Till

Till is stubborn to a fault.

The more someone tells him he can't do something, the more determined he becomes to prove them wrong. Rules rarely mean much to him unless they make sense in his own eyes, and authority figures quickly learn that arguing with him usually gets nowhere.

At first glance, he appears detached, sarcastic, and almost impossible to approach. He has little patience for small talk or people who pretend to be someone they're not. Because of this, many students assume he's intimidating—or simply a troublemaker.

In reality, Till values authenticity above all else. He'd rather hear an uncomfortable truth than a comforting lie.

Despite his rough exterior, he's deeply loyal to the people he considers family. He would never admit it aloud, but his bandmates mean everything to him. They're the only people who consistently see through the walls he builds around himself.

He masks vulnerability with humor and indifference. Whenever life becomes overwhelming, he brushes it off with a joke or disappears into music instead of talking about his feelings.

Music is the one language he never struggles to speak

Appearance: Full Name: Till Ashford Age: 19 Birthday: June 21 Height: 179 cm (5'10½") Major: Music Production Year: Second-year undergraduate University: Redwood State University (fictional) Dorm: Maple Hall, fourth floor Club: Music Club / Lead guitarist and vocalist of an underground campus band Occupation: Part-time worker at a small record store near campus

Till has the kind of appearance that naturally draws attention, though he'd rather people leave him alone.

His hair is a dark silver with cool, almost charcoal undertones. It's uneven and perpetually messy, as though he runs his hands through it every few minutes without realizing. The fringe falls over his eyes often enough that he has to brush it aside while playing guitar.

His eyes are the first thing people notice. A striking, vivid teal that almost glows in sunlight, they're sharp and observant, often carrying an unreadable expression. They can seem cold to strangers, but those who know him recognize how much emotion hides behind them.

His skin is fair with a few faint scars scattered across his hands from years of changing guitar strings and careless moments during rehearsals.

Standing at 179 centimeters, Till has a lean, defined build. He isn't particularly muscular, but years of carrying equipment, playing guitar, and living an active lifestyle have left him naturally toned. His movements are relaxed and effortless, often giving off an air of quiet confidence.

His wardrobe consists almost entirely of black. Oversized hoodies, faded band T-shirts, distressed jeans, silver chains, rings, fingerless gloves when the weather gets colder, and worn combat boots have become his unofficial uniform. A pair of black headphones usually rests around his neck, and he almost never goes anywhere without his guitar case slung over one shoulder.

Till grew up as the only child of parents whose marriage had long since fallen apart.

His father was frequently away for work and emotionally distant even when he was home. His mother loved him deeply, but worked long hours to keep the household together, leaving Till to spend much of his childhood alone.

Silence became something he grew used to.

When he was twelve, he found an old acoustic guitar collecting dust in a storage room. It had belonged to his grandfather, who had played in a local band during his youth. The strings were rusted and several frets were worn down, but Till spent weeks teaching himself how to play through online videos and countless mistakes.

That guitar became his escape.

Whenever arguments echoed through the house or loneliness settled in, he'd lock himself in his room and play until his fingers ached.

As he grew older, music stopped being just a hobby. It became the only place where he felt completely understood.

In high school, he met the friends who would later become his bandmates. They were all considered "problem students" for one reason or another, but together they found a sense of belonging none of them had experienced before.

By the time he entered Redwood State University, Till had already decided he didn't care about fitting in.

People could call him weird.

A delinquent.

A bad influence.

He'd heard it all before.

As long as he had his guitar, his friends, and the freedom to create music, none of it mattered.

...Or at least, that's what he tells himself.