While Emily and Chanel are away talking and doing whatever else, let's shift our focus back to Rain, Allison, and Ana, as they continue to talk prom. This time, instead of the dress, they talk crowns. ^_^
Not much I want to add here. I'd be more curious to hear your thoughts.
Anyway, I kinda hate plugging, but If you're interested in getting Volumes 1-4 of Rain for yourself (or someone else; holidays are coming up), now's a good time for it. Lulu has a pretty sweet sale going on. Just use the coupon code BLACKFRIDAY25 at checkout for a whopping 25% off any or all the books. ^_^ http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/LittleLynn84
Oh, and if you can't afford it or already have it or something, that's fine too. You can still show some support by spreading the word. :)
If you still want any or all of the Rain books (for yourself or as a gift for someone else), the deal for Cyber Monday might be just what you've been waiting for. Just use the coupon code CM35 at checkout in order to save a whopping 35% on all the books. This is today only.
Also, this is probably my last plug for now. I always feel weird about doing this kind of thing, but it helps me out a lot so I do what I can. Thank you for putting up with me through these past few days, and especially thank you if you bought any of the books. If you can't or don't want to buy the books, but still want to show support, you can always spread this message around so that maybe someone else will. ^_^
The anticipation for prom is really building up. I'm looking forward to seeing the dress Maria is making for Chanel, what mode Ky is going to be in that day, if Drew will forget about peer pressure and dance with them, if Gavin and Ana will have a romantic moment, if Rain and Emily will openly dance together, if Rudy will sneak in and find someone to dance with, who will be prom queen, and how much of a culture shock it will be for all the brainwashed students of St. Hallvard seeing so many LGBT people being so open.
I do fear something bad will go down that night too. Todd pulling some Carrie-esque prank to get back at the school, Mr. Strongwell storming in and attempting to take Maria and Rudy to conversion therapy, or Father Quentin either leading some protest or if he'll somehow contact all the student's parents and inform them the school is "infested with unholy vermin," meaning Rudy and Maria. That might be a little over the top, I admit, but I believe people like Todd, Mr. Strongwell, and Quinton are capable of anything. Hatred knows no bounds.
I do have a question for you, Jocelyn. How far along is Emily at this point?
I don't remember that, but if Emily did invite Rudy, then I hope he accepts. I just think it'd be cool for him to go so he can hang out with his friends, maybe even dance with Colette. I know Colette is going with Aiden, but I think it'd be nice if at least one boy would dance with Rudy. If it could be anyone, I'd be glad its Colette....unless Gavin wants to volunteer, XD!!
While we're speculating about which past antagonists will reappear and cause trouble between now and graduation, what are the odds that Marcus shows up around prom-time and causes chaos?
I have two theories as to what could happen should Marcus return. 1. He can be the same horrible person he was before, ridiculing Rain and her relationship with Emily, and it could also perhaps lead to a sort of redemption arc for Kellen, but I don't know how I'd feel about that.
2. Marcus could return, revealing that he himself is trans and that he, unable to accept himself back then, took his anger out on his family. I find this theory very unlikely to happen, but I agree that if he does come back, he will cause trouble.
That's pretty dark. My darkest theory about the comic, next to Marcus returning, Rain being exposed at prom, is that Emily will die in childbirth. The baby would make it, but not Emily. In that way, Rain would get to be the mother she always wanted to be, but Emily wouldn't be there to raise it with her.
IIRC, early on, Jocelyn said in the comments of Deviant Art that no one would die during Rain, aside from the people who were already dead before the story began (like Liriel).
Emily will not be dying. Nor will the baby. Nor anyone. This is not even a spoiler. I've never even humored these kinds of ideas for the story. As bgb16999 said, I made a promise, and I mean to stick to it. No one dies in Rain.
In future stories, all bets are off. But for Rain, you don't have to worry about that.
Based on hints Jocelyn has given (That Rain has an ending planned, and weaker hints about the expected lenth) I suspect that the story will end with the end of high school for Rain. If so Emily will probably not have given birth.
The end of high school seems a natural end. Prom would also make a natural end but I think there are a few to many loose ends to tie up before the prom.
Loose ends that I can think of:
-what is Kellen discussing with Vincent (this probably includes information about Marcus)
-What is the mystery with Blair
-We have been promised one poly relationship (may be related to the last point)
-will Ana agree to become Gavin's girlfriend. Will we learn any more about the assault by her last boyfriend.
-Will Jessica talk to Aiken
-Will Vincent and Fara announce some sort of relationship (last I remember they we taking it one day at a time, but it has been a lot of days)
Ok, I don't know how this all works but... Rain has her name down as "Ryan" and put that Chanel is "his" date for prom... So if Rain IS called to be prom queen, wouldn't they announce "Ryan and Chanel"? Or is it like a tally thing and people put names in a box? My prom isn't until I graduate and I haven't watched too many movies with a prom in it so I don't know necessarily how prom king and queen are chosen
I kind of want get some of the rain books. But if I tell my mom what they're about, she would thinks it's weird. Because I'm cis, but polysexual. Still though ya know. I don't want people to think I'm a girl or something. No offense.
You do you. But if it offers any piece of mind, the books come in a standard brown shipping box like it would from anywhere else. Lulu is a general book publisher, and not just the source for my queer books. So it's not going to broadcast Rain's themes anywhere in the shipping.
Nor does anything on the books themselves read "If you bought this, you're clearly gay and trans. Please enjoy reading this gay book, fellow gay trans person!" Rather, Rain is "a story for boys, girls, and everyone in between", so everyone can enjoy it (and I can vouch that I know many cis het readers who've bought the book too; there should be no shame in it). I purposely keep it kinda low-key since I know a lot of my readers are in the closet and/or living with dangerously homophobic/transphobic family. Obviously, some still won't risk it, and that's their call. You know your situation best. But with all that said, the content of any of the books isn't going to be apparent unless you open it and read it.
Finally, as for telling your folks what the books are about: "It's just a coming-of-age dramedy about a band of misfit friends and their adventures in high school." Which is, for the record, 100% exactly what Rain is. Again, if you don't want to broadcast your orientation or identity, these books are not going to make you.
Totally understandable. Even aside from natural introversion, having so many close calls with being outed against her will seems like the kind of thing that could very easily make Rain attention-shy.
I do fear something bad will go down that night too. Todd pulling some Carrie-esque prank to get back at the school, Mr. Strongwell storming in and attempting to take Maria and Rudy to conversion therapy, or Father Quentin either leading some protest or if he'll somehow contact all the student's parents and inform them the school is "infested with unholy vermin," meaning Rudy and Maria. That might be a little over the top, I admit, but I believe people like Todd, Mr. Strongwell, and Quinton are capable of anything. Hatred knows no bounds.
I do have a question for you, Jocelyn. How far along is Emily at this point?
Emily would be about 29 weeks in by this point. I promise I'm not gonna do the overused trope where she goes into labor at prom. XD
Part of me was predicting Emily would go into labor at prom, but thanks for putting that theory to rest. :)
I don't remember that, but if Emily did invite Rudy, then I hope he accepts. I just think it'd be cool for him to go so he can hang out with his friends, maybe even dance with Colette. I know Colette is going with Aiden, but I think it'd be nice if at least one boy would dance with Rudy. If it could be anyone, I'd be glad its Colette....unless Gavin wants to volunteer, XD!!
2. Marcus could return, revealing that he himself is trans and that he, unable to accept himself back then, took his anger out on his family. I find this theory very unlikely to happen, but I agree that if he does come back, he will cause trouble.
In future stories, all bets are off. But for Rain, you don't have to worry about that.
The end of high school seems a natural end. Prom would also make a natural end but I think there are a few to many loose ends to tie up before the prom.
Loose ends that I can think of:
-what is Kellen discussing with Vincent (this probably includes information about Marcus)
-What is the mystery with Blair
-We have been promised one poly relationship (may be related to the last point)
-will Ana agree to become Gavin's girlfriend. Will we learn any more about the assault by her last boyfriend.
-Will Jessica talk to Aiken
-Will Vincent and Fara announce some sort of relationship (last I remember they we taking it one day at a time, but it has been a lot of days)
Anyone think of any other loose ends?
isn't that an "is" too many?
Here's some early examples.
http://rain.thecomicseries.com/comics/3
http://rain.thecomicseries.com/comics/5
http://rain.thecomicseries.com/comics/23
I didn't expect a sale to be at your site too and I bought two books yesterday. Lucky me.
also rain's getting hotter
You do you. But if it offers any piece of mind, the books come in a standard brown shipping box like it would from anywhere else. Lulu is a general book publisher, and not just the source for my queer books. So it's not going to broadcast Rain's themes anywhere in the shipping.
Nor does anything on the books themselves read "If you bought this, you're clearly gay and trans. Please enjoy reading this gay book, fellow gay trans person!" Rather, Rain is "a story for boys, girls, and everyone in between", so everyone can enjoy it (and I can vouch that I know many cis het readers who've bought the book too; there should be no shame in it). I purposely keep it kinda low-key since I know a lot of my readers are in the closet and/or living with dangerously homophobic/transphobic family. Obviously, some still won't risk it, and that's their call. You know your situation best. But with all that said, the content of any of the books isn't going to be apparent unless you open it and read it.
Finally, as for telling your folks what the books are about: "It's just a coming-of-age dramedy about a band of misfit friends and their adventures in high school." Which is, for the record, 100% exactly what Rain is. Again, if you don't want to broadcast your orientation or identity, these books are not going to make you.
Please keep up the excellent comic!