Did Vincent and Yuffie ever meet Aerith?

[LNK]

I'm curious if that ever actually happened, within the story of the OG.

I can't remember if those two ever referenced it

 

[Makoeyes987]

Are you asking if there was ever a specific scene that referenced all three meeting together?

If that's the case, no. But Vincent and Yuffie can be obtained early on disc 1 and they have dialogue that includes Aerith's dialogue in their introductory scenes to the party.

Very few party members have explicit dialogue with each other (outside of talking to the main character Cloud) outside of specific story line events, and Yuffie and Vincent have virtually none given they're secret characters.

 

[LNK]

No, not all three together. Just if either actually met her within the story/what's canon.

I've talked with others about it, and they are very adamant about Vincent and yuffie meeting her.

"they have dialogue that includes Aerith's dialogue in their introductory scenes to the party."

Even if you don't get either one until after her death?

 

[cold_spirit]

In the context of the original game, the only scene where the whole party is together is at the Ghost Hotel, funnily enough (granted the player recruits Vincent and Yuffie in time). Does this count as "meeting"?

Beyond the original game, in Episode Yuffie of On the Way to a Smile, Yuffie describes how the party went to Aerith's grave together before parting ways. She states they're all "war buddies".

In Advent Children, both Yuffie and Vincent where pink ribbons to represent Aerith, along with the rest of the cast.

Here's xcomp's translation of the Episode Yuffie scene:

The Forgotten City. At a small lake where Aerith had lost her life and saw everyone off, Yuffie and the others had returned once again to let her know that the fight against Sephiroth was over. They all stood silently around the lake’s altar. None of them spoke but each of them were speaking to Aerith with their own words.

“Bye.”

It was Vincent’s low voice. By the time Yuffie turned round to face him, his red mantle was already flailing behind him. What was with him, thought Yuffie. Is that the way he was going to part with us?

“Hold it- Hooold it!!”

She cried out hurrying after him.

“How can you part with us just like that? We’re all war buddies you know.”

Her protesting didn’t stop him. She ran ahead and the two of them stood face to face. He looked as if he was staring at a point far into the distance. Yuffie didn’t know what he was thinking or what was going through his mind but his gaze was very powerful. She stepped back immediately knowing that she couldn’t stop him.

“Take care,” Vincent said as he passed her. Yuffie never expected such words from him and let go of what just happened as she felt his heart for the first time.

 

[Makoeyes987]

I mean, if they're written to have introduction acknowledgement text with Aerith in the party and you can obtain Yuffie and Vincent as soon as possible in the story, I'm not sure why it should be assumed that they weren't obtained to include them into the story as soon as they are able. Their dialogue was written to include those interactions so it'd make sense to acknowledge it.

You could technically obtain the two characters as late as disc 3 and they'd literally have no idea who anyone is or who Aerith even was, but what sense would that make?

 

[LNK]

In the context of the original game, the only scene where the whole party is together is at the Ghost Hotel, funnily enough (granted the player recruits Vincent and Yuffie in time). Does this count as "meeting"?

I wouldn't count that as them meeting, since it's required that the two are recruited prior to it.

As for episode yuffie, I interpret that as she's just speaking in general. Cause technically it is true. They all did fight together in the final battle against sephiroth.

 

[LNK]

I mean, if they're written to have introduction acknowledgement text with Aerith in the party and you can obtain Yuffie and Vincent as soon as possible in the story, I'm not sure why it should be assumed that they weren't obtained to include them into the story as soon as they are able. Their dialogue was written to include those interactions so it'd make sense to acknowledge it.

I can see why people would assume they met, since you could recruit them prior to her death. But then, isn't it also possible that they never met, since those two are totally optional?

You could technically obtain the two characters as late as disc 3 and they'd literally have no idea who anyone is or who Aerith even was, but what sense would that make?

I mean, yuffie and Vincent weren't even included in the ending were they? That doesnt make sense either

 

[Makoeyes987]

They weren't included in the ending because they were secret characters, it's simply a matter of game mechanics at the time.

Also, if they animated Yuffie and Vincent mourning/crying for Aerith, then clearly the writer's intention was for them to be party members at the time and present. It's what's written in the OTWTAS novellas anyways. It's just the issue of them being "secret/optional" that adds unnecessary ambiguity.

 

[ForceStealer]

Vincent wouldn't high kick and hop away on one leg for some stranger's death.

 

[LNK]

They weren't included in the ending because they were secret characters, it's simply a matter of game mechanics at the time.

Also, if they animated Yuffie and Vincent mourning/crying for Aerith, then clearly the writer's intention was for them to be party members at the time and present. It's what's written in the OTWTAS novellas anyways. It's just the issue of them being "secret/optional" that adds unnecessary ambiguity.

Is there anything stating that it was their intention though? Cause them mourning for Aerith doesnt guarantee that they actually met. Especially with how it was portrayed.

I've cried/mourned over people that I never met.

 

[LNK]

Vincent wouldn't high kick and hop away on one leg for some stranger's death.

I think he would. How he acted in the scene of otwtas, shows to me, he was mostly there out of respect. Not cause he knew her

 

[Leafonthebreeze]

Yuffie's reaction seems pretty personal.

 

[Ashen]

In my latest gameplay of the OG I took Yuffie to the Forgotten Capital, and when Aerith dies, she approaches her, and touches her face, or something. That's definitely meeting IMO.

So within the game, it depends if you recruited them or not. But since both optional characters are considered canon, even if you don't get them, I don't see why them meeting Aerith wouldn't.
I don't know if I explained myself well...

 

[Makoeyes987]

Is there anything stating that it was their intention though? Cause them mourning for Aerith doesnt guarantee that they actually met. Especially with how it was portrayed.

I've cried/mourned over people that I never met.

It all depends on when you recruit them.

If you get both characters at the earliest parts of the story they're available.. So for Yuffie, right after the Mythril Mines and for Vincent, upon first arriving at Nibelheim... They both have more than enough experience and interaction to have met and bonded with Aerith. They're with her for at least half of her journey with them.

If you treat their optionality as less of an "if" and more of a "when," then it makes perfect sense. Remember, they were only added as "optional" because they were added to the scenario late and the writers didn't know how to fully incorporate these characters because of that late addition. It wasn't so much they weren't part of the story, it's just they didn't have a fully written way to include them.

 

[LNK]

I definitely agree with you if you look at it as when they met, instead of if they met. It's just the way things were retconned with the compilation, the ambiguity is still there for me. Even looking in the 10th anniversary ultimania timeline, it doesnt show them ever meeting. Actually, it does for Yuffie. Just not Vincent.

I can admit, that what I'm asking for (definitive proof), may not be possible. With the way I think, that just leaves the door open for subjective interpretation though.