When we were kids, everybody wanted to be aSOLDIER. By the time I made it in, they didn't needheroesanymore.
IND., PRIV., SEL. portrayal of Cloud Strife from Square Enix's Final Fantasy VII. This depiction is based in the wider FFVII Compilation, meaning it will be influenced by FFVII (1997) and subsequent media. // Very passionately studied by Mika.
Portrayal est. 04 / 2021.
alright time to make a new pinned post !
i got offered another project to write a book ! the project is going to be ongoing. that, plus my health situation still being a fluctuating work in progress (though getting better slowly), means that while i should, hopefully, be able to be around here more finally — my activity is still gonna be sporadic and slow going. essentially: business as usual!
Itβs dangerous to sit up here, legs dangling off the edge of the highway, but Cloud stands beside her, his borrowed bike leaning on its brake stand nearby, and something about the twinkling lights below and the greenery in the distance, feels comfortable. Peaceful. Like, for a minute, she can forget everything thatβs happening in Midgar. What ShinRa is doing, what AVALANCHE is doing, Cloudβs strange memories, her guilt overβ¦so much more than she knows how to put words to.
βDo you thinkβ¦β Her words trail for a moment, and she bites her lower lip gently as she thinks. Brow furrowed, hands curling into loose fists atop her legs, gazing at the horizon line where the last remnants of sunset stain the sky deep pink before fading into the rich blue-black of nighttime. It really is beautiful up here. βDo you think weβre doing this the right way? The bombs in the reactors?β
She canβt describe why that weighs so heavy on her mind; any one of them could get hurt - or worse - on these missions, and the first reactor incident proved that. But theyβve tried protesting, theyβve tried petitions, they did everything the peaceful way for so long already, with nothing to show for it. No one listens. No one in ShinRa cares. Their power outmatches that of the public, and not enough people joined the cause to make a difference. Itβs frustrating, but Tifa canβt think that this is the answer.
Her gaze shifts to Cloud to watch his expression, wondering if he feels the same way. Heβs changed so much since she last saw him, and she doesnβt really know how his mind works, his thoughts on the world - on everything. Maybe he agrees that this is the logical next step, and that Tifa needs to see that. But she doesnβt know. She doesnβt know.
he watches, quiet and careful. the silhouette of her figure casts a shadow, elongated, that nearly touches the tips of his boots. arms folded, mako-laced eyes flicker, if only for a moment, from said figure to the sun that continues to set beyond her shoulder; before, ultimately, settling back to lock with her own. his fingers curl tighter over his bare biceps, and he kicks himself up from leaning against his bike, βyou can'tββ only for a sharpshooting sting to bolt through his temple; the figure of her back, legs dangling over the edge of the highway pressed over another, much younger, and the clairvoyant sense of a water tower only inches from his back.
cloud winces, the hand that had shot to his temple digging his knuckles in tight, blond lashes fluttering the split second it takes for his eyes to squeeze shut, and snap back open. he swallows, takes another step forward, heels dragged down by uncertainty. βerrββ throat feeling tight, he swallows again for good measure, and forces whatever knot is tying up in his gullet to loosen its grip on his vocal chords. he shakes his head, and the sigh that slips from his throat comes easier. ββitβs not about if itβs right,β he says, hand rubbing at his left temple to ease the momentary shock of pain away; attempting to shake his head to regain full clarity instead of this heavy, clouded weight. his boots thud quietly against the concrete, muted by the wear and tear of their worn down bottoms as he steps up to her side. βitβs about if itβs necessary.β his gaze narrows, turned out toward the light as his arms cross back over his chest.
a pause sits between them as a furrow laces his brow, blue gaze finally falling to hers once more, darkened by the ever encroaching starlight. βbut iβm listening.β
i have finished ff7 rebirth and have been processing the ending for like two straight days because… well.
that said, this is not gonna be a spoiler free zone SO – anything i post that is spoilery will be tagged with “/ spoilers” and / or “rebirth spoilers” (as was specifically requested) or put under a read more. or both!
My askbox is available to anyone and everyone, no matter the nature of your inquiry, IC or OOC. Due to the nature of this inbox, ANONYMOUS WILL REMAIN ENABLED, to allow people to send both meta questions and things such as gif requests. However, in regards to any gifset / graphic requests, I'd prefer them be sent to sicsemper, but as I am primarily focused on Cloud and Ignis these days, do expect slower responses.
My askbox is available to anyone and everyone, no matter the nature of your inquiry, IC or OOC. Due to the nature of this inbox, ANONYMOUS WILL REMAIN ENABLED, to allow people to send both meta questions and things such as gif requests. However, in regards to any gifset / graphic requests, I'd prefer them be sent to sicsemper, but as I am primarily focused on Cloud and Ignis these days, do expect slower responses.
GUIDELINES
ELABORATIONS
Vita enim mortuorum in memoria vivorum est posita.
The life of the dead is placed in the memory of the living.
Marcus Tullius Cicero (c. 106 β 43 BC), Philippica IX, 5. Original
001. Introduction / Disclaimer
Hello, my name is Mika! Iβm a grumpy 60 year old man on the inside, and a soft pop punk boy on the outside. I've been dancing to this song for far too long, so we're going to keep the rules page pretty nice and simple. That being said, this blog is independent, private, and selective. Meaning β this blog will be mutuals only&plot based.
DISCLAIMER! I am not affiliated with any of the material that my muse originates from / the actors associated with the franchise.
25+ / MST tracking #militus
002. A NOTE ABOUT PLOTTED THREADS
Thoroughly plotted threads take priority. I would rather spend the time I have developing threads via mutual plotting over answering undiscussed threads. I may respond to starter calls, or throw out a few myself, but please don't be offended if the responses are slower than things that have been previously plotted.
003. A NOTE ABOUT CALLOUT CULTURE
I do not participate, and I will not participate. This is a pervasive culture that I do not ascribe to. Not only does it push the idea that people cannot grow and learn, but I most often find that people seem to mistake personal disagreements for community drama. Regardless β it's not my business, and I have absolutely no interest. I ask that you're respectful, and do not ask me to participate. Simple as that!
004. A NOTE ABOUT PURITY CULTURE
I do not adhere to purity culture, under any circumstance. What makes an individual person uncomfortable is personal, and is ultimately their own hang up to contend with. Literature has explored dark themes for longer than the ancient Greeks wrote down their histories. To try to completely erase dark themes from literature and to bully writers into writing only what you feel is appropriate based on the RPC's ever fluctuating moral compass benefits no one and nothing but your ego. So, if you have a problem with that, I encourage you to look inward instead of other people's inboxes. This is quite the classic instance of dead dove: do not eat.
Essentially: If you are not mature enough to understand that fiction =/= reality,please turn around post haste.
005. A NOTE ABOUT COLLECTING TROPHIES (MAINS)
I am not here to collect dust. I am not interested in becoming mains unless I feel someone is going to actively return the effort that I put in. Let it be known: I treat mains as lowkey exclusives. I'm highly selective and always have been. That is not something I expect anyone to return, however, I do expect to be treated as your main writing partner for that specific portrayal / dynamic. That means being prioritized just as much as I would / will prioritize you. I have noticed people seem to have lost track of this, and seem to want to declare 'mains' and then treat that main just as they would any other writing partner. As someone that is very invested in what I write and who I write with, I'm not interested in anyone wasting my time, just as I wouldn't wish to waste theirs. Be respectful.
That being said, I'm sure you can imagine how I feel about exclusives.
006. SHIPPING
In regards to FF7 canon, Clerith (Cloud & Aerith) is the primary ship I will entertain for Cloud at present.
It's important to note that for both the Remake and the OG FF7 I do firmly believe it is the creators' intention for Cloud to be falling in love with Aerith, despite his complicated relationship with Tifa. However it is doubly important to note that this is not to say I don't find Cloud's relationship with Tifa to be extremely important. It is β it's incredibly complex and nuanced. There is a ton to unpack there, and I intend to explore that because it's a fascinating dynamic, is significant to Cloud's character, and affects the way he navigates interpersonal relationships and the narrative at large.
But when it comes to romantic "shipping," I can't imagine writing Cloud opposite anyone other than Aerith outside of limited exceptions.
Note: This is, of course, subject to ongoing changes in the Remake's narrative β as has been shown between the original and the Remake thus far β as I am rather canon strict. That also being said, my stance is influenced in no small part by my interpretation of the original storyline, spanning from FFVII (1997) to Advent Children. But for now, this is where I'm at.
Triggers that are canon compliant will not generally be tagged. This means that potential untagged triggers can include: physical and psychological trauma, and canon compliant violence. However, if there is anything a mutual wishes me to tag specifically, donβt hesitate to message! That being said β please be reasonable. If you are at all familiar with the franchise, you should know what to expect on this blog.
Triggers that are tagged will be tagged as "trigger /".
Vita enim mortuorum in memoria vivorum est posita.
The life of the dead is placed in the memory of the living.
Marcus Tullius Cicero (c. 106 β 43 BC), Philippica IX, 5. Original
001. MEANING OF URL
The Latin language is something SQEX seems to delight in β particularly Nomura. So, having a Latin degree means that I really couldn't help myself. A little breakdown that makes me a very happy nerd is as follows:
Miles, militis β Third declension, masculine, singular. Militis can be only in the genitive (gen) case. The basic meaning is soldier.
However, I wanted to do a bit of a play on this, as βus, βa, and βum as suffixes often have gendered meaning for the Latin language. So, I was a bit of a cheater. Thus,
Militus β A masculine play on militis, meaning "being of / belonging to SOLDIER."
I said I'd live out both our lives. Easy to make that promise.
001. Cloud: An Introduction
This portrayal of Cloud Strife is based within the canon of the Final Fantasy VII Compilation, meaning that it is a depiction of the character comprised of influences from the broader Final Fantasy VII franchise, seeing as I am now intimately familiar with FFVII (1997), Crisis Core, Advent Children, FFVII: Remake (ongoing), and other smaller entries. It is for this reason that I am willing and comfortable to write within any era of the canon timeline, but of course consider OG and Remake to be separate verses. It is worth noting that because the creators seem to have different intentions with the direction of the remake than the original, this portrayal will adapt as new information is released on the Remake.
That aside, Cloud is a character that delves quite deeply into both psychological and physical trauma, and this depiction will not shy away from those things, as they are integral to his character. Particularly the concept of the unreliable narrator, loss of identity, loss of autonomy, and the consequences thereof. Therefore, a heavily associated (potentially triggering) topic will likely be dissociation, which will not likely be tagged, as it is canon compliant.
Note: At present Cloud will be written within canon and now, after a complete replay through the series: his Kingdom Hearts verse!
002. Media Influences
The above having been said, I think I ought to reiterate: this portrayal will be based on the FF7 Compilation, which means that I will take influences from each piece of media into account. There are some inconsistencies in his character that will be rejected with the intention of being altered and explored β which, frankly, primarily pertains to Cloud's wildly different characterization in Crisis Core (but that will have a separate little note under the 'Elaborations' tab above). Other than that, do understand that his characterization in the OG will influence how I write him in the setting of the Remake, and to some extent the vice versa may also occur where it is deemed appropriate.
I said I'd live out both our lives. Easy to make that promise.
001. A NOTE ABOUT CRISIS CORE
There are some major discrepancies between the way Cloud is written in Crisis Core and the way he has been portrayed in a majority of the surrounding media β even including iterations such as his appearances in the Kingdom Hearts franchise. I want to make it abundantly clear that while I think Crisis Core presents an overall good story and interesting concepts, I will in no way entertain the way Cloud's personality was watered down / seemingly entirely retconned. Therefore: if I am to write within the events of Crisis, please do not expect Cloud to be shy, sheepish, or friendly.
Essentially: every other iteration of Cloud has made it abundantly clear that he is about as prickly as they come, stemming from his childhood. Anything I write during the CC timeline will remain true to this characterization.
002. A NOTE ABOUT ADVENT CHILDREN
While I think we can all acknowledge that as a film, ACC is a bit of a mess, I treat it in a similar way that I treat Crisis Core: it presents good groundwork / good concepts that are worthy of being explored. However, that being said, I think it's worth iterating that the main themes related to Cloud's character arc in AC are depression & suicidal ideation. Because this is directly portrayed in the canon, much of it will not be tagged, so please just be aware of this.
