I Just Love Him 😩🖤

Part 1: Enter, Ex-SOLDIER! [A Complete Analysis of Final Fantasy VII]

Masterlink here.

Welcome! This is the first post in my chapter-by-chapter analysis of the entire Final Fantasy VII. Each chapter will be primarily based on the original 1997 game, with discussion of the compilation works where relevant – ie. when they pertain to the original (OG). Aside from a spoiler-warning for the entire FF7 (this is the only warning I’ll give), I want to note a few things before we start.

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fun + cool cloud strife facts

cloud has an autopsy scar, aka a y-shaped incision down the torso. cloud also has no memories of where it came from :)

cloud’s had a snapped neck before and should’ve died right then and there but the power of j-cells™ renders actual death impossible.

cloud sometimes phases through walls and floors. also levitates at random intervals.

the roman numeral seven is tattooed on cloud’s neck. cloud is completely unaware of this tattoo, and it’s rather unfortunate that hojo had forgotten about it, too…

HOWEVER, cloud does occasionally respond to being called “number 7″, usually in the midst of a mental breakdown (and in rarer instances, “number 7″ will be the only thing cloud responds to!)

cloud may or may not have attempted to merge with one or two of the other clones in nibelheim.

cloud still thinks about the reunion from time to time, and there’s always that urge to go to it…

cloud always referred to jenova as “mother” (and still does, sometimes), despite knowing that it’s wrong to do so.

and one extra fun last one:

cloud doesn’t know what it’s like to not hear voices all the time.

Cloud Strife Headcanons, Because I Can

SPOILERS for the entire original continuity.

Cloud has a Cetra great-grandparent on his father’s side.  Being one-eighth Cetra isn’t nearly as useful as being half Cetra, but it does impact how he reacts to high levels of mako exposure; he’s more susceptible to mako-induced catatonia (i.e. he is more easily “taken into the Lifestream”), but he will survive mako-induced catatonia far better than a purely human person and has a far higher chance of recovery long-term.

Cloud’s greatest talent–that he is completely unaware that he has, by the way–is being a ridiculously quick study; he can do almost anything moderately well after one or two demonstrations provided he has the physical capability to do it (strength, dexterity, etc.).  This is how he knows how to wield swords despite never having received any training in bladed melee weapons (and how he learns a complex choreographed dance with one practice round), but also why this skill doesn’t help him in combat during his active Crisis Core years: Cloud didn’t have the bulk yet to effectively use any of the cool tactics he observed the older, taller, heavier men using.

Cloud applied to SOLDIER before he turned fifteen. He was rejected due to bone scans revealing that he wasn’t anywhere near finished growing  (seriously, look how tiny fifteen-year-old Cloud is compared to seventeen-year-old Zack when they first meet, then compare their sizes when twenty-two-year-old Zack is carrying twenty-year-old Cloud five year later; our boy was a late bloomer) and would be too vulnerable to growth plate fractures. [Growth plate fractures are fractures that occur in children and teenagers in the part of the bone that is growing. If they are not set properly before they start to heal, they will permanently stunt bone growth.  Because SOLDIERs heal extremely quickly, a growth plate fracture would be nearly guaranteed to heal wrong.  This would permanently disable a SOLDIER, which means Shinra loses on its investment.  While I don’t believe Shinra cares about their employees as people because they hired a fourteen-year-old to be in their military, I do believe they care more about making financially-sound decisions than making decisions that specifically disregard human quality of life.]

Cloud’s rejection from SOLDIER was a “try again next year, kiddo” rejection that he took way too hard, being a Very Sensitive and Angsty Teenager ™.  Zack was right that Cloud was on the right track to be a SOLDIER and just needed to keep doing well for another year or two.

Cloud was kept sedated the entire time he was in Hojo’s lab and thus never knows was done to him beyond the vague summary revealed to the player in the original game.  In reality, Hojo–who is a terrible scientist from a methodology standpoint as well as an ethical one–just started pumping higher and higher concentrations of mako into him until Cloud finally started showing symptoms of mako poisoning.  He was dubbed a “failure” because Hojo couldn’t determine why Cloud broke at the mako level he did (see first headcanon for why).  Hojo was too much of a know-it-all egotist to do anything other than label an experiment with an inexplicable outcome a failure.

Cloud chooses to never have biological children due to the fact that he doesn’t know whether the effects of Hojo’s experiments could be inherited, i.e. whether any biological child of his would also be a Sephiroth clone and/or have SOLDIER characteristics.  He is perfectly content with his role as a foster/adoptive father, though, and adores the children he raises.

Cloud takes Marlene’s comment “How can you take care of your family if you can’t take care of yourself?” in Advent Children very seriously and starts therapy shortly thereafter (bonus headcanon: the WRO backs no-cost therapy for Shinra victims because the last time a Shinra experiment victim’s mental health was neglected, they tried to destroy the planet).  Cloud is in an ideal place for therapy: he has a supportive social network, he has the flexibility in his living situation for therapy, and he is willing to put in the work to make changes (because, again: Cloud adores his foster/adopted kids and is determined to be the best dad he can be).  It’s not 100% smooth sailing, but he has a great fit with his therapist, and it tremendously reduces his survivor’s guilt.

𝐒𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐝𝐝𝐥𝐲 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐧𝐬

1. WHAT DOES YOUR MUSE SMELL LIKE?

According to his official eau de toilette “A mix of refreshing floral, fruity and oriental scents.”

In reality, he probably smells like someone who has not changed their clothes in over a year, doesn’t know when they’ll get their next shower, hair spray, sword cleaning polish, and traces of mako that will forever cling to his skin.

2. WHAT DO YOUR MUSE’S HANDS FEEL LIKE?

If Madame M is to be believed “The strong, firm hands of a fighter. Yet they possess a certain elegance and grace.”

3. WHAT DOES YOUR MUSE USUALLY EAT IN A DAY?

Cloud forgets to eat most days, then claim SOLDIERs don’t need as many calories as the average person (liar). Since the party is normally on the road, resting at a local Inn or camping outside under the stars, Cloud will eat just about anything put in front of him regardless if he likes it or not.

He does however have a fondness for homemade cooking, especially his Mother’s Stew and whatever Tifa can whip up.

4. DOES YOUR MUSE HAVE A GOOD SINGING VOICE?

No. Cloud doesn’t speak very often and when he does it’s delivered in this same tone that’s blunt and straight to the point. He hasn’t exercised his vocals cords enough to get any real range out of them.

5. DOES YOUR MUSE HAVE ANY BAD HABITS OR NERVOUS TICKS?

He crosses his arms when he’s feeling defensive and occassionally taps his foot when idle for too long. If he fails to come up with a witty comeback then he does this adorable pout and go “hmph!” (Does that count?)

6. WHAT DOES YOUR MUSE USUALLY LOOK LIKE / WEAR?

Cloud spends most of the game wearing whatever he has on hand, which is either his old infantryman uniform in Crisis Core or the SOLDIER uniform gifted to him by Zack. Advent Children is when we see Cloud actually wearing what he wants; all black outfits with many belts and wolf patterns, and an unnecessary half-skirt that matches Tifa’s own garb. 

7. IS YOUR MUSE AFFECTIONATE?  HOW MUCH?  HOW SO?

Cloud does not show affection in the traditional way. The lack of social skills he learned as a kid and the trauma he suffured in Hojo’s lab have emotionally stunted him. This is best illustrated in FF7R when Tifa breaks down in front of Cloud in Aerith’s garden and Cloud doesn’t know how to help, so he mimics what he saw Barret do for Tifa when the plate fell, he hugs her. This gesture doesn’t come naturally to Cloud and he sorta ruins it by hugging her too tightly.

Instead, Cloud shows affection by caring for the physical well-being of his loved ones. He offers Tifa advice like a coach would, he steps between Barret and a possible threat, goads NPCs into making better life choices, goes along on Jessie’s side quest, and in the case of Aerith, he doesn’t stop to consider how ridiculous it is to offer to walk her back home after she just went through the trouble of escorting him to Sector 7 in the first place.

Cloud acts tough but has proven that he will drop everything if someone needs help. He’s kinda like your dad, isn’t too good with the emotional support stuff, but great at doing these small acts of kindness that make your day slightly less shitty.

8. WHAT POSITION DOES YOUR MUSE SLEEP IN?

He’ll initially sleep on his back but at some point in the night curl up on his side. Sometime he’ll even fall sleeping sitting up with one leg drawn to his chest.

9. COULD YOU HEAR YOUR MUSE IN THE HALLWAY FROM ANOTHER ROOM?

Cloud has been proven to be quite stealthy, despite what the giant hunk of steel on his back would have you believe.

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Beautiful.

Would do anything for this baby

Many sacrificed all for the King, so must the King sacrifice himself for all.