gruel. trickling down my gullet.

my female version of feanor, who I roleplay at @valar-critical

Dusk had fallen with the same quiet grace it did each and every night, lighting up Orodreth's room in a hazy bronze glow that signaled the time had come to get ready for bed. There he sat himself upon his poof (a cloud of glitter wafting out of the cushion in all directions) and awaited the ministrations of his personal valet. 

Unlike in the mornings or before parties or post dinners, these evening tasks were carried out by Silohir alone. 

A large candle, shades of blue and green swirled together like the sea (and of course silver flecks dotting every inch of it), had been lit. The smell of chamomile soothing one's mind for sleep and rest. And beside it a music box, a golden clam shell, twinkling out a tune sailors would sing for good weather. 

Orodreth sat compliant as Silohir unfastened the shimmery sheer sheets draped about him. With a great flourish and a swift yank the ever-talented valet whipped the material from under Orodreth, much like a magician disappearing a tablecloth without disturbing a dish. And indeed! Orodreth did not blink or startle in the slightest, staring peacefully back at his own reflection in the mirror. 

Silohir propped his charge's silken feet in basin of warm water, a small satchel of oats and lavender clouding the surface. Orodreth offered up his hand, the left first (as it was every evening), allowing Silohir to file his nails to the exact shape and length they always were. 

Then swaths of creamy lotion smeared nearly everywhere (two small dollops to his royal hindquarters would come last when he was ready to retire to bed). As Silohir brushed through Orodreth's gleaming, golden curls, the young master began to speak. Not to the valet, of course not, nothing needed to be said during a routine so familiar to them both after all! 

"I met the most charming man!" Orodreth dictated to the scratching of Silohir's quill between brushes. Actually the quill, a dyed swan feather, belonged to Orodreth. As did the sparkling alabaster tome he wrote in. A record of the little prince's days and thoughts. Nearly all of the entries were by dictation. 

"A passing artisan! Emmë invited him to see his wonderful statues. We're going to expand the gardens and I think it will be so marvelous to have several of his pieces featured. Perhaps Mister Dashing Sculptor will be around often. Perhaps we can even invite him to the unveiling party so he can see how well my mother will make his art shine.

"Silohir. You're pressing too hard on the page. I don't like that." Orodreth's eyes had narrowed for just a moment as he reprimanded the valet, but instantly sprang back to his delighted smile, clapping his hands together. "He plucked a flower just for me—though it belonged to me already since it was from our very own peonies, still it was a very sweet thing for him to do. And his strong arms, surely from his work! I am certain he could lift me from any danger!" 

While Orodreth giggled and gushed, Silohir could not help but to flex his own biceps. Alas, the young master took no notice. So it was between the comb and the quill that Silohir focused his efforts instead. 

"He even said next time he passed through he'd bring me something special." Such a delightful and darling declaration, even in recollection, had Orodreth kicking his feet. Water splashed from the basin, but no bother, it would vanish at some point in the night. Just like every mess always did.

"Atar bought me a new hair clip and I will wear it tomorrow." This might have sounded like something said to Silohir, but of course it was not. It was nothing more than the wish of Orodreth's heart. Had he voiced such a desire or kept silent it would not have mattered, for Silohir knew to always anticipate Orodreth's wants and needs. As soon as he'd received the trinket Silohir knew he'd wear it in the morning. 

At last, with Orodreth's curls bouncing as lightly as soap suds, the radiant princeling stood (slightly bent forward for his last dollops), then stretched up his arms as Silohir threw another shimmery sheet over him, the silvery fabric floating gently down about Orodreth. 

"Check the windows once more," he said (something new to their routine that did not need to be said and yet brought some sense of assurance to Orodreth's worries). 

Stalking Prey

Originally, this idea was only Raziel stalking easy prey. But as the canvas expanded and the city acquired more figures, it became a little more like an idea I had when I first-first started dipping my toes into painting environments, of Kain setting him a hunting challenge. It's been a long journey since that time.

MY HOME IS ON THE LIST/LIKELY TO BE TARGETED, WHAT CAN I DO?

* it may bring you peace of mind to have a go-bag ready, just in case. A go-bag is a bag with everything in it that you need to get out a volatile situation quickly. Any bag that can be secured (buttoned or zipped) will do. In your go-bag, you should include;

- identifying documents; passport/driver’s license/asylum card/ILR certificate/British Residency permit card

- Wallet and/or banking books

- A spare charger & cable and/or a power bank

- any shelf-stable medication (tablets, inhalers etc.) if you are on medication that needs to be refrigerated, leave it in the fridge until you have to leave

- Sanitary items; toothbrush, toothpaste, sanitary pads & tampons, deodorant. If you have very young children with you, you may also want to take your nappy bag.

* If you have to leave, a go-bag is a convenient way to ensure you have everything of importance with you.

* If you are being supported by an asylum seekers or refugee charity, or are a member of a gurdwara/temple, mosque, synagogue or church, reach out to your religious leaders. They may be able to provide direct support, or put you in contact with organisations or other congregants who can help. If you are friendly with your neighbours, it may be worth contacting them too.

* IN THE EVENT THAT “PROTESTORS” DO COME TO YOUR HOUSE, CALL 999 IMMEDIATELY, AND FOLLOW ANY INSTRUCTIONS THEY GIVE YOU. MOVE AWAY FROM ANY WINDOWS. DO NOT OPEN YOUR DOOR UNLESS INSTRUCTED TO DO SO BY EMERGENCY SERVICES.

I’M AN INTERNATIONAL STUDENT/CARE WORKER/NHS WORKER, WHAT SHOULD I DO?

* Contact your student welfare office/NHS Trust/agency for advice, support and referral to organisations that may be able to provide assistance

* if you live in or commute through an area that is likely to be targeted, contact your lecturers and your faculty to find out whether remote study is possible; if you work in care or as part of the NHS, find out if it is possible to change shifts.

* If it would provide peace of mind, prepare a go-bag as listed above

* Reach out to your the uni society or student’s organisation for international students or students of specific ethnic origin; they may be able to provide you with direction to resources and peer support. If your university has a Marxist or Socialist society, reach out to them for mutual aid with a travel buddy etc., for getting to and from your place of study/work

* If you are a member of a gurdwara/temple, mosque, synagogue or church, reach out to your religious leaders. They may be able to provide direct support, or put you in contact with organisations or other congregants who can help.

* If you are friendly with your neighbours, it may be worth contacting them too for assistance with travel to & from work.

* Report any racism or racialised violence you are subjected to. NHS staff have a right to refuse to treat patients who harass, abuse, threaten or insult them; if a patient is racist to you, where possible, ask another member of staff to take over their care.

PERSONAL SAFETY:

* do not leave your home unless strictly necessary. If it is necessary to leave, don’t do it alone.

* use NextDoor, WhatsApp, social media and word of mouth to avoid commuting through “protestor” road blocks, areas of active conflict etc.,

* When travelling, use Share My Location or Life360, and keep at least two people aware of your expected time of arrival at your destination with instructions to contact the police if you do not let them know you’ve made it safely

* do not directly confront any individuals involved, or allow them to bait you into becoming confrontational

* only record if it is safe. Do not record individuals directly/from up close

* Do not directly intervene. If you see violence occurring, contact emergency services and if safe to do so, record what’s happening.

ALLYSHIP & HOW TO HELP:

* if you have neighbours, friends, coworkers or acquaintances form targeted communities, reach out to them. Ask them what you can do to help them feel safe.

* If you live in an area likely to be targeted, reach out to any vulnerable people you know. If safe and possible, offer to let them shelter with you in the event they need to leave home

* If you see any incitement to violence online screenshot it; it may prove useful in the event of individual “protesters” being prosecuted

* If you see any specific areas being discussed as targets, alert anyone you know at risk in the area

* Reach out to local refugee & asylum seekers’ organisations, to organisations supporting foreign national care & healthcare workers, and to churches, mosques, gurdwaras; they may be looking for short term assistance in helping to provide for vulnerable members of their community

CHARITABLE ORGANISATIONS FOR ASSISTANCE & TO SUPPORT:

* NASC Ireland; refugee & asylum seeker charity

* Doras.org; migrant, stateless persons, refugee and asylum seeker rights advocates

* Jesuit Refugee Service; religious refugee & asylum seekers charity

* Irish Refugee Council; supporting stateless displaced persons & refugees in NI & ROI

* International Student’s House (IE & UK WIDE): provides hardship funding and help to international students

* PathFinder (UK WIDE); supports international students

* Care International (GLOBAL); global carer’s charity

* Choose Love (IE & UK WIDE); charitable organisation supporting refugees and asylum seekers

* Praxis UK (UK WIDE); supporting refugees & asylum seekers

* The Runnymede Trust (IE & UK WIDE); antiracism education charity

* Migrant’s Rights Network (IE & UK WIDE); advocacy and support for migrants and refugees

* ShareTheMeal (GLOBAL); providing meals for refugees and those fleeing conflict globally

* Amnesty (IRELAND, UK & WORLDWIDE); human rights NGO