I just got lost in this rabbit hole again.
After here goes nothing!
My impressions from the Chocobo carriage scene.
Hope some of you get where I'm coming from, in the end it is my interpretation of this scene by comparing his facial expressions with expressions I see/saw from people in my life and surroundings over the years. Learnig what they usually mean.
This game is a blessing for us fans. The effort the devs made to add Cloud's micro expressions just give me life! Those hint so strongly at his locked away emotions, spilling across the seams while he is with/when it's about Tifa--this is all just within seconds:
"Tifa?"
Ok, just look at him. His eyes are really so expressive. From the moment he spots the carriage.. then realising it's Tifa (Again How T FXXX does he do that?!?)...& running after it/her with visible determination.
Arriving. "BUT-!"
Pouty face I left out even though its iconic because one is only allowed 10pics in one post and I wanted to catch the angst in his shifting gaze after she says; "I'll be fine!" "You have seen how much ass I can kick."
After agreeing with her on being capable and awesome 🥰 ("wakatta") he just ... well you can see him looking at her so intensely:
Cloud is so talkative with his eyes (if he let's them!)... he looks at her..still a bit pouty, though lips loosened bit..but more wary now..
He is basically pleading with her to be careful with that intense stare! He is reading her, contemplating. Damn, Its burning!
He needs to make sure she really is careful. He probably debates within himself whether to tell her he is concerned. Wether to tell her he wants to go with. Even after she quickly shut his first attempt down
Yet he doesn't want her to think he lost his cool💪😎/or even worse : Her to get the impression he thinks she can't handle it herself!
__
Below- In the shot, just of the next millisecond , you can see that he reached a conclusion/got an answer reading her eyes.
You can see by his eyes getting narrow that he is not happy with the finds. His lips are pressed together. Not pouty anymore. Banter is over. This is even deeper now.
You can see how much it aches him to let go and do as she asked of him. Because that seems to be the conclusion seeing how the rest of the scene unfolds.
He probably feels bad not being needed as well, maybe even rejected. But I want to believe his concern for her is his primary focus:
He sees it's no point to argue with her anyhow if she asked him not to worry. Maybe feeling incapable of helping her, once again.
He even seems NOT to be focused on Tifa's face for a split second -his eyes are squinting unfocused, eyes even more downcast(sorry for the menu on the shot, was tough to time it right):
He then gets off the carriage
BUT THIS IS IMPORTANT while jumping he once more is lifting his gaze to Tifas eyes.
This is just a millisecond after he looked away. But our Boy is back at it.
This time a bit softer a bit angst even- this is to reassure himself one more time this is the only way and to make sure she really gets his intentions and he gets hers:
Look at him not happy that he has to let her go.
(Look at his furrowed brows, eyes focused on the carriage still):
This is yearning.
AT THIS POINT Tifa already sat back on the bench and her face is facing away, carriage turning around the corner.
He then turns away- still kinda *upset,concerned,annoyed by rejection,* but also determined now- to do what he was asked for.
***initiating Soldier/Cloud back on***:
Yeah, I love this scene. It is so rich. This is what I felt looking at the scene..and the stills.
So many sub layers in All the characters tbh.
I am happy Remake turned out this rich!
Tifa and Cloud are 💥 in this scene.
They are like ..she is his Polaris, his North Star. That he aims for. Orientation on her.
Aerith? Suddenly forgotten as soon as he spots Tifa.
Interesting.
Hope you enjoyed my little analyses.