Cloud Strife (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
liveandforgive) wrote2013-10-20 11:47 pm
liveandforgive) wrote2013-10-20 11:47 pm
Entry tags:
cloud strife application | ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
havenrpg
Name: Clandon
Contact Info: [Email] spin.dash@hotmail.com | [Plurk] Clandon | [AIM] hikari to yamii
Other Characters Played: N/A
Preferred Apartment: N/A
Character Name: Cloud Strife
Canon: Final Fantasy VII
Canon Point: Post Advent Children Complete | After Sephiroth’s defeat and Geostigma has been cured
Background/History: Final Fantasy Wikia
Personality:
”No one lives in the slums because they want to. It's like this train. It can only go where the tracks take it.”
When you think of JRPG protagonists, a few names can come to mind as far as memorable ones. From the silent protagonist Crono (Chrono Trigger), Lloyd Irving (Tales of Symphonia), the nameable hero (Secret of Mana), Ness (EarthBound), the list can carry on. But arguably so there aren’t that many that can hold the weight (literally and figuratively) of the genre as well as Cloud Strife has. Armed with an impossibly huge sword, gravity-defying hair and a cocky attitude in a modern yet cyberpunk inspired world, Final Fantasy VII is largely considered the title that helped the JRPG usher outside the home market and re-introduced fans to older and newer games alike. Cloud has seen many changes over the compilation that’s shaped him into the quiet and brooding man we commonly see today. At his core though, he retains much of what drew in the crowd of fans all over.
With one too many burdens more than any man should ever have to suffer through, Cloud Strife can often times be a troubled individual these days. Usually diving into a vast sea of thoughts in the midst of a partially clear but also hazy past, he can sometimes appear lost, not in the sense of location, but of a disturbed mind. Despite this, he doesn’t allow himself to completely succumb to the pains that continue to try and weigh him down. Looked to by some as a leader and a hero, it is through the hopes of others that he often finds the strength to rise to the occasion, albeit sometimes with a struggle in the beginning. This reliance on others at times has given the impression that he can’t properly act of his own accord, much like a puppet that needs its strings pulled in order to have a purpose. Such analogies are largely used in part to his loathsome yet eternal conflict with Sephiroth, the man responsible for many of the terrible outcomes in Cloud’s life. From his failures in reaching his goal of becoming a member of SOLDIER, his home town being burned to the ground by Sephiroth and his family all but taken away from him, being used as an experiment that ultimately shaped him into a failed ‘clone’ of Sephiroth, these actions and the consequential ones that followed molded Cloud into the man that he is today. Bouts of insecurity originated from all these previous failures that Cloud couldn’t stop, always nagging despite the fact he continues on towards the future.
”People tell me that my personality is divided. I don't think so, but maybe it is."
As a means to cover up those split moments of insecurity, Cloud’s personality changes with his mood and the situation at hand; just like any normal human being. He could be a quiet, shy, brooding, cold asshole (to be put bluntly) in one time, but put on the warmest of smiles and laugh when he’s feeling okay for the right person who passes him by. He’s the pillar of support for those that don’t know how to stand up on their own, and he knows this. He can lay on sarcasm sometimes, and knows how to put up a decent act (ask him about the theater in the Golden Saucer; he just might tell you!) Overall, however, Cloud is another good hearted person with a hero complex, the will to protect others and help them out a strong motive of his, no matter how he feels. That loyalty to his family and friends was also accentuated by his own shortcomings in the past. What started with the motivation to get stronger and be noticed by his childhood friend Tifa Lockhart, shifted even further upon serving in the Shinra military and befriending Zack Fair. Zack embodied most of everything that Cloud wanted to be as a hero, though the blond initially aspired to be just like Sephiroth (the once heroic general of SOLDIER gone rogue). Carrying on what Cloud likes to call Zack’s “Living Legacy”, what SOLDIER meant to Cloud and what it meant to be a hero continues to be a driving force behind the battles he partakes in.
Cloud has never been the most social of butterflies, not too many people getting an opportunity to get close to him; for anyone to be able to find the sensitivity behind those distant blue eyes is a near miracle for he will usually find himself avoiding people. The blond had never been a natural when it came to socialization; better put, he is a reserved individual. Despite this, whatever friends he does have are held in high regard to him as he will not hesitate to protect those that he loves, and open up to them about any internal conflicts that he is suffering through. Given it be a battle, personal mentality, or just socialization in general, Cloud can sometimes find himself at a lack of confidence within. Although, upon overcoming a fear or any hesitations, determination and a headstrong attitude can overwhelm him, making him a force to be reckoned with. Do not underestimate him when he’s found the will to stand up against you; his confidence is his strength, and he will overpower you if you are not careful.
”I ain't INTERESTED in a buncha scrubs like you!!"
Quite possibly one of the most legendary individuals on the Planet to have ever wielded a sword, rivalling the prowess of Sephiroth, Cloud has a vast knowledge in how to handle his weaponry. Having spent a good year under the impression that he was a 1st Class SOLDIER, it was through this mindset and the developed instincts that would come with such a rank of the elite warriors, that he fit the role very well. Despite his tales as a SOLDIER being purely fictional due to the traumas of his past, because he spent a part of his life serving as a Shinra Infantryman rather than a SOLDIER, Cloud developed a general understanding of firearms, only further expanding his repertoire of weapons that he is capable of using. However, despite this, he has a strong preference of swordsmanship over the marksmanship of guns.
His weakest link is most likely his mind, as he has been manipulated against his will due to the Jenova cells that flow through his veins after years of experimentation upon his broken body, a manipulation upon the blond that Sephiroth took advantage of as he also controlled the power of Jenova. However, these days such manipulation is very difficult and near impossible due to having found the resolve to his past, and being aware of when someone would dare try to obliterate his mentality once more. While his weakest link, it is still a powerful one.
Sometimes he'll follow a sense of logic and justice that only he can understand, causing others to find minor annoyance out of him. In the words of his friend Yuffie Kisaragi, "That Cloud is a royal pain in the ass, like always." To which Tifa could only respond with a smile, "Cloud is Cloud." He acts upon instinct and what his heart tells him when his mind doesn't like to work, thus adding to his headstrong tendencies and the nature to sometimes rush into a situation. That doesn't make him careless, however. He just likes his action.
As a break in his more stoic demeanor, Cloud sometimes will say things that aren't exactly weird, but may be an odd choice of words. In these moments where he might not exactly be putting up the cold and serious front, he also is known to have a sense of humor, albeit this is very rare in a vast sea of focus upon more important matters. Cloud does have a lighter side though, in which he even accepted disguising himself as a woman for the sake of rescuing Tifa from a perverted crime boss, Don Corneo. His hobbies also include racing (be it with Chocobos or motorcycles) and extreme sports such as snowboarding. Cloud is also no stranger to video games, though he tends to stick to simulator games that bring him closer to the action of sports of racing and snowboarding.
The rollercoaster of a life that Cloud has been on has seen many ups and downs that have shaped him into who he is. But as was previously stated despite his natural leadership skills, Cloud's had to rely on others to stay on the right track. His fear of being alone and unnoticed would have no doubt lead to an early demise, mentally so.
Helping to anchor Cloud to reality when he was caught up in his own illusions as an Ex-SOLDIER, Tifa Lockhart and Aerith Gainsborough both guided him back to piecing together who he truly was. Much of his persona during the majority of Final Fantasy VII was fabricated from the concept of a tough member of SOLDIER and the ideals that Zack carried and making them his own, the real Cloud lost in translation until he was questioned by the contradictions that surrounded him. Aerith shared a deep connection with Zack before meeting Cloud, and though she saw a lot of traits in Cloud that reminded her of Zack, her kind nature while pursuing the truth with blatant honesty encouraged him to search for himself and fight for the Planet. While the two worked together to help establish a footprint on Cloud's true identity, to this day he relies on Tifa as a pillar of support. She was the one who helped piece together his fragmented mind when it was once shattered, in that moment becoming clear to him that Tifa would always be one of, if not the most important part of his life. It's because of Tifa that he can say with a straight face that he lives a normal life, and it's because of her that regardless of what happens, he'll always be a hero to her- the knight in shining armor that he promised to be when she needed to be rescued.
An enigma and yet the easiest person to understand, if you figure out the secret to look beyond what's behind those mako-induced eyes of his. This is who Cloud Strife is.
Abilities/Powers:
After years of borderline torturous experiments being performed on him, Cloud’s body has been enhanced by Mako and Jenova cells. Mako has the properties of enhancing someone’s capabilities to superhuman levels- not limited to super strength (able to effortlessly demolish chunks of skyscraper pieces with relative ease, possibly more), inhuman reflexes, heightened senses and speed. The Jenova cells add a level of resilience to his body that would otherwise leave him suffering from fatal injuries. Wounds heal at a much faster pace than normal humans do. A prime example of this is the fact that Cloud was capable of fighting back after receiving over seven impalements from Sephiroth’s sword. Despite being a bloody mess, Cloud was able to survive and summon enough strength to defeat his nemesis once and for all. With his otherwise inhuman body, Cloud also has easier access of harnessing a power latent within all humans that reach their breaking point…
Limit Break • "When an enemy has pushed your anger to the limits, you can unleash unimaginable power."
As described by Cloud himself, a Limit Break is essentially pushing yourself beyond what’s considered your body’s limitations to perform amazing feats of strength. Used as a mechanic in gameplay for Final Fantasy VII as an ultimate attack that can only be used when your Limit Break gauge is filled, in all other parts of the compilation (cinematically and what is likely considered a more canon approach to how they work) they have been shown to be utilized freely upon learning them. For example, in the Dissidia Final Fantasy fighting games Cloud can utilize every single one of his Limit Breaks save for the Omnislash as that’s his finishing attack (again, gameplay mechanic). In Advent Children Complete, Cloud freely utilizes his Limit Breaks against his opponents including the Omnislash and upgraded Omnislash Version 6. Through extensive training and bursts of anger, one can achieve higher levels of Limit Breaks, canonly between levels 1 and 4, 4 being the strongest. Most Limit Breaks are accompanied by a fiery blue aura (in Cloud’s case, covering himself or his swords.) Cloud’s current-known Limit Breaks are as follows.
LEVEL 1
• Braver – Cloud jumps above the opponent with his sword over his head, focusing his power into one single blow that has crushing results as he comes crashing down. With this attack, it’s significantly stronger than a normal slash from him and has been seen to be able to shatter very thick and durable armor; such as when Cloud busted the face of Bahamut SIN whereas the other members of AVALANCHE could only leave scratches from gunfire, shurikens, claws/fangs and spears. Somewhat slow and punishable, but very powerful upon hit.
• Cross-slash – A succession of three heavy slashes and boasting more power than Braver, it’s a straightforward attack accompanied by a glowing stroke for each swipe, making out this mark. 凶 Capable of sending opponents flying and crashing through walls, this is another attack that is slower than others but devastating on contact.
LEVEL 2
• Blade Beam – Cloud charges up energy within his sword, sparking with electricity and light before he slams the weapon down, unleashing a crescent-shaped beam that rips across the ground. Causes an explosion on contact with the target and is capable of letting off smaller shockwaves that can take out other enemies within range. The downside is that the Blade Beam’s trajectory can only follow along a solid surface and cannot be launched after an airborne opponent, making this ability against opponents capable of flight or lengthened suspension in the air almost useless.
• Climhazzard – In some cases, Cloud’s weapon will take on a fiery blue aura as he performs this attack. Sticking his blade into an opponent, he then jumps up while running the weapon with, essentially cleaving most that face this move in two. In the case of Bahamut SIN, Cloud struck the dragon in the back and ran up along its back before finishing on the other side, finishing the summoned beast off.
LEVEL 3
• Meteorain – An attack that can be utilized both on the ground and in the air, Cloud summons forth six meteors and commands them to rain down upon his opponent(s). Essentially a fire-based Limit Break due to the nature of the meteors, the start-up time on this ability is slower than most of his Limit Breaks as Cloud needs a moment to wave his sword and conjure up the meteors.
• Finishing Touch – There are two variations of this Limit Break, one canonly belonging to the main game of Final Fantasy VII and the other being from the Dissidia games. The canon one is where Cloud will charge power within his sword, collecting wind as he prepares to strike before swinging forward, unleashing a tornado that can carry enemies away. In video game mechanics, the attack can instantly kill lesser enemies while those that are immune to Death simply fall to the ground when the Limit Break ends, dealing major damage. For RP purposes, this attack will be treated as the latter, targets being swept up by the tornado. The Dissidia version is a more up-close variation where Cloud will sweep the opponent up in a cyclone or slashes, surrounded by a blue aura and bursts of wind before he delivers the final blow that sends the target crashing to the ground.
LEVEL 4
• Omnislash – Cloud’s ultimate attack. Erupting in a display of raw power as an intense aura envelope him and his sword, Cloud swiftly rushes the opponent(s) with a rapid succession of 15 slashes back to back (finishing off with a blow from above much like he does with Braver). Difficult to counter if one’s never encountered this attack before, it is amongst one of two of Cloud’s trump cards as his final Limit Breaks. This was the same move Cloud used to finish Sephiroth off in the Planet’s Core.
• Omnislash Version 6 – Developed two years after the fall of Sephiroth at the Northern Crater, this variation of Omnislash utilizes the ability of not just one sword, but six. Cloud’s new weapon, the Fusion Sword, is capable of splitting off into six separate blades that Cloud can efficiently combine and wield together. Cloud may trigger Omnislash Version 6 when wielding this sword, though it is unknown if he has other variations of this final attack based upon which weapons are in his possession. Swinging his sword forward, it splits off into six parts that encircle the opponent, each glowing with trails of pure energy. Cloud then takes hold of one of those six with unprecedented speed, running the target through a total of fourteen times as it ends with Cloud surrounded by his swords circled around him. This Limit Break is unique in that Cloud seems to have perfected the ability to create energy copies of himself capable of assaulting the opponent during the Omnislash sequence, which is what boosted the hit total of this combo up to fourteen in the first place. As powerful as his previous Limit Breaks could be in various situations, this is his most powerful one, one of which he would only dare use if he felt it would ensure his victory due to the effort taken to pull it off. This was used to defeat Sephiroth for a third time in the ruins of Midgar, two years after Meteor fell.
Items/Weapons: Fusion Swords & Cell Phone (no reception obviously)
Sample Entry:
[it didn't take Cloud long to figure out how this phone worked exactly. wherever he was, it was nowhere on the Planet anymore. he'd already been here for the past day- he just didn't think to communicate with anyone until now. he had his own cell phone, but the reception was dead and useless to him. in the camera you can see a man with hauntingly glowing blue eyes. you can't hear it through the video, but occasionally his eyes dart around...as if he hears something. someone. voices. he's inside, it seems. but where? one of the apartments no doubt]
I've lived nightmares worse than this. (Let's just hope this doesn't come back to bite me.)
Can anybody hear me? Tifa? Barret?
... ... ...
All alone. Hm.
[with a creaking sound, he falls back on the bed he's on, holding the camera over himself still as he stares up into it. his eyes don't show any real signs of fear... but there's something else in them. the feeling of isolation. of being alone. it was worse than most horrors]
Think. I fell asleep in my own bed. Don’t think I was even dreaming but I…
[one last time, Cloud pulls out his old phone, the reception dead and the battery life starting to dwindle down. no one to call, text, no one to give him an answer… he finally closes his eyes as he lets his cell drop beside his head. he suddenly feels tired]
Where am I really? I can't wake up.
Sample Entry Two: This wasn’t exactly how Cloud had anticipated his first day in Haven to pan out. Down beneath the equally bleak city above and into the subway tunnels, one man in particular had taken his chances. He didn’t know where he was going or what he was going to find, but he’d found the stations and railways familiar to him. It was reminiscent of the same train stations that he and the others travelled through in Midgar. This time, there were no missions on hand or reactors to destroy; only a selfish desire to escape and find that proverbial light at the end of the tunnel. Every step that he took invoked an echo that seemed to ring far longer than he would have preferred, as if it came back to pound in his ears and remind him that each step he took was to be cherished.
As if he didn’t have many left to live through-
“!”
Whirling on his heel, Cloud’s paranoia was beginning to reach critical mass. The voices in his head, the whispers, the thought of being touched but it never actually coming… So wound up by this realm of despair was Cloud, that he impulsively drew his sword, pointing it at the darkness only for nothing to answer the call of battle. For a good minute he stood there, holding his ground as the brightest light down there was the dull glow of mako in his sapphire-hued gaze. The grip upon his blade tightened too until eventually it ceased, an admittedly shaky sigh escaping the man’s lips as he didn’t bother to resheath it. He would keep it by his side, like an elderly man in need of his walking stick. It was his only way, his only solace in this world of darkness and madness. Theorizing that if he kept following the tunnels, he’d eventually see a way out, the acerbic warrior pressed onward. Would he wake up? Was he already awake to begin with? What was he supposed to believe and what was he supposed to deny? He didn’t dare call out least he attracted unwanted attention. An hour passed as he checked his phone- no reception underground. It was only natural after all.
And yet Cloud wasn’t afraid of the dark or what lurked here. No, his fears ran far deeper…
”You hate being alone so let people in. Sure you don’t answer the phone, but I don’t see you throwing it away either!”
“Ah…?” He stopped again, this time sensing that something was approaching. In the darkness ahead was a pair of sinister glowing red eyes. He should have known that staying down here for so long he would eventually come across something. But he wouldn’t give in- he still felt power surging through his body, adrenaline guiding him to his goal, to a way out. To victory; it would never be in his grasp however. And if he was going to stubbornly keep this up, he was going to learn the hard way.
--
SEVEN HOURS LATER . . .
--
”Haah… haah… ngh—aah..”
The grunts and groans heard rising from the steps of the Haven West station almost signified that something wicked was daring to rise up from the depths underground. It was always more frightening when you didn’t know what went bump in the night. For anyone that was happening by at the time however, or would happen by later on, the otherwise dull and washed out scenery would be accentuated by some fine, fresh crimson, a trail of blood leading up the steps to the entrance. And who or what was responsible for the change of scenery? Dragging his blade behind him with blood and gore clinging from the otherwise shining work of art, he could barely use it as a crutch let alone as a weapon now.
Seven hours…seven hours he stayed down there and threw himself to the wolves as it were. And what did Cloud have to show for it? A glazed over look in his eyes with a notable and deep gash in the back that threatened to let you see to his spine, bite marks that tore bits of flesh from his body, and so much more that no one should have dared survive through. With the last of his strength, the blond warrior that could never truly say die, found his gaze searching the murky skies above. It was in that moment that he finally found solace in something. Something cool that conflicted with the hot sensation coursing through his body.
“Ah…”
The rain… If he rested for a while, the rain would wash away the blood and he could get back up later. Right?
“………”
Was he even aware of where he was now? His heart beat in his chest, his body broken but his mind unable to truly yield. And even than as he finally collapsed to the cold ground beneath him, his eyes lifeless and betraying that he was still alive…
(Tifa…)
Cloud would carry on. Cloud would suffer. There were other ways to die than to lose one’s physical being. The question at hand was, would he let himself die anyway?
Welcome to Haven, Cloud Strife. You have no power here.
"Somebody..."
Contact Info: [Email] spin.dash@hotmail.com | [Plurk] Clandon | [AIM] hikari to yamii
Other Characters Played: N/A
Preferred Apartment: N/A
Character Name: Cloud Strife
Canon: Final Fantasy VII
Canon Point: Post Advent Children Complete | After Sephiroth’s defeat and Geostigma has been cured
Background/History: Final Fantasy Wikia
Personality:
”No one lives in the slums because they want to. It's like this train. It can only go where the tracks take it.”
When you think of JRPG protagonists, a few names can come to mind as far as memorable ones. From the silent protagonist Crono (Chrono Trigger), Lloyd Irving (Tales of Symphonia), the nameable hero (Secret of Mana), Ness (EarthBound), the list can carry on. But arguably so there aren’t that many that can hold the weight (literally and figuratively) of the genre as well as Cloud Strife has. Armed with an impossibly huge sword, gravity-defying hair and a cocky attitude in a modern yet cyberpunk inspired world, Final Fantasy VII is largely considered the title that helped the JRPG usher outside the home market and re-introduced fans to older and newer games alike. Cloud has seen many changes over the compilation that’s shaped him into the quiet and brooding man we commonly see today. At his core though, he retains much of what drew in the crowd of fans all over.
With one too many burdens more than any man should ever have to suffer through, Cloud Strife can often times be a troubled individual these days. Usually diving into a vast sea of thoughts in the midst of a partially clear but also hazy past, he can sometimes appear lost, not in the sense of location, but of a disturbed mind. Despite this, he doesn’t allow himself to completely succumb to the pains that continue to try and weigh him down. Looked to by some as a leader and a hero, it is through the hopes of others that he often finds the strength to rise to the occasion, albeit sometimes with a struggle in the beginning. This reliance on others at times has given the impression that he can’t properly act of his own accord, much like a puppet that needs its strings pulled in order to have a purpose. Such analogies are largely used in part to his loathsome yet eternal conflict with Sephiroth, the man responsible for many of the terrible outcomes in Cloud’s life. From his failures in reaching his goal of becoming a member of SOLDIER, his home town being burned to the ground by Sephiroth and his family all but taken away from him, being used as an experiment that ultimately shaped him into a failed ‘clone’ of Sephiroth, these actions and the consequential ones that followed molded Cloud into the man that he is today. Bouts of insecurity originated from all these previous failures that Cloud couldn’t stop, always nagging despite the fact he continues on towards the future.
”People tell me that my personality is divided. I don't think so, but maybe it is."
As a means to cover up those split moments of insecurity, Cloud’s personality changes with his mood and the situation at hand; just like any normal human being. He could be a quiet, shy, brooding, cold asshole (to be put bluntly) in one time, but put on the warmest of smiles and laugh when he’s feeling okay for the right person who passes him by. He’s the pillar of support for those that don’t know how to stand up on their own, and he knows this. He can lay on sarcasm sometimes, and knows how to put up a decent act (ask him about the theater in the Golden Saucer; he just might tell you!) Overall, however, Cloud is another good hearted person with a hero complex, the will to protect others and help them out a strong motive of his, no matter how he feels. That loyalty to his family and friends was also accentuated by his own shortcomings in the past. What started with the motivation to get stronger and be noticed by his childhood friend Tifa Lockhart, shifted even further upon serving in the Shinra military and befriending Zack Fair. Zack embodied most of everything that Cloud wanted to be as a hero, though the blond initially aspired to be just like Sephiroth (the once heroic general of SOLDIER gone rogue). Carrying on what Cloud likes to call Zack’s “Living Legacy”, what SOLDIER meant to Cloud and what it meant to be a hero continues to be a driving force behind the battles he partakes in.
Cloud has never been the most social of butterflies, not too many people getting an opportunity to get close to him; for anyone to be able to find the sensitivity behind those distant blue eyes is a near miracle for he will usually find himself avoiding people. The blond had never been a natural when it came to socialization; better put, he is a reserved individual. Despite this, whatever friends he does have are held in high regard to him as he will not hesitate to protect those that he loves, and open up to them about any internal conflicts that he is suffering through. Given it be a battle, personal mentality, or just socialization in general, Cloud can sometimes find himself at a lack of confidence within. Although, upon overcoming a fear or any hesitations, determination and a headstrong attitude can overwhelm him, making him a force to be reckoned with. Do not underestimate him when he’s found the will to stand up against you; his confidence is his strength, and he will overpower you if you are not careful.
”I ain't INTERESTED in a buncha scrubs like you!!"
Quite possibly one of the most legendary individuals on the Planet to have ever wielded a sword, rivalling the prowess of Sephiroth, Cloud has a vast knowledge in how to handle his weaponry. Having spent a good year under the impression that he was a 1st Class SOLDIER, it was through this mindset and the developed instincts that would come with such a rank of the elite warriors, that he fit the role very well. Despite his tales as a SOLDIER being purely fictional due to the traumas of his past, because he spent a part of his life serving as a Shinra Infantryman rather than a SOLDIER, Cloud developed a general understanding of firearms, only further expanding his repertoire of weapons that he is capable of using. However, despite this, he has a strong preference of swordsmanship over the marksmanship of guns.
His weakest link is most likely his mind, as he has been manipulated against his will due to the Jenova cells that flow through his veins after years of experimentation upon his broken body, a manipulation upon the blond that Sephiroth took advantage of as he also controlled the power of Jenova. However, these days such manipulation is very difficult and near impossible due to having found the resolve to his past, and being aware of when someone would dare try to obliterate his mentality once more. While his weakest link, it is still a powerful one.
Sometimes he'll follow a sense of logic and justice that only he can understand, causing others to find minor annoyance out of him. In the words of his friend Yuffie Kisaragi, "That Cloud is a royal pain in the ass, like always." To which Tifa could only respond with a smile, "Cloud is Cloud." He acts upon instinct and what his heart tells him when his mind doesn't like to work, thus adding to his headstrong tendencies and the nature to sometimes rush into a situation. That doesn't make him careless, however. He just likes his action.
As a break in his more stoic demeanor, Cloud sometimes will say things that aren't exactly weird, but may be an odd choice of words. In these moments where he might not exactly be putting up the cold and serious front, he also is known to have a sense of humor, albeit this is very rare in a vast sea of focus upon more important matters. Cloud does have a lighter side though, in which he even accepted disguising himself as a woman for the sake of rescuing Tifa from a perverted crime boss, Don Corneo. His hobbies also include racing (be it with Chocobos or motorcycles) and extreme sports such as snowboarding. Cloud is also no stranger to video games, though he tends to stick to simulator games that bring him closer to the action of sports of racing and snowboarding.
The rollercoaster of a life that Cloud has been on has seen many ups and downs that have shaped him into who he is. But as was previously stated despite his natural leadership skills, Cloud's had to rely on others to stay on the right track. His fear of being alone and unnoticed would have no doubt lead to an early demise, mentally so.
Helping to anchor Cloud to reality when he was caught up in his own illusions as an Ex-SOLDIER, Tifa Lockhart and Aerith Gainsborough both guided him back to piecing together who he truly was. Much of his persona during the majority of Final Fantasy VII was fabricated from the concept of a tough member of SOLDIER and the ideals that Zack carried and making them his own, the real Cloud lost in translation until he was questioned by the contradictions that surrounded him. Aerith shared a deep connection with Zack before meeting Cloud, and though she saw a lot of traits in Cloud that reminded her of Zack, her kind nature while pursuing the truth with blatant honesty encouraged him to search for himself and fight for the Planet. While the two worked together to help establish a footprint on Cloud's true identity, to this day he relies on Tifa as a pillar of support. She was the one who helped piece together his fragmented mind when it was once shattered, in that moment becoming clear to him that Tifa would always be one of, if not the most important part of his life. It's because of Tifa that he can say with a straight face that he lives a normal life, and it's because of her that regardless of what happens, he'll always be a hero to her- the knight in shining armor that he promised to be when she needed to be rescued.
An enigma and yet the easiest person to understand, if you figure out the secret to look beyond what's behind those mako-induced eyes of his. This is who Cloud Strife is.
Abilities/Powers:
After years of borderline torturous experiments being performed on him, Cloud’s body has been enhanced by Mako and Jenova cells. Mako has the properties of enhancing someone’s capabilities to superhuman levels- not limited to super strength (able to effortlessly demolish chunks of skyscraper pieces with relative ease, possibly more), inhuman reflexes, heightened senses and speed. The Jenova cells add a level of resilience to his body that would otherwise leave him suffering from fatal injuries. Wounds heal at a much faster pace than normal humans do. A prime example of this is the fact that Cloud was capable of fighting back after receiving over seven impalements from Sephiroth’s sword. Despite being a bloody mess, Cloud was able to survive and summon enough strength to defeat his nemesis once and for all. With his otherwise inhuman body, Cloud also has easier access of harnessing a power latent within all humans that reach their breaking point…
Limit Break • "When an enemy has pushed your anger to the limits, you can unleash unimaginable power."
As described by Cloud himself, a Limit Break is essentially pushing yourself beyond what’s considered your body’s limitations to perform amazing feats of strength. Used as a mechanic in gameplay for Final Fantasy VII as an ultimate attack that can only be used when your Limit Break gauge is filled, in all other parts of the compilation (cinematically and what is likely considered a more canon approach to how they work) they have been shown to be utilized freely upon learning them. For example, in the Dissidia Final Fantasy fighting games Cloud can utilize every single one of his Limit Breaks save for the Omnislash as that’s his finishing attack (again, gameplay mechanic). In Advent Children Complete, Cloud freely utilizes his Limit Breaks against his opponents including the Omnislash and upgraded Omnislash Version 6. Through extensive training and bursts of anger, one can achieve higher levels of Limit Breaks, canonly between levels 1 and 4, 4 being the strongest. Most Limit Breaks are accompanied by a fiery blue aura (in Cloud’s case, covering himself or his swords.) Cloud’s current-known Limit Breaks are as follows.
LEVEL 1
• Braver – Cloud jumps above the opponent with his sword over his head, focusing his power into one single blow that has crushing results as he comes crashing down. With this attack, it’s significantly stronger than a normal slash from him and has been seen to be able to shatter very thick and durable armor; such as when Cloud busted the face of Bahamut SIN whereas the other members of AVALANCHE could only leave scratches from gunfire, shurikens, claws/fangs and spears. Somewhat slow and punishable, but very powerful upon hit.
• Cross-slash – A succession of three heavy slashes and boasting more power than Braver, it’s a straightforward attack accompanied by a glowing stroke for each swipe, making out this mark. 凶 Capable of sending opponents flying and crashing through walls, this is another attack that is slower than others but devastating on contact.
LEVEL 2
• Blade Beam – Cloud charges up energy within his sword, sparking with electricity and light before he slams the weapon down, unleashing a crescent-shaped beam that rips across the ground. Causes an explosion on contact with the target and is capable of letting off smaller shockwaves that can take out other enemies within range. The downside is that the Blade Beam’s trajectory can only follow along a solid surface and cannot be launched after an airborne opponent, making this ability against opponents capable of flight or lengthened suspension in the air almost useless.
• Climhazzard – In some cases, Cloud’s weapon will take on a fiery blue aura as he performs this attack. Sticking his blade into an opponent, he then jumps up while running the weapon with, essentially cleaving most that face this move in two. In the case of Bahamut SIN, Cloud struck the dragon in the back and ran up along its back before finishing on the other side, finishing the summoned beast off.
LEVEL 3
• Meteorain – An attack that can be utilized both on the ground and in the air, Cloud summons forth six meteors and commands them to rain down upon his opponent(s). Essentially a fire-based Limit Break due to the nature of the meteors, the start-up time on this ability is slower than most of his Limit Breaks as Cloud needs a moment to wave his sword and conjure up the meteors.
• Finishing Touch – There are two variations of this Limit Break, one canonly belonging to the main game of Final Fantasy VII and the other being from the Dissidia games. The canon one is where Cloud will charge power within his sword, collecting wind as he prepares to strike before swinging forward, unleashing a tornado that can carry enemies away. In video game mechanics, the attack can instantly kill lesser enemies while those that are immune to Death simply fall to the ground when the Limit Break ends, dealing major damage. For RP purposes, this attack will be treated as the latter, targets being swept up by the tornado. The Dissidia version is a more up-close variation where Cloud will sweep the opponent up in a cyclone or slashes, surrounded by a blue aura and bursts of wind before he delivers the final blow that sends the target crashing to the ground.
LEVEL 4
• Omnislash – Cloud’s ultimate attack. Erupting in a display of raw power as an intense aura envelope him and his sword, Cloud swiftly rushes the opponent(s) with a rapid succession of 15 slashes back to back (finishing off with a blow from above much like he does with Braver). Difficult to counter if one’s never encountered this attack before, it is amongst one of two of Cloud’s trump cards as his final Limit Breaks. This was the same move Cloud used to finish Sephiroth off in the Planet’s Core.
• Omnislash Version 6 – Developed two years after the fall of Sephiroth at the Northern Crater, this variation of Omnislash utilizes the ability of not just one sword, but six. Cloud’s new weapon, the Fusion Sword, is capable of splitting off into six separate blades that Cloud can efficiently combine and wield together. Cloud may trigger Omnislash Version 6 when wielding this sword, though it is unknown if he has other variations of this final attack based upon which weapons are in his possession. Swinging his sword forward, it splits off into six parts that encircle the opponent, each glowing with trails of pure energy. Cloud then takes hold of one of those six with unprecedented speed, running the target through a total of fourteen times as it ends with Cloud surrounded by his swords circled around him. This Limit Break is unique in that Cloud seems to have perfected the ability to create energy copies of himself capable of assaulting the opponent during the Omnislash sequence, which is what boosted the hit total of this combo up to fourteen in the first place. As powerful as his previous Limit Breaks could be in various situations, this is his most powerful one, one of which he would only dare use if he felt it would ensure his victory due to the effort taken to pull it off. This was used to defeat Sephiroth for a third time in the ruins of Midgar, two years after Meteor fell.
Items/Weapons: Fusion Swords & Cell Phone (no reception obviously)
Sample Entry:
[it didn't take Cloud long to figure out how this phone worked exactly. wherever he was, it was nowhere on the Planet anymore. he'd already been here for the past day- he just didn't think to communicate with anyone until now. he had his own cell phone, but the reception was dead and useless to him. in the camera you can see a man with hauntingly glowing blue eyes. you can't hear it through the video, but occasionally his eyes dart around...as if he hears something. someone. voices. he's inside, it seems. but where? one of the apartments no doubt]
I've lived nightmares worse than this. (Let's just hope this doesn't come back to bite me.)
Can anybody hear me? Tifa? Barret?
... ... ...
All alone. Hm.
[with a creaking sound, he falls back on the bed he's on, holding the camera over himself still as he stares up into it. his eyes don't show any real signs of fear... but there's something else in them. the feeling of isolation. of being alone. it was worse than most horrors]
Think. I fell asleep in my own bed. Don’t think I was even dreaming but I…
[one last time, Cloud pulls out his old phone, the reception dead and the battery life starting to dwindle down. no one to call, text, no one to give him an answer… he finally closes his eyes as he lets his cell drop beside his head. he suddenly feels tired]
Where am I really? I can't wake up.
Sample Entry Two: This wasn’t exactly how Cloud had anticipated his first day in Haven to pan out. Down beneath the equally bleak city above and into the subway tunnels, one man in particular had taken his chances. He didn’t know where he was going or what he was going to find, but he’d found the stations and railways familiar to him. It was reminiscent of the same train stations that he and the others travelled through in Midgar. This time, there were no missions on hand or reactors to destroy; only a selfish desire to escape and find that proverbial light at the end of the tunnel. Every step that he took invoked an echo that seemed to ring far longer than he would have preferred, as if it came back to pound in his ears and remind him that each step he took was to be cherished.
As if he didn’t have many left to live through-
“!”
Whirling on his heel, Cloud’s paranoia was beginning to reach critical mass. The voices in his head, the whispers, the thought of being touched but it never actually coming… So wound up by this realm of despair was Cloud, that he impulsively drew his sword, pointing it at the darkness only for nothing to answer the call of battle. For a good minute he stood there, holding his ground as the brightest light down there was the dull glow of mako in his sapphire-hued gaze. The grip upon his blade tightened too until eventually it ceased, an admittedly shaky sigh escaping the man’s lips as he didn’t bother to resheath it. He would keep it by his side, like an elderly man in need of his walking stick. It was his only way, his only solace in this world of darkness and madness. Theorizing that if he kept following the tunnels, he’d eventually see a way out, the acerbic warrior pressed onward. Would he wake up? Was he already awake to begin with? What was he supposed to believe and what was he supposed to deny? He didn’t dare call out least he attracted unwanted attention. An hour passed as he checked his phone- no reception underground. It was only natural after all.
And yet Cloud wasn’t afraid of the dark or what lurked here. No, his fears ran far deeper…
”You hate being alone so let people in. Sure you don’t answer the phone, but I don’t see you throwing it away either!”
“Ah…?” He stopped again, this time sensing that something was approaching. In the darkness ahead was a pair of sinister glowing red eyes. He should have known that staying down here for so long he would eventually come across something. But he wouldn’t give in- he still felt power surging through his body, adrenaline guiding him to his goal, to a way out. To victory; it would never be in his grasp however. And if he was going to stubbornly keep this up, he was going to learn the hard way.
--
SEVEN HOURS LATER . . .
--
”Haah… haah… ngh—aah..”
The grunts and groans heard rising from the steps of the Haven West station almost signified that something wicked was daring to rise up from the depths underground. It was always more frightening when you didn’t know what went bump in the night. For anyone that was happening by at the time however, or would happen by later on, the otherwise dull and washed out scenery would be accentuated by some fine, fresh crimson, a trail of blood leading up the steps to the entrance. And who or what was responsible for the change of scenery? Dragging his blade behind him with blood and gore clinging from the otherwise shining work of art, he could barely use it as a crutch let alone as a weapon now.
Seven hours…seven hours he stayed down there and threw himself to the wolves as it were. And what did Cloud have to show for it? A glazed over look in his eyes with a notable and deep gash in the back that threatened to let you see to his spine, bite marks that tore bits of flesh from his body, and so much more that no one should have dared survive through. With the last of his strength, the blond warrior that could never truly say die, found his gaze searching the murky skies above. It was in that moment that he finally found solace in something. Something cool that conflicted with the hot sensation coursing through his body.
“Ah…”
The rain… If he rested for a while, the rain would wash away the blood and he could get back up later. Right?
“………”
Was he even aware of where he was now? His heart beat in his chest, his body broken but his mind unable to truly yield. And even than as he finally collapsed to the cold ground beneath him, his eyes lifeless and betraying that he was still alive…
(Tifa…)
Cloud would carry on. Cloud would suffer. There were other ways to die than to lose one’s physical being. The question at hand was, would he let himself die anyway?
Welcome to Haven, Cloud Strife. You have no power here.
"Somebody..."