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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7_qc8oU92o

This a nice Clerti video from the musical version of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. I thought I'd bring this in as a sort of new discussion piece. (The under-lying theme. Not the video itself.) If you are unfamiliar with the theme of Jekyll and Hyde it works somewhat like this. They are the same man; however Jekyll is the light, friendly peace side while Hyde is the dark, cold, tortured side. When they broke apart they became unstable.
The protagonist is very similar to Cloud in this. Both men were trying to rid themselves of a part of them that they did not like (Jekyll's dark side from his light side and Cloud's weak side from his ideal side) and paid serious consequences for it. The love interests of Emma and Lucy are also similar. I thought this would be an interesting topic and help to hopefully make the subject less hostile. Tifa and Aeris both love Cloud... but do you think that the Cloud Tifa is in love with is the same Cloud that Aeris is in love with? Same with Cloud... is one side in love with Tifa while the other in love with Aeris? What do you think?

Lucy role has changed from the book to the musical. In the book, I do believe, she was a wise street prostitute; while in the musical she became a sort of idealistic stripper showgirl. Lucy falls in love with Hyde but the gentleness she sees in Hyde is actually Jekyll. So I suppose you could say both.

::no longer possessed by sleepiness::

Okay... now I can answer. Yes, Emma and Jekyll are engaged. The final scene is their wedding day and this is also where Emma first encounters Hyde.

That's one of the more positive offshoots I did expect to see the discussion go to. Not exactly what I was aiming for though. I was actually leaning more into the different concepts of romantic love and different personal needs have to have these different concepts.
I believe that many of us can agree that Cloud has two very noticable sides to his personality. Each side different in its own needs and tautly kept apart that during the game.
I do also believe that most of us can agree that, while many of us may disagree in what way, Cloud did not treat Tifa and Aeris the same way. See it as romantic or not, each interaction had a different flavor depending on rather it was Tifa or Aeris that Cloud was talking to. Does anyone believe he can treat each girl so differently yet love one just as much in the same way as the other?
Did one side nurse that sentimental childhood crush on Tifa into full passionate love; while the other side found fresh new love in the comfort and warmth of Aeris?
Now, nobody get huffy here. I'm asking everyone, Cleris and Cloti, alike to set their preference and supposed knowing of canon aside and look at it again. Look at is as a mature adult playing the game for the first time... without all the extra bull we went and looked up about our preferences after we played. If you can't do that then please simply be polite and hold your tongue.

Oh... it'll start again. This thread has been around since '05 after all.

.........I can imagine.....In that case, your post would be very helpful in continuing the peace treaty between Cleris and Cloti. 3nodding (Not like there was an official treaty.....)

True, but debating doesn't have to turn into such a nasty experience as it has been here. Turning debates into something nasty can scare away potential participates whom may bring with them new insights which, in turn, would've made the debate even more worthwhile. That turns the debate stagnant and leaves only bad footnotes to reference back to.
I do believe that it is common knowledge to the debating community that common ground will quell even the most furious of passions. Experienced debators use the rule: "I am not trying to prove my opponent wrong. I am trying to prove that I am right." But passion for the topic makes this rule very easy to forget. So the next best thing is to give mediators (peacekeepers) more ammo.
Although, actually having an official peace-keeper might help to.