Regarding the example: Cloud isn't a sprite, and he does express more emotion than the character in the video. To act like the GS date scene where Cloud sits across from her was supposed to be of the romantic trope you stated, you would have to ignore Aerith's obviously offended reaction, as if she did the wrong thing. You also have to ignore that Cloud obviously saw the invitation to sit
right next to her, and ignored it before letting out a sigh. I also doubt that just prior to the scene you sent, the character had a eureka moment where he remembered his dead best friend was the girl's boyfriend, and that he was crazy in love with her, complicating the guys feelings for said girl.
I'm also going to add that the side quest in Costa Del Sol for Clerith was grim, to say the least. Cloud does , in fact, treat Aerith a bit harshly sometimes.
Yeah, if I was mocap for two characters I liked, and both had a girl they liked, but one also had another possible romantic interest, and it was the girl one of my main characters love, maybe feeling Aerith is Zack's "girl", I'd probably not want to rock the boat.
But that's also missing the point I made. Cloud's actors have to, at the very least, understand the character. If they didn't, they wouldn't be able to play the role well in the first place.
I don't think it's a coincidence that Cloud's actors end up leaning into Cloti, they are hired to
be Cloud, if they didn't accurately depict him or understand his character, they wouldn't have been cast as him, simple as that.
I'm also going to have to stop you at 'possible love interest'. Like I said, going off the OG atleast, whatever romantic feelings Cloud had for Aerith died with his fake persona in the Northern Crater.
Tifa is the person he's yearned and pined for his whole life, he's not going to change on a dime for Aerith. 'Possible' implies there's a chance it would have happened, when that simply isn't the case.
With how the material and characters are set up (especially Advent Children) I think it is highly disrespectful to Tifa for Cloud to have romantic feelings for Aerith outside of his SOLDIER persona. It is a complete insult to Tifa to have Cloud shape his life around her, only for Aerith to swoop in while he's somewhat acting out the part of her ex, and actually have Cloud consider her a possible romantic interest.
Imagine a situation where Cloud has to come clean about his feelings if this were the case: "Yeah, even though I was yearning for you my whole life, and shaped my aspirations on how to be worthy of you Tifa, a short time with Aerith while I was living a lie really makes me waver a bit." I don't think there's an easier way to make someone feel like shit about themselves than something like this happening. Really makes someone feel inferior to the other person.
Tifa's role in the narrative is to have a close, romantic, intimate, supportive relationship with Cloud. Aerith's role is to set the themes of the game, to be the Ancient who commands the lifestream and holy to save the planet from Meteor.
Maybe Clerith would have happened had Tifa been the person on that altar, but that's the point, that's a massive rewrite that has characters stealing each others roles, taking away from each woman's overall character.
Tifa cannot play Aerith's role in the story. It is simply not viable to have Aerith steal things from Tifa's role, just to give Aerith even more importance. The same way that it's unviable for Tifa to be the one to summon Holy: because you insult the characters involved. It is simply an insult to have Tifa's role conflated and shared with Aerith, but not the other way around. That's not very 'equal' to our heroines, is it?
I apologise for sounding bitter here, but Clerith really ruffles my feathers. It's not exclusive to Clerith, though, any pairing that involves Cloud or Tifa that isn't Cloti rubs me the wrong way, I can't help it.
No.
Also no.
There is slight overlap in the re;trilogy, but generally speaking, nobody should be thinking of stars when talking about Cloud and Aerith, and nobody should be thinking about flowers when talking about Cloud and Tifa.
Brit Baron iirc also said people should be open minded about fanservice leading both sides to wonder which got just fanservice, but either way it was official content.
I apologise if this sounds rude, but judging by the fact that Cloud's character is set up to revolve around Tifa and vice versa, I think we both know who's getting the 'fanservice' here, if any side.
