The kitchen isn't in a mess at all, in fact they’ve made it more than a few likely places for fires and a vent into something approximating an actual kitchen, although she will need to rearrange a few things. Seems whoever was using it most is quite a bit shorter than she is. Go figure. Chago and maybe a new boggan or two. Who else was likely to be in her kitchen, after all? It's also a bit better stocked with the fresh blood having brought more supplies as well.
Content that she’ll have someplace to make snacks later, Genny seeks out Kiersten and Evan taking them to the area she and Chago were considering as a bale room. As they go to the right place, Kiersten offers to teach the necessary Words and Ritual to transfer a bale to its proper place. She also seems stunned that Genny managed to make a leather pack covered in bloody marks work to carry such a flame so it's not hard to guess that her way isn't the only way.
The trip to the bale chamber reveals a few other things too. A room that’s been hollowed out which could easily be either a war room for planning strategy or an audience chamber. Others that could be ball rooms or community chambers like barracks and mess halls. The craftsmen that came have been at work despite the siege, delving deep into the mountain and finding chambers that show just maybe this place was occupied once before. It's got just about everything, and it's all arranged in such a way, the decisions of -what- the place is can guide what the rooms become. "Where is Chago anyway?" Kiersten finally asks. "If he's going to be in charge, he should be part of it."
Genny takes in the instruction, then shakes her head. She's not going to interrupt but she's got ideas for how they're going to do this which has nothing to do with the sidhe way of doing it. It's theirs...it should be done in their own way. Just like everything else. "He will be. He wanted ta keep goin' on his stuff while we made sure this was the right place, an’ I still feel the same ‘bout it. Power in the stone. It’s a good location." She lifts her gaze to Evan and gives the creeper kin a grin. "Wanna eel off an get him? Add Shova an' the others from Kink ta that...anyone close enough ta the inner circle ta help set it."
"Thank you." says Kiersten as Evan nods and all but slithers off to bring others, spreading the word as only a creeper can, in whispers and relays. "Once the bale is set, the Keep will respond and shape itself to reflect the ones that set it. As his place, he should have a hand in the form it takes." So it's more than just manners that caused her to say he should be there. It was a quite literal statement.
It's not long before word is spread and people start showing up, as she requested. Kinksters and Shova and the family that took them in on first arriving to feed and shelter them when they were hurt. For his part, Chago lingers on his arrival to let the others in first so he can stomp in as the center of attention when he does come. No words from the occasional smart alec this time. He simply stalks up to the center of things, letting his presence and manner speak for him. For a change, he's paused somewhere to remove his Gauntlets and leave them safely elsewhere. He may not have dressed up like some folks about to cement their grip on a territory might, but he respects dealing with a bale enough to leave the weapons behind.
Genny waits patiently, having tossed her armor and whip into the room she's assuming is 'theirs' given some of the decor. She gets back just before he enters, holding a wicked looking knife in one hand and absently tapping the fingers of the other hand against it. She catches his eye giving a little grin before turning to address the rest.
"Home...tis an interestin' word an' one many people define a lot 'f ways. When we left Kink we went lookin' fer vengence, yeah, but even more important was a home place. Someplace fer us an' fer those like us. Those who weren't ever quite what anyone expected them ta be, but who together could do great things. Didn't matter seelie or unseelie, what kith 'r kin...jus' that desire ta take care 'f what we claim as our own an' the people who are a part 'f it whatever it takes. Now we're claimin' this place, this here an' now. Ya stay an it means yer dedicated ta this home an' family. May na mean ya stay here forever..." She grins a bit, "Ya'll cost a fortune ta feed, but it means loyalty ta what we're creatin' an' what we've fought and bleed fer and will continue ta fight an bleed fer. Here lies Passion, Hunger, Strength, Craft, Hearth, Secrets, Tales, Majesty... We are the fae... We are the Fierce of Heart and we are family." She slashes the knife twice, once catching a long lock of hair and the second opening her palm and letting it bleed. She holds this over the place for the bale. "Today we light our bale...on the kindlin' 'f our flesh an' our hopes. Those who would stand in our circle let them add to the flame." She drops the bloody hair and then offers the knife, hilt first to Chago, to say his peace and add his gift.
Chago takes the knife when it's offered and flashes a smirk. "Hell. If I'd known this was gonna be fancy, I'd have dressed up." he jokes before licking the blade clean and then turning to look at everyone there. He lifts the blade and slices a bit of his hair off, and slowly rolls the lock between his fingers as his eye roams the crowd as he considers his words.
"I ain't a speaker. Not like Genny. I ain't one for speeches and swaying folks with words. I'm more a do-er. Ever since Eric tried to screw us, I learned to be a leader too. I brought us here, with her help. We found you, or we called you and you came. Either way, if you're in this room, you know me well enough to know I ain't gonna screw ya like we got screwed. This is ours now. I may call it mine, but it's ours. Our home. I am Chago Bergasa. I am the Witch King of this Hall." He lifts his hand then and bites the fleshy part at the base of his thumb, just enough to tear the skin and rolls that ball of hair in it before dropping it with Genny's and keeping that hand over the basin for the fire, then drives the knife into the lip of that basin with a sudden display of power and ferocity. "And anyone thinks they can take it is welcome to try! This! Is! MINE!"
Shared or not, some things simply have to be claimed. His fingers flick in invitation then and some come at once, adding small bits of hair and blood before returning the blade to its place. The trolls for instance do not hesitate. Kiersten steps to Shova and loops her arm through his, then drops into a suggestion of a curtsy. "We are honored by the offer to be a part of this home in more than we already are, but we will have other bonds soon enough that we would not see weaken yours." she murmurs, the most formal they’ve heard her. Good thing she’s feeling better. The family that cared for them also stand off, politely refusing to add to the bowl, but clearly pleased to have been included. Eventually, all the Kinksters add something to the bowl, but none to the degree of Genny and Chago.
Genny waits until all is finished and then, leaving the knife where it is in the lip of the basin, opens up the pack. She reaches in, pulling the fire out and cradling it between her hands where it licks at the blood, consuming the material. There are no few mutters and a gasp or two at the woman just carrying a balefire in her hands as though it was a kitten. She kneels and gently sets the fire into the basin, pushing glamor into it and letting it go. It takes an instant before the fire hungrily begins to feed and then there's no stopping it.
At first, the fires seem a touch weaker than when she gathered them, but far steadier. Chago never moves his hand as the fire builds, letting its heat take care of stopping the bleeding as he adds what glamour he can also. Judging by how fast it fills the basin, it's not actually shrunk though. Instead, it's grown even as she's kept it in the bag. It seems her gift from Tolliver was as powerful as his aging suggested.
After a few minutes, the flames fill the basin and the power washes outward, turning the basin itself dark and changing the knife to look much more like a redcap made weapon. The wave of change spreads across the Keep quickly, making things darker overall, and flame lit from glowing ruby stone pressed into the walls. The rooms for weapon practice and the armory both reflect the militant nature of the trolls, as well as the viciousness of the redcap. The audience room is remade to be totally redcap, focusing everyone on the seat of the Witch King and making anyone sitting there all the more dominate looking with its decor and style. The kitchen, however, shows the biggest alterations. It's larger and better stocked by the time the power passes it over, loaded for both his tastes and hers. And somewhere deep, a memory wakes up, and the earth rumbles slightly beneath their feet.
The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.
Genny smiles as the change rolls through including washing over the fae and kin under Chago’s new banner. It brings healing with it, and a sense of sharpness, of being more themselves and even less mortal than ever. She gestures to the others to spread out and go see. Once the room is empty of others, she takes a deep breath and comes over to him, touching his cheek. "Well...that's a rather large step forward."
Chago grins to that and nods his head. "Very. I'm looking forward to a night here." he admits. "And to showing that asshole Baron he's got no claim left. Then maybe we can fight and end this." he rumbles. Not likely, but a redcap can dream, right? "I wanna see if there's an audience room now and what it looks like. And the kitchen." he tells her before leading off to see those changes and crowing about how his throne looks until the new kitchen makes him go silent as he simply looks at everything to see just how impressive it all is.
She teases him as they go, asking if she should get pillows to put on the throne so he's taller, all in good fun and careful not to push too hard. This is more of a...bet you missed me...teasing. As well, it serves to let others who have come since she left see them together, both making sure they know she's with him and that she belongs here. When they get to the kitchen, she too goes silent and a bit wide eyed. Her fingers twitch against his and she grins. "I think...the bale got it right."
The teasing gets a scowl and a low growl, but also a grin. He's in too good a mood to be pissed at her when she's just back. He does swat her rump when he gets a good shot too, but just as playful as her teasing. When he gets his own voice back and his single eye catches the twitching fingers his grin just widens. "You know... maybe I should take stock of this before you try anything in here. Never know what that bale might have done." Oh yeah. Time to get even.
She pouts at him, but is unable to hold the expression before breaking into laughter. "An' I'm sure you'll take stock as slowly as possible...jus' fer the torture." She shakes her head, but her eyes dance with amusement. "Hell...it's good ta be back. Folks on the other side 'f the trod didn't believe that I was Truehearted...right until I told 'em it was ta a redcap. Suddenly there was belief a plenty. Apparently, I deserve ya."
Chago laughs easily at that and one arm slips out to pull her closer. "Well... there ain't many that do deserve redcaps. That's why we're so selective about hanging around other kiths." he jokes. "But I guess you'll do." he adds as his fingers curl in her fur, not even trying to avoid an elbow jab for that one.
She leans against him, warm, real, and still smelling just a little like blood. It's nearly impossible to get the stuff out of fur without a proper soak and soaps. "Good...cause yer rather stuck wi' me. So there." Genny kisses the top of his head. "So...plannin' ta do befer I shut ya up in a room an' refamiliarize myself wi' yer territory?"
"Just one thing." answers Chago before leading her back out to head toward their rooms. "KENNY!" he bellows once in the halls again. When the young redcap shows, clearly a bit surprised still at the new arrangements, Chago tells him "Go find the shrimps and Evan. Tell 'em all dawn at the soonest. Tell Evan to find me in the bale chamber when time is set for sure. I'll be there midnight or so, latest." Then he waves the kid off and resumes the trip to their rooms. After all, that gives them most of a day and half a night to out off work. Go figure he's got a plan in place already. Messages to folks from town and to the Baron all ready to display their proof now that she’s back.
Genny grins as the word goes out, blowing Kenny a kiss when his back is turned. The young redcap is getting better about this whole, many kiths thing but it still weirds him out a bit. Once he's gone, she pushes open the door to their room and then pauses and blinks, before laughing softly. Apparently, the bale was at work here too and while the decor still isn't over the top, what furniture and such that there is appeals to her sense of textures and comfort. There's a rack on the wall for hanging weapons and armor and a fire at a low bank in one wall. "This is a feckin' cool way 'f redecoratin'."
There's also a shelf by the weapon rack for his Gauntlets and the weapons rest on it when he walks in. "Not exactly how I'd have done it, but it looks good." he says as he scans the area. Even the floor is redone, taking into account her hooves. Yeah, the public got more of it it looks like him, but their private space is very much her. Then again, considering the average satyr and comfort... that's not totally a bad thing. "Is that door new?" he asks as he indicates one to the side that's rather heavy looking. Checking it shows a private bath, with its own pump and fire for hot water.
She doesn't squeal, that's way too girly, but she does go off in Spanish with a praise of the wonder that is hot water. And that's really the end of them wandering around, cause once the bath is filled, she makes short work of their clothing and anything else in the way of a combination of cleaning and making sure he's very aware of how much she missed him and just how much she claims him as her own. Multiple times...on various surfaces...until she finally settles against him, her head pillowed on his chest. Evan shouldn't have too much grumpiness to complain about now.
"Mmm...nice ta be home. An I do have another card fer ya in this little game wi' the Baron. This section 'f land. It ain't part 'f his barony anyway."
Chago is more than happy to take her to quite a few places and angles as well, to help drive any last bits of rage or loony satyr stuff left over after her little trip. He's much more relaxed once they're resting and curled together, sighing happily and leaning to nuzzle her hair and stroke her horns. "So.... bath...sleep... get rea... the hell you say!?" Yeah. That bit of news got him alright. His tongue flick over his lips as he considers the ramifications of that bit of news and muttering in Spanish as he considers it.
His response makes her grin, pleased with herself. "Mmmhm... One ‘f the places the trod links ta where I came from, the Barony I destroyed an' it's moved. I checked an' doubled check it. The trod used ta be the division between the lands and this area was on the -other- side. Part 'f why it felt so familiar when we got here. So ifn ya go by the older borders, which take precedence as far as I remember...well... it's been moved and it’s unincorporated here and unclaimed there cause there still ain't a rulin' class on the other side."
Chago's grin widens a bit as he keeps stroking her horns idly. "Damn, goat. When you stomp someone, you really stomp 'em good, don't ya? Remind me not t'piss ya off." he jokes. Then he gets a little more serious. "We'll need to confer with Kiersten and confirm it, but... well, we might have us one hell of a territory. How would ya like a county instead of a keep?"
"When I stomp something, it stays stomped..." She rubs her cheek against his chest, covering a yawn. "Mmm...I think it'd be a hell 'f a lot 'f work, but I suspect we could make some very profitable arrangements wi' those jus' on the other side 'f the trod and the other places I know branch out from it, now that I’ve walked it. They ain't got a bale an haven't had fer a while. I suspect it can be worked out ta everyone's advantage. Well...save fer Baron Nuckin'Futz."
Chago nods, yawning himself after catching hers. Those things are way too contagious, aren't they? He nods slowly, grinning a little wider as he thinks of what she said. "Hell, yeah. We do that and we got a big edge on Baron Hoverend.They remember you out there? Do I need to present myself to 'em alone until it's too late to argue?" he suggests.
"It's hit an' miss. Some folks 'r jus' as glad fer what happened back then. Some 'r too young ta remember. Some think I got the shite end 'f the deal, an' some..." She shrugs. "They likely would like ta do some skull bashin' 'f their own. So may need ta work it from a couple 'f angles in the long run. Short run though it gives us a second defense against the Baron's claims."
Chago nods again. "Right. I just wanna talk to Kiersten and make sure it ain't been annexed or some shit. Hell, even if it has been, if she'll release it or if our claim is enough to get us loose, we can use it. Once we settle with the Baron, we can start sending out some ambassador kinda stuff and see what happens."
"Makes sense ta me. There's a troll I can think 'f an' a few others we could start wi' once we get that far." She yawns again, mentally testing the time. "Though I'm thinkin' we've got a couple hours ta nap, then go plan wi' Evan. Ya can bet the Baron ain't gonna like our new bale among other things. Will be time ta get our war faces on soon enough."
Chago nods in agreement then mutters in a darker tone. "Yeah. But... we should rest in the bale chamber. I got no idea how long you had it, but I know how long I've needed it and I need to build up enough to look like I'm full strength. Can't meet a sidhe looking like I been through a wringer. Specially not that one."
"Considerin' the nature 'f that trod? No feckin' clue how long. Don't matter. I wouldn't mind sleepin' warm between it an' you." She gives a little grin before biting his shoulder gently. "An' ya were right. The glamour snacks you prepared came in very handy as balefire tinder. Kept the thing goin' good. Thanks."
And so the conversation goes, turning lighter as the important bits are covered, then turning quiet as they drift off together. It's morning before they're disturbed and then it's just to give the time of evening that the meeting with the Baron will be held. Soon after another knock comes and food is left for them by whoever it was. Much later, lunch is brought the same way, followed by hot water and a basin to wash in. Then Chago's sidhe parodying finery and one of Genny's best outfits. Each delivery is a knock and the items left, the person doing it unseen.