I noticed that a common pro-Cleris argument is that right after Cloud met Aerith, his attitude began to lighten a little and he began to joke around etc.
A counterargument is that it was too early in the game to actually tell if Cloud's attitude did change...who knows, he might have shown his sense of humor to Barret and Tifa loads of times already(I haven't heard any Cloti say this...I'm just predicting what they might say) After all, Cloud and Aerith's first meeting was pretty early in the game.\
But then I noticed that after Cloud met Aerith, he never acted cold towards anyone again. Do you remember when he wanted to leave Avalanche and Barret had to give him Marlene's school money so he wouldn't leave?
And of course there are other factors to consider, because Cloud's memory was still muddled at that point in the game.
How importantly do you consider Cloud's change in behavior, in connection to his meeting Aerith?

Well I suppose, the way I see it is that when he meets Aeris he feels more like his old self rather than the person he's trying to be (aka Zack). He is "nicer" , so to say, towards the rest of the group after the meeting in the church, but he's still kind of "zack-like" until he has that time in the lifestream and sorts his real memories out.

Anyway, what I'm trying to say is that Cloud does soften up a bit when Aeris comes into the picture but I think he mainly shows that side to Aeris, but there are times when he's nice to the others.

(Does this make sense?)

Not only does Cloud's attitude toward everyone change after meeting Aerith, but he treats Aerith with much more gentleness than anyone else. After all, he promised to protect her. I think her faith in him boosted his self-esteem. Aerith never wanted him to be a specific thing (unlike Tifa, who wanted Cloud to be a First-Class SOLDIER, powerful and famous, like Sephiroth). Cloud could be himself around her and didn't have to pretend to be the cold SOLDIER. Perhaps it is the real Cloud we see emerging after he met Aerith. :cleris:

Too early? He's the guy who said he didn't care what happens to the Planet, right? He's the guy who'd walk out of 7th Heaven until Tifa and Barret implored him to stay.

And then he met a girl whom he immediately wanted to take care of (if Aerith's words "Hey, that's Cloud's line! You can't get involved, it's too dangerous, blah blah blah!" wasn't an indication that he does have a habit of protecting her). That's a huge leap, IMHO.

I find it funny MoTP canonize that the party who went to meet Dyne was Cloud, Barret and Aerith... seems Cloud can't even leave her with the other group in a prison desert, he'd rather she stay near him. Hee. XD

Yeah, it is interesting that they used the three original characters! ^_^

And Aerith identify Cloud as her hero. And she had him put on a pedestral, actually... I mean look how she criticize Zack for not being like Cloud. ^^


Anyways, the fact that Barret realizes that "So even you [Cloud] will fight for someone else. Guess I figured you wrong." while they're infiltrating ShinRa Building is also a small note on his change of his colder character, actually.

I couldn't agree with you all more. You've pretty much said everything I had been thinking and even pointed out one thing I never actually noticed until you said it!

quoted from Anti-R

I don't think it's so much that Cloud's attitude actually changed right after he met Aerith. When I use that argument, it's more that while he was with her (even though they were pretty much strangers to one another at this point), he's able to joke, laugh, and smile around her. He was relaxed...and as others have pointed out, even gentle with her.

First off, I'd ask that Cloti to show me some proof. Basing an argument off of "what ifs" and "who knows" isn't going to do that Cloti any good. :P

That's just as useless as me saying..."who knows, Cloud might have had sex with Aerith after they went on their date". :rolleyes:

Wow, I agree with all of you! I do believe that Cloud did change a bit
in attitude after he have met Aerith.

I second that motion. :)

He was cold in the beginning and withdrawn. Even took money out of Marlene's schooling just for him to stay and if it wasn't for Aeris, his shell would never had cracked or open a little. Sort of like what Aeris said in MOTP...though I can't remember the correct words....*runs of to reread it.... :whistle: *