Who Cares About Marlene?

[Ite]

So why exactly was Tseng after Marlene? They didn't even know where AVALANCHE was, let alone who its members were (besides a "man with a gun-arm.")

So why, then, does Aeris make a trade with Tseng, giving herself up in Marlene's place? Why was Tseng after Marlene in the first place?

 

[Pixel]

He intercepted aerith on the way to her house in sector 5. He was after aerith, not Marlene. Aerith agreed to go with him if she could leave Marlene with Elmyra.

 

[jacoobmiller]

Tseng knew Barret would whoop that ass with the "gun arm".

 

[Ite]

That is indeed much simpler... and I much prefer it. But the script is ambiguous on the subject (via Yinza)

Elmyra
She brought a little girl here with her.
On the way here, Tseng found them. She probably couldn't get away fast enough.
She decided to go to the Shinra in exchange for the little girl's safety.

Cloud
Must be Marlene.

Barret
Marlene!! Aeris was caught because of Marlene!?

It's the 'because of' that confuses me. What does Barret mean here? Anyone have a better translation?

 

[Ghost X]

Pixel's account was how I interpreted it as well.

 

[LicoriceAllsorts]

I third that. I also assumed Tseng knew Marlene was Barret's daughter.

Can I take this opportunity to add that one thing which really irks me in fanon is the widespread notion that Marlene knew and loved Aerith. She didn't known Aerith; she didn't even meet Aerith until Aerith came to take her to Elmyra's house, and they were only together for whatever time period elapsed between leaving 7th Heaven and encountering Tseng, let's say a maximum of half an hour, under stressful and frightening conditions. Marlene never knew Aerith, she only knows an almost-fictional character constructed in her head from the memories and stories of people who did know her.

 

[Pixel]

That is indeed much simpler... and I much prefer it. But the script is ambiguous on the subject (via Yinza)

Elmyra
She brought a little girl here with her.
On the way here, Tseng found them. She probably couldn't get away fast enough.
She decided to go to the Shinra in exchange for the little girl's safety.

Cloud
Must be Marlene.

Barret
Marlene!! Aeris was caught because of Marlene!?

It's the 'because of' that confuses me. What does Barret mean here? Anyone have a better translation?

I think that's just barret feeling bad that aerith went with him in exchange for Marlene's safety

 

[Ite]

I third that. I also assumed Tseng knew Marlene was Barret's daughter.

How though is my question. If they needed the Don to sleuth out AVALANCHE's sector, how could they have known any more? If they knew their identities and their children's identities, they wouldn't have had to use a crime lord to help them find out where they generally lived (generally meaning an area the size of a town).

Can I take this opportunity to add that one thing which really irks me in fanon is the widespread notion that Marlene knew and loved Aerith. She didn't known Aerith; she didn't even meet Aerith until Aerith came to take her to Elmyra's house, and they were only together for whatever time period elapsed between leaving 7th Heaven and encountering Tseng, let's say a maximum of half an hour, under stressful and frightening conditions. Marlene never knew Aerith, she only knows an almost-fictional character constructed in her head from the memories and stories of people who did know her.

This isn't fanon, this is Compilation. Sorry.

From our own ACC script:

Marlene
Someone I love went back to the Lifestream too.

 

[ForceStealer]

It's not that hard to believe that Marlene built up a certain mystique around Aerith based on the stories of Cloud, Barret, and Tifa. And I imagine it has it's basis on Marlene sensing her during the final scene.

As for the event in question, I think it's as Pixel described. As for the 'because of,' Aerith may have been able to get away if she didn't have a little girl with her. Also she wouldn't be where she was at all if she hadn't been sent to get Marlene out of Sector 7.

 

[Pixel]

I think staying with Elmyra made Marlene feel close to Aerith too.

 

[Tennyo]

The bigger question for me has alwys been, why is it at this moment that the Turks decided to take Aerith? They know where she lives, they know she's in the church a lot. Why now? Why not in any of the years they were surveying her? Why not later on in the game?

 

[ultima espio]

It's possible that they had threatened to harm Marlene if she didn't come with them there and then. Remember that someone had been spying on AVALANCHE, so they probably had an idea of who Marlene was. This was probably their only big opportunity to get her to come. Aerith wouldn't let someone else be harmed because of her, even if it is the child of a terrorist.

 

[Pixel]

That whole thing about someone spying on Seventh Heaven, Im pretty sure, comes from a scene where johnny and others are listening in on Cloud and Tifa's conversation. It was cut, but there's a line left over if you talk to the kid outside. People interpret that as him being a Shinra spy.

Original - "All's quiet! Shh, I'm spying now!! Oh!! There's something!! DANGER!! ALERT!!"
Retranslated - "All clear!! Shh, I'm spying here! Ah!! You came out!! Mayday!! Mayday!!"

 

[ultima espio]

I was referring to the scene in Corneo's mansion:

{TIFA}
“When we got back from
the Sector 5 reactor,
we saw a weird man.”
{NEW PAGE}
“{BARRET}
caught him and
squeezed some information
out of him.”


{CLOUD}
“That's when
the Don's name popped up.”


{TIFA}
“Right{, }Don Corneo.”
{NEW PAGE}
“{BARRET} told me
to leave
the lech alone…”

 

[LicoriceAllsorts]

Here how I understood it all to have played out.

After Airbuster exploded, Shinra quickly figured out where Cloud must have fallen. They knew that if he really was a SOLDIER, he would have survived that fall. Even if he didn't survive, they would want his body. The fact that he fell into Aerith's church made the mission all the more urgent. So they sent Reno down with backup to either capture Cloud or retrieve the body.

Aerith is, of course, a company asset, probably THE most valuable company asset. The Turks' job is to protect company assets (among other things). Obviously attacking Cloud and Aerith wasn't the most sensible thing to do, but anyway Reno seems to have come to his senses and called off the search, maybe because he realised Cloud didn't mean her any immediate harm. Again, Shinra must have guessed Aerith had taken Cloud home, but maybe they felt their company asset was safe with Elmyra.

By leaving for Wall Market so early in the morning Aerith and Cloud manage to give whoever is following them the slip. The Turks don't really catch up with them again until they interrogate Corneo after he drops the threesome into the sewers. From him they learn that their important company asset has apparently joined forces with the terrorist group Avalanche.

Who knows, maybe they spot her at the bottom of the pillar in Sector 7 when Wedge falls. Tseng goes looking for her and finds her with Marlene. He knows Marlene is Barret's kid so he threatens to take her in; it's the quickest and most convenient way to get Aerith to do what he wants. Aerith agrees to go with him quietly if he will let her take Marlene to safety.

PS Yeah, it makes perfect sense that Marlene would love the fictionalised/idealised Aerith she's built up in her imagination from all the grown-ups' stories and from Elmyra's tales, the Aerith who saved her life. What I mean is it's annoying when fanon assumes Marlene actually knew Aerith. She knew her for all of about half an hour, is what I'm saying. And she was what? Five years old?

 

[Octo]

I don't think Tseng knew who Marlene was, it doesn't really matter if he did or didn't, he could still use her to get Aerith to comply.

In my head canon Marlene ran ahead and rounded a corner and ran straight into him. I kinda like(?) the idea of Aerith being surprised to find Tseng with a gun to a four year olds head

But everything else you said makes sense to me Lic.

 

[Ite]

That whole thing about someone spying on Seventh Heaven, Im pretty sure, comes from a scene where johnny and others are listening in on Cloud and Tifa's conversation. It was cut, but there's a line left over if you talk to the kid outside. People interpret that as him being a Shinra spy.

Original - "All's quiet! Shh, I'm spying now!! Oh!! There's something!! DANGER!! ALERT!!"
Retranslated - "All clear!! Shh, I'm spying here! Ah!! You came out!! Mayday!! Mayday!!"

I think they were spying on Cloud and Tifa -- it's immediately followed by Johnny's heartbroken departure. I think the gist of that is that Johnny has a thing for Tifa, overhears the story about the Promise, realizes he doesn't stand a chance, and leaves Midgar for Costa del Sol.

The bigger question for me has alwys been, why is it at this moment that the Turks decided to take Aerith? They know where she lives, they know she's in the church a lot. Why now? Why not in any of the years they were surveying her? Why not later on in the game?

I wonder this as well. Bear with me as I think aloud:

Aeris goes to Seventh Heaven and retrieves a girl. Tseng sees her and the helicopter descends. Tseng is partly motivated by wanting to get Aeris out of Sector 7 in time, and partly motivated by increased pressure from his superiors (the same pressure that sent Reno to the church the day before. Side note: Why does Reno shout "The Ancient is getting away! Attack! Attack! Attack!" Not only is that OOC, but use of deadly weapons is probably not in the mission parameters)

Aeris fights Tseng near Seventh Heaven, but agrees to go willingly if they also fly a little girl out of danger. Tseng, who showed compassion enough to leave Aeris alone with Elmyra ~15 years ago (must have a soft spot for kids) does this favour for her. They fly the girl to Sector 5, Aeris says a brief goodbye to her mom (headcanon: "Take Marlene somewhere safe" an echo of her birth mother's last words).

Then the helicopter flies back to the Pillar to pick up Reno and taunt AVALANCHE. During the confrontation, Aeris leans out of the helicopter and shouts "Don't worry! She'a safe!"

Tseng realizes that Aeris just tricked him into saving the daughter of the enemy. He slaps her.

PS Yeah, it makes perfect sense that Marlene would love the fictionalised/idealised Aerith she's built up in her imagination from all the grown-ups' stories and from Elmyra's tales, the Aerith who saved her life. What I mean is it's annoying when fanon assumes Marlene actually knew Aerith. She knew her for all of about half an hour, is what I'm saying. And she was what? Five years old?

I totally agree. The fact that Marlene calls Aeris "big sister" throughout the movie is definitely in my top 10 character wtfs of AC.

 

[Pixel]

I wonder this as well. Bear with me as I think aloud:

Aeris goes to Seventh Heaven and retrieves a girl. Tseng sees her and the helicopter descends. Tseng is partly motivated by wanting to get Aeris out of Sector 7 in time, and partly motivated by increased pressure from his superiors (the same pressure that sent Reno to the church the day before. Side note: Why does Reno shout "The Ancient is getting away! Attack! Attack! Attack!" Not only is that OOC, but use of deadly weapons is probably not in the mission parameters)

That's a translation thing. It should be that he gets carried away whe he sees her run, Shouts "The Ancient is getting away! Fire! Fire! Hold your fire!" "Did you hit her? They shouldn't have resisted, yo."

 

[LicoriceAllsorts]

That whole thing about someone spying on Seventh Heaven, Im pretty sure, comes from a scene where johnny and others are listening in on Cloud and Tifa's conversation. It was cut, but there's a line left over if you talk to the kid outside. People interpret that as him being a Shinra spy.

Original - "All's quiet! Shh, I'm spying now!! Oh!! There's something!! DANGER!! ALERT!!"
Retranslated - "All clear!! Shh, I'm spying here! Ah!! You came out!! Mayday!! Mayday!!"

I think they were spying on Cloud and Tifa -- it's immediately followed by Johnny's heartbroken departure. I think the gist of that is that Johnny has a thing for Tifa, overhears the story about the Promise, realizes he doesn't stand a chance, and leaves Midgar for Costa del Sol.

The bigger question for me has alwys been, why is it at this moment that the Turks decided to take Aerith? They know where she lives, they know she's in the church a lot. Why now? Why not in any of the years they were surveying her? Why not later on in the game?

I wonder this as well. Bear with me as I think aloud:

Aeris goes to Seventh Heaven and retrieves a girl. Tseng sees her and the helicopter descends. Tseng is partly motivated by wanting to get Aeris out of Sector 7 in time, and partly motivated by increased pressure from his superiors (the same pressure that sent Reno to the church the day before. Side note: Why does Reno shout "The Ancient is getting away! Attack! Attack! Attack!" Not only is that OOC, but use of deadly weapons is probably not in the mission parameters)

Aeris fights Tseng near Seventh Heaven, but agrees to go willingly if they also fly a little girl out of danger. Tseng, who showed compassion enough to leave Aeris alone with Elmyra ~15 years ago (must have a soft spot for kids) does this favour for her. They fly the girl to Sector 5, Aeris says a brief goodbye to her mom (headcanon: "Take Marlene somewhere safe" an echo of her birth mother's last words).

Then the helicopter flies back to the Pillar to pick up Reno and taunt AVALANCHE. During the confrontation, Aeris leans out of the helicopter and shouts "Don't worry! She'a safe!"

Tseng realizes that Aeris just tricked him into saving the daughter of the enemy. He slaps her.

I like this headcanon.

 

[Shademp]

#MarleneMatters

 

[Happy Little Lemon]

^ Me too!

 

[Ite]

^ Me too!

Yes dear, you matter as well. But the hashtag is trying to raise awareness about Marlene issues

 

[Happy Little Lemon]

I was ninja'd! That's the last compliment I'll be paying you

 

[Clement Rage]

Wow, so many conflicting headcanons. Here's what I've got.

The Turks are always following Aeris, she says as much. It was just their standard stalking duty that brought Reno to the church, otherwise he would have come in more force and wouldn't have been surprised Aeris' visitor has Mako eyes. His backup is crushed and he doesn't like his chances alone, so he backs off or summons medical attention (out of character for him to care about the MPs, but anyway).

After the bombing, Heidegger asks the Don to find 'a man with a gun arm', and the Don's lackey tracks Barret to sector seven, calls in with this info, and then investigates further, and is promptly caught, interrogated, and killed. All the Don and Shinra know is that Barret lives in Sector Seven, if they knew any more, they would just storm Seventh Heaven. Tifa decides to investigate (and clearly the Don doesn't know she's linked to AVALANCHE or he wouldn't let her into his manor.)

Aeris brings Marlene to her Mom's. Independently, Tseng goes to Elmyra's house, finds Aerith

They took her from here

and threatens Marlene to force Aerith to come quietly (otherwise she will fight, and might be hurt or killed (which is one reason they haven't brought her in sooner. He has no possible way to know who Marlene is and just thinks she's some random girl that might mean something to Aeris if threatened. He is surprised that Aeris has any links to AVALANCHE at all

Oh, you know each other?

They've been trying to bring her in for years, but they don't want to hurt her in doing it, and violently kidnapping her could get her hurt or killed. This time, they have leverage to get her to come quietly. It's not because Marlene is important, it's just that she can be used to make Aeris go quietly.

He goes to the pillar on the way, chats with AVALANCHE, then realises he's taunting a man with a machine gun pointed directly at him and grabs the nearest convenient human shield. It's a massive credit to Barret that he is willing to not fire for the sake of some random girl he doesn't know, when he thinks he's cornered and about to die.

Re: "Someone I loved" that's just a poorly chosen scriptwriting shortcut because the true nature of their relationship would take too long to explain.

 

[LicoriceAllsorts]

Tseng
"I wouldn't try that.... You just might make me injure our
special guest."

(A woman in a pink dress raises her head up in the window.)

Tifa
"Aerith!!"

Tseng
"Oh, you know each other?"
"How nice you could see each other one last time. You should
thank me."

Tseng's not surprised at her connection with Avalanche. He's being sarcastically disingenuous. He knows perfectly well that they know each other.