Despatches

Note from the Editor: Another week gone, another Despatches is here! Happy Valentine's Day - or, if that doesn't float your boat, Happy 218th Anniversary of the Battle of Cape St Vincent... :D

Fanfic:
Casus Bellum by sharpiefan; Original; PG; Original characters; The shot that killed Private Dacey came from somewhere in the French ship's fo'c'sle.
although it don't rhyme by alltoseek; Aubreyad; Gen; Jack Aubrey, Stephen Maturin; Haiku and tanka based on moments from the Master and Commander series.

Son et Lumière:

Of historical interest:

Miscellany and meta:
sharpiefan posts Sea Fever

Communities and challenges:
mandc_read is reading The Letter of Marque Chapter One this weekend

Rec of the Week:
I used to link to pretty much everything produced on the HMS Acasta blog, but stopped because they post every day and a week's worth of posts from them often outnumbered by quite a bit the fandom stuff this newsletter is intended to promote. But I'd like to rec the Acasta blog, itself, for you all. You can follow the feed set up at hmsacasta_feed right in your reading page! Here's a small sample of what sort of thing they post: HMS Acasta blog: The Battle of Cape St Vincent vid

Got a link for the next issue? Please comment and let us know. Remember to please tell your AoS friends about us. The more, the merrier, after all! And if you would like to include a particular favourite of yours in Rec of the Week, please leave a comment with a link.

Note from the Editor: May I wish esteven a very belated happy birthday!, and I hope that this year brings you all that you could desire!

Fanfic:
Juerga, Chapter 2 by alltoseek and alcyone; Aubreyad; M; Jack Aubrey/Stephen Maturin, Jack Aubrey/Sophie Williams; Peace has broken out. Captain Jack Aubrey and his swordmaster Stephen Maturin are residing in the English countryside, where they meet the ladies of neighbouring Mapes Court, including Miss Sophie Williams and her swordmistress Diana Villiers. A sequel to astolat's "Duende".
Away and Returned by justincase; Aubreyad; PG-18; Stephen had been put ashore on a secret mission; Captain Jack Aubrey, too worried to sleep, too hot to even try; paced his holy side of the quarter-deck, deep in thoughts of Stephen and his safety.

Son et Lumière:

Of historical interest:
Vid: hmsacasta_feed: The Battle of the Glorious First of June

Miscellany and meta:
vanilla_elf: Did Napoleon get up your nose? No surprise!
hmsacasta_feed: The personal effects of S. Hollybrass, Able Seaman
hmsacata_feed: The Northern Campaign
redcoat_feed: Event: The Regimental Association Relaunch, or, The Mystery of the Ginger Moustache
hmsacasta_feed: Ship's carpenter, Jas. Apple
hmsacasta_feed: Meet Henry Eden
hmsacasta_feed: Acasta in the news
vanilla_elf: Huzzah, huzzah, huzzah!
dreamboatdreamer70: Happy birthday, Esteven

Communities and challenges:
mandc_read are reading Chapter Ten of the Ionian Mission this weekend

Rec of the Week:
I may have linked to this before, in which case I apologise. It is still one of the best vids I've seen, though. High School Never Ends! by latin_cat; Aubreyad fanvid.

Got a link for the next issue? Please comment and let us know. Remember to please tell your AoS friends about us. The more, the merrier, after all! And if you would like to include a particular favourite of yours in Rec of the Week, please leave a comment with a link.

Note from the Editor:

Fanfic:
Requiescat in Pacem by justincase; Aubreyad; 18+ (major character death); Sophie’s telegram reached him at The Grapes just as he was leaving to explore a bog he’d recently learned about.

Son et Lumière:
Vid: hmsacasta_feed: The Blue Peter
Vid: hmsacasta_feed: You get paid to do it!
patches_the_shipcat: A Silent Movie of Napoleon

Of historical interest:
hmsacasta_feed: Adam Cuppage, Volunteer First Class

Miscellany and meta:
hmsacasta_feed: Heritage Artisan Days, New Harmony
hmsacasta_feed: A Letter of Intent Renew'd

Communities and challenges:
mandc_read are reading Chapter Seven of The Ionian Mission this weekend

Rec of the Week:
Stockings by Pariaritzia; Georgetter Heyer Cotillion; PG; Freddy Standen, Kitty Charing, Lady Legerwood, Meg Standen; In which Lady Legerwood and Meg advise Kitty on the niceties of a wedding night, including the importance of stockings.

Got a link for the next issue? Please comment and let us know. Remember to please tell your AoS friends about us. The more, the merrier, after all! And if you would like to include a particular favourite of yours in Rec of the Week, please leave a comment with a link.

Note from the Editor:

Fanfic:
A Summer Soldier by barefoot_bard; Show the Colours; K+; OC; A soldier's ponderings while on the march. Spain, 1812.

Son et Lumière:
M&C wallpapers: Happy Birthday Dreamboatdreamer70 from delorita

Of historical interest:
hmsacasta_feed: Know Your Nelson 4
hmsacasta_feed: Maps of London
latin_cat: AoS Conference: George I - 300 Years On: Reconstructing the Succession

Miscellany and meta:
hmsacasta_feed: Finding your favourite posts
hmsacasta_feed: A letter to the carpenter
hmsacasta_feed: Of Lobsters and Jenny Hanivers

Communities and challenges:
mandc_read are reading Chaprer Nine of The Surgeon's Mate this weekend

Rec of the Week:
Blowing my own trumpet this week. This is a video trailer for the RPG I run, Show the Colours. I've listed it not because I want to advertise StC but because I'm really proud of the vid and how it came out. Show the Colours: HMS Terpsichore promo vid by sharpiefan; Show the Colours; G.

Got a link for the next issue? Please comment and let us know. Remember to please tell your AoS friends about us. The more, the merrier, after all! And if you would like to include a particular favourite of yours in Rec of the Week, please leave a comment with a link.

Note from the Editor: Last one before Christmas, so Merry Christmas, one and all, and thank you for being patient with me lately. Fittingly, this issue is jam-packed full of goodies! Huzzah!

Fanfic:
Corruption by josbanks; Aubreyad; NC-17; Jack/Stephen; Stephen accedes to Jack’s wish that he corrupt Jack further.
The Special Christmas Gift by delorita; Aubreyad; R; Jack/Stephen
Advent Calendar Day 21: The Only Player by le_russe_satan; Aubreyad AU; Jack, Stephen, Mowett, Killick, Pullings, Sophie; PG
Advent Calender Day 18: The Eve of the Hunt by alltoseek; Aubreyad; Jack, Stephen; G; The day before Savile's hunt, Jack and Stephen discuss their neighbours.
Advent Calender Day 16: Deeds, Not Words by josbanks; Aubreyad; NC=17; Jack/Stephen; Jack Aubrey, Stephen Maturin, Gedymin Jagiello; : Imprisoned in the Temple, Stephen saves Jack's queue from an ignominious end.
Deep Ocean of Secrets by zilah; Aubreyad; NC-17; Jack/Stephen; Stephen and Jack restore their friendship after Jack is wounded on Polychrest.
Advent Calendar Day 14: In Dulci Jubilo by alcyone301; Aubreyad; PG; Jack, Stephen; A ball is held in Chalcot Square; Stephen has an unusual conversation
Christmas Morn by ashley_pitt; PG-13; Jack, Stephen

Son et Lumière:
Video: The remade trailer for Show the Colours by sharpiefan
Advent Calendar Day 23: Another Aubrey/Maturin Animated video by dreamboatdreamer70 (PG-17 for nudity)
Wallpaper: Jack, the predator by delorita
Advent Calendar Day 22: Watercolour by oftheisland
Advent Calendar Day 20: Paper Dolls by johanirae
Advent Calendar Day 19: Christmas with the Aubrey family by hrh_taliesin
I have known you to stare into a deserted bird's nest for hours by sharpiefan
Manip: A salute to the Perfect Duet by dreamboatdreamer70
Music: Music for the fic In Dulci Jubilo by alcyone301
Wallpaper: Gentle Stephen by delorita
Picspam: Mary Rose by amaraal

Of historical interest:
sharpiefan: Turner and the Sea at the National Maritime Museum (Greenwich, London)
From janeaustenbolg_feed: Happy birthday, Jane Austen

Miscellany and meta:
age_of_sail: shapiefan: Meta: What's So Great About the Age of Sail?
From hmsacasta_feed: A Letter to Captain Freymann
From hmsacasta_feed: The seven most awesome things about reenacting
From hmsacasta_feed: A Letter to the Doctor
From hmsacasta_feed: Meet George Croghan
Advent Calendar Day 17: Aubreyad wristwarmers by sospan_fach
From hmsacasta_feed: The Carpenter's Christmas Recollection
sharpiefan: More AoS books on offer
From hmsacasta_feed: Baptiste's Leeches
From hmsacasta_feed: A Letter Home

Communities and challenges:
mandc_read will begin reading Surgeon's Mate on the 3rd January

Rec of the Week:
Concatenation by idler; Hornblower; PG; Bush, Hornblower, M'man Vincent; 1810, somewhere in the Atlantic. A good man may leave a legacy far greater than he might imagine.

Got a link for the next issue? Please comment and let us know. Remember to please tell your AoS friends about us. The more, the merrier, after all! And if you would like to include a particular favourite of yours in Rec of the Week, please leave a comment with a link.

Note from the Editor: And guess what day I forgot it was yesterday?! Hope you've all had a good week!

Fanfic:
Eight Ways Jack and Stephen Never Got Together (and One Way They Did by sid; Aubreyad; PG; Jack/Stephen; crushing heartbreak...followed by crack. *g*
Preferment by josbanks; Aubreyad; R; Jack/Stephen; Jack and Stephen discuss the case against two of Pomone’s crew for violation of Article XXIX the evening after the court martial and its effect on Pomone’s morale.

Son et Lumière:
From hmsacasta_feed: Sea Chest Packed
sharpiefan links to Some Sharpe/Wellingont vids
From hmsacasta_feed: Naval Paperwork

Of historical interest:
sharpiefan posts about a Coldstream Guard laid to rest after 200 years
From hmsacasta_feed: Shannon vs Chesapeake

Miscellany and meta:
sharpiefan: The Editorial and some fillers from a very special 'zine
From hmsacasta_feed: Acasta Business

Communities and challenges:

Rec of the Week:
Beating to Windward by atropos_lee; Hornblower (books); PG-13; Hornblower, Kennedy; 1833: An Ancient Mariner on an unexpected journey of remembrance. Contains Spoilers for the entire Hornblower canon.

Got a link for the next issue? Please comment and let us know. Remember to please tell your AoS friends about us. The more, the merrier, after all! And if you would like to include a particular favourite of yours in Rec of the Week, please leave a comment with a link.