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Character Stuff
Because you woman need a good place to keep all of this organized and what is a better place than his journal.
QUOTES FROM CANON
THAT ONE NIGHT
Apollo: Ha ha. Something like that. Sure brings back memories... When we were in junior high, Clay's mom passed away in an accident. But he wouldn't show his sadness to anyone. One night, I found him crying all alone in the school courtyard.
[ Flashback Begins ]
Clay: *sob* Mom... Mom... Get away, Apollo! Don't come over here! *sob*
Apollo: Clay, listen to me. I don't have a mother, either...
Clay: Huh?
Apollo: I always think, everyone else has a mom. Why am I the only one...? But, you know, when I start to feel that way I yell at the top of my lungs.
Apollo: I holler, "I'm fine!" and then, you know what? I start to feel like maybe I really will be fine. APOLLO JUSTICE IS FINE!!! ... Okay, Clay. Now it's your turn.
Clay: Um, okay... Clay Terran is... is FINE!
Apollo: There you go! Now we're both fine! Ha ha ha!
Clay: We're fine! Heh heh. WE'RE FINE! ha ha ha ha ha!
Apollo: What are you laughing about? ha ha ha. See? We're fine!
Clay: You laughed first! ha ha ha! I'm fine! You're fine! We're both fine!
Ha ha ha ha ha ha!
Clay: Thanks, Apollo...
[ End Flashback ]
BEST FRIENDS WITH APOLLO
• Apollo: I have this friend -- he and I go away back -- who got me really interested in space
• Trucy: Clay was your best friend, right Apollo?
Apollo: That's right. Best friends since junior high
DREAMED OF BEING AN ASTRONAUT
• Apollo: Ha ha ha. You know, I bet you're right. It seems like only yesterday .... Clay was a guy who lived for his dreams. We used to talk about it a lot. He was going to be an astronaut, and me, a lawyer. We'll talk well into the night, and even then, we never grew tired of it.
• Apollo: Back in high school, my best friend and I went there almost a little too much...
- "There" being the space center
• Apollo: Clay... he finally become an astronaut, just like he wanted... How could this have happened just before his big launch?
• Apollo: Oh ... it's Clay's... It's a special jacket that was only issued to members of the HAT project. He was finally able to get one of his own once he was selected for the HAT-2 mission. he... he always looked so proud wearing it.
HE WAS A GOOD GUY
• Apollo: You know that friend I mentioned to you earlier? Well, get this. Whenever something's troubling one of us, the other can just feel it. That's real friendship.
• Solomon: Yeah... he was a good guy -- always there to pick me up when I was down. No one loved life as much as him, that's for sure.
Solomon: He was always so full of energy, telling me, "You're fine, Mr. Starbuck!
• Apollo: When I became a laywer... Clay was the first person I showed this badge to. He was so happy for me, it was like he just became a lawyer himself.
Phoenix: You guys were really great friends huh?
Apollo: Yeah, but we were rivals, too. We fought to see who would make their dream come true first. But now...
• Apollo: Well, he was full of compassion and energy... and ha had a really loud voice.
Trucy: If the two of you did a voice training together now, I bet you'd break a few windows!
Apollo: Ha ha ha. You know, I bet you're right
• Phoenix: (Clay called Mr. Starbuck his mentor, and looked up to him)
• Sol: Clay always used to cheerfully greet me in a loud voice
Phoenix: And he did vocal exercise every morning, sometimes until he was hoarse, right?
Sol: Exactly. You could always hear him, even through a wall-- Hey, wait a minute. Did you know Clay?
Phoenix: No, but like attracts like, as they say.
"I'M FINE"
• Apollo: I guess we were both unlucky. My own debut was a disaster... That was a tough time for me, but Clay refused to let me quit. "You're fine," he's say. "Don't give up!" It was right during his screening exams too. I couldn't have become a full-fledged lawyer without him. That "You're fine!" of his is why I'm still standing here today.
Phoenix: "You're Fine!" and "I'm Fine!" were like your catchphrases, weren't they?
Apollo: Ha ha. Something like that. Sure brings back memories...
• Apollo: When you say it out loud, it really starts to feel real. And as long as you don't give up, you can keep on fighting! That's what we believed.
• Apollo: Mr. Starbuck, think back to what Clay used to always say. It's times like these when he would repeat "I'm fine!" to himself.
Solomon: "I'm fine"...? Yeah, I guess he did say that a lot... Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaangh... But ever if I shout it, Clay will still be dead. Haaangh... What's the use...?
Apollo: ......... Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaangh... (Could somebody please reassure me now?)
MR. STARBUCK'S PROTEGE
• Phoenix: The victim, Clay Terran... He was kind of like your protege, wasn't he?
Starbuck: Well, it wasn't a big exaggeraed deal like master and apprentice or anything like that. But Clay did think of me as his mentor.
Phoenix: (The mentor and the protege... What a combination they must've been....)
Starbuck: Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaangh... With his encouragement, I knew I could get over my fear and go back into space. But now...
Athena: Clay must've been very encouraging, huh?
Starbuck: Yeah. It's funny, really. Whenever I'd hear him shout, "You're Fine!"... I always got the feeling everything really WAS going to be fine.
Athena: "You're fine!" ...? Apollo says "I'm fine!" and "You're fine!" All of the time, too! And I alwas feel encouraged, too, whenever I hear him shout it!
Starbuck: Yeah, Clay and Apollo were best buds. They used to come visit the Space Center a lot, ever since they were high school kids. One day, out of the blue, Clay even told me he wanted to be my protege. Those two hung around the Space Center so much, they were like part of the staff. One time during zero-G training, I started to panic a little bit... and the two of them took turns shouting "You're fine!" over the radio. It was a simple thing, but it was exactly what I needed to hear.
Phoenix: (So "I'm fine!" and "You're fine!" were like Apollo and Clay's secret phreases, huh? I wish I could ask Apollo more about Clay and their relationship now.)
LOOKED UP TO MR. STARBUCK
• Apollo: You know, Clay really looked up to you. He said you are an incredible man. He said you'd never give up your dreams and passion for space, no matter the situation.
Starbuck: He said that....?
Apollo: So don't give up now and help me prove your innocence. For the sake of the man who respected you and believed in you -- Clay Terran!
Starbuck: For Clay...!
THE ONLY THREE NON-FLASHBACK SENTENCES CLAY SAYS
• Clay: Check complete! Everything's a-ok! We're ready here whenever you are!
RANDOM BUT I WANTED TO PUT THIS HERE
• Apollo: Which reminds me, we're supposed to meet up and gossip about the new girl in the office.
SCENE IN CASE FOUR
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRQT6Gcvk7o
HIGHLIGHTS FROM CANON
HISTORY
• Clay has dreamed to be an astronaut at least since junior high. Most likely since before then.
• Clay's mom died while in Junior High
• Clay became best friends with Apollo in Junior High
• He used to go to the Space Center a lot with Apollo. Often when they went there they would get Solomon "Sol" Starbuck to talk about his adventures
• Mr. Starbuck was Clay's role model when he was younger
• He and Apollo would talk hours into the night about their dreams
• Clay took his screening exam after Apollo's first case. Only a year and a half before the HAT-2 Launch and subsequently his death.
• Before the launch Clay was told about the bomb threat and what to do in order to protect him and Mr. Starbuck from getting caught in the explosion. This included stealing Mr. Starbuck's medicine and drugging him with it.
• The plan that Yuri Cosmos succeeded. However, Clay was then attacked by the Phantom who was trying to get the Hope Capsule Clay was holding. The Phantom didn't succeed but Clay was murdered in the attempt.
PERSONALITY
• Clay was a guy who loved life and lived for his dreams
• Just like Apollo, Clay had a loud voice and would do vocal exercises in the morning.
• He was a very cheerful fellow full of compassion and energy
• Looked up to Mr. Starbuck
• Is happy when others are happy ie when Apollo got his badge
• Was not just best friends with Apollo but also rivals
• Just like Apollo he would say 'I'M FINE' and 'YOU'RE FINE' to pick himself and others up
HEADCANON
HISTORY
• Clay was an orphan (in the same orphanage as Apollo) after his mother's death? idk there are places that say that but I cannot find an official source so it's here in headcanon.
• He would go out and watch the stars a lot. And still do. Because stars are amazing and to him each time is a different experience.
• It's likely Clay started taking college level courses while still in high school. 23 is a young age to become an astronaut.
• Associates Degree when he graduated high school. Two years later got his bachelors degree, and then two years after that his masters. After that he took the screening exam and successfully passed.
• Masters Degree in Natural Science because Astrology yo. Quite possibly a minor degree in engineering? Because rockets.
• Seeing as he was pretty much considered unofficial staff at the Space Center he probably was already chosen to become the other astronaut for the HAT-2 project before actually completing his screening exams. It would explain the small amount of time (only 1.5 yrs) between said exams and the launch.
• This means that he was selected to be part of the project at the age of 22.
• He might have even started "training" (unofficially) before completing his screening exams.
• When he got his HAT jacket he wore it everywhere because he was so proud of it. That is why it has little tears on the bottom of it.
• Since Apollo would have noticed something was off if they were to have met (due to his bracelet) Clay and Apollo did not, regrettably, meet between the time Clay was told about the bomb and when the "launch" happened. *
* Check to see if they mention when Cosmos received the bomb threat
PERSONALITY
• According to artbook, Clay was the more timid one while Apollo was the more outgoing one. It doesn't specifically say when and considering the fact that it is mentioned several times in the game that Clay was outgoing and energetic he was timid when Apollo first met him. However, throughout the years Clay became more energetic while Apollo mellowed out and thus balancing each other out in the end.
• He's more energetic around those he's closer to. ie Apollo and Mr. Starbuck. Around others he's still very cheerful but not as loud unless he can't help himself.
• Around close friends he's also a dork and despite his age sometimes does silly things. He'll also go out of his way for them and even to an extent complete strangers as well.
• Because I don't want to think that he completely rid of his timidness he still has it a little bit around strangers. He's not as loud and he's more polite. How long it lasts depends on how quickly he warms up to them.
• He warms up to people a bit easier than his best friend.
• That said he's a bit naive outside of what he's educated in (good luck leading him on with anything space related).
• Easiest way to get him talking is to talk about his dream. Or anything related to his dream and space.
• As a guy who loves life and lives for his dream he's not someone who easily gets upset. Rather than getting upset he tries to see the brighter side of things. So even though he does have that rational fear of never accomplishing his dream it never showed.
• Clay still keeps things to himself/is able to hide it when things aren't ok. This is part of the reason why Yuri Cosmos entrusted Clay to keep the bomb thread a secret and not Mr. Starbuck.
• That said Clay is fairly good at pretending everything is ok. ie how well he responded when they made the "final checks".
• However, when it comes to Apollo it's hopeless. After all, Apollo has that bracelet of his and any attempt to try and keep something from Apollo would miserably fail. But if, for some forsaken reason, does try to keep something from Apollo his habit is to play with the end of his sleeves.
• uhhh... he vents his frustration at the stars?? Either at the stars or at Apollo when he is frustrated at something. It isn't often though and it's usually when it's something he can't just keep to himself.
• Clay isn't beyond doing something 'bad' for the better good. ie drug Mr. Starbuck so he didn't know what was going on.
• He's smart/educated. Because face it just look at the degrees you need to be an astronaut, his age, and dare tell me otherwise. He seriously lived for his dream and loved it with a passion.
• He can pilot a jet (because you are required to have 1000 pilot-in-command time in a jet aircraft to become a Commander and Pilot Astronaut. Considering that only Mr. Starbuck and Clay were heading into space on the HAT-2 he had probably done the training).
• He jokes around with people he is very close to ie Apollo and Mr. Starbuck.
• He's a gossiper! ... mainly to Apollo though they gossip about things all the time it's ridiculous.
• Because of his murder people + knifes is now a big no. Also anything that reminds him of his death is a big no. No one wants to remember an experience like that.
QUOTES FROM CANON
THAT ONE NIGHT
Apollo: Ha ha. Something like that. Sure brings back memories... When we were in junior high, Clay's mom passed away in an accident. But he wouldn't show his sadness to anyone. One night, I found him crying all alone in the school courtyard.
[ Flashback Begins ]
Clay: *sob* Mom... Mom... Get away, Apollo! Don't come over here! *sob*
Apollo: Clay, listen to me. I don't have a mother, either...
Clay: Huh?
Apollo: I always think, everyone else has a mom. Why am I the only one...? But, you know, when I start to feel that way I yell at the top of my lungs.
Apollo: I holler, "I'm fine!" and then, you know what? I start to feel like maybe I really will be fine. APOLLO JUSTICE IS FINE!!! ... Okay, Clay. Now it's your turn.
Clay: Um, okay... Clay Terran is... is FINE!
Apollo: There you go! Now we're both fine! Ha ha ha!
Clay: We're fine! Heh heh. WE'RE FINE! ha ha ha ha ha!
Apollo: What are you laughing about? ha ha ha. See? We're fine!
Clay: You laughed first! ha ha ha! I'm fine! You're fine! We're both fine!
Ha ha ha ha ha ha!
Clay: Thanks, Apollo...
[ End Flashback ]
BEST FRIENDS WITH APOLLO
• Apollo: I have this friend -- he and I go away back -- who got me really interested in space
• Trucy: Clay was your best friend, right Apollo?
Apollo: That's right. Best friends since junior high
DREAMED OF BEING AN ASTRONAUT
• Apollo: Ha ha ha. You know, I bet you're right. It seems like only yesterday .... Clay was a guy who lived for his dreams. We used to talk about it a lot. He was going to be an astronaut, and me, a lawyer. We'll talk well into the night, and even then, we never grew tired of it.
• Apollo: Back in high school, my best friend and I went there almost a little too much...
- "There" being the space center
• Apollo: Clay... he finally become an astronaut, just like he wanted... How could this have happened just before his big launch?
• Apollo: Oh ... it's Clay's... It's a special jacket that was only issued to members of the HAT project. He was finally able to get one of his own once he was selected for the HAT-2 mission. he... he always looked so proud wearing it.
HE WAS A GOOD GUY
• Apollo: You know that friend I mentioned to you earlier? Well, get this. Whenever something's troubling one of us, the other can just feel it. That's real friendship.
• Solomon: Yeah... he was a good guy -- always there to pick me up when I was down. No one loved life as much as him, that's for sure.
Solomon: He was always so full of energy, telling me, "You're fine, Mr. Starbuck!
• Apollo: When I became a laywer... Clay was the first person I showed this badge to. He was so happy for me, it was like he just became a lawyer himself.
Phoenix: You guys were really great friends huh?
Apollo: Yeah, but we were rivals, too. We fought to see who would make their dream come true first. But now...
• Apollo: Well, he was full of compassion and energy... and ha had a really loud voice.
Trucy: If the two of you did a voice training together now, I bet you'd break a few windows!
Apollo: Ha ha ha. You know, I bet you're right
• Phoenix: (Clay called Mr. Starbuck his mentor, and looked up to him)
• Sol: Clay always used to cheerfully greet me in a loud voice
Phoenix: And he did vocal exercise every morning, sometimes until he was hoarse, right?
Sol: Exactly. You could always hear him, even through a wall-- Hey, wait a minute. Did you know Clay?
Phoenix: No, but like attracts like, as they say.
"I'M FINE"
• Apollo: I guess we were both unlucky. My own debut was a disaster... That was a tough time for me, but Clay refused to let me quit. "You're fine," he's say. "Don't give up!" It was right during his screening exams too. I couldn't have become a full-fledged lawyer without him. That "You're fine!" of his is why I'm still standing here today.
Phoenix: "You're Fine!" and "I'm Fine!" were like your catchphrases, weren't they?
Apollo: Ha ha. Something like that. Sure brings back memories...
• Apollo: When you say it out loud, it really starts to feel real. And as long as you don't give up, you can keep on fighting! That's what we believed.
• Apollo: Mr. Starbuck, think back to what Clay used to always say. It's times like these when he would repeat "I'm fine!" to himself.
Solomon: "I'm fine"...? Yeah, I guess he did say that a lot... Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaangh... But ever if I shout it, Clay will still be dead. Haaangh... What's the use...?
Apollo: ......... Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaangh... (Could somebody please reassure me now?)
MR. STARBUCK'S PROTEGE
• Phoenix: The victim, Clay Terran... He was kind of like your protege, wasn't he?
Starbuck: Well, it wasn't a big exaggeraed deal like master and apprentice or anything like that. But Clay did think of me as his mentor.
Phoenix: (The mentor and the protege... What a combination they must've been....)
Starbuck: Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaangh... With his encouragement, I knew I could get over my fear and go back into space. But now...
Athena: Clay must've been very encouraging, huh?
Starbuck: Yeah. It's funny, really. Whenever I'd hear him shout, "You're Fine!"... I always got the feeling everything really WAS going to be fine.
Athena: "You're fine!" ...? Apollo says "I'm fine!" and "You're fine!" All of the time, too! And I alwas feel encouraged, too, whenever I hear him shout it!
Starbuck: Yeah, Clay and Apollo were best buds. They used to come visit the Space Center a lot, ever since they were high school kids. One day, out of the blue, Clay even told me he wanted to be my protege. Those two hung around the Space Center so much, they were like part of the staff. One time during zero-G training, I started to panic a little bit... and the two of them took turns shouting "You're fine!" over the radio. It was a simple thing, but it was exactly what I needed to hear.
Phoenix: (So "I'm fine!" and "You're fine!" were like Apollo and Clay's secret phreases, huh? I wish I could ask Apollo more about Clay and their relationship now.)
LOOKED UP TO MR. STARBUCK
• Apollo: You know, Clay really looked up to you. He said you are an incredible man. He said you'd never give up your dreams and passion for space, no matter the situation.
Starbuck: He said that....?
Apollo: So don't give up now and help me prove your innocence. For the sake of the man who respected you and believed in you -- Clay Terran!
Starbuck: For Clay...!
THE ONLY THREE NON-FLASHBACK SENTENCES CLAY SAYS
• Clay: Check complete! Everything's a-ok! We're ready here whenever you are!
RANDOM BUT I WANTED TO PUT THIS HERE
• Apollo: Which reminds me, we're supposed to meet up and gossip about the new girl in the office.
SCENE IN CASE FOUR
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRQT6Gcvk7o
HIGHLIGHTS FROM CANON
HISTORY
• Clay has dreamed to be an astronaut at least since junior high. Most likely since before then.
• Clay's mom died while in Junior High
• Clay became best friends with Apollo in Junior High
• He used to go to the Space Center a lot with Apollo. Often when they went there they would get Solomon "Sol" Starbuck to talk about his adventures
• Mr. Starbuck was Clay's role model when he was younger
• He and Apollo would talk hours into the night about their dreams
• Clay took his screening exam after Apollo's first case. Only a year and a half before the HAT-2 Launch and subsequently his death.
• Before the launch Clay was told about the bomb threat and what to do in order to protect him and Mr. Starbuck from getting caught in the explosion. This included stealing Mr. Starbuck's medicine and drugging him with it.
• The plan that Yuri Cosmos succeeded. However, Clay was then attacked by the Phantom who was trying to get the Hope Capsule Clay was holding. The Phantom didn't succeed but Clay was murdered in the attempt.
PERSONALITY
• Clay was a guy who loved life and lived for his dreams
• Just like Apollo, Clay had a loud voice and would do vocal exercises in the morning.
• He was a very cheerful fellow full of compassion and energy
• Looked up to Mr. Starbuck
• Is happy when others are happy ie when Apollo got his badge
• Was not just best friends with Apollo but also rivals
• Just like Apollo he would say 'I'M FINE' and 'YOU'RE FINE' to pick himself and others up
HEADCANON
HISTORY
• Clay was an orphan (in the same orphanage as Apollo) after his mother's death? idk there are places that say that but I cannot find an official source so it's here in headcanon.
• He would go out and watch the stars a lot. And still do. Because stars are amazing and to him each time is a different experience.
• It's likely Clay started taking college level courses while still in high school. 23 is a young age to become an astronaut.
• Associates Degree when he graduated high school. Two years later got his bachelors degree, and then two years after that his masters. After that he took the screening exam and successfully passed.
• Masters Degree in Natural Science because Astrology yo. Quite possibly a minor degree in engineering? Because rockets.
• Seeing as he was pretty much considered unofficial staff at the Space Center he probably was already chosen to become the other astronaut for the HAT-2 project before actually completing his screening exams. It would explain the small amount of time (only 1.5 yrs) between said exams and the launch.
• This means that he was selected to be part of the project at the age of 22.
• He might have even started "training" (unofficially) before completing his screening exams.
• When he got his HAT jacket he wore it everywhere because he was so proud of it. That is why it has little tears on the bottom of it.
• Since Apollo would have noticed something was off if they were to have met (due to his bracelet) Clay and Apollo did not, regrettably, meet between the time Clay was told about the bomb and when the "launch" happened. *
* Check to see if they mention when Cosmos received the bomb threat
PERSONALITY
• According to artbook, Clay was the more timid one while Apollo was the more outgoing one. It doesn't specifically say when and considering the fact that it is mentioned several times in the game that Clay was outgoing and energetic he was timid when Apollo first met him. However, throughout the years Clay became more energetic while Apollo mellowed out and thus balancing each other out in the end.
• He's more energetic around those he's closer to. ie Apollo and Mr. Starbuck. Around others he's still very cheerful but not as loud unless he can't help himself.
• Around close friends he's also a dork and despite his age sometimes does silly things. He'll also go out of his way for them and even to an extent complete strangers as well.
• Because I don't want to think that he completely rid of his timidness he still has it a little bit around strangers. He's not as loud and he's more polite. How long it lasts depends on how quickly he warms up to them.
• He warms up to people a bit easier than his best friend.
• That said he's a bit naive outside of what he's educated in (good luck leading him on with anything space related).
• Easiest way to get him talking is to talk about his dream. Or anything related to his dream and space.
• As a guy who loves life and lives for his dream he's not someone who easily gets upset. Rather than getting upset he tries to see the brighter side of things. So even though he does have that rational fear of never accomplishing his dream it never showed.
• Clay still keeps things to himself/is able to hide it when things aren't ok. This is part of the reason why Yuri Cosmos entrusted Clay to keep the bomb thread a secret and not Mr. Starbuck.
• That said Clay is fairly good at pretending everything is ok. ie how well he responded when they made the "final checks".
• However, when it comes to Apollo it's hopeless. After all, Apollo has that bracelet of his and any attempt to try and keep something from Apollo would miserably fail. But if, for some forsaken reason, does try to keep something from Apollo his habit is to play with the end of his sleeves.
• uhhh... he vents his frustration at the stars?? Either at the stars or at Apollo when he is frustrated at something. It isn't often though and it's usually when it's something he can't just keep to himself.
• Clay isn't beyond doing something 'bad' for the better good. ie drug Mr. Starbuck so he didn't know what was going on.
• He's smart/educated. Because face it just look at the degrees you need to be an astronaut, his age, and dare tell me otherwise. He seriously lived for his dream and loved it with a passion.
• He can pilot a jet (because you are required to have 1000 pilot-in-command time in a jet aircraft to become a Commander and Pilot Astronaut. Considering that only Mr. Starbuck and Clay were heading into space on the HAT-2 he had probably done the training).
• He jokes around with people he is very close to ie Apollo and Mr. Starbuck.
• He's a gossiper! ... mainly to Apollo though they gossip about things all the time it's ridiculous.
• Because of his murder people + knifes is now a big no. Also anything that reminds him of his death is a big no. No one wants to remember an experience like that.
History
Throughout high school Clay spent a lot of his time with Apollo at the GYAXA Space Center. There they would talk to their role model, Solomon "Sol" Starbuck, about his adventures to space and ask him all sorts of questions. They would also take turns telling him that everything was fine while he's training. The two of them were there so often that they like part of the staff. One day out of the blue Clay even told Mr. Starbuck that he wanted to be his protege. Before the HAT-1 launch a picture was taken of the staff and Clay, thanks to Mr. Starbuck, was able to borrow a HAT-1 jacket and was actually part of the photo. Even while Mr. Starbuck was in space, Clay would frequent the Space Center just to be there, help out, as well as hear of any updates on the mission and wish for a safe landing. When he wasn't doing that, at night, he would go outside and stargaze at the stars. Many of those nights were with Apollo where the two of them would talk about their dreams. Despite how often they did this they had never gotten tired of it. Sometimes those nights stargazing would go until morning before they stopped. Alongside all that Clay took it upon himself to start college classes in his later high school years. Thanks to his extra efforts when he received his high school diploma he had also gotten his associates degree.
During his university years Clay would still frequent the Space Center often as unofficial staff. He had moved on to getting his bachelor's degree, and then eventually got his masters around the young age of 22. When he could he moved out to the edge of the city, though still close to the space center, so he could see the stars easier. At this time he still frequently visited his best friend, Apollo, as during his screenings exam he took the time to help his best friend get back onto his feet after a bumpy first case.
Once he successfully passed the screening exam Clay was accepted as one of the astronauts, the other being Mr. Starbuck, who would fly out to space into the HAT-2. Having officially becoming staff and selected for the mission Clay got his own HAT jacket like the one he borrowed several years prior. Since then he wore it constantly ever looking so proud while doing so. The next one and a half years were dedicated to training for the HAT-2 mission, though it didn't deter Clay from spending time with Apollo and stargazing. Everything was going smoothly-- At least until just before the HAT-2 launch. Yuri Cosmos, the head director of the space center, had gotten a bomb threat by phone. Clay was one of the few staff members Mr. Cosmos confided about the bomb and the plan to avoid getting him and Mr. Starbuck getting injured. Although Clay wasn't happy that his dream has been postponed he understood what he had to do.
The morning of the launch arrived. Unlike Clay, Mr. Starbuck wasn't told about the plan. So in order for the plan to work Clay had to steal Mr. Starbuck's medicine from his locker and slip them to him. Once he did so he brought himself, Mr. Starbuck, as well as a capsule (the Hope Capsule) from the HAT-1 launch to the rocket where he then pretended to be making the final checks before launch. Right after the "final checks" were made the bombs went off and Clay brought Mr. Starbuck, the capsule, and himself back to the Launch Pad 1 lounge. Until then the plan went smoothly; Clay put Mr. Starbuck on the floor and himself laid down to rest. But it was then that the Phantom came in order to steal the Hope Capsule. Clay, being the one holding the capsule, tried to keep the capsule away from the Phantom. He had succeeded as Yuri Cosmos and a detective came to the scene but paid dearly with his life as before Yuri Cosmos entered the scene the Phantom stabbed him with a knife through the chest.
Personality
There are many words that could have been used to describe Clay. From biased words such as 'amazing' and 'awesome' to words that really do explain what kind of person he is, such as 'energetic' or 'encouraging'. But Clay was someone that you can't just explain in one word. While they might be similar there are elements of Clay that makes him who he is. Saying that he is energetic or encouraging is only part of who Clay was.
Clay was that kind of person who loved life. He enjoyed his life to the fullest and, for the most part, always thought optimistically and towards the future. There was one thing in particular that he looked forward at and that was his dream. Becoming an astronaut and venturing into space was the one dream that Clay had ever since he was a little kid. He was very passionate about it: going to the GYAXA Space Center, stargazing often, and loving anything that has to do with it. He even looked up to an astronaut named Solomon "Sol" Starbuck; one day even coming to him and asking him about questions often and making it part of his dream to become his protege. Clearly, Clay was someone who lived for his dreams and enjoyed doing so. Also, it's clear from this that Space is his favorite thing in the world. He loved to look at it. He loved to talk about it. He loved to study it. He loved virtually anything about it. Easiest way to get him talking on and on for possible hours? Talk about space.
Due to his cheerful outlook on life Clay was very energetic. He would greet people full of energy and compassion. Not only that but he was also someone who could encourage others to do their best and pick them up when they're feeling down. He was one of those people that, if you were happy about something, he would be happy about it. When his best friend, Apollo, first received his lawyer's badge he was just as happy as Apollo was. Almost as if he was the one who successfully accomplished his dream. Because he was so cheerful about life he would rather look on the brighter side of things than on the darker side. Though, of course, there have been exceptions to this behavior the most noted being when his mother died. But even then he kept it to himself and continued to try and look on the brighter side, only allowing the sadness to show when he thought there was no one around. He kept it to himself until his ever since best friend came to cheer him up.
Speaking of his best friend, Apollo was someone that shaped Clay to how he was after they met. Before their fateful encounter Clay was a timid kid who didn't really speak up. But after meeting and becoming friends with Apollo Justice he became more energetic and outgoing. The two of them had basically "balanced" each other out. Not only did he become more outgoing but he developed some of the same habits that Apollo does. "I'm Fine!" became a trademark thing for Clay to say, using that often to cheer people up and encourage them to do their best or to not give up. The words weren't the only thing he got from Apollo either. Over the years Clay developed a loud voice just like his best friend. And, just like Apollo, he would do vocal exercises in the morning. So much that sometimes it would leave his voice hoarse when he was done. Apollo also helped him strive for his dream by becoming his rival. The two of them competed to see who would make their dream come true first. It was thanks to Apollo that he pushed himself even more so to become an astronaut, taking extra classes in high school and taking the screening exam at the young age of twenty-two.
Although Clay was more energetic now than he was in the past he still held that timid part of him. However, it's not so much that he is frightened or has the lack of courage to speak to people. Instead, around those he doesn't know, he is more polite than when he is with friends. When he's with close friends, such as Apollo and Mr. Starbuck to a small extent, he would joke around and be silly and even go so far as to gossip to them about certain things. But around those who he is not as close to he shows more respect and politeness. Though it doesn't stop him from being loud and have energy behind his words. Though when he is accidentally too loud around strangers or people who aren't use to it he would take the moment to apologize normally in an embarrassed matter. It is time like those, and any other time when he is embarrassed, when he is the most timid.
He warms up to people easily though. As someone who enjoys life to the fullest there isn't much time to really think about a person and whether or not he should actually like or dislike them. So rather than taking the time to do that he's just friendly towards everyone. So while he is very book smart about space and other such things he's a bit naive. He isn't so naive that he'll believe everything he hears but it's a big drawback to being so friendly and warming up to everyone. Because while he's warming up to them he wants to believe the best of them and be on everyone's good side. And if, by chance, there is someone that is really rude and not a pleasant person he will still find some good in them. It is after he can't find any positive things about a person where he will stop warming up to them. But that leaves room for a lot of things to happen.
That said there is one thing that our energetic, outgoing, astronaut does not do: tell people about his problems. This, for the most part, is one thing that didn't shake off him since Junior High. When there is something wrong or something is troubling Clay he tries to keep it to himself. Instead he continues to stay optimistic and full of energy and waits for a time when he is alone to allow himself to be temporary consumed by whatever is bothering him. This is something he is fairly good at as when they were asked about final checks Clay replied in an upbeat manner though he knew that the launch was actually not going to happen. Due to this he is also good at keeping secrets because he's able to keep things to himself. This is why Yuri Cosmos chose to tell Clay about the threat and not Mr. Starbuck who wouldn't have been able to maintain the secret.
There is really only one exception to where he cannot keep his feelings to himself or keep any secrets from someone and that is Apollo. Because of his best friend's bracelet he knows that he can't keep a secret from him. So Apollo is either his to-go person with problems or he keeps it to himself until Apollo is in the vicinity. There are some exceptions to this when he will tell someone else his problem but it depends on the problem and how much it is troubling him. More basic problems are told while more personal problems are held back. When it is a problem that he isn't holding back he would sometimes go around saying "I'm fine!" to himself. Because the phrase "I'm fine!" is a major pick-me-up for Clay is often helps him get over the problem he is dealing with and move on from it. Yelling "I'm fine!" and "You're fine!" back and forth with someone also helps as well.
How Clay feels never stops him from helping others though. Even if it is something that might not be 'right' he will still assist if there is a good reason for it. The biggest example would be when he slipped Mr. Starbuck his medicine so he wouldn't know what was going on. He understood why it needed to happen and was willing to assist in order to save both his and Mr. Starbuck's life. But if someone asked him to do that without a good reason then he'll refuse as without those special exceptions he will not try and harm another person on purpose.
Speaking of harming people: Clay is not fond of knives! More accurately someone with a knife. This reason is fairly obvious and that is because he was just recently murdered by someone with a knife to the chest. In general he does not want to remember his death nor the circumstances around it. If possible he will avoid anything that reminds him of it and steer clear of anyone with a knife one of the several results of his murder. He wants to enjoy the second life he's been given not be constantly reminded that hey, he's dead! There's no going back home or going into space. But regardless of the latter he will still no doubt talk about what his dream was and still enthusiastically talk about space because that is just who he is.
Overall Clay is an energetic, outgoing, individual who loved life and his dreams. He loved talking about space and anything to do with it and spent a lot of his time revolving his life around it. He would always go out of his way to cheer someone up, usually by telling them "You're Fine!" or if it's himself "I'm fine!". Sometimes he found himself keeping a feeling to himself but he always tried to think positively and did his best to keep himself from falling into any sort of negativity. He's friendly to just about anyone unless they are someone that he can't possibly find a good quality about and trusts people fairly easily. So if someone ever needs a pick-me-up or someone who will listen Clay is a good person to go to.