Young Justice

Denial

In the star scape, a golden helmet turns, eternal. Until it stops and the eyes glow an even brighter gold than the color of the helmet.

New Orleans, July 27th, 21:57 CDT 

Trumpet music plays in the background as an old man walks down the street. Carrying a cane but not using it. He stops before a door on his left. MADAM XANADU the main golden oval sign reads and eye in the center. Three small square signs with red font read TAROTS READ > LOVED ONES CONTACTED > FATES FORETOLD. He pulls out a golden pocket watch. Looking at the woman on the inside of the cover. He closes it and walks inside.

As he does a woman steps through the bead-guarded doorway. Her skin and hair dark, but her green eyes are accented by the three blue jewels on her forehead. "Bonsoir, monsieur." She greets. "How can Madame Xanadu be of service?" he French accent rather mild. "Ah, there is someone to whom you wish to speak." She stops about the distance of the table to her right apart from the man. "Your wife, mai non."

~
A/N
Perhaps well, the literal translation is but no, but it's similar experience and it kind of makes more sense?
~

The man's hand clenches tightly around the watch. "Yes, my Inza."

Xanadu sits down. "Then madam will make contact if fate be kind."

The man sighs as he sits down as well. "But he so rarely is."

"Ahem." She clears her throat, then holds out her hand.

The man reaches into his jacket, pulling out a roll of bills.

~
A/N
Guys. Chill, it's a roll of one's. Had to slow the things down a ton, but it's a roll of one's.
~

"Oh, of course." He says, placing them in her hand. She slips them down her shirt with no hesitation and closes her eyes.

The ball in the center glows pure white and her hair is blown back. The light above sways and creaks, the table shakes ever so slightly, and the curtains blow with the wind. The man watches as the table rises. Then the candles blow out.

"Oh, my darling. How I’ve missed you." Madam Xanadu says, though her voice is slightly higher than her own. Her eyes snap open, glowing white as well. "I'm so lonely here and cold."

The man bursts out into laughter. "Th-that's the best you could do?"

Everything clatters to their original places.

"Imbecile! You have broken the spell." Xanadu snaps as her eyes open once more. "Your wife is forever lost."

"Th-that supposed to be my wife?" He questions mocking. Letting out a single chuckle before he continues. "Heck, my little Spitfire would’ve kicked my can for throwin' away good money on you."

"No refunds for non-believers." Xanadu replies hastily as she stands up out of her chair and crosses her arms.

~
A/N
This reaction can seem a little strange for those that don't understand the culture she comes from, it confused me the first time I saw it until I asked my uncle- a tarot card reading himself- why someone would do that. The answer is simple, some people like to try and hustle their money back from Readers. By standing up she's giving herself more time to run away and call for help, or take him down before he can get at her. Plus keeping the table between them means he'd have to jump it or go around it.
~

"I think we both know you’re the non-believer, Madame. A wind machine." he gestures widely with his hand to where a wind machine is hidden from sight behind the curtains near the ceiling. "Tire jacks under the table." He lifts the long table cover to show it off, then sits up straight. "A shame, too. You have the perfect aura for the work, and nothing would've pleased me more than to be reunited with my bride." he opens his golden pocket watch, looking down at the picture in longing.