Rain in Eorzea isn't like rain here. It's functional, inasmuch as if you stand out in it you get clean, and if you leave stuff out in it the stuff gets clean, and it splashes off of you and you splash through it, but it doesn't make massive puddles or mud, it doesn't wash away houses, and it certainly doesn't leave you sopping wet.

So when one of the infrequent Oklahoma late summer thunderstorms rolled in, it was a bit of a surprise for Tsu'na, one I hadn't prepared her for. I was in the shed inspecting the roof and marveling at how it wasn't leaking when I saw her outside, totally soaked and looking shocked and miserable.

It could have been a scene from a romcom, with me taking her, wet and all, into my arms, comforting her, holding her, maybe helping her out of her dripping clothes into something more comfortable, like a nice warm bed. It could have been all of that, if the words "wet kitty" hadn't popped into my head.

She stood there, watching me have a progressively harder time trying not to laugh, until she turned and stomped off. I didn't see her for the rest of the day.

At the end of the afternoon I packed up materials and went for our shift at the diner. I got there first, organized the stockroom until after dinner, then took over at the register. I was taking an order from May when Tsu'na came in. She went to the back, and I could hear her filling the mop bucket.

May ordered tea and a pie. Tsu'na came out with the bucket, poured the whole thing over my head, and without a word went back to fill it again.

I like to think I was perfectly dignified as I asked May, "Will that be all?". She nodded, wide-eyed, and I went to fill her order. I didn't bother to towel off. It was Tsu'na's night to mop, after all.

We didn't talk until we were walking home after closing. Tsu'na broke the silence with, "Does it often rain like that?"

"Depends on the area and time of year. Around here most of the rain is in the spring. Shouldn't rain too often before winter."

"But how often does it make one wet like that?"

"Earth rain makes you wet every time. When people expect rain they wear waterproof clothing and carry umbrellas."

"You did not think to tell me this?"

"I forgot. I've been in Eorzea with you for more than a year. Or...well, you know. Anyway, there's like a million things I should probably tell you about that I just don't think of."

"Such as?"

"Hypothermia. People get sick from being too cold. Being wet can make you lose heat quickly, so if you're both cold and wet you should do something about it."

She considered this. "It was not cold when I was wet."

"Right. Besides, I don't know if we can get sick."

"Why not simply tell me we cannot get sick?"

"Cuz I might be wrong, and then you wouldn't be ready for it."

"Another healing experiment."

We were quiet for a bit, then I reached for her hand. She didn't pull away.

"Sorry I laughed."

"I saw myself in the mirror. I might have laughed too."

"But you still poured water on me."

"Of course. It was a matter of principle."