Raritan Engineering. We are your #1 expert in marine sanitation supplies.

viaPrevent Engine Overheating With Proper Maintenance

viaFemale Cops Inches from Engine after Boat Capsizes. That's When Stranger Grabs Her Arm

[mikebanks758-blog]

Marine Heads Suppliers Discuss How to Good Maintenance Prevents Engine Overheating

Your Marine Heads Manufacturers Give Pointers on Preventing Engine Overheating

Raritan Engineering yourmarine headsprofessionals would like to share with you these topics we thought would be of interest to you this week regarding how good maintenanceprevents boat engines from overheating.

Your marine heads specialists share how one of the problems with boats is they live in water that is shared by things like seaweed, algae, mollusks, scum, and sometimes floating trash all of which can easily find a way into the raw-water intake port.

Kelp and other types of seaweed can easily clog your intakes and cause engine overheating.

Dire Diagnosis

I decided to let the engine cool for several minutes while we drifted. That gave me time to assess the possibilities perhaps the water-pump impeller had failed, or a bit of plastic sheet (maybe a discarded floating sandwich baggie) had been sucked up against the cooling-water inlet, or it might be the raw-water strainer was clogged, or one of the cooling-system hoses had come loose.

Impeller pumps are prone to failure and a good thing to check first. Carry a spare.

Knowing that water-pump impellers are prone to eventual failure, I started there. It took only a few minutes to open the pump, and to my dismay, the impeller looked perfect. As long as I had the pump open, I went ahead and swapped in a fresh impeller, closed things up and started the engine.

Aha! A telltale bit of kelp was poking out of the inlet. I pulled what I could of the slippery seaweed out of the hole but knew there was still more inside. I needed another strategy to fix the problem.

In the Clear

Back topside, I zeroed in on the raw-water strainer once again. Simply looking at it, without opening it, had deceived me into thinking it was OK. It was not. I shut the one of theseacocksto prevent the ocean from rushing in when I opened the strainer housing, then unscrewed the canister. It was full of slime, algae and bits of sea grass.

Now I was puzzled. I clearly had a free-flowing route for raw water to get to the pump and the impeller was turning properly, but no water was being pushed through the system. That's when I got on the phone and called for some tech advice. The answer I got was so simple, it was almost absurd. Did you lubricate the impeller? the tech adviser asked. With what? I responded. Try dish soap, hereplied.

Use dish soap as an impeller lubricant if you need to replace it in the field. The soap eases impeller installation.

Your Marine Heads Experts Continue Talking About the Importance of Proper Maintenance

Browse through our selection of marine headshere are at Raritan Engineering, where we always take care of your marine sanitation supply needs.

One of the problems with boats is they live in water that is shared by things like seaweed, algae, mollusks, scum, and sometimes floating trash all of which can easily find a way into the raw-water intake port. So how do you keep that from happening? The solution is twofold routine maintenance and constant situational awareness. Fail here and engine death is not far behind.

Despite the difficulties, or more correctly, perhaps because of them, this boat trip was one of the most valuable we have ever taken. The fact is we rarely learn anything of value when everything is going well. Unfortunately, most of our learning seems to require that we're tested by challenges, like mechanical breakdowns, to be overcome.

How I Cleaned My Screen: Before

1.When I started to pull the screen out of the raw-water filter housing, I could immediately see the problem. The screen was clogged with slimy yuck that had accumulated over time.

2.Not only was the screen clogged, but also there was something ominous floating around in the bottom of the housing.

3.I poured out the contents and found bits of sea grass that had been sucked in through the raw-water through-hull. It doesn't take long for a clog like this to overheat an engine.

4.A toothbrush from the toolbox is the perfect instrument to use for cleaning the stainless-steel screen, and also for scrubbing out the housing. No, I didn't use Becky's toothbrush. That's my story, and I'm sticking to it.

Standing Effective Watch

When it comes to the situational awareness part of this story, it all boils down to standing watch effectively. Standing watch isn't only about looking out for other vessels and being careful not to run aground, although those are important.

Female Cops Inches from Engine after Boat Capsizes. That's When Stranger Grabs Her Arm

The wakeof Hurricane Harvey was crippling for Texas. Police officers, firefighters, and rescue divers restlessly searched flooded roadways helping anyone and everyone stranded by the storm.

Additionally, civilians played an importantpart in several rescue efforts. Josh Hohenstein, an Army veteran living in Houston, gathered on a boat withlocals Tuesday, Aug. 29 to film the aftermath of Harvey.

During his recording, Hohenstein captured apontoon boat as it flipped over into 15 mile-per-hour rushing water. The vessel, carrying six police officers, suddenly became tangled with a tree before capsizing.

A Facebook post written by Hohenstein said his team rushed over to pull the first responders to safety. The current from nearby Lake Houston was so strong that it was a challenge rescuing one female officer.

The vet credited the successful rescue to driver, Jonathon Crawford. If it wasn't for his boating skills, the cop would have been inches away from going under the boat's engines.

Hohenstein said he used all his might to save the cop. I barely caught her by one arm and used everything I had to get her on board, he wrote.

He continued: The world doesn't judge a man on what he does for himself, but rather what he does for others. Facebook friends agreed with his message, one even calling his team Hurricane Harvey Heroes!

Wondering where the comments are? We encourage you to use the share buttons below and start the conversation on your own!

So don't forget these great tips regarding how to avoid engine overheating. 1)Impeller pumps are prone to failure and a good thing to check first. Carry a spare; 2)Use dish soap as an impeller lubricant if you need to replace it in the field; and 3) always have good tools with you.

Buy a marine headhere at Raritan Engineering. We are your #1 expert in marine sanitation supplies.

viaPrevent Engine Overheating With Proper Maintenance

viaFemale Cops Inches from Engine after Boat Capsizes. That's When Stranger Grabs Her Arm

[rolandonorrisx5-blog]

Marine Heads Suppliers Discuss How to Good Maintenance Prevents Engine Overheating

Your Marine Heads Manufacturers Give Pointers on Preventing Engine Overheating

Raritan Engineering your marine headsprofessionals would like to share with you these topics we thought would be of interest to you this week regarding how good maintenanceprevents boat engines from overheating.

Your marine heads specialists share how one of the problems with boats is they live in water that is shared by things like seaweed, algae, mollusks, scum, and sometimes floating trash all of which can easily find a way into the raw-water intake port.

Kelp and other types of seaweed can easily clog your intakes and cause engine overheating.

Dire Diagnosis

I decided to let the engine cool for several minutes while we drifted. That gave me time to assess the possibilities perhaps the water-pump impeller had failed, or a bit of plastic sheet (maybe a discarded floating sandwich baggie) had been sucked up against the cooling-water inlet, or it might be the raw-water strainer was clogged, or one of the cooling-system hoses had come loose.

Impeller pumps are prone to failure and a good thing to check first. Carry a spare.

Knowing that water-pump impellers are prone to eventual failure, I started there. It took only a few minutes to open the pump, and to my dismay, the impeller looked perfect. As long as I had the pump open, I went ahead and swapped in a fresh impeller, closed things up and started the engine.

Aha! A telltale bit of kelp was poking out of the inlet. I pulled what I could of the slippery seaweed out of the hole but knew there was still more inside. I needed another strategy to fix the problem.

In the Clear

Back topside, I zeroed in on the raw-water strainer once again. Simply looking at it, without opening it, had deceived me into thinking it was OK. It was not. I shut the one of theseacocksto prevent the ocean from rushing in when I opened the strainer housing, then unscrewed the canister. It was full of slime, algae and bits of sea grass.

Now I was puzzled. I clearly had a free-flowing route for raw water to get to the pump and the impeller was turning properly, but no water was being pushed through the system. That's when I got on the phone and called for some tech advice. The answer I got was so simple, it was almost absurd. Did you lubricate the impeller? the tech adviser asked. With what? I responded. Try dish soap, hereplied.

Use dish soap as an impeller lubricant if you need to replace it in the field. The soap eases impeller installation.

Your Marine Heads Experts Continue Talking About the Importance of Proper Maintenance

Browse through our selection of marine headshere are at Raritan Engineering, where we always take care of your marine sanitation supply needs.

One of the problems with boats is they live in water that is shared by things like seaweed, algae, mollusks, scum, and sometimes floating trash all of which can easily find a way into the raw-water intake port. So how do you keep that from happening? The solution is twofold routine maintenance and constant situational awareness. Fail here and engine death is not far behind.

Despite the difficulties, or more correctly, perhaps because of them, this boat trip was one of the most valuable we have ever taken. The fact is we rarely learn anything of value when everything is going well. Unfortunately, most of our learning seems to require that we're tested by challenges, like mechanical breakdowns, to be overcome.

How I Cleaned My Screen: Before

1.When I started to pull the screen out of the raw-water filter housing, I could immediately see the problem. The screen was clogged with slimy yuck that had accumulated over time.

2.Not only was the screen clogged, but also there was something ominous floating around in the bottom of the housing.

3.I poured out the contents and found bits of sea grass that had been sucked in through the raw-water through-hull. It doesn't take long for a clog like this to overheat an engine.

4.A toothbrush from the toolbox is the perfect instrument to use for cleaning the stainless-steel screen, and also for scrubbing out the housing. No, I didn't use Becky's toothbrush. That's my story, and I'm sticking to it.

Standing Effective Watch

When it comes to the situational awareness part of this story, it all boils down to standing watch effectively. Standing watch isn't only about looking out for other vessels and being careful not to run aground, although those are important.

Female Cops Inches from Engine after Boat Capsizes. That's When Stranger Grabs Her Arm

The wakeof Hurricane Harvey was crippling for Texas. Police officers, firefighters, and rescue divers restlessly searched flooded roadways helping anyone and everyone stranded by the storm.

Additionally, civilians played an importantpart in several rescue efforts. Josh Hohenstein, an Army veteran living in Houston, gathered on a boat withlocals Tuesday, Aug. 29 to film the aftermath of Harvey.

During his recording, Hohenstein captured apontoon boat as it flipped over into 15 mile-per-hour rushing water. The vessel, carrying six police officers, suddenly became tangled with a tree before capsizing.

A Facebook post written by Hohenstein said his team rushed over to pull the first responders to safety. The current from nearby Lake Houston was so strong that it was a challenge rescuing one female officer.

The vet credited the successful rescue to driver, Jonathon Crawford. If it wasn't for his boating skills, the cop would have been inches away from going under the boat's engines.

Hohenstein said he used all his might to save the cop. I barely caught her by one arm and used everything I had to get her on board, he wrote.

He continued: The world doesn't judge a man on what he does for himself, but rather what he does for others. Facebook friends agreed with his message, one even calling his team Hurricane Harvey Heroes!

Wondering where the comments are? We encourage you to use the share buttons below and start the conversation on your own!

So don't forget these great tips regarding how to avoid engine overheating. 1)Impeller pumps are prone to failure and a good thing to check first. Carry a spare; 2)Use dish soap as an impeller lubricant if you need to replace it in the field; and 3) always have good tools with you.

Buy a marine headhere at Raritan Engineering. We are your #1 expert in marine sanitation supplies.

via Prevent Engine Overheating With Proper Maintenance

via Female Cops Inches from Engine after Boat Capsizes. That's When Stranger Grabs Her Arm

The post Marine Heads Suppliers Discuss How to Good Maintenance Prevents Engine Overheating appeared first on .