Although Cid plays a larger role than Cloud and Tifa, it would have taken minimal effort on SE's part to show Cloud and Tifa romantically in DoC. If SE was able to include Cid's romance in DoC, there is no reason SE couldn't have highlighted Cloud and Tifa's romance, too -- even if it was as simple as a minor embrace, kiss, etc.
"Cid's romance" is stretching it a bit, don't you think? The only reason we know Cid and Shera got married is because -- in an optional line of dialogue that's more about the airship than Cid or Shera -- an engineer says:
----
"While this airship is named after Cid's wife, construction of the vessel wasn't performed by the captain at all.
Our team of loyal scientists here at the World Regenesis Organization or those criminals at Shinra weren't involved, either.
To tell you the truth, the ship is not even from this era. It is a relic from a lost civilization.
Most of the machinery in the engine room is boxed up in black casing, so we don't even know what half of it does.
There's no need to worry. Even though we cannot reproduce the technology, we can still put it to good use.
I can almost guarantee there will be no problems.
Almost..."
----
It's not mentioned anywhere else and isn't romantic at all. Cid isn't even present for the exchange, and Shera herself isn't even in the game.
BlankBeat said:
I guess the point I'm trying to make is that after the HAHW scene, SE has only portrayed Cloud and Tifa platonically. Although there is circumstantial evidence that may lead some to believe they are in a relationship, SE has decided, INTENTIONALLY, not to portray them as explicitly romantic in either AC or DoC. That is extremely weird and strange, especially for a company that makes romantic references all over the place -- even in games that are un-realted to each other.
If you're going to be fair, you can't call the scene in FFIX a romantic reference to Cloud and Aerith but then challenge whether Cloud blushing around Tifa and saying stuff like "I know my life will succeed this time because I have you" is romantic in a title that actually focuses on them. Particularly for characterization from the notoriously more subdued Japanese culture, that's romantic.
Anyway, wouldn't it be kind of harsh to Aerith fans to have overtly physical scenes of romance presented between Cloud and Tifa? Something like the higher affection Highwind scene is as far as I would expect it to go.
And, honestly, it would just be weird. Cloud and Tifa are both awkward turtles. Their relationship and their personalities are largely defined by hesitation and this weird space they put between themselves and others. I don't really know if I would want to see them getting frisky.
BlankBeat said:
The pattern I'm trying to point out is that Tifa is never stated to be anything more than Cloud's "childhood friend."
An official quote from an Ultimania calls her someone he has loved for many years. I don't know what more you need than that. It's the same word
(好意; koui) used to describe Cecil & Rosa's feelings for each other, Celes & Locke's, and Squall & Rinoa's. I mean, really, what more can you ask for?
Shit, Celes and Locke never hug, kiss or say "I love you" -- the most we see from them is grabbing one another's hands in life-and-death situations, which is the most we see from Cloud and Tifa. What does that say about them? And that was another love triangle where the guy loved two women. He doesn't have to stop loving Rachel to love Celes.
The situation with Cloud, Aerith and Tifa isn't any more complicated than that. The fact that it's a love triangle doesn't paint "koui" in any different a light than it does with any of those other couples. Love is not a zero sum game. In order for "koui" to apply from Cloud to Tifa it isn't necessary that he not love Aerith at all -- it's only necessary that he loves Tifa.
BlankBeat said:
Although not every *main* FF couple is *always* listed romantically, I can't help but assume there is at least one or two direct references to them being a romantic couple. It's very curious that the same can't be said for Cloud and Tifa.
It's more curious that you don't acknowledge the same descriptions being used for them that are used for other couples ("koui" and the "communicate their feelings for each other" quotes).
BlankBeat said:
The reason I focus on how Cloud acted while both Aerith and Tifa were alive is because that is the only time we can compare how Cloud acts when he has the choice between the two.
I get that, but my problem with you doing it is that this accounts for most of the data you use.
BlankBeat said:
During Cloud's childhood, obviously Cloud showed romantic interest in Tifa. And after Aerith died, obviously Cloud showed romantic interest in Tifa.
I am surprised to see you admit this so openly, but cool.
BlankBeat said:
But this begs a few questions: 1. If both Aerith and Tifa were present during Cloud's childhood, would Cloud have fancied Tifa? Isn't it possible Cloud would have fancied Aerith, instead? 2. If Aerith had lived, would Cloud have expressed mutual feelings to Tifa? Isn't it possible Cloud would have expressed his mutual feelings to Aerith, instead?
Why does it beg those questions? Why does that matter? Again, love is not a zero sum game.
Like I said in my last post, it's just as possible that Cloud would have decided he couldn't be without either woman and they would have ended up sharing him.
Why can it not be as simple as what I said before?:
"Tifa loved Aerith. In The Kids Are Alright, she says that Aerith was more than a friend, she was family. Aerith loved Tifa. She entrusted her feelings for Cloud to Tifa, asked her to take care of him and wanted them to be together. And Cloud loved both of them.
Why does it have to be more complicated than that?"
This right here makes for a satisfying story with quotes that mean exactly what they say and gives equal respect and dignity to all involved: "Cloud has chosen to spend his life with Tifa and will also cherish Aerith -- another woman he loved -- for the rest of his life."
That makes for a nice story. On the other hand, a story where Cloud ignores a woman's feelings for him and mooches off her in every way (food, a place to live, volunteering her to do favors for other people so he can get stuff, etc.) after expressing mutual romantic feelings -- while she goes along with all of it without questioning -- is a grotesque, abusive thing.
Again, I don't understand how you can prefer to see Cloud, Aerith or Tifa in that light. You have to distort these characters to the degree HarryxHermione fans have to distort people from that franchise. It ruins them and turns them into -- well, what I said before. Cloud becomes a manipulative douchebag instead of an awkward, sincere softy; Aerith becomes a selfish bitch instead of a noble, loving friend; and Tifa becomes a pathetic, clingy doormat instead of a strong, self-respecting partner.
BlankBeat said:
When Aerith and Tifa are both on equal footing, it is undeniable that Cloud preferred Aerith. One has to look no further than their chemistry, Tifa's jealously, and Cloud's consistent concern for Aerith's safety. This is part of the reason I'm a Clerith shipper -- I think Cloud and Aerith are more compatible, something Nojima hints at. For lack of a better word, the only time Tifa "beats" Aerith is either when Aerith is dead, or during Cloud's childhood, a time Aerith wasn't present for. This suggest to me that if Aerith was present during Cloud's childhood, Cloud would have fancied Aerith instead of Tifa. This also suggests that if Aerith had lived, Cloud would have expressed mutual feelings to Aerith instead of Tifa.
Or maybe he would have expressed those feelings to both. From where do you get this idea that you can't love two people?
BlankBeat said:
Part of the reason I don't think Cloud and Tifa's mutual feelings led to a relationship is because Cloud continues to love Aerith after she dies ...
That's ... insulting. Very insulting. One of my best friends is a widow. She's with someone else now and loves him, but still loves her husband.
I hate to say this about someone just from discussing fictional characters' love lives, but you have a twisted view of love, friend. Love does not mean you diminish others' value. You don't have a finite amount of love to share. You have as much as you're willing (and allowed) to share.
BlankBeat said:
It is clear part of Cloud dragging around the past isn't just about letting two people he cared for die, but that one of the people he let die was Aerith in particular. Tifa senses this: "The thing which she is unable to hide in her irritation towards Cloud is the fact that he isn’t merely dragging the past around, but because that reason might perhaps be related to Aerith." Then, when Tifa see's Cloud visiting Aerith's Church, her expression becomes, "complex". It isn't hard to read between the lines. Cloud is feeling guilty that he let Aerith die, but because it's Aerith in particular, a woman he loved romantically, it adds another dimension to the situation from Tifa's perspective.
Exactly. It's from Tifa's perspective. This is telling you something about Tifa, not Cloud. She might worry that it means he doesn't love her as much as he loved Aerith. She might worry that it means he believes he would have been happier with Aerith. She might worry that she can't give him what Aerith could.
Her worrying about those things does not mean it's true.
My wife has worried before that I may not love her as much as I love my girlfriend because my GF can give me babies while my wife cannot. Having children is an enormously big deal for me. However, I don't love my wife any less than my GF. My girlfriend is the one who can give me children, but my wife is agreeing to allow that to happen, which she didn't have to do.
BlankBeat said:
I'm not convinced that if Cloud had been alone, he would have entered Don's mansion after being told Don wasn't interested in men.
Then you aren't telling the truth when you say you know Cloud cared about Tifa.
BlankBeat said:
People keep pointing out that Cloud knew Tifa was an awesome fighter who could take care of herself. Cloud had already been on missions with Tifa and they had blown up reactors together. So, yes, Cloud may have very well turned around and said Tifa could take care of herself.
So, he's going to go all the way there to find out what kind of situation she's gotten herself into, discover that it may be dangerous, and then not so much as wait around to see if she comes out safely?
Yeah, you don't think he gave a shit about her.
Why are your posts riddled with contradictions? It's baffling how much you have to twist the story and the characters -- and how inconsistent all of it becomes in the meantime -- to arrive at the conclusions you do.
BlankBeat said:
The bottom line is, we will never know if Cloud would have gone in if he had been alone.
So we can stop talking about it now?
BlankBeat said:
This is simply another example that suggests if Aerith had been present during Cloud's childhood, or if Aerith had not died, Clould would have fancied Aerith during his childhood and expressed mutual feelings to Aerith, instead of Tifa.
You do realize you're basing this conclusion on a version of Cloud that included Zack's personality traits, literally copied from his mind and deposited into Cloud's, yes? As well as Cloud's own skewed perception of what a tough, badass SOLDIER would be like.
The real Cloud's personality is but one of several personalities and influences at work. Composite Cloud and the real Cloud are very different people. Their personalities are extremely different. They talk differently, act differently, think differently -- and may even like different kinds of women.
BlankBeat said:
Tifa only "wins" when Aerith is out of the picture, which is why I think disc 1 is essential to building up the argument for the Clerith ship.
Well, as long as we're bastardizing Cloud and belittling Tifa --
Aerith only "wins" when Cloud's mind has been put in a blender and he can't even remember that he loves Tifa, which is why I think Disc 2, Disc 3, Before Crisis, Crisis Core, On the Way to a Smile and Advent Children are essential to acknowledging the full picture.
Now, does that sound insulting to you? Belittling? Mocking? Demeaning? If so, think about the wacky shit you're saying.
BlankBeat said:
Did any of you watch the TV show Laguna Beach? Although it's not a perfect comparison, I think it's interesting to compare the two because Laguna Beach had a love triangle -- which is what led to part of its success.
Lauren (Tifa) and Stephen (Cloud) grew up together in Laguna Beach (Nibleheim). They are the same age. They've always had a thing for each other, but nothing serious.
Then, Kristin (Aerith) comes in the picture. Stephen prefers and dates Kristin (Aerith), and Lauren (Tifa) get's jealous/angry about it. But when Kristin (Aerith) breaks up (dies), Stephen goes back to Lauren (Tifa).
It's clear who Stephen (Cloud) preferred, even though Stephen (Cloud) eventually goes back to Lauren (Tifa).
I haven't seen the show, but from what you said, I have to ask: Why does any of this matter? It's not a valid comparison. I doubt Stephen lost his memories of Lauren while he was dating Kristin, and Cloud and Aerith didn't actually establish a phase that could be called dating.
Hell, even if they had, she would have been dating a guy with amnesia, schizophrenia and alien-induced multiple personality disorder!
If the question is "Who does Cloud love?" (which you and I both say it is, even if others disagree) rather than "Who do you prefer Cloud with?" what difference does any of this make? Is that the question or not?