O.O.C.: Character Survey of DoOoOoOoOOOOOom
Body and Appearance
1. Describe the character's height and build. Is he heavyset, thin, short, rangy? Firo's exact height isn't given, to my knowlege, it's just said that he's really short and small for his age. The novels put him at about a head shorter than most of the men, and Miria is only a little shorter than him. So he could be about typical 1930s woman height, meaning 5'4"-5".
He doesn't have the bulky muscle or 'strapping young man' look that Claire or Ladd have; he's wiry.
2. How old is he? He became immortal at 18 1/2. At the point I'm playing him from,he's 21.
(As a note, immortality seems to slow or even halt the growth of mental maturity, so the age change doesn't mean much. Even after over 200 years, Czes is still a child in many ways.)
3. Describe his posture. Does he carry himself well or does he slouch? It depends on who he's around. When it's somebody he hates, like Inspector Noah, he's as slouchy as any other hoodlum. But around the Martillos he does his best to stand straight like a good little soldier.
4. How is his health? Is he fit or out of shape? Any illnesses or conditions? Any physical disabilities? He's very fit. His lifestyle is a very active one: he scurries around town and gets into street fights and practices his fighting with the other Martillo executives, probably Ennis, as well.
5. How does he move? Is he clumsy, graceful, tense, fluid? He's pretty graceful and fluid bother when fighting or when just lounging around. Even when too much momentum makes his stops a little clumsy it all kind of flows together.
6. How attractive is this character physically? How does he perceive himself in the mirror? A lot of people tell him he's "cute" or even "pretty." Both he takes as an insult, since obviously scary mobsters can't be cute or pretty. He doesn't pay much attention to his looks outside of protesting those terms being applied to him. He thinks he just looks normal.
7. Describe his complexion. Dark, light, clear, scarred? Light and clear.
8. Describe his hair: color, texture, style. Unlike most 1930's adult men, he doesn't slick his hair back or anything. He leaves it alone and it's normally a little mussed. It's a very light brown, almost dirty blond.
9. What color are his eyes? Brown, sometimes they look kind of mahogany.
10. Does the character have any other noteworthy features? To summarize, he's very short for his age and gender. He has a 'baby-face' and is a little effeminate.
11. What are his chief tension centers? For the most part he's relaxed, but when he gets worked up his shoulders and hands get tense. When people confuse him a lot, or he gets very nervous he'll get a headache. That happens a lot.
12. What is the character's wardrobe like? Casual, dressy, utilitarian? Bright colors, pastels, neutrals? Is it varied, or does he have six of the same suit? For his time, it's rather casual. He has no variety and probably a closet of copies of the same thing.
13. Do his clothes fit well? Does he seem comfortable in them? He's very comfortable in his clothes, they don't fit perfectly, but they fit well enough.
14. Does he dress the same on the job as he does in his free time? If not, what are the differences? Yep. He probably should dress nicer for his job, though.
15. You knew it was coming: Boxers, briefs or commando? Boxers.
Speech
1. What does this character's voice sound like? High-pitched, deep, hoarse? Like a little girl's It's kind of high-pitched, but not too much (voiced by Todd Haberkorn)
2. How does he normally speak? Loud, soft, fast, evenly? Does he talk easily, or does he hesitate? He speaks very easily, he can even lecture to a complete stranger with hardly any prompting. If he takes time to consider his words before speaking to you, it's probably a serious situation and it either means you're someone he respects and doesn't want to give the wrong answer, or he really hates you and is trying to find words that'll hurt most.
When he hesitates, it's because he's talking about feelings, which is not something he does well.
3. Does the character have a distinct accent or dialect? Any individual quirks of pronunciation? Any, like, you know, verbal tics? He has a New York accent.
4. What language/s does he speak, and with how much fluency? He's fluent in English as his first language, though he doesn't always adhere to grammar rules and doesn't have a large vocabulary. Because of eating Szilard, he can probably speak fluent Italian (from Gerd, and at least a little bit of the Neapolitan dialect from where he grew up), German and probably Magyar. Mr. Yagulma taught him a little Japanese, but only a few words and he doesn't become fluent until many decades later.
5. Does he switch languages or dialects in certain situations? Nope.
6. Is he a good impromptu speaker, or does he have to think about his words? Even if he should think about his words, he normally doesn't. He delivers quite a good 'why you suck' speech to a hapless beggar in the opening chapter of The Rolling Bootlegs. He can say a lot with little time to think and that's typically how he rolls.
7. Is he eloquent or inarticulate? Under what circumstances might this change? Not really either. He can say a lot and it normally makes sense, but he doesn't make it sound pretty or anything. If he's really nervous and emotionally shaken then he stops making sense, but that'd only happen in an extreme situation, like having a friend be livid with him.
Mental and Emotional
1. How intelligent is this character? Is he book-smart or street-smart? The Gandor brothers unanimously say that he's not book-smart in the least. Luck says that he's "gauche when balancing accounts," while Kieth and Berga say he's plain stupid. Firo himself will admit that he's book-dumb- though sometimes he exaggerates it- and claims that he can't understand any of Szilard's alchemical knowledge, and if Maiza gave him his accounting know-how he'd forget it, too.
He has a good amount of street-smarts, a necessity all his life given where he's lived and his job. (He did get lost in his own city, but that's because he was distracted).
2. Does he think on his feet, or does he need time to deliberate? He thinks on his feet, but it doesn't always work out for him.
3. Describe the character's thought process. Is he more logical, or more intuitive? Idealistic or practical? He works mainly on intuition; thinking just isn't his thing.
He's idealistic in things like family and friends. Luck says he's simply too stupid to even contemplate betrayal, and he couldn't comprehend the idea of anyone he loves betraying him. In areas like charity and survival, he's rather cynical. He claims he only gives to beggars that have the right skills for their profession and says to Ennis that "the world is unforgiving."
4. What kind of education has the character had? Probably about 3 years of public schooling (given that he was homeless at 9 years old, if not earlier.) The quality of it was probably not so good and he didn't pay attention much, but he learned enough literacy and math to get by.
The Martillo executives and the environment of Hell's Kitchen gave him a very thorough education in terms of fighting.
5. What are his areas of expertise? What, if anything, is he interested in learning more about?
He's very good at fighting, both empty-hands and with a knife. He's one of the Martillo's best and none of them are pushovers. He's always ready to learn more in that area.
His curiosity extends mostly to people and their stories, but also to whatever happens to be in front of his face, or whatever arises in conversation. Math and science, however, aren't of much interest to him. He'll ask a lot of questions, but he never gets so curious as to actually look things up. However, because of his experiences with Russia and Estonia in Vanishing Point RP, he's been paying more attention to the news lately... and he's not very pleased.
6. Is he an introvert or an extrovert? He's mostly an extrovert. He absolutely abhors being lonely, and is even afraid of it. Strange as it may seem, he'll take an argument with Edward Noah over being off by himself for a day. He takes a lot of risks- so long as they don't danger his Family. He socializes -though sometimes it's via beating the tar out of someone- whenever the opportunity presents itself.
He does have a tiny bit of introversion to him, however. At Martillo Family parties he'll sit back and just bask in the glow of company, not conversing as much as one might expect.
7. Describe the character's temperament. Is he even-tempered or does he have mood swings? Cheerful or melancholy? Laid-back or driven? He can mood swing a lot. Normally he presents a pretty laid-back front, but little things can bother him and when he's mad he's explosive. Just hearing about sad things from his friends can get him pretty down, even if said friend doesn't treat it with much concern. For the most part, he seems pretty relaxed and upbeat.
8. How does he respond to new people or situations? Is he suspicious, relaxed, timid, enthusiastic?
He's pretty nosy friendly and likes to seek out new people. Unless they're really weird (Isaac and Miria weird) he's normally friendly and comfortable in the situation.
9. Is he more likely to act, or to react?
When fighting, he normally reacts, and waits for the person to strike first. His style is based off of evading strikes and countering. But when the situation calls for it, he will act first and do so quickly.
10. Which is his default: fight or flight?
Fight. He can hardly conceive of flight, even standing there and getting hit is better than running away. When Szilard comes in with a machine gun ready to blast the Martillos away- before they are aware of their immortality- Maiza has to order him twice to leave. Even then, he only agrees to go once Maiza gives him a definite mission.
11. Describe the character's sense of humor. Does he appreciate jokes? Puns? Gallows humor? Bathroom humor? Pranks?
His humor can stray towards the dark side: he finds the horror of people witnessing his immortality pretty amusing.
12. Does the character have any diagnosable mental disorders? If yes, how does he deal with them?
No. He's violent and sometimes destructive, but can also be very caring, which writes out anti-social personality disorder. There is a possibility he could have Intermittent explosive disorder, to a degree, but doesn't seem to feel the remorse afterward. Then, it could be that he just has anger problems and lack of impulse control, not a full blown mental disorder. As far as he is aware, he has none.
13. What moments in this character's life have defined him as a person?
His mother's death and the time he spent on the street. He deeply believes that there's no afterlife, and as such, the dead don't matter. He seems to have problems dealing with his past. After Maiza recommended that Firo try to let go of Szilard's memories if they're too much for him, the following exchange occurred:
Firo: But… I wonder if it’s really possible to let go of people’s past and feelings and move on all by myself.
Maiza: I believe just about everyone has problems like these, not just us immortals... But, if we’re talking about the past you’ve truly lived through yourself… you should think twice before considering whether you should really put it behind you.
His eagerness to let go of the past may be a little too much, and it is possible that that stems from wanting to leave behind the memories of his life before the Martillos.
His time homeless probably had a hand in his beliefs that hard work is the key to success. He takes that too far, as can be seen when he harasses an elderly beggar on the street, saying people "holding protest signs saying 'we want work' are more deserving of life than you are." He also claims to only give donations to 'professional' beggars; the ones who make sure the look the part, even as he acknowledges that some of them have money.
But perhaps the most defining moment was joining the Martillos. Maiza noted that it was the first time he ever saw Firo smile for real; it was when his dream of belonging somewhere was finally realized. More importantly, the Martillo's teachings would really shape him. His obedience to any authority comes solely from their training. They gave him something to live for and he devoted much of his life to them.
14. What does he fear?
If he has one at all, his sense of self-preservation is kind of weak. As such, he isn't too afraid of death, especially when Family and friends are involved, because the drive to protect or attack overpowers it. Mainly, he fears being alone and being helpless.
His main wish, ever since childhood, was to be truly happy and to have a place to belong. Being busy with work and then her sickness, his mother most likely didn't have much time for him. After her death, he was left pretty much alone. He's a social person who needs human contact, and he doesn't want to be alone again.
Szilard's memories weigh pretty heavily on him. He's afraid that having them will make him a monster, too.
15. What are his hopes or aspirations?
For all his life, his greatest wish was to truly smile and have his place to belong. He's found that with the Martillo's.
As of now, he aims to marry Ennis. Someday.
His other goal, which is pretty much a constant, is to serve his Family forever and ever.
16. What is something he doesn't want anyone to find out about him?
He doesn't like people to see his insecurities. Basically, he doesn't want anybody to know that there are things he fears and frets over.
Relationships
1. Describe this character's relationship with his parents.
His relationship with his mother isn't really touched on. He tries to move on and leave her memory behind, but that's not working as well as he'd like it to. It's even hinted that he feels sorry for her, as he notes that she 'died a lonely death.' Since he never knew his father, he doesn't really care. Mentioning his parents seems to get him aggravated.
He sees the Martillos as his family, with Maiza, Mr. Martillo and Mr. Yagulma being sort of the main 'parental' figures. He's very close with them, and sees it as his duty to work as hard as he can for them.
In Vanishing Point RP, he wound up having Russia as a sort of mother figure, and was tricked into saying "I love you, mommy," to him in Russian. The fact that Firo afterward was still fine with Russia feeling motherly towards him tells enough about how close they are.
2. Does the character have any siblings? What is/was their relationship like?
He doesn't have any siblings. The Gandors and Claire are almost like brothers, and even in adulthood they're still close.
In Vanishing Point RP, he was deeply touched when Estonia referred to him as a brother, and he's very fond of him.
3. Are there other blood relatives to whom he is close? Are there ones he can't stand?
The only blood relative of his he ever knew was his mother. She was separated from her family; perhaps disowned by her parents. His father was dead, and the rest of his family either dead or back in Naples.
4. Are there other, unrelated people whom he considers part of his family? What are his relationships with them? See above!
5. Who is/was the character's best friend? How did they meet? Luck Gandor is probably his best friend. It's unknown how they met, but they were said to grow up in the same neighborhood, so it could have been at school, or even just on the street. He knew them before he was taken in by the Martillos.
6. Does he have other close friends?
Claire and the other Gandor brothers. Ennis, then, by default, Isaac, Miria and Czes.
7. Does he make friends easily, or does he have trouble getting along with people?
He makes friends easily, but he also is quick to judge, and can make enemies just as easily.
8. Which does he consider more important: family or friends?
He considers his Family to be more important. They made him truly happy for the first time in his life and he swore absolute loyalty to them. However, if put into a situation of choosing between the life of a very close friend or family member, he wouldn't be able to do it. Familial loyalty may dominate his life, but he'd see choosing between saving a family or a friend as betraying either one, and probably couldn't bear to.
9. Is the character single, married, divorced, widowed? Has he been married more than once?
He never married, and probably never even dated someone. He's totally in love with Ennis, but she won't respond for a... very long time.
10. Is he currently in a romantic relationship with someone other than a spouse?
Nope. He's not really in any romantic relationship; he's waiting for Ennis to come around.
11. Who was his first crush? Who is his latest?
Ennis. Did you expect anything else?
12. What does he look for in a romantic partner?
He looks for... Ennis?
He seems to like people who break the mold; he finds it attractive that Ennis dresses like a man and that she's a good fighter. There isn't really anything specific. He doesn't really look for a romantic partner; he bumps into Ennis and immediately falls in love.
13. Does the character have children? Grandchildren? If yes, how does he relate to them? If no, does he want any?
Nope. He is probably afraid of being a bad father and is busy enough with his Family business already.
14. Does he have any rivals or enemies?
He's an obnoxious kid and a gangster, of course he does.
Before he joined the Martillos, he saw Claire as a sort of rival; he enjoyed their frequent scraps, trying to see who was stronger.
15. What is the character's sexual orientation? Where does he fall on the Kinsey scale?
Probably a 0 or a 1. Ennis is his only romantic attraction. However, if a close friend tried to force something on him, he'd have trouble saying no, he just wouldn't enjoy it at all.
16. How does he feel about sex? How important is it to him?
He doesn't think about sex a lot, probably because he's really uncomfortable with it. To him it's just some weird thing people do.
17. What are his turn-ons? Turn-offs? Weird bedroom habits?
His only turn-on, so far, seems to be Ennis. He's kind of freaked out by sex, and she's really the only person he's attracted to in that way.
Beliefs
1. Do you know your character's astrological (zodiac of choice) sign? How well does he fit type?
The exact day of his birth date isn't given, it's just know he was born in May of 1912. For the Chinese Zodiac, I think that would make him a rat.
He fits that sign in the energy, emotional repression, and drive to socialize. He also has the typical rat stubbornness and protectiveness. However, he can hardly be called organized or quick witted.
In the Western zodiac, he'd probably be a Taurus. It's a fixed sign, and those under such a signs are: " inflexible, rigid, stubborn, opinionated and single-minded. These traits are often paired with the need to be "correct": they will ruthlessly fight on behalf of their beliefs, regardless of any contrary beliefs deemed sufficiently credible." (Wkipedia) Which fits him to a T.
He's not as fond of the 'fine life' as those of the sign are said to be. It's not his primary motivation, and his only appreciation of it is probably the wine, he's not into the arts or luxuries. He isn't a slow and steady person either, and even with his cynicism, if prone to idealistic ideas.
2. Is this character religious, spiritual, both, or neither? How important are these elements in his life?
Neither. He's an atheist and only really talks about religion if somebody mentions it first, and then only to deny the claims of that religion. He doesn't believe in ghosts or anything of the like.
3. Does this character have a personal code of morals or ethics? If so, how did that begin? What would it take to compromise it?
He hates people being self-serving and hurting others for no reason. Of course, he doesn't always apply the latter aspect of that to his life, but in his mind it is justified when he beats up on somebody, at the time.
How it began is unknown, perhaps a reaction to all those yummy machine politics and the 'dog eat dog' world he grew up in.
Since Firo hates to admit he's wrong, he'd probably only compromise it if told to do so by a Martillo capo.
4. How does he regard beliefs that differ from his? Is he tolerant, intolerant, curious, indifferent?
If it's a more private thing, like religion (so long as you're not crusading) and you show deep conviction in it, he normally doesn't care. However, with anything else (like Szilard believing he could 'own' Ennis) he will be terribly confrontational. The same goes for if you try and use a belief system, like a religion, for your own benefit.
5. What prejudices does he hold? Are they irrational or does he have a good reason for them?
He doesn't have many prejudices, but he does make up his mind about people really quickly.
Daily Life
1. What is the character's financial situation? Is he rich, poor, comfortable, in debt? Being a Camorra capo, he lives quite comfortably.
2. What is his social status? Has this changed over time, and if so, how has the change affected him?
Well, as a dirt-poor child he was somewhere near the bottom. Now, as a Camorrista, he's a criminal, but can still fraternize with those of higher social status. If he was ever so inclined.
3. Where does he live? House, apartment, trailer? Is his home his castle or just a place to crash? What condition is it in? Does he share it with others?
He lives in an apartment, but doesn't spend much time there. Alveare is almost like home to him.
4. Besides the basic necessities, what does he spend his money on?
Nothing's mentioned in-canon. Probably stuff for Ennis and Czes, mostly.
5. What does he do for a living? Is he good at it? Does he enjoy it, or would he rather be doing something else?
He's a capo in the Martillo Camorra Family and is in charge of one of their underground casinos, and does whatever else they tell him to do. It's not just a job, it's his life. There's nothing else he'd rather do, because this lets him be with his Family and serve them.
6. What are his interests or hobbies? How does he spend his free time?
His free time seems to be spent hanging out with the Martillos, or bopping around town and poking his nose into people's business. He also practices knife fighting with Ronnie and wrestling with Mr. Yagu.
7. What are his eating habits? Does he skip meals, eat out, drink alcohol, avoid certain foods?
He eats when he's hungry, but sometimes some sort of ruckus will distract him, other than that, he doesn't really skip meals. From tidbits mentioned in canon, he seems to be fine with eating anything (most of the food in Alveare is Chinese, Italian or a combo, and often has honey in it, so it all tastes a little weird). He even eats his veggies, like a good little boy (not that it'll be much help now...). Like all the Martillos, he drinks alcohol pretty much everyday, but not to excess. He can cook, but will also mosey on into Alveare to eat.
Associations
Which of the following do you associate with the character, or which is his favorite:
1. Color? Green
2. Smell? Bar smell..?
3. Time of day? Midday
4. Season? Spring
5. Book? The Tale of Desperaux
6. Music? Swing
7. Place? Hell's Kitchen
8. Substance? Alcohol. Totally methyl alcohol
9. Plant? Dandelion
10. Animal? Cat or puppy-dog
END
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