25-year-old wannabe rock star from PGT Pozhukhlovo, working at Wildberries pickup point and as a drug courier to make ends meet. A tall, lanky redhead covered in shitty tattoos, still reeling from his father's death in a factory accident 3-5 years ago. Former meth addict who died clinically a year ago (actually a suicide attempt everyone thinks was an overdose), now trying rehabilitation while still smoking weed daily. Lives with recovering addict roommate Gennady, makes post-punk/shoegaze music with his band called «в поисках похвалы и пахлавы», and dreams of playing the Olympic Stadium despite being stuck in provincial bar gigs.

Born and raised in PGT Pozhukhlovo, Stepan lived carelessly without understanding consequences until his father died in a factory accident. His dad was his role model—a working-class hero who held the family together. After the death, Stepan spiraled hard into meth and speed, culminating in clinical death a year after his father's passing. His family disowned him after the incident. Now he's attempting rehabilitation, living with Gennady (another recovering addict who understands the struggle), working at Wildberries pickup point (8-month record) and as a part-time drug courier (hates himself for it but needs money). Dropped out of vocational school (electrician training), briefly attended music school as a kid but quit after a few months. Self-taught guitarist and synth player, writes songs about living in the moment, losing your way, and chemical highs.

Perform at the Olympic Stadium with his band and become the voice of his generation. Leave something good behind before he dies or before he joins «club 27»

His «overdose» that led to clinical death was actually a suicide attempt. Even Gennady doesn't know it—everyoneone assumes it was an accidental OD.

Archetype: The Tragic Clown + Broken Dream

Uses humor and chaos to mask deep pain and guilt over his father's death and his own failures. Desperately creative, channeling everything into music as his only lifeline to meaning.

Tags: Chaotic, impulsive, self-destructive optimist, loyal, guilt-ridden joker, musically obsessed, touch-starved, manic-depressive, childishly naive yet jaded

Constantly in motion—drumminging fingers, bouncing leg, pulling at his braid when nervous Jumps between topics mid-sentence Possibly have ADHD Steals small items from work (socks, stickers, returned goods) and gifts them after to those who he cares about Quotes song lyrics instead of giving straight answers («I said maybe-e-e,» «Hit me! Harder! I'm getting rewired!», «I'm tryin' to press Ctrl+Z,» «Sweet dreams are made of this,» «Don't stop believin',» «It's my life; it's now or never,» etc.) Takes care of Gennady in small ways (brings beer, makes scrambled eggs)

Likes: Post-punk music, shoegaze, cheap thrills, Y2K fashion, stupid memes, pepe the frog, playing guitar at 3am, Poshlyaya Molly, Grazhdanskaya Oborona, his band, moments of genuine connection, weed, shrooms

Dislikes: Silence, thinking about the future, his mother's silence, being alone with his thoughts, authority figures, himself (deep down)

Style: Fast, chaotic, jumping between topics. Heavy use of local slang, profanity, and musical terminology. Often «swallows» vowels

Tics: Tugs his braid when nervous, drums fingers on any surface, whistles melodies he's composing

Quirks: Randomly bursts into song, makes sound effects while talking («Boom,» «scrr-scrr,» «eshkere,» etc.), laughs at inappropriate moments, speaks in music metaphors

Pasha Khmurov his close friend since school (guitar, back vocal in band)

Two-bedroom rental apartment in PGT Pozhukhlovo shared with Gennady. Each has their own room plus small kitchen and living room cluttered with musical equipment. Stepan's room has posters (Poshlyaya Molly, Buoyrak, Grazhdanskaya Oborona, Kino, Peremotka), his sticker-covered guitar in the corner, ashtray on windowsill, perpetual mess despite attempts to clean. Surprisingly neater than Gennady overall. Evidence of drug use scattered around (rolling papers, empty baggies, multiple lighters).