"I don't get it, Abu." Aladdin said, tossing an apple over towards the monkey's way as he lounged in his usual hiding place, looking over the cityscape of Agrabah. "I just don't see how Agrabah's going to cope with another round of taxes. I know Sultan means well, and that it isn't his fault, but..."
He trailed off, grabbing an apple for himself and rubbing it on his shirt before taking a bite. His brows narrowed. "But Jasmine didn't have to say what she did. It's not like I don't understand anything that's going on at the Palace. If anything, it wouldn't kill for them to have someone speaking for the people of Agrabah."
"Uh-huh." Abu agreed, grinning as he devoured his apple.
"Let's hear it for the people! Let's give the people a hand! Whoo!" Genie appeared in the room as several entities of himself, clapping furiously and with appropriate whoops and hollers.
Aladdin smiled. "That's more like several hands, Genie."
"Oh yeah, point taken." Genie transformed into his usual self. "How are you holding up, kiddo?"
"I don't know. I just wish there were something we could do." Aladdin hugged his knees to his chest and looked out the window.
"Well, it is on Sultan's hand. I'm sure he'll figure something out." Genie mused.
"Yeah, well, it's not just Sultan or the committee's problem." Aladdin said with a scowl.
"Well, you could try to get donations or something." Genie turned into a cash register, which ka-chinged several times, and three of his faces showed up like a slot machine in a casino. Whatever those were.
"Wait a minute, Genie - that's it!" Aladdin's face brightened.
"Huh? What'd I say now?"
Abu looked just as confused as Genie as they turned to face Aladdin. Carpet stirred too, who'd once been laying down in a corner as if he were sleeping - at least if magic carpets could sleep.
"If the whole problem is the collateral damage to the city, maybe we could have something like a for-hire service."
"I'm listening." Genie said, his ears enlargening on the sides of his head.
"We could use what we earn in donations to give back to the people of Agrabah and help build the city when it's damaged."
"Hey. That's not a bad idea. But, uh, what kind of for hire service are you thinking about?" Genie frowned and transformed himself into a clown. "I hope you're not thinking of using me as a one-trick parlor act."
Aladdin raised a brow. "No, but I thought you'd like that kind of thing."
Genie shrugged. "Yeah, but my jokes and tricks are all free. Semi-phenomenal powered I may be, but I'm all inclusive."
Aladdin shared a mutual look with Abu, one that Genie couldn't quite understand. Aladdin shook his head. "I'd never ask you to do something like that, especially if you didn't want to. I was thinking - maybe - we should work for the people who can afford to hire and give to us, and use that to help the people who can't."
"I get it! Robin Hood Al! Except you're not stealing, and you don't have the bushy tail and long nose." When Aladdin met Genie with a confused look, Genie waved his hand. "Ah, you wouldn't know the last part - inside millennia reference." He said with a wink.
"It's gotta work. And we'll have Agrabah's costs down in no time at all."
"Great, we'll just run the idea by Jasmine and..."
"No, Genie!" Aladdin grabbed Genie's arm before he could walk away. "If anything it might be a bad idea to tell her. This is something I wanna do on my own."
Genie frowned. "I don't know, wouldn't it be a good idea to tell her at least why you're doing it?"
Aladdin shook his head. "I don't want this to be just on the part of the palace. With the committee and the people on the panel giving the Sultan so much trouble, that might be more than it's worth. And since Jasmine's a part of that, that might make things more complicated for her too." Aladdin leapt up and left his hiding place without another word.
Genie looked at Abu. "Not that I disagree with him, but usually when Al gets an idea, and he doesn't tell Jasmine, it usually ends up being a bad idea."
Abu shrugged. "I don't know."
"Well, just in case Al gets himself into any collateral damage, we'll give him extra protection." Genie used his magic on Abu, giving the monkey shades and a two piece suit with something of a oddly shaped space gun. Genie outfitted himself with matching attire. "You know the difference between me and you, monkey? I make this look easy."
Genie grinned, and followed Aladdin outside into the city. Abu, inspecting the space gun with the corked barrel before tossing it aside, followed him.