カリスチック | 칼리스틱

throughout the OG FF7 and Rebirth, Sephiroth refers to Cloud as a ‘puppet.’ it may seem strange at first glance, because it seems to imply that Sephiroth is manually taking control of Cloud, puppeteering him or that Cloud is inherently empty.

it also doesn’t fit with his encouragement of Cloud’s rage. if Cloud is a puppet, why doesn’t Sephiroth just give him rage?

because that’s not what he means. when Sephiroth calls Cloud a puppet, he means that Cloud’s mind can easily be shaped, similar to how a puppet’s identity is dependent on its master.

because that’s not what he means. when Sephiroth calls Cloud a puppet, he means that Cloud’s mind can easily be shaped, similar to how a puppet’s identity is dependent on its master. he says that what Cloud feels is fake because Cloud’s mind is a collage of identities, his own and Zack’s, all with Jenova’s and Sephiroth’s influence. Cloud’s feelings are just his master’s feelings.

Cloud’s mind is malleable. he is his own person, the real Cloud Strife is there, but due to the self-esteem issues he’s harbored since childhood and the trauma he’s endured for the past five years, the presenting Cloud Strife can greatly differ. Sephiroth is intensely aware of this, and takes advantage of it.

the persona we see of Cloud is his SOLDIER persona, the tough badass he always wanted to be, a mixture of his interpretation of Zack and his interpretation of being a hero. but the facade cracks quickly and frequently, in either direction. mostly, it cracks to let us see the real Cloud. there’s no one single moment where he shines through: Cloud taking on odd jobs with no real gain other than him helping someone, Cloud doing something stupid and silly, Cloud getting flustered. all the moments of him being kind and dorky is the real Cloud shining through. it’s impossible for Cloud to bury all of himself beneath his persona, so these cracks are only natural. however, the other cracks in his persona are due to Sephiroth’s manipulation.

in Rebirth, Cloud kills multiple people on multiple occasions—one can argue because they were Shinra, they deserved it, but that doesn’t change the fact that Cloud isn’t a killer. even his SOLDIER persona accommodates his desire to help people; so how does he kill people so easily? if you answered Sephiroth, you get a prize!

Sephiroth manipulates his SOLDIER persona in two ways: feeding into ideals and planting ideas. for the first, he (off-screen) encourages violent and/or anti-social behavior in Cloud. while we, the player, and everyone around him views this as strange, in Cloud’s mind, it all fits into what he’s supposed to be. he’s supposed to be a badass, and badasses kill people and dismiss their friends’ feelings, right?

when Cloud is in this mental state, it’s very hard to reason with him. in Chapter 13 (one of the greatest pieces of puppet Cloud literature), Cloud’s entire goal is to reach the center of the Temple in order to acquire the Black Materia. he doesn’t listen to any warnings that the Cetra give or his teammates, becoming wholly focused on retrieving it. but even then, even if Cloud’s behavior doesn’t seem strange to him, why does he want the Black Materia?

that’s due to Sephiroth’s other form of manipulation: planting ideas. it’s easy to force Cloud to become violent because it fits the narrative of badass SOLDIER, but lots of other ideas need time to nourish. case-in-point: Tifa isn’t the real one.

we are introduced to this idea at the very beginning of the game, Cloud walking through the inn at Kalm when he sees Sephiroth who tells him that this Tifa isn’t the real one. the conflict seems to become resolved when Cloud repeats the idea to Tifa who completely dismisses it, but they’re nowhere out of the woods.

next, Sephiroth in Chapter 5 instills the idea that Jenova is capable of impersonation. this doesn’t seem to go anywhere until Chapter 9.

first, Cloud enters that intensified SOLDIER state-of-mind, killing all the Shinra troopers around him. with his mind already fragile, Sephiroth repeating the idea to him now becomes fact: Tifa isn’t real. she is an imposter from Jenova. both the ideas Cloud’s been fed are twisted and he pushes Tifa off the edge.

Cloud snaps out of this state of mind right after, but it doesn’t change the fact that it happened. as long as Sephiroth plays his cards right, he can manipulate Cloud into doing nearly everything for him. hence, the ‘puppet’ label.

(that’s also why Cloud wants the Black Materia. Sephiroth tells Cloud to bring him the Black Materia—and even if Cloud doesn’t want to, the thought is engraved in his head that he should retrieve it for Sephiroth.)

but here’s what’s really special. as we’ve noted, the intensified SOLDIER persona is violent, anti-social, just an all around dick. he doesn’t care about his friends, doesn’t care about anything except getting what he wants (see: what Sephiroth wants.)

but we see something very different at the end of Chapter 13. Cloud isn’t rude and dismissive. he pushes Tifa, but he doesn't do it with the same malice as in Chapter 9. he does it in an attempt just to get her away, just to chase after the Black Materia.

in his pursuit of Aerith, the things he says are the farthest thing from rude. he’s not threatening or demanding her to stop. he’s asking her to talk, appealing to her desire to trust him and save the planet, even starts calling her name in a teasing way like he’s playing a game.

Aerith! Let's talk. I need it... Aerith... Give it to me. Please? You can trust me. Let's save the planet together. (playfully) Aerith.

when Aerith finally gives him the Black Materia, what does Cloud do? he could just walk away. he could just run straight to Sephiroth. but, no—he makes sure to say “thank you” first.

it’s pathetic (I type this in the most endearing way) the way Cloud acts. why is that? what is the difference between these types of manipulation? the answer is who Sephiroth manipulates. for the most part, Sephiroth manipulates SOLDIER Cloud. but here, Sephiroth breaks through Cloud’s SOLDIER persona to manipulate the real Cloud.

we know when we see the real Cloud: if you need a refresher, anytime Cloud is kind or acts like a dork is usually a tell-tale sign. here, Cloud is kind, saying please and thank you. and it’s almost cute, the way he playfully calls out to Aerith. this is the real Cloud, buried under piles of piles of trauma, self-hatred, and alternative personas.

and what is the real Cloud’s utmost desire? to love and be loved. he wants to be a hero, to be worthy of the ones he holds dear; no, to be worthy of anyone. this is a big factor into Cloud’s construction of his SOLDIER persona, he creates himself that hero mask that he thinks will lead to the love he craves.

Sephiroth knows this, and twists his desire to be a hero to a desire to please Sephiroth at all costs. Cloud is still himself, but he wants to make Sephiroth happy no matter what. Sephiroth wants the Black Materia? then Sephiroth will get the Black Materia.

that’s what’s so heartbreaking (and deliciously good) about Rebirth’s depiction of puppet Cloud. he’s not hollow and empty. he’s desperate. this is the most of the real Cloud we get to see. we see fragments of him, but here is the longest consecutive period. this is the realest he acts in the game, kind and silly and so fucking desperate for love, for Sephiroth’s approval.

in short, Sephiroth knows exactly how and when to break Cloud. he knows how and when to manipulate SOLDIER Cloud and he knows how and when to manipulate the real Cloud. this is why Sephiroth calls him a puppet: as long as he plays to Cloud’s desire for approval and love, he can puppeteer him in every direction.

Goku: No way!

Sanzo: I’ll feed you the paper fan then.

Goku: I’m hungry....

Sanzo: Be quiet.

Goku: I’m hungry, I’m hungry, I’m hungry!

Sanzo: You’re annoying!

Gojyo: There’s a town much closer around here. It shouldn’t take us that long to reach it.

Goku: Eh, really?

Sanzo: Stop butting in, Gojyo.

Goku: Hey, where’s it?

Gojyo: It’s the town Hakkai and I used to live in. We should be able to get there between one and two hours.

Sanzo: Forget it. It’s in a completely different direction from our route.

Goku: Why not? It’s for just a bit!

Gojyo: Actually, I’ve got some unfinished business to tend to in that town as well.

Goku: Unfinished business? What’s that?

Gojyo: Hmmph. For a man like me, there’s always one thing and another.

Goku: What are you acting self-important for?

Gojyo: It’s not something a kid like you would understand.

Hakkai: Ah, I see!

Goku: What is it?

Hakkai: It’s stuff you need to prepare for our journey, isn’t it? Things such as a change of clothes, spare underwear, toothbrushes and toothpastes.

Gojyo: Hah?

Hakkai: Please put your mind at ease. Having accounted for such a contingency, I’ve prepared everything in advance before we set out on our journey. They’re all packed in the chest at the back.

Goku: Oh, so it’s just that sort of stuff.

Gojyo: Are you an idiot? It’s not that sort of stuff!

Goku: Then, what is it?

Gojyo: What did I say just now? It’s not stuff a kid like you would understand.

Goku: Yeah.

Gojyo: Try and take a guess from there.

Goku: Eh? Let me see.... Ah, that’s it. I know what it is!

Gojyo: Do you?

Goku: That unfinished business of yours – it’s a homework assignment, isn’t it?

Gojyo: Come on....

Goku: Was I mistaken?

Gojyo: Jeez! It’s the matters of the heart. The sort that has to do with ladies, okay?

Goku: Ladies?

Gojyo: Yep. There are many pretty ladies who’ve fallen in love with me in that town. I owe them all a good-bye hug.

Goku: Oh, it’s just that kind of thing.

Gojyo: What did you mean by ‘just that kind of thing?’

Sanzo: Goku has a point.

Gojyo: Sanzo!

Sanzo: Do you understand what we’re attempting to do from now on?

Gojyo: We’re traveling to the west in order to stop Gyumaoh’s resurrection, aren’t we?

Sanzo: I’ll say it again: This is an important journey. The future of Tougenkyou depends upon its outcome. We can’t afford the leisure to make a side trip.

Gojyo: Heh! Isn’t this just an unpopular guy’s warped view of our situation?

Sanzo: What did you just say?

Gojyo: Well, I can imagine why no woman would want to come near someone with droopy eyes and a gloomy face like yours.

Sanzo: Try and say it one more time. (cocks his gun)

Hakkai: Please stop waving your gun while we're driving, Sanzo.

Sanzo: It’d be a waste of bullets.

Gojyo (snorts): Droopy eyes–

(He is interrupted by several gunshots.)

Gojyo: You goddamn idiot! You really went and pulled the trigger!

Sanzo: Sorry, my trigger finger slipped.

Gojyo: I thought I’d die.

Goku: That’s my line! The bullets were flying toward me too.

Gojyo: Shut your trap, stupid monkey!

Goku: You just called me stupid monkey again, perverted kappa!

Gojyo: I’ll call you names as many times as I wish! Stupid monkey, midget monkey, brat monkey!

Goku: What? Pervy dirty horny kappa!

Sanzo: You guys are noisy! (shoots a few times again)

Gojyo and Goku: We’ll be quiet.

Hakkai: Oh? It's all gone very quiet at the back.

Sanzo: The noise has gone away. I’m going to take a nap. Don’t wake me up.

Gojyo and Goku: Okey dokey.

Hakkai: Rest well, Sanzo.

Gojyo: Is he asleep already?

Goku: He seems to be.

Hakkai: He falls asleep as easily as Nobita. [Nobita Nobi from Doraemon.]

Gojyo: He looks cute when asleep, though.

Hakkai: He’ll kill you if he hears that, Gojyo.

Gojyo: I said that precisely because he can’t hear me. Hold on, isn’t this is just the right time? Hey, Hakkai!

Hakkai: What is it?

Gojyo: Here’s the opportunity to return to the town we used to live in. Let’s seize it while we still can.

Hakkai: Eh? But–

Gojyo: It’ll be fine. Just do it.

Goku: Yay! Food, food!

Hakkai: But, is it really okay to do that?

Gojyo: I said it’ll be fine, didn’t I? If you’re worried about the guy next to you, I’ll take care of him afterward one way or another.

Hakkai: It’s not Sanzo I’m worried about. It’s you, Gojyo. Will it really be okay for you to go back to that town?

Gojyo: Eh? Why shouldn’t I go back to the town?

Hakkai: Why, you ask. The reasons are too many to count.

Gojyo: What reasons?

Hakkai: First of all, there’s the town’s gambling house. You accumulated quite a lot of debts from your losses there, didn’t you? If you go back, they’ll spare no effort to collect those debts from you.

Gojyo: Heh. That’s nothing I can’t handle.

Hakkai: And then, there’s the chairman of the neighborhood association. He was quite annoyed with you, you know.

Gojyo: The neighborhood association?

Hakkai: Yes. You were on duty for taking out the trash for some time, weren’t you? I heard from the chairman that you mixed up the burnable trash and the non-burnable trash. The chairman was pretty upset, you know. He said no matter how many times he cautioned you, you turned a deaf ear to his words.

Gojyo: Heh. What an annoying geezer.

Hakkai: Therefore, he said from then on, he’d let his wife caution you instead.

Gojyo: W–what did you just say? That hag?

Hakkai: Yes.

Gojyo: That old woman.... if things don’t go well, she’ll show you a face that is more scary than the youkai we just fought off today.

Hakkai: Let me see, and then there’s–

Gojyo: There’s still more?

Hakkai: Among the ladies you wish to give a farewell embrace to, there are a few whose enmity you’ve incurred....

Gojyo: And how have I done that?

Hakkai: You were two-timing Miss Min-min and Miss Rei-rin, weren’t you?

Gojyo: How did you find out about that?

Hakkai: Furthermore, you mixed up your presents to Miss Tin-Pei and Miss Shu-shin.

(Gojyo whistles innocently.)

Hakkai: Also, Miss Rin-rin and Miss Ran-ran–

Gojyo: Ah! That’s enough!

Goku: What’s with you, Gojyo? Playboy kappa!

Gojyo (coughs): Well, er, urm.... Yes, that’s it! We’re on a very important mission to save the world, right? Yes, indeed we don’t have the leisure to do things like making a side trip.

Hakkai: Then, you’re fine with not going back.

Gojyo: Yeah! Straight ahead to the west it is then! Onward to India!

Sanzo: Wait. I’ve changed my mind.

Gojyo, Goku and Hakkai: Sanzo!

Sanzo: Shall we make a stop at the town you two used to live in?

Gojyo: Y–yay, Sanzo-chan. Why the change of mind?

Sanzo: I want to see you squirm.

Gojyo: You bastard! You heard everything we said just now, didn’t you?

Hakkai: You were just pretending to be asleep, weren’t you? Truly, that’s a nice personality you have there.

Sanzo: At any rate, Hakkai, it’s fine to go back to that town, okay?

Hakkai: All right!

Gojyo: H–hold on!

Sanzo: Isn’t that great, Goku? You’ll get to eat.

Goku: Hooray! Food, food!

Gojyo: You really play dirty, you bastard.

Sanzo: Hah. Shut up.

Gojyo: You’re a villain with a warped mind!

Goku: You were the one who said you wanted to go back to the town, Gojyo. A man should never go back on his word.

Gojyo: Be quiet! I don’t want to be preached at by a brat of a monkey or a sly fox of a monk!

Sanzo: Sly fox.... (shoots several times)

Gojyo: Aaargh! Let go of me! Turn Jeep around! Damn it!

(Jeep’s engine continues to roar amidst more gunshots.)

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