Nero Bellafonte

Character Name: Raniero "Nero" Bellafonte

Age: 19

Occupation: Unemployed

Known Relatives: Jamie Bellafonte, Bianca Tremonti

Significant Other: None

Current Location: New York City, New York

Affiliation: Neutral

Known Ability: Pyrokinesis

Biography: Raniero Vespasiano Bellafonte was brought into the world on May 19, 1986. The only child of Jamie Bellafonte and Bianca Tremonti, Nero would grow up fatherless in the Italian city of Syracuse. His father, sixteen years old at the time, had abandoned his mother not a week after his conception. The fifteen-year-old girl was left on her own to raise the son of a psychopathic murderer. Her parents were furious at first, but supportive as the pregnancy wore on. By the time the little boy was born, they were looking forward to having the child around. As an infant, he was unremarkable. His grandparents took care of him until they deemed their daughter old and responsible enough to do so on her own. By the time he was five years old, Nero had become quite the precocious little boy. He grew quickly, and his grandparents and mother often wondered where the time was going. As much as his family loved him, however, the boy seemed incapable of playing well at all with others. He was a rather violent boy, exhibiting tendencies that closely mimicked those of his adult father. Multiple visits to specialists all brought the same conclusion. Raniero had the same insanity complexes as his father. Medication would be necessary. After this first heartbreaking discovery, they agreed that they'd do whatever necessary to help and support the boy. For several years, their love and support helped him become an intelligent and well-rounded individual.

By the time he was thirteen, Raniero was beginning to ask his mother awkward questions. Who was his father? Where was he? Why hadn't he stayed? Did he think Raniero and his mother were defective? She took him to several counseling sessions, explaining each and every time that his father's absence was not a reflection on Nero's ability or worth at all. Several sessions and heavy medication left Nero as normal as could be expected. Although he was still an extremely violent individual, he also had his normal and lucid moments. After months of good behavior, his mother finally agreed to let him take martial arts classes. By his fifteenth birthday, he was fitting in moderately well with others, and his mother had found a new man. His name was Lloyd, and he was an American. In keeping with tradition, they moved to America once his mother had married him.

Annoyed by the new man, Nero began acting out. He was violent more often and refused to take his medication. Within weeks, the "happy" family was being torn apart. He and his mother sat down and had a talk. She understood his reticence, but was angered that he had so violently reacted to Lloyd. Nero was returned to Italy to stay with his grandparents. This didn't last long, though. He was even more violent for them, and he was returned to his mother. His sixteenth birthday brought him to a head-to-head confrontation with Lloyd. Yelling and threats accompanied both of them, and the only thing to stop them was the presence of his mother. After this encounter, Raniero promised his mother that, unless his step-father did something inexcusable, he would behave himself. And for the next year, he did.

But when he came home from school early shortly before his graduation and found his step-father cheating on his mother, Raniero's promise was broken. It erupted into physical violence, after which both parties were hospitalized. Raniero was released the next day, but his step-father would stay for several weeks. Just days after he was released from the hospital, Nero made a startling discovery as his step-father lit up a cigarette. He could control and manipulate fire. After being referred to social workers and the law, it became apparent that Raniero Bellafonte was dangerous, and that his medication was not doing enough. He would be required to attend counseling sessions and his medication levels would be doubled. For a year and a half, it worked. On good faith, Nero was then allowed to move freely about, and it was at this time that the nineteen-year-old boy began searching for his father. When he learned that the man was living in New York, Nero made it his mission to meet the psychopathic murderer that had given him his insanity.

Character Journal: pyrolagnia

Played by: Mo