cloud main quest: wow! after a full day at this wacky amusement park full of dance-offs, low poly fighting sims, and silly spooky haunted hotel, i’m ready to take a quick nap so i can enjoy a nice evening off in the funnest place on the planet and maybe even go on a little date with someone special

zack subplot:

Zack Fair + Florida man headlines (plus bonus Cloud)

sigh last few days notes have been weird so new pinned for the time being until i leave the circles i seem to have drifted into.

do not follow me if you're a terf. don't even engage with my stuff stay in ur little bubble of bigotry. and also please dont tag my ocs as your own. and all the other general tumblr housekeeping rules of engagement etc etc

really like the idea that tifa is just, over and over convincing herself that cloud is okay actually and itll be fine. then something will happen and she'll know, it'll scare the hell out of her, but then he'll say something normal. and comforting. and she can go 'no it will be okay, he'll be okay'

Why is there a no commentary playthrough of crisis core reunion on tv??? Just the whole ass game.

Seeing a lot of post and comments, and so many angry fights in youtube comments in particular, about the cloud/tifa/aerith love triangle bullshit and like...

Everyone knows I clearly don't have a dog in that particular race but I honestly believe that Cloud is way too traumatized and dealing with that to have even a shadow of a healthy relationship with anyone right now and there is no possible way of getting to that point until everything is finished in the last game and he remembers who he really is.

Like he's so HURT. He is DAMAGED.

Zack isn't just confused by Biggs calling Cloud a badass, it's the attitude Biggs describes that is so very different than the Cloud he is intimately familiar with. Cloud's personality right now is an amalgamation of Zack and what he thinks a cool mature SOLDIER should be with a thin layer of 'jaded mercenary in a 90s tv show' slapped on for good measure.

Even if other characters find him attractive personality-wise as he is, and not just his good looks, I think that would end up being a big problem after he gets his memory back because that would end with him being a different person than they fell for. I really hope that there is a significant change in Cloud's body language and general mannerisms and maybe even personality.

This is not the sweet and shy Cloud Strife in Crisis Core, this is a man broken by torture and loss and grief who can't face any of that and add in the Mako poisoning + traumatic amnesia and he's practically unrecognizable.

I want Cloud to be happy, I don't really care if he ends up with any of the characters 'canonically' - I just want him to be happy and whole and to MAKE IT. I want to see him really openly smile.

Cloud smiles a lot more in Rebirth, but they're usually small tucked away things. He never looks someone in the eye and smiles.... unless he's possessed. And then he's smirking and smiling all over the place. He even smiles WITH TEETH in the Gongaga Reactor when he's slaughtering troopers using Sephiroth's fighting style. He looks so happy and confident and it looks SO alien.

Even when he was messing up his memories with Zack's in the opening that smile didn't look like his. It reminded me of modded games where someone else's body is overlaid with another characters and the expressions just don't quite match up...

I want to see him at ease and happy and if he ends up with someone and is happy then I'll be happy for him. I just.... don't see it happening in the next game unless there's an epilogue and it's been a bit.

hi i want to share funny things my mom has said abt ff7 (she knows only the gongaga meme and is obsessed with it and zack)

asked me if i knew sephiroth personally

thought that gongaga was a funny thing to name a guy until i told her that it's just the name of a place. still calls zack "mr gongaga"

thinks that zack looks like a nice guy and i should marry him

thinks that sephiroth "lacks rizz" and is a bit cringe but she'd still be his mom if he wanted to

thinks that zack dying at the end of crisis core was a "skill issue moment", and that him being alive (??) in rebirth is "just for attention" and that "he should make up his mind"

thinks that zack should really sit down and calm himself a bit

wanted to know who vincent was and why he doesn't know technology, and after showing him who he was, said that he should wear better clothes for lucrecia instead of his fuckass clothes (she didn't say fuckass)

thinks tifa is nice and that she deserves nice things :) also wants to pay for her breast reduction surgery

also this is her being mildly obsessed abt zack at a viddy game convention

What response do you have to that one quote(I think it's from an ultimania) where it basically says: "Cloud has complex feelings for Aerith, he had a bond with her that was different from the one he had with Tifa."?

Obligatory "spoilers for rebirth" warning. I think that is very accurate. One of the problems with the LTD is that it tends to equate all types of love. In particular it pretends that all love is romantic. I think a good starting point for answering this question is to read my article "what is love, baby don't hurt me". And "Do I think Cloud had romantic feelings for Aerith? Plot twist: Yes" if you want a bit more nuanced take on what I think about Cloud and Aeriths relationship. I think after Rebirth we can stop pretending that Cloud isn't romantically in love with Tifa, he literally kissed her. People can pretend it's optional but that is missing the point of these scenes, which are intended to give insights into the nature of the relationships between these characters. Regardless of which date you actually unlock, if you maximize your affection for all the characters you will have a Cloud who, if asked to go with any of the characters, would react the way he does in the high-affection version of that date. That means that even in the universe where Aerith asks Cloud on a date, and he decides to comfort her by holding her hand, that SAME Cloud would have kissed Tifa had she been the one to ask him to go with her. These are not two time-lines, these are two "what-ifs" concerning the same person with the same emotions. Similarly, the same Cloud who kissed Tifa would have held Aeriths hand for her. The reason this matters is because clearly Cloud is not the type of person to cheat, this is not that sort of narrative. Nor is he the type of person who would engage in actions that he'd think are a betrayal of his feelings towards some other girl. If Cloud loves Tifa he would not do things with Aerith that he would see as a betrayal of those emotions. Similarly, if he loves Aerith he would not do things with Tifa that he would see as a betrayal of those emotions. We see this several times in the game in fact. Cloud isn't fond of Aerith typifying their Costa Del Sol "date" as "a date", and is very unhappy with Aerith doing something similar in Kalm. And yet Cloud does kiss Tifa, without guilt or hesitation. He tries it in Gongaga, he does it at the Golden Saucer, and he continuously tries to advance his relationship with Tifa throughout the game in general. So given that that's the case, why would he grab Aeriths hand at the Golden Saucer, and in the dream sequence? Answer: because he doesn't think that grabbing Aeriths hand is romantic in the sense that kissing Tifa is. Because these are not the same type of feelings as the romantic type that he has for Tifa, and are therefore not at odds. And what they actually are....is complex. I don't think anyone could really accurately jot down the precise nature of Clouds feelings regarding Aerith, since that is precisely the point. That is why the word "complex" is used in the first place. You have to remember that the situation here is unlike any that anyone would be well equipped to deal with, or has ever had to deal with. We have a Cloud who is not himself, and who has a host of traumas and struggles and very specific afflictions he's working through. Aerith is the person he's bodyguarding, she's a symbol of the planet, she's a friend, she's a cetra, she reminds him of his mother, she's the girlfriend of his best friend, the girlfriend of someone whose identity he has in a vague sense taken on, someone he's having visions off. He finds her annoying, but also likable. But most importantly she is someone who is helping him, and whom he is helping. (continued)

friendship bracelets:

Zack makes them, obviously, because he’s a sentimental dork, and in Gongaga it’s considered a sign of great affection to give someone something like jewellery. I like to think there’s a Gongagan tradition/ holiday a bit like Valentine’s Day but it’s for showing appreciation to everyone. And on this day people swap hand made jewellery to signify their respect and love for a person.

Mostly Gongagan kids swap them, and it’s a big thing in school, but Adults do also observe the day with those closest to them -or someone who has done them a great service through the year!

Zack hasn’t really observed the holiday since he left home, but when he finally becomes FIRST he gets kind of sentimental and homesick for some reason. So he buys a bracelet making kit from a craft store and makes a bunch of bracelets for his fellow firsts and Cloud and Kunsel, he makes one for Aerith too!

Giving them to Kunsel is pretty easy. They’ve been friends for years and have talked a lot about Gongagan holidays before. Kunsel is pretty touched actually, and hugs Zack. It’s a nice little moment between them. Quality brotherly affection. Hense the reason the word “brother” is stamped on the bracelet.

Giving Cloud his is funny only because Cloud goes bright red in the face and stutters through accepting it. Zacks pretty smug throughout the entire encounter about making Cloud blush like that. But he’s also incredibly emotional when Cloud turns up at 12:00 PM the same night and pushes a bracelet into Zack’s hand. Zack hadn’t known what to stamp on Clouds “best friend” seemed too weak and and anything more then that felt presumptuous to the point of impertinence, considering he was still battling with how he felt about Cloud. In the end he’d gone with “legacy” which felt like a cop out but Cloud seemed to like it.

It’s only as he looks down at the word printed on his bracelet that he realises he needs to seriously get his act together with Cloud… the word that both brakes his heart and makes it soar “everything”.

Aerith is pretty happy with her bracelet, and as she does with most things, gives him a bunch of flowers for his efforts! He deliberated on what to put on hers too. “Girlfriend” made him feel guilty. He loves her, he does… but he knows, and she knows that they’re playing a game until Zack tells her about Cloud. Instead he stamps “soul” on hers because she will always know his soul better than anyone.

Giving Angeal his is nerve wracking because it makes Zack feel stupid. He knows Angeal wouldn’t make fun of his homes tradition, but still… in the end the worrying is for nothing. Zack gives Angeal the bracelet stamped “mentor” and Angeal is very touched and even a little emotional over it actually. He gives Zack a side hug and puts the bracelet on immediately.

Genesis is -if possible- even more nerve wracking, because Zacknis absolutely sure he’ll be made fun of. He positively shakes out of his skin giving the bracelet stamped “hero” to Genesis and for a second Gen does do his whole “shoot it down in flames” thing until he realises two things: 1. Zack had gone to extend a art lengths to match the colour red to Gens coat, and 2. he turns it over in his hand and runs his fingers over the letters stamped into soft leather.

Zack absolutely panics when Genesis starts to cry. Gens emotional sure, but Zacks never seen the man cry. Gen asks him “why would you spend time on this for me?” And Zack tells him the truth, “cause you are a hero Genesis, and I wanted you to know that people see you that way.”

Genesis is never taking the bracelet off. Ever.

Then the only person left to give a bracelet to is Sephiroth. It is exceptionally hard to pin the man down that day, and in the end Zack has to wait a week for him to come back from mission. And then it’s terrifying to hand it over.

What’s even more terrifying is that Sephiroth kind of stops breathing for a second when Zack gives it to him. He sits on the edge of his desk heavily and stares at the inscribed bracelet in his hand. Zack says his name at least three times before Seph responds to him. When he does it’s with a shaking “why?” And Zack can only hug him and whisper back “because you are,”

The stamp simply reads “best friend” but it’s enough to bring the great general sephiroth to his knees.

***

Alternative title for this little headcanon is:

Zack Fair stops crisis core with the power of friendship.

(Rebirth Spoilers) I am so tired of shippers in the fandom trying to cheapen Cloud and Tifa's kiss, and say "Cloud only kissed Tifa because he was rebounding." Rebounding from what?! Cloud has known Tifa almost his whole life and has had feelings for her for such a long time at this point! He knew Aerith for what a couple of weeks?! I'm not saying that Cloud and Aerith don't have a cute bond, but I'm tired of people trying to to cheapen Cloud's feelings for Tifa or acting like she is some rebound. If she was such a rebound for him why didn't he kiss Aerith?? Someone was trying to tell me that the almost kiss between Cloud and Tifa in Gongaga was also him rebounding "because he was so hurt because he though Aerith still has feelings for Zack" (which yes she does she will always love Zack but that's not the point) Cloud and Tifa had a moment in Gongaga after he thought he nearly lost her and stayed up all night watching over her to make sure she was okay and then they have a heart to heart where Cloud opens up to her and gets vulnerable for the first time ever with anyone! Cloud has never opened up his feelings to anyone else, and in that moment he wanted to kiss Tifa because that's how he felt not because he was rebounding! Look it's fine if you ship Clerith that's valid, but it's so annoying when shippers try to gaslight us into thinking Cloud doesn't really have feelings for Tifa or she is just a rebound when clearly that is not true! Cloud kissed Tifa because he loves her and always has! If you really think Cloud is the type of person to use someone that has always loved him like that then I really don't understand why you would want him with Aerith anyways.

So far I am 25 hours into Crisis Core and learned many things

(Crisis Core spoilers and theories ahead)

- Genesis has a Bible (most likely related to LOVELESS and his theories) and I joined his fan club

- Sephiroth has a fan club with “images that your average Sephiroth fan could never ever dream of seeing” apparently which is a bit worrying but I am also a Sephiroth fan club member so

- Tseng knows Aerith somehow? Willing to bet this is either related to her having been in I think Shinra facilities for a while. Orrrr something love related(?)

- Cid is in space training :) (I love Cid.)

- Cissnei is a character, don’t know much about her but she’s there and I don’t THINK she’s in the original FFVII but if she is she’s hidden because I dragged Cloud around on SO MANY side quests. (Cissnei your chances of living do not look good in the future I’m not gonna lie)

- I believe Gongaga is still intact and hasn’t yet been destroyed by theeee Mako Reactor I think it was sooo that’s probably gonna be an important plot point if that happens

- At least two of the SOLDIERS are gay for Zack or at least find him attractive in some way (which if they are, good for them, good for them)

- The fact that once you’re in the science dept. you can’t leave because they deal with too much sensitive information, that’s a really nice detail and I really love it. I learned that a few days ago I think and I really appreciate that because it makes Hollander’s stuff make more sense I guess from what little I do know

- I lied about Sephiroth he’s not the comedy character it’s Genesis, my man just shows up, spouts poetry(It’s always LOVELESS) and then dips. “My friend, will you fly away now. To a world that abhors you and I 🤓” (I’m sorry Genny ily I’m in your fan club 😞)

- Apparently nobody likes Angeal because from what I saw there was one person in his fan club and it’s getting shut down because she’s too depressed to do anything about it (unless Zack intervenes, which can’t be possible anymore because I missed that chance, sorry Angie 😞)

- There’s a lot of definitely not relevant small details(lie) Like Zack’s whatever limit break that he uses when you haven’t gotten the character’s image in the DMW yet. It’s just cross slash, which is Cloud’s 2nd limit break in the original FFVII (I can’t say anything about the new one since I haven’t played it yet- but yeah) Another one being Aerith’s bow, since Zack buys it. (I’m sure there’s more I can’t think of right now but yeah)

- Zack is 6’1” and his hobby is squats apparently which makes sense but I figured he’d more of a casual baking kind of guy. (Though he’d also be the kind of guy to burn like Kraft Mac n cheese so I don’t know if I’d trust him in the kitchen ever-)

- Zack got doxed lol (and Yuffie got his address)

- Zack the puppy.

- Wutai spies are very bad at being spies

- Every child is a con artist (except for that one that one time)

- Zack, master treasure hunter (Me because I have spent most of my time doing just missions and side quests-)

Let's take a look at Lazard's contact list

Sephiroth, Angeal, Genesis are on first name basis on his phone and IRL. He and Sephiroth sometimes address one another by title as an inside joke, because they both are not too proud of being high ranking officers at ShinRa corporation

"Me Gongaga" - because he heard this nickname in the hallways and while he kept his perfect poker face at that time, he unapologetically thinks it's hilarious.

Ho - he meant to type Hojo, but was in a hurry

Scar - he meant to type Scarlet, but was also in a hurry

Heideggyahaahahaa - because he saved up a couple of seconds shortening his previous contact's names

President ShinRa - because he refuses to acknowledge any feelings related to this person

Rudolph - vice president

TotT - Tseng of the Turks who is too proud of his title as ShinRa's pet

Mom - she's in his contact list still, long after her death

the rest are Name + Surname, perfectly uniform, professional and boring. For a few days he had Palmer as Buttercup, but it was too uncomfortable even for his twisted sense of humour

SOLDIER Vlogging Shenanigans pt. 11

[The camera flickers on, immediate laughter and choked cries sound around the room. The video is pointed downward, focused on Sephiroth's boots. Fumbling is heard as the person filming tries to work the camera. The laughter is loud]

"It's on, just film me," Angeal sniffs, clearing his throat as he tries to conceal his laugh. 

[The camera points upward to show Angeal holding a fridge door open with one hand and wiping away a tear with the other]

"We're in Sephiroth's kitchen," he explains, making eye contact with Genesis off-camera, who still hasn't stopped laughing, "and I opened the fridge to get some water and look—!"

[Laughing, Angeal swings open the fridge door. The only items inside are exactly one water bottle and one huge watermelon. A comical screech from Genesis off-camera makes Angeal lose it again, crouching down and literally cackling]

"Guys, welcome to SOLDIER!" Genesis coughs. "Where they allow you exactly one watermelon per week and nothing more!"

[Sephiroth points the camera to him. He's sitting on the counter, his face as red as his coat and streaked with tears]

"Want to know the secret to Sephiroth's stunning physique? There it is! One human child-sized watermelon!" 

[Sephiroth pans the camera back to Angeal, who has since stopped making noise, his body trembling]

"Genesis, Angeal can't breathe."

"Don't even worry about water!" Genesis adds, forcing Sephiroth to turn the camera back over to him. "As you can see, one bottle shall suffice!"

[The sound of something crashing makes the camera shake. Sephiroth quickly whirs it back to Angeal, who has thrown himself on the ground, gasping for air]

"I don't understand how this is funny," Sephiroth sighs. "I haven't had time to place a grocery order. Then Zackary came back from his trip to Gongaga and brought me back a watermelon from his family's farm." 

"Was the water bottle included?" Genesis adds.

[Sephiroth fumbles with the camera. Angeal and Genesis have resumed their obnoxious laughter]

"I'm not giving you two any watermelon," is Sephiroth's final comment. 

[He finally learns how to end the video]

Gongaga Protorelic: Third VR!Rufus Cutscene

Hiya, it’s me again. I found out that there is a third version you get with VR!Rufus after completing the VR simulation mission. Seems to be one you get when the player fail to meet the mission’s objectives. 

Version 3~ https://youtu.be/UEDnw-x1qfc?si=pISYpmwfFLPMpCwz&t=1786

And, wow, I love how layered these responses are for VR!Rufus! Some players might brush off the side quests, but there are a lot of nuances in these scenes and variations. If players ace it, Rufus gives you praise and offers a bonus. The mediocre one, he gives slight praise, but offers no reward, and is a little more dismissive, kinda like giving a pat on the back. And the worst one, he talks about how the only person you can count on is yourself before walking away. 😮

(heich) What an absolute drama queen he is!! Thanks for sharing these, I’ll have to find a tag to pile some of the video submissions so people can find them easily.

Hi! I feel like I've found my people in you. After beating Rebirth, I've had extremely complicated feelings towards the ending and though it's slowly marinating with me. One of the reasons why the ending has been bothering me is because I've just felt off about Aerith's characterizations.

I was endeared by Aerith in remake but in rebirth I totally see the qualities that some people in og did with just how tone deaf she can be. In a way, I find that her character is interesting since she's flawed but her pushiness to cloud just rubbed me the wrong way. If ppl get Aerith in chapter 8's date we see Cloud clearly mourning Jessie and the only thing she cares about is if Jessie was a gf...like girl come on. Do people not see how this comes off?

Which brings me to say, I just don't get Aerith. The devs portray tifa and aerith as close so clearly she knows about Tifa's feelings and even seems to push the two together at times but then she constantly seeks Cloud's affection and even says they went on a date in front of Tifa? That's where her character loses me. Her constant seeming to push CT together yet constantly seeking Cloud's affections despite knowing Tifa has feelings for him and a shared history just doesn't sit well with me.

I can appreciate Aerith recognizes she doesn't know the real Cloud but this is why I'll never understand why Cleriths are so insistent that CA are "romantic" - she dies so she *never* gets to see who the real Cloud is. They clearly have a deep bond that helps enrich the story but the fact that Tifa's role was greatly expanded on in part 2 should be telling but some fans and Cleriths just straight up ignore that. Cloud is also the one who initiates everything with Tifa...the only time he's ever vulnerable and VERBALLY opens up his true feelings is with Tifa (Gongaga) and it baffles me how Cleriths just bypass this entirely. It makes me realize they're just here for the ship and not for the overarching story.

I just feel like I'm being gaslit by Cleriths or some fans who insists that Cloud loves both girls. I'm definitely not denying that the og had more leeway with this but in Remake and Rebirth? I would say the opposite. Tifa is the best suited for Cloud *and* he feels the same way. I am all about shipping whoever you want but CA's are always spewing nonsensical things. The theme songs, the over analyzing hand holding debacle and bringing up japanese culture as if a kiss isn't the most intimate thing between two people regardless of culture. Ignoring the most central theme of the songs which are regret (Cloud's guilt in hollow of failing to save her) ...Yes NPTK is about Aerith TO Cloud but we never see anything from his perspective TO Aerith. Guess who does? Tifa. Cleriths also conveniently ignore that Tifa was pushed to the forefront the entirety of rebirth until the final 2 chapters for obvious plot reasons and they all dismiss Gongaga's near kiss between CT.

Then there's Aerith's dream date at the end...Cloud has no agency in that date, he can't even choose the items himself! It's HER dream and things are predetermined for him. And is it just me or is Aerith basically re-creating her date with Zack in CC? I get why CA's think that dream date is romantic but objectively it doesn't read romantic at all...it just reads tragic because Aerith knows she's about to die - one last ditch effort for her which just doesn't amount to anything other than Cloud caring deeply for her as a person/friend. Or am I just not seeing something that "everyone" else is? Aerith herself sounds unsure how she feels towards him. Yes she has feelings for him but she's never been able to fully define them ("There's liking and there's liking"...huh?) This is also the perfect opportunity for the devs to have both girls in equal footing and cloud still doesn't kiss her or makes his supposed romantic feelings known. I like to understand the "bigger picture" in the narrative and the bigger picture to me is just obviously spells out Tifa in the end - just from a pure narrative standpoint.

And do Cleriths not see how Cloud reacts to Aerith? As someone who actually likes Aerith minus her pushiness to Cloud, even I was surprised at how he straight up told her to stop calling it a date in Costa Del Sol. Cleriths argue it's "cute banter" but this is where they lack media literacy because lmfao if anyone said this to me irl I'd be mortified because Cloud really does not give any indication that he's "joking." And Cloud doesn't even remotely have any kind of dialogue like that towards Tifa at all...even all of Tifa's optional choices are sweet at best and neutral at worst but you can straight up be an ass to everyone else including Aerith.

I just hope that in Part 3, the devs just kill the LTD with finally cementing CT and tying everything nicely with them and Aerith and Zack. Zack is one of my favourite characters ever and I feel like they did him so dirty in this game...having Marlene straight up tell him to his face that Aerith loves Cloud like???? He deserves his happy ending and perhaps WHEN Aerith and him reunite (cause they're both dead they have to right?) then it'll all click to her.

Also, Cloud is a really well written character and I really do not think he'd go after his dead best friend's girl who he just remembered. It's such a disservice not only to Zack but to Cloud's own character. The fact that Cloud says "Zack fair, head over heels for Aerith" is telling, no? Objectively and narratively CT and ZA make the most sense but again I feel like I'm constantly being gaslit into seeing CA when I really don't and the only thing CA has going for them are the last 2 chapters which are Aerith heavy for a reason because you know...she dies lol.

Sorry I didn't mean for this to be long but just wanted to have some engagement on the topic (I know you always get asks but just wanted to get something off my chest!) Thank you so much!

Couple points: hollow isn't about Aerith in any capacity. Hollow is set before Cloud arrives in Midgar and an instrumental of it plays in the wasteland outside Kalm near where Zack died, so yeah, not about her.

And nptk is about zack. If it wasn't then why tf is she crying at the end? If it's about Cloud then why doesn't he acknowledge this obvious confession in her date or any other? Why does he take Tifa's hand? Literally the opening verse about how she didn't know how much time passed until she saw someone who reminded her of Zack is the only part featuring Cloud and it's hardly complimentary. It highlights she only took an interest in him because he reminded her of Zack. Idky anybody would want something that skeevy.

Tbh I hate both songs. They're shit.

Gaslighting is what those dumdums do. They don't play the game, they skim YouTube and lie about the clips they saw.

The best thing to do is block and ignore them.

I'm sooooo close to finally being able to see Vincent but I've been slacking on doing the sidequests lately and I'd rather not wait til the end of the game and have to spend forever doing them then so Vincent might have to wait a bit longer 😔