FIC: Ship's Gossip (Temeraire)

My Yuletide story this year for gloriamundi!

Gloria asked for a privateering AU, which I took to mean an AU where Laurence accepts Tharkay's offer in Tongues of Serpents. I then attempted to research privateering in the Napoleonic Wars -- surprisingly difficult, because everything I found was about American privateers in the War of 1812, and that war didn't happen in Temeraire continuity, so perhaps no one is shocked that I got distracted by the question of sodomy on ships that were neither British Navy nor pirates, and this fic happened:

Ship's Gossip (5748 words)
Temeraire
slash, Laurence/Tharkay
no AO3 warnings apply, but some lesser warnings are listed in the endnotes

Laurence is beginning to enjoy life as a privateer - though he cannot figure out why Tharkay should still be sailing out with them - when Temeraire decides to ask him about sodomy.

Happy Yuletide, everyone!