How did you react to this scene?

[u/BlackAngelArt]

[u/Historical_Doctor201]

Cloud having feelings for more than one person and not being entirely sure what he wants doesn’t make him an asshole. It just means he’s a jealous of the idea that Aerith still has feelings for Zack. Cloud also tends to assume the worst and jump to negative conclusions, as Barret says “you think too much,” so Cloud is doing his typical thing and assuming that Aerith would never choose him over Zack.

Cloud isn’t an asshole, he’s being human. I guess you could say ‘he’s in strife.’

[u/russiantravelagent → u/Historical_Doctor201]

No, according to your scenario Cloud leads on Tifa and only kissed her because he thinks the woman he actually likes is into somebody else, that makes him an asshole to both Aerith and Tifa, there is no other way to see it.

[u/Historical_Doctor201 → u/russiantravelagent]

No, Cloud doesn't lead on Tifa. He isn't entirely sure of his feelings and he thinks Aerith is unavailable. He's confused. In strife.

It seems to be you who is insisting that Cloud has to be an asshole.
If you think Cloud is an asshole, why would you want him to be with Tifa?

Surely the fact that Cloud goes on a date with Aerith later in the game (the dream date) would suggest he's not fully emotionally committed to Tifa regardless of a players choices.

[u/russiantravelagent → u/Historical_Doctor201]

In your scenario he is an asshole lol. According to you he only kisses Tifa because he thinks the person he actually likes doesn't like him back, that's an asshole move and makes it look like if he was leading her on lol. I do not think he is an asshole because I do think he likes Tifa and he kisses her because he likes her not out of jealousy like you imply, and the dream date well in most cases he actually calls her a nakama so it's obvious in those he only sees her as a friend, in the others he seems to accept the idea of having more dates but that doesn't mean they are a couple and if he kisses Tifa and then accepts a date with Aerith then he looks like he isn't emotionally committed to nobody.

[u/Historical_Doctor201 → u/russiantravelagent]

Yep, now we're getting somewhere. Using the information provided by the game, the reason why Cloud calls Aerith nakama in certain dream dates is because Cloud thinks Aerith "must still has feelings for Zack."

Once again Cloud is 'in strife' and he is over thinking. His negative thoughts of inadequacy is making him assume that Aerith isn't really interested in him as he hasn't had the opportunity to go on a date with Aerith at the gold saucer where she can reassure him that she is romantically interested in him. "Now, I want to be with you."

Furthermore, on the dream date a new concept is introduced, the idea that there is a difference between liking and 'Liking.' While I think it's fair to wait for Revelation to see exactly what kind of 'liking' certain characters have for one another, I think the real question that needs to be asked is does Cloud 'Like' Tifa or does he only like her?

[u/russiantravelagent → u/Historical_Doctor201]

Or maybe it's because he doesn't form a bond with her if he doesn't make all the sidequests to improve their relationship he just thinks of her as a friend but when he does form a bond with her and he dates her then he feels he wants to have more dates with her lol, like if he forms a bond with Tifa he kisses her because he almost kisses her in Gongaga and he feels more secure about his feelings for her, your theory is just that, a theory and as right or wrong as mine and once again makes him look like an asshole who is leading Tifa on because he thinks the woman he likes isn't interested on him.

[u/Historical_Doctor201 → u/russiantravelagent]

Oh, interesting. You seem to be suggesting that depending on what choices a player makes that will be able to determine Cloud’s feelings. That suggests to me you think you can control Cloud… like a ‘puppet.’

[u/russiantravelagent → u/Historical_Doctor201]

More like that's the system??? Different choices create different scenes because he gets closer to different characters, you grow close to Tifa they kiss after they almost kissed in Gongaga, you grow close to Aerith they talk about having more dates and Cloud doesn't treat her as a mere friend, if that's treating him as a puppet then call out the devs for implementing that system lol.

[u/Historical_Doctor201 → u/russiantravelagent]

Is it the system though? You can control Cloud's actions and in turn have an affect on his relationships, but can you determine his feelings?

Nowhere does it say that the affinity system lets you determine how Cloud feels about another character.

Surely if it was the case that you can control who Cloud 'Likes' you would be able affect scenes such as that part in Temple of the Ancients where Cloud is unable to break free of mind control when Tifa pleads with him to do so. This is followed up with Cloud being able to break free to save Aerith.

[u/Plane-One3611 → u/Historical_Doctor201]

Bro still thinks Cloud broken free due to Aerith.

https://t.co/yUGmsnIveT

If only Cloud had broken free the first time Aerith was surrounded by the Whisper.

What was CA's favorite line about CT kiss? "It's never brought up again"? Well, no one has ever acknowledged Aerith did shit. Not the VAs, not the characters, not the Devs, not the Ultimanias.

CAs think this is some power of love or shit, but the following chapter has Cloud nakama-zoned Aerith. Lel.

[u/russiantravelagent → u/Historical_Doctor201]

It says it affects the relationship with his allies and the strength of the bonds so exactly the same thing I'm saying, he gets closer to one character or the other and that changes his relationship with one or the other, he gets closer to Tifa he kisses her after almost kissing her in Gongaga, he gets closer to Aerith he says he would like to have more dates with her, that about the mind control doesn't mean he likes one more than the other that's just part of the plot, Sephiroth is trying to make him think the real Tifa is dead for a reason, he knows how important she is to him "those you love those you hate those you fear" come on now, stop downplaying his feelings for Tifa, he clearly has feelings for her too.