So, what do you think the LTD conclusion is? (Round 2)

[Splintered]

Oddly appropriate phrasing for the HW scene.

 

[Tifaeria]

Since it's so appropriate that people keep thinking how Aerith and Cloud are loved from beyond death (and spirit sex), I decided to share this link. Btw, does anybody read comics? Read Blackest Night from DC? If so, this would also be funny to you.
http://thelifestream.net/forums/showthread.php?p=165451#post165451

He doesn't know I did this, lulz.

And to be more on topic, if this were to happen after DC, then it'd be the most epic battle in creation. Dead Aerith vs Tifa! Even if Aerith was all badass in death, I'd still put my money on Tifa.

 

[DrakeClawfang]

I don't think that the couples are on equal ground, but I don't think Cloud and Aerith have no ground whatsoever.

OT:
I honestly despise any arguement that uses "throw X a bone" since I first encountered it in a CA arguement, (seriously, throw Cloti a bone? Did you see the highwind scene? That wasn't a bone so much as an entire skeleton) but I see it on the CT partyline as well. "Throwing a bone" doesn't disprove anything, it's a stupid catch phrase you use when you can't think of a way to say anything else.

I tip my hat to you, sir. I entirely agree. To me, "throwing the Clotis/Cleriths" a bone is fanboi/gurl speak for "I can't think of a way to disprove your point, so I'm not gonna count it just because".

 

[Neutron Ronnie]

Well now there is the koibito line, which could be mutual, but isn't neccesarly. Disk ones's optional lines could infer that Cloud likes Aerith, parts of the story could be seen more touching like Aerith's death or the hand reach at the end if Cloud was in love with Aerith, the reason behind Tifa's jealousy, why he went to the church, quotes like "undying feelings" or "engraved in his heart" I think that's a good baseline to lead you to believe Clerith is canon. Believe though, but without a solid fact no one should be claiming it as official canon only speculated canon.

It's a good baseline ONLY if you turn a blind eye to all the overwhelming Cloti evidence.

What I find incomprehensible, and somewhat depressing, is how people turn a blind eye and a deaf ear to all the evidence before them... :|

 

[minimosey]

Spoiler

My preference is Cloud/Aerith.

Now that that's out of the way. I think that Cloud/Tifa is about as canon as it'll get in FF7 without anyone dying to make it tragic. And honestly, while you can choose the optional dialogue and make yourself pretty hints toward Cloud/Aerith for the first disc (yeeaah, I always end up with her as Cloud's date), the fact of the matter is still that Aerith died before any real romance could begin between the two. Compilation seems to be pretty clear that Aerith cares deeply for Cloud, bordering on romantic love (if it isn't simply that), but Cloud's feelings seem to mostly run along the lines of "good friend -> friend who martyred herself (lol he's wrong, but since when is Cloud a good judge of character) and I must AVENGE -> dear friend I let DIE -> dearly departed. ...sometimes pops into my head while I'm driving, don't do that again Aerith."

Cloud/Aerith is a wistful "might have been" for me. I prefer it over Cloud/Tifa simply because of the personalities, but I don't think it's more canon. ...Honestly I didn't think of either pairing as canon in the original game because I didn't see Cloud as really thinking about love at all, but given the compilation as a whole I'd say if either pairing was going to be canon, it'd be Cloud/Tifa.

Spoiler

...But the real canon pairing is Cloud/Zack.

 

[Sunstrider]

I don't think Cloud/Aerith is completely without basis. I feel like Cloud and Tifa's relationship is clearly meant to be viewed as romantic while Cloud and Aerith is... something else. It's been clearly stated that Aerith has feelings for Cloud, and I think she started to truly love him for him towards the end. On Cloud's end, it seems like something could take off with Aerith but never quite gets up in the air because of circumstances such as Tifa's existance in his life and, well, Aerith's death. As it turns out, Aerith was a dear friend who could have possibly been more to him had she lived... and had things not developed with Tifa. As it stands, she did die, so we can do little beyond speculate the what-ifs that would arise if she hadn't. Therefore, Cloud/Aerith is something that really only exists in interpretation and player choices during disc 1.

As far as preference goes, I actually like both pairings equally. Sometimes I flip-flop as to which one I prefer more, but it seems clear to me that Cloud and Aerith as a romantic pairing just does not have the backing that Cloud and Tifa does when it comes to canon. I really don't know what more they could do beyond just stating flat out that Cloud/Tifa is canon to make it clear.

 

[paoo]

Come on guys. Accept the real canon already. -facepalm-

Spoiler

Anyway.. I blame the rabid fans for ruining such a beautiful pairing as CloudxAerith. And the same that some people can't accept CloudxTifa. Instead they make anti-videos on YT, and show hatred towards the fans for that couple. It's a shame..

 

[Alessa Gillespie]

Spoiler

My preference is Cloud/Aerith.

Now that that's out of the way. I think that Cloud/Tifa is about as canon as it'll get in FF7 without anyone dying to make it tragic. And honestly, while you can choose the optional dialogue and make yourself pretty hints toward Cloud/Aerith for the first disc (yeeaah, I always end up with her as Cloud's date), the fact of the matter is still that Aerith died before any real romance could begin between the two. Compilation seems to be pretty clear that Aerith cares deeply for Cloud, bordering on romantic love (if it isn't simply that), but Cloud's feelings seem to mostly run along the lines of "good friend -> friend who martyred herself (lol he's wrong, but since when is Cloud a good judge of character) and I must AVENGE -> dear friend I let DIE -> dearly departed. ...sometimes pops into my head while I'm driving, don't do that again Aerith."

Cloud/Aerith is a wistful "might have been" for me. I prefer it over Cloud/Tifa simply because of the personalities, but I don't think it's more canon. ...Honestly I didn't think of either pairing as canon in the original game because I didn't see Cloud as really thinking about love at all, but given the compilation as a whole I'd say if either pairing was going to be canon, it'd be Cloud/Tifa.

Spoiler

...But the real canon pairing is Cloud/Zack.

These are basically my feelings when I discover that one of my pairings is not canon. There's a reason the term Fan Preferred Pairing exists.

 

[minimosey]

These are basically my feelings when I discover that one of my pairings is not canon. There's a reason the term Fan Preferred Pairing exists.

Yup. And a reason I write fanfiction.

Well, besides that I just like "what if" scenarios and trying to explore some characters' minds more.

 

[DrakeClawfang]

I think we all know the real LT conclusion. In the end, Cloud and Tifa are gonna die too, so the real conclusion is that Cloud, Tifa, Aerith and Zack spend eternity having foursomes together.

 

[haichinamie]

hi... are we still arguing about this. o ok, cool

 

[Dashell]

Well, besides that I just like "what if" scenarios and trying to explore some characters' minds more.

That's what writing is all about, yes

 

[OneWingedDemon]

What if Cloud's mind had not shattered? What if Aeris had come to know the real Cloud? What if Cloud were not still hung up over the promise with Tifa? What if Aerishadn't died? What if Cloud stopped fucking dreaming about Sephiroth half-naked and being his bitch and just handing him shit like the Black Materia which can destroy the entire world, Cloud??!!!

Like Nojima said, C/A is really just a hypothetical question within the FF7 universe.

You can dream about it, but it never happened.

 

[Dashell]

What if Cloud stopped fucking dreaming about Sephiroth half-naked and being his bitch and just handing him shit like the Black Materia which can destroy the entire world, Cloud??!!!

Then I would be a very very VERY happy fan

 

[OneWingedDemon]

Ja, too bad canon says Cloud has a hard on for Sephiroth. Eat shit and die, Clackers. /OT

 

[DrakeClawfang]

What if Cloud's mind had not shattered? What if Aeris had come to know the real Cloud? What if Cloud were not still hung up over the promise with Tifa? What if Aerishadn't died? What if Cloud stopped fucking dreaming about Sephiroth half-naked and being his bitch and just handing him shit like the Black Materia which can destroy the entire world, Cloud??!!!

Like Nojima said, C/A is really just a hypothetical question within the FF7 universe.

You can dream about it, but it never happened.

Debating the "what ifs" is a part of any fandom. Nomura himself has said he likes it when games leave things up to discussion and debate.

 

[Alessa Gillespie]

Ja, too bad canon says Cloud has a hard on for Sephiroth. Eat shit and die, Clackers. /OT

last time I checked, Cloud hated Sephiroth and killed him. I thought he was butt buddiesbest friends with Zack. For real.

 

[I Am Not Me]

Ja, too bad canon says Cloud has had hard ons for Sephiroth. Eat shit and die, Clackers. /OT

Fixxxxed.

I'll be a fair Clacker and agree with you. I won't go as far as say such distasteful things (like you) because my ship is being threatened (which it can never be, but just saying).

It was stated that Cloud never stopped thinking of Sephiroth when he was a kid, even in his sleep. I'm not surprised if he kept pictures of him under his pillows and was a member of the Silver Elite. Ignoring Tifa, Sephiroth is pretty much the reason he joined SOLDIER. Yes, it was canon.

UNFORTUNATELY, it's all in the past. Remember that:

last time I checked, Cloud hated Sephiroth and killed him. I thought he was butt buddiesbest friends with Zack. For real.

Clephiroth = past canon; Cloud's luv-turned-hatred is essential to the plot; it extends to Dissidia and KH
Clack = past, present, and future canon; Cloud's love for Zack is essential to everything he does including breathing and probably even farting; it extends to Dissidia and KH

When he got to ShinRa and met Zack, they got closer and closer that Sephiroth was just reduced to being his awesome superior. You can tell that Cloud didn't think as much of Sephiroth anymore in CC, when he finally got to work with him but became a lot more preoccupied about going to Nibelheim. If he really liked Sephiroth, he would pretty much not be so affected by the mission to his hometown, because his sex god is right front of him. Except, no, that didn't happen. He was nervous and kept to Zack's side mostly.

There's an explanation for his anxiety about going to Nibelheim. And no, it's not Tifa, you rapids. Well, it's partly Tifa (I'll get there), but it's more of having Zack be in his hometown and meeting his mother. Remember the invitation to dinner at his house?

About Tifa... of course he'd be embarrassed for her to meet his boyfriend. I mean, Cloud did use her for his Sephy fantasies. Don't ask me how I know this, I just do.

Clephiroth officially died when Sephiroth hurt Zack (and Tifa...and Nibelheim). It's part of the plot, sorry to say.

And the half-naked Sephiroth in the final battle? That's obvious symbolism of Cloud letting go of his past attraction, literally defeating his past wetdreams of Sephiroth. Cloud had decided to get rid of everything about his first, superficial love for his troo luv. The hand-reach thing at the end wherein the hand turned into Tifa's? That was Zack's hand in the form of Aerith's hand. It's clearly a Clack reference. Also, Cloud's still hung up on Zack until DoC, you know. And he still hates Sephiroth.

Clack is canon. If you can't tell by the way he looks at the rusty sword on Zack's grave, then you have grave comprehension issues. There's a reason he moved the sword to Aerith's church, you know.

Sorry, Clephiroths. Just ain't happening.







On a completely different note:

Anyway.. I blame the rabid fans for ruining such a beautiful pairing as CloudxAerith.

Exactly the reason why I became a bit anti-romantic-Clerith. Rabid fans who pick on you for not agreeing with everything they say about their ship = FAIL

 

[paoo]

Exactly the reason why I became a bit anti-romantic-Clerith. Rabid fans who pick on you for not agreeing with everything they say about their ship = FAIL

Exactly. I love Clerith, I probably even love it more than Cloti. But it's hard to love the pairing, when rabid fans come in the way and act so immature. I would never do that.. HEY WTF ACCEPT REAL CANON!!!!!!!!1123lololol DEAL WITH THE CLACK AND AERTI-NESS!!!!!!! 4ever

 

[Sunstrider]

Exactly the reason why I became a bit anti-romantic-Clerith. Rabid fans who pick on you for not agreeing with everything they say about their ship = FAIL

lol back when I had a horribly-designed fan site, I got emails from people telling me I wasn't a real Aerith fan because I didn't think Cloud loved her eternally.

And seriously. Don't make me start pwning you all with proofz that Aerti is more canon than Cloti, Clerith, Clack, AND Clephiroth combined. I have quotes. And I will post them in huge, big, bold font with CAPSLOCKS. Things get serious when you use them.

 

[Dashell]

Lol the GameOverthinker needs to do a bit of research me thinks:

(starts at about 4:36)

 

[Ryushikaze]

Game Overthinker... underthought. What he described as 'what she's good to do' is exactly what he does.
He also DID NOT DO THE RESEARCH.
I love how he can think for epochs on THE ROMANTIC LIVES OF MARIO B CHARACTERS, but can't do a coupla minutes of backstory research in a PLOT DRIVEN GAME.

 

[paoo]

lol back when I had a horribly-designed fan site, I got emails from people telling me I wasn't a real Aerith fan because I didn't think Cloud loved her eternally.

I've been called a "fake Clerith" because I said I liked Cloti before.
And AerTi for the win. <3 Ish da smex!!1

 

[DrakeClawfang]

His misinformation aside, his presumptions are rather harsh in their implications. He says that Cloud would rather go emo over Aerth than go for Tifa. Going by the idea Cloud loved Aerith in FF7, this means Cloud's girlfriend died, and this guy thinks "oh well, move on, Tifa is hotter anyway".

I always hated people who don't like Cloud being guilty for Aerith's death. "A girl I was kinda falling for was killed before my eyes by my archrival. Oh well, let's get on with my day".

 

[Dashell]

I always hated people who don't like Cloud being guilty for Aerith's death. "A girl I was kinda falling for was killed before my eyes by my archrival. Oh well, let's get on with my day".

Cloud: What about us? What are we supposed to do? *puts Aerith down and walks up to Tifa* So wanna fuck?
Tifa: o.o