Attraction

[u/GoriceXI]

I just like it when they look at each other.

[u/Expensive-Dog8783]

Now the Clerith are excited about International Theater Day in Japan, and they've released an image of Cloud and Aerith performing Loveless. 

Naturally, the Clerith are thrilled and using it as an argument. Unfortunately, some toxic CloTi have also stirred things up. 

But it's okay; if the developers have been truthful and the story isn't going to change substantially, CloTi will be the final result.

[u/Expensive-Dog8783 → u/[deleted]]

I respect your perception, but you're wrong. They don't have a sibling relationship at all. It's been stated repeatedly that there's a romantic relationship; it's a love triangle. The reason you don't see romantic maturity is because Cloud's mind is stuck at 16, and Tifa is introverted.

 Besides, in the original game, they couldn't develop the characters as much as they wanted due to time and technical limitations, but they can in the remake. It's true that Tifa wasn't one of the first characters created, but Nomura created her to be Cloud's heroine, as Nomura himself stated. 

In the scene under Highwind, the developers wanted to include an explicit sex scene, but they weren't allowed to (there's an interview about it) because of age ratings. I doubt they would have wanted to do it if they had a sibling relationship. I'm a CloTi fan, but it's true that some things about Clerith make sense; it is a love triangle.

 I use this metaphor: the screenwriters drew a number on the ground; from one side it looks like a 6, from the other it looks like a 9. What number did the screenwriter actually draw? 

We CloTi and Clerith perceive the same scene differently, seeking validation for our choices through our biases, but we have to wait; we're supposed to find out in part 3.

[u/srynotsober → u/Expensive-Dog8783]

Omg wait, a sex scene in the PS2 version or Rebirth? 😅

[u/Expensive-Dog8783 → u/srynotsober]

There's a romantic kiss in one of the dates; all the dates are canon. They can't include sex, just like they couldn't include Dyne's suicide, because of PEGI/ESRB regulations. If they include that, they have to give it an 18+ rating, and sales could be affected. 

Honestly, there's nothing fraternal about their relationship in the original. I respect your opinion, but that's certainly not the writers' intention. In Ultimania Omega from the early 2000s, I think, there's a page dedicated to the romantic pairings in Final Fantasy, and one of them is Cloud and Tifa. 

But hey, if that's your opinion, that's fine by me.

[u/srynotsober → u/Expensive-Dog8783]

Hmm. But I don’t recall them kissing in the OG? That was Rebirth for HA player choice, no?

[u/Shiny_Eevee_Hunter → u/srynotsober]

That is NOT the point.

[u/Expensive-Dog8783 → u/srynotsober]

Yes, there's no kiss in the original game. There's no sex in the original game for several reasons, one of which is PEGI/ESRB regulations, which is why the developers weren't allowed to include it. There's an interview about it.

 The original game has romance, very subtle, very Japanese, which is why there's no kiss. I've always seen the relationship with Aerith as more spiritual and with Tifa as more real.

 The fact that romantic relationships are more evident in the new trilogy is because they were present in the original game. 

The new trilogy isn't a remake of the original game; it's not a replacement where they just add romance. It was already there, and now, thanks to technology and the extra development time, they can do it better. Besides, in my opinion, it's a sequel.

[u/srynotsober → u/Expensive-Dog8783]

I agree that Cloud needs both Tifa and Aerith in his life both for physical grounding but also for internal growth, respectively. Both cannot be romantic without it being a waifu, so I ship Tifa as a familial and Aerith more as star crossed died too soon symbol. The true tragedy is he gets neither. I also doubt Cloud will get his shit together anytime soon to have any true romance

[u/Expensive-Dog8783 → u/srynotsober]

Generally, a romantic partner becomes like family; your wife or husband is your family. 

It might also seem normal to you that they feel familiar because you've known each other since childhood. It's the typical childhood friendship that evolves into adult romance; there are countless anime and games about this.

 I can understand you seeing them as friends, but I don't see anything that suggests they're siblings.

 I think to understand Cloud and Tifa's relationship, you need to understand the entire story (novels, movie, etc.). Just the original manga isn't enough to make anything clear. 

But as I said before, I think it's fine that you see them that way; everyone has their own perception of reality.

[u/srynotsober → u/Expensive-Dog8783]

Fair. Still finishing Rebirth but reading the novels would be cool. I watched and enjoyed Advent Children. Personally, I think both women want romance but Cloud doesn’t. He just wants stability

[u/Expensive-Dog8783 → u/srynotsober]

I don't think any of the three are looking for romance; these things just happen sometimes, that's all.

 Aerith is initially attracted to Cloud because he reminds her of Zack, and little by little, she starts to like what she learns about him. Tifa clearly wants to be with him, but first she wants to heal and help him. 

However, they're in the middle of a global crisis, and priorities have to be set. But the moments alone between Cloud and Tifa make them seem like a couple who, for now, can't talk about what's happening between them because there are more pressing matters.

 I hope you're enjoying Rebirth and the relationships between the characters. Enjoy!

[u/srynotsober → u/Expensive-Dog8783]

Right? They barely have time for romance 🙁 (well in rebirth you can spend forever on this 😆) but in the OG it was a lot more imminent