Entry tags:
Drift Fleet App
OUT OF CHARACTER:
Name/Handle: Kukki
Contact: Plurk:![[plurk.com profile]](https://plurk.com/favicon.ico)
aurion
AIM: shokorakukki
Reference: Saffy!
IN-CHARACTER:
Character name: Clay Terran
Character journal:![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
geonomy
Series name: Ace Attorney
Canon notes: Clay will be coming in at the moment of his death. No changes made to the Ace Attorney canon!
Species: Human.
History: As Clay was a very minor character who barely appeared onscreen (he was mostly talked about and appeared in a flashback), he doesn't have much of a history attached to him. Below, I'll put the canon history in blue, and the one I worked out to coincide along with it in black.
- Clay Terran was born in 2004 at night under a sky full of stars while his parents were vacationing in San Bernardino National Forest. His parents were Flint, an American, and Dalnim, a Korean-American woman.
- As a family, they lived in Santa Ana, California, where his father taught geology at college while his mother worked at the Orange County Astronomy Club. Even at a young age, Clay was passionate about astronomy, and while his father disapproved, his mother actively encouraged it, buying all sorts of books and equipment for him.
- Flint began to grow increasingly distant from his family, as he had an adventurous spirit and felt that they were tying him down. When Clay was six, Flint packed up and left, taking most of the family's money with him. His destination was Germany, and after he made it there, he'd send letters to his family, though they'd slow to a stop over the years. Clay knows he should probably hate him for this, but all it really does is cause him a distant sadness as well as a tinge of disappointment.
- Realizing she couldn't raise Clay and manage the home on her own, Dalnim moved to Los Angeles to be with her sister, Haenim. While he loved living with his two “moms” more than being with his dad, their timid natures caused his own to increase and his adventurous spirit to take a backseat. For now, at least.
- Clay was largely left alone in school due to being so quiet and withdrawn. He longed to make friends; he just wasn't sure how to make the first step or how to maintain them. Though he was a bit timid, he never hesitated to fight back if anyone tried to bully him, often getting in trouble for doing so. While this made bullies not so eager to mess with him, it also gave him an unfavorable reputation, despite him being a well-meaning, kind and passionate kid. He was generally seen as “weird” as well, as he'd get overly excited about all things space-related, yet was sensitive to things, like being unable to dissect a frog.
- When he was seven, Dalnim showed him the Cosmos Space Center. Instantly, Clay fell in love with it. He'd go see launches whenever they took place, without fail, and go on tours even after he knew everything about the public sections of the area. There were a few times where he'd sneak off to try to go to the more private areas, but he'd always be chased out. Soon, the employees began to recognize him.
- His closest acquaintance during his time at school was a boy named Apollo Justice. Apollo was more social than he was, which is why he was easily able to approach Clay. The two would hang out and talk to each other, though Clay was never quite sure what to say a lot of the time. Still, he started to look up to Apollo, wishing that he could be as open and supportive as he was.
- When Clay was thirteen, his mother passed away. They were both in a car driving back from the Orange County Astronomer's Club when they were hit by a drunk driver. They were brought to the hospital where Dalnim died from her injuries, while Clay suffered only from a deep cut on his nose that would form a permanent scar, which he'd cover with a band-aid even after the wound healed and as he got older. He closed himself off from everyone, even his aunt, though this wouldn't last long due to one special person.
- One night after school, Clay stayed after everyone else went home. There, he grieved openly, sobbing for his mother. Apollo happened to find him, and though Clay yelled to leave him alone, he sat with him and talked to him, revealing that he never had a mother that he knew, and that whenever he'd feel sad or lonely, he'd shout “I'm Apollo Justice and I'm fine!”, and he'd cheer himself up. After Apollo made the other boy shout it as well, Clay realized that he did start to feel better, even laughed with him. It was after this that the two became inseparable best friends.
- Clay began to look as Apollo not as someone to solely admire, but also as an inspiration. Where he started out closed off, he began to open up until, by the time he got to high school, he was just as social and open as his best friend, though he still remained soft-hearted. Apollo seemed to do the opposite, growing quieter and more to himself, but that did nothing to dampen their friendship. They just grew differently, is all.
- In high school, Clay decided to really start pursuing his dream: becoming an astronaut and go to space one day. He studied hard, learning all sorts of subjects that had to do with astronomy. During his time in school, he dated some, but after that, he got more and more into his studies and decided that relationships were just too much of an investment at the time when he had to work hard to fulfill his dreams. Many hearts were broken as a result. Tears were shed. It was all quite troublesome.
- After Apollo became his best friend, Clay started to bring him to the space center, and now Apollo was becoming a recognizable face as well as Clay. Clay became so recognizable, in fact, that the space center team started to look at him as an honorary member and even let him be in group photos. At fifteen (the beginning of year 2020), one of the astronauts as well as Clay's idol, Solomon Starbuck, decided that he'd help Clay achieve his dreams. He got the teen into aviation, and let Clay ride as a passenger in his own plane. A year later, Clay was able to pilot the plane himself with Starbuck supporting him the whole way (seeing how he wouldn't be able to fly without an instructor for a while anyway). Thanks to all the work that they put into it, Clay was able to get a private pilot license.
- At sixteen (Year 2020 still, later in the year), Clay and Apollo attended the lift-off of HAT-1, a spaceship sent on a mission with Solomon Starbuck manning it. Clay didn't know until after the flight three months later that the ship had severe malfunctions, although Solomon was still able to make it safely back. The trip was dubbed the HAT-1 Miracle, and it was so publicized that they decided to make a movie about it. Although it caused him to become famous, the mission also had consequences on Starbuck; he gained a severe phobia of space and a nasty case of post-traumatic stress disorder. This did nothing to stop Clay and Apollo from encouraging him to go back into space and not give up on his dreams, using their catchphrase, “You'll be fine!”. During that time, Clay was also shocked to learn that Metis Cykes, an associate he knew from the Cosmos Center, was murdered at around the same time that the HAT-1 launched. While Solomon worked through his fears, Clay studied on his own, though he'd always look to his mentor when it came to trying to figure out what to do next. (Starbuck was afraid of going into space, not of flight itself, so he was still able to train Clay as long as he didn't fly too high.) After he got his private pilot license in 2021, Clay was able to fly by himself.
- COLLEGE TIME. After graduating high school, Clay moved on to the University of California, which had an awesome astronomy program. He poured into mathematics, astrophysics, cosmology, computer science, and everything else that had to do with his curriculum. During this time, he sent application after application to the Cosmos Center, and even NASA, though he was rejected every time. Still, he never let up on his dream, and encouragement from Apollo certainly helped. Solomon put in a good word for him as well, so the Cosmos Center was at least interested in what he was doing.
- At twenty-two, Apollo reached his own lifelong dream of becoming a lawyer. The two of them were racing to see who'd reach it first, and though Clay lost, he didn't care. On the contrary, he was incredibly happy for his best friend, and according to Apollo, it felt like Clay was the one who got the badge rather than he himself. When Apollo's first case turned into such a failure that he ended up firing himself, Clay pulled him out of his funk and offered his own dorm as a temporary place to stay for a while until Apollo found some work again. When Apollo revealed that Phoenix Wright himself asked him to come to the Wright Anything Agency, Clay pushed him enough for the two months that his best friend stayed with him until he went, and sure enough, Apollo found himself another job.
- Later on in that year, Clay finally graduated with a bachelor's degree in astronomy. Barely a day passed after graduation when Yuri Cosmos, the director of the Cosmos Space Center, invited Clay to come on board with the program. He wouldn't be an astronaut just yet, but he'd be working with the staff and training to become one. He learned that if he worked hard enough, he may even be chosen to board the HAT-2, which was nearing completion. Of course, Clay couldn't possibly refuse. He was given a team jacket to show that he worked now, something he'd wanted for years and years (they even let him wear a spare one at times), and he ended up wearing it so much over the next year that the ends got a little ragged. Over several months, Clay worked brutally hard, and though it meant not seeing his friends as often, he was still learning fast, faster than anyone really participated. And even though he was much busier, he still took as much time as necessary for Apollo, making sure to see a few of his trials and be as supportive of a best friend as he could be.
- A few months after turning twenty-three, Clay was one of the astronauts chosen to be on board the HAT-2, the other being Solomon Starbuck, who still had fears and was taking anxiety pills for them, yet was inspired by Clay and Apollo to try again. Clay was so happy that right after the meeting, he called up Apollo to tell him the good news and, upon seeing his friend, raced out to give him a tackling hug. This was it. This was what he worked so hard for, and he'd finally, finally get to see his dreams come true.
- At the start of December, just a couple of weeks before the launch of HAT-2, Yuri Cosmos received a call from an unknown person. "It's been a while. Planning another launch? I see you haven't learned..." Cosmos knew right then and there that it was the person who caused the disaster of HAT-1, as all of its complications were caused by a bomb planted on it, and the one who murdered Metis Cykes. This time, Cosmos didn't want to risk his mens' lives, but the government didn't want to help, insisting that he cover it up and launch the rocket anyway. Instead of launching it, Yuri worked to stage it instead. Knowing of Starbuck's anxiety regarding the HAT-1, he instead asked Clay for help with it instead, and while Clay was disappointed that they'd have to reschedule the actual launch, he didn't hesitate to agree and offer his help, seeing how saving lives was way more important. The plan was to use the Space Center's control system to swap Launch Pads 1 and 2, switching the space museum's replica rocket with the real one before the launch. Clay would drug Starbuck with his anxiety pills, which caused drowsiness, and with Starbuck muddled and confused, bring him onto the replica rocket so that they can get out of there unharmed. He was also charged to protect the Hope Capsule, which had samples from an asteroid belt that had only just returned from the HAT-1 launch. With the plan in place, they just had to wait for the day of the fake launch.
- December 15th of 2027 was the day HAT-2 was supposed to launch. The plan was going along, with Clay drugging Starbuck and bringing him to the replica rocket after the Launch Pads were swapped. However, it turns out that the perpetrator knew of the plan, as he was tapping into Cosmos' phone. The bombs went off, not only on the real rocket, but also on the second floor of the building. The assailant, disguised as a detective, organized an evacuation on the fourth floor to stage his escape. Meanwhile Clay, having heard the bombs, took that as his cue to get out of there. Carrying the unconscious body of his mentor along with his heavy astronaut suit in one arm, wearing the other suit, and holding the probe in the other arm, Clay got them all to the boarding lobby, where he collapsed from exhaustion. The perpetrator, having only been known as “the phantom”, then went to the lobby to start his escape plan and found the two astronauts there. Clay opened his eyes and recognized the man as the detective they had asked to come to the launch. He was just about to ask if everyone was all right when the phantom took a utility knife and stabbed him in the one weak spot the astronaut suit has: the chest. It was there that Clay Terran died of his injury before he could ever fully achieve his dream.
Personality: There isn't a lot that's known about Clay due to him never having any real screen time save for one flashback. The characters do talk about him a lot, enough to flesh out a personality, but that's about all we get. Thus, I'll be taking some liberty on what the deeper aspects of his psychology are, the parts that aren't talked about or just glossed over.
What we do know is that Clay is basically, in Apollo's words, “the best friend a guy can have”. He's very supportive of others, always lending a shoulder and seeming to know just what to say. When Apollo lost his job and his boss, Clay was the one who encouraged him to keep trying and check out the Wright Anything Agency offer. When Starbuck seemed nervous during his astronaut training, Clay (and Apollo) was the one who drove him to keep going by saying he'd be just fine. He's the guy who can always see a silver lining, even in his own clouds, and plows through like a truck to lift others up with him.
He's ambitious as hell, someone who lives for his dreams and won't stop until they're seen through (or, you know, he gets murdered before he can do it). He and Apollo used to stay up in the late hours of the night just talking about their goals and dreams, and they never grew tired of it. Not to mention all the trials it takes to actually become an astronaut, especially at his young age. He's never once thought about giving up, and encourages others to never do the same as well.
When it comes to the people he cares for, their happiness and accomplishments become his own, like he's living vicariously through them. He and Apollo had a rivalry going, a race to see which one would fulfill his dreams first, which shows of his competitive nature as well. But when Apollo reaches it before him and shows him his badge, Clay wasn't disappointed or angry about it. He reacted with joy, as if he was the one who became a lawyer, not Apollo. He loves seeing other people happy, and so it makes him happy as well.
As a child, Clay was actually very timid and faint of heart. This probably made him discouraged easily and apologetic, and though he grows out of that, that probably still remains deep inside. He'd never give up and loves to cheer people up, but there are likely times where he has to bowl past his own hesitation. Everyone gets scared and nervous, and Clay is no different. Rather than tell others of his mother's death when he was a child, Clay opted to grieve alone, being at the school at night when no one was around to cry for her. It was when Apollo found him and cheered him up that Clay started to change, becoming the excitable, straightforward, sunny guy that we know today.
[EVERYTHING IN THE PERSONALITY FROM HERE ON OUT IS HEADCANON.]
Clay wears his heart on his sleeve. He's very honest unless he's given a good reason not to be, based off the fact that Apollo's bracelet never reacted around him beforehand, yet was still trusted over Starbuck to keep the truth behind the bombing a secret. Despite that, when something pains him or is bringing him down, he tries his best to keep it to himself. If he's in pain, he'll suck it up and try to be a man about it rather than whine, because what good is that? He'll just be in pain anyway.
He can be a bit of a hothead as well – the creator himself said this in regards to Clay's characterization, saying that it was fitting for Apollo to have a friend like that. He's stubborn and bull-headed, always putting up a fight even when others would give up. He's a bundle of energy, and thus can be quite a handful. He doesn't quite know when he should quit, which means he'd probably need to be called out to tone it down a notch. Along with Apollo, he has vocal training sessions in the wee hours of the morning, just to psyche himself up for the day (and that's canon). That's not to say he's loud and excitable all the time; he's just... passionate, is all, about a lot of things.
Clay never has anything bad to say about anyone, save for teasing purposes. Why should he, when he sees the best in everyone, or the best that they could be? He tends to overlook the bad parts a person has, even though he knows that they have them. They're just not as important to him, though this could cause him to seem a bit naïve and idealistic to others.
This is linked a bit to the fact that he dislikes conflict and confrontation. He won't back down from a fight (he prefers the physical kind), but he'd rather it be over as quick as possible, even sometimes conceding to it if he sees it as pointless. Yes, he's passionate about some things and will fight for them to the bitter end (don't try to say that someone else is Apollo's best friend, he will talk for hours about why he's the best one), he will stand up for what he believes in and for the people he cares about, but he doesn't like it when people are upset or angry with him. He feels like his childhood self again when that happens, shy and hesitant and faint-hearted. Even if a friend betrays or back stabs him, he can't find it in him to hate them or even dislike them; he'll try to reach out for them again, even if he shouldn't.
He can also have a... bit of an ego, though he's usually teasing in nature when he boasts about himself. He's an extrovert who likes to be the center of attention, and sometimes he's not shy about that fact. That said, he's still pretty humble, as he's not at all serious if he starts to brag about what he's done. He's more interested in the accomplishments of others, though that doesn't mean he doesn't see his own potential. He just knows when he needs to tone it down a notch. Also? Oh god, the puns. The space puns. He will laugh at his own jokes even when everyone else is groaning. Please don't laugh at his jokes.
Above all else, Clay is a NERRRRD. He loves space related things, loves geeky things like Doctor Who and Star Trek and Star Wars, and collects said things. If there are Goldfish crackers with a space related theme? He'll probably buy ten packs of them. He has glow in the dark stars that stick to his ceiling, fandom related board games that he never plays, and posters of space and astronauts all over. Thankfully, he has quite a bit of money, otherwise he'd be flat broke just from getting the things he likes. Also, he's into sustainability, preferring organic food and such. Again regarding his love for space: when he's nervous and doesn't know what to say, he'll spout space facts at a rapid fire pace while he tries to figure out what to say or, hopefully, when the topic has moved on.
Clay Terran, space nerd, right here for you.
Abilities: Clay is a regular human nerd so he has no real super special abilities. The only real thing to note is that he's fit enough to lift over 200 lbs, as he was carrying Starbuck's unconscious body plus the astronaut suit, which weighs that much already.
Augment Skillset: Pilot!
Sample:
[When the camera turns on, it shows Clay by one of the windows, looking out into space with a little smile on his face. He notices the fact that he's being recorded after a moment, and he responds by giving a big grin and a two-fingered salute.]
Hey guys! Check out the view! [He gestures to the window, where a planet is shown in the distance.] Pretty stellar, huh? Wonder what it's like there... Think it'd be habitable? Uh, anyway...
[He runs a hand through his hair as he faces the camera again, his smile turning a bit awkward, yet still just as big as ever.] What kind of dreams do you guys have? Like... what's the thing you always wanted to be? Did you reach it, or not? Can you reach it here, or do you need to go back home for it?
Me? [Clay's smile turns softer as he looks out at the vastness of space again. The stars, the planet in the distance, the blackness that stretches to infinity...] I already reached mine. My only goal now is to let a few people know that I did it. That I'm okay, and... pretty happy out here. [And with a glance back at the camera - ] So, hey. If you guys are watching out there? I made it. I'm in space. Space! And someday? I'm gonna make it back and tell you all about it. Cosmic book style!
[EH HEH HEH HEH uh.]
So what about the rest of you? Dreams, goals? What stars are you reaching for?
Name/Handle: Kukki
Contact: Plurk:
AIM: shokorakukki
Reference: Saffy!
IN-CHARACTER:
Character name: Clay Terran
Character journal:
geonomySeries name: Ace Attorney
Canon notes: Clay will be coming in at the moment of his death. No changes made to the Ace Attorney canon!
Species: Human.
History: As Clay was a very minor character who barely appeared onscreen (he was mostly talked about and appeared in a flashback), he doesn't have much of a history attached to him. Below, I'll put the canon history in blue, and the one I worked out to coincide along with it in black.
- Clay Terran was born in 2004 at night under a sky full of stars while his parents were vacationing in San Bernardino National Forest. His parents were Flint, an American, and Dalnim, a Korean-American woman.
- As a family, they lived in Santa Ana, California, where his father taught geology at college while his mother worked at the Orange County Astronomy Club. Even at a young age, Clay was passionate about astronomy, and while his father disapproved, his mother actively encouraged it, buying all sorts of books and equipment for him.
- Flint began to grow increasingly distant from his family, as he had an adventurous spirit and felt that they were tying him down. When Clay was six, Flint packed up and left, taking most of the family's money with him. His destination was Germany, and after he made it there, he'd send letters to his family, though they'd slow to a stop over the years. Clay knows he should probably hate him for this, but all it really does is cause him a distant sadness as well as a tinge of disappointment.
- Realizing she couldn't raise Clay and manage the home on her own, Dalnim moved to Los Angeles to be with her sister, Haenim. While he loved living with his two “moms” more than being with his dad, their timid natures caused his own to increase and his adventurous spirit to take a backseat. For now, at least.
- Clay was largely left alone in school due to being so quiet and withdrawn. He longed to make friends; he just wasn't sure how to make the first step or how to maintain them. Though he was a bit timid, he never hesitated to fight back if anyone tried to bully him, often getting in trouble for doing so. While this made bullies not so eager to mess with him, it also gave him an unfavorable reputation, despite him being a well-meaning, kind and passionate kid. He was generally seen as “weird” as well, as he'd get overly excited about all things space-related, yet was sensitive to things, like being unable to dissect a frog.
- When he was seven, Dalnim showed him the Cosmos Space Center. Instantly, Clay fell in love with it. He'd go see launches whenever they took place, without fail, and go on tours even after he knew everything about the public sections of the area. There were a few times where he'd sneak off to try to go to the more private areas, but he'd always be chased out. Soon, the employees began to recognize him.
- His closest acquaintance during his time at school was a boy named Apollo Justice. Apollo was more social than he was, which is why he was easily able to approach Clay. The two would hang out and talk to each other, though Clay was never quite sure what to say a lot of the time. Still, he started to look up to Apollo, wishing that he could be as open and supportive as he was.
- When Clay was thirteen, his mother passed away. They were both in a car driving back from the Orange County Astronomer's Club when they were hit by a drunk driver. They were brought to the hospital where Dalnim died from her injuries, while Clay suffered only from a deep cut on his nose that would form a permanent scar, which he'd cover with a band-aid even after the wound healed and as he got older. He closed himself off from everyone, even his aunt, though this wouldn't last long due to one special person.
- One night after school, Clay stayed after everyone else went home. There, he grieved openly, sobbing for his mother. Apollo happened to find him, and though Clay yelled to leave him alone, he sat with him and talked to him, revealing that he never had a mother that he knew, and that whenever he'd feel sad or lonely, he'd shout “I'm Apollo Justice and I'm fine!”, and he'd cheer himself up. After Apollo made the other boy shout it as well, Clay realized that he did start to feel better, even laughed with him. It was after this that the two became inseparable best friends.
- Clay began to look as Apollo not as someone to solely admire, but also as an inspiration. Where he started out closed off, he began to open up until, by the time he got to high school, he was just as social and open as his best friend, though he still remained soft-hearted. Apollo seemed to do the opposite, growing quieter and more to himself, but that did nothing to dampen their friendship. They just grew differently, is all.
- In high school, Clay decided to really start pursuing his dream: becoming an astronaut and go to space one day. He studied hard, learning all sorts of subjects that had to do with astronomy. During his time in school, he dated some, but after that, he got more and more into his studies and decided that relationships were just too much of an investment at the time when he had to work hard to fulfill his dreams. Many hearts were broken as a result. Tears were shed. It was all quite troublesome.
- After Apollo became his best friend, Clay started to bring him to the space center, and now Apollo was becoming a recognizable face as well as Clay. Clay became so recognizable, in fact, that the space center team started to look at him as an honorary member and even let him be in group photos. At fifteen (the beginning of year 2020), one of the astronauts as well as Clay's idol, Solomon Starbuck, decided that he'd help Clay achieve his dreams. He got the teen into aviation, and let Clay ride as a passenger in his own plane. A year later, Clay was able to pilot the plane himself with Starbuck supporting him the whole way (seeing how he wouldn't be able to fly without an instructor for a while anyway). Thanks to all the work that they put into it, Clay was able to get a private pilot license.
- At sixteen (Year 2020 still, later in the year), Clay and Apollo attended the lift-off of HAT-1, a spaceship sent on a mission with Solomon Starbuck manning it. Clay didn't know until after the flight three months later that the ship had severe malfunctions, although Solomon was still able to make it safely back. The trip was dubbed the HAT-1 Miracle, and it was so publicized that they decided to make a movie about it. Although it caused him to become famous, the mission also had consequences on Starbuck; he gained a severe phobia of space and a nasty case of post-traumatic stress disorder. This did nothing to stop Clay and Apollo from encouraging him to go back into space and not give up on his dreams, using their catchphrase, “You'll be fine!”. During that time, Clay was also shocked to learn that Metis Cykes, an associate he knew from the Cosmos Center, was murdered at around the same time that the HAT-1 launched. While Solomon worked through his fears, Clay studied on his own, though he'd always look to his mentor when it came to trying to figure out what to do next. (Starbuck was afraid of going into space, not of flight itself, so he was still able to train Clay as long as he didn't fly too high.) After he got his private pilot license in 2021, Clay was able to fly by himself.
- COLLEGE TIME. After graduating high school, Clay moved on to the University of California, which had an awesome astronomy program. He poured into mathematics, astrophysics, cosmology, computer science, and everything else that had to do with his curriculum. During this time, he sent application after application to the Cosmos Center, and even NASA, though he was rejected every time. Still, he never let up on his dream, and encouragement from Apollo certainly helped. Solomon put in a good word for him as well, so the Cosmos Center was at least interested in what he was doing.
- At twenty-two, Apollo reached his own lifelong dream of becoming a lawyer. The two of them were racing to see who'd reach it first, and though Clay lost, he didn't care. On the contrary, he was incredibly happy for his best friend, and according to Apollo, it felt like Clay was the one who got the badge rather than he himself. When Apollo's first case turned into such a failure that he ended up firing himself, Clay pulled him out of his funk and offered his own dorm as a temporary place to stay for a while until Apollo found some work again. When Apollo revealed that Phoenix Wright himself asked him to come to the Wright Anything Agency, Clay pushed him enough for the two months that his best friend stayed with him until he went, and sure enough, Apollo found himself another job.
- Later on in that year, Clay finally graduated with a bachelor's degree in astronomy. Barely a day passed after graduation when Yuri Cosmos, the director of the Cosmos Space Center, invited Clay to come on board with the program. He wouldn't be an astronaut just yet, but he'd be working with the staff and training to become one. He learned that if he worked hard enough, he may even be chosen to board the HAT-2, which was nearing completion. Of course, Clay couldn't possibly refuse. He was given a team jacket to show that he worked now, something he'd wanted for years and years (they even let him wear a spare one at times), and he ended up wearing it so much over the next year that the ends got a little ragged. Over several months, Clay worked brutally hard, and though it meant not seeing his friends as often, he was still learning fast, faster than anyone really participated. And even though he was much busier, he still took as much time as necessary for Apollo, making sure to see a few of his trials and be as supportive of a best friend as he could be.
- A few months after turning twenty-three, Clay was one of the astronauts chosen to be on board the HAT-2, the other being Solomon Starbuck, who still had fears and was taking anxiety pills for them, yet was inspired by Clay and Apollo to try again. Clay was so happy that right after the meeting, he called up Apollo to tell him the good news and, upon seeing his friend, raced out to give him a tackling hug. This was it. This was what he worked so hard for, and he'd finally, finally get to see his dreams come true.
- At the start of December, just a couple of weeks before the launch of HAT-2, Yuri Cosmos received a call from an unknown person. "It's been a while. Planning another launch? I see you haven't learned..." Cosmos knew right then and there that it was the person who caused the disaster of HAT-1, as all of its complications were caused by a bomb planted on it, and the one who murdered Metis Cykes. This time, Cosmos didn't want to risk his mens' lives, but the government didn't want to help, insisting that he cover it up and launch the rocket anyway. Instead of launching it, Yuri worked to stage it instead. Knowing of Starbuck's anxiety regarding the HAT-1, he instead asked Clay for help with it instead, and while Clay was disappointed that they'd have to reschedule the actual launch, he didn't hesitate to agree and offer his help, seeing how saving lives was way more important. The plan was to use the Space Center's control system to swap Launch Pads 1 and 2, switching the space museum's replica rocket with the real one before the launch. Clay would drug Starbuck with his anxiety pills, which caused drowsiness, and with Starbuck muddled and confused, bring him onto the replica rocket so that they can get out of there unharmed. He was also charged to protect the Hope Capsule, which had samples from an asteroid belt that had only just returned from the HAT-1 launch. With the plan in place, they just had to wait for the day of the fake launch.
- December 15th of 2027 was the day HAT-2 was supposed to launch. The plan was going along, with Clay drugging Starbuck and bringing him to the replica rocket after the Launch Pads were swapped. However, it turns out that the perpetrator knew of the plan, as he was tapping into Cosmos' phone. The bombs went off, not only on the real rocket, but also on the second floor of the building. The assailant, disguised as a detective, organized an evacuation on the fourth floor to stage his escape. Meanwhile Clay, having heard the bombs, took that as his cue to get out of there. Carrying the unconscious body of his mentor along with his heavy astronaut suit in one arm, wearing the other suit, and holding the probe in the other arm, Clay got them all to the boarding lobby, where he collapsed from exhaustion. The perpetrator, having only been known as “the phantom”, then went to the lobby to start his escape plan and found the two astronauts there. Clay opened his eyes and recognized the man as the detective they had asked to come to the launch. He was just about to ask if everyone was all right when the phantom took a utility knife and stabbed him in the one weak spot the astronaut suit has: the chest. It was there that Clay Terran died of his injury before he could ever fully achieve his dream.
Personality: There isn't a lot that's known about Clay due to him never having any real screen time save for one flashback. The characters do talk about him a lot, enough to flesh out a personality, but that's about all we get. Thus, I'll be taking some liberty on what the deeper aspects of his psychology are, the parts that aren't talked about or just glossed over.
What we do know is that Clay is basically, in Apollo's words, “the best friend a guy can have”. He's very supportive of others, always lending a shoulder and seeming to know just what to say. When Apollo lost his job and his boss, Clay was the one who encouraged him to keep trying and check out the Wright Anything Agency offer. When Starbuck seemed nervous during his astronaut training, Clay (and Apollo) was the one who drove him to keep going by saying he'd be just fine. He's the guy who can always see a silver lining, even in his own clouds, and plows through like a truck to lift others up with him.
He's ambitious as hell, someone who lives for his dreams and won't stop until they're seen through (or, you know, he gets murdered before he can do it). He and Apollo used to stay up in the late hours of the night just talking about their goals and dreams, and they never grew tired of it. Not to mention all the trials it takes to actually become an astronaut, especially at his young age. He's never once thought about giving up, and encourages others to never do the same as well.
When it comes to the people he cares for, their happiness and accomplishments become his own, like he's living vicariously through them. He and Apollo had a rivalry going, a race to see which one would fulfill his dreams first, which shows of his competitive nature as well. But when Apollo reaches it before him and shows him his badge, Clay wasn't disappointed or angry about it. He reacted with joy, as if he was the one who became a lawyer, not Apollo. He loves seeing other people happy, and so it makes him happy as well.
As a child, Clay was actually very timid and faint of heart. This probably made him discouraged easily and apologetic, and though he grows out of that, that probably still remains deep inside. He'd never give up and loves to cheer people up, but there are likely times where he has to bowl past his own hesitation. Everyone gets scared and nervous, and Clay is no different. Rather than tell others of his mother's death when he was a child, Clay opted to grieve alone, being at the school at night when no one was around to cry for her. It was when Apollo found him and cheered him up that Clay started to change, becoming the excitable, straightforward, sunny guy that we know today.
[EVERYTHING IN THE PERSONALITY FROM HERE ON OUT IS HEADCANON.]
Clay wears his heart on his sleeve. He's very honest unless he's given a good reason not to be, based off the fact that Apollo's bracelet never reacted around him beforehand, yet was still trusted over Starbuck to keep the truth behind the bombing a secret. Despite that, when something pains him or is bringing him down, he tries his best to keep it to himself. If he's in pain, he'll suck it up and try to be a man about it rather than whine, because what good is that? He'll just be in pain anyway.
He can be a bit of a hothead as well – the creator himself said this in regards to Clay's characterization, saying that it was fitting for Apollo to have a friend like that. He's stubborn and bull-headed, always putting up a fight even when others would give up. He's a bundle of energy, and thus can be quite a handful. He doesn't quite know when he should quit, which means he'd probably need to be called out to tone it down a notch. Along with Apollo, he has vocal training sessions in the wee hours of the morning, just to psyche himself up for the day (and that's canon). That's not to say he's loud and excitable all the time; he's just... passionate, is all, about a lot of things.
Clay never has anything bad to say about anyone, save for teasing purposes. Why should he, when he sees the best in everyone, or the best that they could be? He tends to overlook the bad parts a person has, even though he knows that they have them. They're just not as important to him, though this could cause him to seem a bit naïve and idealistic to others.
This is linked a bit to the fact that he dislikes conflict and confrontation. He won't back down from a fight (he prefers the physical kind), but he'd rather it be over as quick as possible, even sometimes conceding to it if he sees it as pointless. Yes, he's passionate about some things and will fight for them to the bitter end (don't try to say that someone else is Apollo's best friend, he will talk for hours about why he's the best one), he will stand up for what he believes in and for the people he cares about, but he doesn't like it when people are upset or angry with him. He feels like his childhood self again when that happens, shy and hesitant and faint-hearted. Even if a friend betrays or back stabs him, he can't find it in him to hate them or even dislike them; he'll try to reach out for them again, even if he shouldn't.
He can also have a... bit of an ego, though he's usually teasing in nature when he boasts about himself. He's an extrovert who likes to be the center of attention, and sometimes he's not shy about that fact. That said, he's still pretty humble, as he's not at all serious if he starts to brag about what he's done. He's more interested in the accomplishments of others, though that doesn't mean he doesn't see his own potential. He just knows when he needs to tone it down a notch. Also? Oh god, the puns. The space puns. He will laugh at his own jokes even when everyone else is groaning. Please don't laugh at his jokes.
Above all else, Clay is a NERRRRD. He loves space related things, loves geeky things like Doctor Who and Star Trek and Star Wars, and collects said things. If there are Goldfish crackers with a space related theme? He'll probably buy ten packs of them. He has glow in the dark stars that stick to his ceiling, fandom related board games that he never plays, and posters of space and astronauts all over. Thankfully, he has quite a bit of money, otherwise he'd be flat broke just from getting the things he likes. Also, he's into sustainability, preferring organic food and such. Again regarding his love for space: when he's nervous and doesn't know what to say, he'll spout space facts at a rapid fire pace while he tries to figure out what to say or, hopefully, when the topic has moved on.
Clay Terran, space nerd, right here for you.
Abilities: Clay is a regular human nerd so he has no real super special abilities. The only real thing to note is that he's fit enough to lift over 200 lbs, as he was carrying Starbuck's unconscious body plus the astronaut suit, which weighs that much already.
Augment Skillset: Pilot!
Sample:
[When the camera turns on, it shows Clay by one of the windows, looking out into space with a little smile on his face. He notices the fact that he's being recorded after a moment, and he responds by giving a big grin and a two-fingered salute.]
Hey guys! Check out the view! [He gestures to the window, where a planet is shown in the distance.] Pretty stellar, huh? Wonder what it's like there... Think it'd be habitable? Uh, anyway...
[He runs a hand through his hair as he faces the camera again, his smile turning a bit awkward, yet still just as big as ever.] What kind of dreams do you guys have? Like... what's the thing you always wanted to be? Did you reach it, or not? Can you reach it here, or do you need to go back home for it?
Me? [Clay's smile turns softer as he looks out at the vastness of space again. The stars, the planet in the distance, the blackness that stretches to infinity...] I already reached mine. My only goal now is to let a few people know that I did it. That I'm okay, and... pretty happy out here. [And with a glance back at the camera - ] So, hey. If you guys are watching out there? I made it. I'm in space. Space! And someday? I'm gonna make it back and tell you all about it. Cosmic book style!
[EH HEH HEH HEH uh.]
So what about the rest of you? Dreams, goals? What stars are you reaching for?