#clorith

CLOUD CATCHES AERITH TALKING TO FLOWERS (THE LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS) || FIN...

What Aerith says...

What Cloud says in return...

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Final Fantasy VII (Video Game 1997), Final Fantasy VII Remake (Video Game 2020) Rating: Mature Warnings: Underage Relationships: Aerith Gainsborough/Cloud Strife Characters: Aerith Gainsborough, Cloud Strife Additional Tags: Romance, Sexual Content Summary:

First of all, Aerith looks Amazing in the Remake. (Lemme get that out of the way)

So anyway, I think Aerith is one of the strongest person in FF7.

She is the last of her own kind, her biological parents died at a young age, she was constantly being chase by bad guys who wants her power, her first love died, and eventually she died saving the planet and her friends and in the Remake, it seems like she knows what’s gonna happen to her.

Still, no matter what happens to her, no matter how life had been to her or what she thinks her destiny is. She kept on smiling, never forgets to put a happy face, laughing, joking, she remained strong and as she always assured everyone especially cloud that everything would be fine.

She deserves happiness as much as anyone else.

I don’t wanna start fanwars so please remember these are my own thoughts, if you don’t like it its fine.

As for Cloud and Aerith’s relationship, I believe they deserve each other.

Aerith in the OG and in the Remake was the main reason Cloud changed. She provided a kind of happiness only she could give. He bacame much happier and less cynical.

Cloud isn’t a bad person, he’s just broken and closed off to others. Even Tifa who is his Childhood friend can’t get through him. I guess it’s more like the people around cloud chose to be silently be there for him but Aerith was not having any of that.

Cloud deserves to feel that kind of love and care Aerith has shown her and no one should invalidate their time together with everything he has experienced, every trauma he had to live with.

Important points and quotes to remember when a Cloti attempts to proclaim Cloud x Tifa is canon:

1) FFVII creator Kazushige Nojima speaks of a premise that things “won’t go well” between Cloud and Tifa:

“Episode Tifa [Case of Tifa] -- First off, there’s the premise that things won’t go well between Tifa and Cloud, and that even without geostigma or Sephiroth, this might be the same.“ ~Nojima; On the Way to a Smile interview; Square Enix

Did you catch that last bit?

Even without circumstances such as geostigma and Sephiroth, things still probably wouldn’t have gone well between Cloud and Tifa. This means Cloud and Tifa’s issues likely have nothing to do with geostigma or Sephiroth. 

Interestingly, the two times Cloud and Tifa fight in Case of Tifa revolve around Aerith -- the woman Tifa is constantly jealous over. 

The first fight between Cloud and Tifa is after Cloud visits Aerith’s grave. The second fight is after Cloud visits Aerith’s Church. Tifa has a BIG problem with Cloud visiting places where he connects with Aerith.

It seems the issue that continually complicates Cloud and Tifa’s relationship is Aerith; NOT geostigma or Sephiroth. One only has to look at the two fights Cloud and Tifa have during Case of Tifa, both of which revolve around Aerith.

Unfortunately for Cloti fans, Cloud and Tifa’s “relationship” doesn’t go well:

Nojima: “...there’s a premise that things won’t go well between Tifa and Cloud, and that even without geostigma or Sephiroth, this might be the same.”

Case of Tifa proves Cloud and Tifa aren’t compatible due to factors NOT associated with either geostigma or Sephiroth. The only other factor is Aerith -- Tifa’s “love rival.” 

2) Nojima says the children MIGHT be able to help Cloud and Tifa sort through their problems:

“After Advent Children Complete, I guess Denzel and Marlene could help them work it out.” ~Nojima; On the Way to a Smile interview; Square Enix

Nojima isn’t 100% sure the children will be enough to help Cloud and Tifa sort through their problems. He seems very unsure and skeptical. 

3) Denzel has more to do with Aerith than Tifa: 

“Denzel had collapsed in front of Aerith’s Church. That’s why I thought Aerith lead him to me.” ~Case of Tifa; Square Enix

Cloud believes Denzel is a manifestation of his spiritual relationship with Aerith. In other words, Aerith is the root of Cloud’s relationship with Denzel; NOT Tifa. 

Interestingly, Tifa wonders if her and Cloud became a “real” family after Denzel arrived. Why? Because Cloud became a happier person once he felt connected to Aerith through Denzel. 

4) Tetsuya Nomura, one of the creators of FFVII, states he doesn’t have “any clue” if Cloud and Tifa are in a relationship post-FFVII:

“For example, I was frequently asked if there had been romantic relationship between Tifa and Cloud for two years, after Final Fantasy VII ended, but I don’t have any clue.” ~Nomura; Dorimaga interview; published at Flaregamer; Square Enix

5) Inside Seventh Heaven, Cloud has a room with a bed in it:

Tifa sleeps in the same bed as Marlene:

“Marlene, who had always slept with Tifa, slept with her foster father Barret the night before he left. Their conversations could be heard late into the night. Early the next morning, Barret set off.” ~Case of Tifa; Square Enix

Tifa sleeps with Marlene. Cloud sleeps in the bed found in his room (obvious common sense). Cloud and Tifa don’t sleep in the same bed like a normal couple would. 

6) Tifa includes Cloud in a family she refers to as a ‘family of friends’:

“Friends were a necessity to me so that I could live on without being suppressed by the sins in my consciousness. Even if they were fellow companions that had the same wounds. Even if they were fellow companions who were burdened with the same sins. We couldn’t live without comforting each other and encouraging each other. Maybe you could call that family. We just had to keep the family together and do our best. Tifa thought she could get over anything while being with friends that she could call her family.” ~Case of Tifa; Tifa Lockhart; Square Enix

For emphasis: “…Tifa thought she could get over anything while being with friends that she could call her family.”

Later, Tifa admits they aren’t a “real” family:

Tifa turns away, disappointed. “I guess that only works for real families." ~Case of Tifa; Tifa Lockhart; Square Enix

Marlene also states to Barret on the phone that Cloud and Tifa “aren’t getting along very well,” and Cloud doesn’t respond to Tifa when she asks him if he loves her. 

Ouch. 

5) The Highwind scene is inherently variable, which makes it weaker evidence:

“After stopping Hojo from going amuck, the conversation with Tifa before they rush into the Northern Crater diverges into two conditions, according to Tifa’s affection rating with Cloud. When it gets low, the conversation in the scene that they spend the night will be apathetic and ends short. Next morning in the cockpit, Tifa says “Were you listening?” and stamps on tiptoe. On the other hand, when degree gets higher, the conversation of the scene that they spend the night will have strong emotions. Next morning in the cockpit, Tifa will say “Were you watching?” and feels terribly shy” ~page 198; Final Fantasy VII Ultimania Omega; Square Enix

“Deviation -- Two versions of the conversation before the final battle: Prior to the final battle, the contents of the conversation between Cloud and Tifa can change depending on the degree of Tifa’s affection. If the degree of affection is high, the contents of the two’s conversation will involve deep subject matter and strong feelings for each other. As well, the sight of the two seen by their companions the next morning will lead to an embarrassing scene for Tifa, and she blushes greatly.”  ~page 232; Final Fantasy 20th Anniversary Ultimania; Square Enix

“Another event is when the party was dismissed and after everyone left for their own places separately, Cloud and Tifa spent the night together. At that moment,according to Tifa’s affection rating with Cloud, the event of “dialogues exchanged between them from dusk to dawn” and “Tifa’s reaction and lines when she found out that everyone might see (or hear) that circumstance” will be different.” ~page 201; Final Fantasy VII Dismantled; Square Enix

Cloti fans love to say Cloud and Tifa expressed mutual feelings during the high affection Highwind scene. Sadly, the Highwind scene is an inherently variable scene with two versions, making it weaker evidence. 

On the contrary, Cloud non-variably agrees to be Aerith’s bodyguard for the price of a date, showing mutual romantic affection between the Bodyguard and his Flower Girl. Cloud and Aerith’s mutual romantic affection is non-variable.   

6) Barret is a member of the Seventh Heaven family: 

Barret turned round and shouted, “Do your best!” His voice was a little shaky. “Unite the family’s strength and keep at it!” ~Case of Tifa; Square Enix

“Upon finding out that Edge was under attack during the midst of his travels, he rushed over towards the crisis faced by his family and companions.” ~Barret Wallace’s Character Profile; Final Fantasy VII 10th Anniversary Ultimania; Square Enix 

Potential criticisms:

"When he awakes, there was his friends. There were the children, freed from their fatal illness. Tifa and Marlene, and Denzel asking for Cloud to heal his geostigma -- his family were waiting. Engulfed in celebration, he realizes where he is meant to live. He realizes that he was able to forgive himself.” ~10th Anniversary Ultimania; Square Enix

Response:

The reason Tifa, Marlene, and Denzel are specifically mentioned in this quote is because Cloud leaves Seventh Heaven due to geostigma. Tifa, Marlene, and Denzel, as it says in the quote, are the ones asking Cloud to heal his geostigma so he can return to living with them. Barret, of course, isn’t living with them at this time, which is why Barret is omitted from this quote.  

However, Barret was also physically present waiting for Cloud, which is what the quote says: “his family were waiting.”

Barret also returns to living with Marlene in Dirge of Cerberus:

“Currently he is living with Marlene, the orphaned child of his best friend...” ~Dirge of Cerberus Official Complete Guide; p.21; Square Enix

In every quote that refers to Cloud, Tifa, Marlene, and Denzel “living” together as a “family” are the words “live,” / “living,” / “lived.” Barret isn’t included in these quotes because he is temporarily on a journey to settle his past. Barret isn’t living with them at that very moment in time. That should be obvious. 

However, Barret’s role in the AVALANCHE/Seventh Heaven family has been firmly established since the very beginning of FFVII. Barret is simply a traveling father -- something many families deal with on a daily basis. However, just because your parent travels for a living doesn’t remove them from the very family they helped create. Remember: it is Marlene, Barret’s daughter, who officially invites Cloud into this family. 

Bottom line is: of course Barret isn’t included in the quotes discussing Cloud, Tifa, Marlene, and Denzel “living” together -- he isn’t technically “living” with them. But you’d literally have to ignore everything in Case of Tifa if you actually wanted to remove Barret from the AVALANCHE/Seventh Heaven family -- the family he literally re-built from the ground up. Remember, all of this was Barret’s idea to begin with.

Furthermore, Barret says to “unite the family’s strength” when he leaves on his journey, and he rushes back to “defend his family” when he hears they are under attack. Clearly, Barret considers himself a member of this ‘family of friends.’ 

Barret also returns to living with Marlene in DoC. So do Cloti’s actually believe Marlene belongs to two family’s? One with Barret? And one with Cloud and Tifa? Wouldn’t it make more sense that they all belonged to the same family?

Plus -- if Barret isn’t included in this family, are Cloti’s actually admitting that Tifa is referring to herself and Cloud as a ‘family of friends’? That’s a pretty big omission by Cloti fans -- that Tifa considers herself and Cloud to only be “friends.” 

To be honest, Cloti’s better hope to God that Barret is a member of this ‘family of friends’ because if he isn’t, Tifa has completely nuked their ship by calling herself and Cloud mere “friends.”

7) At the end of AC/C, Cloud rides his motorcycle through flower fields that represent Aerith:

“There are fields of flowers on both sides of the road, and the color --yellow and white-- are the same as the flowers in Aerith's church.” ~Nomura, Reunion Files, pg. 87

The final images of AC/C are of Cloud riding through flower fields that represent Aerith. Symbolism matters. 

Both the ending of FFVII (Promised Land) and the ending of AC/C (flower fields) show us that Cloud is on a quest to find and be with Aerith; NOT Tifa. 

Symbolism matters. 

8) Beginning love points:

Aerith starts off with more love points than Tifa for a reason. And that reason is very simple: Squaresoft wanted Clerith to be the primary love story of FFVII. If that wasn’t the case, both Aerith and Tifa would have started the game with an equal number of love points. By starting Aerith off with 20 more love points than Tifa, the creators clearly favored Clerith over Cloti. 

9)  The hand reach scene between Cloud and Aerith in AC is referred to as a “homage” by Square Enix, highlighting the romantic relationship between Cloud and Aerith that has continued into the spiritual world:

“The ending scene of the battle with Bahamut, the scene where Aerith reaches out her hand, is homage to the last scene from a previous production. It was Tetsuya Nomura’s idea...”  ~Nojima; Reunion Files; Square Enix

AC took FFVII’s hand reach to the next level — Cloud and Aerith were finally able to lock hands, something they were so close to doing in FFVII.

So don’t let Cloti’s try to make this about Tifa “going with Cloud to the Promised Land to meet Aerith.”  

Despite Tifa’s presence in both scenes, she is not the primary focus. The primary focus has always been about Cloud seeking to be reunited with Aerith.

AC’s “homage” makes it crystal clear: the girl Cloud wished was reaching for him in FFVII was Aerith, the very girl he was finally able to lock hands with in AC.

“Poor Tifa.” ~Cait Sith

10) Tifa is not only jealous of Aerith in FFVII, but AC as well:

“Both of them share feelings for Cloud —  Tifa was close to Aerith, who can also be called a love rival. With that point in mind, they were also good friends. Nevertheless, it is not hard to imagine that she carries complex feelings as a woman toward Aerith, who had built up a special bond with Cloud that was different from Tifa’s. Tifa’s complicated feelings continue even in Advent Children, two years after Aerith had departed the world.” ~Final Fantasy 10th Anniversary Ultimania; Square Enix

“The thing which she is unable to hide in her irritation towards Cloud is the fact that he isn’t merely dragging the past around, but because that reason might perhaps be related to Aerith.

Final Fantasy VII: Seeing Cloud and Aerith developing their world together before her eyes, she inadvertently lets slip her peevish feelings.

Advent Children: Upon knowing that Cloud had been residing in Aerith’s Church after leaving the place they had been living in together, her expression becomes complex.” ~Tifa’s character profile; 10th Anniversary Ultimania; Square Enix

Tifa is the #1 Clerith of all-time. 

Not only does Tifa witness Cloud and Aerith’s “special bond” in FFVII, she also let’s her “peevish feelings” slip. 

In AC, Tifa continues to have “complicated feelings” towards Cloud’s continued spiritual relationship with Aerith -- Tifa’s “love rival.”