Very few dare to say otherwise, whether they disagree with her views or not. Very few dare to argue that what she does isn't what she views is best for her Suit, even if the first seven years of her reign and the prejudice with which she rules may indicate otherwise. Rachel Caustello loves her Diamonds, and that is a concrete fact as hard as the rock itself.
It's evident in the hours she puts into her work, in the number of times she tugs herself away from the Deck in order to deal with a certain issue they may be facing Outside, the number of times she's gone down to the Outposts to make sure all is safe and secure. It's evident in the sleepless nights, the intense training, the way she forgets sometimes what eating is and has to be encouraged by the butler, her assistant, Säde, or Avery or Silas.
It's evident in the way she works herself through her grief over Edgar's death, over Ophelia's, over Andrew's, in the way she forced herself to take things on in complete capacity in Lindsey's absence and eventual death. In the careful planning that went into each and every Winter Festival of her reign, and in the way that she made sure to be introduced to every newcomer-- Outsider or Deckborn-- that proclaimed themselves part of her Suit.
And it's evident most of all on the day when she stands up to the man known as the Magician for the sake of both the Deck and her Diamonds and seems to lose crown, health, and home in one fell swoop.
Rachel Caustello loves her Diamonds, and would and has sacrificed everything for them. Very few dare to say otherwise. The Diamonds certainly don't.
Instead, they come in droves to bid their Queen goodbye, wish her well with Diamond Masks firmly in place but with eyes unable to entirely hide both their sorrow and pride. Rachel doesn't understand it, doesn't comprehend how they can murmur, "We hope you'll return to us soon, Lady" with such honesty. Even when Silas holds her sobbing form in his arms and murmurs that she is far too loved to be irreparable, it doesn't make sense.
It only slowly begins to be understandable when the weeks away stretch into months and still she is getting letters and calls and well-wishes, countless people telling her how dearly she is missed. It only begins to sink in when she starts to relearn not only how to walk again, but how to love herself. It is a delicate process, one she is still in the midst of when she steps out of the car and back onto Deck soil.
The bright smiles that greet her, crutches and all, help things become even clearer.
Rachel Caustello loves her Diamonds, and her Diamonds-- hers, now and forever, Queenship or no-- very dearly love her.
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Rachel Caustello loves her Diamonds.
Very few dare to say otherwise, whether they disagree with her views or not. Very few dare to argue that what she does isn't what she views is best for her Suit, even if the first seven years of her reign and the prejudice with which she rules may indicate otherwise. Rachel Caustello loves her Diamonds, and that is a concrete fact as hard as the rock itself.
It's evident in the hours she puts into her work, in the number of times she tugs herself away from the Deck in order to deal with a certain issue they may be facing Outside, the number of times she's gone down to the Outposts to make sure all is safe and secure. It's evident in the sleepless nights, the intense training, the way she forgets sometimes what eating is and has to be encouraged by the butler, her assistant, Säde, or Avery or Silas.
It's evident in the way she works herself through her grief over Edgar's death, over Ophelia's, over Andrew's, in the way she forced herself to take things on in complete capacity in Lindsey's absence and eventual death. In the careful planning that went into each and every Winter Festival of her reign, and in the way that she made sure to be introduced to every newcomer-- Outsider or Deckborn-- that proclaimed themselves part of her Suit.
And it's evident most of all on the day when she stands up to the man known as the Magician for the sake of both the Deck and her Diamonds and seems to lose crown, health, and home in one fell swoop.
Rachel Caustello loves her Diamonds, and would and has sacrificed everything for them. Very few dare to say otherwise. The Diamonds certainly don't.
Instead, they come in droves to bid their Queen goodbye, wish her well with Diamond Masks firmly in place but with eyes unable to entirely hide both their sorrow and pride. Rachel doesn't understand it, doesn't comprehend how they can murmur, "We hope you'll return to us soon, Lady" with such honesty. Even when Silas holds her sobbing form in his arms and murmurs that she is far too loved to be irreparable, it doesn't make sense.
It only slowly begins to be understandable when the weeks away stretch into months and still she is getting letters and calls and well-wishes, countless people telling her how dearly she is missed. It only begins to sink in when she starts to relearn not only how to walk again, but how to love herself. It is a delicate process, one she is still in the midst of when she steps out of the car and back onto Deck soil.
The bright smiles that greet her, crutches and all, help things become even clearer.
Rachel Caustello loves her Diamonds, and her Diamonds-- hers, now and forever, Queenship or no-- very dearly love her.