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PLAYER
YOUR NAME: Jen
18+?: Yes
CONTACT:![[plurk.com profile]](https://plurk.com/favicon.ico)
aurajen / PM this journal
CHARACTERS IN GAME: Ardyn Izunia (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
daemonized)
RESERVATION LINK: here
YOUR NAME: Jen
18+?: Yes
CONTACT:
CHARACTERS IN GAME: Ardyn Izunia (
daemonized)RESERVATION LINK: here
CHARACTER: CANON SECTION
NAME: Cloud Strife
AGE: 21-24, depending on canon point
CANON: Final Fantasy VII
NAME: Cloud Strife
AGE: 21-24, depending on canon point
CANON: Final Fantasy VII
CANON HISTORY: here
CANON PERSONALITY:
Adhering to the main theme of Final Fantasy VII, which has to do with individuality and how to define oneself via internally or externally, Cloud’s personality (and concurrent development) hinges quite a bit on this theming. At the beginning of the narrative, Cloud is defined by the persona he believes to be: that of a mercenary ex-SOLDIER, whose only purpose to aid those around him is for monetary reasons only. As a result, he is cold and uncaring, not showing much sympathy for the cause behind the (admittedly terrorist) organization AVALANCHE, nor the state of the planet and what the Shinra company is doing to it. He is confident in his skills, to the point where it flirts with cockiness — and yet, he’s also aloof, a bit anti-social and cold. He possesses an air of detachment for a professional mercenary, though he is still prone to exasperation and irritation despite himself. Everything he does, he’s doing it for himself, not some other external purpose. This lingers throughout the story, until he is forced (or rather, chooses) to change, due to his realization that he was not a SOLIDER at all, but rather, basically, a failed experiment.
After this revelation takes place, Cloud desperately longs for an identity that he can latch onto. It reveals the true vulnerability and sensitivity of his character, previously hidden and smothered by his false persona. He reacts in a way one might suspect after having all they believed to be true pulled out from under him; a desperation to be accepted and given the purpose that he had just lost, to the point where he’s willing to accept being something mindless and soulless as a result. Eventually this is of course something he pulls out of (with a bit of support), his true self rising back to the surface, to reveal his real personality.
And it’s this true personality that provides more insight into why he would have crafted the imagery of being a successful ex-SOLDIER when we finally get a glimpse of it. We learn that growing up, Cloud had trouble making friends, suggesting that he was already aloof, maybe a bit shy, and awkward around others. He wanted to be successful (perhaps as a way to prove himself to… well, himself, as well as others around him), and attempted to join SOLDIER. He was met with failure, lending to the idea of being unable to define himself via his accomplishments or any kind of outward purpose.
In a very small bit of irony, it’s instead his “true” personality — not the one that’s trying very hard to grasp at something he can’t have — that gives him purpose. As mentioned previously, Cloud may be somewhat aloof and distant from others, but he is still sensitive. There is a sensitivity that is rooted in not only being self-conscious in how others perceive him, but also his ability to care and show compassion for others around him in a sincere capacity. It’s this potential for being selfless (a big contrast to how we see him in the beginning of the game) that makes him want to aid the planet, to grant him the determination to stop Sephiroth’s plans on draining it of life. True to that of your usual protag, he makes his decisions based on what is the Right Thing To Do, not out of a want for personal glory, or even validation. He is steadfastly loyal and protective of his friends, so much that he will try to hide his emotions in order to spare them of worry. Cloud cares so much, despite his stoicism (and sometimes moodiness) that he’s riddled with guilt when he feels he’s failed those he loves and cares for, and as seen in Advent Children, tries to detach himself further in order to cope.
Despite still being stoic and still anti-social, Cloud does possess a wry, sarcastic sense of humor. It’s often delivered deadpan, which only accentuates its wittiness, irony, and his innate observant eye; though he does not always comment, he is apt in reading the expressions and emotions of others with ease. And while may also appear Very Serious most of the time, he does have his moments of lightheartedness. Of genuine smiles and fondness, usually reserved for those close to him, in happiness and sincerity and joking in the right moments. This is the man who canonly raced chocobos and participated in snowboarding competitions, after all. There’s a kindness underneath the still waters of the surface that is Cloud Strife, and when he does make friends with someone, it might as well be for life.
Because in general, Cloud is a kind person. It merely takes a bit of effort to move past the rough edges to see what lies underneath: compassion, sensitivity, a willingness to do what’s right to help those around him, unwavering loyalty, and finally, a sense of self that he can actually call his own.
SKILLS/ABILITIES:
-GENERALIZED FIGHTING SKILLS - Cloud had been trained to fight; even if he wasn't in SOLDIER proper, he was a Shinra infantryman which afforded him some combat knowledge. Later in canon, he shows a competency in fighting individuals, monsters, etc., which at least is indicative of being confident in battle, and skilled enough to survive each encounter.
-SWORDFIGHTING - Specifically, Cloud specializes in fighting with a sword. Even more specifically, a large greatsword, which he wields with impressive deftness and speed despite its size and weight.
-STRENGTH/SPEED/ENDURANCE - Related to the above, Cloud possesses a great show of strength, speed, and endurance, especially later in canon. Strong enough to wield his buster sword and perform crazy acrobatics mid-air during duels, and able to withstand a high amount of damage and manage to keep fighting. Part of this is explained as being infused with Mako/Jenova cells, thus granting him near superhuman abilities, as well as honing his skills with years of practice to make it all look easy. The rest is explained by it simply being Final Fantasy, and the world is full of people who simply are able to perform feats like this with ease.
-LEADERSHIP - Despite a handful of personality flaws, Cloud still rallied his allies against Sephiroth and managed to put a stop to his plans. While he is not a charismatic leader, he is a leader regardless; he possesses motivation and a stubborn streak, cares for his allies, and provides an anchor for the entire party to keep moving and fighting.
-USE OF MATERIA - Round spheres of crystallized Mako that allow the user to call upon the Lifestream in order to manipulate the environment around them. Basically, it enables individuals to use various forms of magic, and is usually slotted in a person's armor or weapon for convenience. Cloud utilizes all forms of materia during his travels, making him very familiar with his world's version of magic.
CANON PERSONALITY:
Adhering to the main theme of Final Fantasy VII, which has to do with individuality and how to define oneself via internally or externally, Cloud’s personality (and concurrent development) hinges quite a bit on this theming. At the beginning of the narrative, Cloud is defined by the persona he believes to be: that of a mercenary ex-SOLDIER, whose only purpose to aid those around him is for monetary reasons only. As a result, he is cold and uncaring, not showing much sympathy for the cause behind the (admittedly terrorist) organization AVALANCHE, nor the state of the planet and what the Shinra company is doing to it. He is confident in his skills, to the point where it flirts with cockiness — and yet, he’s also aloof, a bit anti-social and cold. He possesses an air of detachment for a professional mercenary, though he is still prone to exasperation and irritation despite himself. Everything he does, he’s doing it for himself, not some other external purpose. This lingers throughout the story, until he is forced (or rather, chooses) to change, due to his realization that he was not a SOLIDER at all, but rather, basically, a failed experiment.
After this revelation takes place, Cloud desperately longs for an identity that he can latch onto. It reveals the true vulnerability and sensitivity of his character, previously hidden and smothered by his false persona. He reacts in a way one might suspect after having all they believed to be true pulled out from under him; a desperation to be accepted and given the purpose that he had just lost, to the point where he’s willing to accept being something mindless and soulless as a result. Eventually this is of course something he pulls out of (with a bit of support), his true self rising back to the surface, to reveal his real personality.
And it’s this true personality that provides more insight into why he would have crafted the imagery of being a successful ex-SOLDIER when we finally get a glimpse of it. We learn that growing up, Cloud had trouble making friends, suggesting that he was already aloof, maybe a bit shy, and awkward around others. He wanted to be successful (perhaps as a way to prove himself to… well, himself, as well as others around him), and attempted to join SOLDIER. He was met with failure, lending to the idea of being unable to define himself via his accomplishments or any kind of outward purpose.
In a very small bit of irony, it’s instead his “true” personality — not the one that’s trying very hard to grasp at something he can’t have — that gives him purpose. As mentioned previously, Cloud may be somewhat aloof and distant from others, but he is still sensitive. There is a sensitivity that is rooted in not only being self-conscious in how others perceive him, but also his ability to care and show compassion for others around him in a sincere capacity. It’s this potential for being selfless (a big contrast to how we see him in the beginning of the game) that makes him want to aid the planet, to grant him the determination to stop Sephiroth’s plans on draining it of life. True to that of your usual protag, he makes his decisions based on what is the Right Thing To Do, not out of a want for personal glory, or even validation. He is steadfastly loyal and protective of his friends, so much that he will try to hide his emotions in order to spare them of worry. Cloud cares so much, despite his stoicism (and sometimes moodiness) that he’s riddled with guilt when he feels he’s failed those he loves and cares for, and as seen in Advent Children, tries to detach himself further in order to cope.
Despite still being stoic and still anti-social, Cloud does possess a wry, sarcastic sense of humor. It’s often delivered deadpan, which only accentuates its wittiness, irony, and his innate observant eye; though he does not always comment, he is apt in reading the expressions and emotions of others with ease. And while may also appear Very Serious most of the time, he does have his moments of lightheartedness. Of genuine smiles and fondness, usually reserved for those close to him, in happiness and sincerity and joking in the right moments. This is the man who canonly raced chocobos and participated in snowboarding competitions, after all. There’s a kindness underneath the still waters of the surface that is Cloud Strife, and when he does make friends with someone, it might as well be for life.
Because in general, Cloud is a kind person. It merely takes a bit of effort to move past the rough edges to see what lies underneath: compassion, sensitivity, a willingness to do what’s right to help those around him, unwavering loyalty, and finally, a sense of self that he can actually call his own.
SKILLS/ABILITIES:
-GENERALIZED FIGHTING SKILLS - Cloud had been trained to fight; even if he wasn't in SOLDIER proper, he was a Shinra infantryman which afforded him some combat knowledge. Later in canon, he shows a competency in fighting individuals, monsters, etc., which at least is indicative of being confident in battle, and skilled enough to survive each encounter.
-SWORDFIGHTING - Specifically, Cloud specializes in fighting with a sword. Even more specifically, a large greatsword, which he wields with impressive deftness and speed despite its size and weight.
-STRENGTH/SPEED/ENDURANCE - Related to the above, Cloud possesses a great show of strength, speed, and endurance, especially later in canon. Strong enough to wield his buster sword and perform crazy acrobatics mid-air during duels, and able to withstand a high amount of damage and manage to keep fighting. Part of this is explained as being infused with Mako/Jenova cells, thus granting him near superhuman abilities, as well as honing his skills with years of practice to make it all look easy. The rest is explained by it simply being Final Fantasy, and the world is full of people who simply are able to perform feats like this with ease.
-LEADERSHIP - Despite a handful of personality flaws, Cloud still rallied his allies against Sephiroth and managed to put a stop to his plans. While he is not a charismatic leader, he is a leader regardless; he possesses motivation and a stubborn streak, cares for his allies, and provides an anchor for the entire party to keep moving and fighting.
-USE OF MATERIA - Round spheres of crystallized Mako that allow the user to call upon the Lifestream in order to manipulate the environment around them. Basically, it enables individuals to use various forms of magic, and is usually slotted in a person's armor or weapon for convenience. Cloud utilizes all forms of materia during his travels, making him very familiar with his world's version of magic.
CHARACTER: AU SECTION
AU NAME: Cloud Strife
AU AGE: 24
PHYSICAL DIFFERENCES: The only physical difference is that he's not as well-toned as in canon from hefting big swords around, but even that is minimal at best. Other than that, his appearance remains the same.
AU NAME: Cloud Strife
AU AGE: 24
PHYSICAL DIFFERENCES: The only physical difference is that he's not as well-toned as in canon from hefting big swords around, but even that is minimal at best. Other than that, his appearance remains the same.
AU HISTORY:
-Cloud was born outside of Recolle, to parents James and Loren Strife. At a young age, his parents began to have marital issues, the most troubling of which was his mother’s penchant for infidelity. As a result of this infidelity, Cloud has a half-brother. That half-brother is Prompto Argentum (player permission obtained), and though he was aware of his existence, it was never something that was brought up very often between him and his father, and he never considered that they would ever meet each other given the circumstances.
-Eventually all of this culminated in his mother and father’s divorce.
-Soon after the divorce, his mother exited his life, leaving his father to raise him alone. Cloud’s never seen her since, and though it was an understandable shock to him at first, to this day he no longer feels any obligation or want to reconnect with her.
-He grew up relatively happily with his father, though initially dealt with the sudden shift in family structure by becoming withdrawn, adding to his already aloof personality. This is something that he never outgrew, underlining his introverted nature.
-Growing up, Cloud always had trouble making steadfast friends, though the ones he did garner he managed to remain close and amicable to. His father put in the extra effort to make sure he didn't remain too walled-off from those around him.
-After graduating high school, Cloud became interested in machinery and how things worked, via his father, who was Mechanical Designer by trade. Eventually this led to him going to university to study Mechanical Engineering. He did well in his classes, actually possessing an adept mind for it, and graduated in the top ten percent of his class.
-After graduating, he moved to Recolle for job opportunities, “temporarily” landing a job as mechanic at an automobile repair shop. He likes the work, but has started to fall into slight complacency because of how steady it is, and how it caters to his passion for vehicles.
-He lives in a small two-bedroom apartment, and owns one motorcycle. He’s been moved into Recolle for only 2 months now, and is still trying to learn the ins and outs of the city, as well as make connections — the latter which is a bit more difficult for Cloud, but he tries nonetheless.
AU PERSONALITY:
The main pillars of his personality from canon remain intact for AU purposes — that is, his compassion, aloofness, the willingness to do what’s right and his loyalty to friends and family. Perhaps the biggest difference is that Cloud did not have to go through a harrowing character arc of false identities and questioning his own purpose in life, but because he had grown up with the support of his father (who loved him, and with whom he had a healthy relationship with), he defaulted to what his “true” personality was anyway. He is still standoffish, though not in a rude way; simply a bit stoic, both a natural part of his personality and amplified because he withdrew within himself as a coping mechanism for when his mother abandoned both him and his father when he was very young.
Beyond this, however, his upbringing was relatively normal, and so his personality was allowed to develop in a far healthier manner than in canon. There is no sign of the Cloud that was once cocky and cold and mercenary. He is actually less prone to sulking or moodiness than his canon counterpart (though it’s not completely unheard of), and while he still has more difficulty making friends than most people, he is still approachable, even if he doesn’t open up immediately.
It’s also worth noting that given his different upbringing, his interests are also different than in the game. Most poignantly, while he was intelligent in his canon, he’s had more of a chance to let this flourish in AU — he’s had a steady schooling, and went to college for mechanical engineering, inspired by the work that his father does. As a result he has more of a mathematical mind, and has developed a love for cars and, especially, motorcycles.
-Cloud was born outside of Recolle, to parents James and Loren Strife. At a young age, his parents began to have marital issues, the most troubling of which was his mother’s penchant for infidelity. As a result of this infidelity, Cloud has a half-brother. That half-brother is Prompto Argentum (player permission obtained), and though he was aware of his existence, it was never something that was brought up very often between him and his father, and he never considered that they would ever meet each other given the circumstances.
-Eventually all of this culminated in his mother and father’s divorce.
-Soon after the divorce, his mother exited his life, leaving his father to raise him alone. Cloud’s never seen her since, and though it was an understandable shock to him at first, to this day he no longer feels any obligation or want to reconnect with her.
-He grew up relatively happily with his father, though initially dealt with the sudden shift in family structure by becoming withdrawn, adding to his already aloof personality. This is something that he never outgrew, underlining his introverted nature.
-Growing up, Cloud always had trouble making steadfast friends, though the ones he did garner he managed to remain close and amicable to. His father put in the extra effort to make sure he didn't remain too walled-off from those around him.
-After graduating high school, Cloud became interested in machinery and how things worked, via his father, who was Mechanical Designer by trade. Eventually this led to him going to university to study Mechanical Engineering. He did well in his classes, actually possessing an adept mind for it, and graduated in the top ten percent of his class.
-After graduating, he moved to Recolle for job opportunities, “temporarily” landing a job as mechanic at an automobile repair shop. He likes the work, but has started to fall into slight complacency because of how steady it is, and how it caters to his passion for vehicles.
-He lives in a small two-bedroom apartment, and owns one motorcycle. He’s been moved into Recolle for only 2 months now, and is still trying to learn the ins and outs of the city, as well as make connections — the latter which is a bit more difficult for Cloud, but he tries nonetheless.
AU PERSONALITY:
The main pillars of his personality from canon remain intact for AU purposes — that is, his compassion, aloofness, the willingness to do what’s right and his loyalty to friends and family. Perhaps the biggest difference is that Cloud did not have to go through a harrowing character arc of false identities and questioning his own purpose in life, but because he had grown up with the support of his father (who loved him, and with whom he had a healthy relationship with), he defaulted to what his “true” personality was anyway. He is still standoffish, though not in a rude way; simply a bit stoic, both a natural part of his personality and amplified because he withdrew within himself as a coping mechanism for when his mother abandoned both him and his father when he was very young.
Beyond this, however, his upbringing was relatively normal, and so his personality was allowed to develop in a far healthier manner than in canon. There is no sign of the Cloud that was once cocky and cold and mercenary. He is actually less prone to sulking or moodiness than his canon counterpart (though it’s not completely unheard of), and while he still has more difficulty making friends than most people, he is still approachable, even if he doesn’t open up immediately.
It’s also worth noting that given his different upbringing, his interests are also different than in the game. Most poignantly, while he was intelligent in his canon, he’s had more of a chance to let this flourish in AU — he’s had a steady schooling, and went to college for mechanical engineering, inspired by the work that his father does. As a result he has more of a mathematical mind, and has developed a love for cars and, especially, motorcycles.