- "You shouldn't reject compliments"
At first glance, one of the main attractions of their relationship is how simply gentle it feels from the very start.
Unlike most of Qrow's adult allies like Winter, Ironwood, Glynda, or perhaps even Taiyang,
Clover never showed himself to be critical or disdainful toward Qrow and his attitudes; quite the contrary, Clover preferred to favor and praise his virtues, displaying a sincere attitude in wanting to help him be kinder to himself.
A refreshing shift in dynamics, very well received after everything the character went through in the previous volume, which also offers Qrow a completely new avenue of support by conveying to him a sense of trust and security that no other officer provides.
Enjoying a more mature and seasoned perspective than that of his nieces and their friends, giving him not only a friend with whom to hang out but also a shoulder on which he can lean and be open about his insecurities and fears instead of just trying to hide them too.
Some might argue that, unlike the relationships mentioned, Clover only knew Qrow for a few months and, therefore, wouldn't have been able to know his more "conflicted" side, much less deal with it; however, there are several things to keep in mind:
- It is highly probable and logical to think that Ironwood or Winter considered providing the Ace Ops with a complete profile of their allies in order to know how to collaborate, so Clover could very well have learned about Qrow's background, not just his abilities
Knowing also their problematic attitudes such as their null respect for authority and their alcoholism, factors that could pose a problem, and having prepared to deal with him and thus avoid incidents like what happened in the V3.
Or perhaps it is even very likely that he was aware of her problems on the part of Qrow himself, if their relationship had become close enough to influence him and plunge him into an almost uninterrupted mourning after her death.
- To see Clover dealing with Qrow in an unfriendly manner, just go to the infamous ep 12: Here Qrow becomes an enemy force from Clover's perspective, both due to the arrest order and his reluctance to collaborate, and how does Clover react
Unlike his teammates, who quickly reacted with anger and reproach, Clover's response to Qrow's arrest is coldly neutral, opting to wear a serious and emotionless mask while attempting to arrest him peacefully.
But the moment Qrow chooses to fight, that mask shatters completely, revealing discomfort and sadness at having to face his friend.
Even when already on land, those emotions do not disappear.
At first, Clover even tried to take advantage of Robyn's state just to avoid the conflict,
When that doesn't work, she mentions how she truly enjoys working with Qrow, even with his flaws, in the hope of dissuading him from fighting, and when faced with yet another refusal, she lets out a sigh of helplessness before starting to fight.
From the beginning to the end of the fight, Clover never reproached Qrow for his actions against the general's orders, even with the palpable frustration or even after being stabbed by Tyrian,
Clover never reproached Qrow for his decisions; quite the opposite, in his final moments he tried to lighten their weight so that Qrow wouldn't feel guilty about his fate, and in his last breath,
He dedicated a sincere smile to him while wishing him luck in overthrowing the very same person he had faithfully followed for years and for whom he had basically been willing to give his life. And with that simple dialogue,
Clover made it clear that the affection he came to feel for Qrow was so great that even when the latter seemed to become a threat to him and his goals, Clover never stopped supporting him, never stopped worrying about him, and always believed in the good that was in him.