I was just wondering...what do we know about Tifa's feelings for Cloud in AC? DOES she still love him? After two whole years, I know I'd have given up and moved on...do you believe that Tifa has? What I've heard about their relationship is pretty ambiguous - I've seen Nomura (I think) refer to them as "more than friends, less than lovers" (which doesn't necessarily suggest unrequited romance to me, it could just as easily be indicative of a brother-sister relationship), and note the "depth" and "complexity" of the relationship...but it doesn't really say how things stand between them, doesn't it?

On top of that, Tifa's worry about Cloud seems far more friendly and concerned. When she challenges him about wanting to die, she never came off as jealous or heartbroken, but as if she was trying to tell Cloud to pull himself together. She obviously cares about him deeply but from what we've seen so far, I haven't seen evidence of the same intense emotional investment in him. Whatever she feels, she doesn't seem to need him and his support anywhere near as much as she did in the original game (good on her, too! ^_^ ).

So, what do you think? Does she still love him? Or has she given up and decided to get on with life (which has enough challenges for her as it is)? I'm really hoping she has - not just because it'd shatter C/T (besides, even if she has accepted that Cloud doesn't want to be with her, Tifa will always feel deeply for him; that sort of emotion doesn't just vanish into thin air), but because I think it'd be really good for her. :D

What do you think? I haven't hunted down for information, so there might be something official that completely disproves my speculation, and besides, it's still early days. We still don't know much about the film, so we can't accurately speculate about how any character feels, till we've seen them act in context. But does anyone have anything that can confirm or deny my thoughts? If not...what do you think? I know it's very unlikely that Square would have Tifa move on just because of its effects on her character and the Love Triangle, but from what I've seen so far, she's definitely altered. Either way, it looks like she's nowhere near as emotionally dependent on him... :rolleyes:

I'll keep this short and sweet. Tifa loves Cloud deeply, that much was at least certain in the game. It's an emotion for her character that I believe will remain for a long time, if not for all of her life and beyond. But Tifa isn't dependent on her affection for him in the movie it seems. She's a strong enough woman to live with the love in her heart and not let it rule her life. She may very well be IN love with Cloud, but she has enough control over herself and this emotion to keep it stable and not let it rule over everything she says or does. I wouldn't expect her to go into a jealous rage or anything of the sort because even though people change (character development) I still don't think she's as open with her feelings like she could be. Acting like a weeping, heartbroken soon-to-be-widow will do nothing to help Cloud, but only harm chances of him healing as it will add more guilty scars. Tifa is smarter than that.

In conclusion, I still believe there is a large chance that she loves him just as much as she ever did, but certain changes in life and in these characters have come to pass that have led them to deal with these emotions much differently.

Hmmm, I think she might still like him. She does keep a picture of her and him together. But its just my guess.

I'd like to think that Tifa's already accepted the fact that Cloud just can't love her as a lover... I think she's looking after him as a best friend would to a brokenhearted friend. According to what I think anyway, Tifa would be guilty if she loved Cloud as she did before, considering Cloud's state and the state of the world after Aerith's death. :blink: Maybe.

Mmm, it´s sooon to talk about this, but I would like that Tifa has moved on... But sincerely I don´t think SE will do it, at least in AC U.U...
Like PassiveAggresive said, Tifa is a stronger woman who never talks about her feelings... And she wants Cloud happines, too, then all depend of what Cloud wants to be happy... And I think we know what it is :rolleyes:

Hooray for speculation! I'm glad I managed to get people talking about this!

My turn now...and I'm inclined to agree with just about everything everyone here's already said. :D

I'm not disputing how much Tifa loves Cloud. She loves him a whole heap, to put it lightly. Her feelings for him have affected her deeply. Her deep feelings for him will probably stay with her for her whole life. But that shouldn't stop her from one day being able to move past those feelings, and maybe someday finding the love she needs and deserves in someone else. It'd probably take a lot of time and work, but I think she'll get there. I'd like to see that anyway. But as it stands right now, I think she's deeply in love with Cloud.

I doubt that Square would make Tifa's feelings for Cloud change, just because it's such a vital part of her character and what drives her, and her devotion to Cloud no matter what is one of the things that endeared her the most to her fans. They're not going to change that and make her move on, even if it is perhaps logical. Personally, judging by the original game alone, I think that despite always feeling strongly for Cloud, if they weren't together after two years, she'd try to get on with her life - I don't believe that Cloud is the only guy she's capable of loving. But this isn't an AU post-FFVII fanfic written by me; this is the official sequel. So what I think makes the most sense doesn't apply.

In AC, life hasn't returned to normal. There's still a great deal of suffering and hardship, and Tifa's major concern is looking after the orphans, as opposed to getting a job and paying the bills. Normality provides distraction, opportunity to meet new people and discover new interests, and time to think a lot of things through, and Tifa doesn't have that. She hasn't had a chance in the past two years to work at coming to terms with how she feels, and deciding what to do about it. She's pushed into a new struggle as soon as the old one's over, so she never really has the time to move on and let experience change her feelings.

I think you're right about how well Tifa is about hiding her feelings, PassiveAggressive. That's what she's all about. Her emotional scenes in the original game come off so strongly and intensely that it gets a bit too easy to write Tifa off as an emotionally unstable wreck. But she only really shows her vulnerable, insecure side to that degree on two major occasions - at Mideel and during the night under the Highwind. For the better part of the rest of the time she's far from positive, but she doesn't come off as weak either. And during the game's ending, after all the emotional upheaval of the Highwind scene, she comes across as very strong and clear-thinking, despite her troubles. Sadly, it's very easy to forget that, as well as how strongly she holds up throughout the game and mischaracterize her as weak, clingy, etc. She's certainly nowhere near as tough, optimistic and independant as Aeris, and she may be a lost little girl at heart, but she's not an emotional cripple.

I think she's strong enough to still love Cloud deeply, but has become idependant enough not to depend on him and his assurance that everything's going to be alright (from what we've seen so far, anyway). She still keeps her feelings hidden and still isn't confident enough to do anything to bridge the gap that's formed between them. I also think that she's accepted how things stand between them and that Cloud is still haunted by his guilt and his feelings for Aeris. She isn't going to cry and whine about it but - like in the game's ending - accepts how he feels. She doesn't do anything to try and change things, and it doesn't look like she's hoping for very much. I think that her going on as normal and not angsting over Cloud shouldn't mean that she doesn't feel the same way; she's just trying to live her life, and locking away her feelings so that they don't show.

That's a very wise point, Passive! I never thought of it like that! :D

Hopefully if this movie gives us any sort of definite Cloud/Aeris confirmation, Tifa will be able to take steps towards letting go. I'd really like her to be able to move on and find happiness... -_-

Hmm...am I being hypocritical here? I mean, in wanting this for Tifa, but not feeling that Cloud should? I know that the situation is different for both of them; Aeris is unattainable, but at least she reciprocates Cloud's feelings. For me, Cloud searching for a way to meet Aeris again seems far less tragic and hopeless than for Tifa to always love a man who, though he loves her dearly in his own way, will never feel the same. Even if Cloud isn't letting go or moving on, he's still pursuing happiness and peace. The idea of Tifa just accepting, and suffering in silence is a very painful one, so that's why I'd like to see her find love elsewhere.

Or are my standards unfair? Am I being biased? :blink:

It's what you'd like, it's your opinion, but I DO find it incredibly biased. Maybe it's because even though I believe Cloud loves Aeris and will always feel strongly for her, I don't find it healthy nor logical for him to wilt away as he searches for a way to be with Aeris when the only real way for him to truly be with her is death. If he happens to die, fine, but until then he needs to let go of his guilt, remember the love he has for Aeris and move on, whatever moving on might be--alone, with a companion, whatever steps that need to be taken should. If Cloud doesn't reciprocate the feelings Tifa holds for him, then it's obvious to me she needs to move on as well. In a sense, they are both in love with unattainable beings, but on different levels. They both need to understand this and let go to save themselves and find opportunities for greater happiness.

Dammit. ::cries::

But I think I need to clarify a point here:

I'm not saying that I think Cloud should continue searching for Aeris 'till the end of eternity or anything like that - if I had my own way, Cloud would be moving on simply by getting his life back together, living a normal existence, appreciating his friends and coming to terms with things. I'd prefer Cloud to do that rather than travel the world alone angsting and searching. But in AC Cloud is searching for a way to meet Aeris. I agree with you that it isn't healthy were he never to get beyond this, and I really do want Cloud to move on, come to terms with things, let go of his guilt, be happy and find some lease for life. Life is for living and I want him to live. I don't want him to continue like this any more than you do. But as things are in AC he hasn't reached that point yet. So I'm just speculating about what I would like Tifa to do if that doesn't change because I don't want to see her being just as trapped by her feelings for someone who is out of reach (realistically, I don't think we'll see anything of the sort in AC, but it's just what I'd personally like for Tifa). At the point I'm referring to, Cloud isn't reciprocating Tifa's feelings (but that could always change...). I'm just trying to explore what Tifa ought to do in that situation; in which Cloud hasn't shown any indication of deeper feelings for her (that we know of at this point anyway), and is still focused on Aeris and trying to deal with his guilt and pain. I'm not saying that Cloud should never move on (because that's what I really, really, really want him to, lol!), but the way things are at the moment, he hasn't. It's possible that he will; seeing him find peace in life would make me very happy whereas seeing him throw away his life for the sake of being with Aeris would make me the opposite (but that's dragging a whole other thread into this...). The way I would have it is if they could both move on somehow, let go of the past and embrace life. I think the way they're both living is unhealthy, but I don't think that them getting together will solve that and make it a healthy and happy relationship either. Moving on, for me, doesn't necessitate a romance. I totally agree with you that they both need to gain understanding, let go, and save themselves and find greater happiness - it's just that I personally think that they can do this without being lovers. ^_^

Does that clear anything up at all? I just thought that maybe you misunderstood the example behind my reasoning that's all. But if I'm still showing bias here (but oh it's so difficult to keep it seperate from personal interrpretations of the characters!) please let me know. Because if I'm having trouble seeing it, I need someone to clear things up for me! :P

I suppose I did misunderstand you're initial meaning but you've cleared that up. I understand and mostly agree with you now. ;)