Firo Prochainezo

''"He is main character-ish!" '' -- Carol to Gustav St. Germain

Firo Prochainezo (フィーロ・プロシェンツォ Fīro Puroshentso) is one of the youngest executives of Manhattan's Martillo Family and a capable fighter. He became a complete immortal in 1930 after accidentally drinking the Grand Panacea.

In the 1970s, Firo took over from Maiza Avaro as the Martillo Family's contaiuolo after Maiza left with Czeslaw Meyer in search of the surviving immortals from the Advena Avis.

Appearance
Firo has brown hair and eyes. He usually wears a green suit in the 1930s. He is very self-conscious about his youthful, "baby-face" appearance, and even wears glasses by 2002 to look older even though he doesn't need to.

Personality
For a member of the Camorra, Firo can be a surprisingly friendly, humorous and compassionate person. According to the Gandor brothers, Firo is brash and naive, and in a way someone who fits in with being a Camorrista but is unsuited towards being a criminal. He isn't afraid to confront people, nor is he worried about the impression he leaves since he's simply being himself. Anyone who knows anything of the Martillos knows well not to bother Firo, or they'll find out just how much trouble they've gotten themselves into.

More often than not though, Firo is an excessively blunt person, and can be extremely negative towards others to the point of being shockingly cruel. Violence comes easy to him, in short and highly brutal spurts.

He is a little insecure, especially since he is surrounded by exceedingly talented people. He also has some issues with femininity, having nearly been molested in his youth due to being mistaken for a girl. Furthermore, he does not have a very high opinion of his own intelligence, constantly calling himself "dumb" and not book-smart in the slightest.

Firo considers himself neither to be a "do-gooder" nor a "fiend" as he himself noted on his way to Alcatraz, instead placing himself in the middle. Occasionally he performs good deeds, such as rushing to a fire or donating money, but he is still ruthless and can be vengeful to an extent (as per the above). When Barnes was ungrateful towards Firo after he rescued him from Dallas Genoard, Firo switched the immortality elixir Barnes was carrying with regular alcohol.

Firo does not actively look for trouble himself. However, he does have a tendency to meddle: If something's going on and he happens to be around, more often than not he'll either investigate or forcibly involve himself in the situation. Even before becoming immortal, Firo was never afraid to take risks. He didn't hesitate to join the Camorra, and he'd never been one to back out on anything. His slightly reckless tendencies and his near suicidal loyalty to the Martillos has led him to say that he does not care what happens to him. However, as noted by Ladd Russo, Firo does fear death and does not consider himself invincible.

Devouring Szilard Quates takes its toll on Firo, who worries that one day he'll become as sadistic as the old man.. After acting rather nastily towards Isaac and Miria in 1933, Firo is relieved that he did not enjoy causing Isaac and Miria pain.

With Szilard's knowledge, Firo learns how to end Szilard's control over Ennis and allow her a new lease on life. Although his romantic feelings for her are rather obvious, he is shy in expressing them directly.

Biography
Firo was born in May 1912 in a slum in Hell's Kitchen, Manhattan. His father, who died from tuberculosis around the time of Firo's birth, was an Italian immigrant from Naples (where he'd been part of the Camorra). After his father's Camorra had lost in a gang war, he fled to America. Firo grew up in the same building as the Gandor Brothers and Claire Stanfield, and became very good friends with them all.

His mother (an American with English ancestry) died from tuberculosis before Firo had reached his tenth birthday.

Now an orphan, Firo drifted the Manhattan streets and was picked up by the head of the Martillo Family (becoming a Martillo associate) after he attempted to rob Yagumura. He was tasked with monitoring casinos to prevent cheating, and later would manage those casinos after becoming an executive of the family. In 1927, Firo would become involved in the rash of murders by Donatello during the San Gennaro celebrations, and help in the search for the missing Keith Gandor.

In 1930, he gives some money to a beggar on the street, and then knocks the man unconscious after he attempts to rob Firo of his money. Firo is then confronted by an antagonistic Edward Noah, who reveals that he was using Firo in order to catch the beggar - an actual murderer - in the act. Afterwards, Firo goes to a local haberdashery with Maiza to pick out a new hat. At the haberdashery, the two run into Isaac and Miria. Soon after the two leave the shop, Firo spots smoke rising in the distance. He runs off towards the scene to find the Barnes Company Granary on fire. There, he meets Ennis for the first time.

That night, Firo undergoes the initiation ceremony, headed by Molsa Martillo and witnessed by the other executives. The ceremony culminates in a knife match between Firo and Maiza, which Firo wins and signals his full promotion to executive. At the ensuing celebrations, Firo mistakes the Grand Panacea found by Isaac and Miria for alcohol and distributes the elixir, thus accidentally becoming immortal himself. The party is interrupted by Szilard Quates, who has arrived intending to devour Maiza. After Firo's attempted attack on Szilard fails, Maiza orders Firo to flee. Firo runs into Ennis in the back alleys, and after a tussle Ennis explains that she is a homunculus to a very confused Firo. The two are interrupted by Dallas and his goons, who plug them with bullets. A few minutes after regenerating, Firo devours Szilard, saving the day.

At the tail end of 1931, Firo, Ennis, Maiza and the Gandors head to the Grand Central Station to welcome back Claire. Firo and Ennis (who has moved in with Firo) 'adopt' Czeslaw Meyer as Ennis' "younger brother" (per the misguided wishes of Isaac and Miria).

In 1933, Firo is deeply troubled by Szilard's memories, afraid that they will taint him to the point where he enjoys inflicting misery upon his friends. As an experiment, he knocks over Isaac and Miria's dominoes to see whether or not he enjoys it. He reacts rudely to Isaac and Miria's furious beratement of him; once he snaps, they rush out of the Alveare, sobbing. Maiza (who had caught on to Firo's true intentions) asks him if he enjoyed doing what he did, to which Firo answers that he did not.

Later, Firo receives a note declaring that Ennis and Ronny have been kidnapped. Not realizing that the note is from Isaac and Miria, he runs around Manhattan frantically searching for Ennis. During his search he meets Christopher Shouldered.

(rest of 1933 to be added)

In 1934, he is arrested by Victor Talbot for the destruction of public property during the bombing of the skyscraper Mist Wall and is imprisoned on Alcatraz, where he meets Ladd Russo and Sham (through Sham's vessel Dragon) and runs into Isaac, a fellow prisoner. His arrest is in actuality a pretext -- Victor is sending him to Alcatraz to keep an eye on Huey Laforet because Victor cannot figure out how Huey is controlling his factions from Alcatraz of all places (Isaac was incarcerated as a means of preventing Firo from trying anything funny. Victor's original intention was to arrest both Isaac and Miria, but Isaac caught on and prevented Miri'as arrest).

Towards the end of Firo's stay, he admits to Ladd that he is immortal, meets Leeza Laforet/Hilton, and gouges out Huey's left eye.

(1935 under construction)

When Maiza leaves the Martillo in the 1970s, Firo takes over as the family's contaiuolo in his absence. During this time, Firo wears glasses in an attempt to look smarter. Firo marries Ennis around 1986 when her feelings develop, but they don't have a honeymoon until 2002, when they go to Japan. Because he is friends with Luck Gandor and Claire Stanfield, the Martillo and Gandor families are on friendly terms.

Relationships
Maiza Avaro - Firo and Maiza are both members of the Martillo Family and as such Firo sees Maiza like family as he sees all members like an extended family. When he first fought him, Maiza showed great sportsmanship granting Firo victory and shaking his hand in congratulations. Maiza was the one that bought Firo his hat as part of his initiation into the Camora. When Firo found out that Maiza was an immortal he was a bit shocked, but none the less went to help his friend after Szilard shot him in the legs. After Firo devoured the old alchemist, Maiza showed a bit of regret that Firo and the Martillo family had become immortal and thus had inherited the "curse", but none the less Firo once again cheered him up. As noted by both Sylvie and Victor Talbot, Firo is a lot like Maiza's own younger brother Gretto and Victor speculates that Maiza may see him as such. Firo likewise is confident in Maiza understand of himself as will confide with him some things that he is unconformable with telling other people of, mostly about what it is like having devoured Szilard and the knowledge that came with it.

Ronny Schiatto -  Ronny taught Firo how to fight with a knife. Firo is close to Ronny and is very loyal to him. Firo is still unaware of Ronnie's true nature.

Isaac & Miria - Firo and Maiza first bumped into Isaac and Miria when Maiza bought him a hat.. When they tried to rob the Martillos and were caught, Firo apologized to them again, mistaking them for a priest and a nun (due to their attire). They were invited to Firo's initiation and served alcohol to the Martillos personally.

After the party the duo remained on good terms with the Martillos and Gandors in general. Isaac and Miria admitted that they really do like Firo, though in a notable incident they were furious with him when he knocked over their dominoes. After his 'betrayal', they decided to try and make him say the word "uncle" (a decision reached via their typical odd logic). To accomplish this they "kidnapped" Ennis and Ronny. However they eventually forgot all about Firo knocking over their dominoes and let bygones be bygones. While in prison both Firo and Isaac remained close friends and even made friends with Ladd Russo.

Ennis - Having taken a liking to Ennis at first sight, Firo constantly worries about her. After he devoured Szilard, Ennis became a part of him in a sense, and Firo's affection towards Ennis only grew stronger and stronger. Despite the fact that they lived together with Czes, and the insistent joking and teasing from his friends, Firo was too embarrassed to admit his real feelings to Ennis. He remained in love with Ennis for a long time; however, due to his shy nature and her lack of comprehension and (initial) capacity towards romantic feelings, they remained in what Ennis considered to be a sibling like relationship for a long time. Eventually their relationship did progress romantically, and the two married in the 1980s, going on their honeymoon in 2002.

Abilities
Firo is formidable with a knife, having been taught by Ronny himself.

He is also very capable in unarmed combat, thanks to Yaguruma teaching him some 'martial arts' (what style is unspecified).

He is also a talented gambler, and is extremely good at catching others at cheating.

In order to protect his friends in 1930, he devours Szilard and gains all of his knowledge in the process.

Immortality
As a complete immortal, the only way Firo can 'die' is if another immortal devours him.

Trivia

 * Firo is fluent in Japanese, having learned the language through Japanese film and manga, as well as through Yaguruma. Because he learned some Japanese through Yaguruma, his Japanese has an old-fashioned/older flavor to it.
 * Firo is an atheist.