The post was made a while ago but I'll still voice my concern again:
In my opinion, the devs have backed themselves into a corner regarding when to best reveal Aerith's death to Cloud. Or, atleast from the point of view that Cleriths could take an otherwise Cloti thing and run with it. It would still be a Cloti moment, but with Aerith's involvement there will be disengenuous people out there who will cling to what few moments they have in part 3.
1. Like the others have said, the Nortern Crater is supposed to be about Cloud, Tifa, and their past. It's a test of their bond. If Cloud's mental fracture comes as a result of Aerith's death, while I myself wouldn't say it's a Clerith thing, we all know who would, and I don't think we'd ever hear the end of it.
2. If Aerith's death is revealed to Cloud during the Lifestream sequence, then it's the same situation; It's a moment for Cloud and Tifa so it doesn't really have a place there. Again, while I myself wouldn't interpret Aerith's death being revealed to Cloud during the lifestream sequence to be a Clerith thing, we all know who would.
3. I would agree that when it comes to revealing Aerith's death to him, since the NC and the LS are moments about Cloud and Tifa, it would only make sense to do it when you return to the FC. However, I've said in the past that if Cloud goes into the LS, and comes out still fucked in the head then it feels insulting to Tifa and her role in the narrative. The LS is about two things; restoring and helping Cloud from his mental anguish/identity troubles and them revealing their feelings for each other. So if Cloud's mind is still stuck in this limbo zone between reality and a timeline in the lifestream, and it still is post LS, then Tifa has only fulfilled one of those things as opposed to both like she did in the original, therefore it feels like her big moment was overshadowed by Aerith somewhat. Well, not necessarily 'overshadowed', but complications introduced because of Aerith, her death, and the decision to have Cloud's mind stuck in this limbo zone is what prevents Tifa from fully having her moment.
What I'm trying to say here is: Atleast one major Cloti/Tifa thing will have to be sacrificed and be falsely interpreted as a Clerith thing taking a Cloti thing by disengenuous people no matter where or when the reveal to Cloud happens.
Then again, that's just how I feel. I could be interpreting the games or things said by other people here wrong, and if so please feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.
I believe their only lines together are in fact of her wishing him luck on finding his light, are they not?
And that he'll return to 'this place' once he finds Sephiroth, IIRC
It's worse when you realize how much of that comes from other women.
It's never nice to see women put other women down. The world is already kind against them, so it only make their situation worse.
Like, the idea isn't unheard of, but hand holding is the baby's first steps version.
Oh definitely. But added context and another party's Gold Saucer date tells me Cloud and Aerith's handholding isn't exactly 'tying' anything.
Yeah, because the only reason it's not romantic is because Tifa's in it and they can't admit that any scene with her could be romantic.
Same thing for UTH. I saw someone wrote a Clerith fic that was "UTH but with the canon love interest" lmao. The jokes write themselves.
Cloud and Tifa are like, third in line for most established FF main hero couple behind Cecil and Rosa and Nox and Luna, and the only reason Nox and Luna edge them out is because we do have depictions of their hypothetical future children.
Stupid fact of the day- The mocap actor for Ardyn in Kingsglaive as well as basically every other character is the man who plays Astarion in Baldur's Gate 3.
This is another thing, what more do Cleriths want from Cloud and Tifa? An on screen kiss maybe? oh wait.
She's going to need all of her skills to stay on this wild critter.
I don't know if it would be difficult, it was most likely really awkward. I headcanon it as such anyway.
I don't know about the Japanese version but when she says "you're not him, and that's ok" to Cloud in the gondola, referring to Zack - that was the moment all arguments about Aerith actually wanting to move on died for me.
You don't say that on a date. You just don't, especially not when you're supposed to be moving on. That's not moving on, that's settling. Imagine if Cloud actually was treating this like a real date and heard that. You wouldn't need the dream date to confirm the friendzone anymore, all I'll say.
This is exactly how I saw it aswell. Like, Cleriths, I dare you to tell the next person you go on a date with all about your ex and how the person you're on a date with currently reminds you of said ex. And then tell them; "you're not them, but that's okay".
And then let's see how many people feel up for a second date.
