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Going to discuss the lackluster hug and how it implies that CT are not developing romantically.
if CT was going to happen, the hug was where some kind of romantic climax should have occurred or at least been indicated or teased, whether physically or verbally.
#Clerith
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if CT was going to happen, the hug was where some kind of romantic climax should have occurred or at least been indicated or teased, whether physically or verbally.
#Clerith
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If CT is being laid out for endgame, then that hug would have been romantic, instead there’s no tender words from Cloud, he doesn’t initiate the hug, and he doesn’t caress her head. Compare that hug scene to Tidus and Yuna or Squall and Rinoa.
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there are romantic mannerisms or romantic words exchanged between Squall and Rinoa / Tidus and Yuna. But this doesn’t occur in the 
hug. Instead, T does all the talking, she initiated the hug, she walks over to him... while Cloud just stands there mutely the whole time.
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hug. Instead, T does all the talking, she initiated the hug, she walks over to him... while Cloud just stands there mutely the whole time.3/
CTs have every right to interpret it however they want, but the fact is... hugs are not inherently romantic... especially since the CT hug only occurred because Cloud was imitating the Barret and Tifa hug that Cloud had seen earlier.
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Cloud imitating their mutual friend proves that in Cloud’s mind, the hug he eventually returned to T was coming from a place of platonic feelings. But on top of that... Cloud’s mannerisms, his lack of verbal affection, this all proves that Cloud does not view T romantically.
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Just compare how Cloud is behaving in the hug scene to the Dream Sequence with Aerith. When Cloud realizes Aerith is sad, he tells her uplifting words, he gives her warm smiles, flirty banter, confesses that he’s worried for her,
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and at the end of the DS, he tells Aerith “do I get a say in all this” when she tells him to not fall in love with her and reaches out to hold her when she walks away.
Then, finally... he tells her that he’s coming for her.
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Then, finally... he tells her that he’s coming for her.
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Everything Cloud says to 
he’s cheering her up or conveying his feelings for her, even promising to bring her back to his side. Cloud’s expression when Aerith touches his face, Cloud reaching out to hold her, these are all romantic details and shows Cloud taking initiative
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he’s cheering her up or conveying his feelings for her, even promising to bring her back to his side. Cloud’s expression when Aerith touches his face, Cloud reaching out to hold her, these are all romantic details and shows Cloud taking initiative8/
when it comes to showing Aerith what he wants or what he’s feeling.
The DS has every romantic element to tease at or convey Cloud and Aerith’s love, heck... it’s the only time in the game where love is discussed.
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The DS has every romantic element to tease at or convey Cloud and Aerith’s love, heck... it’s the only time in the game where love is discussed.
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The Dream Sequence had romantic elements to it, and hinted at the developing love between Cloud and Aerith. Cloud slyly confesses his feelings, he almost touches her, and then upon their eventual reunion, they’re unable to have a moment because they’re interrupted.
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This is all building up to the eventual climax in their love story. That’s why we don’t get to see Cloud hold her, that’s why Cloud’s “do i get a say in all this” didn’t get an acknowledgement from Aerith. It’s a slowburn love story.
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Which brings me back to the CT hug... we saw Cloud and Tifa physically “come together” and what happened? Nothing. Cloud did not caress her head, he didn’t lean his head against hers, he didn’t initiate the hug, he didn’t tell her tender and romantic words.
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They hugged and that was it. After that hug, Cloud has his dream of Aerith, where he confesses his feelings and vows to bring Aerith back to his side; after the hug, Cloud does everything possible to save Aerith, even prioritizing her over everyone else.
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After the hug... the game gives the viewers symbolic dialogues about Leslie reuniting with his fiancé just as Cloud is trying to reunite with Aerith.
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The fact that CT hugged and it didn’t have any romantic details to it proves that was their peak and that T is just a friend in Cloud’s mind.
I believe the game gave CT a conclusion... it just wasn’t the conclusion CTs believe it is.
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I believe the game gave CT a conclusion... it just wasn’t the conclusion CTs believe it is.
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Whereas with Clerith, we’re left with the thoughts...
*what will Aerith say to Cloud’s “do i get a say in all this?”
* will Cloud and Aerith eventually embrace each other like he tried to do in the dream?
* will Cloud save her from her fate?
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*what will Aerith say to Cloud’s “do i get a say in all this?”
* will Cloud and Aerith eventually embrace each other like he tried to do in the dream?
* will Cloud save her from her fate?
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these very questions and this pattern we see with Clerith, where it’s as though we’re always interrupted during their moments are what prove Clerith is in the rising action phase of their love story.
Which always means a romantic climax is coming.
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Which always means a romantic climax is coming.
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I don’t take enjoyment in dismantling the CT content, but after seeing constant cross tagging, I wanted to discuss why I think the CT hug confirms that CT will never happen. Feel free to disagree, I just know what I’m seeing from a basic storytelling perspective.
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