#barret needs a hug

[olebeans]

i dunno why it took me so long to play, but i'm absolutely loving the final fantasy vii remake

#never played the original #but gOD #i'm cryin' #it's so good #barret needs a hug #handwritten scrawl

[eufezco]

THE GRIEF OF LOSING EDDIE MUNSON

Steve Harrington x Byers!Fem!Reader, because I need to make everything about Steve sorry.

A/N: Listen to Glimpse of us by Joji, Fourth of July by Sufjan Stevens and Die first by Nessa Barret for the full experience. Once again, english isn't my first language<3

Tw: self harm, panic attacks, not eating. I've seen a lot of people having such a strong reactions to Eddie's death and this is super angsty so be careful reading it please.

The door of your room was closed. It was closed most of the day, the only person who dared to open it was your mother to check up on you. Every now and then. She would leave it open, pretending to forget about closing it after going out of your room so she could have an eye on you. But that day you decided to keep it open yourself.

Someone knocked on the door of the house. Joyce being the one opening it to find Steve with a half-smile on his face. She hugged him before letting him inside.

—How is she doing? —The boy asked your mom, her replying with a grimace, pointing at your open door with her head. Steve blinked, nodding. That's good, he thought.

Steve went to the living room where El, Will and Jonathan were having breakfast, Hopper was sitting on the couch watching the TV. Steve said good morning to all of them and sat at the table with your siblings.

Joyce asked him if he had already had breakfast to which Steve answered by nodding his head and thanking her for worrying. Will showed him his new drawings and El talked about something he wished he could've paid attention to, but his fingers were tapping nervously on the table as his eyes escaped from El to the door of your room. He'd been doing it every day since everything ended. He'd usually wait for you there, sitting with your siblings, but today you were taking especially long.

—Should we go and see if she's okay?

Steve nodded and got up from the bed as soon as Will asked, the other three doing the same and following him. Jonathan, Will, El and Steve stood outside of your room, you not noticing them thanks to you wearing your headphones and being with your back turned to the door as you were busy drawing something.

Steve and Jonathan shared a glimpse.

—Is she okay? —El asked. You never used headphones, your music was always rumbling through the house.

—I think she's going through grief —. Steve stated.

El and Will were confused. —What's that? —El asked Steve.

—It's when- It's when you try to process the loss of someone.

The girl nodded, understanding what Steve was saying. Will had a worried expression on his face while Jonathan looked at you with sad eyes.

—And what do we need to do? How can we help her?

Steve kept looking at you while Will looked at him, El waiting for an answer. Both, Steve and Jonathan knew there wasn't much to do for you. —Just be there for her —. Jonathan answered her for Steve.

DENIAL

"Hi, y/n." The four of them decided that it would be better if only one of them went to talk to you. El and Will voted for that person to be Steve while Jonathan voted for Will and Steve voted for himself. Steve tapped softly on your shoulder, making you turn around, startled because you weren't expecting anyone to find out it was Steve who interrupted your thoughts. You said hi back to him as he threw a glimpse at what you were drawing. Steve talked to you, you only responding him with quiet hums.

"Are you ok-?" He finally asked.

"I'm fine." You replied to Steve and immediately after, you put your headphones back on. He stood there, behind you, for a couple of seconds deciding what he should do; you definitely weren't feeling like talking nor spending time with him or with anyone, but he didn't want to leave you. That day he did leave, but that didn't happen ever again.

You spent most of the day drawing, writing, or reading, your headphones never leaving your ears. Steve brought you some of his tapes and he bought new ones for you of artists he knew you liked. El would sneak into your room and just watch you as you painted and sometimes Will would too to draw with you. You couldn't feel anything, not sadness, not happiness, as if there was a hole in your chest that absorbed every emotion not giving your brain enough time to process them before they were gone. You were numb to everything around you; seeing Steve walk into your room made you feel nothing, you couldn't be proud as you used to be when Will showed you one of his new works, and neither you could feel the sadness after losing your best friend. You just were certain that something like that couldn't have happened to him. If Will survived one week alone in the Upside Down, Eddie could too.

"We need to go back." You went to the kitchen where Steve was helping Hopper to cook. There were only the three of you in the house, Joyce and Jonathan were at work but it wouldn't be long before they got home, and El and Will were hanging out with Mike. Steve cleaned his hands and turned around to listen to you, Hopper watching out the pasta for him. "We need to go back to the Upside Down." Steve's body tensed, Hopper stopped mixing the pasta with the tomato sauce. "I've been thinking and- Will was 12 when he spent a whole week alone in the Upside Down and survived, and those bats bit you too and you are alive. Eddie-" Steve shook his head softly, pressing his lips together. "Y/n." Steve cut you off in the softest way he could. Hopper looked at the boy who just finished sharing with him what Dustin told him about Eddie. "We can figure out how to open the gate again. I'm- I'm not asking any of you to go, I'll do it. I'll go and find him."

Steve licked his lips. "That's not possible, y/n."

"You don't understand, I have to find him." Your hands shook, Steve noticing and approaching you. Hopper turned around to see where the boy was going. "I have to save him, Steve." You started crying, your hands covering your face as you used Steve's chest to hide. "He's there alone and he has to be very scared." You sobbed, him wrapping his hands around your body, his chin resting on the top of your head. Hopper approached you both and laid one of his hands on your head. "He hates being alone. He has to be so scared, Steve, please, we need to find him." As he said, Steve knew that wasn't possible and he let you know in the less hurtful way, by not answering you. You begged Steve to help you go back to the Upside Down, his heart breaking into million pieces knowing he couldn't do anything for you and holding back his tears as he heard your desperate sobs trying to get Eddie back.

ANGER

Steve was holding you between his arms as you tried to escape his grip. You had already broken some of the polaroids you had with Eddie on the wall above your desk, the pieces lying on the floor as you tried to go and rip the ones that were still stuck to the wall. Your breathing was fast, your eyes with tears of rage and your body shook violently against Steve's arms. You finally gave up, if it hadn't been because Steve was holding onto you, you would've fallen defeated to the floor. Your head down as you sobbed, your whole body finally relaxing as Steve could loose his arms around you a little bit, still holding you so you won't fall. He gave you a minute as you tried to catch your breath and his eyes were locked on the ripped pictures, Steve let out a sigh because he knew you were definitely gonna regret this later.

"He was a fucking coward. He let himself die because of this stupid town as if he owned this place anything when everyone, literally everyone, thinks he is a murderer. You know what he was, huh? A fucking idiot and he died like one." Steve had to hear things like this every day, knowing you didn't mean it and that it was your trauma talking, not you. After realizing what you just say, you would start crying while mumbling 'I didn't mean it', Steve caressing your back and reassuring you that he knew you didn't.

Joyce had to pick up the pieces of your broken drawings, you destroyed every piece of art you created during your denial stage; ripping the papers and making holes in your canvases. Steve asked her if he could keep them and Joyce gave him each of the small pieces of paper that she collected. Steve repaired your photos with Eddie, using glue and tape to get the pieces together. He kept them in his room, waiting patiently to return them to you. He managed to perfectly repair four of them: you and Eddie posing for the camera with your Hellfire t-shirts, a big smile on your face as Eddie leaned his head on your shoulder. You didn't play D&D but Eddie insisted on you having your own Hellfire t-shirt. Two of them were pictures of Eddie, him lying in a flower field when you both went to that picnic last spring, his hair tangling with the flowers, and another one of him playing his guitar in one of his concerts. The fourth one was taken by Eddie's tattoo artist when he let you use the tattoo pen to color the bats’ tattoo on his arm. You were focused and worried at the same time that you were hurting him, but Eddie was admiring you as you worked on his new tattoo, the shine in his eyes visible in the picture being evidence of what kind of friendship you two had. For the rest of the photos, Steve did the best he could, but some of the pieces were too small to get them together or to even identify what they were.

The relationship between Jonathan and Steve got worse if possible. They only worked hand to hand when it was about you, the rest of the day they'd ignore each other for good. Jonathan hated to see Steve every day at home but he never said anything because he knew that he did not only help you but Joyce and his family too. Jonathan didn't like Steve, not only because he was his girlfriend's ex but now also because he was trying to get with his little sister. It was probably you transmitting your bad mood to them, which they never blamed you for, what caused them almost getting into a fight in the living room. Apparently, Steve heard Jonathan telling that long-haired friend of his how, not so deep down, Steve was still the same person he was three years ago. Steve wouldn't have cared about what Jonathan had to say about him, but you being depressed and your brother assuming that Steve was using you made him snap. Hopper had to step in the middle of the two boys, and Joyce had to call them both out.

Your jaw hurt, it was clenched most of the day and in the palm of your hands were bruises of half-moons because of your nails digging into your skin when you closed your fists. Steve took care of them, asking Joyce for bandages to cover that part of your hand so when you sunk your nails there, you wouldn't hurt yourself. Sometimes you would puke from all the anger you were keeping inside, Jonathan with a hand on your forehead and the other one holding your hair, and Steve waiting with water and a wet towel to clean your face. Then the embarrassment and the frustration would hit you at the same time, leaving you sitting down on the floor of the bathroom for hours, with your back against the door and your head on your knees as you hugged them to your chest. Steve and Jonathan were sitting there with you, looking at you and then looking at each other, their eyes finally locking on the floor as they listened to you cry.

BARGAINING

What if you've never met Eddie? What if you never introduced him and Dustin? What if you had gone with him to the Upside Down instead of going with Max and Lucas to the Creel House? You coudn't save Max and you couldn't save Eddie either. You were so ashamed of yourself, you felt like a failiure. You should've gone to California with your family, if you wouldn't have stayed in Hawkins, Eddie would be alive now. You would've probably distanced yourselves and now he would be living his life, playing D&D and giving concerts. The anger mixed with the sadness and you finally felt like talking with someone about Eddie.

"I should've gone to the Upside Down." You were sitting in your bed, your knees against your chest. Steve was sitting on the floor of your room, his back against the wall right in front of your bed and reading one of the books you recommended him a long time ago. His eyes laid on you when you spoke. You didn't tell him but Steve guessed that those thoughts were going through your head. "It should've been me who-" Steve cut you off. "No. Don't say that." Steve left the book on the floor and went to sit next to you, his gaze trying to find yours but your eyes were lost. "It should have been none of us." Steve tried to comfort you. He threw one of his hands over your shoulder, making you lay your head on his chest. You didn't complain, letting Steve's soft-touch snuggle you to his chest. There was a moment of silence before Steve spoke again. "Dustin asks all the time about you." You sat up, your eyes wide open. You've been so self-centered in your pain that you didn't even think about Dustin.

Steve drove you to the Hawkins High Gym where he knew you would find Dustin. During the drive, he told you that Dustin spent his days there since the supposed earthquake hit Hawkins, helping the people affected by it and giving them comfort. You knew the boy would be doing a good job. "If you want to leave at any moment, just let me know." You nodded, thinking twice about going into the gym. Steve waited with you there until you felt ready, his hands on his pockets as he already saw his friend through the windows, handing bottles of water and limping as he walked. Everything was a mess when you decided to go inside the gym. Even though some time has passed, people were still hurt, homeless and they'd probably lost everything. You saw Robin from the distance, she was talking with that girl she fancied and when she saw you too, she greeted you with a small smile, glad to see you again. Steve was by your side when Dustin noticed you had walked into the gym, him giving you the soft push you needed in the lower part of your back to approach the boy.

Dustin was limping, he later told you it was because of the fall when he went back to the Upside Down. You sat in an empty bed so you both could talk. Steve left you alone with Dustin, a young woman telling him he could help by folding clothes. The boy told you he had been helping there, what happened to his leg, and that Mr. Munson had been asking for you every day. You felt guilty, for not having talked to Dustin before and for not having, at least, called Eddie's uncle. Dustin's voice broke when he talked about Eddie, trying to comfort you somehow by telling you Eddie died like a hero. You also felt guilty for that. Dustin was there when Eddie died, he literally saw him dying in front of his eyes, yet there he was, consoling you. He stopped talking when he saw Mr. Munson entering the gym. You and Dustin got up, the old man quickly lying his eyes on you. He approached you, asked how had you been. You tried to not answer him by just using monosyllables but you felt like if you said anything else you'd start crying. When Mr. Munson was about to leave, he started digging in the pocket of his jacket.

Eddie's uncle handed you the guitar pick Dustin gave him.

"Mr. Munson, I can't. He was your nephew-"

"And you were his person. I'm sure Eddie would want you to have it." The necklace with his pick fell into the palm of your hand, feeling heavier than it should as your eyes filled with tears, but you did not get to cry in front of them. You apologize to Eddie's uncle for not being by Eddie's side when the earthquake happened, for not having made him see that this stupid town was not worth giving his life for. At least you now knew that he was not alone when he died which supposed a strong relief for your soul as you watched Dustin break down when he told you. But you didn't shed a tear, not in front of them. In the middle of this, some asshole from the basketball team you assumed, painted a pentagram and some horns and a tail on Eddie's poster. Mr. Munson was already taking out of his backpack another one to change the ruined poster. "May I?" You asked him. The man looking at you with sadness in his eyes as he nodded.

You knew the poster won't help. That as much as the cops looked for Eddie, they would never find him. But at least, with that poster there, they won't forget about him.

Dustin continued crying, the kid sobbing as you both looked at Eddie's photo on the poster. All you've ever dream about and planned with him was gone. You bit your lower lip when the first tears finally rolled down your cheek. You placed your hand on Dustin's head getting him closer to you as the boy wrapped his hands around you too.

It was the first time after Eddie's death that you were hugging someone and not being hugged.

DEPRESSION

Steve, Joyce, and Jonathan changed their whole work schedule after planning it thoroughly for you to not be alone at any time. You cried of sadness for the first time since Eddie died and you didn't stop for a pretty long time, your eyes getting a permanent shade of red. Your sobs could be heard throughout the house at night, Jim's light sleep making him walk to your room to find you curled up in your bed, almost choking on your tears and snots. "Come on, y/n." Hopper helped you to sit up on your bed, you being barely capable of keeping that posture for yourself. Jim took a tissue from your nightstand and blew your nose, and using his thumbs he wiped your tears. "We're gonna try to sleep, okay?" He sat on your bed with his back against the wall and hugged you against his chest, and using his hands, he caressed your hair and kept you close. "I miss him." You said between sobs. Hopper let out a sigh, hating to see you go through this while his big hand still working on your hair. "I know you do."

Steve always tried to have small gestures with you like buying you your favorite flowers and placing them in a vase next to your bed where you spent most of the day, renting movies for you in case you felt like watching one which never happened, cleaning your room. He just wanted to show you that life was still worthy of living. You hardly ate, not even your favorite dish whetted your appetite anymore, you would just sit at the table with your family, staring at the food on your plate. The feeling of emptiness never left, it was always there like some type of shadow that followed you everywhere. Sometimes that shadow was nice to you, letting you cry to sleep in between Steve's arms playing in your mind the happiest memories you had with Eddie, like watching him win his first D&D game, when he let you braid his hair, the joy on his face as he watched you try to play his guitar... But other times the shadow was mean, fastening your breath to the point you felt dizzy, drying your mouth and throat and making you feel helpless, like not even Joyce soothing words were useful anymore, not even Jonathan sneaking into your room and grabbing your hand as you cried your eyes out and not even Steve hugging you at night could replace the void that Eddie left in you.

Life was meaningless without him.

You were gonna graduate together. You were gonna walk that stage and snatch that diploma together. You were gonna live together, go to the beachside. He was gonna walk you down the aisle by the time you married and he was going to be the godfather of your children. He was going to be the cool uncle, the one that would buy them ice cream on the sly before having dinner, the one buying them their first guitar and teaching them how to play D&D. He was going to be the person you would entrust your children in case something happened to you and your husband. And now all of that was gone. You couldn't even think of a life without him. Like his uncle said, you were his person and Eddie was yours.

ACCEPTANCE

You had your first shower last night, you brushed your teeth, and had a proper dinner. Your mom kissing your forehead and Hopper lying his hand on your shoulder, both of them letting you know how proud they were of you. Now you were in front of your wardrobe, the bright colors of your spring clothes looking especially annoying to you.

You chose the long skirt he always laughed at. It was pink and he said you looked like a cupcake and that it hurt his eyes because it was 'awfully pink'. You also picked a white t-shirt, putting it on and inside of the skirt, you looked in the mirror. Your chest going up and down at a fast pace as you could see him lucidly behind you, teasing you by playing with your skirt. It was fun how when you wore that outfit, you looked like completly polar opposites.

"My baby. You are so pretty." Joyce fixed your hair and grabbed both of your cheeks to kiss your forehead, Hopper behind her showing you a big warm smile, agreeing with what Joyce was saying. Steve got up from the sofa the moment you went out of your room, his eyes never shone so brightly like they did when he looked at you. He had this expression of amazement on his face, you caught him looking at you from up to down, which was pretty intimidating you might say, to finally let out a 'woah' that made your cheeks and ears grow hot. Steve approached you, wrapping one of his arm around your waist and kissing your cheek. "You look beautiful." You showed him a little smile. "You do to." You murmured and melting under his hand holding your waist. "Okay, lovebirds. If you need anything, call me. I want her back at 10 pm." Joyce nudged Hopper in his ribs, shaking her head at Steve. "Don't listen to him. Just take care of her, okay?" Steve nodded showing a comforting smile to your mom that made her know that you would be fine with him. You hugged Joyce and Jim one last time. "Shall we go?" You nodded. Steve took your hand as you walked out of your house to his car.

Steve drove out of Hawkins, to the next town where he knew there was a fair taking place and where he made a reservation in the fanciest restaurant he could afford. He took you on the most idyllic date ever as he promised when he confessed his feelings for you before going to fight Vecna. Every time that he made you laugh during dinner, that you showed him that timid smile of yours, that he saw you eating, something inside his chest tickled. After all you've been through together, he still got nervous when your fingers brushed as you walked, you finally making the move and grabbing his hand, your fingers intertwining as he caressed your hand with his thumb. The fair was the loudest place you've ever been in months, the music rumbled inside your chest. Steve got you a big pink cotton candy that you ate while you watched him trying to win a teddy bear for you. You giggled at his defeated face when he didn't get it, assuring him that he did great and awarding his efforts by giving him a piece of your cotton candy and a quick peck on his lips that made Steve almost fall to his knees.

"Wait, are you leaving?" You asked confused when Steve was about to turn around after walking you to the door of your house. "Mmm... yeah." Steve put his hands inside his jeans pockets. "I don't think I can sleep without you." You confessed hugging yourself.

"Well, you've got a big day coming tomorrow. We should not take the risk of you not sleeping." You giggled.

Your graduation day finally came. You woke up that day feeling empty again, angry because you thought that sensation was gone. You escaped to the bathroom to cry before Steve opened his eyes. This was supposed to be your day. Eddie's and yours. But now you had to do it for both of you. Not only getting that diploma but also learning how to live with the emptiness. You had a shower, the hot water burning your shoulders as you tried to stop crying, but the sound of the water hitting the bathtub made it so easy to hide your sobs. Your gown was too big and you didn't like the cap, as El said, it made you look like a gnome but Steve thought you looked cute. He drove you, El, and Will to the high school, it was almost offensive how they managed to plan a whole graduation after all of this. Your mom had tears in her eyes during the whole ceremony and so you did; Joyce was so proud of her little girl graduating and you were so sad about doing it alone. As the principal gave his speech, you noticed how many empty chairs were around you, one for each of the dead and disappeared students. One of those chairs was right next to you, your eyes staring at the empty seat for a couple of seconds. They ended up focusing on the director's words again to not think about who should be sitting there. "Look at you. That gown is so ridiculous." You could hear his laugh, you could also see him from the corner of your eyes sitting next to you. Your breathing quickened, he felt so real. "You're wearing my pick." Eddie pointed out. You did, the little dark piece hanging from your neck in contrast with the bright color of your gown. "I miss you." You murmured, your eyes getting glossy with tears. "I can't do this without you, Eddie." Your voice could not be heard not even by you, your lips were moving without emitting any sound. "Of course you can. You'll learn how to." Tears started rolling down your cheeks, you thanked you were wearing no makeup. "I miss you too." Eddie confessed when he didn't receive an answer. "We didn't get to say our goodbyes."

"You weren't supposed to leave me." You mumbled between sobs. You caught the attention of the girl that was sitting behind you, she asked you if you were okay and offered you a tissue. You nodded and denied her offer by showing her a little smile. "I didn't run, y/n. I didn't run that time." Eddie sounded proud of himself. You bit your lip down. "Look, this is what you're gonna do. You're gonna snatch that diploma and your gonna live. For us. And I'm not leaving you, not now and not never. I'd be right next to you every day of your life, watching after you. You can consider me your guardian angel if you'd like but I don't think I'm getting any close to heaven." He let out a giggle. "You've been the greatest life partner I could've ever asked for. Please, live y/n." And then he disappeared. You turned your head to look at the chair next to you, empty again, when a gust of wind blew, it was soft, refreshing, it soothingly caressed your wet cheeks and it smelled like him.

You started doing what he said. The walk to get your diploma felt so long as you battled with your knees for them to not give up. Joyce and Hopper got up from their seats, their hands applauding at a scandalously fast pace, and Jonathan taking pictures of you with his best camera. You also could hear Steve's cheers from there, his hands on both sides of his mouth to project his voice louder. El and Will were also clapping their hands, big smiles on their faces. You took the guitar pick on your necklace and placed a kiss on the small object.

"This is for you, Eddie."

#stranger things #stranger things fluff #stranger things smut #stranger things angst #stranger things x reader #stranger things headcanons #stranger things imagine #eddie munson #eddie munson fluff #eddie munson smut #eddie munson angst #eddie munson x reader #eddie munson headcanons #eddie munson imagine #steve harrington #steve harrington fluff #steve harrington smut #steve harrington angst #steve harrington x reader #steve harrington headcanon #steve harrington imagine #jonathan byers fluff

[spinshiki]

CANON DATE FFVII REBIRTH (only for those who support Aerith) - no flames

Dont like dont read, dont start a war

I make this video below, took couple of days to finish it. I want to know if Tifa is canon, but no. AERITH is the one who is always canon.

Reason:

- FFVII Rebirth Ultimania, check it out guys! In Tifa section, the canon image showed they hugged NOT kiss. Also Nojima stated that not all dates have connection to canon story

- Rosa is always Aerith in Aerith, Barret, Red XIII, even Cid Cait Sith Vincent's date

- NPTK is for cloud. Regardless what Nojima or creator said, in NPTK Aerith date she looks at Cloud last time after singing to show that the song is for him. Why isnt she doing the same in other dates if NPTK is for all party members/plural?

- At Aerith's date NPTK song, she looks at cloud atleast 3 times. Other NPTK song, at the end she never looked at cloud and others. But cloud date is

- Her date is the only one whose connected to story after and only makes sense if they dated.

- The petals in NPTK flew, and only in her date it landed on Cloud

- Barret and Red XIII also mentioned about Aerith in their skywheel date. Many said that Barret talked about Tifa, but for Aerith it makes the most sense since hes going to lose her

- Rosa role is for Aerith, look at her staff and princess demeanor. Cait said that shes indomitable princess, the same phrase also in their costa del sol date

- No promises in LOVELESS is mirror to NPTK, makes no sense if Tifa and Yuffie is the one in it

- Alphreid protected Rosa is a mirror to Cloud and Aerith, no one else (he never protected Yuffie that way, also Tifa?) Also Rosa rescued Alphreid is a mirror to Clouds sentence: She rescue me, I rescue her, and on and on it goes or something like that

- Alphreid Cloud & Rosa Aerith is Jessie & Guy in Blue cape of loveless. See the hair resemblance?

Need to add more? 😂

#clerith #need to be fuming in shipping war #why they tell NPTK IS ABOUT ZACKK??? #the truth about date #cloud x aerith #dont want start war with other shippers beside clerith

[salternateunreality2]

Snippets from a Zack Lives AU - Fighting Sephiroth + Zakkura + The Fairs

From the @strayheartless archives <3

---

Aerith and Tifa are especially concerned about both of them. They’re so different from Before and so codependent. Zack can’t walk away from Cloud for more than a few minutes because he’s afraid he’ll fall into a coma again, and Cloud can’t leave Zack for fear that he’ll run off and die.

Zack’s lost a lot of his bouncy puppy energy and replaced it with being on edge and very sharp. Cloud’s lost the sparkle in his eyes and his natural inner spite has turned into a simmering, fear-fueled rage that is ready to burst into a volcano at any moment. Their heroic dreams have changed from “wanting to be a hero” to “refusing to let anyone else they love die”.

—

Mrs. Fair pinching Cloud's cheek while they do the dishes together, telling him to call her Ma.

He freezes.

Zack is aware in an instant, ready to intervene, but doesn’t make it over before Cloud reaches out to Ma Fair, arms asking for a hug. She coos and grabs him, rocking him and holding him so, so tight. He's inconsolable, he misses his Ma so much.

Mrs. Fair is Cloud’s height, so he gets to feel like a little tween again. She rubs behind his ear, the back of his neck, and up and down his back soothingly. His hands dig into her back like claws; she'll have bruises later, but she doesn't care. She knows he doesn't mean it.

Mr. Fair adopts him too, which is hella weird for Cloud, since he's never had a dad. But they get along well enough--Mr. Fair is related to Zack after all.

Mr. Fair is delighted once he realizes that Cloud has the interest and focus for machine work; Zack had interest off and on, but it never lasted, and he never had the focus. Cue many hours of Mr. Fair chattering away while Cloud hums along, or they both work in silence, or sing, while Mrs. Fair and Zack zip around doing other things together very loudly.

The Fairs playing with their new son:

—

They get to Puppet Time with Seph and Zack figures out he can connect to Cloud through his own S-cells, and fights back mentally on Cloud's behalf until he can regain his footing.

Barret doesn’t know what the FUCK is happening, but takes one look at Aerith's pleading face, shakes his head to get rid of the thought of how stupid his next action is going to be, and dives in the deep end to fight SEPHIROTH physically, while Aerith guards the boys, one of whom is screaming in pain and the other of whom is roaring like a lion, both on their knees.

—

Zack and Cloud both get sick and need help from Aerti in the lifestream.

Aerith: Oh hell no, I'm not going to lose you again, Zack Fair!

The girls find them wrapped around each other, melting together into one person in an effort to protect each other, and have to pull them apart in a super painful but necessary way.

#ff7 #zack fair #cloud strife #zakkura #the fair family

[blossom-adventures]

Kupo Con: Pom2, London, 15th & 16th September 2023

Where do I even begin! What a weekend!

Long story under the cut, because I need to tell you everything 😆

Starting off on Friday the 15th, we drove down to our hotel in Watford, which allowed us to get a train into London for Pre-Reg, which was available for Patreons of KupoCon, to get our tickets.

A lot of people were there and I probably knew half of them, or more, from the Discord Server but I was too nervous and shy to go over and say hello. Until I saw the only one I’d met previously, I went over and said hello! She then introduced me to one of the other people there, the cosplayer who won the “People’s Choice” Cosplay award last Kupo and who has been incredibly supportive of me every time I’ve shared progress on Discord and our meeting went like this… (using initials for privacy ☺️)

L: “Hey R this is P, from the discord!”

R: “Are you Blossom!?”

P: “Yes!”

R gives me a big hug

I spent a while talking with him and I think we became fast friends, I felt like I’d known him for ages! (Technically kind of had, because we’ve been talking in the discord) and I was really nervous but he was so lovely and made it so easy to talk to him!

Then, because of train times, we had to leave, but I’d met several of the other cosplayers (mainly Clives… no joke! I met 3 all at the same time!) and I was absolutely buzzing for the main event!

Saturday the 16th, the main event! Me and my mum got to the venue just as the doors opened, within 10mins I was in an elevator with a Noctis cosplayer, who jokingly asked if they’d survive this elevator ride! 😆 I then had a Sephiroth comment on my cosplay as I walked past

I met up with R because I knew how excited he was to see my cosplay, we had another hug (as much as we both could manage anyway; I was in a tight black coat and he was in full Clive cosplay) and he went off to support his friend who was dressed as FFXs Ifrit!

While waiting for the Opening Ceremony to start, I got given my first Masquerade Token! I was beside myself with excitement! I couldn’t believe it!

The Opening Ceremony was so fun! I met a friend who I’ve known online since December, which was amazing!

And then the Cosplay Parade happened! John Bentley (Barret FFVIIR) and Liam Mulvey (Libertus FFXV Kingsglaive) were presenting it, they were both so enthusiastic about it! I was really nervous because I was stepping up onto a stage in front of a lot of people, but I did it, and Liam’s reaction was priceless!

Then we went on our way, wandering the stalls and doing quests. Every time I passed R and his group, he checked in with me, to make sure I was ok and having a good time, which I really appreciated as it was my first Kupo and Cosplay.

Then I joined the queue to meet Liam… I said hello and gave him a print of a commission I’d had done earlier in the year and then he signed my own copy of the print… and then he gave me a Masquerade Token and I was lost for words! Because I didn’t realise the guests would also have tokens!

Riding that high, I decided to join the queue to meet John. And WOW! That man is amazing! He’s so lovely and excited and genuinely loves the community! Once he’d signed my print we went to get a picture, and he complimented me on my cosplay, when I said it was my first one, he was amazed! So he told his wife (who was holding my phone to take the picture for me) to video a message, which is of him saying how awesome my cosplay was, then he gave me another Token! I couldn’t believe it! I excitedly told R what had happened and he said how amazing that was too!

By the end of the day and the start of the Closing Ceremony I had been given 9 Tokens! I had been saying in the Discord Server that 1 or 2 would be amazing! But I got 9!!!

I stayed with R for the Closing Ceremony, chatting and laughing, someone he knew from a past event complimented me on my cosplay, which R instantly agreed with, he was so supportive of everything and I will always be grateful for that

Both the “People’s Choice” and “Staff Choice” award was won by a cosplayer who made, and was operating, Hell House from FFVII which was a much deserved win.

It was at the end of the Closing Ceremony that I got a selfie with Ben, I’d spoke to him briefly earlier, after his panel, saying that I was hoping to get into the queue to meet him properly, to which he replied “Ok, Ardyn!”

But looking at the line to meet him I knew I would miss the opportunity, so as he returned to finish off the signings that were waiting for him I asked if I could grab a selfie, and he said yes, as he ran off to his table he said how good my cosplay was too.

I went over to Liam and John to thank them once again for the Tokens they gave me, and how much they meant to me, they both responded with similar things; that it was deserved!

Feeling the lump in my throat from the emotions those compliments caused, I went over and said goodbye to R, knowing I’d likely not see him again face to face until February for the Birmingham KupoCon, I managed to keep it together until I got back to my mum, I started crying shortly after!

Please! If anyone has read this far who is a Final Fantasy fan I couldn’t recommend Kupo more! It was amazing! I’ve never felt so welcomed and included at a convention before and everyone I met was lovely and supportive

Next stop for me is Birmingham in February, until then… “Walk Tall, My Friends”

#blossom rambles #final fantasy #kupocon #cosplay

[fangbangerghoul]

Snippet Sunday!

It is currently 12:07 AM EST and I am going ahead and post this bad boy, so I don't have to worry about it later!

This week has been full of lots of changes and honestly it has helped motivate me to write chapter 9 of Fleeting Pleasures a lot! I cannot believe I am on the second to last chapter of this long fic. It's blowing my mind.

Under the cut will be a portion of Sam Coe's POV after the events of Chapter 8 (which I highly suggest you read to understand the context!)

I am going to go ahead and tag my writers crew (if I didn't catch you, please let me know so I can add you!):

@bearlytolerant @silurisanguine @eridanidreams @a-cosmic-elf @staticpallour @toxiclizardwrites @therealgchu @5oh5 @booburry @atonalginger @aislingdmdt @thatsgoodsquishy0 @spookyspecterino @lisa-and-shadow @samcoesclub

Chapter 9: bad decisions

Snippet of Sam's POV:

He heard a knock on the bathroom and it pushed him out the sinkhole of his thoughts. Whenever he thought about it he would run himself in circles and ride a rollercoaster of emotions that always finished with a new kind of despair he wasn’t used to. 

“I’m coming out.” He grumbled, throwing his toothbrush back into the cup that was on the sink and took one last minute to splash cold water on his face. Something to shock his system back to normal. Sam reached to grab the door, ignoring the glimpse of his dull blue eyes in the mirror and when the wood door opened, Barrette was on the other side. He gave his usual awkward grin and did a small wave. 

“Good morning, Sam! Have you been sleeping better since Noel gave you that herbal tea to try?” He asked so casually about a subject Sam had never remembered mentioning to him. Normally he would have shrugged it off but this time it irked him in particular. The members of Constellation were more prone to talk to him in soft voices or speak about his business more openly when he wasn’t around. It made his skin crawl.  

“No.” Sam said plainly, staring Barret down for a moment before relaxing his shoulders. He was trying to get comfortable around those he considered family again. However the transition from consistently raiding and interrogating Crimson Fleet members to having normal mundane conversation was an adjustment. “Good morning though.” 

Sam walked past him, careful not to bump into Barrett as he walked by. He didn’t like it when someone brushed against his left side even after the wound had fully healed. Sam also didn’t like to think about that fact so he just kept on moving. He was ready to eat. 

On his way to the eating area he stopped by his room one more time to grab a mahogany robe to wrap around his loose white tee and baggy gray sweatpants. The elastic sometimes didn’t stay around his hips and would occasionally sag so in order to protect everyone around him from seeing the moon so early in the day he liked to wear his robe. His slippers dragged a bit as he walked like he was taking a sunday stroll through a park. Sam was never in a hurry to get anywhere, to do anything really. 

“Dad!” He heard the young squeak of his daughter from around the corner and Cora ran up to him and hugged him tight. He winced instinctively but tried to catch himself so she wouldn’t think she hurt him. Her curls were bouncing and wild and the smile on her face was brighter than any star he had seen in a long while. Seeing Cora always gave him a little bit of his life back especially after being separated from her for as long as they were. 

“Hey sweet pea.” He rubbed her back gently in the embrace and kept his arm around her as he led them forward. “What are you doing up so early?”

“Dad it’s noon.” 

“Oh, what are you doing up so late then?” He smiled at her teasingly.  

“Daaaad.” She said in protest as she pushed herself away from him gently. “Were you going to come to the meeting later today?”

“Meeting?” He was puzzled at her question. Sam didn’t know of any meeting, not one that needed to involve him. 

“Ms. Morgan was talking to Walter earlier and I heard them say when Andreja and Vlad arrive they were going to have a discussion.” Cora said with a bit of concern in her tone. Sam knew if she had heard that much then she was all too aware that the meeting was about Ghoul. 

“Is that so?” He asked with a cool tone trying not to give away any concern he may have felt. He still didn’t have the heart to tell Cora that Ghoul did this to him. Even though the other’s had continued their recent pattern of talking about his well being behind his back he figured how much further would that subject be? 

“Yeah! Dad, what are you eating for late breakfast?”

“Cheese pizza, if you are asking.” He said with a sly smirk.

#starfield #sam coe #starfield fanfiction #coemancer #sam coe fanfiction #starfield fanfic #fang writes #snippet sunday #cora coe

[dinoace2]

Little Matchmaker

Brief barret x reader fic because my man deserves love and yall are cowards

Post ff7, i...don't think there are any spoilers? Wholesome stuff because I felt like it, ~1.1k words, reader's a she

(A/N: is this how second person works? This is a first attempt)

~~~~

You joined Cloud and his friends on their journey to save Gaia, and after the fact, it didn't hurt to keep in touch. You helped out at the renovated Seventh Heaven when you could, and, oddly enough, you found yourself drawing closer to the young Marlene.

She was adorable, and so innocent and sweet. Although shy at first, she opened up more and more with each passing day. Nowadays, she practically considered you family.

Each time you came back to the bar, every day that you finished whatever odd job you took on, Marlene was the first to greet you. With a giggle and a smile, the girl would rush to your side, arms out for a hug. As long as you weren't completely exhausted, your standard response was to scoop her up in a big snuggle.

Unseen to you, these interactions always brought a smile to someone's face.

Barret stood leaning against a doorway, arms crossed and a gentle smile on his lips. Seeing his daughter so happy gave him a sense of ease. To him, it meant things were finally turning up. It meant that the idea of a peaceful future was more than just a fantasy. It meant that he might not have to spend his entire life fighting for change.

You were special to him, for more reasons than one.

Of course, he loved that you were a source of support and joy for his little girl, but lately he...began to think about something more.

You had spent so much time together on the road, alongside everyone else of course. Acquaintances, then allies, then friends, and now...

Now he wasn't so sure.

When did it start, that he began to notice the endearing smile on your face whenever you came by? When did he start to see the glimmer in your gorgeous eyes, a hopeful look for a bright future?

When did he realize his heart began to race in your presence?

When did he first notice that, the person he'd been traveling with, fighting alongside, and, frankly, trusting with his life on a regular basis, could perhaps be something more?

In truth, he could probably only mark it up to the fact that Marlene looked so happy when you were around.

He'd never really thought much about love or anything like that. Up til now, there was always some kind of danger or threat or something to fight for, and now that there was peace? It actually left space to think about something else.

He watched his daughter take you by the hand and lead you outside to play, and smiled as he took a seat at the bar. Tifa set a glass in front of him. "Are you ever gonna tell her?"

He looked at her, a confused look on his face as he took his glass. "Whaddaya mean?"

She chuckled. "Come on, I know you aren't totally oblivious. You light up every time she walks in here."

Barret rolled his eyes. "I dont 'light up' for anyone. I mean...'cept for Marlene." He shrugged.

Tifa only smiled. "Alright then. Do you want a refill?"

A while later, when you and Marlene finally came in for a break from your playing, you both sat at the bar, and Tifa presented both of you with a fresh glass of ice-cold lemonade.

You smiled, taking the glass with a sigh. "Thanks, Tifa. This kiddo here can race fast when she wants to...where's all that energy come from, anyway?" You ruffled the girl's hair and she giggled.

You looked at the only other guest in the building, and you waved. "How have you been, Barret?"

He couldn't help but smile at you. "Oh, i- uh. I'm doin' alright. How are you?" Tifa chuckled at his response, and he only glared back at her.

Marlene set her glass down, then walked up to Barret and put her hands on her hips. "Daddy, you need to ask Miss (y/n) on a date!"

You and Barret both choked on your drinks at the same time, attention very quickly shifting to the little girl in front of you.

Barret chuckled nervously. "Um. I. Sweetheart, where'd that even come from?"

"Well all the time you're talking about how nice and amazing and pretty she is!" She crossed her arms.

His eyes went wide. "I-, heh, i...that was supposed to be secret words, princess..." his eyes darted between you and her, almost seeming nervous.

She turned back to you. "And when we play together you always sit on the swings and gush about how great Daddy is!"

You froze. Had you really done it that much? Maybe a couple times here and there, just as a way of finding something you and her could agree on, her dad is pretty incredible after all. Perhaps it slipped your mind how often you brought it up, but...you never talked that much with her about your feelings for him....did you? Your cheeks flushed, your face felt hot. How embarrassing, to have been utterly exposed by a seven-year-old to someone you looked up to so much.

Marlene took you by the hand and walked you over, so that you stood closer to Barret than before. "You like her, and she likes you, and also I like her a lot! I think she'd be a good Mama!"

With every word she said, you were somewhere between melting out of excitement and happiness, and wanting to curl up and shrink away out of embarrassment.

Tifa looked on at the awkward display, and broke the silence with a chuckle. "Well, no arguing with that logic, huh?"

You turned to her with the most 'shut. UP!' glare in your eyes, and she only replied with a shrug and a smile.

Barret sighed and took a long breath, standing up. "Alright...uh. well..." he cleared his throat. "Um. (y/n), uh." He gestured his hand and fidgeted a bit. "Will you....uh. will..." he let out a long sigh. "....willyougoonadatewithme‐"

You paused, shocked for a moment. Barret Wallace, among the strongest men you'd ever met, reduced to nervous mumbles and shaky fidgets. That was never a sight you could have expected, but...it wasn't necessarily something you didn't find amusing.

You smiled. "Sorry, what was that? I couldn't quite hear you."

He paused, grumbled under his breath for a moment, then sighed. "I, uh. Would you...like to get dinner with me...sometime soon?"

You couldn't help but giggle, and you reached out to take his hand.

"I'd love to."

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thanks for reading! :]

#ff7 #ff7 x reader #barret wallace #barret x reader #barret x oc #barret ff7 #final fantasy vii #final fantasy 7

[onceuponalegendbg]

Something I don’t see brought up and I wonder if they’ll go into this at all in the actual game (I never played OG so I don’t know if there’s any basis for a scene like this) but Tifa also has so much bottled up guilt and anger.

I’ve been rewatching Remake stuff the scene after the plate falls and Barret is mourning and shouting and angry because he thinks his daughter and three of his friends are dead. And Tifa just walks up and is like “we did this.”

Barret of course is like “no, Shinra took it this far, they’re the ones to blame” and when he looks back at Tifa she, with no conviction, won’t even look at Barret, just says “…yeah” while her fists are clenched and shaking at her side.

This moment does not get talked about at all but it’s something I think about all the time in regards to Tifa.

Logically she knows that Shinra pulled the trigger, that they chose to escalate things to this degree, but she also knows that it was in (extreme) retaliation for what her and Avalanche had been doing. So she feels responsible. And she’s so angry because once again her home and people she loves went up in flames because of those assholes up in their lofty tower, and she couldn’t do anything. Again.

We get another fist clenched and trembling moment if you get her special cutscene at Aerith’s house but that time she actually cries (and gets a hug she desperately needed).

Tifa is a kind, compassionate soul but there’s still so much raw emotion boiling under the surface that she just… doesn’t let out enough I feel.

#spoilers #I guess #final fantasy vii remake #final fantasy vii #final fantasy 7 #ffviir #ffvii #tifa lockhart #final fantasy vii rebirth

[cloti-strifehart]

Who We Are

Title: Who We Are

Author: KristinaMarie

Chapters: 1/?

Fandom: Final Fantasy VII

Rating: M (will be E in later chapters)

Pairing: Cloud Strife/Tifa Lockhart

Summary: Cloud is racked with guilt after nearly killing Tifa under Sephiroth's influence. He carries her limp body back to the village, and as Tifa sleeps, Cloud realizes that he feels most himself when loving and protecting her. The story explores Cloud's anguish over nearly losing Tifa, his steadfast devotion to her, and his commitment to fight Sephiroth's memory to regain himself.

Read on AO3

Notes: This storyline in Rebirth is so beautifully done, I can't help but explore it more deeply. Cloud's psyche has always been so interesting to me, and I'm convinced that without Tifa, he'd become a shell of himself once again. Cloud's self-purpose started with Tifa. I think Sephiroth knows the influence Tifa has on Cloud, and the theory that he's aware of that and wants to corrupt Cloud against her to help himself succeed is so good. So, here's my imagining of how Cloud will figure it all out.

I have one more chapter in mind which will earn the E rating. I'd like to continue this, depending on how that goes and if inspiration hits. Let me know what you think! Unbeta'd.

There may be discrepancies with canon in this story. My apologies!

Tags: How i wanted it to go // The scene was perfection don't get me wrong // But why not? // Cloud Strife Needs a Hug // And to get a grip // That's where Tifa comes in // The gang just wants to help // Trauma // Angst // Guilt // Promises // Cloud tries to figure things out // Thought she was dead again // Promptly shuts down // 404 Error Cloud Not Found // Canon Rewrite // Canon Divergence - Final Fantasy VII Rebirth // rated M for now // Just barely M // Rating May Change // Will be Rated E in future chapters

______________________________________________________________

I was supposed to protect you, no matter what's to come.

Somehow forgot when they told me we hurt the ones we love.

- Friendly Fire, Linkin Park -

Sephiroth didn’t kill her. 

Liar.

I killed her.

Imposter.

I killed Tifa.

Who is she?

She’s my… she’s…

Another streak of white hot pain screams through Cloud’s temples where he sits, elbows resting on his drawn up knees.

No.  Not his temples.  Across his face, his cheekbone against the hammer that is Barrett’s fist.  Cloud takes the punch unfazed, deserving, because he did this.  He’s the reason she…

She’s dead.

Cloud killed Tifa.  He backed her up against the mako pit, swung at her with his blade.  All because he listened to him.  So sure she wasn’t who she said she was.

But it’s Cloud who’s not himself.  If he ever was.

He felt like he was, around her…

Barret roars.  Will he punch him again?  Cloud hopes so, if it’ll help. 

“Hey, get your shit together!  Tifa needs you!” 

Cloud stands with knees daring to buckle.  She said she needed me once.  Made me promise.  Each step toward the pool of mako feels like he’s trudging through cement. 

I’m no hero.  I’m not anything, anymore.

That’s it.  He’s not anything.  That’s why his bones feel like jelly, why his blood feels cold and sluggish in his veins.  Moments ago everything was a blur around him, like looking through heat rising off concrete, pressure behind his temples.  

Something laughs.  Laughs.  Then Cloud’s thoughts clear, his head gloriously empty to match his chest.  If there was a pulse beneath his armor, he’d be surprised.  Ashamed.

Without Tifa, what was the point?

But that clarity… it came and went.  Both strongest and weakest around her. 

Something roars.  The Weapon.  It looms over them and when Cloud looks up, the light is blinding. 

Then … she’s there.  Somehow she’s there.  And the silence in his head is so forgiving.

Cloud falls to his knees for the second time that day, palms on the ground as he hovers over Tifa’s soaked, still body.  Pain flickers in his chest, now; flows out through his limbs, stokes his heart to beat at an infuriating pace. 

She sputters wet coughs and her eyes flutter open and everything inside Cloud hurts so much…

It makes him want to smile. 

Cloud carries her the whole way back to the village.  Like a cross to bear.  Like he should have done back when…

When I killed her.

She sleeps in his arms, head tucked between his chin and shoulder.  Cloud maneuvers her only when he has to in order to cross the terrain, keeping his voice low and his words short each time he needs to wake her. 

“Tifa, listen to me.”

“Tifa, put your arms around me.”

“Tifa, hold on to me.”

She does what he asks each time, arms moving languidly, heavy with exhaustion.  She’s so strong.  She’s a big girl, always has been. 

She’d been right back in Kalm.  He hadn’t been there for her.  He should have, but…

It’s hard to think back to the mako reactor in Nibelheim.  His temples throb when he does, but he does it anyway, because… because…

He can still feel the rage that flowed through him in Nibelheim.  But before that was the emptiness.  That hollow nothingness that echoed throughout every tainted cell of his being as he’d carried Tifa, just like this.  As he’d nearly lost her, just like this.

You know she's dead. 

No.  She’s warm in Cloud's arms.  Her breath whispers against his skin.  The scar peaks at him from under her top.  Tifa.  His Tifa.  She’d waited for him; found him at the train station.  She’s been here all along.  And where was he?

He’s here for her now.  And look at what it’s done - nearly cost her her life.  Nearly lost her again… Without her, there’s nothing.  Nothing left but the other part of him he doesn’t recognize, or maybe recognizes too well.  The part of him that feels so wrong when Tifa isn’t with him, that pushes out all that feels painful and perfectly right. 

The part he wants to remember, but fights against him when he tries… except when she’s with him.

When the party finally arrives, the group buzzes about, busying themselves with ways to help Tifa.  Barret leads the way, clearing it, still grumpy that he didn’t carry Tifa back himself.  Cloud should have let him, he thinks, but the moment he picked up Tifa’s limp body, his head and chest screamed not to put her down; to keep her warmth close to remind him she’s alive.  Not dead, by his hand or by Sephiroth’s.  Aerith announces she’ll grab blankets, water, food, the kitchen sink too, probably.  Yuffie nips at his heels chirping away, how can I help, what can I do, is she okay?  

Cloud almost feels bad when he crosses the threshold of the bedroom and kicks the door shut in Yuffie’s face.  Almost. 

“We’re here, Tifa,” Cloud murmurs against her forehead.  This time, despite the commotion in the next room, she doesn’t stir.  The familiar chaotic bustle of doting friends makes her feel safe, he guesses. 

He wants to be that for her.  He’s tried to be that, so many times.  When they were in the village as kids.  On Mt. Nibel…

Carefully, Cloud lays her atop the bed over the blankets, kneeling one knee on the mattress as he sets to work.  As gentle as he makes sure to be, it all feels mechanical, what he’s doing.  Pulling her red boots off her feet.  Sliding her thigh highs down her legs.  Undoing her gear from around her waist, wrists, and arms.  Even the ponytail holder has to go.  It’s all dirty, tainted.  Like him. 

Cloud knows what has to come next, and he knows the girls just outside the room are better suited for this job.  But he has to do it.  He has to be there for her.  He’d promised.

Pushing off the bed, Cloud moves with quick determination to the door where Yuffie is still yammering and Red still scratching at the wood.  Cloud yanks the door open, effectively quieting them all.  Except Aerith who simply stands there with those sad eyes of hers, always sad, a blanket folded in her arms. 

Cloud can’t bring himself to look into her eyes.  He knows.  He knows he’s the cause of all this. 

He’ll apologize later, he decides, as he yanks the blanket from Aerith’s arms and shuts the door again, this time twisting the lock.  He…. They need privacy.  He needs to do this.  He’s known Tifa his whole life.  No one knows Tifa like him. 

Right?

Cloud returns to her bedside, letting that thought distract him as he works. 

I know Tifa better than anyone. 

First he removes his own heavy gear, leaving only his sweater and fatigues. 

And she knows me better than anyone.

He coaxes Tifa into a sitting position, slumped against him, forehead against his shoulder. 

Better than I know myself.

Her suspenders were easy enough to pop off.  Gripping the back of the fabric, Cloud rolls her white top up and over her head, then the black one next.  It all needs to be washed after being in the belly of the Weapon.  He keeps his eyes trained to the wall and lets his touch guide him.  She feels so warm against him, and he finds himself thanking whoever’s listening for that.  She’s warm.  His one arm wraps around her waist to keep her body pressed against his, ensuring modesty, while his other arm pulls Aerith’s blanket around her.  Leaning forward, he guides Tifa back to the pillow, then straightens the blanket around her before reaching beneath it to undo her bottoms.  He know it’s awful of him, but his fingers yearn to feel more than the smooth, warm glide of her skin as he pulls off her skirt, her underwear…

He only ever feels warm around Tifa, he thinks.  Like his blood suddenly remembers how to move through his veins. 

Her clothes neatly set aside for later washing, Cloud kneels beside the bed, hands on his knees, shoulders straight as he checks over his work.  Tifa is still sleeping, none the wiser, every bit of her covered and her dignity intact. 

A smile hints at the corner of her lips, and Cloud buckles, shoulders slumping forward while his fingers dig into his knees. 

What had he done?

He chokes against the sobs racking through his body, swallowing them down so as not to wake her.

You tried to… you almost…

What is she?

Cloud fists his hands in his chocobo hair and doubles over, his tears falling onto his fatigues and wetting it there.  “Shes Tifa,” he hisses.  “My Tifa.  You… you tried to take her from me.  Take everything from me.”

He knows Sephiroth is kneeling behind him, grinning, whispering into his ear.  But Cloud can’t feel nothing like his former hero wants him to.  Not this time.  Because Tifa needs him.  She needs him, and the anger is raw and lawless within him. 

This is when he feels most like himself, he thinks.  This, and when he’s loving Tifa.

Cloud’s eyes snap open.  His hands slowly leave his hair, moving to the mattress to grip the hem of Tifa’s blanket.

When I’m loving her…

That’s when everything makes sense, he thinks.  That’s when he feels like… like Cloud. 

Years of hiding feel forgotten as he climbs onto the bed, easing himself down alongside Tifa’s still body.  Unsteady fingers brush her stray hair  behind her ear, then trails down to the nape of her neck, holding her there so he can press his forehead to hers.  He knows he doesn’t deserve this; shouldn’t let his nose slide along hers, his blonde eyelashes flutter against her long, dark, whispy ones.  The arm under them curls under her neck so that his forearm can cradle the back of her head, and his free arm moves from her nape to her waist, wanting nothing more than to crush her against his chest like he did in Aerith’s garden.  Instead he insistently shows restraint, but only enough to satiate himself with the rise and fall of her chest against him.  He needs this. 

Needs her.

Cloud tucks the blanket more tightly around Tifa, though his hands tremble where they hover over the hem overlapped across her front.  Years ago, days ago, hours ago, he couldn’t imagine himself doing this, but now… His fingers part the blanket just enough to smooth his hand under to her stomach, following the dip of her navel up until he finds it - the raised edges of the scar.  The very thing he’s denied, burning into his fingertips and scarring there as proof. 

He’ll never doubt her again, he swears.  Another promise.

Cloud lets the tears come until he slips into dreaming, where he finds Tifa on the tower in her blue summer dress, smiling at him and asking for promises he’ll always, always keep. 

#cloti #tifa lockhart #cloud strife #ffvii rebirth #final fantasy vii #ffvii rebirth fanfic #ffvii fanfiction #ffvii rebirth fanfiction #cloud x tifa #ffvii rebirth spoilers #tifa #cloudxtifa #Tifa x cloud

[manufacturedrainbows]

Cloud and Barret sketches as I work up the courage to post my FF7R fanfic 😖

Barret's dad vibes + Cloud's endless trauma made it physically impossible to resist writing a hurt/comfort one shot for them 🥺

Barret needs to give this boy a HUG 🫂

------------------------------------------

Fanfic is now up on ao3!

#my art #artists on tumblr #fan art #fanfiction #fanfic #sketch #sketch dump #sketchbook #sketches #cloud strife #barret wallace #barret ff7 #cloud ff7 #ff7r #final fantasy vii remake #disabled artist #queer artist #anime #manga #ao3 #hurt/comfort #angst #Through Suffering fanfic

[markcampbells]

Hello hello, for one of those fic mini prompts?

29. things you said in the rain

Uhh I blanked on every pairing ever, but Cloud and anyone. Not necessarily romantic, of course >:)

I feel like it speaks to who I am as a person that I went to open my inbox and had this moment of I bet I wrote them an entire fill for the wrong prompt because that would be the kind of thing I would do.

So I ended up writing this for @romancingbarret week because this fandom has so many theme weeks and why not try something I hadn't before! Without further ado:

“I screwed up,” he says finally, and Barret chuckles again. “Yeah. Wondered how long it’d take you to admit that.” Cloud shoves a hand through his hair in frustration. “Was hoping to get some advice, if you could spare it.” “I’m a hell of a person to ask advice from, kid. But I have been married, so maybe you’ve come to about as right a place as you’re gonna get.” With the geostigma cured and everything starting to settle, Cloud and Barret have a talk in the healing rain.

Some queer platonic Cloud and Barret emotional support and cuddling, because who didn't need a hug after everything that went down in Advent Children?

#romancingbarretweek #clarret #barret wallace #cloud strife #final fantasy vii #my writing #my fanfiction #also cloud just kind of embodies pure of heart dumb of ass #i could not help myself #he is a country boy and he is doing his level best #thank you lizard so much for the prompt! <3 #just sprinkling my ace cloud feelings everywhere i possibly can

[jinxedyaart]

A little too Similar Part 5

   Months passed after the initial meeting. A few more quick ones happened with Leo and Winston only, a few more times in-between. Asking for different supplies for their base upgrades, which they gave to him happily. And everytime he made a small little comment that stuck with Leo. He rephrase it everytime they spoke at their base in El Cielo. In basic terms it was the same meaning.

  'You should come stay at the base! We would love to see your abilities first hand.'

   Their brain would repeat the sentence over and over until one day, Winston called about a potential mission that would truly let Overwatch see what their new ally could do. It was a month in advance that Winston caught wind of the opportunity, quickly calling Leo's office with a temporary plan in mind. An undercover Intel job that required a more alluring agent and who best to call then the one who offered up that specific service. In hushed glee, Leo accepted it without a need to continue the call, instead saying to brush up in person. Feeling it would be a nice way to start things organically when they arrive. But what they were most happy about was the potential of working with a few specific people on their list. Having a well known doctor to over see their modifications, another musician who fights and heals with music and lastly the mysterious Cyborg man with Ninja powers.

   They stressed more about what to pack. Having Valen call to better capture what would be best to pack for the stay there. Other than the usual necessities of a human being needs. He asked if there was any strict dress code and among other questions that filled Leo's anxiously happy mind. Finally hanging up when they got a good jist of what they deemed fit for the month long trip to the Gibraltar Overwatch base. Packing a variety of shirts that could go well with a few pants and shorts they wore. Dropping in different socks ranging from no show to thigh-highs. A few sneakers and heeled boots as well. Feeling accomplished, they close their black coffin luggage. Dusting off their hands, showing Valen the closed luggage with a proudful smile. Shaking their hands infront of their chest, shrieking in glee one last time before charging him into a hug. Unable to keep their energy down from it.

   The same day, Leo calls their mother explaining that Overwatch is asking for their help and offering to host them at their base instead. At first she wasn't too on-board with the whole idea of one of her children leaving the country without her or their brother at their side. Especially after losing the first child who ran the company before them. Ultimately, she decid3d to drive over in her van with Leo's brother to say goodbye to them face to face before they left the next day.

  And that day come. Overwatch's carrier jet sat at the landing zone from last time, awaiting patiently for Leo. The noise of the jets wing and landing alerting them of its arrival. They jumped out their seat and swung the door open, stepping out of their office with their luggage in hand. Analyzing their outfit one last time in a nearby mirror. Finnassing the side of their white curls. Making sure they were pinned back, holding in the tilted black barret in place. Chains drooped from the same side, bring attention to their ears. Their seconds were a long chain of crosses reaching their small oval jawline. The firsts were a small authentic gold hoop from their childhood that they never took off again. A gift from their long gone grandmother. The other ear was hidden but hints of a small silver stud and other gold hoop pair shined through in the light. The nose piercings was silver as well with a gold chain spanning across their nose, held in by two skull studs on each nostril. Their top lip now had black lipstick on it, their lower lip was a a darker tone than their skin to make it noticeable that they had lipstick on. A darker beige kinda color to pop a bit against the black. They wore a short sleeved knitted vest on top of a white slim fitted turtle neck shirt. The white shirt was tucked into a high waisted black short with gold buttons lining the left and right side. 3 buttons each with a lions head on top. Slightly flared out the bottom of it. The vest covered the first buttons but left the rest out. If leo moved their arms up, they would show in the sun. Showing off their natural hourglass body with the outfit. Their fishnet clad legs were covered by some slightly see through knee high socks with a bow on top. Washing out bits and pieces of their skin. Their right leg had a spiked garter belt, which they bent down to tighten on the thigh high socks that were slipping on their moderately thick thigh. Their shoes were a simple 1 inched platform mary janes, newly bought as they didn't have a scratch on their shiny surface. Overall they felt attractive and ready to whoo their 'audience'.

  The omnic stared at his captain whom was busy checking themselves out in the mirror. Looking behind themself in it to catch Valen's expression. Strutting up to Valen with a sly smirk on their face. Posing for a few moments before giving him a twirl of their body and outfit for him.

   "Doesn't this show off my figure greatly?"

  Tone clearly laced with overdramatic sass as they run their hands up their body, purposely accentuating their waist for more flare. Getting a robotic scoff and a shaking head saying no in response.

   "Cmon ya majesty. Your royal chariot awaits your arrival."

  He chuckled out, walking over to grab their coffin luggage from their hand. Presenting his arm to his captain to walk them to the jet like a gentleman. Leo couldn't help but to bust out laughing at his gesture, bending back dramatically and taking his arm as they calmed down. Smiling to him as he escorted the little one to the jet. Leo shifted around to face him. Presenting their open arms to him, gesturing him into a hug. Gladly accepting it since they were leaving the omnic in charge for the first in a while. He slowly rocked them side to side, bending his body back. Having Leo's feet pick off the ground. They frailed it behind them, avoiding accidently hitting him in the legs. The omnic finished the squeezed hug and placed his captain on the floor. As the pair finished the trip to the jet, he opened the jet side door for Leo to go through first before he could put the luggage in a spot were it wouldn't move as the jet flew. Prior to getting of the jet, Valen placed his face plate forehead to Leo's. Making a subtle vibration with his vocoder. A forehead kiss is what he's trying to simulate.

   "Que tenga cuidado en la base ok. I don't want to bury another family member." (Be careful at the base)

   He pauses as they move in to a seat. Kneeling to Leo's new sitting height, he placed his cold metal hand on their warm knee. Giving it a soft squeeze as they stared into eachother's eyes.

   "I'm sure nothin is gonna happen to me. Plus you and the others would come after they ass if anything did happen to me. Relax Val, I'll be fine"

  They spoke to both soothe him and themself. They grabbed his hand gently, picking it up and pushing it towards his chest. They were equally nervous but it was exciting to be living through something like this. To Leo this was a moving up in the world kinda thing. So they aren't gonna pass it up easily.

   At last he stepped off the jet, closing the door behind him. Securing the door by shoving it into the locks a few more times. Stepping a few inches back to wave to Leo as the jet took off. Waiting until the jet was no longer in view to turn back to the glass doors with closed fists.

    Meanwhile, the overwatch base was setting up the awaited arrival of another captain. Prepping Leo's office and living quarters prior to the jet being set off to pick them up. It was mostly white and barely had anything that truly screamed Leo. The company purposely left it be so they would be able to change it or personalize it however they wanted. Once satisfied the company closed the door to both the office and quarters.

As they awaited the arrival of the jet, Cassidy sat by a nearby window. Gazing up at the sky, subtly shifting and stretching his body to find the it.

  "Are you nervous or something Cole? I have never seen you act so fidgety about something, let alone someone."

  Genji chuckled behind him, his arms crossed over his grey baggy hoodie. Leaning against a wall out of cole's view. The cowboy groaned a bit before smirking at the ninja. Tipping his hat out-of his face, cigar not yet lit, hanging out of his lip.

   "Is it wrong to be a least a lil curious about our new ally comin to base? I mean with the way the ended our conversation I'm at least a lil bit curious."

   He responded back to his friend, walking out to him. Passing him to go to the door. Clearly going to wait outside and to also start his cigar. The pair carry on to the outside, passing the opening mechanical door. Walking further down to stop just shy of the outside stairs of the leading up to the landing pad of the base. Genji circled around Cole to sit on one of the stair's steps as he watched his friend pull out a lighter. Flicking his thumb a few times to get a flame started. Finally lighting the cigar in his mouth with a soft sigh as he took a drawl of it.

   "They are quite the woman? Man? I don't exactly know where to put them but they are something."

    The cyborg leans back slightly, one hand over his covered chin in a thinking pose. Pausing before continuing on.

   "Modifications on the vocal cords and throat  is a little weird for someone to want. I mean, I wouldn't but then again Sojourn modified her own body to continue this line of work so I guess I shouldn't really think to hard about Leo's."

Just as he finished the sentence, the jets far away engine could be heard. And as if on que, Winston steps out the building with Lena by his side. Clearly having a small conversation together stopping once they reached the other pair by the stairs. Genji slowly stood up from the stairs and moved to the side. Giving the other two some space to go up while Cole moved away from the stairs. Blowing out his smoke away from the three others.

   "Here to also welcome our guest you two?"

   He asked amused, scanning over cole's expression. The brunette smiled subtly as Winston started up the stairs. Lena following close behind him.

   "Couldn't help it. I wanna be nice and walk em down these stairs."

   He retorts back, grabbing onto the rail as he walked up the stairs. Genji just one step behind his own. Forming a small group inches away from the pad.

   The jet landed perfectly on the pad. The pilot opened his driver seat door, going around to open the side door visible to the four. Forcing it to show Leo grabbing their luggage with a small book in hand. Glancing around the different ropes and wires holding it in place with confusion. Putting the book on the floor by their heels. Once they got it out, dusting off their hands on their shorts. Picking the book back up onto their arms. Pulling the back of their shorts down in modesty, shifting around to face the door and pilot. Mumbling a small 'thank you' and nod to him. They walked to the open door, placing the luggage down on the floor first before grabbing the jet's door hanger for stability As Leo begins to step down, Cole jogged over grabbing the luggage in one hand and extending his arm out for Leo to grab. They chuckled at the cowboy, softly grazing their hands over his arm. Subtly feeling up his arm before finally resting their hand over his forearms. Book still in tucked into their left elbow.

   "Aww thank you Cole. How nice of you, but I can walk on my own."

   They let go of his arm, dragging their hand down to his own, pulling his fingers just slightly before officially letting go. Strutting over to Winston before giving him a gentle hug with a smile. Making sure the book didn't make everything uncomfortable.

   "And thank you Winston for this lovely opportunity. I'm sure I won't disappoint."

   They went over to Lena, hugging her gently as well. Slowly pulling away from her to look at the ninja. Their eyes grazing over his form, trying to figure out how he felt or looked. Ultimately deciding to bow and stretch out their hand for a handshake. Not wanting to scare him off with physical touching from someone he only saw twice now.

   "Here let me show you around the place for a little bit before we start. It's only fair and at the end we can go to my office to brush up about the mission."

    Winston suggested as he began to walk down the stairs to start the tour until Leo retaliated.

  "Actually.. is it alright if I get a bit more comfortable first? I wouldn't want Cole lugging around my luggage for an hour or so."

  Leo paused in the middle of the stairs, letting the others move past them. Cole stopped beforehand motioning Leo to continue down the stairs since he didn't want to hit them accidentally with the luggage. They took it into account, the silent conversation they had and continued down the last steps.

   "Oh yes! Here I'll show you your room and office."

   He responded back with a small smile.

  "Office? I get an office as well? You're too kind."

   Their voice picked up in the middle, showing a hint of surprise. An office for them inside of thee Overwatch base Gibraltar with Winston and Dr. Angela Zeigler. A dream too good to be real.

   Winston began to guide the others into the building, passing a few soldiers and projects on the way. Small bits and pieces of the scrap metal Leo gave were out and about by some fighter jets.

  "Well you are another captain so it's only suited you also get your own office. I respect what you've done for us so far and wanted to make your position known to others who may not know you."

   He caught leos attention as he replied to their prior sentence. The gorilla was right. Leo being a captain in their own turf still makes them a capable captain among overwatch. Winston may be the leader but theirs still captain's among his team who are specified in one class.

   "But I am similar to you in a way. I am the leader of my own company so how exactly will this-"

   "You will be a different me in a sense. Another leader that Overwatch can turn to in my absence or I will turn to you for some advice in certain mission plans."

  Winston intercepted their statement with a happy tone laced in. Almost as if it was a matter of fact kinda thing. Surprising Leo even more. They had the ability and the skills that Winston had but to lead a group like overwatch was a lot different than leading a family made business..

   "Well if you say so.."

  They mumbled back to him. Fidgeting with the book in their hand. Catching genji's attention.

   "What kind of book is that?"

  He asked, pointing down at the purely black book with a rose sticker plastered on the front of it.

  "Oh no this is my sketchbook. I can't read in moving objects.. gives me a migraine. So I brought my sketchbook to help distract me from the fact I was in high altitude above the ocean.. and above the ground.. haha so many feet off the ground.."

   Their body shook as if electricity ran up their spine as they spoke. Facing the ground beneath their feet with a nervous smile. Taking in a sharp breath as they moved their head to face genji. The anxious smile still on their face, wavering subtly. Pausing just shy of Winston, who was pointing at the door next to him.

   "This will be your room. Your office is just over the hallway past the kitchen. Not that far off is Dr. Angela as well."

     Leo turns to the open hallway, invisioning where that door would be. Turning back to the door with a small bow.

   "Thank you again Winston for this. I couldn't be more thankful."

    Leo opens the door as Winston nods and walks away with Lena by his side. Saying 'if you need any help ask Athena to contact me and I will come over to assist'. Giving them a small amount of confidence. They had a virtual assistant that seems to be connected to the whole base. Cole goes in with their luggage, rolling it onto the room's floor. Tipping his hat down as he walked out the door. Genji was about to follow suit until a voice caught his attention.

   "Genji.. um is it possible for you to give me a little tour later? I'd like to get to know the place better."

  They spoke out to him as they opened their luggage on the floor. Sitting on the floor with it, turning their torso to see genji. A little happy that they stayed by the door to listen to them. Hoping that he would say yes. Winston was nice and all but they'd like a little more peace and quiet as they toured around. And who better to ask than a ninja.

   "If you'd like.. I mean-"

  "That's fine. I don't really mind it."

  He shrugged softly in his response before Leo could finish stuttering out their sentence. They smiled softly and muttered a thank you as genji left to find Cole. Both turning their attentions away from the other to continue on their day.

#genji shimada x reader #genji shimada x reader smut #genji x reader #overwatch #genji shimada #overwatch genji #self insert #black reader #genji overwatch #ow2 #genji shimada x you #genji x mercy #mercy overwatch #x latina reader #nonbinary #overwatch 2 #x self insert #x latin reader #overwatch genji x you #cole x reader #cole cassidy #mercy #overwatch x reader #overwatch x you #x you #x reader #overwatch genji x reader #overwatch cole cassidy #ow mercy #ow genji

[ff7central]

Claustrophobic Cloud

(3804 words)

by GreenSaplingGrace

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Final Fantasy VII Remake (Video Game 2020), Compilation of Final Fantasy VII

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Relationships: Cloud Strife & Barret Wallace Characters: Cloud Strife, Barret Wallace, Jessie (Compilation of FFVII), Biggs (Compilation of FFVII) Additional Tags: Cloud Strife Whump, Hurt/Comfort, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Claustrophobia, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder - PTSD, Angst with a Happy Ending, Panic Attacks, Protective Barret Wallace, Soft Barret Wallace, Cloud Strife Needs a Hug, Breaking and Entering, Trapped In Elevator, Found Family, Prompt Fill, Tumblr Prompt, Hugs, POV Barret Wallace, Whump

Series: Part 2 of Tumblr Prompt Fills

Summary: Cloud panics and Barret comes to some realizations.

Recommended by Browniefox who says "I love seeing more interactions between Cloud and Barret, and fics that deal with Cloud and the ptsd he’s undoubtedly picked up."

#ficrec #fanfic

[ao3feed-hawks]

#AO3 Link #FanFiction #AO3 Shigahawks #♥ #Shigahawks #Dabi #Touya Todoroki #Enji Todoroki #Fuyumi Todoroki #Natsuo Todoroki #⚣ #R:T #W:U #A:Depressionand #Angst

[silver-wield]

Seriously? There are people especially cleriths who think their hug was cloud regretting it? Sure, you can say cloud wasn't LITERALLY HORNY at that moment but for his pov as a Virgin who lacks so much common knowledge unlike Zack and Jessie, a holding hands would literally make Cloud think he went third base with Tifa. It's he's heart that had a boner plain and simple. Jesus, Square didn't redo the scene to waste money on a non romantic scene with all those shots, context, and all that common sense jazz. Glorious jesus christ, they need a miracle. A MIRACLE.

With Yuffie = friendly (comfort w/o any romantic execution)

With Barret = friendly/fatherly (comfort w/o any romantic execution)

With Tifa = romantic (comfort but especially that he doesn't want to see her sad, w/ romantic execution all through out the game building up to this and more).

They're just showing how dumb they are every day over a game they don't even like let alone play

#ship war #for common sense

[cloud-nath]

Let's talk about Aerith.

Is she a favoured character of mine? No. For my taste, she comes across as too pushy, rather juvenile, and incredibly suspicious (in the Remake, at least). One of my best friends loves her, as does her husband. I recall joking to them both when I was at their house last month about how their display case of figures has a disappointing lack of Tifa. They really need to make a Tseng figure, though, I'm just saying.

Anyway. Aerith wouldn't be my favourite. Even as a team member, it took me some time to warm to her. I played her a little in the OG FF7, and was pleased to find she hits people with her staff, as opposed to the (what I call) "shooty puff nonsense" she does in Remake. About three play-throughs later, I finally started to warm up to her, though she was still the last of my team to hit level 50. Some of her spells and her limit breaks are pure excellence, so even though her personality just isn't for me (what kind of absolute nut creates an obstacle course in their hallway to try and keep someone from leaving undetected?), as a playable character, I now have her in my rotation, as she's a lot of fun, and I will use her primarily ahead of Barret in their final fight in the Shinra building. Blessed be the white mage.

Now, let's bear in mind I'm someone who was largely unaffected by fandom hype when I started playing Remake during lockdown. I didn't have major opinions on anyone. I hadn't been as exposed to FF7 as I was to FF8 (and I will admit: I absolutely hated Rinoa. Just hated her). I had to ask Google what LTD was (I ask Google a lot of things these days - I'm an old lady now 🫠).

Aerith seems to be playing the role of an almost bubble-headed fun times girl, who sweetly bats her eyelashes and establishes herself as a seemingly harmless innocent, but even on my first play-through, I could tell something was very off with her. She knew things she shouldn't have (you could tell she knew the plate was definitely going to drop), and yet, for all her talk of wanting to fly in the face of destiny, she didn't seem to want to stop that, even though all of AVALANCHE definitely did. Why was that? Why was it seemingly okay to allow certain events to remain untouched (the dropping of the plate killing countless)? To me, at least, it feels like Aerith has an agenda all her own, and it's not wholly connected to protecting the Planet. A part of me has toyed with the idea that she's trying to change Zack's fate to bring him back to her, as it was clear from the end of Crisis Core that she knew he'd died, and grief can be a powerful motivator. I mean, that would be an interesting take, but it's just a take, and there's nothing evidentiary to support that. I'm assuming Rebirth will give some insight into her motives, and hopefully clarify why Marlene was so stunned by her when they hugged in Seventh Heaven. There's something not quite right about this Florist...

Having played both Remake and Crisis Core at this point (the former multiple times), I'm not incredibly convinced that there's anything romantic between Cloud and Aerith. When you stand her interactions with Cloud against her interactions with Zack, they're night and day. You can feel the chemistry from the get-go with Zack, whose own infectious, bright energy mirrors hers perfectly. They play off of one another, banter, and flirt in a way that has you rooting for them from the off. When it comes to Cloud, however, it's more like forcing a square peg into a round hole. Setting aside the fact Cloud has mental health problems, neither of them seem to show any special attachment to each other outside of a more platonic relationship. He seems to merely tolerate her at first, then comes to see her as a friend, while she seems to be somehow forcing herself into his personal space (figuratively speaking) and caring incredibly little about his well-being at the same time. Example: in the Drum inside the Shinra building, Tifa expresses her concern for Cloud's well-being after his encounter with Sephiroth, and Aerith seems to brush it aside and ask how Tifa herself is doing. The way I see it, Aerith cares a lot more about Tifa than she does about Cloud. I do like the growing friendship between the two ladies, though.

Right, can I briefly talk about the dresses? I didn't like the ostentatious red dress. It just didn't suit her. It was too much. Her makeup was nice, but the dress swallowed her. The middle one (the pink-toned high-low dress) was definitely my favourite. It very much suited her and she looked stunning in it. I'd wear that in a heartbeat.

Okay, to wrap up: the death. I may not have played through all of the OG FF7 yet, but I know Aerith dies. I do know my aforementioned best friend and husband both hope the story in Rebirth changes her fate and keeps her alive, but I gotta be honest: I think she has to die. It has to happen. I mean, it's such a huge part of the OG storyline, happening at a time when they didn't just kill off a protagonist like that, and since it doesn't seem like (from what I've read) they're going to be changing the main plot points of the FF7 story in Remake, I would wager she still dies. And I feel she has to. It's a major part of the story, a turning point in the narrative, part of what made the original such a stand-out in JRPG gaming of the time. I'm sure her fans (and I know there are a lot of them) want her to live, but I just don't think that's going to happen. If it does, I don't know what consequences that would have on everything else in the story.

And no, I don't think they'll kill Tifa instead.

#ff7 #ff7 remake #ff7 aerith #personal opinion