I have noticed that, in many of the screens we have seen from AC, Cloud has his back to people... or he has his head down, gaze directed downward. Even in the scene where he goes to rescue Tifa, he is looking away from her in one of the screens.

There is one exception-- the flower field scene. Sure, it starts out with Cloud having his back to Aerith. But, then something happens that we haven't seen Cloud do before-- he turns around. He tries to face Aerith, look into her eyes... I haven't seen him do this to anyone else in the movie yet. Is Cloud reaching out for Aerith? Does Cloud still count on her to support him as she always did in FFVII? It just seems to me that there is something more driving him than guilt. If it was purely guilt, I don't think he would be able to face her at all.

well theirs no doubt that he's searching fro her and that he wants to be forgiven....soo I guess yeah....

As a C/A fan, of course I'd say that it isn't just guilt...it is also love ^_^
But from a less 'biased' point of view... Yes, he feels guilty, but Aerith told him she forgave him and that there's no reason for him to feel guilty. Maybe he's turning towards her to confirm this, to look into her eyes and see that she means it.

I brought the same issue up in this thread: Cloud's Body Language In general, Cloud is always avoiding Tifa's eyes. He can't look her straight in the face. Even in the one scene where she's speaking to him about Geostigma, his eyes are averted for most of the conversation. In the scene where Tifa's nagging him, his back is turned towards her and he doesn't turn around. In the picture on Tifa's desk, his eyes are downcast and he's looking away. Cloud's body language around Tifa is for the most part communicating that he's closed off to her and trying to avoid her. The same can be said of Cloud's actions such as moving into the Church without telling her, not telling her that he has Geostigma, and letting his answering machine take her phone calls.

But with Aerith, he turns around and tries to see her. That shows a receptiveness toward Aerith that we don't see in his actions toward Tifa. It shows that he wants to communicate with Aerith, and that he wants to connect with her. I believe that it also shows trust in Aerith. His actions toward Tifa don't show that he trusts her, especially when he's withholding information from her about his whereabouts and his sickness.

I agree that he's feeling more than guilt about Aerith's death. IF he loved Tifa, I can't see that guilt alone would keep Cloud away from her. If he felt understood and loved by Tifa, then he would feel that Tifa understood his guilt. If he felt loved by Tifa, then he would want to spend as much time as possible with her before he died of Geostigma. I can't see him turning his back on someone he loves while he's dying - those who are dying want to spend the rest of their days with the ones they love.

Good points, Anastar! ^_^

However, it isn't just Tifa that we see Cloud turning away from. He even has his back turned on the WCM when they are talking. Even in screens from the Forgotten Capital, when Cloud is with Vincent, he doesn't appear to be looking at Vincent. He is gazing into Aerith's burial pool. The only time we see him turning toward anyone to look into their face is with Aerith. I found that quite touching. :wub:

I think he acts this way, because he feels comfortable with Aerith, he always felt that way around her. It seems that he feels that he can be himself with her, like in the game when he laughed, or cried for her. Now he's showing the way he feels, wich is guilty.

It seems he also feels a little bit comfortable with Vincent too, since their personalites are very much alike.

yeah I think that too

:fangirl: I totally agree, guys!

Good point. Even though he talks with Vincent in the Sleeping Forest, Vincent sorta forces him into it. Vincent takes hold of Cloud's arm with his golden claw, and Cloud winces. It hurts. It's almost like Vincent is forcing Cloud to listen. Cloud does communicate with Vincent, but he's been forced into it. Cloud communicates with Aerith because he wants to, not because he has to.

True, Aeris says "So you've come " which hints that Cloud actually went to met her of his own free will. I think that's amazing. We never see Cloud wanting to meet anyone else of his own free will - even in FF7 Tifa was the one who went to find Cloud to make him join Avalanche.

And yes, Cloud and Vincent have something going on there! ^_^

Clotis often argue that Cloud wants to communicate with Aerith because he wants ONLY forgiveness from her. And since she's the one that died, and whom he feels guilty over, it is natural for him to want to communicate with only her, in that respect.

On hind sight, using the above argument also proves that Cloud has nothing and noone else on his mind except forgiveness and Aerith. I often feel that the above arguement is unfavourable towards Clotis themselves, but well, what can I say...>.<

I've heard Cloti's argue the same thing... but to me, that's absurd. Why is forgiveness so important to him if it's just making him feel guilty? Why is the need for forgiveness more important to him than Tifa?

IF he loved Tifa, shouldn't Cloud feel guilty for not reciprocating Tifa's love? Shouldn't Cloud feel bad that he is hurting someone who loves him? Shouldn't reciprocating Tifa's love be more important to him than finding forgiveness?

Cloud knows how Tifa feels - Tifa admits it to him under the Highwind regardless of which version of the scene you get. Since Cloud knows that Tifa loves him, why is finding forgiveness from Aerith more important to him than reciprocating Tifa's love?

Who knows,we may never know.Although I think I do,but I won't tell,because that would start a fight.

Could you please put more content into your posts and TRY to use proper grammar and spelling instead of posting just to get post count, hmm?

Oooh....good point...maybe he might want to be completely clear of all his guilt before actually reciprocating Tifa's love and starting over new and fresh as to not bring any excess baggage into the relationship? :unsure:

Or maybe he doesn't love Tifa? :lol: :P

I mean... think about it. Which is more likely? That Cloud neglects Tifa for two years because guilt over a friend's death is more important to him than his love for Tifa? Would you neglect your girlfriend/boyfriend for two years because a friend died? If you love someone, what is most important to you? Their welfare, or your baggage?

Or is it more likely that Cloud never reciprocated Tifa's feelings?

I think it is more likely that Cloud never reciprocated Tifa's feelings to begin with. :P That makes sense. The other does not.

Another interpretation is that he has feelings for BOTH Tifa and Aerith and he wants to bring full closure to his feelings for Aerith before he can have a relationship with Tifa...
But that's only another interpretation and it would show that he prioritized Aerith over Tifa... :P

Oh, but of course. :lol: :cleris:

Oh you have disproved my cloti logic again! :wub: How I love this cleris forums!!!!! :cleris:

Yup yup, I believe it's cause he never reciprocated her feelings in the first place as well. :lol:

Okay... let's pretend for a minute that Cloud did love Tifa, too. Would his feelings for a dead girl be more important to him than his feelings for a living girl who loves him? By neglecting Tifa and avoiding her, he'd be hurting her. Why would Cloud do that to someone he loves?

The death of a loved one should make Cloud see that it's important to treasure every moment you have with a loved one, and that your time together shouldn't be wasted. That's even less reason to think that he'd make Tifa wait, especially if it's hurting her.

I wish I had your Cleris logic :P
True, I think Tifa's not exactly the type who'd wait.

:huh: You don't? *Points to Tifa fantasizing about Cloud before Nibelhime incident and her role in AC*

I think, yes Cloud is reaching out for Aerith, but not for love and support, for forgivness and caring. No one yet has showed compashion for Cloud. They eaither are calling on him for help, or Tifa for whatver her twisted thoughts are. I think, because Aerith never called onto him, and she wanted to do everything herself. Aerith did not need Cloud for someone to help her and hold her when she is sad.

Tifa needed Cloud to cling on to. Aerith did not.

So I belive Cloud was not looking for Aerith for compashion or love, but he needed her to tell him everything would be okay.

I don't know don't listen to me, I am dumb.

You make a good point, Ray (or should I say AM?). ;) Cloud does need Aerith's compassion. Lord only knows he isn't understood by anyone else. Tifa is constantly nagging at him about how much he is brooding. She doesn't seem to understand him at all. :(

However, I don't think it is just compassion Cloud is seeking in Aerith, either. I do think he wants forgiveness, as well. But, more than anything, I think he just wants to see Aerith's face again. :wub: And, maybe, just maybe, he is hoping to find a way to be with her again permanently. :cleris:

Well in AC, it sounds like she's really sick of waiting around for him

This is a slightly old post, but I simply cannot stop myself from wholeheartedly agreeing with this line.

Many people judge Aerith by her "magic user" status, by her pink outfit and by her outgoing personality-- as someone who is weak and clingy and needs to be protected by the hero. They stereotype her as an extreme damsel-in-distress constantly causing trouble because of that weakness.

Tifa, because of her "tough girl" appearance and status as a "fighter", who can seemingly go mano a mano with the guys physically-- is seen as the independant one, the strong one. She doesn't need someone to lean on to, as she can perfectly stand on her own.

And yet the truth is that, it is completely the opposite, as Ray has said. I just cannot agree enough.

And I think that's a great contrast between these two women. What Aerith lacks in Tifa's physical strength, she more than makes up with emotional and mental strength. And vice versa.

Sorry if this came outta nowhere-- the lid on the pressure cooker is now tightly sealed once again. ^^;

That's a great observation, Lynn! Tifa is more physically strong but Aerith is more emotionally strong and can handle Cloud's personality better.

Lets just say that in a way, you said all the things that I was thinking.

I really agree with you, Lynn. I can't stand it when people call Aerith a "damsel-in-distress" when both Tifa and Aerith were rescued the same amount of times during the game. :lol: Tifa needed rescuing, too. ;)

But in terms of emotional strength, I think that Aerith is far stronger than Tifa. Tifa tends to crumble into tears the minute things get bad, while Aerith remains strong and determined. Aerith never gives up hope. That can be seen really easily right after they learn about the plans to blow up Sector 7:

Tifa "Man! This is terrible."
Aerith "Well, the worst is over..."
(They hear a loud rumbling. Cloud looks around...)
Aerith "Maybe not..."
(Boss battle with Aps)
Tifa "It's too late..... Marlene... Barret... the people of the slums."
Aerith "Don't give up, never give up hope. It's not easy to destroy the pillar, right?"

That's very typical of them both. Tifa's the pessimist who always expects the worst to happen. Aerith's the optimist who's always determined to keep trying regardless of how bad things may seem.

Haha, that's funny, since in the booklet says that Tifa is always cheering up the others. How ironic.

Heh, I know the manual says that. But if you study the script, Tifa's always the one who needs to be reassured and/or cheered up. :lol:

Of course, the manual also says that Cloud was in SOLDIER, that Aerith's birthplace is unknown, that RedXIII's real name isn't known, and that Marlene is Barret's daughter. So the manual isn't all that accurate. ;)

yes i think he is still reaching out for her but hafe the time when ever he meets her he is daydreaming about her.. dont know what u think but just IMO but yes i think he is alway wanting her back thats why i want SE to do the right thing and bring her back!!!

I really don't know if CLoud is reachoing out for Aerith, becasue all I think it is a power of suggesiton...they're is no right or wrong answers I think :(

He is. It's painfully obvious due to his expression. I doubt he is reaching out to Bahamut. :whistle:

Well, yes. I guess because he might be stunded because there is a dead person talking to him. I mean I would do the same thing. Maybe he just wanted to see if he was just seeing thing....but it was real! :fangirl: .And in the bahamut scene, I saw that Aeris reached out then he reached out. So like yeah......he did reach out for her basicly....aswell with the gang.

^Correction: He didn't reach out for the gang if you meant that (He didn't so much as glance at them as they push him up), or you meant the gang reaching out for Aerith as well? Which is also not true.
That particular scene is clearly a tribute to Cloud and Aerith reaching out for each other only...we see Cloud's look of wonder, and then we see Aerith's reflection in his eyes. How much more obvious can it get?

Yes, I really think he was reaching out for her, the gasp, the sudden change in his eyes, the white light, and her reflection say everything. Like Cloud's Girl said, the chances of his reaching for Bahamut with a look of wonder in his eyes is about zilch. :D

EDIT: Aaaah. In that case, I think it's very clear that Cloud responds more to Aeris than Tifa in both CoT and AC. It's been two years, but Aeris still touches his heart and is still a source of strength for him, and he seems so emotional when he's 'with' her/remembering her, as opposed to his scenes with Tifa where he's mostly detached/the Cloud at the start of FF7.

I dunno why people are talking about the Bahamut scene. :unsure: It's obvious that he's reaching out for Aerith's hand in the Bahamut scene.

When FF_Goddess created this thread, we didn't even know about the Bahamut scene yet! :lol:

What FF_Goddess meant by "reaching out for Aerith" is that Aerith seems to be the only one that Cloud is responsive to in the movie. He seems closed off to everyone but Aerith.

Given Cloud's reactions to Aerith vs. Tifa, I'd say that FF_G is correct. Cloud is way more responsive to Aerith, both in AC and in CoT.

Of course, manuals only give you a basic view of the character before they have been developed.