I'd like to hear everyone's say on this: What for you is the perfect CloudxAerith fic? Is there any particular theme you would like or any particular event that you would like to happen in a CloudxAerith fic? If so, what are those theme/s event/s you would like to read in future CloudxAerith fics? ^_^'
You can also describe your perfect CloudxAerith moment going on in your heads that you would like to see/read in a fic. ^_^'

The perfect one? Has to have a bit of everything, angst, humor, lotsa love... Well, gotta have romance above all, right? A good description of the characters feelings, a nice hug... lol, I don't know! I like to write them, but I don't know if I'm good enough =_='

That's a very hard question to answer, Tifa, because I've enjoyed many CloudxAerith fics for different reasons.

Characterization is very important to me in fics - if the story has Cloud laughing or chuckling or smiling in it, for example, I immediately stop reading because Cloud would never do that. I can't stand fics that take characters extremely OOC. The characterization has to be reasonable, or I won't read it. :lol:

That's in general for all stories. For CloudxAerith stories in particular, I like for them to be reunited somehow. I'm not really particular about how they get reunited, as long as they are. Cloud can die, Aerith can be revived, he can meet Aerith's spirit, whatever. As long as they get together somehow. When they get reunited, then a romantic scene with Cloud and Aerth is wonderful.

I like it when Cloud makes his feelings for Aerith clear to Tifa. I like that in a CloudxAerith fic. I thought he made them clear in FFVII when he told Tifa that he wanted to meet Aerith - but I like that to be confirmed in CloudxAerith fics. If Tifa has to be a character in the story, either have Cloud make his feelings for Aerith clear to Tifa, have Cloud make it clear that things will never work out between he and Tifa, or have Tifa get together with another guy - or do all three. If at least one of those things don't happen with Tifa in the story, then I don't even want Tifa to be part of the story. :lol:

The story should also make it clear that Cloud has been grieving for and/or missing Aerith since her death. It should show in some way that Cloud has been trying to find her. If a CloudxAerith fic supplies all of that, I'm usually happy. :rolleyes:

One thing I don't like in CloudxAerith fics is when Aerith's spirit in incarnated in the form of another girl, or when another girl reminds Cloud of Aerith. That makes Aerith far less special to me. Aerith was a very unique and irreplaceable character, and that's part of the reason Cloud hasn't moved on. To say that another girl reminds Cloud of Aerith makes Aerith replaceable - isn't the whole point that Aerith is irreplaceble in Cloud's heart? That kind of contradiction bothers me in a CloudxAerith fic.

A Good Cloud / Aerith fic:

1. Must have Cloud loving Aerith in an intimate romantic way, and vice-versa
2. Must not bash Tifa or any other character
3. Must not have an OOC Cloud or Aerith in it. (like the one I read where Cloud seemed a bit too happy, and another one where Cloud appeared too self-righteous, etcetera... for some reason, I've never seen a CxA with an OOC Aerith in it... O_o)
4. Must have some profound truth regarding the human condition. (Like reflections upon life and death...)
5. Must not be cheesy
6. Must not center around a 'love scene' (in other words, must not rely solely on the fact that the fic is Hentai)

Optional stuff:
1. Insane Cloud (yes, this goes against my thing against OOC, but I like reading Cloud as someone who can't take any more losses in his life and so finally snapped... O_o)
2. Must be edited (I don't like reading a story with a good and sometimes excellent plot but horrible grammar. XD)
3. Reunion of Cloud and Aerith (yes, this is just optional for me because I like my fics to be more realistic than romantic. XD)
4. Short story (I don't like reading chaptered fics because most of them never get finished and if they do, I'd probably end up skipping chapters just cause I'm impatient.)

I have high expectations regarding fics, sorry. :lol:

Well the number one thing for me is...

1. No character bashing! Even if the plot of the story is good, some major, major complete character bashing would pull me out of the story and I won't be able to get into it. Though I wouldn't mind a little Hojo or Old Man Shinra bashing, heh, heh... I was kidding.

Anyway...

The fic has to show that Cloud cared about Aeris and that he misses her.

The characters have to be in character. Now I don't mind if it's one of those humorous behind-the-scenes fics but when it's not one of those fics, the characters need to be IC.

If the story is an AU (alternate universe) story in a completely different setting. At least one thing besides names and personallities have to relate to the game in a way. (Example: In my AU story, Aeris owns a flower shop.)