I think it's because Aeris' death is a big part of what spurns his depression and feeling of inadequacy when dealing with Tifa and the family. Because he failed someone he once cared romantically about, he's afraid of doing the same to Tifa who he's now pursuing a romantic relationship with. This is why he seems to seek her out specifically (ie; going to the church, having that wtf head conversation with her) when seeking forgiveness -- not to say Zack's death doesn't count as well, but that's not who he's spiritsexing meeting in flowerfield!headspace.
But it is someone he meets up with in the white!headspace and who spurns him to fight on even in the most desperate moments.
But yes, to echo the others with the 'where is the explicit romance?'
Of course, since Cloud/Aeris never actually came to be and at most there were just unresolved feelings, I don't think we need to see or hear more than we did. It'd be pretty weird to hear them confess love to each other and then, "Okay, well, I'm gonna go shack up with Tifa kthnx!"
Quite so.
As for Zack and Aeris banter, I really don't think that means anything other than that they are comfortable with each other. He's not even trying to get into her pants like in MotP - they're both just teasing each other about Cloud.
'Cuz he's already gotten into her ethereal panties. Now even more so.
course this is just my clerisy interpretation blargh
AND THUS IT IS WRONG FOR EVER AND ALL TIME, MUAHAHAHAHAHA!
And Zack's number.
He already HAD that.
Also kinda related:
*sings* look what I got!
I love how pissed off he looks in the second pic! And look, he's holding an Aerith
Clerith evidence FTW!
Yes, he's pissed off because he has an Aerith plush not a Tifa. AntiClerith!
Aerith's death scene is often looked at one of the biggest things pointing to Clerith in the game. They say that Cloud's reaction is too strong to be one over a mere friend(it's them putting being a friend down, too, like if Aerith is a friend and not a lover, that it is a terrible thing and very insulting to her).
But his reaction is quite similar to how he reacted to Zack's death. So no, not a mere friend, but a dear friend, yes.
And then in AC they think of Cloud's guilt over Aerith like it just came out of nowhere, and it isn't like a huge part of Cloud's personality, a big fixation and hang-up for him tat he's had since a boy(and i could be a butt and say that it comes back to Tifa, too) . Like it started with her death, and now any other guilt or regret he feels is directly tied to Aerith, because he failed his lover.
But hell, Cloud's always been a guilty feeling sot, ever since he failed Tifa. And if we're talking about 'that's where it came from, ergo lover', since that's where it comes from first.
I think it's a vast oversimplification to compare Cloud's affections for Aeris to a comrade like Barret, when there is a significant difference in closeness and how he treats them. As for Zack, it's comparable and I will give you that since they are both shown in Cloud's headlist of Very Important People.
And no one disputes that. No one's trying to say she doesn't matter. We're just asking where's the romance?
In any case, there is sufficient evidence in the complication to support him caring about her romantically. Even excluding optional responses, he storms ShinRa for her,
In return for her saving Marlene and because he promised, and because Cloud takes that shit seriously.
agrees to go out on a date with her,
Technically, no, he doesn't agree or disagree, and has to be forced, but pfeh.
has sharey talk time with her more than anyone else,
Point of Order- LIFESTREAM. He has the longest and most content filled talk time with Tifa there, to say nothing of Highwind, or her optional date, or various other bits and pieces across the time.
and claims that nothing else matters after she's dead.
Actually, he says 'the planet, your plans, I don't care' or words to that effect, as a friend has just died, and the last thing he wants to hear is more of Sephiroth's yammering.
So yes, while you can shrug it off as "they were just super special friends", the interpretation of some romantic feelings brewing is far from unfounded.
It's still rather tenuous, IMHO.
Oh, yeah, I agree with you 100% there. There's always the argument that "Most FF Couple don't have to say I love you, you just know it"...but that still doesn't really fly, because by the end of it all he's still going to live with Tifa and raise kids.
And it always gets me when folks- not you, but certain folks- act like that's not a massive, massive hint. In any other circumstance, man + women of similar age + kids- especially one who they are replacement parents to = couple and their kids by whatever means, not 'child', said 'child's' 'mother,' and 'child's' 'siblings.'
It is to sigh.
@Fairheart
Cloud did it so he wouldn't look/feel like a dick? Er. That's a rather stiff and professional way of looking at an act of kindness, imo. :|
He did it because he's a generally nice guy, not a dick.
As a rabid Aerti shipper, I wholeheartedly agree.
Everyone should be AerTi and TifAer shippers. Cloud is.
Retracted - the actual quote was more like "You and your stupid plan don't matter anymore. Aeris is dead"... yadda yadda. He is still claiming that at that moment, his most important goal is meaningless in the face of her death. I think that's a pretty heavy thing to say.
Honestly, it needed to be said, and I don't think would have been out of place had Zack died in similar circumstances.
...I'm really not sure how often I have to say this, but I'm not suggesting Cloud and Aeris had a long standing tru wuvs forever type of deal going on. I believe that they probably had budding romantic feelings and flirtation, but that doesn't detract from what Cloud and Tifa currently have and I'm befuddled when it's treated like it does.
It's not so much you, Zee. A lot of statement spoken here are addressed to the unspeaking audience.
As for believing they had a budding romance, I can see where you'd be getting some of it from, but just failing to see Disc 1 in light of the shell game it all was to keep you guessing so you wouldn't guess what was actually coming. It encourages the ambiguity of the thing, and drops tiny hints that you CAN take certain ways, so you're guessing about things, even thinking you've got the answer, right before BAM, the undercut that entire rug from you, add further questions, and only begin answering them much later, making you revise your entire view of everything that came before it in light of those revelations.
And I do get that people can interpret things differently, certainly. (I did give the Barret x Cloud example.) However, interpretation and opinion are not the facts of the game/compilation, and that's my argument. If people want to see Clerith, fine, but spouting it like it's canon and undeniable irks me.
