#zacks living legacy

[luizazemi]

Finished Final Fantasy VII Crisis Core Reunion... Square Enix I hadn't recovered from the OG, why must this game be such a meme and yet so cruel

[strayheartless]

Do you know what is really funny?

The fact that Cloud attempts to get out of helping Tifa with the water filters by audibly groaning while she tells him about the job. Like, this boy is so dramatic he will vocalise like an anxious dog when he doesn’t want to do something. It’s hilarious.

I personally like to think it’s something he picked up from Zack. Because it’s such a Zack thing to do. Just imagine Angeal asking him to do something and Zack just groaning pathetically until Angeal lets him away with it or tells him to deal and get on with it.

Imagine then Cloud having no memory of Zack, but having memories of himself (in Zack’s place) groaning at Sephiroth who wants an early start up Nibel mountain.

Identity theft isn’t funny. But accidentally picking up your best friends dumb habits absolutely is.

[berrywinkle]

Zack should get wings in AU’s where he survives. I think he deserves them.

[sheylara-san]

"My honor, my dreams...They're yours now"

[rayshippouuchiha]

No matter how long it's been or how many times I play it, the ending of Crisis Core always destroys me

[finallyfantasy7]

"His legacy gave life to Final Fantasy VII ——"

I took screenshots from an official Square Enix Twitter video and tried to put together the whole image. The result is the image above. Click to enlarge.

[ID: Very wide image with Zack Fair on the left bestowing Buster Sword to Cloud Strife on the right. End ID]

I love how the it changes from fair weather to cloud-y sky.

Source on Twitter: /finalfantasyvii/status/1606673804943454208

This is what I had to work with ⬆️

[willemdafriendlyfriend]

Original Zack and Cloud

[myristicisms]

@everyoneletsmosey | Cloud Strife says;;

“ You've never been shy about that stuff. ”

There was a lot Zack hadn't been shy about so many years ago; Grinning widely and cracking jokes, letting himself be properly seen with little to no fears of judgement, but most of all, Zack had never been shy about sharing his feelings and making his needs known. Nowadays though, it felt like pulling teeth for any of those things to even be thought about let alone allow himself to do. That's what it was with most others anyways but much the same as Cloud had managed to be that last piece of his past that kept him grounded, apparently the blonde also managed to make the former SOLDIER feel like nothing really changed.

Not until Cloud pointed out the fact that Zack hadn't allowed himself those small luxuries anymore, not that it was much of a surprise given how utterly terrified he'd been the first night to even let his partner, his lover, his best friend, see his bare chest. Bullet ridden and ugly, that's what he'd thought of his body and especially his sternum, but Cloud found an odd beauty in the amalgam of scars scattering across tawny skin and who was Zack to think his partner a liar? Even if he didn't personally agree, the raven haired man wouldn't even think to argue, not anymore.

“ No, I guess I never really was. ” He manages sheepishly, looks awfully embarrassed for a man that had been so well known for his confidence over the years. “ I guess nowadays I just feel weird about it, I don't like the idea of other people seeing something in me that's not there, y'know? Like I'm some big scary monster of a man whenever I grin or coming off as needy whenever I get nervous and just want to be left alone. You get me, understand me well enough so I'm not... I'm not nervous about that stuff when it's just us. ”

[livingprophecy]

people who were at least A LITTLE in love with zack by the end of crisis core — a comprehensive guide by me

aerith. i really don't have to expand any more on this, that's his other half, his perfect match, all that shit.

cloud. again, don't have to expand too much, he loved zack so much he basically became zack. the sincerest form of flattery and all that. plus he's the SOLDIER who remembered his name and like, actually cared about him. that's his bestie that he was not 100% heterosexual with.

sephiroth. bro the way that man looks at zack is not heterosexual, after the bit in junon where he's literally making heart eyes at zack.... yeah he's more than a little in love.

kunsel. listen the two of them are just homies that also would've made out with each other. i'm not wrong.

cissnei. the fact that mail you (zack) receive from her goes in the "friends" file and she tells zack that he's the first person who's ever wanted to celebrate her??? the way she lets him go because she recognizes he deserves better????? that's some love bitch!

tseng. definitely was still way too obsessed with aerith but it was there for sure.

[noxtivagus]

THE ZACK FAIR BRAINROT IS SO REAL

[astrxealis]

... im going to listen to the cc soundtrack on repeat again

[hollypollly]

Cloud and Zack - Living Legacy

[skywheeldate]

Analyzing the Skywheel Dates

Unable to wait patiently for the Ultimania releasing next month, I wanted to provide my own analysis of the Skywheel dates between Cloud/Tifa and Cloud/Aerith.

By analyzing Cloud's behavior on these two dates, which are explicitly more romantic than the other four, I aim to understand why the dates played out the way they did and what was going through the character's heads during them.

Tifa Date:

What sticks out in most player's minds during the date is the kiss Cloud gives Tifa while riding the Skywheel, and it's easy to see why! It's the first time Cloud has kissed a woman on screen, after all. But I have seen fans state that this proves Cloud likes Tifa more, and while I hate to get myself involved in any shipping war, I feel there is a more interesting conclusion we can draw based on the timeline of events throughout both remake games.

First, I want to direct you to this caption from the Remake Ultimania:

When Cloud gives Tifa the flower, he wants to "Show off a youthful image of what he himself wants to be like"...

I think this caption is very important to helping us understand why Cloud was able to be so bold as to kiss the girl he was always too shy to befriend as a child. And I think it's linked to his new "ex-soldier persona."

See, the ex-soldier persona Cloud crafted is modeled after a person he admired and wanted to be like: Zack. Although making this new personality for himself was an unhealthy response to his trauma, I think there are good things to it, as well. For one, it allowed him to take action again and thereby begin his first steps towards recovery. In addition, it gives him courage to do things he never could before, such as strutting his stuff on the dance floor:

I don't think it's too far of a stretch to say that this extends to him giving the flower to Tifa.

So this, in my mind, explains how Cloud had the courage to kiss Tifa and why some fans might think it felt a little sudden or out of character--it's because it almost is, in a way. But let me reiterate, I don't think that's a bad thing. I think Zack's influence on Cloud is somewhat natural and, frankly, having the courage to do the things you want and have fun is never a bad thing. I truly believe Cloud is exemplifying being Zack's "living legacy" by becoming more confident and outgoing. It's a good thing!!

And let's not ignore Tifa in this scene. Before the kiss, Tifa brings up that she feels she and Cloud have become closer, but frets that she's rushing to conclusions again. She's giving Cloud a clear opening to prove his feelings for her--and frankly, after all this build up? Giving the flower, all the tiny touches they've shared? Cloud is more than ready to prove it to her, and he does. It's so easy, and he does it the best way he knows how: with a kiss. In that moment, the boy became the man he's always aspired to be.

Aerith Date:

Conversely, the Aerith date isn't quite as simple--at least to me. It's hard to understand what's going on in their heads, and I think they comparatively have more obstacles in the way of their romance.

The biggest obstacle is that Aerith has seen through Cloud's persona, and almost calls him out on it during the date. She tells him she's looking for the real him, and that she wants to meet him someday.

I believe this stops Cloud, subconsciously. While the persona he built around Zack gives him more confidence, it's still a persona. It's not who he really is. By giving into that persona at all, he is not giving Aerith what she wants. Being confident and bold with Tifa was important, because she needed proof he liked her, but here? What's important is being the "real" Cloud, whoever that is. It must have stumped him.

Aerith gives him an easy out though: she asks Cloud to let her snuggle up against him until the ride ends. And that much, at least, Cloud can manage. And he goes even further than that when he interlaces their fingers together. I think this is his way of showing that he'll be there for Aerith--not just till the ride ends, but after. He's showing her that he does, in fact, care about her, and that her selfish request isn't as selfish as she thinks it is.

I also want to bring up the lyrics from No Promises to Keep here since I think they're extremely relevant to the Clerith relationship and the hand-holding symbolism seen throughout the game:

Till the day that we meet again At our place, just let me believe In the chance that you'll come Take my hand and never let me go Take my hand And believe We can be Together evermore

The hand holding symbolizes their shared desire to be "together evermore" and the belief that they will be. The interlocked fingers display a powerful, mutual bond that cannot be so easily severed. I think this imagery is both simple and extremely beautiful.

In summary, although they are not at a point in their relationship where they're ready to kiss yet, I believe this scene is meant to show that there is still possibility for their relationship to grow and get to that point.

.❀。• *₊°。 ❀°。• *₊°。 .❀

Thank you for reading till the end! I hope you enjoyed my thoughts. Feel free to use or reference this post if you found it resonated with your own interpretations of these scenes. And if you have your own interpretations to share, I would love to hear them!

[altocat]

I feel like being mean.

The firsts find a djinn lamp. AGSCZ all get to make their own wish. No one realizes they are monkey's paws until it's too late.

Canon is the ultimate Monkey's Paw. Everything they'd wish for only falls into place as it was preordained before.

Angeal: Wishes for an honorable legacy. Dies with Zack having to pass down that legacy for him.

Genesis: Wishes to be the very best. All of his friends are gone and he's the only one left.

Zack: Wishes to become a hero. Heroically sacrifices himself so Cloud can live.

Sephiroth: Wishes for his mother. Connects with Jenova at the cost of his own humanity.

Cloud: Wishes to be a hero just like Zack. Literally becomes Zack and fractures his own identity in the process.

[crimson-amarone]

Fancasting for a Trigun live-action tv series/movie!! I know we got just Trigun Stampede, but we can’t let Cowboy Bebop get a live action and not Trigun right??

For all my selections I would say about 75-80% are actors I have seen in one or more of their most well known roles. For anyone else I narrowed down to 2-4 options and I did extra research into their filmography, interviews to hear their voices and general vibe, etc. And I also looked at what kind of roles they trended towards—sci-fi/fantasy and superhero media giving them bonus points.

See below for info about the actors and my runner up choices for each character. I included tidbits like their age, height, and notable roles.

For Vash and Knives I wanted to first look for real life identical twins. After some research, I believe I found a fitting pair. Cole and Dylan Sprouse, best know for their childhood roles in the Suite Life of Zack and Cody. Although I don’t think I knew their adult roles as well as their Zack and Cody days, that real twin dynamic just adds that extra layer.

Of the two, I found Cole having a softer look, and lately it appears he’s been going with black hair which seemed fitting if we think about black-haired Vash at the end of TriMax. Dylan’s look has just that different sharpness and edginess that I slotted him to Knives.

Ruby Cruz (Kit Tanthalos, Disney+’s Willow) is a very talented young woman and recently made a feature length movie debut as Hazel Callahan in Bottoms (2023) and will be starring in an upcoming rom-com The Threesome. (See notes about edit below.)

Milly was a tricky one for me. I have a couple of runners up below. My current pick is Mina Sundwall, especially for her role as Penny Robinson in Netflix’s space family drama Lost in Space.

Although I’m on board with the HC that Wolfwood is Latinx, I had to go with famous werewolf Jacob Black from Twilight, Taylor Lautner. I got a couple other choices below too.

Liam Hemsworth (or Chris idkkkk). Nuff said?

Rem was a bit hard to choose. I had to go with Candice Patton as a personal big fan of her role as Iris West in The Flash as a DC fan. She has just the right oh-crap-I-have-kids-I-am-not-prepared-at-all motherly acting vibe down pat that is essential for Rem.

Despite the fact that Christopher Daniel Barnes is always smiling in photos, his breath of filmography makes him such a good fit for wise Drunkle Roberto.

Being so effing hyped about Nicholas playing Lex Luthor in Superman Legacies (2025) he has the perfect mix of heroic and villain roles for Legato’s psychotic righteousness. And he’s already had blue hair (and fur all over his whole body) as Hank “Beast” McCoy, c’mon too easy.

Zazie Beetz… that couldn’t have been a coincidence? Like Studio Orange must have know about this actress when they worked on the Beast’s revamped design. For a second option I’d probably pick a child/adolescent actor but Zazie can pretty much take whatever form they want, so why not both? Edit: I’m going with Scarlett (Trixie from Lucifer). Very very talent young woman. She’s funny, smart, sassy.

Role: Vash the Stampede

Actor: Cole Sprouse

Age: 31

Height: 6’0”

Best known role: Cody Martin ( The Suite Life of Zack & Cody)

Runner-up Actor: Mason Dye (Jason Carver, Stranger Things)

———

Role: Millions Knives

Actor: Dylan Sprouse

Age: 31

Height: 6’0”

Best known role: Zack Martin ( The Suite Life of Zack & Cody)

Runner-up Actor: Christopher Lowell (Sebastian “Bash” Howard, GLOW and Jess, How I Met Your Father)

———

Role: Meryl Stryfe

Actor: Ruby Cruz

Age: 23

Height: 5’3”

Best known role: (Kit Tanthalos, Disney+’s Willow)

Edit: I swapped Ruby Cruz in for Bex as I learned how far along Bex was in their gender journey. As much as I respect Bex’s journey and the gender representation is important, I still want to pick someone I feel leans more feminine for Meryl.

Runner-up Actor: tbd, maybe Christine Lee or Ana Yi Puig

———

Role: Nicholas D. Wolfwood

Actor: Taylor Lautner

Age: 32

Height: 5’8”

Best known role: Jacob Black (Twilight movies)

Runner-up Actor: David Castro (Raphael Santiago, Freeform’s Shadowhunters)

———

Role: Roberto De Niro

Actor: Christopher Daniel Barnes

Age: 51

Height: 5’11”

Best known role: Spiderman (Spider-Man 90s), Prince Eric (The Little Mermaid 89)

Runner-up Actor: Edgar Ramirez (Bourne Ultimatum 2007, Carlos the Jackal, HBO’s The Undoing)

———

Role: Milly Thompson

Actor: Mina Sundwall

Age: 22

Height: 5’6”

Best known role: Penny Robinson (Lost in Space, 2018)

Runner-up Actors: Liana Liberato, Kennedy McGann, Ellie Gall, Luna Wedler

———

Role: Rem Saverem

Actor: Candice Patton

Age: 35

Height: 5’4”

Best known role: Iris West (CW’s The Flash)

Runner-up Actor: Lyrica Okano (Nico Minoru, Hulu’s Runaways)

———

Role: Legato Bluesummers

Actor: Nicholas Hoult

Age: 34

Height: 6’3”

Best known role: Nux (Mad Max Fury Road), Hank “Beast” McKoy (X-Men movies), Lex Luthor (Superman Legacies, 2025)

Runner-up Actors:

2. Samuel Larson (Joe Hart, Glee) 3. Charlie Heaton (Jonathan Byers, Stranger Things) or 4. Brenton Twaites (Dick Grayson aka Nightwing, DC’s Titans)

[hedonistbyheart]

I'm thinking about "you'll be my living legacy" and how Cloud's addled mako-mind made that out to mean that he should become a hero in Zack's place, that he should take over that history, when it's very likely that Zack just meant that Cloud living would be his legacy as a hero.