History Webcomic / Rain

* ParentalSubstitute: Rain's snarky aunt Fara took Rain in when Rain was 13, after "circumstances" separated Rain from her parents.
** In chapter 6, it is revealed that [[spoiler: Rain's mother, Liriel, is deceased after suffering from a fatal illness. Later, in chapter 13, we learn that Rain's father, Marcus, apparently abandoned his family and disappeared after his wife became ill. His current status and whereabouts are unknown.]]
*** [[spoiler: A comment in chapter 26 by Aunt Fara implies that the previously unspecified illness that claimed Rain's mother was, in fact, cancer.]]

** Maria and [[spoiler: Rain]] are lesbians, Chanel is ''lesbi-ish'' (meaning she's homoromantic).

* CerebusSyndrome: [[DownplayedTrope While the comic was always intended to be a drama with lighthearted elements]], it started out mostly lighthearted with some serious elements here and there. Since then, topics like bigotry, abuse, insecurities, and trauma have become much more prominent. Notable examples include [[spoiler:Rain recieving a TraumaticHaircut at the very end of Chapter 25 (and the resulting fallout) and everything that happens to Rudy and Maria in Chapter 34.]]

A web series is in development since Christmas 2020. See the teaser [[https://youtu.be/WbnzMp1AGrE here]].

->''"A story for boys, girls, and everyone in-between…"''

Fara came up with an interesting (but ballsy) plan to remedy this, but keep Rain happy. It took a long time and a lot of work, but she saved up enough money to move the two of them to a new town where nobody would know them. They acquired a fully female wardrobe for Rain, and she was [[NewTransferStudent enrolled in a high school]] '''as''' a girl. It would be potentially dangerous for Rain if she were ever caught, but her nature made her seek perfection in her presentation before going out into the world… [[LarynxDissonance Well, her voice could use some work anyway…]]

Rain updates are on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. It can be read on [[http://comicfury.com/comicprofile.php?url=rain Comic Fury]], or on Jocelyn's [[http://littlelynn84.deviantart.com/ DeviantART gallery]]. It has facebook group [[https://www.facebook.com/RainWebcomic/ here]], a Wikia [[http://rain-web-comic.wikia.com/ here]] and Discord channel [[https://discord.gg/tE4VvJb here]]. Among comics hosted on the services it uses, it is very popular; it was one of the top 12 most popular comics on ''Website/SmackJeeves'' and the 2nd most popular comic on ''Website/ComicFury''[[note]]''the'' most if you only count active comics[[/note]].

* {{Asexual}}: Heather claims to be this, but [[AnythingThatMoves when she gets drunk…]]

* CheekyMouth: A lot of the time…

** The book “[[http://jocelynsamara.deviantart.com/art/RAIN-p289-Gifts-348369121 How to Cure Homosexuality and Reopen the Gates of Heaven for Yourself]]” Maria and Rudy got from their parents is almost cute by comparison: “I’m … speechless.”

** Gavin's mother is...odd, to say the least, but she genuinely wants her son to be happy and was quick to offer Rain a place to spend the night after Gavin told her that [[BlatantLies her aunt is a violent alcoholic.]] Gavin also has always had a solid relationship with his father.

* {{Keet}}: Rudy is one, being small, loud, colorful, hyper…

-->'''Rain:''' I wish I could say I was surprised to see my aunt getting drunk and making out with a stranger…

** Aunt Fara. Full stop. (In spite of not being anyone's actual biological parent.) ''Anyone'' who threatens the welfare of her loved ones is met with varying levels of violence, ranging from a stern lecture to assault via student homework. [[spoiler: This even extends to protecting her family from other family, as Rain's elder brother Aiken [[https://www.deviantart.com/jocelynsamara/art/RAIN-p307-308-Just-Like-Him-354932442 learns the hard way…]]]]

* SexWithTheEx: [[spoiler: Fara and Vincent go out to dinner to catch up after reconnecting, and then we see that it one thing led to another...]]

* TakeAThirdOption: The first several chapters had a lot of people wondering whether Rain would end up with Gavin or Maria, who's crushes on her are a large focal point.[[spoiler: Until the Halloween party, Rudy manages to keep to himself that he also has a crush on her, and he ends up being the one to ask her out.]]

'''Rudy''': Wait… that came out wrong. I--I mean, in context! Blow on… uh… ''in'' the cart of course.

* TheVoiceless: Randy never spoke onscreen until [[https://www.deviantart.com/jocelynsamara/art/RAIN-p1-183-Outnumbered-835750637 Page 1,183 where he reveals onscreen]] he's bi.

* TransEqualsGay: This is discussed when [[spoiler:Jessica]] tells [[spoiler:Heather]] that when she was until she was in her late teens, she just thought she was a gay guy.

* TransTribulations: The story mainly focuses on Rain, her struggles with dysphoria and being trans in an environment that isn't always very understanding towards trans issues. [[spoiler: Ryan is revealed to be the same, though hasn't tried to transition yet due to postponing it until after graduation.]]

* {{Understatement}}: There is a brief {{Flashback}} that shows Rudy coming out, with his dad calling the operator for a young priest and an old priest, and his mom crying badly. The page title? ''Slight'' Overeaction.

** Gavin is rather shocked that the cute girl, Rain is his childhood friend, formerly known as Ryan. He gets over it eventually.

---> '''Maria: Welcome to St. Horndog… I mean Hallvard.'''

* WhamEpisode: [[https://www.deviantart.com/jocelynsamara/art/RAIN-p163-164-Spectators-274995342 The Penultimate comic of Chapter 6]] where [[spoiler: Rudy kisses Rain while drunk.]]

** Chapter 11 through 13. [[spoiler: Which deals with Aiken coming to visit after finding out his fiance is trans, only to find out that Rain is trans to, and the aftermath.]]

---> '''Emily:''' [[spoiler: I… I'm… pregnant… It's my ex-boyfriend's.]]

* TransTribulations: The story mainly focuses on Rain, her struggles with dysphoria and being trans in an environment that isn't always very understanding towards trans issues. [[spoiler: Colette is revealed to be the same, though hasn't tried to transition yet due to postponing it until after graduation.]]

** Chapter 35 is described by the author as akin to a SeasonFinale, and it certainly lives up to the desciptor [[spoiler: given that it deals with the fallout of the previous chapter. Maria is revealed to have moved in with Blair with Emily's help. Her departure opens a rift between her parents which ends with Maria's mom throwing her husband out of the house for threatening Rudy with "cure the gay" camp, not wanting her remaining child to leave her too. Colette ends up admitting to being trans to Rudy. Brother Arthur, infuriated by how the situation unfolded, gathers a mountain of evidence of all the bullying Todd's done that Father Quenton turned a blind eye to and submits it to the local diocese. As a result, Father Quenton is forced to quietly resign and Todd is transferred out and put into rehabilitation, with Arthur taking over as headmaster for the rest of the school year. However, while Maria's expulsion is rescinded, she decides not to go back and instead transfers to Ky's school [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking and gets a new style]].]]

** In chapter 42 [[spoiler: Chanel introduces the term "demisexual" to Rain and Gavin's childhood friend Allison, and she thinks the term is accurate]].

In public, [[CharacterTitle Rain]] appears to be your average teenage girl. She enjoys shopping and dressing pretty and whatnot, but the fact is that she’s hardly average. In truth, Rain is male-to-female {{transgender}}.

* SharedUniverse: ''Rain'' shares universes with another of the author's other works called ''[[https://www.deviantart.com/jocelynsamara/gallery/46861739/Magical Magical]],'' a MagicalGirl-esque story featuring {{Transgender}} characters. Rain meets Carmen, one of the protagonists, [[https://www.deviantart.com/jocelynsamara/art/RAIN-p412-Staring-407872120 on her visit]] [[https://www.deviantart.com/jocelynsamara/art/RAIN-p417-Carmen-409703781 to the gender specialist.]]

* {{Transgender}}:
** Should be pretty obvious by now. Rain is a trans girl.
** Ky also falls under this category, as they are genderfluid. [[spoiler: Ky genuinely is dysphoric if their gender expression cannot/does not match what gender they identify as that day.]]
** [[spoiler: As does Aiken's ex-fiancee Jessie.]]
** Vincent [[spoiler:who used to be a Vivian]]
** [[spoiler:Ana is a complicated case. She is intersex, went through "corrective surgery", and was assigned male. As soon as she could talk, she fought this and went underwent medical and social transition to correct this. She does not identify as Trans, however, and as Rain puts it, is "as stealth as stealth gets".]]
** [[spoiler: Ryan is a trans boy that is currently in the closet and presenting as female, using his birth name of Colette]]

* AmicableExes: Fara and [[spoiler: Vincent, although they are spending time together again so they may not count.]]

'''Allison''': Maybe [[Film/Carrie1979 campy 70s horror movies]] aren't the best point of reference, but I see what you're saying.

** Maria and [[spoiler: Rain]] are lesbians, Chanel is ''lesbi-ish''(meaning she's homoromantic).

* OneSteveLimit: Averted, [[spoiler:Ryan is the dead name of Rain, and the chosen name of Colette]].

* OneSteveLimit: averted, Ryan is the dead name of Rain, and the chosen name of Colette.

* OneSteveLimit: averted, Ryan is the dead name of Rain, and the chosen name of Colette.

* OneNameRule: adverted, Ryan is the dead name of Rain, and the chosen name of Colette.

** Rain, Brother Arthur's brother, [[spoiler: Jessica, Vincent, Ana, and Colette]] are trans, Ky(lie) is genderfluid.

** [[spoiler: Colette is a trans boy that is currently in the closet and presenting as female.]]

'''Allison''': Maybe [[Film/{{Carrie}} campy 70s horror movies]] aren't the best point of reference, but I see what you're saying.

* TheVoiceless: Randy never spoke onscreen until [[https://www.deviantart.com/jocelynsamara/art/RAIN-p1-183-Outnumbered-835750637 Page 1,183 where he reveals onscreen]] [[BiTheWay he's bi]].

* ShoultOut:

(''Rain [[{{Beat}} coughs]]''))\\

* TheVoiceless: Randy never spoke on-screen so far.

* BiTheWay: Fara and Ky(lie).

* TheGenericGuy: Rand M. Guy (AKA Randy) is the least characterized of the ensemble cast, and as of yet the only recurring character who has had no dialogue. He appeared in chapters 1 (where he gets stared down by Maria) and 6 (where Rain and Gavin both [[SpitTake spit their drinks on him]]). His normalness is lampshaded not only by his name, but from appearances in "Rain Delays." (No one cares that he is [[BiTheWay bisexual]]).

** Plot summary: [[spoiler: Kaminari is a WingedHumanoid from a FloatingContinent. On this continent, almost everyone has white wings, [[FantasticRacism but people with black wings are feared due to an ancient villain having black wings.]] If a baby with black wings is born, [[WouldHurtAChild it's thrown off the side]] of the FloatingContinent. Kaminari is a [[EverythingsBetterWithPrincesses princess]], but- surprise, surprise- [[TitleDrop she has black wings.]] She's raised in seclusion in the castle by her parents, but on her [[DangerousSixteenthBirthday 16th birthday]], she sees a black-winged baby being thrown off the side. She dives after it, but being raised in the castle, she [[HowDoIShootWeb doesn't know how to fly]]. PlotArmor saves her and the baby, but she lands in a small village where all the graves of the black-winged children are. [[SurvivorsGuilt She feels horrible]], and swears to [[TheAtoner save a life for each grave present]]. She teams up with [[TrueCompanions three companions]]: ChildMage [[StepfordSmiler R]][[{{Keet}} e]][[DoomedHometown i]], former mercenary [[RebelliousPrincess Aneko]], and JerkWithAHeartOfGold Hokori, who searches for the [[{{Macguffin}} seven legendary blades]] after [[ILetGwenStacyDie failing to protect a loved one]]. Together, they [[WalkingTheEarth journey around]] and [[WeHelpTheHelpless help people.]]]]

** Chapter 37 chronicles the Prom Night that the last ten-or-so chapters were building towards, and it was suitably large-scale. [[spoiler: Rudy switches clothes with Ky in public, Chanel sees Maria for the first time after the events of Chapter 37, Rain is accidentally nominated for Prom King, and the chapter ends with Rain and Emily kissing in front of the entire school.]]

* {{Gaydar}}: [[https://www.deviantart.com/jocelynsamara/art/RAIN-p-64-Shipper-207497771 Rain doesn't seem to know what one is…]]

** [[spoiler: It doesn't… but not from any loss of Rudy's feelings for Rain. Rather, Rain comes to the realization that it was she, in truth, who did not have truly romantic feelings towards him. She had been flattered by the attention he paid her, and accepted the dating because she enjoyed his company, and, in her mindset, dating boys was something that "normal girls" did. But she simply lacks any true romantic attraction towards males, and had simply not fully realized it. Whether this means she is a lesbian is still unknown (though it seems to be implied due to other recent story events), but the two have parted the relationship amicably and remain friends.]]

-->'''Holly''': Umm… Where's our teacher during all of this?

* OOCIsSeriousBusiness: Lampshaded in the author's commentary in a strip where the normally kind Brother Arthur is very noticeably furious at Todd in the aftermath of [[spoiler: him getting Maria expelled for threatened violence while getting away with injuring Chanel, and then threatening to ''kill'' Rudy just a bit ago]].
-->''I don't know about you, but when a typically friendly, light-hearted person reaches that point where they just aren't having it anymore, it scares me a little.''
** [[spoiler: Ana, who is usually smiling and friendly to everyone, is quite rude to Rain after she discloses her Trans status to her. Because of everything she has been through, Rain's sudden openness caused her to fear being outed herself. She calms down after speaking to Rain about it though.]]

-->'''Rain''' (thinking): And even if he did, he probably wouldn't even believe what he saw, right? Yeah, I'm sure he wouldn't tell anyone…

** [[spoiler: Ana, who is usually smiling and friendly to everyone, is quite rude to Rain after she discloses her Trans status to her. Because of everything she has been through, Rain's sudden openess caused her to fear being outed herself. She calms down after speaking to Rain about it though.]]

* OneDegreeOfSeparation: Where should we start?
** Back when Rain was Ryan, she and Gavin were best friends. A couple years later, when Rain has moved to a new town with her aunt and starts attending an new school, she runs into Gavin once again.
** Rain's older brother Aiken was engaged to Jessica, whose therapist, Vincent, is [[spoiler: his and Rain's Aunt Fara's ex.]]
** Emily was dating Chase, who later has a few dates with [[spoiler: Jessica]] and is much later revealed to be [[spoiler: Rain's older ''sister's'' ex-fiance.]] Emily herself used to date [[spoiler: Maria]], is currently dating [[spoiler: Rain]], and [[spoiler: is pregnant with Chase's child.]]