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A big theme of the original FFVII, and the new trilogy too, is identity. Cloud, Red XIII, and all the other main characters are lovable softies, the type to say “Let’s mosey”, but Sephiroth, Shinra, and the cruelty of their world stole their innocence and forced them all to put up shields, pretend they’re something they’re not.
Red XIII is literally and figuratively scarred,and puts on an act as a stoic, detached badass. But it’s important that it was always only just an act. He frames this as a desire to be taken seriously by the others, which is partially true. But he’s also a victim of horrific experiments and he believes his honor is stained because his father was a coward; of course he’s going to be desperate to play the gruff hero.
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