all you gotta do is rub that lamp [william]

[Nemr Aalam]

Today was Rajah's day off and well, quite honestly, this was probably the most exciting thing he was going to do: order a drink and sit in a cafe. Normally, he would be following Jasmine around as a self appointed bodyguard, but she may be joining him. As Aladdin would be. As the Genie would be. Ah yes. That genie. Ever since everyone's memories had returned, they all seemed to find comfort in the fact that they'd found each other. Considering that Aladdin and Jasmine had run away together, and the Genie had just recently met them . . . it was at least nice to have family around. Rajah of course knew that his own feelings towards a certain other individual among their group were, confusing -- to say the least.

But he was not one to vocalize his emotions or show that he cared. Whether the others would come or not had yet to be determined. Rajah had a distinct feeling that Jasmine would be spending time with Aladdin today, which left only one other person for potential company. Rajah ordered his hot milk and took a seat at one of the tables. Took a sip of the delicious liquid. Despite the fact that he was human, he still had his beverage preferences from when he was a tiger and part of that involved the rich, hot, beverage of milk. Granted, this wasn't as good as the palace milk he received in Agrabah, but it would have to suffice for now.

[genie]

   William was strolling down the sidewalk, a bit of a skip in his step. Was a beautiful day out, he couldn't  stop thinking about his friends, he was so glad to have found them again. But the urge to getting wandering was ever present at the back of his mind, he'd just have to get used to the idea that he wasn't leaving Storybrooke anytime soon. Ah well he thought, with Al, Jas, and Raj around he'd be ok staying.

   As he passed by the pawn shop he stopped dead in his tracks, there in the window he saw a small lamp. No he thought...couldn't be, could it? The shop was closed so he made a note of it, he would 'have' to return later. As he continued down the street he took a deep breath, he loved the outdoors, when out the corner of his eye he spied Raj, sitting at the cafe'. Will raised his hand and waved as he waited for a car to pass, it seemed Raj hadn't noticed. Once the car had passed he bolted across the road and plopped in the seat next to Raj. "Hellooooo Beautiful!" he said winking.

   As Will looked at Raj's drink his eyebrow furled, "What on earth is that?" He turned his head and was looking straight at Raj, awaiting his answer, eye brow raised in curiosity!

[Nemr Aalam]

There hadn't been much time between the door opening, and Rajah realizing that William was sitting right next to him. He looked at the man as he greeted him with a rather flattering word. Beautiful. Well, that was certainly nice to hear. Did this constitute as flirtation? Rajah hadn't the slightest idea so all he could do was give a small nod in return, trying to think of something clever to say but clearly didn't think of it in time. How was it that the Genie was always in such a good mood? Rajah was not a people person, and of course this made him come off as a little anti social and cantankerous . . . but Genie, he was always energetic. Full of life. Perhaps that was what Rajah found to be so endearing about him. Part of the man's charm it would seem. He looked at the drink, questioning its content and Rajah simply cradled it between his hands, unable to maintain eye contact.

"Milk," he answered simply. "Do you want some?" He offered, deciding that it was the polite thing to do. If there was anyone that he showed any care toward, it was Jasmine, and Genie and . . . well, he supposed Aladdin, but he was always still wary of his and Jasmine's relationship. "It'll be better for you than something with caffeine," he said, partly teasing, partly with truth. "Looks like you're energetic enough already, as usual." It was neither a compliment nor insult; simply a statement. Though Rajah supposed that if he had to choose, it would be more of the former rather than latter. A man who always held so much energy and zeal was enjoyable to be around . . . even a little infectious.

[genie]

   Will sat there, mulling it over and decided against it, "Nah, I think I might go with a Chai Tea." He got up to go order and within moments had bounded back to his seat, "And thus we wait!" He began tapping on the table, "Sooo!" he said, waiting a moment before continuing, awaiting a response from Raj, "So, what are we doing today? If were both sitting here, at the Cafe' at this hour of the day, I believe it's safe to assume that we both, are not busy?"

   A grin made it's way onto Will's face, he chuckled a little. "Hmm, what should we do" he said as he was stroking his chin. "Movie? Nah...Something sporty?" Hmm he thought, as he thought it over, he decided against that as well, "Nah, feeling like a lazy day, how bout you?" As he finished speaking they called his name up at the counter, and before Raj could even respond he had bounded back up to the counter.

   As he plopped next to Raj once more, Raj could see that Will had the biggest smile on his face! "I know what I would like to do!" His smile getting larger, "How about you and I run down to the beach, eh?!" As he finished, he began to gulp down his Chai Tea, only to begin sputtering! It was quite hot! "Ack!"

[Nemr Aalam]

Rajah watched William go up to order his drink and shortly after, he returned. The former tiger could see it, the abundance of energy on the man's face. He was positively bursting with it, and it left Rajah in continued awe of how someone could constantly be so energetic. He asked what they should do today, assuming that neither of them had to work . . . which he was absolutely right about. Rajah had to admit, the thought of spending the day with Genie was a rather enticing one, though of course he made no show of this. He just stared at William as he went on about all the possibilities and just when Nemr was ab out to open his mouth to reply, the hyperactive man hurried off to get his drink, returned, deciding upon the beach . . . and then promptly burned his tongue. All Rajah could do was stare at him, trying to figure out where to start. He looked down at the man's drink and then back up at his face.

"I really hope that's decaf," he stated, going back to his initial statement about how William didn't need anything with caffeine, or sugar for that matter. "The beach actually sounds like a good idea," he said, trying to sound as nonchalant as he could though he was quite excited about the idea. "Try not to burn your tongue. Heaven forbid you wouldn't be able to talk for a few minutes," he said sarcastically with clear teasing as his lips curved into a smirk. He enjoyed teasing the man, as he was perhaps the only other person apart from Jasmine who Rajah felt comfortable and at ease enough in the company of to be able to tease them.

"The beach sounds perfect," he said with a faint smile. "Should we ask the others?" Or would it just be the two of them? Rajah knew what he would prefer. He brought his cup of milk to his lips, taking a small sip and swallowing with satisfaction. "We could take some food. Have a picnic there," he suggested, eager to watch the waves and sit on the sand. He missed the sand -- having lived in a desert for so long. Any chance he had to lie on it, was an opportunity he would always willingly take.

[genie]

   "Well well, that wasn't so hard now was it, and do I detect a hint of excitement?" Will thought about it, "We 'should' see if they want to go but I'm sure they're off enjoying each others company" He sat there blowing on his tea whist pulling his legs up onto the seat to sit cross-legged, he then took a sip, "Nope! Still to warm!" he chuckled a little, "A picnic eh?  What should we pack?" His mind was wandering through the possibilities of what they could do for their lunch, when he suddenly caught himself dwelling on the lamp he'd seen. His face flashed a look of worry, and as soon as he noticed it he went back to grinning like an idiot. "Hmm, what do tigers eat?" He nudged Raj as he said it. "I'm feeling some subs, although I've yet to find a good deli around here." 

   He looked over at the radio, once the weather report came on. "86 And Sunny! Not a cloud in the Sky this afternoon and this lovely weather should persist through the weekend, We'll keep you up..." He'd stopped paying attention, as his level of excitement was on the verge of bursting through the roof! "Did ya hear that! Weather is going to be fantastic all week!" He began muttering to himself, going through each day thinking about what he could during each one. As he finished he snapped his fingers, "Darn, I can't do all that, I really aught to work at some point this week" he said with a smirk.

   Returning his attention to Raj, "So where are the others today?" He sat and thought for a moment, "Actually, where have they been?" He asked. "I haven't seen either of them in a few days now, granted I've been a bit preoccupied." As he finished he began sipping on his tea again, ah now it's about right, still a tad warm, but manageable.

[Nemr Aalam]

Rajah didn't want to admit that he was excited, but at the same time, he had no qualms with being more expressive and talkative with those he was close to. Granted, he wasn't nearly as talkative as William, or even Jasmine or Aladdin. No matter though. He supposed it was a miracle he could talk at all considering he had been a tiger for most of his life. "Maybe," he said nonchalantly and laconically as he took another sip of his milk. He then watched Genie's expressions, having seemed to gone from a moment of worry to then pure joy. "Do I want to know what's going on in that head of yours," he asked him with mocking reluctance. In regards to the suggestion of the picnic, it seemed to be one that the Genie found favorable. He asked him what tigers ate and a small smirk played on Rajah's face.

"Raw meat, but my taste seems to have changed in this form," he admitted, answering the question rather honestly, even if it was meant to be a rhetorical one. "Subs on the other hand, I could definitely go for." They would surely find a deli somewhere nearby. Or of course there was always Granny's. "Anything else?" Especially considering they had not known each other for all too long because the curse had struck and brought them here, stripped of their memories until the curse was broken. He hadn't been listening to the radio, and still hadn't even when William fell silent. It wasn't until he expressed his joy in listening to the weather that he even knew what he was talking about.

He let him talk it out, thinking of his work obligations and how it prevented him from being able to enjoy the good weather. "Well then it's a good thing that your job consists of a lot of walking," he told him. "What is your work schedule this week?" He inquired, having his reasons for wanting to know but tried to make the question as casual as possible as he took another sip of his delicious drink. As for the others . . . "They're probably with each other," he stated, slight disapproving in his tone for he would always be quite protective -- over protective -- of Jasmine.

He knew that they needed their privacy however, but that didn't mean Rajah had to enjoy the thought. "I don't know how they're not sick of each other yet," he stated, knowing it was slightly hypocritical considering the abundance of time he spent with Jasmine, and even Genie. But still, that was different because . . , well, this was Jasmine he was talking about! He would always worry about her and always want to make sure she was safe and protected. "You? Preoccupied? Noo, never!" Rajah said with teasing sarcasm as he even let out a small chuckle. "What could possibly preoccupy the otherwise free Genie?" He inquired.

[genie]

"Do I detect jeleousy?" He chuckled, he reached over and very briefly scratched behind Raj's ear, "Better?" He realy did enjoy teasing Raj, he enjoyed teasing all of his friends but there was something about messing with Raj that felt...different? It was all very confusing but he was going to do, as he does.
"Well, I should get started tomorrow, but eh! Who knows what I'll do! It's very fortunate that I'm good at what I do" he leaned back, throwing his hands back behind his head, as he settled he waited till Raj looked at him and Will simply winked! "Well, I'd had this inkling, this curse that brought us here, would it have freed me of my lamp? So I've been looking into it a little but so far I've got nothing, so there's that and work!" As he mentioned the latter his face soured. " Eh it's not so bad I suppose I just don't like convincing people to but stuff I feel they don't really, really, really need!"
" So how about we get going?" He stood after he finished speaking, chugging down the last of his tea!

[Nemr Aalam]

Jealousy. At the word, Rajah gave Will a glare, though it was all in good fun. He supposed it was part jealousy . . . or perhaps more just the over protectiveness he felt toward Jasmine. That instinct did not change whether he was a tiger or human. He then felt Genie scratch behind his ear -- a gesture that Jasmine had done many a time when he was a tiget. But not one that a pesron had done when he was in human form, until now. And Rajah couldn't deny that it felt equally as satisfying and comforting . . . he wondered if it felt even more so because it was Genie's hand that was doing the scratching. But he couldn't dwell on that, and whatever soothing effect it had on him. He just cast him another glare, though this one far more strained as it was difficult to create such an expression after a rather sensational feeling.

"Yes," he conceded in a grumbled voice as he took another sip of his milk. "I'm not jealous by the way," he said in attempt to save himself from appearing like a jealous fool. "I'm just used to being with her, all the time. At least that way, I know that she's safe." Genie had a strong friendship with Aladdin, and Rajah had one with Jasmine. And here was Genie and Rajah having some sort of . . . something or another. "It is indeed very fortunate that you can talk faster than you think. Makes you effective at your job," he said teasingly with a smirk toward his friend.

The former tiger then listened attentively as Genie explained the possibility of being freed from the lamp. To be enslaved to an object surely must be a horrible thing and Rajah found himself compelled to help William in whatever way he could. "Did you see the lamp anywhere?" Nemr inquired. "If not, it's probably at Gold's shop. We can stop there on the way if you like." Despite Aladdin being in possession of his three wishes, it was far better to ensure the lamp did not fall into the wrong hands. Even if it was true that the Genie may be freed of it here in Storybrooke. Rajah finished his milk as William explained not liking convincing people to buy unnecessary things.

"Then why don't you switch occupations and do what you do best: entertain people," he said a bit teasingly. But truth was, Genie was indeed rather entertaining. "It's odd that we need jobs here at all. It's a rather unfamiliar commitment." Especially since he and Jasmine didn't have to work within the palace walls. Rajah had just enjoyed laying around all day . . . or following the princess to ensure her safety. Nemr rose to his feet when Genie asked if he was ready. "Let's go," he said, finding himself oddly excited to go to the beach. Though he was unsure what he was more excited about: the location or the company.

[genie]

    Will was ready to burst out the door and back into the open. Ever since his confinement in the lamp he didn't really care much for enclosed spaces, even larger more open ones. If there wasn't open sky above him he wasn't exactly in his happy place, but he never really let on to that fact. "Well I think I spied something over in gold's shop while I was on my over here, but he wasn't in. I just wonder what it'll cost, gold has always been a bit...peculiar as I understand it." He was rubbing his chin again, "But we can check it out later!" The stopped in to Grannie's briefly to pick up their lunch. As they hit the street, Will seemed to get more excited. "Onwards! To the beach!" as he said this he locked in with Raj's arm and nigh pulled his arm from it's socket!
    Walking at a brisk pace, it wasn't obvious that Will wanted to be sitting in the sand or anything. It didn't take them long to get to the beach, it was a weekday but there were certainly a lot of people there. Kites drifting back and forth on the winds coming in from across the water, couples sitting in chairs together chatting about their plans. Kids running to and fro and making sandcastles. "Is it a holiday today?" Will was curious but it didn't matter too much, there was plenty of space, and before you knew it, he'd pulled a large blanket from his sack. It almost seemed as if it could barely fit within it. He spread it out across the sand and in the same motion plopped himself upon it.
    "So you think I should entertain people? I haven't done that in so long. I wouldn't even know what to do." He sat there pondering as he looked out to the water. A smile upon his face.