Re: Love Triangle Discussion
Sorry, I feel like a teacher, compelled to grade these essays with my red pen.
Sorry, I feel like a teacher, compelled to grade these essays with my red pen.
Zack and Aerith's Relationship in Crisis Core
by Alantie
The release of Crisis Core brought to light more arguments regarding Zack’s relationship with Aerith. I thought Crisis Core did to Cleris propaganda what a Necromorph did to Isaac Clarke's wife, but please, on with the show. Some fans had expressed skepticism regarding Aerith’s descriptions of Zack in FFVII, believing that she spoke either out of bitterness or delusion and were certain that the new game would prove them right. However, Crisis Core proved Aerith’s statements regarding him to be the truth. In addition, there is controversy regarding the influence that Zack had on her in the form of her flower selling, the ribbon in her hair, and her wearing pink. Some believe the fact that Aerith continues to do these things even long after Zack’s death prove that she is still in love with him, instead of realizing that Zack left his mark on many in a similar fashion. Complete opposite of Cloud wearing a pink ribbon for Aeris, because that clearly shows Aeris impacted him differently from the others wearing the same thing.
At the market in the slums, to thank Aerith for helping him when he fell through the roof of her church, Zack buys her a ribbon. Fans immediately jumped to the conclusion that Aerith continued to wear the ribbon in the original FFVII because she was still in love with Zack, not considering that she might cherish it for the good memories it held, because it was a gift, and not because she was still pining for Zack. You're right. They should have been tipped off by the 89 letters she wrote him after he'd disappeared, and because she was immediately attracted to a man that looked, acted, fell through the same roof and carried the same sword as him. Stay frosty, peeps. Another thing to consider is the ribbon that Zack gives Aerith and the one she is wearing at the ending look very different from each other.
The one that Zack bought for her is a darker red color with straight ends, while the other is lighter pink with pointed ends, both tied in a different style. I thought the Japanese see color on an intuitively horizontal plane, thus proving that red == pink? I'm serious, it says so on your website! It’s entirely possible that the one at the ending is a completely different ribbon, not the same that Zack bought for her. Actually, upon closer examination, it becomes evident that the pointed ends are merely an effect of lens curvature... in reality, they're the flat ends of a lost soul. Perhaps the old one wore out and she had to replace it, buying a new ribbon. Even if it were the same ribbon, it doesn’t mean that the reason she wears it is because she’s still in love with Zack. Many other girls keep gifts from ex boyfriends; that does not necessarily mean that they still love them romantically. *takes notes* "Girls who convince themselves that they were dumped, and continue to write 90 letters and wear keepsakes are not in denial." Got it.
Another thing that's often overlooked about the ribbon is that Zack didn't choose the ribbon for her. Aerith actually picked it out for herself, as shown in the following passage from Crisis Core:
Aerith: Hey, is it okay if I take a look at this shop for a bit?
Zack: What? So the reason you brought me to the town was to go shopping huh?
Aerith: I guess not then.
Zack: I was just joking, it's all right. Go ahead and find the one you like.
Aerith: Thank you. It'll only be a short while. I'll be quick.
Zack: It seems like you have a lot of interest in this store.
Aerith: Yup, just window shopping here is pretty fun.
Zack: Hey Aerith.
Aerith: Yes?
Zack: About when you said "Hellooo---?" to wake up, I still owe you for that.
Aerith: It's really okay. You were offering me one date right?
Zack: You said it sounded dumb right?
Aerith: But that was because---
Zack: Then for helping me get out, I'll buy you a gift to commemorate our meeting today.
Aerith: Are you sure?
Zack: It's fine.
Aerith: Then---is this one okay?
Zack: Got it, I'll go pay for it. Just wait here.
From the dialogue, it appears that this particular shop is one that Aerith comes to visit a lot. Furthermore, it almost seems as though she's actually had her eye on this ribbon for some time. When Zack offers to repay her by buying her a present, she picks out the pink ribbon. Zack merely pays for it. With that being said, the ribbon is something Aerith liked and wanted, picking it out herself. Zack simply paid for it to repay her. Sounds an awful lot like buying my wife's wedding ring. Hopefully she'll never realize how unromantic our marriage is since I bought her something she previously admired.
An optional scene in Crisis Core, activated by the D.W.M wheel is Zack suggesting to Aerith that she should wear pink. She laughs and seems to consider it a joke at the time.
Zack: "Let's make a promise for our next meeting!"
Aerith: "Promise? Next meeting?"
Zack: "Well...no, let's make it 'a promise for the moment of our next meeting.' Aerith wears pink clothes then, how about that?"
Aerith: *giggles*.....what are you talking about?!"
Some consider the fact that Aerith seems to take his suggestion a sign of her romantic emotions for Zack. However, there’s nothing to say that Aerith decided to do so simply because she liked the color pink to begin with, or for any other reason. And certainly nothing to suggest that the writers wanted to retroactively emphasize Aerith's anticipation of his return, thus symbolically integrating their relationship into her iconic appearance. Her original dress does have pink trimming on it already, and in AU games, such as Kingdom Hearts, where Zack has not made an appearance, she still wears pink. Lol AU Why should she have to change the color of her outfit to prove that she does not love Zack anymore? If she likes the color pink, there’s no reason she has to stop wearing it because Zack suggested it.
Some fans believe that Zack wanting to show Aerith the real blue skies outside of Midgar is romantic. That, or because they thought Aerith calling Zack's eyes beautiful and seeing the sky in them was romantic. How delusional. However, what they are overlooking is the fact that Aerith is frightened of the wide open sky; she says so herself that she is scared of it. On that note, we'll overlook her saying that looking into Zack's eyes makes her unafraid of the sky. It’s not a wish of hers, or a mutual wish between her and Zack, but Zack’s own desire. It’s something he wants to show Aerith, despite her own reluctance. Aerith expresses no desire to leave Midgar until Before Crisis and in the original FFVII, she finally does leave.
It is a mistaken thought that it was because of Zack that Aerith began selling flowers. In reality, Aerith had wanted to do so for awhile. She mentions in the game how it is her dream to cover the slum in beautiful flowers, and Zack is the one who encourages her to sell them. He assists her by building a flower wagon to help her transport the flowers around the slums and being supportive about the idea. So in other words, it was because of Zack that Aerith began selling flowers. Seems that mistaken thought loves company. It’s his idea that she should sell them for 7 gil each, but Aerith changes it to 1 gil instead. In the original game at the Honeybee Inn, it’s said that she knows how to “make a good business through selling flowers”. In other words, selling flowers is Aerith’s dream; Zack only helped her gain the courage to do so. There’s nothing about her continuing to sell them after his death that indicates it’s out of romantic feelings. However, comma, Cloud taking flowers home clearly proves romantic intent.
Crisis Core makes a point of showing how Zack has a great deal of influence over many people in the game, not just Aerith. He suggests to a man in the slums who’s trying to think up a name for a bar to call it Seventh Heaven. Great example. The man was completely dead-set against naming it that from the start, proving Zack's massive people skillz. It turns out that the bar is the one that Tifa works at and that Avalanche makes as its hideout. He also is a role model for Cloud who wants to be a hero, much the way he sees Zack being, and his influence on Cloud is clear in their similar fighting style and gestures. Having absolutely nothing to do with Jenova cells, mind you. On a work related visit to Wutai, Zack encounters a young Yuffie who tries to steal from him, and he accepts several missions from her, helping to find treasure. And we can all see what a changed woman Yuffie turned out to be. At the Shinra mansion, he sees Vincent sleeping in his coffin, though the player does not see him, nor does Vincent wake up.He also has quite a bit of influence over Angeal, convincing him that he is not a monster and brings him back to the good side after he had been swayed by Genesis. Zack’s ability to touch people is a big part of his role in the game and who he is as a character. Contrast this with Aeris, who touched no one except for Cloud. Touching lots of people == no romance. (Lol that sounds dirty.)
In the original game, Aerith refers to Zack as a ladies man, believing that he had probably found someone else because he never came back to her. Some fans thought this was an undeserved description, but Crisis Core revealed it to be a true one. Zack is shown to be very friendly with women in general, flirting with a female receptionist that worked in the Shinra building. You know, that explains why Zack was screaming for the female receptionist at the end of the game, telling her to wait for him and Cloud to look after her.
//Intermission: Cessnei/Maiden wank (music provided courtesy of Tool)//
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2y3juVy9KGo&feature=related
While the relationship between Zack and Aerith was important and he did have an influence on her life, Crisis Core does show that Aerith’s words regarding their relationship was the truth. Zack did indeed flirt with other women, and their romance was not as serious and as lasting as some have incorrectly assumed. The astute audience, however, will observe that Cloud living, supporting, protecting, raising children with, humping and wanting to be forever with the girl his life has always centered around, does not interfere with his serious and lasting relationship with a dead woman.
