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name, layout & credits

Or: I didn't feel like making three pages, so have a 3-in-1.

site name

I was stumped on a name for this site for a long while, and tossed around quite a few ideas — "Anxious Heart" was a contender for a while, after the song on the OST, but I didn't want to focus on something so negative. That was when I came across a fanmix on 8tracks called after the fire. I was immediately hooked: the Nibelheim fire is a defining moment for both Cloud and Tifa, and changes their lives forever. There's really only one "fire" in their lives that matters.

layout

The layout idea came to me soon after I had a name. While there are plenty of high-res images of Cloud and Tifa, particularly after the release of Advent Children Complete, there are very few with the two of them in the same frame, and I didn't want to use the scene in the church from ACC. I happened to see prismaticity's Lightning Returns art on tumblr, saw that she was taking commissions, and one thing led to another.

Since the images were portraits, it only seemed natural to put them in frames (chaoticresources). I did color their eyes, but I had to shrink the images down so much you can barely see it! The image behind them is a mountain range (from freeimages.com) to represenst Nibelheim, with a few fiery textures on top (sodamnreckless, yunyunsarang). The flowers (masterjinn) are to symbolize Aerith, because I wanted her to be represented in some way and since the portraits are of AC-era Cloud and Tifa. Finally, the background is by subtlepatterns.

It may seem a little odd that they're not facing each other, on a couple site, but I think one of the important aspects of Cloud and Tifa's relationship is that they watch each other's backs, and that's something that requires a lot of trust. There are few people Cloud can trust to watch his back, but he can trust Tifa — and vice versa. Also, it looked better this way.

I also included the "cloudy wolf" insignia on the widescreen version to represent their relationship. While the wolf motif is most often associated with Cloud, in truth it represents Cloud's bond with his family, as Tifa, Marlene, and Denzel are all shown wearing the wolf ring in the film. Family is what's kept Cloud going for so long, and Tifa is his touchstone.

credits

Layout credits are above; these are just general credits.