#rivervale_lodge

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Kerri finishes up telling the Mountain the news she heard from Tiara. "...so I think perhaps it would be best if you came along. You'll likely be able to suss out issues that I miss."

"I get to put on my courtly clothes?" He smiles "Beaumayn aren't always loved, but that will be a minor set back."

"Well, neither are house-less commoners. So we'll each be in our own good company."

"True," He nods and then grows more sober "Coat of Many Colors?"

"If he expects me to play the jester for him, he's got another think coming."

"I've heard the term before, though. Something biblical, maybe?"

"As a matter of fact, a Broadway musical came to mind. Donny Osmand plays Joseph, son of Jacob... and it's a biblical tale yeah but I like it better with broadway show tunes," He admits. "Ever see that one?"

"Oh, that's where I've heard of it -- The Technicolor Coat, or something like that?"

"Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, yeah. It's kind of a thing among Beaumayn because our protagonist has prophetic dreams. One son among many, but from a favored mother so is a favored son. He gets a coat of many colors, quite flashy. Joseph ends up annoying his brothers, especially when he starts having dreams about his brothers bowing down to him and the moron shares it. And others... they get so pissed at him, they ponder fratricide, but instead they sell him to slavers, create a bullshit story for their dad, and poor Joe finds himself in Egypt. Ironicly, his gift for dreams comes stronger... and his honest and more humble dealings get him a good position, then falsely accused, then jailed, then he helps the right guy from Pharoah's court, and ... well, our boy wonder ends up dragged before the Pharoah to answer what the Pharoah's dreams might mean."

It's said rather hastily, "i'm skipping over a lot of detail mind you."

A blink. "Sheesh. Hell of a life. Still not seeing how it applies. I mean, I'm not a seer."

"You got a point," He muses it over, "Let's see, it does pay off. He warns the Pharaoh that 'your dreams mean you get seven years of excess, then after that, 7 years of famine. The Pharaoh, who by the way is hilariously elvis like in the play but still scary, asks his advice from there.. and Joe says 'Easy, build up reserves, a tithe of grains for seven years of good stuff, then wh en the bad stuff hits, you send it out to deal with the famine. Put some decent guy in charge. And the Pharaoh goes 'hey, YOU seem decent' and suddenly Joseph is upraised to the Admin second hand in charge of food gathering distribution in all Egypt. He does the job ,does it well and Egypt handles the famine when other lands suffer. From there it gets a bit fun with his brothers coming from their land to beg and not knowing who he is after all this time. He yanks their chain before all are reconciled. You piss off some siblings?"

She listens, pleased with the narrative of solid household planning on a nation-wide scale. But his question at the end seems to stun her, and her pleased expression goes away in the following silence.

A brow lift, "I was almost tongue in cheek with that one but I think I struck a nerve?"

She frowns. "It doesn't matter." A deep breath and she refocuses. "Okay, so Pharoah appreciates foresight used properly. I can get behind that."

Vali doesn't have to be a Gwydion to sense that it might matter in some ways, but lets it slide, "I can find the bible chapters OR play that musical if you want to review yourself but that's the source material. There IS also a song by Dolly Parton.... a celebration of a gesture of her mother's love."

"Hmm. I think I'd prefer the play." She gives a wry grin. "At least it sounds like the coat reference refers to something good happening. Kind of."

"Understand, my House discusses it as a fun way to debate prophecy ethics. If Joseph had been HUMBLER with his gift at the start, he'd not have been sold, but then, that was necessary for him to Save Egypt... so how much control did he really have, that kind of thing. But back to your point, yeah, Pharaoh was a leader with immense power, but had the sense to appreciate foresight and management."

An amused look crosses Vali's face.

A bit of a huff. "I've never been much of a fan of 'accept your suffering because it's necessary for something good to happen later'...no offense, but I think a lot more people like to pretend they know what's going to happen in the long run than actually know."

"Understood, not even all Beauymayn buy into that... it gets abused by some evil assholes... and predestination breaks down when you study it. No one MADE Joseph apply his brains, or engage his kindness, that was all on our protagonist. Destiny PLUS choice is usually required in some our visions. But for my House, that sort of thing is what we study, where as for you? I think what tickles me is that .. Joseph was a Hearth. I mean, if he'd been a troll."

She chuckles. "That is sort of the job he got, right? Interesting."

"Exactly, see, It occurs to me Mrs. Joosten wouldn't have that message dropped of to you with MY ideas in mind, but rather what YOU relate to, or what she think you would relate to. So.. maybe less prophet more Hearth?"

"But...the coat was given to him before he had the Hearth job. Might be stretching the metaphor. But still, that might be it."

They find a copy of the Movie version of the play and Kerri gets to watch it for herself. If nothing else, the songs will be catchy!

She's certain to suffer from earworms for the next few days.

("Strange as it seems there's been a rash of ending scenes... 😉 )

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